Happy Birthday my Girl!

Happy Birthday friend - you know who you are! I hope today you're given Gucci and Gold. Loving you with all my heart, t x

(ps scroll down for congrats and birthday challenge).

And can I mention congrats for your first design print editorial. I couldn't be prouder, even if I were punch. (brain thinking...what the hell does that expression mean anyway, proud as punch? Does it mean punch the drink, Punch & Judy, to punch someone?! I need answers).

Now back to giving my friend birthday lurvvvee...don't laugh but I am going to attempt to bake you a Pavlova for your birthday - it's only fitting you know. Being more a cook than a baker (trust me I am a horrendous baker) I will post pictures of the finished result. Wish me luck!

Donna Hay Recipe:

* 150ml eggwhite (approximately 4 eggs)
* 1 cup (220g) caster (superfine) sugar
* 2 tablespoons cornflour (cornstarch), sifted
* 2 teaspoons white vinegar
* 1 cup (250ml) single (pouring) cream
* ½ cup passionfruit pulp (approximately 4 passionfruit)
* 250g strawberries, hulled and halved

Preheat oven to 150°C (300°F). Place the eggwhite in the bowl of an electric mixer and whisk until stiff peaks form. Gradually add the sugar, whisking well, until the mixture is stiff and glossy.

Add the cornflour and vinegar and whisk until just combined. Shape the mixture into an 18cm round on a baking tray lined with non-stick baking paper. Reduce oven to 120°C (250°F) and bake for 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off and allow the pavlova to cool completely in the oven. Whisk the cream until soft peaks form. Spread over the pavlova, top with passionfruit and strawberries and serve immediately. Serves 8–10.

You’ll know when the meringue is stiff and glossy because the mixture will have tripled in volume and stands up when the beaters are lifted.

The low heat puffs up the meringue while the long cooking time dries it out to give you a lovely crisp shell.

Store your pavlova, undressed, in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Online Interview with Tuxe

Isn't funny how things in life pop up?! For instance, yesterday I posted my first Q&A - which, thanks to Kate, went down like a chilled glass of Herrick's Gin with a splash of Tonic Water and thin slice of cucumber on a hot day (yes, that means pretty well). AND now, Zoe - Beauty Editor from Dolly Magazine, has posted a lovely little article on her blog - To The Glamour Born - about yours truly.

Reading it, made me smile the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland (and not the one from the recent flick, the one when Whoppie played the grinning feline). What a weird feeling it was to read something about me. Weird but wonderful at the same time!

So to you Zoe, I give a forehead kiss (I tend to give people a kiss on their forehead whom I treasure or that do something for me that's extra special).

Click here to read my online interview on To The Glamour Born. It refers to an event that I worked on, that I must admit, Zoe made quite the impression at.

Q&A: Kate Carnegie

K A T E C A R N E G I E

As mentioned quite sometime ago now I promised you - my beautiful tuxedo black cashmere pink readers (hey mum) - some Questions & Answers (Q&A) with people that I find inspiring, people challenging the norm, you know; those go-getta types. Being the Q&A virgin that I am here is my very first one with Kate Carnegie, Fashion Stylist. All feedback, naughty or nice is welcomed.

Kate's work - Magnificent Magazine

Q U E S T I O N & A N W S E R ' S
Kate, 24, is a Melbourne stylist who was recently accepted to do an internship with Vogue in UK! Despite her natural ability, to refine her skills Kate completed a BA Fashion Design at RMIT and is currently studying a BA of Fine Art at Central St Martins.

Deep breath....here I go!

Tuxedo: Hey Kate, how's things?
KC: Hey Tuxe, loving London!

Tuxedo: Okay, so what made you want to get into styling?
KC:The interest has always been there for me, from a very young age. After I finished university, I found myself with a bit of free time on my hand, and I guess became a bit lost from going from such an intense three years of fashion design to not much at all. I found myself more interested in the styling aspect of fashion rather than design itself after I finished at uni, and it was this realisation that prompted me to start focusing my energy into that.

Tuxedo: Have you ever hit a wall and be slammed with something challenging in relation to styling?
KC: Starting out is a challenge for everyone. The most challenging thing is finding the right people to work with. You find yourself testing with photographers who may not share the same vision as you do, and it is only through the creative process that you get to see how other people work and whether or not you share that same vision.

Tuxedo: Tell me - what styling projects meant the most to you and why? Spill It!
KC: A submission/editorial that I just worked on recently. I was fortunate enough to use some amazing pieces from some of London's recent fashion graduates from LCF and Central St. Martins, ex-students who are pushing the boundaries of conceptual design today.

Tuxedo: Like you already know, to me, you're an inspiration. So who and what inspires you?
KC: I have to say it really is different each time. Sometimes I might be inspired by something I read, or an image that provokes a feeling or sentiment. It could be as simple as I texture I might observe or as trivial as one simple word.

Tuxedo: Have you worked with anyone fabulous as yet?
KC: I've met some great photographers here in NYC and make-up artists that are a bit more established in the whole scene here which has been great. I have met some amazing photographers in London who want to push boundaries and take their work to the next level. I think this is great for me, as I am still learning and growing and progressing with my work.

Tuxedo: What is next on the agenda for you? Tell me all about it…
KC: Besides my internship at Vogue after that I am hoping to just keep developing my work, working with new photographers and keep submitting stories. I really desperately need to start a blog asap, and this is one of my main agendas as it is such an indispensable tool for any designer or stylist. The next thing after that on the cards is a T-shirt line!

Tuxedo: Help a compadre out - any advice to other stylists in the making??
KC: To keep experimenting and shooting ideas. It is important to challenge yourself and others through experimentation. i think it is so important for stylists to work with as many different individuals they can in order to learn and progress with their work.

Kate's work - Elle

K A T E ' S F A V E T H I N G S
Tuxedo: Favorite Melbourne shopping strip or e-boutique?
KC: My favourite shop in Melbourne though would be Eurotrash.

Tuxedo: Favorite restaurant?
KC: I love Cicciolina in Acland Street- I'm in love with the fish cakes there. I think Cookie do some amazing dishes too for a good price. Pink Ginger too for the best sushi.

Tuxedo: Favorite drink?
KC: Miami Vices and slurpees.

Tuxedo: Favorite thing to cook?
KC: Dumplings

Tuxedo: Favorite thing to wear?
KC: Probably my vintage pair of versace chain black/gold leggings and any of my over-sized blazers or trench coats.

Tuxedo: Favorite thing to read?
KC: Definitely Magazines: Purple, Self-Service, Love and i-d

Tuxedo: Favorite Present ever received?
KC: Something my grandmother gave to me for my 7th birthday. It was a tiny silver cast of a dragon hatching out of an egg with diamond eyes. I cherish it to this day.

Tuxedo: Favorite Holiday?
KC: I think that Rome and Paris have had the biggest impact on me in terms of feeling a connection with a city. They are both so enriched in culture, history, style and personality and I think that they are both such inspiring places. I think that my fondest memories lie with both of these cities.
Kate's work - Elle

T H E E N D

Next week I will post a Q&A with yet another completely amazing designer. You just wait, she's a treasure too!

Stay tuned - in a couple of week's, Kate will resurface to tell us all about Vogue. Tuxedo x

Up Close & Personal - vol 6

Dear Tuxedo Black Cashmere Pink

Week ending...um not sure - lost track.

Guess where I am! No, I said guess! No idea!? Okay let me tell you...

I am in a place called Goondiwindi - around fives hours south of Brisbane, Australia. I've travelled here with seven high-school mates to see another, who moved here to be closer to her country roots and cotton farming boyfriend. Perhaps once upon a time I thought she was mad for moving such a distance but now - whilst being here - I can see it's romance and beauty.

To be continued...