Banjo and Matilda

Our splendid Cruise Tank in Navy Stripe - shot in the city of Paris - featured in this month's Madison magazine.  What a gorgeous picture.  Paris + Navy Stripes = wardrobe perfection.  Take a look ...

Happy Australia Day all Aussies ... and God love Elle Macpherson for being so patriotic leading into our national holiday!  Spotted out and about in London over the last few days - not one but TWO Banjo styles are looking fab combined with her Louis Vuitton bags and furry boots.  Chunky Chillout in Ivory and an Anywhere Scarf in Heather Grey to be precise - thanks a million gorgeous lady!  Sorry for the bad quality photos, we just had to get them up pronto!  b xxx

 It's here, and it's gorgeous, and you are going to love it! We have produced a new collection of ultrafine cashmere that is as light-as-air, and the perfect trans-seasonal wardrobe for our customers.  Take a look, it wont last long.  b x

Banjo HQ at Bondi Beach is pumping this afternoon in preparation for our new collection launch tomorrow morning! It's all about our 'Ultrafine Series' in the office today - our super-light, gorgeous trans-seasonal cashmere that is as cool to wear as a t-shirt, but perfect for those cool Summer nights.  We are very excited about you seeing it because we think it's beautiful!  Hope you do too ... let us know your thoughts tomoz.  Ciao from HQ, b xx

We caught this snap of the uber-chic Rihanna exiting Miami airport between Christmas and New Year's Eve - totally rocking our Lounging Kaftan.  Stay tuned for more sightings, she's a huge fan and has a big cash-stash of Banjo on hand for her global travels.  We think she looks fab.  xx

Possibly the coolest fashion mag on the planet - British Elle - have featured Banjo & Matilda on their news pages this month (on-sale now).  Our sales in the UK are cranking and we are VERY EXCITED to be in one of our fav mags!  Big, huge, super-duper thanks to the Elle UK team ... "thanks and g'day" ... the Banjo team at  our Bronte Beach HQ are very chuffed to say the least!  Watch out London, here we come, jumping on a plane Friday to come and meet you all.  Cheers to our UK customers! b x

Good Morning to you, our British comrades! Today marks the official launch of our UK website ... thanks to British Vogue and our new UK team! Welcome everyone and it's nice to have you with us!  Come back soon, and please ask us any questions at belynda@banjoandmatilda.com.  xxx

Here is a sneak peak at our new 'Ultrafine' collection 'Boys of Summer' - out December. The ultimate trans-seasonal range, it features our new 'ultrafine' weaves using a light-as-air gauge ... giving a feel similar to t-shirt jersey ... but in 100% CASHMERE. So gorgeous, and ultra travel staples such as the Cruise Tank, Martini Tank, Vaudeville Cami, Tie-dying, Sailing sweater and more more more.  Shot by the best photographer in the world - Mr Simon Upton.  Shot on the roof of my house by the beach! Make sure you sign up as a subscriber to be advised when it has arrived.  You wont be sorry!!!  b x

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WHO :: Banjo & Matilda's Sellout Winter 2009 collection

WHAT :: Replenishment of Sold Out Stock - Vee Necks, Cape Shawls, Scarves, Kaftans + Surfer Cable

WHERE :: Online only for our gracious and uber-stylish customers

WHEN :: Landing 7 August 2009

We know we know we know ... we cant believe we sold out so quickly either!!! It was totally unplanned, and remarkably dimwitted of us to not have anticipated that you would make a grab for your cash-stash as rapidly as you did!!  We are to blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame.  This addiction is a necessary E-V-I-L. Yes, evil people.  Please sign up to our Subscriber base to be alerted as soon as we have touch-downnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn ......

Oh Crockett my Cape Shawl indeed! Our lusciously snuggly Cape Shawl in Ivory looks UNBELIEVABLE in this amazing photograph featured in Grazia this week.  Wizard Fashion Director Mark Vassallo has created this American folk hero story with oodles of fur, fun and fuzz ... our Banjo Cape Shawl taking front and centre and shining like the star it is! FYI - new stock of this style arriving 7 August - if you want, pls contact us for back-order list!

Banjo & Matilda features in this week's Grazia - out today - on p.54.  Styled by the amazingly talented Peter Simon Phillips at Grazia and shot by the very cool Harry David, the feature looks brilliant with all of our Winter 09 range on show with a very Rock & Roll feel.  Styles featured are our Skull Tattoo Hoodie in Black, Ultimate Vee in Heather Grey, our Sweater Dress in Camel and I'm wearing one of our Billowing Vee's (a great trans-seasonal piece that works under a jacket for the office, or with jeans and a fake tan when you fly to Bail to get away from the Winter weather).  Grab a Grazia, on stands till Friday!  xx 

My fabulous smartie-pants, perfect-job, amazing-wardrobe, gorgeous girlfriend went to luxury brand Hermes' launch a few weeks ago, and failed to mention to me until yesterday (when we caught up) that she wore our Sweater Dress in Camel to the event.  She said she had LOADS of compliments about the dress and everyone asked her where she got it.  She was all over the social pages the following weekend, and we thought she looked AMAZING too.  It's a fab buy and its totally flattering ... I wore mine in Black last night to a dinner party ... and after the 5-course meal, you totally couldn't see my super-bloated stomach (perfect).  This isn't me (I wish), but here is my mate Anna (hey, she's from Brazil, cant help it that she is beautiful) wearing it: http://www.banjoandmatilda.com/collection/dresses/sweater-dress.html

If you are flying domestically or internationally on Qantas this month, you'll see the gorgeous Deborah Hutton presenting her 'Welcome Aboard' segment in our lovely Ivory Boho Vee sweater.  Standing in the rolling hills of Kangaroo Valley, our cashmere looks very at home indeed ... thanks for being such a big fan Deborah! Definitely a Banjo collector, Deb has a large range of Banjo & Matilda pieces from our Winter 08, Summer 09 and current winter season.  Check it out on http://www.qantas.com.au/info/flying/inTheAir/welcomeAboard.

Elle text me from Canada this morning to say that she is LOVING her Chunky Chillout sweater in Black, and that it's her new fav.  Just as a "by-the-way" she also then text the following day to say that she is equally in love with her Chunky Chillout in Ivory.  I've actually got mine on now too ... it's freezing in Sydney today ... absolutely perfect for this weather.  Glorious 10-ply yarn (ie chunky) as soft as a cloud (not that I've ever really touched one?) and very toasty.  Here is the link http://www.banjoandmatilda.com/collection/turtle-necks/chunky-chillout-sweater.html Have a great Sunday afternoon b x

 We are proud to be featured in that wonderful fashion tome - Harper's Bazaar - this month's edition, on-stands right now!  In the fashion pages by the illustrious Claudia Navone (Fashion Director) our Shimmer Gold Ultimate Vee is styled with international luxury brands such as Hermes, Gucci and Bally.  Page 119 if you were wondering .... we are as proud as punch. Check it out!  Picture coming soon ....

It's not every day you are in your very own photoshoot with a Supermodel, and yet, that's exactly what happend to me a few weeks ago. Elle was in town and we shot a great feature for InStyle with our new Banjo & Matilda Winter collection ... featuring Elle's gorgeous 'Frangipani' sweater.  Phew! I look ok!! Had a few sleepless nights about that shot (we are sitting on a lounge together) ... hmmm ... sounding frightfully vain I'm afraid ... but hey, wouldnt you if you were in the same situation????? Luckily Elle is a superstar by name and nature, and she is the most wonderfully positive person you will ever meet.  She gave me a bit of her moonshine for the shoot and we both scrubed up alright!  Speak soon, b x

The headquarters of Banjo & Matilda (aka my house with Banjo studio on the ground floor!) is featured in this month's Madison magazine (on stands now).  Take a look at where it all happens.  You even get to see my husband Ben, son Xander and dog Jack ... the Madison team did a wonderful job of the shoot and the pages look gorgeous.  It was a full day shoot, with every room in the house considered for use in the 'storyboard' - its a bit nerve-racking having an entourage of very fashionable people looking closely at every angle of your home to be honest!  That little pile of "stuff" in the corner that you kind of shoved there a month ago ... arghhhh yes, oops! Forgot that even though I conveniently cant see it anymore, you all can!!!  Oh that's right I forgot I haven't vacuumed the rug in the office for a while ... arghhh damn, now you are standing in it, it DOES seem rather dirty!!!.  Anyway, all that aside, we had a really fun day and the results I am sure you'll agree are lovely.  My Nan very pleased she got a mention in the interview! God bless her.  Speak soon, b x

Woke up this morning to alerts that we have been featured in both the NY Magazine online and Vogue.Com in the UK!  Exciting stuff for us.  Elle's sweater is being talked about globally and we are excited.  It is such a gorgeous piece and SO Elle.  She has designed such a beautiful sweater, sweet frangipani flowers embroidered into the wrist and a 'Love & Light' featured on the shoulder.  You should definitely check it out at our e-store, they are selling fast!  Limited edition - once they are gone they are gone!  Take a look at http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/daily/090430-supermodel-elle-macpherson-designs-.aspx

Been up since 4am (this is me on my computer in the Kitchen), woke up with my two-year old son next to me in bed (he just started pre-school this week so having a few seperation issues!) ... and mind whirling with cashmere ideas.  It's amazing how you can get up so easily when you love what you do, can you imagine working with cashmere all day every day????? Its unbelievable!!! I am the luckiest girl alive.

So much hard work but definitely worthwhile when someone actually buys your stuff!  We launched our new Banjo & Matilda e-store 10 days ago and it's been going crazy.  Customers buying our cashmere by the truckload!  I was up late last night re-ordering a number of styles because we are nearly out of stock.  Go Banjo & Matilda!!

Must go and have a coffee, but first of all, daily to do list: finalise Mother's Day ideas, design Mother's Day subscriber newsletter, re-order striped Ultimate Vee, Silver Ultimate Vee, Cape Shawls (these sold out in 4 days!!), Uber-Hoodies, Kisses scarves, Boho Vee in Ivory, visit my grandmother, ship and pack orders, speak to UK press agent, get copies of upcoming Aussie media (exciting), send Banjo & Matida cashmere to my Campaign 09 models (from Scene agency) to say thanks (they did such a great job!), decide what styles to send which media as a thanks for such amazing support ... feed the dog, call my mother!!!!

Adios peeps, speak again tomorrow.  b xx

Welcome to Banjo & Matilda!!!  Our Winter 2009 Collection 'Love Me or Leave Me' is on-sale NOW at our brand new e-store.  Our super kick-ass site has amazing detail and information for our customers ... 'cause lets face it, buying online definitely adds a few doubts sometimes if you don't have the right information.  Take a look and let me know what you think!