Thursday, February 11, 2010

Lee McQueen passes away...

Lee McQueen, founder and designer of British brand Alexander McQueen, 40, took his own life on February 11, 2010.
The fashion world mourns this great loss...

(my favourite McQueen runway look, Spring 08)

"He was restless, but so pragmatic with it I assumed he had what it took to endure the extreme situations he placed himself in...

"...he was also an arch romantic with a pessimistic streak. It produced some of the most beautiful, shocking images in the history of fashion, but it’s a state of mind that can lead to endless disappointments....

"...the death of McQueen’s mother last week would have validated his pessimism. It would undoubtedly have taken away his most vital support. It’s awful to imagine him trying—and failing—to cope, and one can only hope that, if he was looking for peace, he found it....

"...for everyone left behind, there will eventually be consolation, however scant right now, in a body of work whose power will never die."
Tim Blanks, Style.com

Rest In Peace, Lee McQueen.

Romany

[photos courtesy of hautemacabre.com and the16diaries.blogspot.com]

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Domestic Bliss...

I'll be honest with you. I've never been Angelina's biggest fan, for whatever reason (truthfully, these days I don't even remember why I have a problem with her). But whenever I'm asked to think of the most beautiful woman in the world, this 2005 W Magazine photoshoot invariably comes to mind. Featuring the Sixties Face in all its authentic glory, I give you...

Domestic Bliss
Photographed by Steven Klein




Tired of celebrity portraiture and always up for an artistic “jam sesh,” as he calls it, Pitt essentially codirected the photo series. He opted to set it in 1963 (the year he was born), a time when the last traces of the squeaky-clean Fifties were giving way to something more complicated. “The facade was still being maintained,” he says, “but things were starting to crumble underneath.”




Love. Love. Love.

Romany

[photos courtesy of wmagazine.com]

Monday, February 8, 2010

Wheels and Doll, baby!


Wheels & Dollbaby
photographed by Jonas Bresnan

Jonas BRESNAN travelled to Australia...

...to shoot the latest WHEELS & DOLLBABY looks down under.

The local fashion house is given a colourful and bewitching presentation in the photographer’s home country.


Can't wait to see these pieces in store, especially the polka-dot dress.

Romany

[photos courtesy of gosee.us]

Friday, February 5, 2010

Raise it up...

A little story that is so exciting, I have no choice but to share...

Who'd have thought that a Wednesday night out at a not-so-happening bar could have taken such a turn? The bar itself was lots of fun, despite it's seedy Friday and Saturday night reputation. But it was made even better when I discovered that we were sharing this place with Florence Welch, of Florence + the Machine, for the night.


I was standing in the very small bathroom (or should I say swaying, considering many drinks had already been consumed?), and noticed the distinctive red hair and British accent. Not even considering she might be the real thing I decided to tell this woman that she looked like Florence. "Excuse me, do you know the band Florence and the Machine?", I asked. "Yeah we're in that band." she replied, pointing at her blonde friend.
"Oh really?", internally hyperventilating, "How are you liking Australia?" I started to ask. But my friends emerged from their cubicles and started showering her with praise, leading to my friend getting a birthday hug from Florence (and a compliment on a particular ring that she was wearing), as it was the celebration of her 18th that had brought us to this bar in the first place. Throughout the rest of the night, she was hard to get to, as her camp were occupying half the bar space (having just finished a gig). But I also got a hug later on, after she smiled and waved at me and told me to get another drink.
Then it was onto the dancing. That's right. We were dancing with Florence, and her British roadies (who would later ask us to come back to their hotel for another 'party' - we declined) to everything from Michael Jackson to Calvin Harris. But it eventually reached 4am, and we were all kicked out. Needless to say, it was one of the best nights of our lives.
I cannot stress how unbelievably, effortlessly cool Florence is. Granted she was very much enjoying herself (aka, drunk), but she still managed to be so lovely.
I haven't stopped listening to her music since.

Bring on the celebrity-meeting stories, readers!

Romany

[photo courtesy of whatsthegoodness.blogspot.com]

Saturday, January 30, 2010

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]

Friday, January 29, 2010

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]

Thursday, January 28, 2010

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]

Saturday, January 23, 2010

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

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

Monday, January 18, 2010

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]