Blood Lust

I was very attached to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. So much so that, despite finishing watching the series some weeks ago, I haven't been able to talk about it in much detail since. It is bizarre, but the loss of Buffy from my life has been heartwrenching.

Also heartwrenching, was the amazing speech Spike (who I lusted after most unhealthily for many months) makes to Buffy in the final season. It pains me to think about it. Here it is (pink bits for unnecessary, yet irresistible commentary from moi, the obsessed viewer):

You listen to me. [Ok. Anything you say, Spike. I love love love you.] I've been alive a bit longer than you and dead a lot longer than that. [Spike was funny-see?] I've seen things you couldn't imagine and done things I'd prefer you didn't. I don't exactly have a reputation for being a thinker. [Humble - a nice trait] I follow my blood which doesn't exactly rush in the direction of my brain so I make a lot of mistakes. A lot of wrong bloody calls. [Cute pommy-ness] A hundred plus years and there's only one thing I've ever been sure of. You. Hey, look at me. [End commentary - now it gets serious]

I'm not asking you for anything.

When I say I love you, it's not because I want you, or because I can't have you. It has nothing to do with me.

I love what you are, what you do, how you try. I've seen your kindness and your strength. I've seen the best and the worst of you and I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are.

You are a hell of a woman.

You're the one, Buffy.

The sexiness. All too much to bear!

Swoon.


Theirs was an unusual relationship, typified by Buffy's denial of her feelings for Spike, the wall-shaking, floor-splitting, "shameful" crazy wild animal sex they engaged in for a season or two, plus the fact that Buffy had feelings for him that didn't quite reach true love - to Spike's knowledge all along, and yet he stuck around - he was always skulking in the shadows, smoking a cigarette, and generally looking dangerous and moody. And he only had eyes for Buffy.

Spike & Buffy in happier times.

[Look at her arms! Spike ensconced AND super-toned. Lucky girl.]

Spike sure did go to great lengths for Buffy, having the crap beaten out of him to obtain a soul so that she may truly love him - all for nothing (other than the trifling matter of saving the world - god knows, Spike had some redemption to win in terms of going to the heavenly dimension). But... You can only have one soul-mate (ba-doom ching!). Buffy's heart would always belong to the original soul-rich vampire: Angel. (Angel is very hot. But a more tortured soul... Who defected to another station, no less).

Poor, poor Spike.

A life in fashion

I am so excited about the new Vivienne Westwood exhibition (A life in Fashion) that is being held in Hong Kong from 1 December to 31 January 2009. Admission is free and the exhibition will christen the new art space, Artis Tree, in Taikoo Place.

The exhibition first opened in London in 2004 and is the world's largest exhibit devoted to a single fashion designer. The exhibition showcases Ms Westwood's 40 year career with over 14o designs sourced from her collections and her own personal archive.

The lady herself will be in Hong Kong for the grand opening next week - I wish I could sneak in and catch a glimpse!

I Don't Love

What's going on with the world? Why do we hate so much?

I hate death, destruction, curtailment of civil rights, unprovoked attacks, injustice - and they've all happened in the news today:

• Hideous, unthinkable terrorist attacks in Mumbai - the terrorists claim to be targeting anyone with a British or US passport (that's code for: white people).
• Terrorist threats against the subway network in New York, brought to you by our friends in Al Qaeda.
• Madness ensuing in Thailand, stranding thousands of foreigners trying to enter and leave - and enjoy! - the country.
• Iran has just released another rocket into the solar system - apparently it's a "satellite". I wonder what the plans for this satellite are?
• Russia is telling everyone to back the hell off pretty much everything it does.
• China's 2nd richest man has disappeared in mysterious circumstances for "corruption". People get the bullet for white collar crimes over there.
• Research in Brazil shows that a young person is 30 times more likely to be murdered in Latin American than in Europe. Next stop for me travel-wise... Brazil. No, really.
• British and Spanish journalists covering the Somalian pirate situation have been abducted.

And the list goes on. Australia is currently facing huge issues in terms of our ability to affect women who are victims of domestic violence, and the manner in which our protective services deal with these situations.

I Heart ...

• New York - I booked and paid for my flights to New York yesterday. I'm so so so excited! I truly can't wait. Museums, art galleries, ice skating, Sex and the City bus tour, The Sopranos bus tour (note to self: watch less tv), bad coffee, great shopping, bars, restaurants, celebrity-spotting, Broadway, snow (yes, I love summer but the novelty of snow is too good to pass up). Aaaggh!



• The pending ascension of Barack Obama to the top job - I'll be in the United States right after his inauguration - I can't wait to experience the vibe and the general positive optimism I expect to see on the streets stemming from his wildly popular "yes we can" mantra. I'm also dead keen to check out all those political monuments in Washington which I think will have new meaning to Americans after January 20, 2009





• Speaking of optimism, I can't wait to check out the Gallery of Modern Art's latest exhibition - Optimism. All the artists on display are Aussie's, there's the kiddies interactive centre (which I always secretly want to go and play in myself) plus of course the Friday Night Uplate sessions. In January, Katie Noonan will be playing - I'm so excited by her at the moment, as she is about to release an album (Blackbird) which will feature jazzed up Beatles tunes. I love the Beatles, and I think Katie Noonan is super-talented so I think it will be a fantastic combination. That, and the $20 for an up-late session is so much cheaper than her show in early December at QPAC - tix start at $54. Ouch! I can buy her new album and a ticket to up-late for that - plus a coffee!
• The return of Britney Spears - my tragic obsession. I love this girl, I'm so glad that she's healthy, happier (I don't think she's exactly happy yet - perhaps when the court-imposed conservatorship is dropped and she has more custody of her kids again), dressing better (with underwear) and appearing in fabulously choreographed and costumed new film clips. Her new album, Circus, is out on her 27th birthday - 2nd December. Apparently the album isn't as good as Blackout which featured songs with lyrics personal to her situation at the time. Circus has been classed as more of an out-and-out pop album - which suits me - with less of a focus on her private life. About time, too!

• I love this little Leona Edmiston hard-cover clutch, inspired by the clutches of the 1950s. It's so fresh and summery, yet durable and lasting! Like a beautiful battery.
  
  

Fun Workplace of the Week

No STDs from door-to-door contact.

Not long ago, Virgin Media UK commissioned Household Design to reinvigorate the call-centre workspace - you know, a happy worker is a productive worker and all that guff.

Staff demographics showed employees were typically around 23 years of age, with 80% of staff full-time workers. To appeal to the much-hyped fickle nature of Gen Y, Household looked to create a design that not only resonate with staff, but inspired them to be more productive in their workspace (i.e. enjoy their work and work harder at it) and to engage more with other staff (there's nothing worse than a 23 yr old who uses only text message to "talk" to others). Household named the design "Our Neighbourhood" which played into the idea that all staff were part of a team and to get rid of the "them" mentality and make it "us" (*hug*), and, I suppose made it ok to work massive hours because work is also home for some. No guilt. Perfect.

Graffiti your lives away, staff. Just don't say anything defamatory or unkind about your employer (or carpark date)

I love the door within the elevator idea - like there's any escape!

On the other side of the ocean at Virgin Mobile USA, they have chandeliers and retro-cool wall paper. Lucky ducks.

The Meaning of Life

Last night, Andrew Denton's interview with Angelina Jolie and Clint Eastwood (promoting their new film, Changeling) ran on the ABC on the hugely popular - and soon to end :o( - Enough Rope. Andrew Denton is one of the most fascinating, thorough and gifted interviewers I've ever seen on TV. He has a wonderful way with people from all walks of life - he's honestly interviewed everyone from Bill Clinton to the person in the street who's lived an unusual life.

A few things struck me about the interview - first, Angelina Jolie is such a warm human being. I had initially not loved her due to the Brad-Jen thing, to the extent that I predicted Brad would return to the warmth of Jen after realising that Angelina was a white witch evil temptress! I take it back. I'm now of the opinion that Jennifer Aniston is a piece of cardboard, and who wouldn't fall in love with Ms Jolie after being in her crazy, mixed-up, fun world.

The other thing that struck me was that after all these people have achieved, they look to the basic elements of life - family, parenting, love, communication, friendship - as the essentials of life and the things that have moulded them, changed who they are fundamentally, and what they hope to bequeath to future generations.

On love:

• Clint Eastwood: Everyone talks about romance and love but love - it’s friendship. Is this person your friend and the friendship is the most important thing, and then you grow to love them of course, and love ... there’s romantic love and then there’s love of the heart and love of children ... but just having somebody that is a real friend ... that’s the most important thing. I’ve known a lot of women in my life but not a lot of them I can say I really want to be friends with. ... Do you laugh together? If you get in the car ... and drive a couple of hundred miles and you’re still talking and you’re still having a good time then that’s fine. I mean or are you just sitting silently and you’re enjoying being. That’s important but if you get in a car with somebody and say gee I wish I could get this car back to where we started and get this person out of it real quick, then you know that this is not going to work out.
• Angelina Jolie: He’s that great friend and partner I like to talk with and laugh with and then more importantly I saw him with my son and I knew the type of man he would be and talked about family and we have this same, which is I think the most important for a couple, we have the same sense of how we see the world and how we see family and how we both want to build the same thing, we both have the same idea of what we should be spending our life doing and making.

On what they want to do before they die - their gift to themselves and the future:

• CE: I’d like to continue raising a family and make them as appreciative and functioning human beings so that they can enjoy their lives as much as I’ve enjoyed mine. And continue working cause I love that. I think that’s what keeps a person young is be interested in things, stay interested, and fortunately I’ve got a work that each story is a different situation so it keeps me interested. If I ever get to the point where I’ve lost interest in it then I want to just go look at a little golf ball and poing. Then I’m probably going to fade pretty fast after that.
• AJ: I still want to raise my kids great, I just want to make sure that they’re the people that they’re supposed to be and I don’t get in the way of it and I give them the right tools. That’s my main job. And on a personal note, I want to fly across the Sahara in a plane.

I love the juxtaposition between Angelina looking for her next adventure and Clint living for his work. Personally, I'd be looking to the next adventure which takes you away from your working life for a while. Eastwood does joke during the interview that he thinks about his trips to Pasadena, while he calls Angelina to find out the latest on Afghanistan because she's been there or simply knows the situation so well. I love this celebration of diversity, and people who are able to recognise their differences and appreciate a quality another person has that you don't have, without feeling the need to replicate that quality in themselves. If your friend is a daredevil and you're not - it doesn't matter as long as you're happy with yourself. People shouldn't make you feel boring because you don't share the same interests or tendency for reckless activities. The real truth in this interview is that we see two vastly different human beings, both contented with their place in this world, getting along famously.

Follow-Up

Two things to update on previous posts:

• Australia has been met with mixed reviews. I am still waiting for the definitive Margaret Pomeranz review, but Rob Lowing of the Sun Herald has launched a pretty scathing attack saying "Watching this is like being hit over the head by a giant glitter-coated marshmallow wielded by a director whose concept of epic romance is like a drag queen’s interpretation of what a woman is". It sounds great to me!
• Jennifer Aniston - she really copped it for her "uncool" comments this week. A headline I recall had something like "How Did America's Sweetheart Become America's Spinster?" (such a horrid word) and - even worse - that crackpot Ellen Fein, who co- authored The Rules with Sherrie Schneider, has created her OWN SET of rules of Jennifer. Oh dear. Ellen prefaces the rules with "Breaking up is never easy, but it doesn't have to be humiliating." Among her list of personalised rules she includes:

1. Never mention Brad's or John Mayer's name in public [they are advocating the dumpage of John Mayer also - primarily because he's already dumped her once. It can only happen again, right?].
2. Don't say anything bad about Brad ("he's missing a sensitivity chip").
3. Never talk about Angelina or call her "uncool," even if she was uncool. She does not exist in your world.
4. Never date a man or take a man back who humiliated you publicly or held a press conference to explain your breakup.
5. Go to parties where there are lots of single men and ask everyone you know to set you up.

They top their advice with this clanger: "You're going to be 40 soon. You have no time to waste if you want kids." Harsh but fair, methinks. I bet Aniston's publicist is a busy girl.

Hello Kitty Gets A Make-Over

Oooooh my God! Squeal! I heart Hello Kitty. Having done a stint in Japan at uni and having the requisite Japanese exchange students during high school, I quickly developed an appreciation for all things Hello Kitty. So it seems has the Estee Lauder Cos Inc (owner of Mac Cosmetics). I bought a fabulous Mac eye make-up compact just the other day which I have since passed on to Santa Claus - Santa, being remote and all, can't always do his own Christmas shopping - and was just thinking how clever Mac is with all its limited edition collections, super sexy pin-u girls and general awesome makeup.

The Hello Kitty offerings fall into two collections: the Hello Kitty Colour Collection and Hello Kitty Kouture (this sounds like the high-end, bells & whistles bit). As always, the names are very twee, with lipsticks carrying meow meow names like Fashion Mews and Strayin’, and eye compacts titled Lucky Tom and Too Dolly. Shades range from pinks and turquoises to lavenders and greens. The range also incorporates glitter eyeliners.. !

Hello Kitty Kouture features Dazzleglass (this sounds uber glossy), featuring a reusable silver chain pendant with Hello Kitty outlined in white Swarovski crystals on black with a pink crystal bow (I think I want one!). Sheer Mystery Powder is packaged in a silver powder compact with Hello Kitty outlined in white Swarovski crystals with a pink crystal bow on a black background.

In addition to all the Hello Kitty-ness of it all, the in-store visuals have been designed to remind consumers that make-up has transformative powers (and thus consumers must buy more!) - so on one side of the store we can expect a blonde model holding a black vinyl Hello Kitty doll, with the other visual in black - and a little dominatrix-y. So... Who do you want to be today? I guess this taps into the Britney Spears Womanizer clip fantasy of multiple, sexy personalities.

While none of the Estee Lauder or Sanrio executives have discussed sales projections, industry insiders are tipping the collection to sell o upwards of $12 million in North American retail sales alone (recession? what recession?). That projection is slightly larger than that of the hit Barbie collection (I had one of the Barbie lipsticks - it kind of dries out your lips but it's a great colour).

While the 34-year-old Hello Kitty character is usually assumed to be a cat, she is actually a girl. And a girl without a mouth, so she "speaks from the heart," according to Sanrio. No lips, but plenty of lipstick.

PIRATES OF P(enz)ANTIES

I'm pretty sure a normal, hot-blooded male when confronted with the latest uber sexy offering from Agent Provoceteur will be clutching at his chest squealing "aar me heart....!" and that won't be because he's doing a cheesy pirate impersonation. This underwear, as always, is devastatingly raunchy.


And all power to these ladies - Helena Christensen (how old is she now? these supermodels sure do age well) and Alice Dellal are knocking them dead in this overtly sexual campaign. These ladies certainly aren't damsels in distress - they're the mutineers taking over the Brit fleets in all their pirate-y sultriness, and I'd say their muskets are a helluva lot bigger than anything their prisoners might have... I love this new approach to dominatrix - sure there's some pvc looking stuff in there, but they've taken ordinarily girl materials - lily-thin lace and whispers of silk - and turned them into weapons of mass destruction.

This take-no-prisoners, woman on top approach is in marked contrast to the Victoria's Secret shows that ran in Miami this week. Compare the dark undertones of Victoria's Secret - these boys aren't walking the plank: yet - to the butterflies and feathers, good-ship lollipop approach from Victoria's Secret and you can definitely appreciate how well these two companies differentiate their products. I mean seriously - how different can a garter, bra, g-string, panties and suspender belts really be? Not very.


It was all one big, girly slumber party in Miami this week. Check it out:

It's not a Victoria's Secret fashion show anymore without crowd favourite, Miranda Kerr.

Hmm... It's that age old debate: angels or criminals?

Loving the Celebrity Gossip

Amongst the usual standard celebrity gossip, today we have:

• Jennifer Aniston commenting on how "uncool" (seriously, she could have used another turn of phrase - I would like her to start throwing some expletives in, now that she's dating a muso) Angelina Jolie was for saying her relationship with Brad Pitt started on the set of Mr & Mrs Smith (like everyone didn't already know) and how much she couldn't wait to go to work. Aniston and Pitt were still married at the time of filming and screening - how awkward would the premiere have been! Personally, I agree with Jennifer Aniston (except I'd use expletives). Cheating is so not cool - you cheating on your partner, your new partner cheating on their partner to be with you, or your partner cheating on you. Either way, someone's gonna get hurt. Can't we all just get along, and be grown ups about the fact that we don't want to be with the person we're with? Is it that hard to be single for a while?
• I love that Vogue just led with the "uncool" quote - Vogue has been losing the battle against its competitors of late. Perhaps Ms Wintour decided it was time to let loose with some gossip amidst the super practical $500 Christmas presents.
• In the same interview, Aniston basically admits to being in love with John Mayer: "Love just shows up and you go, 'Oh, wow, this is going to be a hayride and a half.'"
• Speaking of cheaters, Sienna Miller and Balthazar Getty split up.
• Madonna is i.n.s.a.n.e. and the biggest control freak ever. Check out her "list" that Guy Ritchie had to agree to stick to so he could see his kids (apparently)

1. the children be able to talk to Madonna by phone three or four times a day at times set by her;
2. the couple's separation not be discussed with the children (fair enough);
3. the children be prevented from looking at newspapers, magazines, TV or DVDs (WTF?! she may be a superstar, but she cannot control current affairs!);
4. they must only eat macrobiotic, vegetarian food with no processed or refined food (yuck yuck yuck);
5. any water they drink, even if used to dilute organic juice (naturally), had to be Kabbalah water;
6. they only wear clothes sent by Madonna, but if something had to be bought, it should not contain man-made fibres;
7. they should not be bought any toys that are "spiritually or ethically unsound" (what does that mean? Is Monopoly ethically unsound? Rampant capitalism??);
8. their hands must be regularly cleaned with disinfectant;
9. they must not to be photographed while with Ritchie or see his friends, particularly female ones;
10. at bedtime, Ritchie must only read The English Roses, a series of children's books written by Madonna about "the five most fab young lasses in London" (I wouldn't be surprised if these boys turned out flaming hot gay - no probably with that, but I wonder how control Queen Madge would feel).

meanwhile... it's a bit of a turnoff that he was so utterly under the thumb of Ms Ciccone. But... we all make mistakes. Bring on the lawyers.

• Aussie film (starring supermodel Gemma Ward) has taken out not only a whopping 11 AFI awards, it recently also won Best Children's Feature Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. I haven't seen it yet, it's on my to-do-real-soon list. And now I have loads more free time since the end of Buffy.

• Kristy Hinze is prepping for her wedding to a much older man, internet and property billionaire Jim Clarke. 35 years her senior. Wowowow!
• George W. Bush calls Bill Clinton up and says: "'Bill, I'm getting ready to meet with the new president and I remember how gracious you were to me. And I hope I can be as gracious to president-elect Obama as you were to me."

Christmoss

Coke wedged in the nostril aside, Kate Moss is uber cool. In fact I would go so far as to say she is the personification of cool. The beauty of Kate is that while she is totally untouchable in a supermodel kind of way, she is also easy to identify: she has a gap in her teeth - she's not perfect; she has terrible taste in men - who hasn't been there?; she's a bit of a bogan/chav; she parties too hard sometimes and looks a bit worse for wear (until she slaps on some Rimmel); she writes woeful poetry and doesn't care; and she never admits to being perfect. On the other hand, not many of us have a chance to design and model a range of clothes for Topshop. We can only hope to buy some of those said clothes.

Kate Moss is on to her 8th collection for Topshop - she got herself some longevity (and a fantastic agent) there. In the latest collection, she channels the glorious Brigette

Bardot all set for Christmas trashbag nights with sexy toussled bed hear, smokin' hot smoky eyes, legs that go forever, and the attitude that has made Kate Moss the icon she is today. Prices start at the super low price of £22 - that's cheap even for us Aussies with our heinously low dollar. *sigh* To have been shopping on 28 October when the collection launched.

In addition to the stovepipe pants (I bet she wishes she thought of Black Rats first), fringed leather jackets and general shorty short party dresses, there's also a limited edition collection of glamour dresses styled in F.Scott Fitzgerald era of 1920s glamour (I'm dying): slinky embroidered satin and chiffon floor-length evening dresses. Apparently one is backless and covered entirely in dark blue sequins. These dresses will be available at the Oxford Circus store at a killer £400 each. The collection also features capelets with gold fringing and brocade detailing. So so so jealous that I'm not wearing any of that stuff right now.

I think Tyra calls this fierce

I Can't Wait! for...

AUSTRALIA

In cinemas in 2 weeks time. Even Oprah loves it! (I don't know how she got to see it, considering Baz Luhrmann is still working on it). Oprah said: I have not been this excited about a movie since I don't know when. Me either!

I think Nicole looks lovely.

Fast facts:

• The final scenes were re-shot due to negative audience reactions (read - lots of tissues) to Hugh Jackman's character being killed (is this a good idea? with the exception of Strictly Ballroom, all of the stars of Baz's movies die! Satine from Moulin Rouge, basically everyone in Romeo + Juliet, Mimi in La Boheme). I don't know... Shouldn't an epic be sad?
• It's meant to be the Gone with the Wind of our time (Oh, Rhett!) [check out the obligatory kissing shot below - every good epic has one)
• 20th Century Fox has spent $190 million on it - that's a lot of shoes in girl-accounting talk!
• Baz is living in a caravan in a post-production facility, simply slaving darling over the final piece - he's handing it in reel by reel (no "the dog ate my homework" excuses in a caravan, although... a dingo ate my reel! such poor taste)
• Russell Crowe was Baz's first choice over Hugh Jackman (I secretly love the name Hugh at the moment)
• The film is expected to be a whopping 170 minutes long! OMG that's almost 3 hours... My bottom will go numb!
• Nicole Kidman celebrated her 40th bday during filming - as well as getting herself knocked up, along with about 3 others
• A friend of a friend has spent the last few years buying all the props for the movie - so so so unbelieavably jealous of the "buying props for amazing films" job
• Our Nic signed up to do the film without bothering to read the script. I don't blame her - Baz is a genius!
• Bowen, where much of the film was shot, got right into the swing of filming with Jochheim's Pies (now owned by Jo's great-great-great granddaughter, Merle who famously gave Baz and CM a Bowen's history lesson in the bakery, not realising who they were - a star (in the form of the town of Bowen) was born in that chance encounter) baking Hunky Hugh Meat Pies, Baz Baguettes and Kidman Mango Cheesecakes. mmm.... pies. I'm hungry.
• Most of the filming took place at the Packer-owned Carlton Hill Station (that's cattle station, not tv channel) located about halfway between Broome and Darwin. The station is called Faraway Downs in the film, and is the station that Nicole's character (Lady Ashley) inherits upon the death of her husband
• The film is an escapist love story set in the 1930s.

I want someone to kiss me like that in the rain! Break the drought!!!

A few other shots from the film:

CM is a killer costume lady

Botox or no botox, Nicole is a beauty

This is my wedding, right here. I'm freaked that someone else has imagined this moment!

I heart Australia always, but this movie makes me think I'm going to love Australia even more soon. I can't wait!

Black vs White

It is so unbelievably racist, ignorant and just plain wrong to look at the looming US election as a White vs Black issue. It's not. I can't help but feel very passionately about the election, and with it now just days away, I am feeling jittery and worried about the future of dear old planet Earth. So, to add some light - but also to remind us that there are issues outside of race at stake here - Tony Grey of Grey PR in New York has developed this image. It's fantastic. [If you can't read the pic it says "Let the issues be the issue"].

The other great black vs white and black/white day is Derby Day - held on Saturday at Flemington, and marking the first day of Melbourne's fabulous Spring Racing Carnival. To attend the carnival is in my list of 100 things to do before I die (I think there's more than 100 things in that list, but the list is constantly evolving). For whatever reason, it is steadfast tradition that black and white be worn on Derby Day, with the flower of the day a blue cornflower (not my pick to go with black & white - but I don't create traditions).

Previous years we've had celebrities in attendance changing outfits (Kate Bosworth in 2006) and prancing about in minimal attire (Paris Hilton - 2005? I can't recall exactly and can't bear googling her). There seems to be a cycle of pushing the boundaries in terms of clothes (and the amount of flesh displayed) - bust, if you will, pun intended - and then a boom, where more conservative garb is preferred. After Paris Hilton jetted out we had a definite, and resounding return to elegance. Thank the lord. This year, judging by some of the outfits, I think we're crawling back to the bust days. The women were slinking around in night-club gear, and Megan Gale for whatever reason decided to channel some S&M chic and showed up with a riding crop. Personally, I don't think she pulled it off. She looks a little like a cross between an air hostess and ... a model carrying a riding crop. Jennifer Hawkins had a gorgeous hat, but I think the Maticevski dress failed her.

Hit? Or miss?

Kate Waterhouse, on the other hand, was a glamourama in Lisa Ho and she got the cute play on the jockey look just right.

Kate is David Jones' racing ambassador, probably because she is (a) gorgeous and (b) Australian racing royalty - the daughter of famed trainer Gai Waterhouse. Here are some gratuitous shots of her in other racing attire:

I own this hat too!

I know it's a little grandma-ish of me to be so conservative when it comes to racewear, but she is so much more elegant and beautiful than the other twerps you see tottering around the racetrack with their bra straps hanging out, fake tans slipping off their shoulders, and g-string viewable through the skin-tight disaster of an outfit.


I am on my high horse (yes, another pun - actually not intended) today because I won fashions on the field at a country picnic race day on Saturday. It wasn't quite Flemington, but it was fun!