style according to phoebe gazal... |

father’s day – making it a success!

By Phoebe Gazal | Published: July 26, 2009

p14723l Father’s day – I am sorry to say to all those dads out there – is not up there on the list of priorities with mother’s day. Retail sales will tell you this the world over.

This still doesn’t solve the dilemma of what to buy our dads. My Dad is the most impossible man in the world to buy for. We have given him bbqs, golf balls, clothing and various items that we have always been sure he would like or love. However all these gifts have somehow filtered back into our own homes.

I think his favourite present that I ever bought him was a Gap white t-shirt. He actually showed for the first time in his life, complete delight when given a gift.

My dad wouldn’t like this playsam pencil, but I know lots of dads far more appreciative than mine would. And of course you can purchase your dad’s at www.papierdamour.com.au.

Posted in australian style | Leave a comment

a few of my favourite things

By Phoebe Gazal | Published: July 25, 2009

I love turquoise and I love colour and it would be very unlikely you would find me in a chain store. I like to support the little guy and I also don’t like to be seen in the same outfit as the person next to me. My dad once had a party where three of the guest’s were all wearing the same Little Joe dress. I shuddered as I saw them one by one walk in the door.

I usually only shop when I am away. So when Caroline and I were in Melbourne recently on a buying trip I visited two of my favourite stores. Caroline really wanted me to buy this skirt from kinki gerlinki, however it was a too big and I just can’t buy something that is not the right size. I did manage to find a few other treasures I liked – a pom pom t-shirt and a very very bright shirt – I love them both and all for $110.

skirt kinki

I would have liked to have snapped up some of this jewellery from Shag but they were closed – bummer. I love all the little arcades in Melbourne it is like you are finding a true treasure.

shag jewels

Posted in australian style | Leave a comment

Test

wrap it for charity

By Phoebe Gazal | Published: July 24, 2009

We wrap so many presents in our store – it is part of the service we like to offer. We also have a wall of 30 different wrapping papers and a ribbon table of 1,ooo ribbons.

We had a thought, well it was Caroline’s thought (our store manager) and a wonderful thought at that. We were hoping that clients would donate some of their spare pennies to charity for our wrapping services. We would be surprised if anyone argued with that.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what charity we should help out?

Posted in australian style | Leave a comment

susie’s babyshower

By Phoebe Gazal | Published: July 23, 2009

Susie is one of our graphic designers. She has been sitting by my side for three years. She is one of the five people in the last three years that I have spent most of my time with. We started in the first Papier d’Amour store in the tiniest office you have ever seen. We nearly fell over and injured ourselves many times whilst laughing hysterically when we used to have to hoist the 40 kilos of wrapping paper into the overhead storage.

Susie happily moved into a much bigger office and store and still sits a metre away from me. And our relationship has continued to blossom. Seven months ago Susie told me she was pregnant and in my mind I have been planning a few surprises for her exit from my life, as we have known it so far.

So when Susie announced her godmothers were having a babyshower for her I got very excited, however etiquette-wise it would be very improper of me to try and take over. This, if anyone knows me, is quite a difficult position for me to take. However I have managed to slip in a few little touches here and there.

First of all I treated Susie as a client and presented her with two invitations. She chose the pea in a pod invitation…

susieopt1 susieopt2

Because Susie’s nephew got swine flu, the baby shower was delayed till 23rd August, which, between you and me, is cutting it a little fine, but fingers crossed.

So you will have to wait to see what surprises I have in store in case Susie reads this beforehand…watch this space.

Posted in australian style | Leave a comment

real weddings…red, red and more red

By Phoebe Gazal | Published: July 20, 2009

If someone had of suggested to me 10 years ago that a red themed wedding would be as beautiful as the latest Real Weddings shoot I would have questioned them. But once we got started with Nicole from Real Weddings, Didi and I couldn’t stop. The outcome was amazing. Check out the button bouquet…

invitestree

red lantern seating plan

Posted in weddings | 1 Comment

window dressing – style defined

By Phoebe Gazal | Published: June 20, 2009

Papier d'Amour paper wheel window

Window dressing is the ultimate way in which as a store we define our style…it is one of the more enjoyable parts of my role. I always seem to come up with the ideas at 3 o’clock in the morning.

On our recent trip to New York I always go out of my way to check out Anthropology. They always have the most amazing windows…so much imagination. The sheer size does give them an advantage…none the less they are truly amazing. I take my hat off to them.

Anthropology beehive window

Papier d'Amour mother's day. This papier mache heart was made by Mac, Amy and Tallulah in the school holidays

Anthropology pod window

Posted in windows with style | Leave a comment

kate spade style

By Phoebe Gazal | Published: June 2, 2009

ks bathtub On our recent trip to New York in May we stopped off at the Kate Spade showroom to do our Holiday order (as the Americans call it). Everything is beautiful and vibrant and bright and very, very quirky. I love quirky…