Personal/Editorial Fashion Stylist and Founder/Owner of The Style Files Aus.
Personal/Editorial Fashion Stylist and Founder/Owner of The Style Files Aus.
Lauren Murphy, the Founder/Owner of The Style File Aus is our go-to Gold Coast girl when it comes to fashion advice. She’s the resident stylist for Robina Town Centre, a personal and editorial fashion stylist and a busy mum of two. So, it’s safe to say she knows how to dress to impress! Lauren gave us a rundown on the 2022 Melbourne Cup fashion trends and why she loves calling the Gold Coast home.
How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
My family moved from Sydney to the Tweed Region, (just South of the border), when I was four. At 17, we relocated to Tallebudgera Valley. I then spent my early twenties renting beachside units from Mermaid to Currumbin, and in 2015, bought a house with my husband in Elanora, where we currently live and love with our two children.
What do you love the most about the Gold Coast?
The main things I love about the GC are the laid-back lifestyle, the weather, the beaches, the incredible business starts ups, the healthy lifestyle and the fact that it is a beautiful place to raise young children. I also love the proximity to everything.. for example; the fact that I can go from school drop off to morning pilates to taking a client shopping, followed by a live football game, to dinner and drinks by the beach all in one day is very gratifying.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am so lucky to have a wonderful husband Scott, who works FIFO as a Mining Manager, and two beautiful children – Cuba, 6 and Yorke, 4. I worked my entire teen years, every weekend and school holidays in a Kirra beachfront surf shop. I then went on to complete a Marketing Degree and a 10 year career in Media, Events and Public Relations. But after my second child was born, I decided to shift my career focus solely to my styling business, The Style Files Aus. I work closely with freelance clients on cleansing their wardrobe and shopping in alignment with their personal style, and I am the Resident Stylist at Robina Town Centre. I am a true Libran – a calm creative who loves beautiful things, a fighter of fairness but I am extremely indecisive. I have five brothers and sisters and five foster siblings also.
What made you want to pursue a career as a stylist?
A natural-born creative and a lover of all things fashion, I had dabbled in elements of styling without even knowing it as such in my old jobs. I found myself googling fashion courses while at my desk one day and I had a friend tell me she had enrolled in a styling course. I remember telling my husband “I wish I could do that” and his response was simply, “why can’t you?”. And from that moment on I decided no excuses would override my passion. I enrolled in the Australian Style Institute and took annual leave to complete my intensive personal and editorial styling training in Melbourne. The rest is history!
What trends do you think will be huge this year for the spring racing season?
I’m 100% confident that colour will be huge, especially monochrome colour play with shades of purple, pink, green and orange will taking centre stage. Feminine gloves, puffy sleeves, bows and statement eyewear will all be dominant. Along with woven, rattan textured accessories. Overall, a European Summer influence.
What’s on trend for headpieces this year? Fascinators, headbands, hats, what is your pick?
I think we will see a lot of netting and classic bows. Along with wide brim, sleek hats. And as mentioned above, I think we’ll see a beautiful display of woven, rattan textures.
What has been your favourite spring racing fashion trend to have emerged in recent years?
I love seeing suiting on women on track side! Although it can be a little warm on the GC for that year-round, so I’m going to say the glam 60’s style. Think structured smocks with pinched waistlines and buttons, paired with big hair, thick headbands and mini handbags.
What race day style trends do you think are overdone?
Those higher neck, lace dresses that make a person look 10 years older than what they really are and bodycon/bandage dresses. They are so done.
Which Australian designers are your favourites for racing season?
Aje and Zimmerman always bring the feminine frock goodies and some personal faves favourties of mine for a slight edge are Alice McCALL, Shona Joy and Dion Lee. If you’re chasing a last-minute spring racing outfit, Issue 1 at Robina Town Centre always have beautiful Australian labels.
What do you love about Gold Coast race day fashion?
I love that us Gold Coasters dare to be different and always wear a smile! We aren’t afraid of colour, colour and more colour, and wear outfits that make us feel good aka we’re big on “Dopamine Dressing”.
How will you be celebrating the 2022 Melbourne Cup Carnival?
I will be getting dolled up and heading to Nineteen at The Star with a couple of girlfriends for a few champagnes and a cheeky punt. I have always loved getting dressed up for Melbourne Cup and putting a complete look together, head-to-toe, and being around other people so full of energy and good vibes. I can’t wait!
What are your Gold Coast favourites…
Café/coffee spot: Coffee- My local Down to Earth Café for coffee (7th Ave Palm Beach)
Breakfast spot: Plantation House (Tallebudgera Creek Road).
Restaurant: Tommy’s in Currumbin or Light Years in Miami for a girl’s lunch, Nineteen at The Star for fine dining, Ze Pickle Burleigh for a casual burgers and wings.
Bar or place for a drink: I can’t go past a Gold Coast Surf Club! Palm Beach, Currumbin or Tallebudgera are where I go most. Otherwise, it’s my favourite restaurants above with a side of margaritas!
Beach: The Alley, Kirra or 11th Ave Palm Beach. Gosh we’re luck here to be spoilt for choice.
How do you choose to spend your days off?
My days off usually consist of running around after my kids haha. Cuba plays football for Currumbin Eagles and is in Palm Beach Nippers, and Yorke dances at Coastal Dance in Currumbin. There is also soccer and touch football during the week. We also attend lots of kid’s birthday parties and social events lots of different venues around the Coast. I like to try and get to one of our local markets and if I can sneak away, I’ll do a reformer pilates class at Studio Pilates in Palm Beach. BBQ’s with friends by the pool are definitely popular in Spring/Summer, as are beach days with a few sneaky bevies to finish off!
Gold Coast fashion brand The Undercurrent has launched their second range of tee shirts designed by local artists to depict popular aspects of Gold Coast suburbs.
The range will see Palm Beach, Miami, Broadbeach and Nobby Beach represented along with a general Gold Coast t-shirt and trucker cap.
Five new artists have been commissioned to design the range and the simple brief requested they include elements that best represent both the history and current vibe of the suburb. The initial range saw tees representing Surfers Paradise, Coolangatta, Currumbin, Burleigh Heads and Mermaid Beach fly off the shelves thus calling for a second range to be created almost immediately.
Aimed at both locals and tourists, The Undercurrent was born from owner Carly Snodgrass’s desire to showcase the Coast in a way that adequately represents her beautiful hometown and the talented creatives residing within it.
She says, “It was easy to see from the get-go that a second range would be needed with the amount of feedback we received from the first range. People were screaming for their suburb to be added! I’m really stoked with how the new suburb tees look. They were created by completely new local artists to the brand.
“The suburbs were chosen by which locals screamed the loudest. Our coastal suburbs appeal to both locals and tourists, so everyone can get on board.
“I chose the artists from a few who had approached me and a couple we sought out. There are so many fantastic local creatives on the Coast, so it’s always a tough decision aligning the right artist with the right suburb. We want to make sure they thoroughly do their research for the area and can bring that history to life.
“I feel like we’ve really taken the essence from each suburb and have created something that locals will be proud to wear, otherwise we haven’t done what we set out to do.”
The Undercurrent’s name is two-fold; a nod to the Gold Coast’s thriving surf culture and the unveiling of a side of the city that may not be common knowledge, but definitely should be.
$2 from every sale is donated to Surf Lifesaving Queensland who were who were chosen due to the huge part they play in both assisting tourists and their vital role in shaping the Gold Coast’s culture.
Use the code ilovegc for 20% off all products.
Words by Kirra Smith.
It’s an experience that gets all your senses going, from that distinctive op shop scent to the rush of excitement you get when you find a pre-loved treasure you know you’ll be calling vintage!
In honour of all the people who do good by donating to op shops or volunteer their time, we bring forth an epic list of the crème de la crème of op shops on the Coast.
Thrifters, get excited, gather your besties and get ready to hunt down some bargains!
Salvos Store, Nerang
So our friends in the outer ‘burbs don’t have to miss out on the bargain hunt we bring to you Nerang’s Salvos Store just off the Pacific Motorway on Station Street. Friendly service and a great range of pre-loved items make this op shop a place to return!
Where: 23-25 Station St, Nerang
Lifeline Molendinar
Bargain hunters, this one will give you all the heart eyes. It is a literal warehouse. You’re guaranteed to walk away from this place with some bargains.
Where: 28 Industrial Ave, Molendinar
Lifeline, Southport
Southport’s Lifeline is the perfect spot when you’re in the mood to dress to impress. They have lots of retro and vintage clothing plus books, shoes, toys and manchester.
Where: 14 Railway St, Southport
Vinnies, Mudgeeraba
Vinnies, another familiar face in the world of op-shopsis a must for affordable and pre-loved items including clothing, furniture, books, music and bric-a-brac. Everything you buy inspires change in your local community, feel good shopping at its best!
Where: 58 Railway St, Mudgeeraba
Pacas Recycling Store, Surfers Paradise
Passionate about conscious consumerism and the preservation of our environment, Pacas encourages us to never pay retail prices – and we oblige! Their massive haul of preloved pieces is sourced from Florida (cool) and they specialise in US designer brands like GAP, Victoria’s Secret and American Eagle. Plus, they get new drops every single Saturday so yes, a little trip to the glitter strip is set to become a weekly event.
Where: 3298 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise
Salvos, Mermaid Beach
Located just near Soak Bathhouse in Mermaid Beach it’s easy to see why this store has a reputation for being one of the best on the Coast. This place is huge and a veritable treasure trove for thrifters.
Where: Pacific Square, Shop 11/2532 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
AWLQ, Burleigh
This hidden treasure trove located on the lower Gold Coast Highway just around the corner from Commune Cafe is rather small but offers you a good variety of clothing, furniture and home-wares. Plus it’s always a good feeling knowing you’re helping animals in need with your new finds. Show them off in style by relaxing with a yummy coffee afterwards.
Where: Cnr & Lower Gold Coast Hwy & Elder Entrance, Burleigh Heads
Vinnies, Burleigh Waters
Nestled between Harvey Norman and Burleigh Homespace at Santa Maria Court is Vinnies Burleigh Waters. The welcoming staff play a big part of why this op-shop is a locals favourite! Besides great customer service they give you everything you expect from a thrift shop and more.
Where: 11/1 Santa Maria Ct, Burleigh Waters
RSPCA, West Burleigh
Bargain hunters beware… RSPCA’s biggest Gold Coast store is another well kept secret and features furniture, books, toys, music, clothing and even some antiques! It’s pretty easy to spend hours browsing through all the second-hand steals and collectables, but as long as you make it out with some unique fashion items and vintage finds it’s well worth it!
Where: 18 Township Dr, Burleigh Heads
