Catherine McNeil, one of Australia's current crop of models to make it big o/s, headlines Louis Vuitton's 2010 Cruise campaign. While I doubt I'll be jumping on a cruise ship until I'm well into my 70s, I would still like to nip off in most of these outfits.
There have been strange happenings in Ms McNeil's life of late, after reports of her seen at a Girlfriend magazine modelling competition with cuts on her arms. There had also been criticism in some circles that she had "gained weight" (I believe this is code for "was seen eating something other than an apple and lettuce leaf"). Her mother in response said this Very Weird Thing: "She's been through a lot. She hasn't had it easy. She hasn't had much of a life. I never forced her into modelling, it was her decision, it was her choice...But it's not as glamorous as it appears. There's a lot of pressure to maintain your looks and sometimes it gets her down." I can't imagine I'd be clapping my mum on the back for making comments like that, but who knows what their relationship is like...
And all those drugs. Robbie Williams is still pretty damn cute! Here are some pics of him at the ARIAs last night... He's also been one of the crooners I'd throw my underwear at. I stand by that, even though I think it's time he got rid of the mohawk once and for all.
Here's DJ Havana Brown - Australian media's latest darling - looking smoking in hot pink and leather-capped shoulders (that's why her shoulders look like they've been chopped off).
Aaaah, purple. I think we know my position on this colour. And if you don't, I LOVE IT! My favourite ever dress as a kid was this jacaranda-coloured dress which was all asymmetrical and covered in white polka dots. And I had some wicked patent white shoes which went with the whole outfit. I seriously thought I was the biz in that outfit. Tragically late 80s these days, and definitely not as stunning as Cate Blanchett in Armani Prive recently.
Hilarity! The Show Pony has dug up the best Christmas pressie for your "I watch At The Movies every Wednesday, I always agree with David because he's just got such an appreciation for the art, you know. The ART" film-loving friend (who occasionally grates on your nerves with their know-it-all-ness but is a fantastic help during Trivial Pursuit nights at the pub). The Psycho inspired Blood Bath shower curtain.
Unfortunately, like my other Christmas gift idea, it is also sourced from the UK. What is with that? The UK-based Grinch who delivered Christmas?
I hate to freak y'all out with my Britney obsession. I will not do it again for a long long time, I promise!
I have a costume party this weekend which is throwing me into a tizz re what to wear. The theme is 'Once Upon A Time' which is fabulous! However... I don't know anyone bar the host (as far as I know - I should probably scout Facebook) which makes me a little worried about going all out a la Lindsay Lohan in Mean Girls. That said, I am hyper-critical of peops who don't go all out and be creative for a costume party... It's a bit boring when you don't stretch your mind when given the opportunity.
I also have a little theory about costume parties. Because it's a theme and you are ostensibly Someone Else for the evening, it's a great opportunity to get sexy and bootylicious and wear the stuff you would never have the guts to wear ordinarily (provided it links to the theme - if it doesn't, don't bother: you will just be lame otherwise). A theme party is a little like alcohol in that it breaks down inhibitions, or the very least it reveals a little part of you that you want to let out of its cage once in a while. I always say to guys - a costume party is one of the most likely places you'll pick up and nab yourself a one night stand or get that girl you've been flirting with but not sure where she's at to finally pash you. It's such a release to have opportunities like this, because as you get older and your professional reputation become more precious, it's not often you can spaz out like this (unless you're in a creative kind of setting all the time). Everyone says to be yourself, but we also have common decorum drilled into us - a phone voice, if you like. So it's great fun to splash out! So what am I worried about? I've put zero effort or thought into my outfit, that's what. Just haven't had time. And for something so elaborate as fairytale themes, it's a little harder to wing than my study-break black panther for a jungle/safari party recently. Yes I have a cupboard full of dance costumes, but the essential part - the tutu - was thrown out years ago! What to do folks? Any wicked ideas?? (And yes, I'm contemplating the Wicked Witch of the West!)
Once again, no pictures until Herr Himmler the firewall leaves me alone. I'm sure y'all understand.
Last night, as you are probably aware, I went to the Britney Spears concert. Let me give you a little background. I have been a dance school brat since the age of 4. I loved dance class! I loved it so much I did as many dance exams as I could and when I was 16 I harassed a teacher at my school so that we could have a Rock Eisteddfod entry. Rock Eisteddfod is, as well as promoting drug and alcohol free good times, a competition in which high schools put together an 8 minute dance performance ... Wait. This is so not about Britney Spears, is it? This should not be about me. By way of background, I love dress-ups, dance performances (no matter how naff), top hats and chair dancing. Since those early days as a 5 year old, I have jazz-handed my way around dance floors in clubs ever since. I love dance performances and I'm a woeful singer. Surely then, it makes sense that Britney Spears was one of my first "I wish I was her so hard" people. After last night, she still is!
The media barrage surrounding her visit to Australia disturbed me. For whatever reason, Britney Spears cops it in the press. For someone who has suffered a pretty public mental breakdown, the media is vicious and unabating. They should be supporting her return to health, rather than bagging out someone who is still clearly vulnerable - and an easy target. And yes, I got the feeling all her confidence is definitely not back there anymore. She was tentative with her dance moves, there was an over-reliance on head flicks to get her sexiness across, and her arms were not as snappy as you'd expect from someone with adrenaline - and confidence - coursing through their veins. She spoke to the audience twice. These are not the signs of a lazy performer, Media Contingent, she showed the signs of fear and nervousness. And I don't blame her, when there are people in the audience willing her to fail.
Fuck You, media. Seriously. Every single song she performed last night was amazing. There was not a moment where you thought... "Oh, ho hum I'm just going to nip to the loo during this less than special song". Hellz no! Everyone was riveted. What Britters lacked in dancing mojo was more than made up for by the overall spectacle - her smokin' hot backing dancers (and they were clearly a team urging her on to greatness which was awesome to see) the costuming (sequin heaven), lighting, fabulous staging and the screens that surrounded the stage. And these people who were supposedly "leaving" the performance because it sucked... I dont think so! More like running down to the standing area to get closer to an incredibly resilient, and undeniably talented woman. She lipsynched because she's not Beyonce Knowles who is an uber-talented freak of performance nature (whom I also adore). You could see the sweat on her, and I really don't give a toss about the non-live element of the song. It's not a fucking indie band - it's Britney Spears! High energy dance routines, theatrics, costume changes and the real-live woman in the flesh are what you pay to see, not a semi-motionless, soulful wringing of hands (when not playing guitar).
Anyway. Rant. She opened with Circus (following a circus performance) and closed with Hit Me Baby One More Time (I bought the knickers!) followed by Womaniser. Such a great end to what seriously was a fantastic performance. I was a little freaked by her speaking voice, which is rather chipmunk-like. I wished she'd disclosed some personal secrets, but obviously that was unlikely to occur on stage in front of 10,000 people. She performed Slave (a personal favourite) and there was a very raunchy interlude during which they played Marilyn Manson's version of 'Sweet Dreams' with the screens playing a very sexy looking masquerade-like orgy. That sounds naff, but it wasn't.
Here's the interlude from the London performance (a little hard to see because the screens are in a round like a Big Top).
There was a montage with a view of all her filmclips from her hits which was a great Britney Spears retrospective. I'm scouring You Tube for it as we speak. Or as I write, more accurately...
I get that Britney Spears is definitely not everyone's cup of tea. And honestly, as I watched the performance I did start to wonder if perhaps I'm not getting a little old for Britney but it was so enjoyable, and the talent on-stage was so great that it was an awesome escape into a different world. Everyone had fun, everyone was happy and they were bonding over a love of a certain type of music. Isn't that what music is about? Dragging down a performer who is such a force with her fans is ridiculous, and slagging off someone who is still clearly battling her demons is shameful. Power to Britney - I thought she was gorgeous and sexy and sweet and vulnerable which really is the persona that's she's promoted since she started out.
Tonight I'm going to my first Britney Spears concert ever. I can't wait! However, it's with a little trepidation. Poor darling has copped rather a bashing in some corners of the press during her Australia tour for lip-synching. I don't even know why this is an issue, or a surprise. Girlfriend can't go anywhere without people in the press laying into her. Why is that, do you suppose?
How could you hate this face?
A friend surmised to me last week that: These people, who are spilling out the Britney-hate... I think we can safely assume that they are of the fat, unattractive, unpopular-at-high-school crew and they've always felt insecure. I would also hazard a guess that Britney Spears was probably also someone they secretly loved - because who wouldn't? - but they couldn't love her because she was everything they claimed to hate, yet always wanted to be. So for them to slag off on her the way they have. Well. I feel sorry for them.
Anyway, everyone is entitled to be small and bitter and focus on the negatives. I, however, will be revelling in pure, unadulterated Britney good times! Will review tomorrow, but keep in mind my obvious bias.
Cover art for her new single, 3, which (of course) I don't mind. Not quite as catchy as, say, Womaniser but still not bad.
I am rather taken by Morgane Le Fay, a NYC-based fashion house established in 1982. It's practically as old as me, and the company profile is how I wish people would describe me: "quiet yet dramatic, wistful and lyrical, emotive and profound, complex in its apparent stillness and simplicity. ... mysterious, confident, feminine." hahaha.
I am also excited by the fact that they have designed costumes for the New York City Ballet. It reminds me of The House of Elliot, when the girls used ballerinas as models for one of their first collections. God how I loved that show...
Apart from the actual song (which I find a tad annoying), the film clip to this song is awesome. From the Rhianna-esque Beyonce at the start, to the every-colour-of-the-rainbow-leotard/long gloves combo to the harlequin sequin hot pants to the Lady Gaga/Beyonce chair dancing pas de deux. Talk about a film-clip makers' match made in heaven. Beyonce - seriously one of the hottest women alive - is so amazing. Her booty-pop is going to end up on one of those 20-to-1 shows for influence on dancing in clubs culture for sure. Am also muchos in love with her make-up.
Since Phuong introduced us to the world of Etsy some time ago, I must admit I haven't been following it with the ardent fervour - bordering on obsession - I ordinarily do when it comes to shopping. I think it has something to do with the fact that my workplace insists on monitoring internet usage. How dare they?! They expect me to do work? Really. I do a lot of work, however while some people may go and talk to their colleagues, or play Solitaire, or do the crossword in the loo for a break; I, on the other hand, scour the internet and report back to you guys! It's my brain break. I happen to need a lot of these, because my brain prefers to rest. Anyway... Why do I keep diverging today? Probably the 4 champagnes last night... *sigh* Silly season.
My latest Etsy love is RedHeart 13. Probably because her description's are soooo great! I love this! It's so much more interesting than eBay, where everyone is trying to limit their advertising costs by speaking in eBay code. It took me ages to figure out BNWT and all that shiz. For example, here is her Rapunzel Enchantment Necklace description... (and obviously the necklace is awesome and I want one. Santa??).
Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair, so that I may climb the golden stair. A romantic dark story from the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales, I always remember her as an enchantress of the high lonely tower; I can't imagine the days alone.
Wishing I had her long locks of love, I was inspired to create a golden necklace made with four looping links from a vintage bracelet and a vintage gold chain with screw post.
Hanging from the chain is a vintage lucite bright peach rose of frozen beauty, I can imagine a gown enraptured by this color, flowing in the wind as her prince carries her away. The rose has lovely detailing in the leaves and is hand painted in an ivory green.
The necklace measures 20.5" long and the rose is 1.75" w x 2" h.
Tis a fairy tale come true!
Isn't that great? I love random chat about nothing. Here are some other things from the store which I would happily accept as a gift.
Unlike Kate Moss who should really just strike a pose and zip her lips (quote of the week "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels"), I can't get enough of Victoria Beckham. I realise that she drives some people bananas. I am not one of these people. I also think she's smart. Yes! I do.
VB was interviewed for Allure magazine, and here's some of what she had to say:
Sun or self-tanner? Sun. I don't self-tan anymore; it's frustrating when people criticize my color. It's the color that I am! I wear sunblock, but I live in a hot climate.
Coffee or tea? I start off the day with a double espresso. Then i get on the running machine and I run like a bat out of hell.
Pajamas or…? I tend to wear nothing, but David bought me these little sets from Agent Provocateur, his favorite store.
Salad or fries? Salad. I'm not going to lie. I'm not one of these people that says, "Oh, I eat hamburgers."
Massage or facial? I run every day, so a massage is great.
Posh or Victoria? I'm so respectful of the Spice Girls, and I love all the girls dearly, but it's nice now that people know my name. But either is a compliment. I mean, I've been called a lot worse.
Heels or flats? I beyond hate ballerina flats - I can't even walk in them. Unless they're on a ballet dancer doing ballet, I just don't get it.
Sex or sleep? Sex. I'm getting into bed with David Beckham every night, so, you know, there'd be something wrong if I said "sleep.
I love her honesty, humour and Spice Girls diplomacy! I also love the fact that she sunbakes (I'm a sucker, yes I know about cancer... I just can't help myself). I also only ever wear ballet slippers when I'm walking home tipsy-like from a night out. She rocks my world. Happy Friday. And huzzah! The sun just came out!
Last week I mentioned the Silly, Frilly Happy Season has begun in full force. Tonight I am most excited to be attending the soft opening of Urbane - one of Brisbane's staple cool restaurant/bars, and now becoming certifiably gorgeous and Melbourne cool with not only Urbane the restaurant, but the newly added Euro (a bar) and Laneway Bar (another, laneway bar a la Melbourne). This is all most exciting for Brisbanites, as I do feel that Brisbane's progress as a city has jumped leaps in bounds, particularly in the last 5 years with the stunning GoMA, the fabulously inspiring State Library and its public programs and all of the other beautiful developments in and around the city. It is very livable here. Except today. At 7:35am when I went past the Barracks, I saw that it was already 35 degrees! Sure, the thunder clouds are definitely gathering... But eff-ing heck! It's hot! And so humid!!!!
And what happens to your feet, dear readers, when it's hot and humid? Mine swell. So beautiful, so attractive, so comfortable. Not! I have a penchant for heels, which makes my hot weather and alcohol related foot swelling most distressing. However! Check out Flexi-Flats, from a Melbourne-based designer. These things are the shiz, packing very neatly away into your handbag until the moment where the swelling becomes unbearable - when your party toes suddenly realise they can't be encased in sky-high strappy numbers any longer. Bring on the flats. AND if you order a pair in pink (naturally, I did - is there any other colour?) $1 gets donated to the Breast Cancer Foundation. And they are already super cheap at just $11.95.
Not only stylish, look how simple the functionality is! As Apple says about its iPhone (and the reason for no keyboard), less moving parts = less breakage.
Another way of dealing with the heat is to shave your hair off. Saves you piles in hairdresser costs (although you miss the 3 hours of therapy you get free of charge while in your be-smocked chair, sipping orange juice and flicking through the latest Vogue - you decide what's more valuable). And man... I think most women are aware of the Bruce Willis chrome-ish hotness. But here's some total dome. What do you think? I think: sexy.
I'm hoping that you have just got some tinny, Jamaica-like music ringing in your ears now. Because I do. Because it's summer! Steaming hot... In fact half of rural Victoria was on "catastrophic" fire alert yesterday which, understandably, freaked everyone out. It's 42 degrees in Adelaide, it's been 35 in Brissie most of the week with that sub-human humidity that makes you check beneath your feet to be sure you haven't melted into some kind of liquid mass.
*music*
The only thing to do is enjoy the moment. And what is more enjoyable than fluorescent pink shoes and accessories? Not much!
This is one of the latest colour stories from Peeptoe Shoes - one of my favourite shoe brands here in Oz.
