Great Dane

Just bought the new ELLE magazine and was reminded how much I love Helena.


When she dated Michael Hutchence in the 90's, I wanted to BE her. Love these Herb ritts shot.


Not only is the woman stunning and artistic & rock & roll, she stood out an Amazonian powerhouse Supermodel - and she truly deserves emoniker - with shoulders hips & boobs, who strode onto the scene ion the late 80's/early 90's.

I had this gorgeous Snate D'Orazio shot taped to my wardrobe. My diet & exercise inspiration. If only!





Pics from Harpers Bazaar & FanPix

Aaron De Mey - Kiwi boy done good

Aaron De Mey is a Kiwi makeup artist who in 2008 became the Artistic Director for Lancôme’s make-up line. Aaron developed a fascination with make up whilst studying Fine Arts in Auckland & his rebellious, rule-breaking, rock & roll style & vision won him contracts with fashion superstars such Patrick Demarchelier, David Sims and Jean-Paul Gaultier. Now a superstar in his own right, the lover of Bauhaus, Marlene Dietrich & Hedi Slimane looks like he just sauntered right out of a Hedi Slimane shoot himself, all coltish black-clad legs, curtain of Daniel Johns-style hair and boyish good looks.

I noticed Aaron's first range for Lancôme (Spring/Summer 2009 'Pink Irreverence' Collection) as it included some the amazing 'Piha' nail polish & black lip laquer, referencing Aaron's youth growing up on Piha beach - I love the black glittery finish, evoking the oil black sands of Piha. The lip gloss (Colour Fever Gloss) in Piha Black is actually not as opaque & harsh as you would expect when applied. It comes wth a blood red lippie for that lasciviously laquered Twilight look - check out Eva Herzagova rocking make-up by Aaron in the November 2008 Paris Vogue :



Ô My Rose! is Lancôme’s spring offering for 2010. Based a ‘French Kate Moss’ (someone with an imperfect beauty), the new line includes a mixture of pretty blush pinks & corals, and shot of kick-ass deep petrol greens which I LOOOOOVE!



Images from Lancome website

Urban Cowgirl

I just revisited one of my favourite movies, 'Urban Cowboy' with John Travolta & Debra Winger. Aged 25 (but looking all of 17), Winger is aboslutely stunning as fresh faced, fiesty Sissy, who falls in love with & marries Travolta's rather appealing Bud within days of meeting at Gilley's road-house. There is also a great cameo by Jerry Hall & her sister, looking stunning as a pair of talk drink of water come-hither bar-flys who seduce Bud.

Aside: Andy Warhol escorted Jerry Hall to the premiere in Houston. From Andy Warhol Diaries, June 4, 1980: "And then John Travolta arrived with thirty people....And he's so good-looking. He had on a black silk shirt and a bright green linen jacket and black pants, and his eyes are so blue.")

Such a cheeesy but cool love story. I nearly welled up when the launched into 'Looking for Love' during the final scene, when Bud rescues Sissy from the evil Wes and puts her 'Sissy' license plate back in his ute window - aw.

The cowboy fashion fused with 70's cool is fantastic. As Sissy, Debra winger looks stunning in simple strappy tank top & fitted shirts with spray on boot-cut jeans and black cowboy hat. The mechanical bull scene is outrageous - now see where the Kylie Minogue's Agent Provocateur ad inspiration came from! The foil to Sissy's 'down-home cowgirl' cool is 'posh girl' Pam, whose outfits are ever so chic cream & beige tone suits and tight Western style shirts, & especially the Cher-style suede fringed vest (which, unfortunately, I cannot find a picture of - you'll just have to rent the movie!)


I'm all about plaid shirts at the moment. If I could wear a cowboy hat other than ironically or as a costume - I would! Must be all those years growing up watching Westerns with my Dad. I drew horses constantly and wrote & illustrated books about my own Annie Oakley-style heroine. I always loved fringed suede vests & jackets, cowboy boots & bootcut jeans having my first pair of 'cowboy boots' aged 6 - they were camel, and oh so cool.

My fave piece at the moment is Kate Sylvester's butter-soft charcoal & blue 'Hilary' Shirt. Beautiful. I rather love the fringed bag from D_luxe - but will have to make do with my fantastic bargain chocolate coloured fringed suede shoulder bag Glassons in 2008, & my fab black leather fringed Cher half-breed style necklace I just got on sale from Max!

And it seems the cowgirl look is seeping back into fashion. Particularly on the heels of the excellent new move 'Crazy Heart' - (see it! Jeff Bridges & Maggie Gyllenhaal are brilliant) -people are rediscovering 'Cowgirl chic'.

The latest Vogue UK has a fabulous shoot with Lily Donaldson called 'Fringe Festival' starring fabulous fringing from Alessandro Dell Acqua's Spring 09 collection.

And let's just throw Kate in, because I love her - this shot is from the 2007 Just Cavalli shoot she did with Pete Doherty.

My Style Icons: 1. Daphne Guinness

Daphne Guinness is a a name we don't hear about much down under. You may be familiar with 'Guinness' though - yes, she's of the beer family. I came across Daphne Guinness in the society pages in Vogue, her image just leapt out at me and piqued my interest with her amzing two-tone hair and haute couture outfits. She always seemed to be hanging out with the coolest people - Isabella Blown, Tom Ford, McQueen, John Galliano, Jean Paul Gaultier. Then in 2008 I picked up this Italian vogue in Whitcoulls with Daphne on the cover and the shoot inside by Steven Klein blew me away.
Daphne was a Muse of Alexander McQueen, her ice queen looks, tiny stature and and shock of white hair & skin making her the perfect dolly for mcQueen to dress up in his outrageous, theatrical designs.
(She is the mysterious veiled gold figure, far left at the tribute to Alexander McQueen which opened London Fashion Week)

I can see why - she has this glacial cool and always seems to be groomed within an inch of her life. Posh may be seen in flats and barefoot on the beach, but not Ms Guiness! I love her latest quote:

“You know, the last blizzard, in December, I wore these (seven-inch-high) shoes and I walked twenty blocks in them, and then I tried to walk back and it was so cold. And my best friend Robin was like, You’re going to break your neck in those shoes. And I was sliding a bit, but I have a very steady walk,” she told us. “Shit happens. I guess I could break my neck tomorrow.”

Spasiba Victoria!

Victoria look amaaaazing, rocking her designs in the latest Russian Vogue. On her new collection, Victoria says "Forties and 50s underwear played a big influence on the collection, but the inspiration is me."I have tried every one of the dresses on, lived in them, to work out what feels right. I hope the silhouette is what every woman wants to wear."
Victoria's latest collection at NY Fashion Week was very impressive! Her collection was inspired by Dick Tracy and Hollywood's femmes fatales - very cool. Loving more of her sleek, tailored styles imbued with understated sexiness. Very 'Mad Men'. Fabulous!

NEW YORK, February 14, 2010
By Nicole Phelps
"Victoria Beckham started her presentation by personally greeting each and every one of the 25 or so editors and retailers assembled in the Upper East Side town house to see it. Most designers, of course, prefer to hide out backstage. "When does that ever happen?" someone asked after shaking hands with her. As has become Beckham's style over the last three seasons, she narrated as the models glided out in her dresses, discussing fabrics, color, cut, and construction. She sounded like such a pro, you almost forgot that she was once a pop superstar, until, pointing out a buff-colored draped silk jersey gown with a grosgrain ribbon sashed around the asymmetrical bodice, she told us, "I'm going to wear this one to the Oscars."