I’m still not sure whether Lana Del Rey is worth all the fuss. Yes, ‘Video Games’ has slowly grown on me; and what I’ve heard of her much-hyped release ‘Born to Die’ (which you can stream preview snippets of) I actually rather like, especially the playground sing-song rhythms of ‘Off to the Races’, but you won’t find me clambering onto a shout-friendly rooftop anytime soon. Nevertheless, she does look pretty fuss-worthy in these snaps from Lord Whitebackdropington, Terry Richardson.

The simplicity of the fashion in this editorial makes me beam from ear to ear, mostly because I too own a white cableknit sweater, white singlet, jeans and KISS-worthy tongue, and now have a perfect guideline for how to scrub up comfy-yet-chic.

On a same-same-but-different note, here’s my favourite image of Lizzie Grant thus far, taken for Interview Russia:

I couldn’t tell you what I love more: the outrageously glam winged eyeliner, or the tongue-in-cheek play on Del Rey’s “bee stung lips”.

via pedestrian tv

Thanks to the lovely Megan over at An Australian Wintour, yesterday Alex and I eschewed the daily grind and headed instead to the Adelaide leg of the Big Day Out. The day was an absolute dream: brunch at Brown Dog Cafe on Goodwood Road was serene (their Warm Falafel Salad could start a war, it’s that bloody good), the weather was perfect and the tunes were bangin’ (honorable mentions go to the Hilltop Hoods, Battles, Royksopp and Kasabian). But everyone knows that the best part of a music festival, besides the music of course, is the fashion; or more specifically, outfit judging.

I’m not sure what it’s like in the rest of the world, but I’m sure most Australians would agree that summer festival dressing gets pretty skanky, according to whatever is being sold in Globalize and Cotton On that second. Yesterday’s (Big Day) outing saw an endless parade of cropped singlets, bustiers, belly piercings and frilly high-waisted ass shorts. Now, I’m no Anna Wintour but I like to think I’ve learnt a thing or two over the years about how to dress well. So: in the hopes of never having to see another lot of ass-cleavage again, here are a few tips for the repentant festival fashion victim. Read, absorb, then go forth into the sun, ass cheeks safely tucked away…

Belly button piercings should have died out with Britney Spears’ career

Yes, she looked fab, but that definitely does not mean you will. Anyway, she had a snake. Not just any snake, but an albino python. Who even knew they existed?! The point is, your belly button stud is a visual cue for the producers of ’16 & Pregnant’ to keep tabs on your movements. Swap it for the more bohemian nose stud if you must.

NO-ONE looks good in frilly ass-shorts

You may as well don a pair of these; the class factor is about equal.

… but if you insist on wearing a high-cut number, at least take a style tip from these ladies

Hanneli balances the trash-factor of leather ass shorts, matching knee-highs and crop top with wholesome layers of tights and chambray. The eclectic New York setting definitely helps.

Olivia from lust for life champions the grunge revival with a simple black tee, khaki combat boots and JBF hair and make-up.

Even something as simple as a lightweight knit and a pair of cute moccasins is infinitely better to pair with your shorts than a lace-up bustier, as Cali-girl Aimee Song proves here.

Other tips: your sequinned bra is not a substitute for an actual top, so please at least befriend a chiffon blouse; maxi skirts are always a winner; and the band tee + skinny legs combo will never let you down.

Finally, if you need more help, A Change of Worlds is my current go-to for street style inspiration; and Polly over at hard, pretty things never disappoints.

xx

For all my girlish beauty obsessions (currently: obnoxiously bright lipsticks, turquoise toenails and lavender EVERYTHING), perfume has never really captured my attention or wallet. Enter Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, brought into my life via a sneaky acknowledgment in Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus (which, incidentally, is the best book I’ve read in years, perhaps even my lifetime).

Black Phoenix are bringing Edwardian class to the digital age through their array of darkly romantic, hand-blended perfumes. In their words:

By utilizing our knowledge of homeopathy and aromatherapy, the conceptual theories of hermetic alchemy, and the aesthetic artistry of perfumery, we have mastered the art of encapsulating allegorical ideas into singular olfactory experiences.

Basically, a BPAL (not to be confused with BPAY or Paypal) scent won’t just make you smell deliciously irresistable to any sex within sniffing range; it’ll whisk your mind away along whichever path best corresponds with the oft quirky-yet-straightforwardly named bouquets.

True, one look at the intimidating list on offer is enough to make any girl reach for the assuring familiarity of her designer scent of choice (Pharmacopoeia? Ars Amatoria? I can’t even pronounce that shit, let alone tell you what it means and whether it’ll mix well with your natural scent), but half the fun is perusing the rows of virtual vials, studying the petite descriptions before closing your eyes and picturing the scent in your mind.

So: as someone who struggles to adequately decide which undies to wear each morning, how did I choose? I’m kind of ashamed to admit that, for my virgin experience, I stuck to what I knew; in this case, scents based on my two favourite cultural tomes like, ever, Alice in Wonderland and The Last Unicorn. Alice is a curious blend of milk and honey with rose, carnation and bergamot, while The Last Unicorn is an ethereal medley of frosty lilac petals, iris pallida root, orris, violet leaf, white chocolate, coconut, wild lettuce, white sandalwood, and oakmoss.

I’m yet to settle on a favourite: the spicy undertones of Alice, the sweetly subtle scents of the Unicorn, or Kabuki, an enigmatic and entirely addictive blending of cherry, red musk and star anise that takes me back to childhood nights spent sipping non-alcoholic sparkling burgundy and feeling most grown-up indeed. But considering the bite-size 5ml vials, affordable price point (most blends will set you back around $17 plus postage) and enticing addition of free samples or ‘Imp’s Ears’, this is one Phoenix’s lair worth exploring.

And finally: if you’ve ever wondered what a Japanese Ronald McDonald exercising on speed would look like, wonder no more.

If you’ve ever seen Requiem for a Dream, you know that drugs are bad; but for anyone who hasn’t, the team behind the Ecstasy. Face Facts campaign want all you budding Don Draper’s out there to help spread the word, one t-shirt at a time.

The Face Facts Tee competition gives aspiring up and coming designers, photographers, illustrators and general creative types the chance to see their design become the official campaign t-shirt. And just in case the pride of seeing your work splashed across bosoms Australia-wide isn’t enough, there’s some monetary incentives in it for you too: namely $2,000 in cash plus a $200 Moshtix voucher for the winner in the 15-18yrs category; and $2,000 buckaroos plus a double pass to Creamfields Music Festival summer tour for the 19-21yrs winner. Runners up in both categories will also walk away with something spesh.

So what do you have to do? Firstly, be between 15 and 21 years of age; secondly, use your artistic skillz to rustle up an image that you feel best depicts or supports an ‘anti-drugs’ theme; and finally, Facebook the shit out of it. Entries will appear online at the Face Facts Tees competition hub in a voting gallery, with the winners being chosen from the top 10 Most Voted For designs. As I mentioned before, each winning design will be printed as a limited edition t-shirt, to be distributed as part of the 2012 Ecstasy. Face Facts campaign at Creamfields Music Festival, Rock the Schools and other media outlets – definitely something that’ll look good in the portfolio.

If you’re jonesing for some inspiration, Russh magazine have edited their favourite graphic tee offerings, my faves of which are below. Study closely, then submit your entries to the Fact Facts website.

One Teaspoon tee

Quicksilver tee

Sophmore tee

One Teaspoon tee

One Teaspoon tee

Cassette Society tee
{img src: celebrating cinema, Russh }

Let’s be honest: I’ve always liked Lily Cole, but in the same way that I like cups of tea with sugar instead of honey. Both are pleasant, enjoyable, but definitely nothing to shout from the rooftops about. At least, until I came across this scanned clipping on the Wildfox Couture blog.

In the interview with UK Harpers Bazaar, Cole espouses her views on eco-fashion and materialism with the candid confidence of a 20-something woman who is both socially conscious and refreshingly honest in the choices she makes. She isn’t down with cheap labour, but admits to the hypocrisy of refusing to wear fur yet rocking a good leather jacket. She is unashamed, articulate, and hands-on; and how cute does the concept behind her and Katherine Poulton’s label The North Circular sound? (If you’re too slack to read the article, NC bring together wool from rescued sheep and knit-happy grannies to create magic… or at least, ethical knitwear).

Ms. Cole, you are much more than a pretty face, and never again will I dismiss you as simply “that redheaded model who had a fling with Heath Ledger”. And while at 350 GBP there’s no way in the world I’ll ever be able to own one of your granny-made Fisherman’s Rib sweater dresses, I still think you’re ace.

xx

{img src: Wildfox Couture. Having trouble reading? Click on the images for the original large scans}

Good news everyone: it’s Christmas (and subsequently, holiday) time! I hope that, wherever you’re reading this, you’re all geared up for a safe and rocking celebration (or several).

Studies say that no-one really reads blogs over the holidays; but in case you need something to stave off your blinding hangover/food coma, the following links should get you through to New Years Day at least:

You Me & Charlie

Dianna Agron is stop-you-in-the-street beautiful; a star in one of the most popular tv series on the planet; quite the gifted penman; and, from the sounds of this blurb, really freakin’ lovely. I wrote about her new website You Me & Charlie for Local Smile recently, but I’m mentioning it again because its awesome.

Demijohn

Demijohn won’t help stave off your hangover. In fact, they’re liable to make it a lot worse. But my boyfriend just wafted the Seville Orange Gin under my nose and it was the most incredibly delicious pure-spirit I’ve ever inhaled, so my suggestion is you suck it up and embrace the Hair of the Dog approach to life.

Wikifashion

Just like Alice, there’s nothing that I love more than discovering and exploring new shit.* Wikifashion is surely nothing new to anyone with an interest in the fashion interwebs, but what it does offer is an insane volume of content just waiting to be clicked on and ogled; though I’m admittedly disappointed that only three blogs have been listed under the Adelaide blogs category.

David Thorne

I’m pretty sure that, were David Thorne and I acquainted IRL, I’d deem him a bit of a tosser and someone to avoid. Luckily, we’ve never met, thus leaving me free to enjoy his miscellaneous ranting and irritation-provoking, via his website and book (an early and unputdownable Christmas present for Alex). My recommendations: I have read your website and it is obviously that your a foggot, Missing Missy and Roz loves Adelaide* (Thorne’s home town).

And that’s all she wrote. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight.

xx

*She owns a private plain bitches. Just like Brangelina.

What does one do on their solo day off for the week? Bake cupcakes of course! The wonderful Alex bought me this adorable box of Studio Oh! mini cupcake recipe cards. The 20 recipes (10 varieties each of cakes and frosting) feature the sweetest vintage illustrations, along with dreamy blurbs to set the scene for your culinary adventures. This is my first attempt at recreating their deliciousness, with my own (faux-alcoholic) twist.

Oh Baby, Coconut cupcakes

You’ve been at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel for some days now. In fact, you’re not sure how many days and know only that you are pleasantly sunburned. In the afternoon, your friend insists you order coconut cake. You don’t normally like coconut cake because it is so often cold and heavy and too sweet. But then, you are served this cake, fluffy, still a bit warm so the frosting melts, and you realise you’ve been living your life all wrong.

1 & 1/2  cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup coconut milk
4 egg whites
1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut (*I used dessicated)
*I added 1 teaspoon rum essence, for a pirate feel

Preheat oven to 180 degrees; line muffin tin. In a small bowl, mix dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt. In a big mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in vanilla, then half of the flour mixture. Add coconut milk, then the rest of the flour mixture. In another large, clean bowl, beat your egg whites until stiff and glossy (*just like your man). Gently fold egg whites into batter, going slowly. When incorporated, stir in shredded coconut. Divide evenly in muffin tin and bake for 20-25 minutes. Makes 12 cupcakes.

Rum & Raspberry Frosting

The sun is showing its morning rays on the horizon as you tread across the soft, dewy grass. At the very moment that the sun illuminates the sky in fiery streaks of pink and orange, you spy what you are looking for. You pluck one of the tiny, ripe berries from the bush and bite into it – no one is around to see the juice running down your chin. In that moment, it’s just you, the soft morning air, and the luscious taste of sweet wild berries.

1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
500g package powdered (icing) sugar

In a small microwave-safe bowl, drizzle berries with lemon juice. Microwave on high for five minutes. This will keep the frosting from becoming water, while the lemon juice keeps the flavour bright and pink. Let the raspberry mixture come to room temperature, then combine raspberries, butter, vanilla, and salt in a big mixing bowl and beat until creamy. Add powdered sugar one cup at a time until you reach your desired consistency. Frosts 12 cupcakes.

xx

Considering the mini-Las Vegas that the Gold Coast has developed into over the years, it’s surprising to learn that the Hilton Surfers Paradise is the first global upscale hotel to be built on the Coast since 2000, and the first leisure-focused hotel & residence from the Hilton brand in Australia (if anyone had asked, I would’ve assumed Hilton had set up shop in Surfers decades ago). The development boasts two towers: the Boulevard, home to 134 combinations of one, two and three-bedroom residences (and our temporary home-away-from-home); and the Orchid tower, which houses 169 hotel rooms, an additional 116 residences and the majority of the HSP’s luxurious facilities (more on those in a bit).

Thanks to our post-workday flight times and ridiculously long shuttlebus journey, we didn’t make it to Reception until sometime around 10pm on Friday night – well after the allowed 3pm check-in timeslot. Tired and already behind schedule on our Girls itinerary, I was thankful for the speedy yet welcoming check-in afforded us by the lovely Chiyomi, who outlined all aspects of our girly package, including the complimentary parking space (we definitely should have skipped the shuttlebus).

Atop the 32nd and top level of the Boulevard tower, we found one of the two two-bedroom ocean view residences allocated to us as part of the package (the other sitting directly below on the 31st floor). Greeted by a bottle each of New Zealand bubbly and Semillon Sav Blanc and the most adorable chocolate tuxedo-ed strawberries I’ve ever laid eyes on, I was torn: launch into these delicious welcome treats, or explore the apartment?

Luckily, that’s what friends are for. Charging Dan with champagne duty, I wandered through our stylishly minimalistic and modern residence. It smelled a little like new car, but that was quickly fixed by sliding open the doors to our ocean-view balcony, running the full length of the residence and overlooking the Orchid tower opposite, downtown Surfers and the beloved beach. The two bedrooms were equipped with a King (proper, not two King singles like I’ve heard other places use) and Queen bed respectively, with the main bedroom also enjoying its own wall-mounted LCD TV, ensuite and priority views of the sea. Both bedrooms boasted built-in wardrobes (stocked with Hilton monogrammed bathrobe and slippers) and an iPod docking station, which proved ridiculously useful for both charging phones and cranking the required pre-party Gaga.

Bottom photo courtesy of Hilton Surfers Paradise

But back to the package. After a cheeky champers on the balcony overlooking the plebs far below, we met the Mothership on the ground floor ready to redeem the complimentary cocktails that come with being a fun-wanting girl. We would’ve collected Mum from her room, only the key card operated elevators don’t allow guests to travel to any floor other than the one they’re staying on. This is probably the biggest flaw we found during our entire weekend at the Hilton; having been given two room keys each, we swapped one so that we could all travel between floors and reconvene easier, but that one floor between us left my mother feeling slightly isolated. Although travelling one floor in an elevator is hardly difficult, it’s definitely not as easy as going next door to see your friends. So I would strongly suggest that, when booking, you make a point of requesting residences that are at least on the same floor.

Next stop: the FIX cocktail bar for a complimentary welcome bevvie. We nestled ourselves into a cushy lounge table and observed the merry mix of guests enjoying internationally renowned mixologist, Grant Collins’s unique concoctions. Open to both hotel guests and the general public, FIX (named after the iconic 1930’s cocktail) is a welcomely elegant alternative to the prevalent tackiness of downtown Surfers’ nightlife. Their take on a Singapore Sling wasn’t a huge hit – the lemonade overpowered all other flavours, leaving little impression – but the unusually sticky aftertaste of the Elderflower & Kaffir Lime Breeze was popular amongst our trio; and the Lychee and Rose Martini is undeniably the best cocktail I have ever tasted. Dan and I also made good use of their oversized porthole-esque windows on Saturday night, inventing our own entertaining commentary for the riffraff on the street below as we sipped on our Espresso Martini’s.

Exhausted, we retired for a relatively early night ahead of the next day’s packed schedule – but not before Dan and I could road-test Luke Mangin’s In Room Dining menu. Blame one too many Hollywood rom-coms if you will, but our hearts were set on sharing a big fat ice cream sundae, topped with hot fudge and Maltesers. Unfortunately our Guest Services compendium didn’t include a room service menu, so Dan was left to blindly negotiate with the patient chef. But god was it all worth it, as we were delivered two bowls of the creamiest, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate and vanilla ice cream, drizzled with what I can only describe as gourmet Ice Magic and finished with fresh strawberries and Toblerone. All of a sudden our Malteser fudge sundae seemed an incredibly undignified request, and I was well pleased that we’d left our midnight snack in the capable hands of Mangin’s kitchen.

The following morning kicked off with me waking at 5.45am, having stupidly forgotten to close my bedroom curtains properly against the glaringly early Queensland sun. Three hours later, we tottled down to Salt Grill for the continental buffet breakfast included in the Girls weekend getaway. The selection was, quite simply, kickass: croissants and sweet pastries; cereals and bircher muesli; fresh fruits and deliciously unusual avocado and rosewater ricotta shots (YUM); omelettes made to order, eggs however you like ‘em, a line-up of hot treats and about 100 different types of bread – if you could possibly want to devour it for breakfast, then Salt had offered it up – with their own personal twist of course. Example: lifting the lid of the mushroom dish would reveal not your typical sautéed mushroom affair, but instead a delightful medley of mushrooms, baby spinach and fetta – heaven to my vegetarian eyes (although somewhat disappointingly, the mushrooms at Sunday’s buffet were just plain mushies).

But even better than the breakfast itself was the service. Every single staff member we encountered at Hilton Surfers Paradise was ten-types of lovely, but few more so than the Salt breakfast team. Even on Sunday morning, when they were run off their feet, they were efficient, pleasant and polite. On Saturday they were chatty, genuinely friendly and seemingly happy to be there – something I honestly wasn’t expecting. After all, surely they’d get more than their fair share of wankers to deal with, working in an upperclass hotel and all. Yet their amicable demeanours made me feel like a regular at my favourite café, which was a really nice touch.

Image: cubic, collective

Following a brief post-brekky lie down, it was time for a quick venture around the neighbouring streets, whereby we discovered the sartorial gem that is cubic, collective. Sitting pretty in Chapter 1 on Surfers Paradise Boulevard and just around the corner from the hotel, cubic, collective is a carefully curated collection of lustworthy labels for men and women. Ksubi, Bec & Bridge, Nudie jeans, Cheap Monday, Shakuhachi, Stolen Girlfriends Club, Love is Treason, Chronicles of Never, sass & bide… the list goes on. As Dan perused their collection of $20 sunny side smart kids club tees, their gorgeous sales assistant Rachel wrote me a list of her favourite locales, based on our mutual love of nose rings and general radness. Top of the list? Black Coffee Lyrics, which turned out be upstairs in the Asian alley right next door to the Hilton. On Rachel’s recommendation we popped in for a refreshingly strong caffeine hit and made a booking for dinner later that night, then headed poolside for the R&R I’d been craving.

The simplistic luxury of the Hilton’s outdoor entertaining mecca managed to entice many guests out into the fresh Gold Coast air, even on a slightly overcast afternoon. With outdoor bar The Deck serving up even more tasty cocktails and light meals, two plunge pools and both an indoor and outdoor pool (yes, that’s four pools in total – plus a spa) and a wide selection of seats and lounges to suit all of your relaxation needs, it’s kind of hard to resist. As it was, we sat outside sipping on mojitos and Garden Martinis (vodka, apple liqueur, cucumber and apple juice) for a good couple of hours but I could have easily spent an entire day just sitting out there, soaking up what little sun was on offer.

But alas; the next stage of our Girls Just Wanna Have Fun adventure was calling, in the form of a mixology lesson with FIX bar manager Jeremy Earnshaw.

Now, put simply, Jeremy is an absolute champion and his lesson was undeniably the best experience of the whole package. With the aid of his high school bestie and fellow FIX bartender (and Kiwi) Oliver, Jeremy took us on an hour-long journey through time and space, demonstrating how to make some of his and Ollie’s favourite beverages, then offering each of us the opportunity to jump behind the bar and concoct whatever our little hearts desired.

As well as talking us through the process of each drink they were making, Jeremy and Oliver offered up interesting tips and tidbits for we, the budding mixologists: “Shake lengthwise for maximum movement”; “Always stir down straight alcoholic drinks, approx. 20 times (clockwise)”; “Double strain drinks mixed with a thick puree such as the Lychee Martini so as to avoid any distasteful stringy bits”. The boys were an alcoholic fountain of knowledge, fascinating to chat to and really amicable and inclusive, and the hour positively flew by (perhaps all of the samples we were left to drink had something to do with that). I can’t recommend this addition to the Girls just wanna have fun package enough.

Next stop: eforea day spa for our $300 credit.

An oasis of calm on the second floor of the Orchid tower, Eforea Day Spa‘s menu offers three distinct “journey”‘s: The Essentials Journey, The Men’s Journey and The Escape Journey. Wishing I could have kept the $300 credit all to myself, I opted for the Escape Journey’s 90 minute Meditation Massage, followed by an Antioxidant Facial from the Essential Journey the following morning. They’re not kidding when they tell you to book your spa appointment in advance: the wonderful Melanie outdid herself juggling appointments and managed to slot the three of us in, but I strongly recommend giving them a call before you arrive to ensure you score an appointment slot most convenient to your plans.

Promising to instill both physical and mental relaxation, the Meditation Massage began with a luxuriant foot soak featuring peppermint and aniseed essentail oils. My masseuse Amy, whose warmth and calm instills in you a sense of relaxation from the moment you meet, then asked me to close my eyes and take deep breathes of two different essential oil blends, to determine which she would use for the rest of the massage. Opting for ‘Rejuvinate’, Amy proceeded with a traditional Aboriginal smoking ritual to dispel any negative energy – a unique and beautifully organic touch to the whole experience.

The massage itself was spot-on: not too harsh as to cause pain, but firm enough to work out the tension nestled in places I didn’t even realise, and release the toxins I didn’t quite realise I had. The 90 minutes breezed away, with the treatment ending with a nimble head massage and conditioning treatment – yet another little touch that took it above the level of merely a ‘good massage’.

The following morning, I was treated to Eforea’s one-of-a-kind Antioxidant facial. My super-sweet therapist Midori possesses hand massage skills that could make the toughest man melt. I wasn’t expecting to go in for a facial and be treated to a mind-blowing scalp, neck, shoulder and hand massage combo, but just like Amy’s massage, this facial went above and beyond. Midori used warm rose quartz to massage my face, followed by a chilled rose quartz around the eye area to reduce puffiness, making my hayfever-prone eyes feel brand new. The Kerstin Florian products used were delicate on my sensitive skin, and smelled delish, particularly the Algae mask used on my decolletage which, to me, smelled like lychees (though I probably just have them on the brain).

Breezing out of Eforea, Dan and I headed to Black Coffee Lyrics for the most mouth-watering Vege Burger I’ve ever experienced (Dan assures me his Chicken Burger was delicious too). This place is a hidden delight right in the centre of downtown Surfers Paradise, bucking the trashy nature of the city for an alternative, Melburnian vibe (though I’m sure the boys would be sick of hearing people say how “Melbourne” their joint is). Exposed brick walls, wooden floorboards, mismatched vintage furniture, a haphazard library nook of books precariously piled onto shelves, more random modern art than you could poke a spraycan at and army men stuck upside down to the ceiling; you’ll find it all at BCL, along with a damn good cup of Joe. They offer BYO of a night time too with a miniscule $3 for corkage, making it the perfect place to escape the fake-tanned hoards and enjoy some quality culture and company. (Plus, the waiters are pretty fit).

And then, all too soon, Sunday morning arrived and it was time for our girly weekend to come to an end. Before visiting the Hilton Surfers Paradise, I would never have thought to take a trip up to the Gold Coast, mistakenly assuming it’s a bit too Jersey Shore for my liking. I wasn’t necessarily wrong (as the guy who tried to climb from his balcony next door onto mine proved), but with the absolute luxury the Girls Just Wanna Have Fun offered, paired with the quirky charms of cubic, collective and Black Coffee Lyrics (and nightspot Elsewhere, which we didn’t manage to make it to), I’ll definitely be booking myself another flight coastward – pronto.

First up, you should read the title of this post aloud so all of the ‘e’s rhyme and I don’t look so weird (or possibly, weirder).

Good. Now feast your eyes upon H&M’s latest love child. Those charming Swedes Hennes and Mauritz must have one hell of a pick-up line, because they’ve managed to pair up with some of the biggest names in 21st century fashion: Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Roberto Cavalli, Commes Des Garçons, Matthew Williamson, Sonia Rykiel, Jimmy Choo and Lanvin have all fallen under their sartorial spell.

Now, I’m not really one for Versace. Donatella is like the creepy future version of Rachel Zoe, returned to warn her to step away from the sunbed and avoid chasing parked cars. Plus, the clothes have always seemed a little gaudy (and, you know, expensive) for my simple gypsy rocker tastes.

The Purse Blog

But this collection is far more accessible to the average twentysomething. The black leather studded mini? No-one’ll be able to focus on the band at that gig on Saturday night.

Need a last-minute frock of some kind of horse race (since there seems to be thousands on at the moment)? Shine bright in the yellow studded mini, or engage your balls with the fashion-forward china doll dress/pant suit.

Workplace functions and engagements with stodgy relatives can be eased with the elegant style of the LBD – with a Donatella edge.

And need something that’ll make you shine brighter than the fireworks on NYE? Fuschia, metallic tiger print and a shimmy-rific Diana Ross disco number should do the trick nicely.

All photos by Mert & Marcus. Thanks Pedestrian TV!

The entire shoot stars Daphne Groeneveld, Sasha Pivovarova and Lindsey Wixson but I’ve only featured Abbey Lee Kershaw because she’s the fittest. The collection hits H&M stores on November 17 – just enough time to work out which piece you need first.

xx

ASOS Australia has officially launched, and who better to grace their first magazine cover than vintage-hippie goddess Isabel Lucas? (The correct answer is no-one, for those of you playing at home). Here she is at the Sydney launch event rocking my favourite shade of terracotta and a beaded 1920′s headpiece most of us could only dream of pulling off.

All images courtesy of Grazia

Now comes the point where I shamefully admit that I’ve never purchased anything from ASOS. It’s not that I don’t dig their wares; on the contrary, they stock so many incredible pieces that I tend to pile my shopping cart with far more sartorial goodies than I could ever afford, then freak out, get overwhelmed and bail on the whole business in favour of pouring another glass of shiraz. Yes, I’m a spazz, especially when it comes to online shopping. But I’m working on it.

Other things you should know:

I have a post up on Lost at E Minor, and if you haven’t already, grab a copy of the October issue of CLEO to find out what Soap & Glory body butter smells like (something akin to heaven).  My bestie just started a blog. My friend Lauren also writes about her fashion adventures – she has the best style of anyone I know, so I definitely recommend checking her out. The Bowerbird Bazaar is coming up in Adelaide soon – put it in your diaries and do your homework by checking out my post on last year’s event. Then get pumped for the weekend with this song, this song and this podcast.

x