Strong Suit

Maybe it's just a mini-trend, or perhaps it's in retaliation against a dictate from the latest President of the United States that women dress "like women", but we are currently seeing more women in suits on the red carpets at this year's awards season.

Evan Rachel Wood kicked things off at the Golden Globes earlier this year, and it has been carried on with sparkly aplomb by Emma Stone in Chanel and Meryl Streep at the BAFTAs, all the way through to the kiddies, with Blue Ivy nailing the trend at the Grammys.

Can't see the pants?

There they are!

 

Following Streep's highly political address at the Globes, I'd have to suggest her choice of outfit was a definite statement.  

So there you have it Trump: here in the 21st Century, dressing like a woman means dressing however the hell we want to dress.

Absolutely Beautiful Things - The Golden Globes

The Golden Globes kicked off awards season in an unsurprisingly political fashion. Following on from last year's Oscars "white wash" along with Trump's shock US election win, there was plenty of fodder to graze on - sexism, racism, elitism. It was all there. But there were other really fabulous moments apart from Ryan Gosling's love letter to wife Eva (#couplegoals #obviously) and Meryl Streep's wonderful anti-Trump speech. And that, of course, was the dresses... AND Evan Rachel Woods' suit (which I loved).

Big winners in the well-dressed category are below. But I think yellow and Versace were big winners on the night.

Blake Lively rocking her post-2nd baby body in Versace

Emma Stone radiant in Valentino - describing her dress to Ryan Seacrest when asked as pink with stars on it

Naomi Campbell in Versace

Naomie Harris in Armani

Pregnant with her 2nd Natalie Portman taking a cue from Jackie O in retro-inspired Prada

I love her in yellow! Reese Witherspoon in (you guessed it) Versace

Viola Davis in Michael Kors - responding to Ryan Seacrest's boneheaded
question of "what do you call this colour" she responded with refreshing simplicity: "yellow"

Bombshell goals: Emily Ratajkowski in Reem Acra

Molten Metal

Raf Simons is one of Belgium's greatest exports (other than chocolate). Previously Creative Director at Jil Sanders, he is particularly well known for his (rather brief) star turn as Creative Director at Dior, with his first collection for the iconic fashion house being beautifully and most fascinatingly documented in Dior and I (if you haven't seen it, you really should).

Raf Simons and a gorgeous bunch of peonies, in France. What more could you ask for?

Since resigning from the fashion house (by all accounts on excellent terms) in order to, in his own words, "focus on other interests in my life, including my own brand, and passions that drive me outside my work".  

In addition to developing his own label (to be shown at Florence Fashion Week), Simons has collaborated a number of times with Adidas. His latest collection, released last week, is spectacularly metallic, and follows on from last year's gorgeous colours in the notorious Stan Smith shoe for Adidas.

Being a narcissist, I believe the "R" is designed specifically for me, however I think it is quite obviously not the case. In any event, I would love a pair, but retailing at a cool $500 a pop I am not entirely sure they will make it in to  my next online shopping cart... So sad.

Chanel Does Cuba

This week, hot on the heels of the Met Gala (and consequently lacking the star power of most Chanel FROWs) Chanel launched its resort collection on the wide, picturesque avenues of Havana. Cuba is currently Flavour of the Month, having recently played host to the Rolling Stones, the Obamas and the first cruise ship full of 700 Americans since economic and diplomatic sanctions between the USA and Cuba - in place since the 1960s - were historically loosened in March this year.

This week, Karl Lagerfeld (without having visited the country previously) released an entire collection based on his perceptions of this time-warped and beautifully ageing country. Models cha-cha'd down the catwalk (Havana's Paseo del Prado flanked by Cuba's notably colourful cars from the 1950s), some smoking cigars and others decked out in Che Guevara-esque black berets.

Cuba is indeed a picturesque spot, and while I think it's great to promote tourism to the area, a small part of me feels a little discomfort between the dichotomy of ultra-luxe Chanel (which most of us in the developed, Western world can't afford) in Cuba, a country where people earn about US$20/month and food remains relatively scarce and subject to rations (for example, ice cream is only available on certain days of the week).

I will attempt to overcome my white, middle class guilt complex though, and go with the flow. Go and visit Cuba! It's a most fabulous country - beautiful, complicated and full of a the vim for life that can only come from a nation of people truly living an island life: unaffected by constant change, glorious concerns generated by the multitude of options that economic and social progression offers, and the pressure that social media and a bombardment of advertising imagery so well-advanced in its psychological manipulations that it can push the buttons of even the most confident of cats. And if you can afford to take your Chanel slip-ons, then best of luck to you - please spend lots of money in this wonderful country.

Cuban drivers catch a glimpse of some of the world they've been missing these last few decades

Shoesday

How adorable are these shoes from Asos? A total steal at $95!

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

Happy Friday: May Your Days Be Merry

6 weeks to Christmas. Egads! But might as well milk it at the Christmas parties... AmIright??

Happy Friday

Loving these Spring fashion looks from Gorman. Have a great weekend, and give your dad a big hug xo

Shoesday: Open Season

Can we hear an exuberant "BOO-YAH" for the arrival of Spring? After a Winter that has been experienced from Shanghai (at the end of the southern hemisphere's Summer) to Brisbane (ok, not much of a winter, but our houses are not built for cold morning air) to Hobart (deeply freezing!) to Melbourne to Adelaide to regional South Australia and rural Queensland - I feel I have been there and done that with Winter this year.

Magically enough, it is forecast to reach 26 today. So it is essential that we celebrate the advent of Spring with some open toed shoes and not a black opaque stocking in sight. Some shots from Charlotte Olympia's Frida Kahlo-inspired Cruise collection and Jimmy Choo because, well, Jimmy Choo.

Pictures from Charlotte Olympia and Jimmy Choo Cruise S/S2016 collections.

Happy Happy Monday - Toward Marriage Equality #lovewins

#lovewins

In a historic ruling over the weekend, the United States Supreme Court made same-sex marriage a lawful right everywhere in America.

Justice Anthony M Kennedy wrote for the majority that "No longer may this liberty be denied. No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were."

Marriage is a "keystone of our social order" he wrote, adding that the plaintiffs in the case were seeking "equal dignity in the eyes of the law."

This decision marks the culmination of decades of litigation and activism on this most simple human right. The decision comes amid fast-moving changes in public opinion, with polls indicating that most Americans now approve of same-sex unions.

What better way to fight those in the dark corners of the globe by not only celebrating the freedoms we currently have, but by providing yet greater freedoms to those long-marginalised? This is what we fight for: hardwon, staunchly defended freedom. I hope our country can embrace similar ideals, but fear a few things may need to change around here before that can become reality.

But who cares? Today, love conquers all.

Carla Zampatti: 50 Years Strong

Lovers of Australian fashion will be very familiar with the story of Italian born designer Carla Zampatti and her much-loved eponymous label, Carla Zampatti.

After emigrating to Australia as a child in 1950, Zampatti released her first collection in 1965. In the following 5 decades of celebrated design, Carla has consistently produced effortlessly elegant, streamlined collections in vivid hues that are perfect for the modern Australian woman - no matter her age. In her own words, Zampatti has noted that "from the beginning, I wanted to create haute couture pieces that women could  buy at an affordable price."

As she celebrates half a century of timeless design (and her 100th collection), Zampatti's latest collection is one of her strongest. Beautiful dresses in vivid hues of fuschia, sapphire and vibrant lemon, with plenty of spring's staple black + white and classic blacks, Zampatti's spring/summer collection (previewed at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Melbourne earlier this year) screams spring racing and champagne soaked soirees.

Carla Zampatti's latest collection was presented at Sydney's iconic Opera House, with the Harbour Bridge serving as a dramatic backdrop

Later this year, she will also publish a coffee table book celebrating her time in one of the more fickle industries in the country.

Zampatti's shades of pink are the perfect anti-dote to the gloomy winter's days I've been experiencing in Southern Australia:

I would like to own this in a somewhat wild-eyed, desperate kind of way

PS Great sneakers, front-row lady

The remainder of the collection is equally glamorous and deliciously upbeat:

If you weren't sure, Carla Z is the lady in the sunglasses

Source:http://www.buro247.com.au/fashion/insiders/carla-zampatti-celebrates-half-a-century-of-style.html