Black Out Curtains

With the relentless march towards sleeplessness coming closer to its final destination, I have decided I probably need some kick-arse Anna Wintour style sunglasses to hide the bags under my eyes from the friendly people in my neighbourhood.

Living in a city like Brisbane makes it hard to go anywhere without bumping into people you know. This is a lovely thing, but some days (i.e. the days when you haven't brushed teeth or hair) it's the last thing you want. I also find that the day you're in your least flattering jeans and haven't a scrap of make-up on your face (oh the humiliation of not being in either adorable boots or fabulous heels and sans mascara to add to the horror!) is the day you are guaranteed to see an ex-boyfriend or a frenemy and all you want is to look a bit glamorous and just a touch more put together than that familiar person in your line of sight. Never happens though, ammiright?

I recently came across Thierry Lasry sunglasses while floating around Sydney: described as sunglasses based on the concept of futuristic vintage with an updated, modern and avant garde touch, I think these are pretty much exactly what's needed to evade the Fashion Police over the next few months.

While there's not a whole lot new that can be done with sunglasses, it's nice to have a newer player in the game apart from the usual Gucci, Prada, Tom Ford, D&G. At this stage, I've only seen Thierry Lasry stocked in Brisbane at Scanlan Theodore and boutique opticians.

Happy Friday: You Can Run, But You Can't Hide...

...from the realities of 33 weeks of pregnancy (hello, BUMP!) and - for first time mummas at least - the baby shower. This weekend I'm having the first of 2 baby showers (one of the big positives of living in two different places is twice the number of parties!).

And seriously. Is there any better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than with your friends, sipping champagne and eating scones with jam and cream?

Oh wait - there is. All of the above PLUS ribbon sandwiches (made by someone else of course).

I am very lucky to have a mother-in-law who was willing to host and essentially completely cater the baby shower - she has literally been in the kitchen all week experimenting with new recipes for the occasion. I feel pretty bad about this given my tendency to outsource catering activities (especially when the crowd is in excess of 4 people), but I think she's enjoying herself. At least that's what I'm telling myself.  I have taken it upon myself to organise booze for the occasion. I happily have an obstetrician who doesn't wring his hands about basically anything, but especially not a few drinks here and there.

I'm also very lucky to have a husband who wakes up in the middle of night to rub my legs when foot/hip/back cramps set in at inopportune moments #feelingold #getthisthingoutofme.

As I obsess over eating the cake-y, macaron-ish, sandwich-ish treats for tomorrow I am also pondering how social media seems to have done a complete 180 from people posting shots of their kale salads and bliss balls, to doughnuts being on seemingly every street corner and the #snackwave trend (happy snaps - mainly on Instagram - of the young uns hoeing in to basketball sized baked goods and burgers and cheese covered fries).

Pic courtesy of Girls With Gluten

I understand the reaction against the kale (it tastes like shit) and juicing (I need to chew) but the deliberate clogging of arteries I just don't get (unless you're in your first trimester AND HAVE NO CHOICE!). Most of the proponents of the sugary and/or salty snacks (they can be both - contemplate for a moment the popularity of Brisbane doughnut behemoth Doughnut Time's 'The Elvis' which contains jam filling with banana and peanut glaze and lashings of crispy bacon) are attractive females, so I'm wondering if they're actually eating the entire thing - if at all.

Baked to kill.

While I agree the obsession with healthy or clean eating was getting a little out of hand and it has been attributed to the rapid spread of orthorexia (an obsession with healthy eating that borders on eating disorder) particularly amongst females with an Instagram account, so too does the message that chowing down on "snacks" (burgers, ramen, cheesy fries, doughnuts etc) at every meal is something to be celebrated. It's all just a little too black and white - you really don't need to pick a side between the Carb Queens and the Bliss Ball Babes and frankly either way, I think you'd go insane limiting yourself in that way. I guess the healthy eating food pyramid just isn't very Instagram-able.

Happy Friday: I Like to Boogie!

The Fashion Weeks are doing the rounds (RIP to Brisbane's Mercedes Benz Fashion week which has called it quits after 7 years due to lack of sponsorship and State Government support), and there was simply no ignoring the 70s disco-themed collection from UK designer Ashish at this year's London Fashion Week.


Born to Indian parents, Ashish Gupta's A/W2016 show was a dazzling mix of exuberance, candy colours and high octane glamour - a David Bowie takes on Bollywood type collection.

 

 

Classic black still got a look in

Not surprisingly, Gupta has designed outfits for a number of high profile personalities, including M.I.A, Madonna, Jerry Hall, Victoria Beckham, Kelly Osborne, Lily Allen and Patrick Wolf. Frankly, I'm surprised that Kate Moss hasn't worn some of these creations. Perhaps for her next birthday party?

Since his first show at London Fashion Week in 2004, Gupta has won the New Generation Award three times. Gupta's street cred has grown with a collaboration with Topshop - the 'Ashish for Topshop' capsule range. His mainline collection is stocked in Selfridges and Browns Focus and can also be found in Italy, USA, Russia, Dubai and Kuwait.

Happy Friday: All About That Bass

It has been stinking hot in my neck of the woods lately, and there is really no better way to luxuriate in the heat than to eat ice cream (or better yet, to bask in a roof top pool with ice cream and aperol spritz' on hand).

Things started off strong today with free ice creams handed out on the sidewalk (I can now confidently recommend Streets Fruttare coconut smoothie ice creams), and will continue throughout the weekend without a doubt. I am rubbing my fat, sticky little fingers together in anticipation....

Happy Friday indeed! x

As Another New High Street Store Opens in the Queen Street Mall...

An angel loses its wings. Or, more accurately, the joy of being overseas and snapping up bargains at international Zara, H&M and Uniqlo stores loses its lustre.

Of course it is fabulous for all Brisbanites who enjoy shopping that these stores have spread their wings to the Sunshine State, but a tiny part of me knows that I will rarely set foot in these shopping meccas - driven away by the teams of squealing teens and the racks of now utterly unappealing mass-manufactured clothes shoved onto cheap plastic coat hangers.

Then again. That brave, indefatigable consumer in me rises up and whispers ... "But you need new shoes". See you at Zara.

You can always count on Zara for the staples.

Happy Friday: The Silly Season Takes Off

Judging by today's mini-hangover, I think it's safe to say the silly season has kicked off.

With a calendar bursting with commitments and a bunch of friends coming back from overseas for a visit in the next few months, I am feeling pretty happy about the advent of summer right now. Happy Friday! And if it's your birthday week - happy birthday! xo

Every now and again, my 30+ year old head disagrees with this statement

Do Something

It would be far too blithe to put the events of this week down to planetary misalignment, which I am prone to do when I - or the geopolitical landscape more generally - has had an unusually bad week.

I have ranted about this issue before. I don't think it's right to stop talking about this issue until there is some kind of solution, or we have at least gone a long way further towards ensuring the protection of vulnerable women and putting systems in place to support men so furious at the world that they think it's right to kill their partner or their child.

Last time I ranted, 1 woman per week was killed at the hands of her partner right here in Australia. Currently, this statistic stands at 2 women per week - the national average. In addition, 3 women per week are hospitalised with serious head injuries as a result of domestic violence.

Are you angry yet? No? I'll keep going.

This week in South East Queensland, 2 women were murdered at the hands of their partners, 1 woman was viciously attacked but blessedly survived, a child was murdered and her sister almost killed. Among the offenders? A mining executive and a former Bandidos bikie gang member. It takes all types.

This is what we read in the papers this week:

In a place usually packed with children, a man walks in, shoots a woman dead and turns the gun on himself.Another man armed with a machete allegedly rams his ex-partner's car and chases her along a suburban street. She survives.A young mother succumbs to head injuries allegedly caused by her estranged partner accused of running her car off the road and beating her with a metal object as she was trapped in the vehicle.

Several of the victims had reportedly reached out to police for help in the weeks and days prior to the attacks. News reports suggest many police are disinclined to intervene in domestic disputes. Not only that, the manner in which domestic violence incidents are reported (read: played down or simply ignored) is also a focus of  increasing attention.

Can we please stand up and do something now? Domestic violence is at epidemic levels. More women - and possibly children - will be murdered this month at the hands of their partners, and probably in their homes. Quite possibly the reason these incidents have attracted so much attention is that they occurred in public places, rather than at home. Generally, these women are beaten up within the walls of the family home, somehow making it easier for the incidents to be ignored.

Think it doesn't affect you? Think again.

What's the answer? I don't know. I'm not an expert. I think men need to be educated from day one on how to be respectful of women, and to accept women as equals. Discrimination and unfair treatment of women still exists in many facets of daily life. This needs to be recognised and addressed. There needs to be better awareness nation-wide of the signs of someone potentially being affected by domestic violence. In the extreme cases - hospitalisation, murder, suicide - I can't help but think there must have been signs that could have alerted others to the danger these women and children were in. Police need to be empowered to act. We need better support for battered women: shelters, safe refuges, and agencies - whether it be law enforcement or social services - where women can be treated respectfully and in confidence so they can get the help they need.

In addition, it is quite clear the men in these scenarios need help too.

Set amongst all this violence, it was R U OK day this week - a national day of action whereby we turn to our friend, family member, work colleague, person passing in the street and ask if they're ok in a bid to raise awareness for mental illness and depression. Headlines have been created as one of the nation's favourite football players pulls out of finals season citing mental illness. Again, it takes all types.

While I'm not suggesting all cases of domestic violence can be attributed to mental illness, there is clearly something not right in the head of a man who thinks it's ok to intimidate, bully, belittle or treat with violence a woman or child they claim to love. Support services need to exist for these men. Education and awareness raising is an important element of this, as is men telling other men that domestic violence or abuse of any kind is simply not on.

As the He For She campaign suggests - men are an essential part of the solution. It is a fact that 95% of Fortune 500 CEOs are men. It is also a fact that while 40% of the agricultural labour force globally is comprised of women, less than 20% of women in those areas own land. We need powerful men to not only be a part of the conversation, but also to be leaders in the charge toward gender equality and in creating safer homes, university campuses and workplaces for women.

Emma Watson's comments at the launch of the He For She campaign go for all of us. Something needs to be done. After all, it takes all types.

If you are suffering domestic violence, support is available from DV Connect via 1800 811 811 or the website. If you're in danger, call 000 in Australia.

Designer Bircher

As I spoon another mouthful of artfully plated toasted granola with vanilla bean yoghurt and fresh seasonal fruits into my mouth,  I ask myself why I'm spending $13.50 on something I really could have whipped up at home for 1/8th of the price.

A huge part of the reason is so I can see the dear friends I never get to see in an environment that is not my own home (read, I don't have to tidy/vacuum before they drop by). Another is that breakfast, like many other comfort foods in life - I'm looking at you toasted cheese sandwich and Vegemite toast - is better when someone else has made it for you. But equally up there is the ambience factor of a really good cafe. No amount of So Frenchy, So Chic playlists can recreate the vibe of a bustly, beautiful and fabulously popular coffee shop. In particular, there is something very loving about a resplendently designed coffee shop - it's like a very public, warm embrace from Mr Too-Cool, which simply by association renders you invincibly well-loved and hip for the day.

As part of the annual Eat Drink Design awards is (naturally) the Design component. While a beautiful restaurant or bar is all well and good, there really is nothing better than a gorgeous cafe ensconced in subway tiles, exhaling ground coffee beans, and generally being the lighthouse for your Monday morning.

Some of my favourites from this year's cafe design award shortlist are below.

Adelaide's Abbots & Kinney

Perth's Alex Hotel Lobby Espresso & Lounge Bar

South Brisbane's new arrival, Gauge (it is very beautiful) - another cafe from the creator of Sourced in Teneriffe

Harry's at Bondi

Hutch & Co, Lilydale Victoria 

The Kettle Black, South Melbourne

A Moving Stone Gathers No Moss

If you haven't heard of Shoes of Prey, I'm afraid you've probably been hiding under the proverbial rock.

Founded in 2009 by fellow Brisbanites and former lawyers, Michael Fox, Michael Knapp and Jodie Fox the design-your-own shoes-in-3D website has taken off in a major way both here and overseas. After their third successful capital raising in late 2014, resulting in US$5.5M in venture capital funding from (among others) US-based Khosla Ventures, Shoes of Prey is now expanding its off-line, bricks and mortar presence in the US, as well as construction of a new factory in China. Shoes of Prey had previously raised $4.75M in 2 other capital raising activities. This latest deal leaves the original founders with just under 50% equity in the business.

Along with their concessions at David Jones here in Australia (whose forecast revenue from the shoes has doubled in the first years of operation), Shoes of Prey has recently inked a deal with Nordstrom to open 11 concession outlets in the USA. The China factory will allow Shoes of Prey to expand its output capacity 12-fold as it races to meet the insatiable demand of shoe-lovers globally. In addition to all of this, the deal has enabled Shoes of Prey to hire key staff for the expansion, including a chief marketing officer, graphic designers and senior retail staff. Shoes of Prey also now has an office in Soho, New York.

Suffice to say, these guys are doing the best out of the rest of the class of 2003.

Shoes of Prey doesn't sleep though. They have recently announced a collaboration with Romance Was Born, Australia's boundary pushing fashion house known for its bold, colourful prints and theatrical catwalk shows. This latest collaboration brings a set of 5 gorgeous, Australiana-inspired prints to the Shoes of Prey platform. I am in love!

With sales growing 50% year on year since its launch and gross profits exploding 250% over the last year, there's no stopping Shoes of Prey and its innovative co-founders.

Happy Friday: Artistes

My weekend is all about the arts this week!

The weekend will open gorgeously with tonight's opening night performance of La Sylphide. Queensland Ballet has really stepped up the quality of their performances of late. Much credit must go not only to the genius of Li Cunxin - better known as Mao's Last Dancer - but also to the funding pulling power that comes with his appointment: the performances are much more lavish these days, and often led by principal dancers sourced internationally, bringing a higher quality of production and expertise to our shores.

From this: Queensland Ballet keeping it classy

Friday's elegant main course will be followed up on Saturday night with dessert: a performance by Australia's songbird sweetheart, Kylie Minogue. Key things I hope to see on Saturday night are a modern vampy rendition of Locomotion, lots of fabulous costume changes, oodles of hot back-up dancers, and Brisbane's gay community out in force, looking as delectable as the back-up dancers. Anything on top of that will be a bonus.

To this: ultimate performer, Kylie Minogue

These performances will be spliced by episodes of my current obsession, Twin Peaks.

Incidentally there is a David Lynch exhibit at QAGoMA running until June showcasing David Lynch's visual art works - paintings, photography and works on paper. In addition to this, there will be plenty of fun activities during the exhibition months including a Twin Peaks trivia night, screenings of his most iconic films, and the always-wonderful Up Late sessions.

The exhibition is described as thus:

‘David Lynch: Between Two Worlds’ is a rare opportunity to consider Lynch’s entire creative vision and the relationships between his practice as an artist, filmmaker and musician.

Developed closely with the artist, the QAGOMA exhibition features more than 200 works and is organised around three ideas – ‘Man and machine’, ‘The extra-ordinary’, and ‘Psychic Aches’. Moving between the porous divide of the body and the world it inhabits, the exhibition explores the subjects of industry and organic phenomena; representations of inner conflict; and the possibility of finding a deeper reality in our experience of the everyday.

Note: this exhibition contains nudity, coarse language, violent imagery and adult themes. 

The Lost Highway still rates as one of the creepiest movies I've seen to date. I also heartily believe that Mulholland Drive is more of a spin-out than Donnie Darko and not to be messed with when messed up on illicit substances. For Brisbanites, I highly recommend attending the exhibition, if only to relive some classic cinematic moments!

Naomi Watts in Mulholland Drive

Happy Friday: Tutu Appreciation

Every year, the Queensland Ballet hosts Tutu Day. Essentially you bring along your adorable daughters all tizzied up in a tutu and allow them run of the place to live out their wildest Sugar Plum Fairy dreams. I highly recommend attendance, and would give any adult $50 to show up in their own tutu. I still have a black tutu lying around and always think about wearing it... and then chicken out at the last moment because I think it would seem very strange indeed for a daughter-less woman to strut around in her black tutu simply because she can.

Garance Dore recently snuck behind the scenes of opening night for the New York Ballet Company's day before the opening night (as well as opening night, but those pics aren't up yet). The photos are glorious. Check them out here. Or below, because I have stolen a few shots for this blog's benefit.

Speaking of ballet... Have you seen Birdman? To me, Birdman is almost the male version of Black Swan. While it's less intense, there is still that theme of that inner voice - demonically personified - pounding its owner to reach great heights of perfection, success and personal achievement. It's an interesting film and has received a bunch of Oscar nominations. Worth watching and really interesting to see the "art" of acting (Edward Norton is so talented), but I really thought Emma Stone stole the show. She had that tragic air about her, and I found myself on edge waiting for something dreadful to happen. She also suffered some highly unflattering camera angles, but it didn't distract - she was fabulous.

Shoesday Stinker

Although the weather in Brisbane this weekend was decidedly brutally hot (described variously as a "stinker"), driving this writer to jump into her swimming pool fully clothed after walking for miles more than expected at midday, let it not be mistaken that I wish for summer to slope off into one of its customarily radiant sunsets.

No, no. Quite the opposite. Please stay Summer! I fear your departure as much as I fear a darkened, empty apartment after watching an episode of The Fall.

So of course this Shoesday we must celebrate Summer in order to convince her to stay longer (although the scientists say that this is fact anyhow).

Without further ado, Spring/Summer 2014/15 from various catwalks, mainly Milanese, because who does Summer better than the Italians?

Happy Friday

This weekend is all about catching up, drinking coffee, eating dinner and hopefully catching some of the delightfully warm rays that are shining on Brisbane this weekend.

Here's to the weekend! xo

Happy Monday to the Ballerinas

In honour of its latest ballet, Imperial Suite (a double bill featuring US and French choreographers), the Australian Ballet commissioned a series of pictures dedicated to ballet in the theme of the loveable Paris vs New York: A Tale of Two Cities.

Speaking of ballet, I feel obliged to tell you about my current Fitness Obsession (if you count attendance on a once per week basis an "obsession"...)

Xtend Barre in all its variations (there are so many now that the craze has caught on - Ballet Burn, CardioBarre whatever you want to call it) in a nutshell combines ballet with pilates.  But Barre is so much more than that. It's ballet exercises (the tedious ones we used to hate when we were petite ballerinas itching to put our pointe shoes on) to pop music. It's arm toning without the muscle tees and 'roid boys watching from the corner. It's pilates without feeling bored, and most of all it's fun! 

While you don't wear a tutu, you don't feel any less of a hardcore ballerina as you sweat through your plies. Images of Natalie Portman's dedicated Black/White Swan aren't far from your thoughts as you point your toes, centre your hips and hold and lift your leg that inch ever-higher. It's a great, low-impact workout, that I truly believe gives you great results. Dubbed one of the Victoria's Secret angels' best kept workout secrets for years, the cat is truly out of the bag these days - I highly recommend getting yourself to a class!

The other great thing about Barre is that if you don't have access to a studio class , you can get a DVD of workouts and do it at home with the aid of a chair, 2 x 1kg weights and a pilates ball - it's that easy!

There are studios all over Australia, so there are no excuses (although quality of instructors is highly variable). I went to a fantastic studio in Toowong, Brisbane and in Adelaide I absolutely love Aleenta Barre in the East end of the city. As barre-devotees would say - meet you at the barre.

And finally, I think we can finish our Monday on this note: