To all the half-witted magazine editors who’ve been too quick to praise the ‘laid-back, soft-rock 70’s cool’ look Angus Stoner (typo and it stays) sported to the recent ARIA ceremony – the Style Tyrant suggests y’all may have punched one-too-many cones, because from where I was sitting, the beige cords, broken-down boots and flee-infested beard Stoner rolled down the red carpet in was more Bong Water Stylin’ than Swamp Rock Stylin’ The Eagles aren't happy! But hey, in other less caustic and non-ARIA related news the Leisure Master is back! And just when you thought it wasn’t possible for the... Continue reading

Shit! I hit publish instead of preview. Anyhoo, Jimmy D has dropped into ST HQ (with a monster hangover in tow), I’m too distracted to write. I was going to write about the bag and these wicked Armani slacks but y’all can read about that over on the Lustable blog. Sorry, but it’s one of those blog and runs kinda days. Continue reading

Two of the best things procured from my recent sojourn in Melbourne were these high-waisted, khaki trousers and the floral print shirt. The Arthur Galan shirt was rescued (for soppy sentimental reasons) from a pile of “shit” that Imelda Mike was planning to kick to the curb and the trousers…correction…dream trousers, I snatched from the army surplus store on Chapel St (which has since closed). It doesn’t take long - but once you’ve eased your mind into the idea of a trouser that sits above the waist, you’ll never ‘drop-trou’ again. And yes, I’ll continue to wear both the sunglasses... Continue reading

There’s nothing like new clobber to spur on a vanity blog post. The pants, a gift from Orri Henrisson and the shirt, one of the 7 I’ve ordered from NiAlma. All killer, no filler! Continue reading

Firstly, that it’s taken me 2 months to blog the Orri Henrisson S/S 11 campaign is an indefensible oversight. Unfortunately, what should be the Tyrants proudest photographic moment is now shrouded in shame - so Henry, Ashley, Jimmy, Rachel and Koen; the Tyrant prostrates himself before thee and begs for clemency. This morning I asked myself, ‘what can I add to this story that hasn’t already been said?’ The answer it would seem is ‘not much’. After roaring to life on Frockwriter and The Vine, the Orri Henrisson S/S11 campaign ripped through the interwebs at warp speed. Then after finding... Continue reading

If you’re following the Tyrant on Twitter or Facebook (or perhaps you’re an avid reader of Frockwriter), y’all may know that the Tyrant is in the midst of the most epic, life-changing, blog-ortunity. In what appears to be a first-of-its-kind social media campaign, PayPal has bequeathed both HRH the Despotic Queen of Shoes and the Style Tyrant (and 4 other bloggers) with a $12K shopping spree. In return, I’ve been asked to document my online shopping experience for PayPal’s new fashion-orientated blog, LUSTABLE. I’m sorry that I’ve yet to mention this here (or over on Imelda) but with $12K to... Continue reading

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Excuse the dopey look on the Tyrants face and focus your collective attentions on these fucking WILD vintage high-waisted denim jeans I unearthed last Saturday! I’m not one to blog my personal shit but the ‘Leisure Master’ (Yes! The brand tab really reads ‘Leisure Master’) has changed my life…or rather, is about to change my life. I’ve re-evaluated my entire LUSTABLE campaign around these swamp rock bad-boys. Blissed-Out and On The Bayou…take it away John… Continue reading

HRH and the impossibly beautiful Lady Melbourne have spent the past FOUR days holed up in Sydney in an epic blog-love coma! Last night and on the verge of both requiring liver transplants, we decided to bump heels (in public),... Continue reading

Logging onto the information super highway this morning, Imelda was greeted by news so diabolical, Yum Yum - sensing what was about to go down – committed seppuku. Correction, she ‘attempted’ seppeuku. In her defence, aside from Imelda’s merciless tongue... Continue reading

Miuccia’s S/S11 collection has meet with mixed (and somewhat brutal) reviews over at The Fashion Spot. But from HRH has seen, Prada’s 20’s inspired woven leather Mary Jane’s in tasty Liquorice Allsorts colour blocking are all killer, no filler. My... Continue reading

Earlier today the Despotic Queen tumbled out of her crypt to cast her peepers over Frida Giannini’s S/S 11 collection of stitts. Hmmm, I thunk to myself, did I mistakenly teleported myself back into the halcyon era of Tom Ford’s... Continue reading

A few Saturday’s ago I spotted Roderick Ng (one half of Sydney-based label Master / Slave) totting a cha-neel brolly, a loaf of bread and a bag of men’s briefs. Ng told the Tyrant he was en route to shoot a video for Master / Slave’s new line of men’s underwear – the bread, I assumed was for the crew. However, I later remembered stylists have been known to use bread to ‘smooth out’ the ‘pouch’, which I’m told cuts down on post production time. Whatever! The juxtaposition of white bread, Dolce trainers and Chanel was too good an opportunity... Continue reading

This morning East Sydney TAFE graduate Erin Bruce, wooed the Despotic Queen with a promising A/W 11 collection of peep toe sandals, two-tone pumps, ankle and ¾ boots – which, incidentally were inspired by ice skates. Bruce, who recently launched... Continue reading

Neglected much? The Tyrant is currently attempting to plough through a backlog of work whilst he juggles coverage of fashion month, which hasn’t left much time for street style. I’ve also neglected to update the blog with images from the S/S 11 campaign I shot for Orri Henrisson. Thankfully two of the Tyrants greatest friends and long time Tyrant supporters, Patty ‘Frockwriter’ Huntington and Alyx ‘I’m leaving you and moving to Melbourne to be the new Fashion Editor of The Vine’ Gorman have already honoured the Tyrant. You can read Frockwriter’s post HERE and The Vines post (which includes behind... Continue reading

With the Despotic Queen busy tending to her too-legit-to-quit business activities, the rough ‘n' tumble of NYFW has all but slipped through my gnarly talons of tyranny. But in all honesty, aside from a handful of shows, NYFW doesn’t leave... Continue reading

The Despotic Queen is pleased to report that approx 12am AEST rising footwear star Carrie Cooper will make her New York Fashion Week debut for New Zealand based label Karen Walker. Before jetting off to join Walker at New York... Continue reading

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click to enlarge The moment Lady Melbourne touched down in Sydney, the Despotic Queen slipped her trotters into a pair of Elliot Ward-Fear’s model slaying stitts (which according to the soon-to-be tasered Mother Melbourne, made her daughter appear bovine-like), poured... Continue reading

If you love me let me go Back to that bar in Tokyo Where the demons from my past Leave me in peace I'll be animating every night The grass will be greener on the other side And the Vampires and Wolves Won't sink their teeth I'm sick of dancing with the beast* * Lyrics - The Wombats - Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves) Continue reading

I'm not too fussed with Spring Carnival racing season but I'd pony up some coin for one of Ashley's handmade 'jockey club' bow ties. Continue reading

Good friend to The Style Tyrant and purveyors of Surry-Hills-Hipster-chic, Saint Augustine Academy, have ponyed up a tasty giveaway for one Sydney-based loyalist. Saint Augustine Academy is showcasing a selection of their upcoming 'Crystal Ballroom' Spring/Summer 10-11 collection at this Saturday's The New Guard Show at Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival. Titled 'Crystal Ballroom' the collection draws inspiration from the late 70s/early 80s underground Melbourne music scene - Saint Augustine Academy designer Alvin Manalo designed this collection based around the sub-cultures of this influential time in Australian music history; the Goths, the Skins, the Sharpies and The Mods. The New Guard... Continue reading

The concept of documenting Ashley’s ‘personal style’ came about after my comrades from Style Salvage asked if I’d create a style diary for their blog. Why anyone, except for a plague of moths, would be interested in my ol’ rags presented me with a sartorial conundrum of sorts. Eight months in the making (clearly I’m not comfortable working to a deadline) I finally delivered Steve and Eliza with 7 days of Tyrant/Despotic Queen stylin’ and having enjoyed the experience, I wanted to style-it-forward. As of yesterday afternoon, McConnell’s diary is done-and-dusted and it’s epic – so stay tuned. Continue reading

For the next 7-days the Style Tyrant has been granted an ‘access all areas’ pass into the wardrobe of Operator Please bass player (and blogger), Ashley McConnell. Easily one of the best-dressed men in Australia, I've discovered McConnell has a devastatingly high brow approach to fashion and takes his sartorial cues from a cross-section of obscure influences - all of which we’ll be discussing / celebrating over the next 7 days. Obviously this exercise is highly orchestrated but with the band currently touring their sophomore album (Gloves), lensing McConnell’s personal style (in a traditional street style way) would be impossible. Continue reading

Sometime soon(ish), Austrian crawlspace expert Herr Fritzl, will be clutching for his respirator when he’s see the above photograph. Honestly I could’ve taken this post in any number of directions but every time I look at or think about this photograph, I lose my bowels! Don’t hold your breath, a pithy synopsis isn’t forthcoming. However, I will attempt to offer up a 'lil perspective. Last Sunday the Style Tyrant celebrated the birthday of friend and noted menswear stylist James Dykes - the weather was sublime, the booze was plentiful and obviously, shit got messy! Jimmy, consider this 'tribute post', my... Continue reading