Victoria Beckham Fall 2010

Love her or loathe her (I love her), Mrs Beckham's collection has been a standout during a somewhat slow start to NYFW. 

Reportedly a cold person, who we know never smiles, she greeted all the editors as they came to the show, in contradiction to the other designers who are trying to to control the bedlam of backstage.  She has spent time studying the art of design, as well as fabric, construction and cut. 

In my opinion, there's not a bad dress in the whole collection and best of all, it's all wearable (even if very expensive and almost impossible to get a hold of!).  It's suitable for work, a dinner or a red carpet event.

my FAVOURITE look. WOW

all images via style.com

Chanel Temporary Tattoo

And here's Lara Bingle totally rocking them at the AB medals last night.

fairfax media

Chanel chain belt

Images as promised! :)

Lawson's Grove

Nestled amonst the high brow elite of South Yarra is Lawson's Grove Shop -  a corner store turned cafe hidden amongst the cool Hollywood style apartments off Darling Street.  
Don't be fooled by the narrow entry cramped with tables and chatter - it opens up inside to a lovely, mostly communal dining space.  
The all day breakfast consistants of a simple menu, including gluten free muesli, pancakes, toast with home made jams as well as eggs with a myrid of choices of extras.  I think it's a genius idea, much better than stuffing "big breakfast" plates that people pick at and don't finish.  This way, you can choose exactly what you want and be sure to finish it, craving more!
I'm usually on team poached eggs, but yesterday I opted for crambled - honestly the best I've ever had.  The eggs were light and fluffy and cooked to absolute perfection and they were seasoned mouth wateringly right.  Yum.
Inside, the display cabinets were lined with wonderful cakes, pastries, muffins and tarts.  The lemon is seriously recommended.  
The crowd was an intimidating bunch - young singles and couples and those having finished a lap of the tan - the quinetessential South Yarra types.  I overheard stocke broking conversations, saw keys to a Porsche and saw a lovely blonde clutching a Birkin.
Apart from the small portions it's a perfect place to enjoy the Sunday papers   Sunday papers, relax and people watch.  

4.5/5

I do...

To a wedding yesterday...

Scanlan & Theodore 'cravat' dress

The dress was worn by Mischa Barton on an Australian visit (in a different colourway) back in the days of The OC and her style icon days...

Teamed with my lime green Albano swarovski crystal heels.  Perfect heel height for standing all day.

and a first outing for OPI - OPI on Collins Ave

RIP Alexander McQueen

I woke this morning to the news that he took his life, age 40.  His designs were works of mystical art but in real life, the tragedy is that the darkness won out.

McQueen was the great genius of his generation in British fashion. He was, like all the most interesting people, a complex and contradictory character. 

The fact that NYFW starts today will be a huge test of compassion for the fashion world. 

style.com

Remember, if you or a loved one is fighting the "black dog", seek help. You don't have to fight it on your own.

New OPI goodness

I received a new 6-pack of goodness from 8ty8beauty this week.  Don't you love receiving packages?  I find it more exciting than walking into a store and coming out with a paper bag.

5 new colours and a base coat arrived.  Isn't it amazing that 6 colours, plus extremely expensive postage equals 2.5 polishes at David Jones?

From left to right:

• OPI - Bullish on OPI - a red/very very dark pink/clay colour.  No shimmer.
• OPI - OPI On Collins Ave - a really bright red/orangey colour. No shimmer.
• OPI - Lincoln Park After Dark (matte version) - a very very deep purple.  An OPI classic.  This one is ultra matte.  Only one coat required.
• Orly - OMG - the perfect bright pink. No shimmer.
• OPI - A Oui Bit Of Red - bright red with a shimmer.

OPI does amazing reds.  The best, easiest to apply, true red, without shimmer is Big Apple Red.

Last days of summer...

I'm enjoying the tail end of the warm weather in Melbourne... I know the end is very near.  I've been walking home from work (well half way as I have to catch two trams, so I catch one and walk the other route) in order to absorb some of the lovely rays of sunshine.

Although I am stuck in the corporate world, I can get away with dressing down a little bit when I've got no meetings.

I took my nautical cardi for an outing again :)

(Bardot cardi, Scanlan & Theodore spaghetti strap pinafore dress)

I don't do gladiator sandals.  Too Russel Crowe.  These are on their last leg (pardon the pun), but it's the best I've been able to find.

(witchery sandals - the nail polish is OPI - Didgeridoo Your Nails - a purple with a gold metallic shimmer)

I am also slowly ticking off all the items on that Sportgirl wishlist I posted about the other night :)

I got the brooch too, but that beauty deserves it's own post!!

Style Crush

Poppy Delevigne - tights, nautical stripes, blazer and boots... love.

Items on my Sportsgirl wishlist

Top - purchased on Saturday :)

An Eiffel Tower brooch.. run!

Everybody needs a co pilot

I've had some wonderful weekends of late.  The last bits of summer have been blissful, today being no exception.

B and I went for High Tea at Grand Hyatt - really laid back and relaxing and not rushed at all.

Lots of cucumber sandwiches, scones, cream, perfect sweet strawberries and macaroons.  Yum!

We had a stroll down Collins St afterwards and I think I saw a bag at Husk which has replaced my lemming of the Chloe bag.  Good for the wallet.  The winter stock is in at MaxMara and the coats are divine, as I had imagined... sigh.

We continued our frivolous day by seeing Up in the Air in Gold Class at Crown.  I used to mystery shop at Gold Class, so I've been to a lot of difference cinemas, but the Crown one is definitely one of the nicest and the service was terrific.  

I know the film is nominated for an Oscar for best film, so I won't ruin it for you.  In a nutshell, Clooney is Ryan Bingham, employed to travel America (he only spends 43 days a year at home) and fire people.  A job he's desperate to hold onto you, as travelling allows him to run away from his life.

I enjoyed the film more because of the terrific setting I was in, than for the film itself, and plus I don't fancy George WHATSOEVER, but it wasn't too bad.

Here's a pic of my outfit and a close up of my shoes.  I've had them for about 3 years but this is only the second time I've worn them.  No idea why.

The Gospel According to Coco Chanel

Inspired by the book that I am reading (which I'm sorry to say I haven't been inspired by)....

... the outfit of choice is Chanel's favourite - a little black dress.. worn with a spritz of Coco Mademoiselle and a Chanel chain belt.

I'll tell you the story about the belt.  I saved long and hard and in 2007 bought my first property.  I had a few hundred dollars left over after settlement, so I went into Chanel to reward myself with a pair of crystal CC earrings, which were out of stock, so I bought a chain belt.  I love it, but I don't wear it nearly enough.  Unfortunately the first thing people say to me is "IS THAT FAKE???"

This photo is a few years old (I have a tan now!!), so I'll take some new photos of the belt with my SLR over the weekend.

Valentine's Day

The romance of Valentine's Day always sucks me in.

I always imagine receiving a bunch of roses and a card and some sparkly jewelry and perhaps a pair of nude, patent Christian Louboutin 100mm Simples.  (size 41 if you're reading honey)

But no.  It never happens.  Apparently Valentine's Day is just a Hallmark gimmick (well yes it probably is, but a girl can still hope).

It doesn't help when Net A Porter sends you an email that looks like this.... full of my favourite things... macaroons, sparkles, nude Louboutins, champagne roses...

Big ones

The first day of February, bought with it my subscriber issue of Australian Harper's Bazaar.

That is the news stand cover.  Mine is a more demure, black and white shot (the shot on the left alone, in fact) and for a second I thought it was the OTHER Kate.

There's shiny new campaigns - 4 pages of Lara for LV, the pretty watercolour Prada, stunning all white Gucci which makes me want to go to Europe over the northern summer.  I know I published an image of the Hermes campaign, but the remainder of them are divine.  So soft and feminine.  And the feature on Anna Harrison is so pretty and inspiring.

There's ads for new skincare/make up, like Dior's new Diorshow Extase, which I'm ITCHING to try, Lancome's L'Absolu Creme de Brillance.

Cue is looking a lot better this season.  It seems to be moving away from the stupid taffeta and more fashion forward.  Now I want a Max Mara coat for winter. HELP! What happened to m detox??

According to Bazaar, the rules of the upcoming season revolve around

• ruffles (tick)
• new minimalism - less is more
• safari suiting
• back to basics
• sporty
• world traveller
• cut outs
• soft - colours and fabrics.. romantic
• pastels.. sorbets...
• crystals
• leather.. move over jersey
• clogs (noooooo)
• trench
• skinny belts
• short hemlines - it's still all about the legs
• crisp whites
• raw edges
• lixe lingerie
• techno prints
• statement necklaces (SG necklace I've been lemming for a month here I come!)

Thankfully it's pay week.

x

Nude Perfection

I am not a lip colour wear.  I have about 7-8 lipglosses, which I almost never wear, except when I'm wearing a full face of make up, which is almost never and only two lipsticks, both of which were purchase for a special occasion.

I went into MAC last weekend as I was wandering down Chapel St, so I thought I'd have a look see. 

The "Warm & Cosy" collection caught my eye right away!

maccosmetics.com.au

One of the reasons I don't wear lip colour is that I cannot find the perfect one.  Since I was 15, I have searched high and low for a nude beige/pink lipcolour.. the "newsreader" colour as I liked to call it.  Something that gave my lips a colour, but did not take away from the rest of me to scream lipstick! Yet still ensured I wasn't washed out and my teeth did not appear yellow.

Low and behold the MAGIC of MAC's amplied creme lipstick in the "Warm Me Up" colourway.

Warm Me Up is a creamy medium pink with a little warmed-up yellow in it. MAC says it’s a neutral pink, but I think it has a lil’ warmth in it still! It has a nice amplified finish, so it’s rich in pigmentation and goes on smooth and creamy and leaves my lips feeling moist and plump.

I am soooooooooooooooooo in love.  I am tempted to purchase another tube as it's limited edition.. but I will probably never get through it.  I'll see if I wear it all the time over the next 2 weeks before I decide whether to repurchase or not.

Here's some colour swatches and things I lifted off makeupalley.com and such.

Middle colour...