ShowTellShare One Hundred and Ninety-Two

Posted on May 6, 2013 by JGRuddock

Show/Tell/Share: Check out Susan last Saturday doing some live window-modelling of The Social Studio clothing. Amongst other things, Susan is an aspiring modern dancer, so she was also showcasing her contemporary dance moves down at our Pop-Up Pilot at The Rocks…

This dress was so truly suited to Susan’s own style and personality that she happily bought it in support of The Social Studio and The Social Outfit. A beautiful butterfly-inspired-dress for a talented young woman…

Thanks for working with us, Susan! Here is what she wrote about the experience:

My favourite part of The Social Studio fashion is the mixture of different colours that is so contemporary, with a link to cultural inspiration. Working with The Social Outfit means getting along with everyone, and it meant I felt comfortable and confident.

Then on Thursday and Friday last week I had my two-day induction as part of the Vodafone Foundation ‘World of Difference’ paid charity leave. Here’s me and two of my *wonderful* fellow WOD’ers – we’ve just finished telling our story for about the tenth time, and to many of the interested staff at Vodafone Headquarters, including the CEO – so no wonder we’re smiling and looking relieved!

On my left is the *darling* Loren O’Keefe from Missing Persons’ Advocacy Network (Melbourne) and the ‘Dan Come Home’ Campaign. On my right is the *bold and bright* Julliette Wright from Givit (Brisbane). Our fourth buddy, not pictured, is Ian Davis from MND and Me Foundation. Right now Ian is riding the ‘million meters ride’ on a two-person, purpose-built, bike from Brisbane to Sydney. Good luck, Ian! (For more about me and my three fellow participants a good snapshot is here, at Vodafone Foundation ‘World of Difference’.)

Last Friday evening we opened for some late-night shopping and a bit of a community catch up. Here’s just a few fun pics from the night…

*Thanks* for your joy and hope lovelies pictured here, and others!

And given that we will close our pop-up doors this Friday evening, 10 May 2013, we’re going to have a small last *hoorah* for all the support and love Sydney-siders have shown from 5.30pm. Follow our The Social Outfit Facebook page for updates…

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Eighty-Three

Posted on March 28, 2013 by JGRuddock

Share: Wow… The things I find myself doing in the pursuit of making The Social Outfit happen in Sydney. Take today for example…

In this outfit,

At one point, I was standing in an elevator, talking straight to a professional camera-man, pitching The Social Outfit concept in just 45 seconds. Do you know how quick that is?! “Hello, my name is Jackie, and I’d *love* The Social Outfit to happen…” and BAM! 45 seconds is up! Plus, talking to a camera is REALLY hard. And then, a person who works inside the building got in the lift with me too while we were recording live – I don’t think he had any idea why I was standing in a work elevator talking to a camera crew. Heaven knows what the video ended up looking like! One thing I do know: I sure did try my best.

You see, today was my Vodafone Foundation ‘World of Difference’ interview. I’m lucky enough to reach the Top 10 this year, and *FINGERS CROSSED* this time we get it. Honestly, what a ‘world of difference‘ this support would make! A BIG step closer to opening our doors.

Naturally, too, I was wearing The Social Studio for such an important event. And, does my dress look a little familiar perhaps? That’s right, this is the dress Hawanatu showcased in our November 2012 runway show…

This gem is made with vintage fabric, and I simply love the design of these The Social Studio dresses: so comfortable, so easy to wear. A worthwhile purchase for me!

Tell: Glasses from Japan, handmade earrings and necklace, The Social Studio dress, Fletcher Jones skirt from op shop, retail tights, Happy Socks, vintage 1980-90s Fluevog clog shoes.

And finally, look how we are developing with our The Social Outfit Pilot Project:

We had so many great people offer to be involved in our workshops, and I’m so pleased that we have on offer a great range of workshops of fashion-related fun. Thanks Nicole, Catharine and Soraya! And soon, we’ll all get to watch the genius-creativity of young people from refugee backgrounds… Exciting!

If you want to be kept up to date as the event develops, follow our Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/520967514627304/

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Seventy-Six

Posted on March 8, 2013 by JGRuddock

Share: The Social Outfit eBay auction-extravaganza is getting closer and closer every day… Bargains! Ken Done! Vintage! 1980s! Doing *good*! Helping The Social Outfit! So many points of exclamation!

The auctions start closing this Saturday… Good Luck and thanks for your support! All money raised (less eBay fees) goes directly to supporting The Social Outfit xo

Here’s Kit yesterday wearing her Mum’s vintage dress…

And last night The Social Outfit team had a board meeting. Check out Sarah… her dress is from a social enterprise working with African communities in France. Gorgeous! And *bless* the gang for always being willing for me to take photos; I just love showing you how many there of us involved and how hard we are working…

Tell: Lafont glasses, Wa-Nyika earrings, Tatty Devine necklace, handmade necklace, The Social Studio singlet, Diane Freis 1980s skirt from op shop (made into a dress by me), stockings from Japan, House of Holland socks, Fluevog boots.

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Seventy-Three

Posted on February 27, 2013 by JGRuddock

Share: Time to keep moving! Three foundation grant applications all due very shortly (and there’s more we are working on too). This is me yesterday, juggling my university work, the grant applications, our other projects… and more. We’re heading into a busy time, and I’m so *pleased* to have the support of our many excellent volunteers at The Social Outfit helping me out. Everyone is really pitching in…

So back to work! To type out our dreams, and to fill in forms: all in the *hope* of making The Social Outfit a reality in Sydney… Please wish us luck as we give it a go! xo

Show:

Tell: Earrings from op shop, handmade necklaces, Saba t-shirt stolen from the First Hawaiian Officer, handmade skirt from op shop, retail tights and socks, Fluevog shoes on sale from Sole Devotion.

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Sixty-Eight

Posted on February 14, 2013 by JGRuddock

Share: Ah, the city of Sydney!

Yesterday Kit and I met with the cultural development team at the City of Sydney council offices, to talk about The Social Outfit‘s pop-up shop and creative workshops we’re organising in the coming months. Exciting! We’re going to have our work cut out for us as we strive to run the project really well, as well as continue the larger The Social Outfit development plan into Sydney. And when there’s hard work, I’m always up for finding time for a bit of *fun* too: like posing in front of these Sydney architectural miniature models. We’re like giants! Giants who want to bring *good fashion for good* to Sydney!

Here’s what we were wearing yesterday. As you know, I always like to wear The Social Studio as I do this work… it’s keeps me purposeful and *hopeful* about how we could also work creatively with Sydney’s own refugee communities too.

Show:

Tell: Lafont glasses, earrings from op shop, handmade necklace, handmade brooches, 1980s Keith Mattheson men’s shirt from Rozelle markets, The Social Studio t-shirt, Anthea Crawford skirt from op shop, retail tights and socks, Fluevog boots.

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Forty-Five

Posted on November 29, 2012 by JGRuddock

Show/Tell/Share: Hello! Just letting you know all the *AMAZING* photos are now up from our very recent Sydney November event on our new events page. Check them out! It includes individual photos of our *delightful* models. Oooooh, Aaaaah, Fantastic!

Again, my many, many thanks to all involved for making The Social Outfit‘s first event an occasion to remember xo

Models: Oboya, Susan, Hawanatu. Clothes by The Social Studio. Photo by Hayley Hughes.

Models: Madeleine, Holly, Abuzar and Tamika. Clothes by The Social Studio. Photo by Hayley Hughes.

As for me, I can’t believe our showcase was one week ago to the day. I literally haven’t stopped since then, including the last two days down at Wollongong University. With 2-hours of travelling each way, and interesting social media workshops, my brain is feeling both very full and pretty tired! Still, my university work pays the rent, and allows me to keep working hard on developing The Social Outfit: so no complaints here… xo

Tuesday. Earrings from op shop, original Condoman brooch gifted by Viv, Primo Emporio denim vest, Saba cardigan, Anna Bennett dress from op shop, Simon de Winter socks, Fluevog shoes.

Wednesday. Ken Done t-shirt (that pink you see is the kangaroo’s tail!), dress from op shop (adjusted by me), Sportscraft belt, Uniqlo leggings, Fluevog shoes.

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Fourteen

Posted on September 17, 2012 by JGRuddock

Show/Share: Back to the Sydney hood, and back into The Social Outfit! I was out tonight to the Newtown Precinct Business Association website launch at Dendy Newtown. David Moutou and I were invited from the Sydney Outfit as a chance to speak with Newtown business locals about the opportunity of us starting up The Social Outfit fashion social enterprise in Newtown. And with the vibe and interest tonight, we can see why! Lots of fun, and *joyously* my new The Social Studio dress proved popular with Inner Westies (fashion hood not necessarily worn as below all night!!) xo

And just *because*; some close-up detail of the HIGH level of red and pink matching, via my favourite Ken Done glasses… EXTRA BIG SHOT FOR EXTRA BIG JOY… xo

Tell: Ken Done vintage glasses, The Social Studio dress (on sale too – grab yourself a bargain with the current sale!), Uniqlo skivvy, toucan brooch from the Hive in Canberra, Fluevog boots.

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Seven

Posted on September 3, 2012 by JGRuddock

Show: Presenting Knitted Gold…

Tell: Knitted gold chain handmade by me, child’s kimono worn as jacket, dress bought from Berlin second hand market, Fluevog sandals.

Share: Today I’m off to a training session entitled, ‘How to Better Manage Your Fashion Business Operations’, run by the Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia Limited (also known as the Australia Fashion Council, or TIFA). I’m looking forward to some new insights for setting up The Social Outfit here in Sydney.

As for my necklace, I’m always a bit pleased when I imagine myself crafting-up something, and in the end, I actually complete it, and it looks like I wanted it to. I just love my *BLING* knitted, don’t you?!! xo

ShowTellShare Ninety

Posted on August 2, 2012 by JGRuddock

Show:

Ingrid (L) and Celia Morris from Dragstar Fashion Boutique in Newtown.

Tell: Handmade earrings, Yayoi Kusama necklace from Japan, Tatty Devine giant zip necklace, Table Eight dress from op shop, The Social Studio cardigan, Black Milk leggings, Fluevog boots.

Share: Today I headed down to Dragstar in Newtown to meet with owner, and general *wonder-lady* Celia. Celia graciously agreed to look over our The Social Studio Sydney plan: especially looking out our retail model for the clothing store and manufacturing. And really, who better to know? Celia has successfully run her own Dragstar label for close to twenty years, so she *well* knows how Sydney retail works! Just take a look at her locally-produced clothing and you’ll see what I mean. It’s all great. Plus, she’s super helpful, and her support is a wonderful endorsement for the ways local business is truly supportive of social justice and social enterprise. Thanks Celia xo

Fashion-wise, today I seek to see how much *matchy-matchy* fashion I can achieve in one outfit. And tell me, are your own eyes already twitching, because look, even my eyes have gone red… Oh no hold on, that’s just my red eye make-up!!

ShowTellShare Seventy-Nine

Posted on July 11, 2012 by JGRuddock

Show: Right, we’ve got a social enterprise to *build* and develop… so thank *goodness* today I have some earrings with a useful metaphor to help with the work! Read on…

Tell: Tatty Devine earrings, necklace from op shop, Tatty Devine necklace (backwards in the shot – I didn’t notice!), ‘Lorax Original. A Division of Lady Carol’ dress from op shop, Esprit skivvy fro op shop, Saba belt stolen from the First Hawaiian Officer, Happy Socks, Fluevogs.

Share: Today I’m also introducing another important person from The Sydney Outfit.

The Sydney Outfit are the group of people helping me develop our version of The Social Studio model here. You met Antonia a few weeks ago, and here is another member, David Hardie. He’s a *gem* and here’s why:

Over a 30 year career, David has worked in government, nonprofit and philanthropy organisations, most recently at the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation and The Myer Foundation and Sidney Myer Fund. David also has extensive volunteer experience in diverse roles, including telephone counselling, refugee settlement assistance and youth mentoring. From 2008 to 2010 he helped establish and manage a successful education support program for school students from a refugee background. He is also the Founder and Director of the Slingsby Foundation.

Plus, David is a *lovely* bloke I’ve had the benefit (and pleasure) of working with on many projects for about four years now. He’s thoughtful, a straight-talker and very willing to take on a challenge. Perfect!

And just to end today’s post, a close up of my dress label. How I *love* this name. You say it out loud, and it just sounds rad. Kind of makes me want to say ‘A Division of Lady Jackie’ at the end of everything i say! xo