Casa Son Vida

I pinched these high-end, high-design, high-on-something pictures from The Cool Hunter. This out of the world property is the first Villa to be developed by Cosmopolitan Estate in Son Vida, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. It is not for sale...bummer - what a good investment that would have been (yes, clearly that was an utter joke and a bad one at that).

Have You Heard!?

Images: Nylon

Well, have you heard about Nicole Richie's new child called Winter Kate? Nope, it's not an actual living and breathing buba but a new clothing line named after the middle names of her daughter - Harlow. (Harlow Winter Kate Madden)

Richie, who started her career from being born to much-loved soul singer Lionel Richie, made her own mark alongside socialite - Paris Hilton in The Simple Life. She then wrote a semi-autobiography called The Truth about Diamonds, what an inspiring read that one was. AND now, after launching a jewelry line called The house of Harlow 1960 in 08 (which - if my opinion matters - I like), has honed in on the rag trade producing Winter Kate.

Here are my two cents - I know you didn't ask for it but you're gonna get it. Its just not making me dance on the ceiling if you know what I mean!?

To be brutally honest - Nylon Mag wrote an article on her range this morning and generally they are on the money. But this time, oh god dare I say it, they're wrong - they like it! Question mark! Question mark! The only thing that's making me with flirt with the idea that her designs have some artistic / edgy merit is the photography from Nylon and the jacket on the left below - that one is lovely!


Tell me your thoughts...

A Divine Launch!

Oh my dear blog, I am sorry that I have neglected you lately. Please don't be angry with me it's just that time has escaped me lately, I have been struggling to put fingers to keyboard - creating a post!

Seeing that I have been distant here are some pictures that I cherish, hopefully you like them too. Fingers-crossed you forgive me. They are from a launch for a cosmetics brand called Bloom that I attended last week. The launch was inlight of the naturally wonderful new range - Bloom Organics.

The launch was at a delightful restaurant called The Commons in Darlinghurst, Sydney. Over an organic brekkie full of homemade delights, Beauty Editors tested the product whilst, at the same time, twitted about their excitement during the launch.

Amongst the wooden crates, Hessian weaves, rattan bike and product displays were amazing flower / plant installations. Word is that Bloom worked with a Sydney Sculptor called Tracey Deep who created gorgeous works like succulents wrapped with a coconut leaf, its edge stitched with delicate string. The look was simple but elegant.

~ twigs wrapped in string ~

~ shitake mushrooms, grown on a sawdust log ~

~ succulents wrapped in coconut leaf ~

~ product ~

~ some kind of berries ~

~ rattan bike - super cute ~

~ lotus pod ~

~ corn frittars with avo mash and roasted tommies ~

To read more about the launch - click here to Bloom's Blog.

Heart Breakers!

Image: Stuart Weitzman

Call me vain but today I walked past a store and caught a glimpse of myself wearing a new pair of shoes from Stuart Weitzman, I instantly fall in love. Oh I just re-read that and yes I agree, it sounds completely arrogant. But no, no, I am not in love with myself - I am in love with my new leather platform boots. They're heart breakers!

Up Close & Personal - Vol 6

Dear Tuxedo Black Cashmere Pink
week ending March 19

Today you can call me a liar (a nice one) as I am not delving deep, this post will not be overly personal. Sorry my Up Close & Personal devotees! BUT what I can promise, is that, it will be up close.

Last night I had an up close view at what Yen presented at the L'Oreal Fashion Festival Runway 6 and can I just say; it was a marvelous. The labels turning heads - left, right, left, right - were ALPHA60, Carly Hunter (um question - where on earth did she come from? oh me oh my - amazing), Jack London, Limedrop, Nom*D, Six, TV and Zambesi. With unnecessarily but still fabulous over-sized jackets, cut out leggings, neon lime sheer hooded vests, exposed zips, jumpers tied around heads all designers completely wowed the crowd which was jam-packed with media, the nervo twins with amazing hair, other designers and of course my two friends and I (sitting 3 rows from the back).

Whilst I adored the garments on parade, what was most impressive was how some art-loving designers put on a visual display. This was projected to the wall behind the catwalk acting as an intro to their show. So instead of clicking away at beautiful but semi-too-skeletal models, I chose to point my lens at these. Here is what I snapped....they turned out vintagy (so hot right now) or hazy - i likey!

RUNWAY 6 (Clockwork Orange Inspired a.k.a spooky)


NOM*D




LIMEDROP




ALPHA60


L’Oréal Paris Runway 6.
presented by Yen
ALPHA60, Carly Hunter, Jack London,
Limedrop, Nom*D, ROY, S!X, TV, Zambesi
Venue: Peninsula,
Central Pier, Docklands

Nylon; Resilient Synthetic Fibers

VENA CAVA NYLON

IMAGES: NYLON.COM
THE MODELS OF VENA CAVA
Backstage with the girls of Vena Cava!

INTERNO: RENATO D'AGOSTIN

ARTIST: RENATO D'AGOSTIN
IMAGES: NYLON.COM
Black and white photography, courtesy of Parisian artist Renato D'Agostin

Most mornings I get into work around 20mins early - you know just to settle in, eat breakfast at my desk (yes I am one of those) have a facebook stalk, add to dashboard various blogs, online magazines and e-boutiques that catch my eye. This morning (like most mornings actually) I was glued to Nylon.com. I particularly liked browsing through their Fashion Week, Party Monster, Street Style, World Exposure and Reader Art photo galleries. Hope you enjoy these pictures too and if not, well fine, go do your own morning online searching!

Eating Out

With friends raving about it and critics salivating over it, I thought its time that I try Izakaya Den and last night I did.

This new hidden Japanese Restaurant is the latest and perhaps greatest culinary delight to hit the polished plates of Melbourne's booming restaurant world. Nestled away under retail stores in the heart of the CBD lies this bustling restaurant offering an effortlessly decedent and mouth watering menu. The menu comes to you rolled up and secured with a rubber band - I nice touch I thought.

What I devoured in a flash:
Miso Soup with Blue Swimmer Crab Leg
(this involved using that awkward cracking tool - sorry beloved Izakaya Den you've lost one brownie point)

Wagyu Bresaola with Daikon Noodles and Seaweed Dressing

Kingfish Sashimi with Sesame Oil and Pickled Ginger

Greens with Fried Bean Curd in Sesame Water

What I slurped in a flash:
Sake Mojito (dreamy right) - Sake, Lime, Mint, Soda, Campari

So overall I give Izakaya Den 4 and a half Samurai Swords (yes clearly I loved it)

If you wanna experience Izakaya Den for yourself - click here
*Note that they don't take bookings for parties under 5.

Things that make my heart skip a beat

Often I snap things in my travels that I like with the hope of referring back to them for some sort of inspiration. But you see its often that I forget about the pics I take on my phone, rarely do I refer back to them. So here are images that - like I said - make my heart skip a beat. Hopefully I remember these from now on....

TINS

Today I met a friend for lunch, he was slightly late - perhaps only by a second but long enough to allow me to fall in love with the earthy and fresh looking display above at Domain Flowers. What seduced me were these rustic silver tins. If they are flirting with you too then you can purchase them online at Tinware.

VASES

Whilst we're talking flowers - this multi-teared arrangement at Willow is another thing that caught my wandering eye. You can purchase similar vases at an Antiqued Shed, loco - 65 Tyrrab Road Mornington. If you can't make the journey (which you should do, its amazing), try HoneyBee Homewares.

Fact: whilst writing this post I googled "How many times does the average human heart beat a day". Google replied with 100,000. Looks like I am down to 99,998.

OVERSIZED


Cute window from Chanel - Bondi Jucntion. Oversized product...I like!
Heartbeats - 99,997

BIRDCAGE


Louis Vuitton window....birdcage touch - not bad!
Heartbeats - 99,996

DOG BOWL

This photo made the cut for no particular reason.
Heartbeats - 99,996 (like I said this made the cut for no particular reason so no heartbeat lost)

ROUND LIPPED DRINKING VESSELS

Great water glasses from Cafe Vue made by Innocent Bystander.
Heartbeats - 99,995

TABLE ON WHEELS

Long tabels on wheels and steel stools - ultimate dining table to me! This snap is from Capital Kitchen.
Heartbeats - 99,994

What makes your heart skip a beat?

Lets chat Sportsgirl

Image: Sportsgirl

Like my bookmarked blogging friend from Design Files wrote about this morning (she always beats me to the punch - damn her and her fast typing fingers), Sportsgirl has some fashionably awesome things threading together this month.

This month Sportsgirl is channelling those creative types - bloggers, photographers, muso's, illustrators, anyone really with a creative backbone promoting Australia's creative underground.

I find this story most inspiring. Sportsgirl had Hayley Hughes create this Harajuku-inspired window feature at their South Yarra Store. Hayley now has her blogspot URL smeared across the window to further promote her fantastic work. Hayley congrats! I don't know but I am proud.


To read what Hayley says about her collaboration with Sportsgirl and her window installation - click here