Heavenly Creatures

Spring/Summer 2013 couture collections are on their way, and as always they are making me yearn for next summer, before this summer is even over. The delicacy of the lace, the subtle yet strong colours, the lady-like cut. This is all perfection. And seriously. Is there anything better than pockets in a dress?

Happy Friday: Australia Day

Although I believe he is kind-of selling out by appearing in lamb-related ads for McDonalds (sorry, Maccas - did you know they're rebranding to Maccas in Australia? WTF), at least he continues to support Australia's lamb industry which, after the bushfires of the last few weeks, really needs a hand.

Without further ado, here is this year's Australia Day ad.

It's going to be a wash-out in most parts of Queensland as cyclone season is belatedly rolling in and causing torrential downpours along the east coast. I will be heading to the dry dust of western Queensland as I continue the search for a wedding venue...

Happy Friday everyone!

Check Mate

Louis Vuitton's Spring/Summer 2013 collection is all about the checkerboard. Inspired by artist Daniel Buren, the graphic has been used in bright, chirpy products - and definitely channels the sweetness of the early 60s. My favourite part (apart from the more than ample use of yellow) is the beehive hair-do with the white bow. I call it Edgy Cute.

At the show's launch in Paris, models descended the catwalk via escalator in orderly, precise fashion. Because nothing can go wrong when you're wearing Louis Vuitton, right? The checkerboard print has been a hit with celebrity red-carpet walkers, with Jessica Alba, Kristen Stewart and Kirsten Dunst all appearing in the print since the collection's launch.

I feel compelled to share with you these design notes. They really exemplify why it is that high end fashion out-classes (and costs loads more than) your run of the mill high-street fashion. 

Erm... Is there really room for a bust here?

As the daughter of a woman who can sew, I find this information absolutely mesmerising. I continue to wish I could sew...

Sewing information courtesy of The Cutting Class.

This Modern Wife

As I penned this little note to my fiance (!!!) yesterday - celebrating 18 months since our first date and 1 month since he popped the question - I suddenly felt a strange urge to clarify the word "wife". 

Old fashioned folk and people of certain philosophical persuasions may hold the view that a wife joins the jumble of property that a man may accumulate over his life, a person to birth children, cook Sunday roasts and attend to general house-wifely chores that neither overly challenge nor unnecessarily stress this asset the man has collected for himself. There may be certain expectations in the bedroom - although presumably not too daring - and certainly expectations in the social context: perfect hair, well-mannered and of a generally pleasing aesthetic and nature. Frankly, it would be pretty easy to be a Stepford Wife (minus that nagging feeling you could be doing something better with your time and brains).

Somehow, this somewhat archaic view of "wife" just isn't very me.

So what of the modern wife? What is she expected to be? Certainly something far more complex than our ancestors would have envisaged. Juggling a meaningful career with parenthood, maintaining a close circle of friends, continuing to be educated either at university or via an endearing book-ishness and of course a socially progressive wild-thing in the sack. All this without undermining the patience and ability to bake a cake, plait daughter's hair and fold hubby's socks - without complaint, except for that socially prized, badge-of-honour statement: "I am so busy". 

It makes me wonder why I clarified (and upgraded) just plain old wife to "modern" wife!

Both these options seem monstrous. Either way, there is a standard of perfection and long-suffering good humour that accompanies these stereotypes, neither of which is appealing. While I joke that I would happily bake cakes and iron all day if it meant not sitting in arctic-cold air conditioning for 45 hours per week being told what to do, I don't really mean it. I gain a lot from my work, and huge chunks of what I learn and derive (including a pay packet) lay the foundations of what I believe I will be as a wife, and where we go as an equal-shares partnership. 

Greater participation in the partnership of marriage is what (to me) sets the modern wife apart from earlier iterations of a wife. Where previously many women followed their husbands' careers to new cities devoid of old friends, more and more I see women's needs - be they career, health or lifestlyle related - taking priority in decision-making. Not only that, and possibly because more women than ever are balancing work and children, the importance of that woman's support system becomes critical in decisions to leave or move to a new city. For the time-poor woman there are caterers on hand to deliver dinner parties and kiddy events without (too much) judgment. Outperforming a husband in title or pay packet is totally fine (provided you're with a new-age husband). Best of all? Catching up with our girlfriends is now considered networking. 

While there are more expectations of the modern wife, she also has more choices - should she dare to embrace them. Perfection is an unfair benchmark that we set for ourselves, which is most certainly not assisted by an independent girl's phobia of asking for assistance or advice. 

Before this modern day bride-to-be thinks too much more about life after marriage, she needs to find a dress... And dozens of good helpers who can cook, arrange flowers and clean up confetti.

We Shop Together

#GoldenGlobes

They all looked amazing.

A Jolie Lot of Leg

Forget about best and worst dressed (although I count Nicole Kidman, Emily Blunt, Kate Hudson and Jessica Alba in my top picks), I was far more interested in the trend set by Angelina Jolie at the Oscars last year: the leg, somewhat awkwardly jutting out from a may-jor split in a killer gown.

Top mention must go to the following leggy ladies at this year's Golden Globes: Halle Berry, Lea Michele, Heidi Klum and Eva Longoria.

Work it ladies!

Shoesday: Clowning Around

Following on from yesterday's post about clown-inspired clothing, I feel that there is a bit of clown in Marc Jacobs' hi-tops (yep, still obsesed). The red toes and the colourful extras don't quite scream clown, but then again, you wouldn't really want your shoes to do that anyway, would you?

Oh. Em. Gee.

Since graduating from QUT's fashion design school in a blaze of glory in 2004, Gail Sorronda has been a stalwart on Brisbane's fashion scene. Continuously dishing up edgy new creations with a flamboyance that is as memorable as it is stylistically unique, Gail Sorronda collections never fail to disappoint.

Back in the day - the first Gail Sorronda collection, winning prizes all over the shop, and turning heads

As part of the ongoing revitalisation of the James St precinct in Brisbane's uber trendy New Farm, it seemed like a no-brainer for a Gail Sorronda store to open in the area. After being stocked for many years in Fortitude Valley's Blonde Venus, I for one am thrilled to see entire collections in the one, eponymous store. I vaguely recall reading that in the early days, Gail Sorronda collections were sewn up late into the evenings with a bit of assistance from her Vietnamese mum, with Gail's (her real surname is Reid) sewing skills honed by her mum's strong attention to detail and perfectionist approach.

QUT's Portfolio Director says of Reid that "every now and then a student comes along who just stands out from the crowd and Gail is one of these. Her energy is unquenchable and she has a very strong sense of who she is, which she brings to every aspect of her life and label."

The latest Gail Sorronda collection - Oh My Goth - is a playful take on the most sinister circus performer of them all: the clown.

Flippy dresses and high-waisted flared pants featuring colourful polka dots, teamed with darker accessories and cupid's bow lips in shades of dark wine provide an irresistible match of goth and girly, froth and shades of mystery.

The collection has been out for quite some time now (in fact loads of pieces are now on sale), and I remain completely enamoured with this dress:

Typically, it sold out in seconds (this is seriously the story of my life) because I hesitated. Damned me for stalling! It was rather expensive, with the price tag beginning with a 6 (and having two other numbers come behind it)... But I really should be willing to pay for these types of designs - quirky, memorable and in short enough supply to ensure we're not all walking around in the same outfit... I'm a fool! 

Beyond 2013

Allow your mind to be boggled by clicking on this article here. Having been quite obsessed with food shortages, I love this idea of farm-scrapers. And also wishing I were mutli-lingual, the idea of having my phone to speak in another language for me is very appealing - surely you'd pick up a few things via your phone!

Unfortunately, no guidance on how shoes will look in the future, and what James Bond-like features they will possess.