Model/musician Matilda Dods on high school, guitar chords and Australian fashion

Meet the double threat.

Matilda Dods began modelling in January 2013 and by October, was in Vogue Australia. Byron Bay-born Dods was profiled along with four other rising Australian models in the October 2013 issue of the magazine. At the time, she had already met with Hedi Slimane of Saint Laurent and seen agents in Paris and New York.

The 17-year-old is still in high school and already following a double career path into modelling and music. “I’m about to start my final year of school, so it’s difficult to get the grades that I know I’m capable of when I’m missing school for work,” she says. “But it’s worth it in the end.”

Obviously, it was worth signing out of class to shoot the Strand Arcade’s spring/summer ‘14/’15 campaign. Dods will also perform an acoustic set of two self-penned songs at the Strand’s Evening With Our Designers on August 13 to a VIP crowd.

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“I’m really inspired by lyricists like Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Ryan Adams. I’m also a huge Bowie fan,” Dods says of her musical inspirations. “Artists such as Debbie Harry from Blondie, Joan Jett and Lana Del Rey have also really influenced the sound of my music.”

Dods has inherited her talents in equal parts from her parents; her mother was a model for two decades, while her father is very musical. “When I was 11, I demanded that my dad teach me to read chord charts so that I could teach myself guitar and start writing songs. And I’ve been writing ever since!”

But back to fashion and Dods is already showing signs of a model-off-duty style that’s suitably rock ‘n’ roll. “I wear a lot of a brand called Afends, out of Byron. They were the first brand I ever modelled for and are like family to me. I live in their faux leather Rock and Roll leather jacket,” she says.

As for her favourite piece on the Strand Arcade Shoot? “I love the red Alex Perry gown. It was the perfect Jessica Rabbit red. I felt like such a vixen in it.”

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Agent Provocateur's creative director on what not to do when buying lingerie

And how to wear underwear as outerwear.

Sarah Shotton, creative director of Agent Provocateur, started as a shop assistant (or as they call them ‘Agents’) in the lingerie label’s Soho, London, store 10 years ago. She then moved into the head office where she worked her way up through the design team to creative director. With her decade in the business and love for lingerie, Shotton has our full attention when it comes to underwear shopping advice.

What is the most common mistake people make when buying lingerie?

“People often buy lingerie in the wrong size as they don’t have time to try anything on. Our lingerie items are investment pieces and so it’s worth it to take time out of your day to find the perfect fit. You’ll get much more wear out of something that fits you like a glove.”

What are your top tips for being confident in lingerie?

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“Find a set that flatters your figure. My advice would be to try on as many styles as possible; you never know you may find something that looks amazing that you would never have picked up.”

What is the most seductive way to style lingerie?

“We put our signature Agent Provocateur mules in all of our changing rooms so our customers can try on our lingerie with heels on, as even the smallest amount of height elongates the leg and flatters the body. I’m also a huge fan of suspenders and hold ups. I don’t think any set is complete without hosiery.”

What is your attitude towards the underwear-as-outerwear trend? Are there any rules?

“I don’t think there are any rules. I’m a big fan of wearing a waspie over a white shirt and pencil skirt in the office. We also have girls that wear our bras under sheer open shirts that look fantastic. It just depends on how far each individual wants to go with it.”

Why did you cast Missy Rayder in the Le Salon campaign (above)?

“I always wanted to work with her. For me, she is one of the most iconic models from the 90s. We were looking for someone who would fit the dark smouldering character of the campaign.”

Where did the hedonistic theme for this shoot come from?

“Lately I’ve been obsessed with the 1970s. I started thinking about Studio 54 and all of the glamourous people that centred around that luxurious world of excess such as Jerry Hall and Antonio Lopez.”

What is your biggest indulgence?

“Alaïa. I love it all.”

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The Best of Korean Beauty Delivered to Your Doorstep

“There’s an app for that.” Everyone knows the Apple-invented phrase the world over, but I’d like to put my own spin on the notorious tagline: “There’s a box for that.” What I’m talking about is the overwhelming number of beauty subscription services that send deluxe samples to your door each month in hopes that you’ll get hooked and return to buy the full-sized bottle or tube. There are packages for curly girls, brides-to-be, manicure mavens, and more. But as cute as those miniature vials of perfume and bottles of shampoo are, I’m frankly a bit over the whole thing—after all, Birchbox began in September 2010 and has since become an empire with its own freestanding store in New York City. What set this original sampling service apart was the aspect of “discovery,” a word founders Katia Beauchamp and Hayley Barna have used in numerous interviews. But with so many mail-order options and Sephora stores popping up as frequently as Starbucks, the opportunity to bring a never-before-seen product to the masses is quickly disappearing. That is, until Memebox entered the highly competitive space.

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With Korean beauty quickly becoming a buzzed-about topic, it makes sense that founder Hyungseok Dino Ha created a way to satisfy American consumers’ curiosity. “Our goal is to deliver Korea’s cult favorite beauty products globally,” he explained. “We work with our in-house beauty aficionados to identify the hottest trends and ship them straight from Korea.” The squeal-inducing boxes come brimming with adorable Asian cosmetics not yet available on the mainstream market in the U.S. Similar to other services, Memebox has formed partnerships with YouTube stars (CutiePieMarzia, top) and bloggers (The Pink Diary, bottom) to customize its offerings. And for those who aren’t fluent in Korean, each box comes with a breakdown of what’s inside and how to use it. My two favorite finds thus far: Babyface Volumer Essence (a gel laced with skin-plumping hyaluronic acid) and Pure Smile Gelee Labo Strawberry (a single-use fruity face mask that comes packaged like an individual serving of Smucker’s jam). As a jaded beauty editor, it’s tough to surprise me, but these international delights have me expecting the unexpected.

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