Anzac Day: Lest We Forget

Australians are celebrating ANZAC Day. It marks the anniversary of the first military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces at Gallipoli in World War One.

I want to commemorate all soldiers who fought for this great nations of ours - if it weren't for them, Australia wouldn't be the country it is today.

Lest We Forget.

News Update: Vogue Australia

This just in: Vogue Australia have finally got their own twitter page. It's http://twitter.com/vogueoz!

About bloody time!

Fashion News: Wrap-Up for the Week

1. Over at the US of A, Whitney Port has released her first fashion collection titled "Whitney Eve Fall 2009 Collection". It definitely has an 80s feel to it, though the downside is that the average dress from her collection costs US$350. Do you think you'd spend that much on Port's design?
2. On the other hand, Lauren Conrad's attempts in producing a fashion line have fallen bleow expectations, and is now sold at Kohl's (the US version of BigW). The range should cost between $20-$70, not the $220 price tag on some of Lauren Conrad's clothes. Pic below is an outfit from the Spring 2009 collection.
3. Meanwhile, the Sartorialist and Garance Dore have hit down-under. They're visiting both Sydney and Melbourne. I'm sure Sydney will be dressing up big time to beat our Melbournian counterparts. Be prepared to see an on-slaught of immaculate dressed people on the streets of Sydney next week.
   
4. Australian Rosemount Fashion Week starts on 27th April, finishes 1st May.
   
5. Vogue Australia twitter page is fake. Damien Woolnough, the magazine's online editor is outrage by this. "We've referred the matter to our lawyers and are waiting to hear back from Twitter". After two fake pages of Vogue Australia, this is truly embarrassing. No doubt Vogue Australia will use a breach in the Copyright Act 1968 and cybersquatting to prove their point.
6. Sydney designer, Kit Willow Podogornik doesn't need to tweet about AFW, after a two year absence from AFW to show at NY Fashion week, Willow will be presenting her collection on 29th April. Around 60 guests have booked for the dinner.

That's all from me.

Have a good weekend,
5ft0

Chain-Store Wars

I haven't been shopping in Portmans for a while - but I feel ever since Miranda Kerr is no longer spokesperson for the reputable brand, it's been flying under the radar. Not a good sign when competing with other stores such as Sportsgirl, Witchery and Country Road.

Portmans has been known to make stylish business clothing at an affordable price (take note Cue, David Lawrence, Jigsaw and Saba). The savvy marketing department have decided "You know what? We want 22-30 year olds shopping for our brand". I hope this will bring them out of their rut, at the same time, I don't want them to be jacking up their prices because "it's inspried by catwalk fashion". Seriously, who would pay $219 for these Vibe boots from Sportsgirl?

Anyway, it looks like Portmans are keeping the recession in mind. The Gorgeous Denim collection is a good step for the brand, with jeans retailing at $59.95 - this will walk out the door fast. I also like some of the clothes on sale for Portmans, like this one:

1. Short sleeve Bengaline work dress with skinny belt - $99.95
2. Long sleeve Belted light weight trench- $99.95
3. Flower belt - $19.95
4. Full length opaques black - $14.95
5. Bracelet with flower beanie black - $24.95

With stuff like this, I think Portmans will do just fine.

Happy shopping!
5ft0

Sales at the moment...

Business Class

Maximillia are having a 25% off sale on all their new stock - including labels such as Sretsis, Karen Walker, Karen Walker Eyewear, Maise, Senada Theory, Lorick, Littledoe and Emma Cook.

Use the code MID25 at checkout!

Some of the items I love include:

Lorick - Oyster Dabney Dress, $623

It was seen on Season two of Gossip Girl and I love the how it's a gorgeous full-skirted dress in an opulent oyster print. Ahh, so pretty.

Seneda Theory, Petite Flower Dress, $622

Another sweet piece from Seneda Thoery, I like the blue silk seam detail, dramatic drop back and the cute puff sleeves.

Economic Class

If you think spending $600+ on a dress is extreme, Bardot provides the latest fashion trends on a beer budget. The body-con dresses are in vogue at the moment, with celebrities such as Mischa Barton and Miranda Kerr heading the field:

Bardot Bandage Dress - $129.95 (available in blue, melon and black)

Bardot One-Shoulder dress, $119.95

Hope these will satisfy your fashion cravings.

Happy Shopping,
5ft0

I'm finally twittering about...

I know I'm very late in jumping into the Twitter bandwagon, but I finally have my fellow Petites! Feel free to add me and we'll have a fun time twittering away.

Rodeo Show's New Season Range

Rodeo Show have new stock coming out at the moment. Here are some of my personal favourites:

Little Helper Dress

Pebble camisole & Sweetheart Jeans


Delilah skirt & tank top

Rodeo Show is located at Paddington, but there are plans they'll open a few more stores. I hope the store remains as a 'boutique' store, rather than a store that exists by to make a profit and have little style. Mimco, I'm talking about you.

For all you aspiring fashion designers out there, Rodeo Show are looking for a junior fashion assistant. It's not often a fashion company will post an advertisement for current job vacancies. So my Petites, if fashion's something you always wanted to do - start applying! For more fashion job opportunities, go to Fashion First and start jazzing up your resume!

Good luck!
5ft0

How far would you go for fashion?

That's a question I want to pose to you my fellow Petites. I own about fifty pairs of shoes, twenty-five handbags and an abundance of jewellery. Thankfully, I manage to get all of this through my various retail jobs - where perks such as free jewellery, huge discounts on shoes and handbag run rife.

Once upon a time, I interned at a magazine. I had never seen so much Ralph Lauren, Chanel and Bottega Veneta items in my life! What surprised is how the top media executives right down to the fashion assistant, all carried a designer bag. From the YSL "Downtown" bag, to the Miu Miu black coffer bag, a Chanel 2.55 and a Chloe Paddington bag. Not to mention a few Burberry trench coats lying around the office.

Some girls saved every dollar they make to afford these luxury items. Others were willing to skimp on lunch (losing weight is an added bonus!) to get what they want. A few of them believed they wanted their money to be seen...in their wardrobes.

In fact, I knew someone who shared the same obsession with fashion as me. Has a designer shoe fetish, owns more jewellery than Tiffany & Co and the amount of handbags she owns could make Louis Vuitton blush. At the tender age of twenty-two, she owns three pairs of Manolo Blahniks, a pair of Jimmy Choos and a Christian Louboutin heel on the side. If Carrie Bradshaw were a real person, they'll be soul mates.

This girl worked for a media agency at one stage, the pressure to look good as well as owning a few designer products are a must in this industry - especially one that revolves around fashion. With her tiny salary, it wasn't enough to fund for her love of designer fashion. How did she fund this? By becoming an escort.

I was surprised at how far people would go to pursue fashion. I love fashion, but I don't think spending a lot of money on fashion is a short cut to gaining style. I also believe the need to be 'in trend' can be tense and stressful. Or maybe I'm acting like a Mum right now, and the way to look good in today's society is to be a slave to fashion.

What do you think my Petites?

5ft0

Loving Lanvin's Latest Handbag

I have been looking for a decent black shoulder bag where I can place my purse, keys, lip gloss and mobile phone. At first, I wanted to purchase the Chanel 2.55 bag. The bag is an icon of iconic-ness. Coco Chanel had a talent of making gold chains somewhat chic.

Then I stumbled across Lanvin and they have produced the Happy Partage GM bag. Goat skin leather flap with a turn-lock closure and silver toned chain and leather shoulder strap. The size is decent too, around 28cm in fact. In case you were wondering about the tassels, they're removable. I wouldn't want that whipping my face.

I wish I could purchase the bag if I could, but I'm currently unemployed at the moment and with mountains of uni assignments to get on with, this will have to wait.

If you're interested in purchasing this, the bag will cost you around $2,700. Ahh, if only I had the money.

Take care,
5ft0

Mad Woman returns in time for Mad Men

Hi! After leaving my blog to starve for two weeks, I'm all serious again. Right now, Mad Men starts on free-to-air TV (Thursday night, 8.30pm, SBS).

I can't believe it's taken two years for an Australian TV network to pick up this wonderful show. Here's a summary of the show:

• It's won Golden Globes and Emmys.
• Set in 1962 in a New York advertising agency (Mad is short for Madison Avenue)
• The clothes, make-up and hair are superb!
  
• The hair, make-up and clothes have influence the runway with Dior, Louis Vuitton and Givenchy. Lady-like is back.
• Don Draper isn't just a pig or an adulterer, he's a bloody manipulative bastard. However, this makes him a great advertising man.*
  

Frankly, I was getting tired of Erin Wasson slept-in look, and I want to inspire you Petites to channel your inner 60s minx-think Marliyn Monroe style sweaters over bullet bras, sophisticated Jackie Kennedy style suits and curvaceous cocktail dresses. Designers like Michael Kors and Peter Som used the show as inspiration for their Autumn 2008 collection. I can see why, this dress caught my attention:

Betty Draper (played by January Jones)

I know this isn't the best picture, but I love it how this dress has a sexy silhouette, but the colours are innocent and childlike - not to mention the material used was organza silk.

Seriously Petites, if you ever manage to find a dress similar to this - get it! It's cute and sexy. I can't wait til I find this dress.

Take care,
5ft0

*It has nothing to do with fashion, but Don Draper (played by Jon Hamm) plays a great manipulative prick.

I want to make an annoucement!

5ft0 is sorry for the interruption. But she has an announcement to make.

I found my dream wedding dress! Except I'm not getting married anytime soon and it's located at 'The Golden Age of Couture: London'. What's got me all twisted in a knot you ask? It's this:

'Les Muguets' (Lily of the Valley) - Hubert de Givenchy, Paris 1955

I love a well-made strapless bodice. The dress has inset boning, so the wearer could wear the garment and not have to wear a cumbersome corset. The detail of the bodice is exquisite:

God knows how many hours the Parisians spent hand-stitching the embroidery and the beading on this dress. How I wish I could wear this dress on my wedding day.

This dress represents the typical Givenchy style in the 1950s-60s. Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy loved Givenchy's design and we can see why.

That is all,
5ft0

Scuff marks...arggh!

Hey sorry my fellow petites! I've been neglecting this blog for a while. So many things have happened since my last post. There were things which haven't gone my way. There were dramas I never thought I'll experience at such a young age. Most of all, I feel liberated that I can spread my wings and pursue a career which I'm passionate about.

Nevertheless, a reader asked me a question, in regards to shoes:
"Is there a way to get rid of scuff marks on leather shoes?"

As Bob the Builder would say, "YES YOU CAN!"

The best way to get rid scuff marks is using acetone a.k.a nail polish remover. Take a cotton swab or a white cloth and put some nail polish remover on it. Dab it onto the marks and slowly scrub it. Dry using some clean cotton balls.

This method can be used on patent leather shoes as well. Word of caution, don't leave the acetone on patent leather for too long, or else the glossy coating will disappear.

Stay tune for the next post: How to take care of your shoes.