Bling...

Harper's Bazaar Australia silences those harbouring doubts about the fact that it's all about colour as far as this season's jewellery is concerned.

Bling
Elena Sudakova photographed by Kane Skennar
Harper's Bazaar Australia January/February 2010

Bring on the rainbow!

Romany

[photos courtesy of chicmanagement.com.au]

Caught in the act...

Behind the scenes haute couture...

The Chanel girls get fruity.

Heaven, aka the Chanel makeup counter.

The great descend at Dior.

Come on, Vogue.

Madame X.

Romany

[photos courtesy of style.com]

What's your signature fragrance?

Perfume: a mixture of fragrant essential oils and aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents used to give the human body, animals, objects, and living spaces a pleasant smell.

Smell is, essentially, subjective. One man's trash, is another man's treasure - the exact same can be said for perfume. Recently, the idea of differing tastes (with regards to anything, really) has me amazed, as does almost anything to do with general human nature.
I am a sucker for perfumes. There's just something so glamorous about the whole industry. I must confess, I don't own as many as I'd like to but I do believe it's important not to own too many. One must have a signature scent, after all. Over the years I've gone through my fair share of signatures, beginning with...

I used to wear Fantasy by Britney Spears exclusively, I would always get compliments. I still wear it on rare occasions, but I discovered that it can be a bit overwhelmingly sweet at times. So I moved on to Prada eau de parfum (quite a jump, I know), to show that I'd grown up a bit.

Next it was on to Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker (still one of my favourites, such a fitting title), which was originally my mother's, but she and I share a common allergy to perfumes and it wasn't long before she couldn't wear it anymore. Luckily I don't react to it quite as badly (ah the sacrifices we women make for beauty). But then I happened to smell For Her by Narcisco Rodriguez on a passing lady (and swiftly got the details on this mesmerising scent) and before I knew it I had a new signature. Unfortunately, I didn't realise until after I made the purchase that this particular fragrance doesn't actually agree with me and I've only recently been able to sell it to someone else (an emotionally difficult day, I did love this perfume so).

I even tried go the Paris by YSL route to give a more adult sophisticated vibe. But then I got told I smelled like soap, and decided I was probably better off with something else.

These days you'll probably find me wearing one of these two, Daisy by Marc Jacobs or Aqua Lily by The Body Shop, if anything at all. I've had Daisy for years, and have attributed many a compliment to this baby, but I can't help feeling like it's still not my signature. I bought Aqua Lily for something new, but it's very summery and what happens when summer ends?
Yes, I'm picky. But I can't help it. I guess I'm still searching for my signature...

So to all of you out there, show me how varying our tastes really are tell me, what's your signature scent?

Romany

[photos courtesy of strawberrynet.com, kikay.exchange.ph and www1.macys.com]

Simply Iconic...

Recently, I was perusing through the pages of an early 2009 issue of Vogue UK, and came across a particularly intriguing story on the continued success, and 'trendiness', of the smokey eye/nude lip beauty combination. Created around 40s years ago, the Sixties Face has maintained its astounding popularity due to the fact that the emphasis is on the eyes. Makeup artist Barbara Daly believes the eyes are so attractive because they emphasise communication. "They are how we see expression in each other," she explains. "Eye contact is one of the absolute markers of human connection, and it's part of our body language that we pay the most attention to. Widening the eyes, accentuating that part of you, is saying, 'This is who I am; this is how I feel.' I see the Sixties look as disarmingly honest -- the whole person laid bare."

Rarely does modern Hollywood produce a face as genuinely stunning as Dakota Fanning, especially one so young. Here on the gorgeous spring 2010 cover of V magazine, Dakota does a beautiful job of recreating the Sixties Face.

If only the Sixties Face was as common place as it was during its heyday.
In an homage to the aforementioned Face, I've compiled a little list of my favourite sixties beauty icons...

Brigitte Bardot
Actress

Sophia Loren
Actress

Raquel Welch
Actress

Twiggy
Model

Britt Ekland
Actress

Celia Hammond
Model

Jane Birkin
Actress/Musician

Jean Shrimpton
Model

The Sixties Face, love it or leave it?

Romany

[photos courtesy of flickr.com, askamakeupguru.com, girlwiththeafro.blogspot.com, ana-lee.livejournal.com, uknet.com, allposters.com, lezouth.free.fr and media.photobucket.com]

Quote...

"I have a problem when people in the industry say 'it's killing the industry, it's the thing that's ripping us apart'. I don't actually believe it is... [Pirates] might not buy an album, but they're spending their money buying concert tickets, a t-shirt, whatever. It's an analogue business model in a digital era. The business model has to change. You've got to license out more music - have more Spotifys, more websites selling more music. You've got to make it slightly cheaper to get music in order to compete with the peer-to-peers. I find it staggering that the industry seems to be really dragging its heels on this - this is stuff that you could do in one week. Move quicker!"

-- Radiohead's Ed O'Brien on music piracy.

I must say, it's nice to hear a different, and some would say more rational, perspective on this issue from someone in the industry, encouraging the focus to move from complaining to being proactive and forcing the model to adapt to these changing times.

Romany

The real winners are...

So I already mentioned the goddess yesterday, but here are some other looks from the 2010 Golden Globes red carpet that I'm a bit fond of...

This isn't the best photo, but Marion Cotillard looked classic and chic as always.

Breaking from the usual floor-length gowns seen at these events, Ginnifer Goodwin wins points for this shorter ensemble and a brilliant colour scheme (umbrella included).

While Rose Byrne is looking skinnier as the months go by, she still manages to dazzle on the red carpet. This colour just looks gorgeous against her pale skin.

A lot of people are undecided about Zoe Saldana's choice of gown, but I, for one, thought she looked very beautiful. The colour goes well with her skin tone. Vampy, in a good way.

Oh doesn't Carey Mulligan look just adorable? I love the headband addition.

Did I mention any of your favourites?

Romany

[photos courtesy of style.com]

Icon...

Finally an actress who shares an uncannily similar body type to mine, who is being celebrated rather than put down. Ah, the positivity...

Christina Hendricks in Christian Siriano
Golden Globes 2010

Eclipsing even Don Draper (Jon Hamm), Sterling Cooper’s creative director and the show’s all-American anti-hero lead, the character everyone talks about now is Joan, and they all do it in the same way, raising their hands to their chests in the shape of melons, saying: “Oh, my God! Do you mean the curvy redhead with the big…?”

And if they’re women, also saying, “I think I’m a lesbian,” which makes Christina Hendricks, the 34-year-old actress who plays Joan, squeal with laughter.


I adore her...

Romany

[photos courtesy of entertainment.timesonline.co.uk and au.eonline.com]

Virgin...

I'd heard it was supposed to be good, but I wasn't expecting such effortlessly dream-like visual beauty. Let your imagination allow the soothing sounds of French electronic (and my personal favourite) band Air to be the soundtrack to this pictorial appreciation of the subtle and beautiful film...

...The Virgin Suicides (1999)

Some favourite films?

Romany

[photos courtesy of fanpop.com]

Sail away...

It seems old favourite nautical fashion has once again made a comeback. The most distinctive aspect of the nautical trend is the striped, or Breton top, considered a sartorial classic since the 1930s when Coco Chanel (surprise, surprise) first elevated this humble top to serious style status, after she designed and wore it with palazzo pants (a look she copied from French sailors).

Then

Jean Seberg, Breathless (1960)

Three decades after Coco Chanel popularised this near-the-pier look, Jean Seberg tries her hand at the Breton top in Breathless.

Then
Charlotte Gainsbourg, L'effrontée (1985)
Pairing it with a denim mini skirt, Charlotte Gainsbourg adds an 80s twist to the classic look.

Now

Catherine McNeil, Vogue UK January 2010 (Patrick Demarchelier)

And now the nautical trend, Breton top included, is back in all its glory, whether it be full-on sailor chic in magazines...

Now
Dree Hemingway
...or edgy model street-style.

Thankfully, nautical is a style that is easily recreated.

What You'll Need

1. Sportsgirl top
2. Levi's skinny capri jeans
3. Harajuku Lovers slingback heels
4. Michael Kors clutch
5. Kenneth Jay Lane necklace

What are some variations on the nautical trend that you're fond of?

Romany

[photos courtesy of shop.sportsgirl.com.au, smokeye.wordpress.com, fashionpolaroid.blogspot.com, elle.com, forums.thefashionspot.com, amazon.com, michaelkors.com, net-a-porter.com, fashiongonerogue.com]

Forbidden, Provocative, Unforgettable...

Welcome.

I had planned on writing a lengthy, witty welcome post but instead I thought I'd simply just let you know that I love the book Lolita. It's my favourite.


I bought Kubrik's 1962 film adaptation and was somewhat disappointed. Though I'll admit, it's an incredibly tricky story to bring to the screen (with all the pedophilia, and whatnot), I still thought the film fell rather short and frankly, flat. But one brilliant little addition of Kubrik's (which I don't recall being in Nabokov's original story, though I may be wrong) was the heart-shaped sunglasses, which have become a symbol of this beloved story in fashion today.
I'm still about halfway through Adrian Lyne's more modern adaptation (starring Jeremy Irons, in my opinion, a much more fit casting choice as controversial protagonist Humbert Humbert), but so far I'm finding it much more enjoyable, though of course nothing could ever beat the book itself.

So tell me all, what is your favourite book and (if you feel up to it) why?

Romany