Camilla Franks - Babylon Collection

Valentino Retrospective

Valentino Retrospective, GOMA Brisbane - Mecho article

Between 7 August 2010 until the 14 November 2010, The Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) in Brisbane is hosting the world’s one and only Valentino Retrospective – an exhibition exploring the works of acclaimed Italian fashion house Valentino.

I can’t even begin to describe the decadence and absolute beauty of the 100 exquisite haute couture gowns on display for the Brisbane art scene and all its fashion junkies. Or should I say ‘followers’ considering the sheer elegant nature of this exhibition deserves and attracts an elegant crowd.

The fabrics range from crocodile skin, to furs and more delicate ones such as crushed silk, draped chiffons, organza, and velvet. Do not even get me started on the beading, as my words could not possibly describe the intricate, immaculate, and simply amazing hand beaded trains and bodices of pearls, crystals, and feathers.

The exhibition spans across more than five decades. Some of the dresses even date back to the 1960’s with an array of Valentino’s most recent works scattered in between…

Read the rest here…

Daffodil Day

Daffodil Day was officially Friday and I bought some flowers which are already dead. But on the bright side I have a cool, infant-looking, bright yellow, rubber bracelet that I have been sporting round the place. I also wrote an article for Mecho about the designers gearing up to support the Cancer Council. I did my share of goody tooshoes so off you go now and do your part.

Here’s part of the article…

If you are still feeling a little conscious about your spending habits after the recent global financial crisis then rest assured this one goes to a good cause. As you know, Daffodil Day was this Friday and some of the countries top designers offered a hand – or should I say garment – to raise money to fight cancer.

The star-studded list of designers looks like it was stolen from Vogue’s address book. With Akira Isogawa, Arthur Galan, Camilla Franks, Bettina Liano, Rachel Gilbert, Jason Grech, and Jayson Brunsdon each donating a beautiful yellow garment for the event. Former model Gail Elliot who now owns Little Joe Women, has also got in on the yellow action by donating a boho, beautiful full sleeve dress that captures the campaign perfectly in all it’s sunshine glory.

Each garment reflects the designers signature style and is exclusive to the Designers for Daffodil Day. Just like the humble yet bright little daffodil each design reflects hope for the Cancer Council’s goodwill.

Read the rest at Mecho…

MECHO

Check out the new kid on the block! I have recently become a contributor over at Mecho - the style black book. They post some very cool things from very cool people so you should pay them a visit once in a while and check out my posts while your at it. I'll keep you posted homies.

WATCH THIS SPACE!

Update: I have recently finished a guest post for Mia Freedman’s blogwww.mamamia.com.au and it will be published some time after the Australian 2010 Federal Election. Tres exciting as I get to finally have a voice on an issue I am terribly passionate about! Stay tuned…

Move Over Mr. Cupcake!

So I have seen many, many, many photo’s of macaroon’s lately. Like literally everywhere! I think it’s the new craze, just like cupcakes were. But cupcakes are so 2010 people. Why aren’t any of these crazes healthy may I add? These sugary fad’s aren’t doing a whole lot to help Fix-Fat-Fridays. Did you like my alliteration there?

Anyway look at these delectable treats…

I chose the word ‘delectable’ instead of ‘yummy’ because don’t you think this little presentation of the macaroons deserves so much more than just simply ‘yummy’? Oui! I thought so too.

I’m not much of a cook however I googled the recipe for making these babies.

And it looks hard.

So I was thinking that maybe you could make them and send them as a gift to me? Preferably not coconut ones as I’m allergic to that snow-like substance. Or I guess I could leave the recipe on my fridge and they will magically appear?

Anyway here’s the recipe folks… They lost me at “1. Using a fine sieve…”

Or if your a daring little devil and really want to show off, here’s a French Chocolate Macaroon Recipe.

TIGHTS ARE NOT PANTS

This is an article I wrote for COVET Magazine (www.covetmagazine.com.au) - Issue 3, page 87 if your interested folks. Silly billy’s though published it under someone else’s name. Online version not corrected however printed versions were.

It really couldn’t get much more stylish than a pair of J Brand jeans or a cut to perfection pair of Vivienne Westwood wide-leg wool blend dress pants. Even less indulgent brands such as Cheap Monday and Tsubi provide some very stylish bottom options. So why, why oh why, is everyone wearing tights? We spend our entire lives, looking for the perfect jeans and the age old question, ‘does my butt look big in this’ is pondered and poked until our derrières are black and blue. So why, when we finally find that amazing pair of pants that make our butts look taut and our legs longer do we reach for the leggings or tights? Honestly, tights are the lazy girls attempt at fashion. I blame it on Sass and Bide’s invention of the famous ‘Black Rats’ leggings, which every fashion junkie owns. However no one seemed to notice that even Sarah-Jane Clarke (aka. Sass) and Heidi Middleton (aka. Bide) teamed their leggings with an oversized top or dress that covered there tooshies. The rule is, if your toosh ain’t covered by some heavy duty fabric, don’t leave the house. There is nothing worse than seeing someone too lazy to pull up a fly on a pair of pants happily walking down the street in her tights. I’m sure you have seen it before. You notice everyone’s heads turning to a particular direction and then yours can’t help but turn either. There, standing in line waiting for her coffee, is the tights culprit with her horrid, stretchy, almost see through leggings, which highlight every curve of that poor girls ass. Simply put, wearing tights as pants leaves little to the imagination. No matter how skinny your bum may be, the fact that tights should be left to the Ballerina’s and Renaissance Fair characters is undeniably true. Not even these activities magically turn tights into pants! They are simply activities that require no pants. It’s as plain as that. Wearing tights as pants is simply, too much information! Why did no one get this memo? Or have people simply given up on actually getting dressed in the morning? Leggings look like you could have rolled out of bed, applied some mascara and ‘off you go’ about your day, blissfully unaware of strangers staring. Instead indulge in some pants ladies! No one wants to see your crotch unless it is covered with some decent fabric and preferably a zip and button combination. If you want we can show you some desirable options that are appropriate and lust worthy! Net-a-porter the most stylish and coveted e-boutique known to mankind doesn’t even have a main heading titled ‘leggings’ or ‘tights’. It reads skirts, pants, shorts, jeans… nowhere does it say tights! Except for the hosiery section where they belong. So don’t be lazy and indulge a little – jeans for casual, super chic dress pants for work or special occasions, feminine skirts and shorts, you name it. Just not tights! The real world will only tolerate the laziness of the tights phenomenon for so long. Your neighbours don’t need to know the most intimate details of your body and the damn things are frankly not sexy at all. Don’t you want to be coveted? No one covets a tights wearer.

Multiple O's

So I caved in and finally purchased the oh so famous Nars ‘The Multiple’ in the colour ‘Orgasm’. And yes, you probably won’t need any blush after having to walk up to the counter at Mecca and ask for this particular shade. Yep, no blush required!

So I have been simply putting this purchase off because of it’s heavy $89 price tag. However it’s a blush, eye cream, cheek enhancer, and well almost anything. It will be great for Summer time because I tend to wear less makeup when it’s hot outside, no one likes a cake face dripping in sweat now do they? I can promise you that ‘The Multiple’ will leave you walking around feeling bright and looking glowing.

Purchase online here (if you don’t want to ‘blush’ at the counter).

Okay I give up starting today!

I’m not going to lie. I’m a pasty chick. Always have been and finally accepting I always will be. I recently got a spray tan for my brother’s 18th birthday. Yes shamefully a ‘spray’ tan. Anyway so I asked for a ‘natural all over glow’ like I think everyone goes in asking for and just like everyone I walked out completely ORANGE.

Moral of the story ladies and gentlemen, do not bother with fake tanning! Wether it is streaks, or un-even blending, the smell or simply the oompa loompa curse - it’s just really not worth it hey?

So I went to my little bro’s birthday all orang-utan like and feeling uncomfortably close to resembling Malibu Barbie. I should have known as soon as I walked into the tanning salon. They were butch, gym junkie, singlet wearing men and Ed Hardy wearing, belly button pierced women, who were all an un-natural dark blend of coffee and Jaffa’s.

So here is my inspiration that is slapped on the background of my computer (from now until eternity)…

Isn’t she just gorgeous? All hail Miss Hermione Granger, I mean Emma Watson. Finally I think celebrities - who are the reason for our obsessive magazine flipping at supermarket counters - are embracing their pastiness.

In fact let’s not even call it ‘pasty’ anymore. I’m ditching my fake tan cans right of this moment.