BLOG

Meet Alexa. Part of the beautiful team at Aesthetica and our key to the fountain of youth. Not only is she a talent and a half, but her unique, modern style is one we love. We took 5 with Alexa at Aesthetica to find out more about her life, the world of beauty, plus get some insight into her style.  SHOP ALEXA'S FAVOURITES NOW Tell us a little bit about what you do: I am a Cosmetic Nurse Injector and Business Owner of Aestheticá Byron Bay. My days are spent mostly doing cosmetic injectables; Dermal fillers, anti-wrinkle injections, chin sculpting or fat dissolving injections and PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) injecting and needling. I also still work as a registered nurse for an agency from time to time to keep my nursing skills up-to-date. How did you get into beauty? It had always been a long-term goal of mine to move out of primary nursing care to something more passive while still very patient care orientated. I love looking after people and making them feel good, hence the skin and aesthetic medicine industry has always interested me. The way I treat my clients is, as a whole, looking at the body as one large organism rather than different compartments. My goal was to create an intimate, beautiful and zen space with result driven treatments for patients from all demographics. What part of your work do you love the most? Why? The best part of my job is seeing my clients' reactions when their treatment results exceed their expectations, especially when I have treated something that has bothered them for a long time. Getting results gives me such a high, nothing really compares. Describe your style in 3 words. 1. Tomboy (80% boy, 20% girl) 2. Constantly changing 3. Chameleon  How has your style changed from when you first started until now? I have always been a bit of a chameleon, suiting my style to my surroundings or demographic that I'm living in at the time. I've always adjusted my style and adopted my own flare I suppose. I have certainly come a long way from my high waisted baby blue leather shorts and tight tops of years ago! Tell us a bit about how you style your outfits. I always try to wear conflicting styles together and pray that it works in my favour. My husband’s favourite statement is "but they don’t really go together". I am also a sucker for full matching outfits, too. Tell us a little bit about living in Byron Bay? How long have you been living here? Any tips? etc. I met my husband while visiting on a night out 9 years ago and been here ever since. We live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world, so I guess my best advice is to not get too bitter with all the people visiting. Try and take it as a compliment, rather than personally. What’s a typical day-in-the-life of Lex look like? Yoga at Creature Walk my dogs Coffee always Working in clinic  Then usually try do some sort of activity to wind down after a long day. Infrared sauna at Nimbus & Co if I have had a long day and need a little energy boost. Or recently I have taken up skate boarding, wrist guards and all ;)  What do you do in your spare time? Haha I used to have a lot more of it! When I am not in clinic I try and see as much live music as humanly possible. I also try and drive down the Gold Coast when I have a few days up my sleeve to get some space from our little Byron bubble. I spend a lot of my spare hours furthering my aesthetic studies, there is always room to learn - I love to study. Some things inspiring you right now: A close friend of mine was recently injured in a massive car accident - she virtually broke every bone in her body. She has had such a long road to recovery and I find her resilience to be so incredibly inspiring.  She has come leaps and bounds, despite her injuries, and watching her recovery is so humbling.  Music you’re listening to right now:  Haha I tend to always lean toward old pop punk but I feel like I have a pretty fast palate when it comes to music. At the moment… Ceres, Luca Brasi, Beach Slang, Slowly Slowly, Flying Machine, Modern Baseball, PLTS, Lime Cordiale are my highest rotation when looking at my Spotify. 2019 goals/plans/something you want to speak into existence: Just looking forward to cultivating my business and watching it grow. I have been blown away by the amount of support we have had so far in our local community. I have been working with some amazing mentors and leaders in the aesthetics industry, learning from my peers and always furthering my education in my field. I am also so grateful for all the amazing relationships that I have developed with my clients over the past three months, and on the home front - the dream is to eventually move out to hills and adopt way too many animals. SHOP ALEXA'S FAVOURITES NOW

Meet Holly and Jordi from Yeah, Nice Gallery. A sweet little gallery based in Mullumbimby; this art space has quickly become a well-known name to Byron Bay locals. We took 5 with owners and curators, Hol and Jordi, to find out more about them, art, plus get some insight into their styles.  SHOP HOLLY & JORDI'S FAVOURITES NOW Tell us a little bit about yourselves: Holly - I'm Holly and run the Yeah Nice Gallery along with my mate, Jordi. I'm also a freelance designer and mum to 2 year old, Della. How did Yeah Nice Gallery come about? Jordi - I'm pretty sure the idea came about from sitting on Holly's couch complaining about  the work/ mum life juggle and that there was such a lack of cool things to do on a Friday night.  Holly - We were toying with the idea for a gallery for a while but never thought it would ever actually happen. Then, a space freed up and we thought, 'it's now or never!" Have you both always been interested in art? Holly - Yes, I think that's fair to say. Jordi - Since before I can remember... I have made art since I was maybe about 4 years old and went to art school for 4 years. What does the future hold for Yeah, Nice? Holly - With the gallery only being open for about 6 months, we are hoping to just keep it rolling along, with about one solo artist show per month. We also want to be a go-to hire space for workshops and other cool things.  Jordi - Cant wait for the rest of our first year to unfold and for us to introduce you to some amazing art by amazingly talented artists... we also have some drawing workshops and other bits and pieces coming up! Describe your style in 3 words. Holly - Simple, loose, utilitarian Jordi - Confused, comfortable and "un-sexy".  How has your style changed from when you first started until now? Holly - It hasn't! Tell us a bit about how you style your outfits.  Holly - It has to be comfy and practical. Jordi - I guess I usually get dressed in according to how I feel... which is usually a "just want to feel comfortable and confident" kind of mood.  Tell us a little bit about living in Byron Bay? How long have you been living here? Any tips? etc. Holly - I've been here for 9 years (with a one year stint in Sydney to break it up), but only lived in Byron for about 3 or 4 years, we are in Banaglow now and love it. Tips? Find like minded people to surround yourself with, constantly explore the beauty around you and remember what brought you here in the first place.  Jordi - I've lived in this area for almost 10 years now. Not too sure I have any tips as its much like living anywhere else. We actually live just outside of Byron and really try not to make it into town too much as it has definitely changed a lot in the last 10 years.  What’s a typical day-in-the-life of Jordi and Holly look like? Holly - On a day off our little girl wakes us up early, I will probably pretend to be asleep until her dad gets up and makes her brekky! We'll go and get coffee together then head to the beach or somewhere where we can all let off some steam, head home for lunch, then spend the arvo relaxing and drinking beers, maybe have some friends over for dinner. A working day look much different, with some sort of combination of lots of computer time for me, trying to constantly distract Della with activities and falling in a heap at the end of the day. Jordi - If I am not working.. Coffee! Always first!...... then food, beach, beers .... repeat? What do you do in your spare time? Holly - Hang out with my family. Jordi - Paint, spend time with my family, usually at the beach or on our little adventures away... Holly and I also spend a lot of our free time together. Some things or people inspiring you right now: Holly - Inspired by people doing what they love and making a difference. Jordi - I am constantly inspired by the people around me for all sorts of different reasons... Friends that live close and are kick ass business people or friends that have moved away and are living it up in the big city! I am also forever inspired by the works that are being exhibited at Yeah Nice... these artists have a lot to say and I am pretty stoked that we can help them to do that.  Music you’re listening to right now:  Holly - Woods, Rolling Blackouts, Sharon Van Etten and Nick Cave, always. Jordi - I am on a bit of a Devendra Banhart binge at the moment.  2019 goals/plans/something you want to speak into existence: Holly - The year has gone so fast, I just want to enjoy the rest of it and keep the good things rolling for Yeah Nice, as long as people keep coming, we will be happy! Jordi - To keep showing amazing art at the gallery and to watch Yeah, Nice Gallery grow and evolve. 

When it comes to sprucing up the home with unique upholstered furniture pieces that tell a story, there's one name that comes to mind; Paige Miller. Since moving to Byron Bay over 8 years ago, she's become a well-known name around town, and for good reason. Each piece that she's worked on is individual and eclectic, and sparks conversation whenever on show. We took 5 with Paige at 'The Dusty Studio' to find out more about her life, the world of upholstering, plus get some insight into her style.  SHOP PAIGE'S FAVOURITES NOW   Tell us a little bit about what you do: I’m a furniture upholsterer. I have a little business called The Dusty Road.     How did you get into furniture upholstering? How has your style changed from when you first started until now? Oooh well, I used to be the PA for artist, David Bromley. I don’t know if you’re familiar with his work or his world but for me it’s was like falling down the rabbit hole and finding myself in Alice’s Wonderland. It opened my eyes to so many things, upholstery being one of them. He has a great love and appreciation for artisans, and the old trades. He’d trawl the auctions and every antique store on the East Coast for interesting furniture, rip up an old canvas he’d painted, or a drop sheet he’d used in his studio covered in paint, call the local upholsterer and say “I want that, on that.” They thought he was mad, I thought it was awesome!   And that-was-that, the love was born. Upholstery was going to be my thing. I got a older couple in the hills to show me a few things (they got sick of me and my over enthusiasm), then very nervously and awkward walked in to the local upholsterer, Geoffs, and asked for a job, worked for $15 an hour which I was actually stoked about, travelled back and forth from Byron to Daylesford where the Bromleys had a little studio that I worked from, watched a lot of YouTube videos and did a lot of googling and here I am, 5 years later. How has my style changed? Hmmmm, 5 years ago I would have reupholstered a dogs bed for money and experience. Now I just do furniture. What part of your work do you love the most? Why? I’m a massive upholstery nerd. I still get pretty excited about all of it. You’ve got a real love for mid-century, retro vibes. Where did that come from? I think the love is in the history or the story. I love pulling a chair or lounge apart and seeing what materials were used because you get a sense of the era, the progress in industrialisation and technology over time. It’s fascinating! Describe your style in 3 words. Garage sale randomness Tell us a bit about how you style your outfits. Denim is my default. On the fruity days, lots of colour. Other days, a little bit of leopard . The general theme is usually pretty daggy. I’m still massively into my early 2000s Asics. Those a pare of sparkly socks, a baggy looney toones or mickey mouse t-shirt and I’m feeling goooood. Tell us a little bit about living in Byron Bay? How long have you been living here? Any tips? etc. Byron Bay, a rollercoaster of emotions. I’ve lived here for 8 years. What’s a typical day-in-the-life of Paige look like? Typically walking around in circles looking for my scissors. What do you do in your spare time? When I’m not looking for my scissors, usually something that revolves around food, drinking beer with friends, music, surfing or planning my next weekend escape. Love a weekend getaway! Some things inspiring you right now: My friends. I have super talented friends. Most recently, seeing Ozzie Wright’s latest appliqué wall hangings he sewed. Got me psyched about sewing again! Music you’re listening to right now:  I listen to so much music and it’s usually pretty random but here’s what I listened to today: Afro Psychedelica Cable Ties Cosmic Psychos Sister Nancy Gipsy Kings RVG  Molly Burch Wendy Matthews (had a moment..)  Gillian Welch Karen Dalton Gil Scott-Heron Jorge Ben Jor Angel Olsen Womack & Womack 2019 goals/plans/something you want to speak into existence: I’ve got a 2019 list on my wall at home, which pretty much rolled over from 2018, with things like “do my tax, go to the dentist, pay off my credit card...” So yeah, it should be a pretty exciting year! Nah, I’m going to Europe in the middle of the year. Can’t wait! And I really want to do an exhibition just for fun. SHOP PAIGE'S FAVOURITES NOW

Today is a good day. "Why" you ask? Well, It's our first ever 'Family Ties' segment. We're giving you a front row pass into the lives of our BFFs. Sit back, relax, and grab a cold beverage as we talk all things past, present, future, and style with some incredible humans.   Meet Sloan Peterson (also more personally known as Joannah Jackson); A love child of 50s guitar pop and modern garage rock, slash Lana Del Ray  doppelgänger. After living in Sydney for a number of years, Sloan decided it was time to pack up her guitar and flares and head North to Byron Bay for a change in lifestyle - Great decision, we might add. We took 5 with this dream girl and pick her brains about past and present projects, plus also get some insight into her style.   Shop Sloan Peterson's picks now. Wearing: Carpenter Jean.   Tell us a little bit about what you do: I'm Sloan Peterson. I am a musician and i like to play le music! I also dabble at making buttons at the button shop Newtown ...and enjoy long walks in my spare time.   How did you get into music? Apparently I would always make up songs when I was younger about letterboxes and things. I taught myself classical piano in primary school, then picked up a guitar at 16 and have been trying to play it ever since.    What part of creating music do you love the most? Why? I'm not sure. I guess it's a really straight forward way of telling someone exactly how you feel... but in song. Maybe just maybe they will listen?    Tell us a little bit about what you’re working on right now. I'm in between A LOT of things right now. I want to travel the world. I do a lot of shoots and literally every kind of odd ball job you can imagine! I'm also in the midst of releasing singles from my upcoming album which will be out in April, and writing new material getting inspiration.  Describe your style in 3 words. Comfy Confused  Bogan    How has your style changed from when you first started until now? It really hasn't. I went on an eBay rampage when i was 14, accidentally spending a hefty fee on my parents' credit card literally thinking it was all for free through the click of the ever so convenient PayPal button.. I still own most of those clothes from that impulse rampage... My parents sadly made me get a part time job and pay them back. Tell us a bit about how you style your outfits. I look in my wardrobe and think... "That's an entire red/pink ensemble, chuck on a headband to hold my bangs back and let's do this!"   What’s a typical day-in-the-life of Sloan look like? I'm a planner. I write to-do lists every night before I go to bed! Usually mundane life admin that really is just me procrastinating. Then some guitar, an ocean swim, light some incense and I'm sweeeeet. What do you do in your spare time? I like hiking an canyoning. I really enjoy nature and trying to be off social media. I'm a hermit and not actually very social. I hate humans.... Haha kidding! But yeah, I enjoy being alone.   Some things inspiring you right now: The colour pink, native flowers and the book 'The Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron.      Music you’re listening to right now:  Lewis Of Man, The Jam, The Growlers, Django Reinhardt.   2019 goals/plans/something you want to speak into existence: Be in the moment more, learn to let go, travel and laugh every day! Shop Sloan's picks now. Have a listen. Sloan's top tracks: