One of the joys of disbursing my iPod around to lots of different people is not only the great new music you can get (sorry, copyright music lawyers...) but also the useless trivia you can pick up. Such as the fact that Friday I'm in Love - that great hit from 1992 which is still so catchy today - was in 50 First Dates and He's Just Not That Into You. While there's a lot about the early '90s, still recovering from the hangover of the exuberant 80s and trying to figure out what to wear in the next fashion decade, we choose to forget - some of the music, notably this song, will be with us forever.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Vanilla
* In Feng Shui, the fridge should be clean, scented of vanilla and vibing abundance.
* Nutritionists would like it to be groaning with antioxidant rich vegetables and lean protein to go in our well planned meals.
What is in your fridge? Becaase I sharehouse, we have only one shelf each (which kills me). My shelf is loaded up with Greek yoghurt, avocado, various half-nibbled at cheese, an Easter egg and organic beef sausages that I bought on a shopping trip commenced while starving. I have nabbed one of the halves of the crisper, and it is full of tomatoes, lettuce, capsicum and broccoli (one of my favourite vegetables - despised as a child). While all this sounds terribly healthy, you should see my part of the freezer. I am an ice cream addict.
Doing Good Is Always In Style
I'm not quite sure where all these hideously pious go-out-and-do-good posts are coming from, but I might as well go with the flow...
Purchase a Feed 2 bag - as far as shoppers go, fairly stylish with its reversible sides, one side made from natural burlap and the other from 100% organic cotton - and you will feed 2 children in school for an entire year through the UN World Food Program. It is a little expensive at $100, but when you put it in the context of feeding 2 kidlets for a whole year, it is actually incredibly cheap. And heartwarming, no?
Purchase a Feed 2 bag - as far as shoppers go, fairly stylish with its reversible sides, one side made from natural burlap and the other from 100% organic cotton - and you will feed 2 children in school for an entire year through the UN World Food Program. It is a little expensive at $100, but when you put it in the context of feeding 2 kidlets for a whole year, it is actually incredibly cheap. And heartwarming, no?
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Coloured Spade
When I asked if she ever got tired of all the running around, she said no, this has always been her preferred way: the life of the high-end nomad, moving from town to town…Like the hero of Apocalypse Now, wherever Jolie is, she wants to be in the other place. This can make her seem removed, less like a person living in the now than like someone living in the five minutes from now. She seems both mystical and beyond petty nationalism, but her footloose drive for new experience is pure Americana. “Anytime I feel lost, I pull out a map and stare,” she told me. “I stare until I have reminded myself that life is a giant adventure, so much to do, to see.”’
-- Jolie, as interviewed by Vanity Fair
Saw the shorts to Salt the other day, and have placed it on my High-Priority-When-Bored to-do list. I am also a little obsessed with the hair change (very similar to the idea first spruiked - to my generation, anyway - by Julia Roberts in The Pelican Brief). I am wondering what to do with my hair at the moment myself. Bored does not even begin to describe it.
Update: Ali has done a great post re her itchy feet and need for change based on La Jolie's quote above. Can I tell you I feel the same quite often myself. Ordinarily, I can satiate the desire for change with travel plans - a la my monster trip to South America which is just getting better and better - but the need to go is getting stronger. And the only place I want to be is New York City.
-- Jolie, as interviewed by Vanity Fair
Saw the shorts to Salt the other day, and have placed it on my High-Priority-When-Bored to-do list. I am also a little obsessed with the hair change (very similar to the idea first spruiked - to my generation, anyway - by Julia Roberts in The Pelican Brief). I am wondering what to do with my hair at the moment myself. Bored does not even begin to describe it.
Update: Ali has done a great post re her itchy feet and need for change based on La Jolie's quote above. Can I tell you I feel the same quite often myself. Ordinarily, I can satiate the desire for change with travel plans - a la my monster trip to South America which is just getting better and better - but the need to go is getting stronger. And the only place I want to be is New York City.
Sunglass Hut
I have no idea why, but I struggle to find sunglasses to suit my face (or budget - since when did sunglasses become worthy of a $600 price tag?). The cheapies from the service station are about the only ones that fit. I should send a service station prototype shape to Dolce & Gabbana as an FYI.
Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is the 3rd most profitable form of organised crime globally - close behind the illicit trade in drugs and weapons. Each year, about 2.5 million people are trafficked - 1.2 million of these are under the age of 18. That is, they are children. Most victims are sold against their will into prostitution.
To the criminal mind, the profit in human trafficking comes from the fact that unlike cocaine, which is sniffed up your nose within milliseconds, humans can be sold and used by mutliple users over and over again. It is possibly one of the most disgusting crimes against humanity going around. The more distressing fact about this crime is that there is so much demand globally - be it illictly sourced in the developed world through the accessing of illegally trafficked prostitutes or pornography, or in the child sex tourism trade in certain areas that are havens for such activity.
The Body Shop has recently partnered with Child Wise - an Australian child protection agency - in a bid to raise awareness (and funds) to help stop the trafficking of children and young people.
100% of proceeds from the sale of the Body Shop's Soft Hands Kind Heart hand cream will be donated directly to Child Wise to help create grass-roots projects in Cambodia, an infamous child sex tourism and trafficking destination. These projects will protect children involved in, or at risk of child sex trafficking.
Likewise, 100% of the proceeds of the sale of the Hands Off! luggage tags will go to Child Wise.
Both products are a steal - the handcream $14 and the luggage tag $1 - so there is no excuse not to get involved!
To the criminal mind, the profit in human trafficking comes from the fact that unlike cocaine, which is sniffed up your nose within milliseconds, humans can be sold and used by mutliple users over and over again. It is possibly one of the most disgusting crimes against humanity going around. The more distressing fact about this crime is that there is so much demand globally - be it illictly sourced in the developed world through the accessing of illegally trafficked prostitutes or pornography, or in the child sex tourism trade in certain areas that are havens for such activity.
The Body Shop has recently partnered with Child Wise - an Australian child protection agency - in a bid to raise awareness (and funds) to help stop the trafficking of children and young people.
100% of proceeds from the sale of the Body Shop's Soft Hands Kind Heart hand cream will be donated directly to Child Wise to help create grass-roots projects in Cambodia, an infamous child sex tourism and trafficking destination. These projects will protect children involved in, or at risk of child sex trafficking. 
Likewise, 100% of the proceeds of the sale of the Hands Off! luggage tags will go to Child Wise.Both products are a steal - the handcream $14 and the luggage tag $1 - so there is no excuse not to get involved!
Friday, July 23, 2010
One Last Thing
These heels - less of a spiky stiletto, but somehow not the wooden stumps you occasionally get with a thicker heel - look so sophisticated.
Happy Friday
I haven't put much thought into the weekend... I think I'll figure it out as I go. I might bake a banana loaf though - it's one of my favourite things to eat.
Here is the latest Penny Frost... A little less of something I actually wanted to write, but I did as I was told!
Here is the latest Penny Frost... A little less of something I actually wanted to write, but I did as I was told!
Fashion Faux Pas
Remember the furore when SJP wore a dress to the premier of SATC:1 and it had been worn just a week prior by a less bankable celebrity? I believe someone got fired for that...
So I wonder how many people lost their jobs over 3 magazines featuring the same dress in the one month?
So I wonder how many people lost their jobs over 3 magazines featuring the same dress in the one month?
Get Your Freak On
Prince has a new track out... It's very well-suited to some naked dancing in front of the mirror - either alone or with others. ;o)
Nothing will ever beat Cream in that department, however it's not bad.
Nothing will ever beat Cream in that department, however it's not bad.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Dying to See
I am frequently accused of near-paedophilia due to my love of boyish-looking boys. I'm hoping it's not due to some weird, buried childhood memory and just a simple case of different courses for different horses.
I do actually believe I may be growing out of this long-running phase (my current beau has chest hair and facial hair), however I have always come back to Leonardo Di Caprio. Obviously I can see his physical flaws (oh, that chin!), and personality-wise ... who knows? I have often noted with a slight tinge of bitterness (as in, I can never marry him gosh darn it...) he is a modeliser of epic proportions. However, his extreme talent makes up for all of this. I watched What's Eating Gilbert Grape more times than I would like to remember as a tween/teen/adult, and most of his other films have similarly riveted me. Even if the film sucks (let's just say I preferred Revolutionary Road to the other film he starred in with the same co-star), his performance is always marvellous.
So I am currently close to wetting my pants in anticipation of seeing his latest offering, Inception.
I have taken the liberty of setting out the conversation between Margaret & David from the ABC's At The Movies re Inception. See if you are also not almost grabbing the Teenas until you see this film.
Inception
Review by David Stratton
Cobb, LEONARDO DI CAPRIO, is, by his own claim, the world's most skilled extractor. This means he is able to steal ideas and secrets from the minds of his targets by entering their dreams. He gets paid large sums of money for this, though he's increasingly haunted by the memory of his dead wife, Marion Cotillard, who literally infiltrates the dream scapes. Cobb is hired by wealthy Japanese businessman Saito, KEN WATANABE.
Saito wants Cobb to plant an idea in the brain of Robert Fischer Jr., CILLIAN MURPHY, the heir to a rival business empire; for this 'inception', Cobb assembles a team that includes his regular assistant Arthur, JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT; Eames, a British shape-shifter, TOM HARDY; scientist Yusuf, DILEEP RAO; and a brilliant young woman recommended by his father-in-law, MICHAEL CAINE - she's Ariadne, ELLEN PAGE.
At first viewing, Christopher Nolan's dazzlingly complex INCEPTION is not easy to comprehend fully - I think that it's one of those films, like BLADE RUNNER or 2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY, that will repay many viewings in order to grasp all the intricate details of these multi-layered trips into the dreams and nightmares of the central characters. At a time when the vast majority of Hollywood films have no ideas whatsoever, it's quite inspiring to receive a film over-burdened with ideas, and visual excitement, almost to the point of sensory overload.
Driven by a gallery of charismatic performances, Wally Pfister's superb cinematography, Hans Zimmer's powerful music score and some amazing CGI effects, including the streets of Paris rising up and folding in on themselves, this is a truly unforgettable movie experience. The climax, in which several dreams, and story-lines, are intercut to dazzling effect, is particularly memorable. There's a quirky sense of humour, too, in the employment of the Edith Piaf song, "Non, Je regrette rien" as an important plot point - it was the song Marion Cotillard sang in her breakthrough Piaf bio-pic. INCEPTION is a film I'll want to see again and, probably again; but on first viewing, its initial impact is mind-boggling.
Further comments
DAVID: Margaret?
MARGARET: Isn't it amazing, we're all talking about it days afterwards.
DAVID: I think everybody will be talking about this film.
MARGARET: , "If that's that, could that be that?"
DAVID: Yes.
MARGARET: Look, honestly, it's so interesting conceptually.
DAVID: Mm.
MARGARET: He's such a good filmmaker. It's the best performance Di Caprio has given in ages and, ultimately, what I loved about the film is, despite all the action and the CGI, it has compassion at its heart.
DAVID: Yes.
MARGARET: It's really beautiful, whichever way you interpret the ending.
DAVID: Well, there are so many interpretations.
MARGARET: It's compassionate, on any level, and I love it. I think - he spent 10 years working on the screenplay for this and obviously, you do want to see it again to - like MEMENTO, although I think this leaves MEMENTO for dead, and I've got to tell you the other mind-bending film that DiCaprio was in, SHUTTER ISLAND, INCEPTION leaves that film for dead. It's just streets ahead of anything I've seen in a long time.
DAVID: I think we're talking about an instant classic, actually...
MARGARET: Yes.
DAVID: ...which people will be talking about years to come.
MARGARET: Yes.
DAVID: What are you giving it?
MARGARET: Well, I'm giving it four and a half and I wonder why I'm not giving it five, but I'm giving it four and a half.
DAVID: Well, I'm giving it four and a half too.
I do actually believe I may be growing out of this long-running phase (my current beau has chest hair and facial hair), however I have always come back to Leonardo Di Caprio. Obviously I can see his physical flaws (oh, that chin!), and personality-wise ... who knows? I have often noted with a slight tinge of bitterness (as in, I can never marry him gosh darn it...) he is a modeliser of epic proportions. However, his extreme talent makes up for all of this. I watched What's Eating Gilbert Grape more times than I would like to remember as a tween/teen/adult, and most of his other films have similarly riveted me. Even if the film sucks (let's just say I preferred Revolutionary Road to the other film he starred in with the same co-star), his performance is always marvellous.
So I am currently close to wetting my pants in anticipation of seeing his latest offering, Inception.
I have taken the liberty of setting out the conversation between Margaret & David from the ABC's At The Movies re Inception. See if you are also not almost grabbing the Teenas until you see this film.
Inception
Review by David Stratton
Cobb, LEONARDO DI CAPRIO, is, by his own claim, the world's most skilled extractor. This means he is able to steal ideas and secrets from the minds of his targets by entering their dreams. He gets paid large sums of money for this, though he's increasingly haunted by the memory of his dead wife, Marion Cotillard, who literally infiltrates the dream scapes. Cobb is hired by wealthy Japanese businessman Saito, KEN WATANABE.
Saito wants Cobb to plant an idea in the brain of Robert Fischer Jr., CILLIAN MURPHY, the heir to a rival business empire; for this 'inception', Cobb assembles a team that includes his regular assistant Arthur, JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT; Eames, a British shape-shifter, TOM HARDY; scientist Yusuf, DILEEP RAO; and a brilliant young woman recommended by his father-in-law, MICHAEL CAINE - she's Ariadne, ELLEN PAGE.
At first viewing, Christopher Nolan's dazzlingly complex INCEPTION is not easy to comprehend fully - I think that it's one of those films, like BLADE RUNNER or 2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY, that will repay many viewings in order to grasp all the intricate details of these multi-layered trips into the dreams and nightmares of the central characters. At a time when the vast majority of Hollywood films have no ideas whatsoever, it's quite inspiring to receive a film over-burdened with ideas, and visual excitement, almost to the point of sensory overload.
Driven by a gallery of charismatic performances, Wally Pfister's superb cinematography, Hans Zimmer's powerful music score and some amazing CGI effects, including the streets of Paris rising up and folding in on themselves, this is a truly unforgettable movie experience. The climax, in which several dreams, and story-lines, are intercut to dazzling effect, is particularly memorable. There's a quirky sense of humour, too, in the employment of the Edith Piaf song, "Non, Je regrette rien" as an important plot point - it was the song Marion Cotillard sang in her breakthrough Piaf bio-pic. INCEPTION is a film I'll want to see again and, probably again; but on first viewing, its initial impact is mind-boggling.
Further comments
DAVID: Margaret?
MARGARET: Isn't it amazing, we're all talking about it days afterwards.
DAVID: I think everybody will be talking about this film.
MARGARET: , "If that's that, could that be that?"
DAVID: Yes.
MARGARET: Look, honestly, it's so interesting conceptually.
DAVID: Mm.
MARGARET: He's such a good filmmaker. It's the best performance Di Caprio has given in ages and, ultimately, what I loved about the film is, despite all the action and the CGI, it has compassion at its heart.
DAVID: Yes.
MARGARET: It's really beautiful, whichever way you interpret the ending.
DAVID: Well, there are so many interpretations.
MARGARET: It's compassionate, on any level, and I love it. I think - he spent 10 years working on the screenplay for this and obviously, you do want to see it again to - like MEMENTO, although I think this leaves MEMENTO for dead, and I've got to tell you the other mind-bending film that DiCaprio was in, SHUTTER ISLAND, INCEPTION leaves that film for dead. It's just streets ahead of anything I've seen in a long time.
DAVID: I think we're talking about an instant classic, actually...
MARGARET: Yes.
DAVID: ...which people will be talking about years to come.
MARGARET: Yes.
DAVID: What are you giving it?
MARGARET: Well, I'm giving it four and a half and I wonder why I'm not giving it five, but I'm giving it four and a half.
DAVID: Well, I'm giving it four and a half too.
To Sir, With Love
Those schoolgirl days, of telling tales and biting nails are gone,
But in my mind,
I know they will still live on and on,
But how do you thank someone, who has taken you from crayons to perfume?
It isn’t easy, but I’ll try,
If you wanted the sky I would write across the sky in letters,
That would soar a thousand feet high,
To Sir, with Love
The time has come,
For closing books and long last looks must end,
And as I leave,
I know that I am leaving my best friend,
A friend who taught me right from wrong,
And weak from strong,
That’s a lot to learn,
What, what can I give you in return?
If you wanted the moon I would try to make a start,
But I, would rather you let me give my heart,
To Sir, with Love
But in my mind,
I know they will still live on and on,
But how do you thank someone, who has taken you from crayons to perfume?
It isn’t easy, but I’ll try,
If you wanted the sky I would write across the sky in letters,
That would soar a thousand feet high,
To Sir, with Love
The time has come,
For closing books and long last looks must end,
And as I leave,
I know that I am leaving my best friend,
A friend who taught me right from wrong,
And weak from strong,
That’s a lot to learn,
What, what can I give you in return?
If you wanted the moon I would try to make a start,
But I, would rather you let me give my heart,
To Sir, with Love
Campaign Trail
We're not even a week into the current Federal election campaign here in Australia and I'm already bored... Although Tony Abbott's appearance on the judging panel of the infamous Red Faces segment of the final episode of Hey, Hey It's Saturday - alongside Red Symons, Lloyd from Entourage and Kylie Minogue (!) - was actually rather amusing - in a cringe-worthy kind of way. I actually thought he'd be funnier than he was, but you could see his mind wildly trying to decide what was appropriate to say in the context of some atrocious perfomances and some very funny judges sitting alongside him, free to say what they liked.
Thankfully, the monotony of the current campaign has been alleviated somewhat by another campaign that has similarly just commenced: Australia's Next Top Model. The show was kicked off with a Mad Men shoot. I wonder if Julia would do something like this...?
Thankfully, the monotony of the current campaign has been alleviated somewhat by another campaign that has similarly just commenced: Australia's Next Top Model. The show was kicked off with a Mad Men shoot. I wonder if Julia would do something like this...?
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Hop To It
I am one of those people who finds it really hard to say no when the hard sell is made... (I honestly have no problem with telephone sales people - they're about the only ones I can say no to!) So I buckle, or compromise.
I recently buckled to the hard sell of a personal trainer. Don't get me wrong, I find his abdominal muscles very inspiring, but I really don't need it. I feel that Body Attack is sufficient (seriously!). Now that I have my trip coming, I feel like it will be so much easier to say no on the grounds of saving. And it means I can finally find some dance classes to attend! I am missing hip hop classes more than I had expected. There is something so liberating about pretending you're star of a gangsta's film clip.
Umm... not quite this style of dancing, but I enjoy that too. Love her dress!
Pic from The Sartorialist. Dancing at Governor's Island in summer now locked on to my bucket list..
I recently buckled to the hard sell of a personal trainer. Don't get me wrong, I find his abdominal muscles very inspiring, but I really don't need it. I feel that Body Attack is sufficient (seriously!). Now that I have my trip coming, I feel like it will be so much easier to say no on the grounds of saving. And it means I can finally find some dance classes to attend! I am missing hip hop classes more than I had expected. There is something so liberating about pretending you're star of a gangsta's film clip.
Umm... not quite this style of dancing, but I enjoy that too. Love her dress!
Pic from The Sartorialist. Dancing at Governor's Island in summer now locked on to my bucket list..
To The Beach
I think summer is going to be all about the 1970s, and oases in the desert. A lot like the Harpers cover of Jennifer Aniston this month and Mac cosmetics more recent summer makeup campaign...
And, weirdly... In my mind it evokes an awful lot of images in my mind from The Graduate.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Liberation and Relief
This morning I woke up to a new dawn in my life. I have finally, fiiiiinaalllly gotten rid of an exceedingly toxic element from my past.
It feels so good. Even better, the budget for my South American trip is now in (the proceeds of the sale of a house) - and it is healthy!
The past week until yesterday 3pm was quite stressful - I had to deal with Mr Rude and he certainly lived up to his name. However, if I've learnt anything it's how to deal with individuals who are slightly mad - dignity, ambivalence and faint boredom.
I thought I would fill you in on my current obsession which is, weirdly, herbal tea.
My current favourite is lemon & ginger, with a teaspoon of natural honey. Honey is apparently nature's antibiotic, so all of this herbal tea business began with a sore throat, and ended with a healthy addiction. It's also replacing my afternoon sugar craving much more effectively than my manic scouring of the office for Mint Slice biscuits or strawberries and cream lollies come 2:30/3pm.
Other things currently making me very happy:
* My niece who is almost here. I am planning her baby shower. I have bought a heart shaped cake tin from Wheel & Barrow in preparation for the high tea.
* The Wire. Pure, televisual brilliance.
One of my favourite moments from Season 1.
* David Sedaris. His short stories are quite shocking and incredibly effective. And still one of the first people to bring to my attention memento more while on mini-break in NYC.
* Planning my holiday - stalking the photos of my FB friends who have already been there. Lots faster than reading the brick-size Lonely Planet, I can tell you!
It feels so good. Even better, the budget for my South American trip is now in (the proceeds of the sale of a house) - and it is healthy!
The past week until yesterday 3pm was quite stressful - I had to deal with Mr Rude and he certainly lived up to his name. However, if I've learnt anything it's how to deal with individuals who are slightly mad - dignity, ambivalence and faint boredom.
I thought I would fill you in on my current obsession which is, weirdly, herbal tea.
My current favourite is lemon & ginger, with a teaspoon of natural honey. Honey is apparently nature's antibiotic, so all of this herbal tea business began with a sore throat, and ended with a healthy addiction. It's also replacing my afternoon sugar craving much more effectively than my manic scouring of the office for Mint Slice biscuits or strawberries and cream lollies come 2:30/3pm.
Other things currently making me very happy:
* My niece who is almost here. I am planning her baby shower. I have bought a heart shaped cake tin from Wheel & Barrow in preparation for the high tea.
* The Wire. Pure, televisual brilliance.
One of my favourite moments from Season 1.
* David Sedaris. His short stories are quite shocking and incredibly effective. And still one of the first people to bring to my attention memento more while on mini-break in NYC.
* Planning my holiday - stalking the photos of my FB friends who have already been there. Lots faster than reading the brick-size Lonely Planet, I can tell you!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Happy Friday Party People
It's all about celebrations this weekend: goodbyes, engagements, 30ths, birthdays and babies. I can't keep up!
Little Black Dress
100 years ago this week, Women's Wear Daily launched. It commenced life as an insert in the Daily Trade Record (later DNR), and aimed to supply relevant news to “important men in all departments of women’s wear.” It wasn’t to be an insert for long, however: on July 13 1910, a mere month after the Daily Trade Record insert, Women’s Wear announced its quotidian intentions. It cost just one cent a day, or three dollars for a year subscription. Damn. That's cheaper than a coffee for one morning!
The paper rang in the new year in 1927 with a new name, Women's Wear Daily, and musings on the popularity of green for holiday eveningwear.
On its first front page back in 1910 though, it was all about black's future in fashion - at that stage only being appropriate for mourning attire (now it's the party colour du jour). It had this piece of important fashion crystal-balling to proclaim to 20th Century fashionistas, titled Talk of a Craze for Black in Paris.
"Much has been said of the Black Ascot. The obvious fact, however, that the peculiar beauty of the Englishwoman, particularly the blonde, is never seen to better advantage than in mourning, has not been generally admitted. Certainly, rarely or never have the well known beauties of London society been better appreciated than by their admirers of 1910. Foreign visitors are said to have been particularly impressed on this occasion, and there is already talk of une mode noire in Paris."
And they were right! My whole wardrobe is chockers with black items!
The paper rang in the new year in 1927 with a new name, Women's Wear Daily, and musings on the popularity of green for holiday eveningwear.
On its first front page back in 1910 though, it was all about black's future in fashion - at that stage only being appropriate for mourning attire (now it's the party colour du jour). It had this piece of important fashion crystal-balling to proclaim to 20th Century fashionistas, titled Talk of a Craze for Black in Paris.
"Much has been said of the Black Ascot. The obvious fact, however, that the peculiar beauty of the Englishwoman, particularly the blonde, is never seen to better advantage than in mourning, has not been generally admitted. Certainly, rarely or never have the well known beauties of London society been better appreciated than by their admirers of 1910. Foreign visitors are said to have been particularly impressed on this occasion, and there is already talk of une mode noire in Paris."
And they were right! My whole wardrobe is chockers with black items!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
It Girls, It Bags
Oroton is a true business and fashion success story for Australia. After reporting losses of $9.4 million in 2006, Oroton has reversed its fortunes to record a profit of $15 million in the first 6 months to 23 January 2010.
How did they do it? As well as the usual slash and burn activities routinely engaged in by businesses in financial doldrums - i.e. closing underperforming shops, cutting staff by half and slashing fixed head office costs - more money was pumped into the core Oroton and Polo Ralph Lauren brands. As well as tight cash management, Oroton has released an increasingly sophisticated, stylish product - building on its already great reputation for quality goods. Thankfully, there is less of a push on the trademark "O" logo, with styles being less instantly recognisable as Oroton. The Oroton buyer is of the discrete, yet uber-stylish and somewhat cashed-up ilk: she will purchase quality that lasts at some expense, but for her the lasting style will always be worth it.
Oroton is a staple for Vogue these days, with countless collaborations, including the design of a gorgeous limited edition handbag for Vogue's 50 year celebration. I am pretty sure Vogue will approve of Oroton's latest collaboration - with Daria Werbowy for its latest advertising campaign.
How did they do it? As well as the usual slash and burn activities routinely engaged in by businesses in financial doldrums - i.e. closing underperforming shops, cutting staff by half and slashing fixed head office costs - more money was pumped into the core Oroton and Polo Ralph Lauren brands. As well as tight cash management, Oroton has released an increasingly sophisticated, stylish product - building on its already great reputation for quality goods. Thankfully, there is less of a push on the trademark "O" logo, with styles being less instantly recognisable as Oroton. The Oroton buyer is of the discrete, yet uber-stylish and somewhat cashed-up ilk: she will purchase quality that lasts at some expense, but for her the lasting style will always be worth it.
Oroton is a staple for Vogue these days, with countless collaborations, including the design of a gorgeous limited edition handbag for Vogue's 50 year celebration. I am pretty sure Vogue will approve of Oroton's latest collaboration - with Daria Werbowy for its latest advertising campaign.
Breaking News
Zara will be opening in Australia in 2011.
Oh. My. God. For those of you blessed with Zara in your country, you cannot imagine the sorrow we women-folk of Australia feel on each shopping occasion when we recall the joys of Zara - great quality, better prices, perfectly on trend without being fashion-tragic - and compare it to the offerings at home. Don't get me wrong, Cue, Sportsgirl, Saba, Jigsaw and its ilk are great but jeepers they're expensive! It will be interesting to see how the transfer price translates into AUD, but some extra competition will be most welcome.
PS: Men should also be excited by this development. Zara does great menswear.
Visit.
Oh. My. God. For those of you blessed with Zara in your country, you cannot imagine the sorrow we women-folk of Australia feel on each shopping occasion when we recall the joys of Zara - great quality, better prices, perfectly on trend without being fashion-tragic - and compare it to the offerings at home. Don't get me wrong, Cue, Sportsgirl, Saba, Jigsaw and its ilk are great but jeepers they're expensive! It will be interesting to see how the transfer price translates into AUD, but some extra competition will be most welcome.
PS: Men should also be excited by this development. Zara does great menswear.
Visit.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Little White Dress
I remember a friend saying to me that should I ever get married, she could imagine me in a Jackie O type outfit - short, white, neat, pique cotton, possibly a pill-box hat, big luscious hair and definitely pearls. I was completely gobsmacked by the comment - not that I've actually thought about what I might wear for a number of reasons (mainly - no one has proposed, no one looks like proposing and these two facts make me feel strangely relieved) - it seemed like such a break with tradition, that I wasn't sure I would have the guts to do it (irrespective of my mini-skirt love affair).
When I saw this pictorial, I thought perhaps the comments made a little more sense.
The second- and third-last looks are my favourites. I do love that big bob of hers, too.
Would you go short on your wedding day? I'm not sure that I would be convinced - my legs are not as lovely as the model's!
When I saw this pictorial, I thought perhaps the comments made a little more sense.
The second- and third-last looks are my favourites. I do love that big bob of hers, too.
Would you go short on your wedding day? I'm not sure that I would be convinced - my legs are not as lovely as the model's!
Out and About
Even if you aren't particularly enamoured by her music, you've gotta give it to Kylie Minogue for her longevity, down to earthedness (she recently said that her beauty secret is cold cream - $7 from Coles), proud Aussie-ness and the fantastic manner in which she embraces all of her fans.
These are some shots from Out magazine (no prizes for guessing the target market there!). And here she is in Ibiza, promoting her new album, Aphrodite.
These are some shots from Out magazine (no prizes for guessing the target market there!). And here she is in Ibiza, promoting her new album, Aphrodite.
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