The only shoe you'll need this Summer

This Summer it's all about the gladiator. Whether it be in a dramatic up-to-the-knee variety as seen on stylist Amber Renae or more of a strappy almost-ankle boot style - these are the shoe to take you from morning coffee to cocktail hour. 

I prefer the look in a more subtle hue of tan, much easier to work into a Summer wardrobe and elongate those bronzed pins.  A pedicure and a neon toenail is a must, as all eyes will be on you! 

My pick? These strappy Fermina gladiators (pictured below) by Schutz - get them here:

https://www2.nordstromrack.com/shop/product/1058418/schutz-fermina-high-heel-sandal?color=SUFLAIR

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star ...

When Marilyn Monroe said 'We are all of us stars and deserve to twinkle' she must have had jewellery designer (and modern day blonde-bombshell) Sarina Suriano in mind. 

My latest obsession (after spotting more than one editor wearing similar at Paris Fashion Week) is the set of simply devine Sarina Suriano Swarovski crystal earcuffs - made exclusively for The Dark Horse Jewellery.

Rhodium plated and nickel free, these will work for even the most sensitive of ears. And the best part? There are multiple ways to wear them! Wear one alone, high or low on the lobe, wear two together on the one ear, wear one on each - the possibilities are endless. Dress them up or down, I wear mine with both luxe furs, or beaten up old vintage tees. 

Having worked in both Europe, London and now in her hometown of Sydney, Suriano is the only jewellery designer to be invited to show at Australian Fashion Week, showing her sparkling gems on the bare form to an impressed crowd. Suriano has also collaborated with big name Aussie labels such as Alex Perry, Ellery, Willow, Fleur Wood, Alannah Hill, Ginger & Smart, Leona Edmiston, Jayson Brunsdon and most recently, Collette Dinnigan for her Winter 2012 Paris show. 

From designing high end runway pieces or that infamous Swarovski ear cuff Lara Bingle was sporting at last years Spring Racing Carnival, Sarina's jewellery gets people noticed. 

And clearly the people at Swarovski have noticed her too, being chosen to participate in this years annual 'Runway Rocks', held in Shanghai, Nov 2013. Designers worldwide are invited to design an extravagant head-to-toe crystal couture piece to showcase, giving them huge international exposure. 

Check out Sarina's collection here 

http://www.thedarkhorse.com.au/designers/SARINA-SURIANO-X-THE-DARK-HORSE

Or learn more at www.sarinasuriano.com

When BB no longer means Big Brother. A Yummy Mummy Guide to staying Fab Before and After Baby. Part 1.

Does it feel like EVERYONE is pregnant at the moment? There's talk that with the popularity of the book '50 Shades of Grey', women worldwide indulged in a little raunch and all of a sudden there's a baby boom - with these bundles of joy being affectionately referred to as 'Grey-bies'

As many of you know, I recently gave birth to my own 'little miracle', and with the arrival of Scarlet Harper I've been inundated with requests for sharing my secrets to staying fabulous before and after pregnancy, when inside you really aren't feeling as such. But hey, a girl can fake it till she makes it, right? 

Before baby (or as I like to call it 'BB') there were a few things I organised to either lift my spirits, maintain a small piece of glamour (and therefore a small piece of my old self) or were just plain old common sense. 

* me at 35 weeks, feeling like a stuffed turkey, basted in Bio Oil 

Forget the girls with the endless instagram selfies of expensive maternity wear, strutting around in Louboutins and carrying Baby Dior. They just aren't a realistic insight to what's about to take place. Money is no longer exclusively yours to blow, but at the same time a girls gotta look her best right? Even if its just you, your partner and the baby who see it, it will mean the difference between catching yourself in the mirror, crying and mourning the old 'you', and not looking like a hot mess when visitors pop in unexpectedly. 

The following are my Top 3 tips to staying fab. This article is going to be a work in progress, so over the next few weeks I'm going to share any tips and tricks that worked for me. 

Lash extensions: 

While these can be pricey, I highly recommend looking for a local deal on sites such as Groupon. I purchased an application of lashes and 2 refills for just $69 and had them applied about a month before my due date, keeping them on until 2 months after the birth. Because who can be bothered with makeup when your little one is squeaking every 3 hours?

Pedicure and shellac: 

For when you can no longer touch your toes, let alone paint them! And if they're particularly nice at your salon, you'll get a little foot massage also. I strongly suggest investing in shellac at this time due to the longevity of the paint. After all, who knows when you'll have time to do your nails again? 

Shapewear:

Tummies won't become flat again straight away and even though you'll be given a band to bring your muscles back together, my physio recommended shape wear (think Spanx) with the stomach support built in. Whether its underwear or a camisole, I'm amazed how after one week my stomach started to shrink. I wear mine 24/7 (in particular, the camisole - could you imagine trying to sleep in those undies!) - places like Target and Kmart stock these kinda of things without breaking the budget - and even once you've regained pre pregnancy shape, you'll still find yourself reaching for them when it comes time to smooth out a few bumps. 

So there you have it. It's not rocket science, just plain old common sense and a few 'feel good' ideas. If you have any suggestions of your own, products you love or secrets you'd like to share, feel free to drop me a line! 

X

The shutting down of Rachel Zoe?

 

Sitting down to the finale of the Rachel Zoe Project last night, I felt a tinge of sadness.  No longer was I hanging off every word, every scene, every outfit.  In between checking my Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, I occasionally glanced up at the screen, yawning on occasion with boredom.


Word on the street is this is her last and final season, after Bravo TV cancelled the show due to poor ratings.  Has Boho Zoe lost her crown as Queen of Celebrity Styling?  Did she peak too soon?  Doing too much at once, has she got her merlot painted talons in too many pies?  Or does all that narcissism become boring without substance?


RZ hit our screens in 2008 with a splash.  She was the girl with the job we all wanted, the wardrobe we envied, the celebrity circle of friends we desired.  Like a breath of fresh air, we finally got to see who put together the looks behind all those paparazzi perfect celebrities of the moment - Lindsay, Mischa and of course Nicole.

In fact, it was RZ's styling that changed our view of Ms Richie, from bubble-gum-smacking, Juicy Couture wearing, smart mouthed side kick of Paris Hilton, into the serious fashionista she is today.  Would House of Harlow have been so successful, if the head of the brand was still toting cheap hair extensions and a lycra mini?


Over the course of 5 years, we were taken on a journey.  As viewers, we were excited to be exposed to celebrity in this manner.  Between finding the perfect Oscars outfit for her few select celebrity clients, RZ was also at the centre of the power struggle between her two protégés - Taylor Jacobson and Brad Goreski.  We could relate to newcomer Brad in his struggle to fit in and find his way, in turn frustrated at the very threatened Taylor for her mean-girl tendencies.  Still, it was enough of a hook to get us watching next season.

 

 

Season 2 saw Rachel with a more impressive celebrity clientele, and an obvious preference in her attention towards an easily impressionable Goreski.  Tensions started to form when long standing support Taylor began being pushed aside, given mere assistant roles back in LA, while RZ and her bespectacled new BFF Brad enjoyed glamorous trips across country to New York and, the 'piece de resistance' of a stylists career, an invitation to the elusive Paris Fashion Week.


This is the season where we got to see Brad spread his wings a little, and being given the sole responsibility of styling Anne Hathaway for the Oscars, I wondered if this was the beginning of her 'creating of the monster'?  As we all know, Brad later flew the coop, taking clients with him and signed a deal for his own show. In the same breath, a frustrated Taylor realises the battle has been fought and lost, walking away from RZ Inc, much to the surprise of her employers, who are soon to shift the blame back on to her at the beginning of Season 3 (did anyone else feel uncomfortable with RZ's accusation of Taylors supposed 'theft'? Talk about not taking responsibility!)

 

Fast forward to an overworked Rachel throughout her pregnancy, and the eventual arrival of cute-as-a-button Skyler.  While we finally got to see the 'human' side of Ms Zoe, she also appeared to have lost her appeal somewhat.  In between her faux embarrassment of her appearance on a billboard and high pitched 'Oh My God's' (has anyone noticed she's gone up an octave or ten?) RZ looks to be more focussed on her fashion label, and with that, became less interesting to watch. (I mean, how many meetings about fabric samples can one sit through?) 

 

 

Yes, we're happy that RZ is securing her financial future with a successful label (that interestingly enough, has now signed on to department store Myer - due to hit our shores later this year) but without her desperation of hunting down of the perfect dress and the stress of the other personalities clashing behind the scenes, the program seems to have lost its way.

So as we bid Adieu to the Rachel Zoe Project, I feel like I'm breaking up with that holiday romance.  A little sad and it was fun while it lasted, but its time to move on.



photo credits :
justjared.com
azcentral.com
eonline.com
bravotv.com
thezoereport.com

Australia's Misunderstood Sweetheart?

Australian's have a love/hate relationship with Lara Bingle.  Correction.  Fashionistas love Lara, many others don't get it. 

Unafraid to take a style risk, when this Fashion-Week-darling gets it right, she gets it 'oh so right' and the rest of us follow.   We've watched her evolve from that sunny Bondi Beach babe into a fearless trendsetter within a matter of years.

Whether it's a singular Sarina Suriano diamante ear cuff, a Dior hairnet or a Balenciaga Halo, she's ahead of her time in the Aussie fashion stakes, often drawing inspiration from what's happening in Paris RIGHT NOW.  If Lara debuts the look, chances are, the masses will follow, and several imitations will pop up in chain stores within a matter of weeks.

In 2012, Channel 10's fly-on-the-wall reality show 'Being Lara Bingle' was trashed by the critics but adored by Aussie girls, stalking her looks week after week, with many emulating her outfits within days of screening.  Yet we saw a side to Lara that showed more than being just a coat-hanger for designer looks.  We grew to know a refreshingly imperfect girl, thrust into the spotlight, suffering regret about her ex, struggling with her weight, throwing hissy fits, marvelling at her fame on occasion and resenting it all in the same day.  A candid take on a tabloid favourite, it was a delight to watch.

As a misunderstood front-row regular, she's worked hard to gain the respect of the average Australian and throughout much scandal, has held her head high, often using the opportunity as a chance to showcase her latest favourite look-of-the-moment.  A Fashion PR dream or happy accident?  One can only speculate.

Photo credits - http://www.larabingleonline.net/  
http://being-lara-bingle.tumblr.com/
Lara Bingle instagram

Welcome home?

So after a 2 year hiatus, I've decided to make my grand return to the blogging world!

In my defence of the disappearing act, life got busy. I was working crazy hours for Green With Envy and in my precious free time I'd be exhausted (hey, if you were working with all those designer labels, you'd give 120% too!) ... But then a little 'happy accident' occurred and here I am almost 9 months later, on the eve of my first child's arrival into the world (I use the term 'eve' loosely - I'm due tomorrow but I swear she's staying in there forever, enjoying the in-room dining and dark ambient lighting - all she needs is WIFI and day spa access and she'll never leave).

For everyone following me on Instagram and Twitter, you know I've still been posting (just in 140 characters or less!) but I found myself missing what I love - writing (not just in status updates) - about fashion/beauty/celebs. Now I guess I'll be adding to that list of topics with the odd 'yummy mummy' post, but don't expect some condescending picture-perfect-Mum point of view - in all honesty I've struggled with pregnancy. Maintaining glamour and ones self esteem is tough when you're feeling nauseous, bitchy, have acquired an extra chin and no longer fit into your designer duds.

Having said that, I want to thank everyone for their support and encouragement with bringing Liberty Harlow back - your kind words have meant the world to me. If you have any suggestions or questions, please don't hesitate to drop me a line!

 Love x

My Secret Weapon

Let me start introducing my favourite things, by addressing the most pressing issue of all – Aging. You can’t avoid it, it’s happening to you as we speak – but we can sure as hell look our best while we’re at it.

Once we leave our 20’s, all those late nights, partying and stress finally catch up and create lines you never noticed before. Furrows in the brow that don’t snap back after you’ve stopped frowning, lips that lose their plump freshness and skin lacks lustre.

For me, doing a little bit can go a long way and this means embracing the idea of Botox and fillers such as Juvederm. Scared of the thought of needles? Botox doesn’t feel any worse than a mosquito bite and Juvederm has advanced so that it contains a small dose of lidocaine, a local anesthetic which makes it a relatively comfortable procedure.

After years of trial and error, I’m happy to say that I’ve found an absolute artist when it comes to the application of these types of products. A perfectionist who has trained for years in the industry. Katrina Bonham RN works from clinics in Melbourne’s CBD and Richmond and is available for appointments on 0414589998. If you have any queries, feel free to email her directly at katrinabonham@gmail.com – she’s absolutely lovely and will put your mind at ease.

So now my secret weapon can become yours too!