“Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion.”– Jack Kerouac

This year, FROCK PAPER SCISSORS has turned its focus to identity, and how its progressive formation reflects and defines our individuality. Similar to how language, gender, beliefs and experience form individual identity, the FROCK identity has, throughout its short existence, been shaped by those who have impressed their own ideas and influence to its pages each year.

The sixth edition, entitled Go Your Own Way, is a testament to the impressionable souls of life – the adventurers; the risk-takers; the collective of individuals who have strayed from the garden path and are changing the way we think and act, often without even knowing it.Two such people are Sarah Owen and Maxine Thompson – from QUT to NYC, they have taken the leap into new territory and are making their mark on the international fashion industry (see Brisbane To Big Apple, page 15).

As we all know (and often learn the hard way), stepping out on your own isn’t always easy. In To Be, But What To Be? (page 64), we look at the sometimes uneasy transition from adolescence to adulthood, before celebrating those who have found their footing and have championed their respective industries in Baby Steps To Big Business (page 66). We also explore the ever-evolving identity of fashion, and how innovations in technology are shaping the current industry (see All Keyed Up, page 8 and Power To The People, page 26).

 The sixth issue of FROCK is for no one and everyone; for those who inspire and aspire; for those who take a chance and dance to their own tune. As the magazine continues to grow and define itself each year, we hope you too will be able to define your identity and ultimately, your future. Go your own way.

Madison Drabble & Meagan Lawrence

English author Quentin Crisp once penned “fashion is what you adopt when you don’t know who you are”. Well, no offence to Mr. Crisp, but the Frock Paper Scissors team begs to differ.

In our experience, fashion speaks volumes. It’s more than the clothes on your back, it’s the places you go, the people you see and the cocktails you casually sip on a Saturday eve. To be frank, fashion is the bane of our existence and yet the enduring love of our lives.

This issue of Frock Paper Scissors aims to reacquaint you with charming, little Brisbane; the humble Queensland city on the verge of a creative explosion. From Fortitude in the Valley to the Kings of Queen Street, FPS will take you on a tour of the city you thought you knew.

Join us as we explore Brisbane’s coming of age in Metropolis Metamorphosis, open your eyes to a Quest for Sustainability and tickle your tastebuds with Fashion and Culture: a love affair. We are, most importantly, proud as punch to showcase the best from the soon-to-be newbies on the Brisbane fashion scene in our QUT fashion graduate shoots Ultra Violet Haze, Cyber City 2002 and Blood Shot.

So, settle into your favourite armchair or find yourself a sunny patch of grass and come with us on a journey that will knock your frocking socks off.

Lots of love, Sarah and Siobhan

When we were working toward this issue, what struck us most was the dedication, talent and daring attitude our team encompassed. Our love for all things new, innovative and edgy was the starting point for what is aptly entitled our Fearless issue. Here, we showcase the up-and-comers on the Brisbane fashion scene, with our QUT Fashion Graduate shoots, The Hunter Becomes the Hunted and The Final Cut. It is refreshing to see such a young group of designers with an exciting and inventive vision. Also, keeping true to our Brisbane roots, we take you on a journey of fashion and haute culture through the city, in our women’s wear shoot, Into the Night.

We have also addressed the emerging role of fashion, beauty and the contemporary woman in our features The Woman Destroyed and The Beauty Curse. And while we discuss the Fearless-ness of the fashionable new-woman (our cover is the perfect example); The Baccia Girl shoot uncovers the beauty of our landscape and the vintage finds that not only make for a high fashion moment, but also create an individuality and unique-ness that exemplifies the fearless.

And so this is it- the result and celebration of months of hard work, dedication and now, excitement, to bring you the 2009 edition of Frock Paper Scissors. We trust that our vision translates, and will bring you as much joy as it has us. But most of all, may it inspire and encourage you to live fearlessly. As Cecil Beaton once said, “be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the ‘play-it-safers’, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary”.

Madelaine Brown & Rebecca Dickson

The 2008 Annual is a collection of our ideas, with an emphasis on longevity, that collates the year that has been and forecasts the year to come. We hope that this becomes a keepsake and a reference.

This is a compilation of original, innovative and exceptional pieces. We have selected the strongest features, photo shoots and images that represent thought, intelligence and artistry.

The Annual issue encompasses bold features such as the Futures of Fashion and Women in the Men’s Room. Our fashion shoots feature a selection of the 2008 QUT Fashion graduates such as in our quirky Flights of Fancy and Hue and Me. The people on the following pages are the ones to watch, with Frock showcasing only a snippet of their talents.

A big thank you to everyone that contributed to make this year’s Frock.Paper.Scissors, and to a strong team that was ever full of ideas.

Peta Rake

Frock.paper.scissors (or frock as it has been nicknamed here at headquarters) is an amalgamation of creative individuals with a unique soul. Each person who contributed to this magazine has made an impact on me and the magazine.

Enthusiasm came in waves. Some were good and others not so good. A burst of lollies and chocolate can brighten most moods and were regular guests amongst the laptops, paper, camera equipment and empty chai latte cups (myself being the main contributor on the last one).

Many laughs, silly moments and serious pondering took place during the making of this magazine. We hope you come to love it as much as we do.

We celebrate the QUT fashion graduates with 20 pages of their stuff — they are hot property and we saw them first.

With the earth warming up (and not in a summer nights good way) we went organic and got back to basics with our beauty pages. Learn how to whip up a facial mask and check the web for our shampoo and conditioner recipes.

Also on the fps site, you’ll find an online fashion directory. Click by suburb to discover the fashionably fashionable boutiques in your area. This issue is all things Brisbane. We love our city and the people in it, so we thought we’d celebrate with a whole issue dedicated to Brisvegas.

Peace
Gem

Welcome to edition one of frock.paper.scissors. This is the first opportunity for many of us to show you our raw talents — a sneak peek into what you’ll see from this group of fashion, journalism and creative industries students in the future. It is a forecast of our dreams; whether that dream is to write, draw, edit or design.

The result is a fusion of fashion and society, life and laughter. Importantly, we feature the wonderful work of the 2006 QUT fashion graduates.

We immensely enjoyed creating this magazine. We only hope you get as much from reading it as we did from making it for you.

Enjoy!
Sarah