Boiling Hot!

And, in yellow...

When it’s boiling hot, you’d want a whisper in your ear...
No, that does not make sense.

But what does make sense is this dress!
Made from super soft rayon, this dress feels like a whisper on your skin.

Light, delicate and did we mention soft,
it’s perfect for welcoming a gentle breeze on that 30-degree day...
(And, we know there’s plenty coming!)

• Cute front pocket on the left breast
• Curved hem with a slight flare
• Longer in the front to cover you when you sit, shorter the in the sides for a little tease
• Removable sash
• Great with belts or little slips - ie: lace peaking out from underneath
• Original nut & bright colours - hand-dyed so you won't see them elsewhere

Whisper Dress
Available: S, M, L (SOLD OUT!)
Colour: Mint & Yellow

More Happy!

This-dress-is-made-for-twirl-ling! 

that's-just-what-she'll-do...

 

with her hands in her pockets,

she'll twirll all over you!

(haha! don't ever let us sing!)

And, rocking it out in black...

• 100% cotton
• Hidden pockets on both sides
• Gathered back to fit you nicely and still giving you room to breathe
• Adjustable ribbon around the neck

To be honest, it took us a while to work out if the bottom colour is black or navy...we kinda see black but other girls kept calling it navy. To be fair, it's a pretty dark midnight blue... =)

Well, black or blue (or red!), this dress is way cool!

Mobey Dress
Price: $75
Red Gingham: S, M (SOLD OUT!), L (LAST PIECE)
Dark Blue Gingham:  S (LAST PIECE), M (SOLD OUT), L (LAST PIECE) 

Happy!

We're happy to present...
the first of the 2010 / 2011 Summer Collection...
a dress in our very own print...
the Milla Dress!

 

• Printed on super soft quality rayon (a fabric made from plant fibres)
• Cute pocket on one side
• Fabric-covered button all the way down
• Comes with a removable sash but can be dressed up with belts!
• Just a simple relaxed fit. Very basic.

Something you can just throw on in summer - you will get alot of wear out of this!

Milla Dress

Available: S, M, L (SOLD OUT!)

Dot & Amber Flowers - S Dot & Amber Flowers - M Dot & Amber Flowers - L

nut & bright is back!

And, we’re back with a difference...

This is where we’re making our dresses now. =)
Well, not exactly in the middle of the rice field, but this is the view from the workshop were we create patterns and play with dresses!

So, slight changes in our front.

# 1: Half of Us

Good news! One of us has gone off to have a gorgeous baby girl (congratulations, my dear friend).
The other, just. can’t. stop. designing.

We’re a one girl show now. But that does not stop us from creating more beautiful dresses (dresses we want to wear). And, this time, we’ve taken the designing further.

#2: Prints, Dyes & Fabrics

After seeing several brands using the same fabrics, we decided to design our own! Yes, our prints and colours are designed by yours truly and hand-printed or hand-dyed in small batches. In fact, our craft is so traditional that the colours are dyed or printed by eye (not computer) and dried organically in the sun. This means that mother nature - sunshine, humidity etc - plays its role in the uniqueness of our fabrics. We select only the best quality base fabric to print on, often in natural fabrics like 100% cotton, linen or rayon (which is made from plant fibre).

#3: Socially Meaningful
      Designed in Melbourne, Handmade in the Villages of Bali

We wanted to do something socially meaningful with the business.
And, wanted to structure it in a way where a community benefits.
After much research, we decided to work with D, a talented Balinese woman.

D is a mother of two with no training or background in sewing. One day, she decided to hire a pattern-maker to start a little business. Her little business is growing and she now engages five head sew-ers from the smaller villages in Bali. With work from D, these head sew-ers get to hire people from their villages to sew, providing additional income to their farming lives. The dresses are sewn in small quantities at the villages itself, not mass produced in big city factories. In my observation, the villagers sew with a lot of heart and a great deal of care. They are treated with respect with good working conditions and fair exchange.

The picture above was taken from the front of D’s home, where she also works.

ooo...ooo...we.just.can't.wait!

We are super duper excited to share new dresses!
Photos done. Uploading not.

Please come back in the week or so and hopefully, you'll see lotsa new dress designs!

lotsa love,

nut & bright

oxox

Btw, if you just. can't. wait, come try on our dresses!

Markets:

Suzuki Summer Night Market

@ the Queen Victoria Market premise.

Every Wed, 5-10pm

Now to 2nd Mar 2011 (exc. 29 Dec).

- world food, music, dance, 200+ stalls

- Victoria's Best Event / Festival*

- ps. there's a whole new section with food and plenty of seating. Find us there!

Shirt & Skirt Market

@ the Abbotsford Convent

Sunday, 10am-4pm

28 Nov, 19 Dec, 16 Jan, 20 Feb

- lovely cafes + quality local crafts!

Boutique / Retail:

Design A Space

Windsor Store: 142 Chapel Street

Melbourne City Store: 20 Manchester Lane

Sun-Mon: 12pm-4pm

Tue-Sat: 10am-6pm

*RACV Tourism

Yay! It's nearly the weekend!

Time to be outdoors!
To market!

This Sunday, 21st Nov, 10am-4pm!

                                               image credit: Shirt & Skirt Market

This gorgeous market is only on once a month.
An inspiring place, a beautiful way to spend a Sunday.

We suggest:

Start with brunch at one of the cafes or the popular Convent Bakery.
Then, browse and shop at the market stalls.
Taking your time. Slowing down. Absorbing the atmosphere.

When you feel like it, sit down on the grass. And, do nothing. 
There's a green area within the convent grounds,
where people sometimes take their own picnic.
You can have a drink, have another bite or, just watch the people pass. 

xoxo

We just want to wish you....

 

Happy Easter!

Although, it does feels more like Boxing Day

here at Nut & Bright with the SALE going on.

Have a relaxing Easter break!
Be safe. Have fun.

xoxo 

Summer Extended!

Reversible Anchor Dress, Sale: $49

 

Apparently autumn is here.

Well, in St Kilda it's not.

The St Kilda Beach Night Market has been extended until 11 March 2010.

With two more markets to go, we're hanging on to the last thread of summer.
Here's to just...one more picnic, one more alfresco dinner, one more dancing in the park...

Not that I don't love autumn, don't get me wrong, I love the changing seasons.

I just want to feel a bit more of the warm sunshine on my skin before I swap to wool scarfs and fennel pajamas...aaah...the other side of summer. =)

So, while we're on an extended summer, come visit us @

St Kilda Beach Night Market.

Last Two Markets: Thurs, 5pm-10pm [4 & 11 March 2010]

The market is opposite Lunar Park. Our stall is next to the Vineyard Restaurant.

See you there!
xo

This popular dress!

Remember this Tea Dress? The one that flatters just about anyone?

Well, it looked sooo good on sooo many that we decided to give it a comeback!

This time, we played around with different fabrics.

After all, just because a style works doesn’t mean it has to look exactly the same!

We play around. You could too!

When you find a cut that works, by all means, stick to it.

But, have a fun. Change it up a little.

Try new colours, accessories and even nail polish!

Our first Tea Dress came in floral fabrics inspired by Spring & Summer.

Today, as I sit by a sunny window dreaming of an everlasting summer, I know that autumn will blow in (eventually). So we’ve picked riper colours, softly accented with subtle vintage prints, which we call Autumn Dew & Winter Fog.

# Tea Dress in Autumn Dew #

# Tea Dress in Winter Fog #

{ Tea Dress - Autumn Dew & Winter Fog }

- Falls at the knees
- Fully lined
- Gathered smocking at the back and shoulders to fit you nicely
- Can be styled with belts as shown or worn on its own
- Features a sash at both sides that can be tied at the back or crossed-over to the front
- 3 Sizes: S (fits size 6-8), M (fits size 8-10), L (fits size 10-12)
- 2 Colours: Autumn Dew & Winter Fog
- $59

 Tip: If you are blessed with fuller busts, best to go up one size

Festival Sunday! St Kilda Festival! This Sunday! Valentine's Day!

Hello friends of Nut & Bright!

Just to let you know that our stall will be at the Alfred Square Stage on Festival Sunday!
O.M.G.! I seriously can't tell you how excited I am!
I swear I did not tell the organisers anything about my music taste but they got it right!

I am next to the stage of World Music! Woohoo!
I'm so going to be dancing and feelin' the groove, you'd have to pull me back to try on dresses!

Before I found out who would be playing at the Alfred Square Stage, I was nervous that no one would visit our stall. Now that I know, it does not matter because either way, I'll be gettin' jiggy with it!

Alfred Square Stage Line-Up:

11.30am  
Indigenous Vocal Talent Deline Briscoe

12.45am  
ME (as in, not 'me' but the name of the band!)

2pm        
Sol Nation as if you don't already know them!

More than just a 7-piece band, Sol Nation IS the rhythm of world cultures funked up and stirred! 
Reggae, East Timorese folk song, Cuban Salsa, Latin dance, Afro-Beat, tropical island rhythm and Brazilian Samba!

3.15pm   
Valgurgrad, King of Criminals and old Russian Thief Songs!

4.30pm    
King Marong & Afro Mandinko
I went wild to their rhythm at the Port Fairty Festival last year - I SOOO LOVE THEM!
West African instruments and rhythms blend with bass and drums, guitar, keyboards and a horn section, afrobeat-funk-reggae and a colourful dance feast!

7pm       
Watussi, a Cuban slang which means 'the most handsome men in the party!'


I. Just. Can't. Wait!

Just so you know, the Alfred Square Stage is in the middle of the Esplanade, near Novotel Hotel.
Some roads will be closed so make sure you google your route first.

Even if you're not crazy into World Music like me, come check out the St Kilda Festival anyway. There are loads of free activities 10am-10pm;
4 Music Stages, Comedy, Kite-Surfing Competition, Football Cup, Salsa, Swing etc.

*deep breathes...I'm so excited! See you there! 

xoxo

Life Rocks! (& Ms. Vintage Shift Dress in Five Fabrics)

I overheard a friend greet another and the unexpected response, ‘life rocks!’

I don’t know about you, but when I hear ‘how are you?’ most often, I hear a standard ‘good, thanks!’

This made me wonder..., ‘wow, what warrants such enthusiasm? Life must be pretty sweet for that guy!’

Then I stopped and thought...what if we heightened our perspectives?
What if, we changed our responses from our autopilot response to ‘life rocks’?

I haven’t tested this yet but I have a feeling that when we do this, our lives would be rockin’! So I dare you, next time someone asks, ‘how you going?’ try saying, ‘I’m rockin’ mate!’

 

# Miss Vintage Dress in Blue Rose #

# Terracotta Rose #

# Grey Tulips #

# Red and White Tulips #

# Purple-Blue Tulips #

Now, what does the motion of life have to do with dresses? I don’t know.

But, this dress rocks!

I love that it’s soooo simple.

Clean lines, elegant and effortless.

Such a basic shift dress; it’s my wardrobe staple, something I could wear everyday.

I could. Because I've got all the different vintage inspired fabrics. And, there are five! Woophee!

 

{ Ms. Vintage Shift Dress }

- Features a playful pocket on one side

- Removable sash that nips in the waist (tied in front, side or back).

- For a different look, style with a belt.

- Looks great with a cotton camisole or lace slip peaking out from inside

- Great for layering in winter. Even better with boots.

- One Size: S (fits a size 6 to a small size 10)

- Five Colours:

  Combed cotton fabric (polished look):

    1. Blue Rose

    2. Terracotta Rose

  Rayon fabric (softer feel):

    3. Grey Tulips

    4. Red & White Tulips [2 pieces left]

    5. Purple-Blue Tulips

- $55

So You Think You Can Dance?

 # Yellow #

# White #

Ok, who watched SYTYCD yesterday?

I love the way the contestants put themselves out there.
Wholly giving themselves to their passions,
Totally immersed in what they are doing,
Allowing the world to see who they really are.

So raw. So honest. No holding back.

I hope I can live from the heart they way they dance from the heart*.

Anyway, not related to dancing but kinda the point of this post is me sharing a playful dress with you. This dress is similar to the Nut & Bright Anchor Dress but the top section is made with t-shirt cotton for a comfy fit. Like the Anchor Dress, you can wear it with the zip in front or back-to-front over something underneath.


{ Reversible Play Dress }

- T-shirt cotton on top, Linen on the bottom
- Free Size: fits size 8 to a small size 12
- Two Colours: Yellow [available], White [SOLD OUT]
- $49

 *what if I can't actually dance?

 ps. Dog named Toto is not for sale.