Romance was born

Weird Science

In the 1985 movie Weird Science, a pair of happy misfits use tip-top technology and nerdy know-how to create something truly beautiful: in the form of ‘real life’ woman and sexed up diva Kellie Le Brock. The Australian fashion label Romance Was Born have created something equally beguiling with their Spring/Summer 07/08 collection, also called Weird Science. Sending coke-bottle spectacles, high-waisted acid wash and even a DNA inspired headdress down the runway at Rosemount Fashion Week, a real highlight of the collection is the label’s collaboration with hot Sydney artist Del Kathryn Barton. Del Kathryn Barton, who has previously collaborated on the label’s Regional Australia collection, will once again provide a unique fabric print that will be reproduced across a range of garments. Romance’s own misfit duo, Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales, know nerds get their revenge in the end. [see also Del Kathryn Barton]

Five to watch

These are five Australian illustrators and designers that Lost At E Minor tips for big things over the next year or so: illustrator Lang Leav, who uses pastels and pixels to weave the enchanting world of Akina; Del Kathryn Barton, whose ‘patent wide-eyed innocent children’ occupy ‘imaginary fantasy worlds of abstract patterns, foliage, native birds and rabbits’; Kelly Boulton, of Other Design, who has has worked across a variety of creative mediums, from guest art directing street press magazine, Stu, to designing t-shirts for Jeremyville; Joshua Gurrie, who takes inspiration from the racier elements of contemporary popular culture’ and whose work ‘seeks to counter the over-saturation of pop media, web junk and glossy sneakers’; and Momoko Hatano, who is inspired by ‘philosophy, environmental and political issues, and artists such as Wim Delvoye and William Morris’. [illustrations by Del Kathryn Barton, left, and Lang Leav, right]

Chris Buzelli

American artist, Chris Buzelli, grew up in Chicago before studying at The Rhode Island School of Design. He moved to New York City in 1995. His oil paintings have been featured in The New York Times, Playboy, and The Boston Globe, amongst many other magazines and newspapers, and his work has been ‘recognised by American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, Society of Publication Designs, Communication Arts, Print and Step by Step’. [see also Del Kathryn Barton]

Australia x Brazil

After weeks of packing Australia’s crate with the best of Aussie nightlife, our crate was farewelled in lavish style at the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange send-off party in Sydney last week. We discovered Australia is swapping with Brazil, so we’re hanging out for the samba and cachaça to sway ashore and lead us astray. Lost At E Minor contributor Michelle Wilding captured the vibe of the night and Aussie nightlife with this video.

The AP Tour

The AP Tour brought metalcore music heavyweights and a convoy of sponsor vans head-first into a stormy Seattle last night. The Hurley denim reps were rattled; they’d endured a long drive from Utah through what they described as the worst weather they’d ever experienced. Joking around with them before the show I realised how shaken up these guys actually were; hands were still shaking and their laughter was racked by nerves. Read more

NOW: an Analog Moving Picture Project

There’s a great story behind this prog-surf film. Riley Blakeway was an aspiring surf film-maker with incredible talent and a handfull of small film projects to his name. Chippa Wilson was a relatively unknown but amazing aerial surfer without the opportunity to show the world what he could do. In 2009, they won STAB magazine’s Little Weeds competition, respectively taking out the film-maker and surfer prizes. Read more