February12th
The first time I tried the Aesop rind concentrate body balm, I had to buy it straight away! The citrus scent is so ridiculously amazing, I didn’t even care if it suited my skin. From then on, the Aesop range was pretty much the only things I put on my skin.
I have to admit I’ve had this photo in mind for a while now, but I’ve had to use the body balm and shape the tube over the last month or so to get this perfectly used shape. Heh, oh the things I do for a good photo!
January26th
Last year my dad took a trip to our hometown Shanghai, when he came back, he not only brought back updates on our relatives, stories about his old friends, but also this necklace, one of my grandma’s necklaces. I’m not sure whether my grandma decided which grandchild should have what and gave this to my dad, or perhaps he picked this especially for me.
I instantly fell in love with this beautiful necklace when my dad handed it to me. How could I not? The gorgeously cut pale blue gemstone, the delicate pendant setting and the inscripted clasp. It’s old gold and made in a time and place where craftsmanship was deeply valued. To think my grandma picked this for herself 20, 30 or more years ago is incredible, even more incredible if she was given this by a loved one, just like she now gave this to me.
To top it off, my mum even has a story about this very necklace. When my mum and dad first got married, they were young and skint with little possessions. Attending one of my uncle’s wedding, my mum had no necklace to wear. This was a time in Shanghai when you either owned real gold jewellery or none at all. My grandma saw my mum’s bare neck and loaned this very necklace to her for the night, so in a funny round about way, this necklace came back to her. To me.
Happy Chinese new year everyone. May the year of dragon bring you plenty of good fortune and maybe an heirloom necklace or two!
January4th
Master artisan being productive at Louis Vuitton Sydney
I’ve never set myself any new year’s resolutions, never ever, I know, I can’t quite believe it myself. In my family, we don’t do new year’s resolutions. Plans and resolutions are set to work any time of the year, so there isn’t the pressure and stress associated with failing, maybe that way you are actually more likely to succeed, no? This year however, I do like to set myself a few resolutions, nothing impossible, just something to bring about inspiration at the start of 2012, to stick on top of my computer and to be reminded of whenever motivation lags.
1. To be productive. I want to keep pushing myself to produce brilliant fashion editorial work as well as street style work. As they say, you are only as good as your last piece of work, so gotta keep the momentum going upwards!
2. To be effortlessly stylish. I can be such a sucker for bright colours and the latest trends, but sometimes I really need to be reminded to par it all down, to concentrate on the essence of my style.
3. To make more time for me. I don’t mean time for relaxing or indulgence, I mean time for self development. Like making time for swimming and yoga, making time for reading books, making time for DIY projects.
I can feel it, I know it, 2012 will be utterly amazing!
December19th
If you’ve left your Christmas present shopping til now, then tsk tsk tsk, you really shouldn’t have! But if you are in need of some unique gifts or special stocking stuffers, well, you are totally in luck! This guide is designed with me in mind, things a stylish girl that’s got everything will want for Christmas. It’s not easy to shop for someone like me, I know, I apologise on behalf of all girls like me. So if you’ve got a stylish but picky girlfriend, wife, sister, lady friend, mum, neighbour, BFF, this is going to be your LIFE SAVER! You’ve only got a few days to source your presents, so everything on this last minute guide are things you can walk into a shop and buy right away. Physical real life shops, no shipping time, woah! ;)
My family doesn’t do gifts or Christmas and my boyfriend’s already gotten me my present, but everyone, feel free to get me any of the items below…
$8.10 – 3 Cre Asion macarons, $2.70 each
Move over Zumbo, this is simply the best macarons in Sydney! With Asian inspired flavours like green tea, yuzu, the taste and texture of these little babies are really something. Buy from Cafe Cre Asion in Surry Hills.
$19.95 Mrs Press hand cream
With scents of magnolia, tea rose and warm spice, there’s bound to be one perfect for her. I’ve got the magnolia one, the scent is great but subtle and the texture is lux and amazing, $19.95 each. See Mrs Press’s stockists.
$26.95 Moleskin weekly diary in red
Used by people of legendary status, Hemingway, Picasso and more. I use it just in case one day I’ll also be at that legendary status. But really, the leather cover is beautiful and they’ve prevented my life from falling into utter chaos for the last 5 years. Buy from Kinokuniya, Dymocks and many other book stores.
$39.95 – $44.95 Kate Spade iphone case
Listen up, polka dot is RIGHT ON TREND, so you need to get on it! From $39.95 each. Buy from Apple stores.
$75 Holga 35mm camera
Lo fi is the new black. I’ve had the Holga 120mm camera for many years now, it’s a camera I’ve grown to love and I’ve gotten lots of utterly amazing images from it. The 35mm camera is more accessible as it uses standard film, but still gives the unique results that Lomo cameras are known for. Buy from Lomography shops.
$90 Marc Jacobs Daisy set
I’ve never tried this perfume, lol, but I love the ads and campaign images, it just looks so summery, I think I’d totally love it and wear it everyday of summer. Buy the 50ml gift set from Myer.
$99 YSL Touche Eclat set
This is meant to be the bomb, I’m still not 100% sure on what it is and what it does, but it’s meant to improve my appearance by leaps and bounds. Plus it’s by YSL and comes in a gold tube, what more do you need to know? Buy from David Jones.
$110 Petite Grand bracelet
As a way to rebel against the current chunky jewellery trend, I’ve been trying to source delicate pieces and build up a small collection. Petite Grand is perfect for me, each piece is handmade in Sydney, therefore always unique. From $110 each. See their stockists here.
$120 Benah silk blend scarf
I love love love this Benah scarf, the colourway and print is just perfect for summer. Use it as a headscarf, hair band, even tie it around your ankle, or just use as a normal scarf. More colours are available. See Benah’s stockists here.
$129.99 Irreverent by Carine Roitfeld
Now if I received this from someone, I’d kiss him/her! No girl’s bookshelf can be complete without this tomb of a book, we all want a peek into Carine’s life and mind and pretend even just for a minute to walk in her shoes. Buy from Kinokuniya.
Happy gifting and holidays everyone! Now if you’ll excuse me, I might just go buy all of the above myself…
*Cre Asion images by Chocolate Suze, all other images from Google.
December8th
With the holiday season already upon us, I’m sure your social diary is getting shockingly full of events, parties and family dos, I know mine is! You know what’s worse than lying on the couch at 3am with a belly full of ham and wine? That would be sitting on the computer at 3am, realising your cousin/friend/aunt has uploaded 500 unflattering photos of you onto facebook and you desperately trying to untag ALL of them. Yup, I speak from experience, I think we’ve all had an episode or a few hundred episodes of this. To combat this all too common problem and help out all the ladies on this planet, I’ve devised this post. I’m a photographer, I know what works for the camera and these are 5 potentially-life-saving tips that are easy and they will make you look 10x better! From drab to fab, uhuh!
Tip 1
Boobs out, ass out, tummy in. Now repeat with me: boobs out, ass out, tummy in. Posture ladies, it’s all about posture. Now get up off your chair, stand up straight and boobs out, ass out, tummy in! Instantly weight loss, no kidding!
I know sometimes it’s late at night, you’ve been at this boring party for a couple of hours and you came straight from work, but when there’s a camera pointed at you, please at least make the effort to “boobs out, ass out, tummy in”, it makes a dramatic difference. You’ll look and feel better about yourself and you’ll exude self assurance and confidence.
Tip 2
Heels baby, heels! Some poor podiatrist probably want to stab me right now, but hey, I’m giving you a job ;p Plus when you are 160cm like me, you need that few extra cm. Hello, instantly leg extension!
Try to find a pair of heels that are comfortable and that you can walk in, they do exist, you just need to be patient. The whole of point of wearing heels is that they give your legs the illusion of being longer, so be aware of any thick ankle straps, they will break up the length of your legs and make them appear shorter. Pumps are the best for this purpose, but stick with a thin ankle strap if you find them more comfortable.
Tip 3
Stick your legs out. When you are sitting down, instead of placing your legs directly underneath your knees, stick them out by another 10-15cm and your legs will look so so much longer! You may call it optical illusion, I call it genius!
Don’t forget to straighten your back when you are sitting down, hunching is never a good look, no matter how long your legs appear to be.
Tip 4
No more giant fat arms! I used to do this one a lot, it’s natural to want to keep your arms really close to you, especially when there’s a camera pointed at you and you feel uneasy.
To combat the mysterious pop up giant fat arms disease, all you need to do is, well, not squash them! Simply bend your elbows slightly and point them away from the body a touch, 5cm or so, rest your hand by your hip or upper thigh. Cured! Simple, right?
Tip 5
Put your best face forward. This one is for the mirror. Do you look best front on, or turning your head slightly to the left, or maybe to the right?
How about smiling? Teeth, no teeth, laugh, no laugh? It’s a subjective thing, but you will know this simply by observing yourself in the mirror. Most people look better with their face tilted down slightly, it gives you a more defined jawline.
And we have a winner! Totally putting my best face forward and doing the “boobs out, ass out, tummy in” there!
Please take note: If you practice my 5 tips from drab to fab at your next cousin/friend/aunt’s party, people might poke fun of you and your posey-ness, but rest assured, because you won’t be up at 3am and realising your facebook is being flooded with 500 unflattering photos of you. Instead you’ll just enjoy the groaning sounds of a belly full of ham and wine!
Happy holidays, now don’t forget to pose ladies. Boobs out, ass out, tummy in!
