Kill Bill killed me

I will admit I am well behind on this one. I have only just seen Kill Bill, and I really loved it. Uma Thurman is wonderful and the whole idea of female warriors is so appealing. The characters are both cartoonish and believable which reflects the portrayals by various excellent actors. As always Tarantino's violence is so outlandish that it is rendered comical rather than confronting, making this a very watchable film for someone who does not typically enjoy violence or gore. If you have not seen this film you really should.

Edward Steichen and Art Deco Fashion at the NGV.

The NGV is currently hosting an exhibition of photographer Edward Steichen's work. This man was phenomenon of photography He studied, learnt and experimented with every aspect of the craft and was tireless in his pursuit of perfection. He was an artist and yet, interestingly he also took work doing fashion photography and celebrity portraits for Vogue and Vanity Fair setting a precedent for artists such as Annie Leibovitz and Mario Testino.

Such was the stigma at the time that the magazines he worked for offered to publish his photo's unsigned so as not to damage his image as an artist. But Steichen was just as proud of his magazine work as any other image he produced and insisted he be named as the image's creator. He worked with many of the most beautiful and famous people of the time and dressed them in the most beautiful clothes and created the most arresting images.
The exhibition itself has been cleverly assembled to showcase Steichen's photography as well as offering visitors examples of the couture from within the images. The two work harmoniously to take the viewer around the exhibition although, the contrast of the black and white images and the brightly coloured clothes is almost too strong at times.
The insight given on the plaques are well worth taking the time to read. Here are some of my favourites from my visit.
'In 1928, Vogue likened Chanel's little black dress to the Model T Ford. Both were reflective of an approach to design and living that focused on speed, efficiency and elegance.'

'This is the key to modern fashion photography. The fashion showed very clearly but the picture offered something far more important: an image of a woman at her most attractive moment.'

'To compliment her new lifestyle and activities the modern woman required a whole new wardrobe.'

'...confident, emancipated and stylish - the epitome of the Vogue reader.'

Loving Karl Lagerfeld and his Books

There is no need to tell anyone how wonderful Karl Lagerfeld is. His passion for books is unparallelled. He buys two copies of every book he owns, one to use and the other to be archived. His home appears to be built of books. He enjoys book so much that he opened a book store in Paris to sell his favourite books.

He has published a book of his own now. It typical Karl style, he offers soundbites of opinion about everything; there is not a thing Mr. Lagerfeld doesn't have an opinion on and many of them are here. He is his usual controversial, uncompromising and eccentric self, which makes is pure joy to read.

Oh, for an hour (or 12) in this library...

How to Fold a Scarf.

Hermes has come out with its very first App. and it celebrates all things silk scarves. While scarves were not the original product of Hermes (a saddlery to begin with) they certainly account for much of the business today. Their eye catching design and outstanding quality make them iconic. The scarves have always come with a booklet on how to tie them in various ways but, now we can all have some fun with Hermes without the price tag.

The App. is easy to use, simple and very cute. It offers you the chance to see a step by step guide on how to tie a scarf in a variety of styles, videos of the same, an album of Hermes scarf features and a Highlights Collection in which you can mark your favourites.

There is not much point to it but, it is a whole lot of fun and totally Hermes. Find it by search Hermes and download Silk Knots now.

The Take 2 Markets

If you've not yet heard of the Take 2 Markets you are about to get a BIG fashion tip. If you have heard of it but haven't yet been, then it's time to give it a try.
If you are like me and prefer your shopping to be done on gleaming surfaces and with sales assistants there to help you at every turn; then I would normally say that this is not for you. But, the reality of the Take 2 Markets is, it's worth going out of your comfort zone for.
These markets are organised by the same people who do the now famous children's markets and again, they set high standards, strict guidelines and attract top quality sellers and buyers.
Most clothing markets are very hit-or-miss when it comes to quality control but when the Take 2 Market states 'Overseas and Australian Designer Labels' they really mean it.
A recent experience for me yielded a pair of Prada kitten heels for $20, a Gorman striped dress for $10, an Italian merino wool jumper from Grace for $10, a vintage handkerchief top for $10, a BNWT Diesel cardigan ($600 original price) for $20 and a vintage Japanese dress for $50. And all that was on just one occasion, and for a person who is fussy and sized to not normally find anything at a market.
How the market manages to get such high quality is unfathomable and yet high quality they certainly have. It was surprising to see the standard consistently upheld by each and every stall holder. Even those selling imitation items were quick to point out what was the real deal and what was knockoff which means you always know what you are getting.
Some stallholders are selling off 'old stuff', others 'selling to buy' and many stallholders are vintage store owners who are there to connect with a new pat of the market. At the resent Take 2 in Malvern I regret not buying a vintage scarf from a man with an extensive range of vintage items who has a store somewhere, i only hope someone else is loving that vintage Pucci by now.

Tips for the Take 2 Markets:
Go early. They don't begin at an obscene time and it is worth getting first pick.
Talk to stallholders, they will help you a lot.
Get contact fro anyone who offers it, this will help you avoid non-buyers remorse.
Wear as little as possible so that you can try on without a change room (and slip on (and off) shoes.

Party with Georg Jensen

The latest Georg Jensen ad campaign, with Danish singer Oh Land, makes the viewer feel as though they have just burst in on a fantastic, fairy tale, extravagant party. As is photographer Tim Walker's talent, he has captured a moment full of life and movement and energy. There is a language of gesture in this series of images; people in transition, a par de deux, a kiss about to be shared, a laugh about to escape parted lips... With these images comes the undeniable temptation to join in and so, when Georg Jensen beckons, you go.

On a rainy Tuesday night in Melbourne, the Collins st store welcomed guests to join the party and view their new collections. Guests proved their strength of will and enjoyed the welcome respite to view, try and buy the gorgeous new jewels.
The staff at Georg Jensen are superb, not only do they know all about their product but they are passionate about them and the company they work for. There is such a sense of fidelity amongst the staff, they feel more like family than coworkers and Georg is some benevolent Grandfather who likes to ensure all his family (and their many friends) are having a nice time.
With delicious canapes and champagne to sip, it's hard not to be drawn into this happy family event. The store itself is sleek and modern but still feels so intimate, with dedicated spaces for styles and themes the sense of the room one peeks into in the ad campaign is found again in store. It was more surprising that there wasn't an open fire with matching sleepy dog than if there had been such was the intimate nature of the night.
The jewelry, of course, was incredible and leaving those sad orphans behind was the hardest part of the night (although, I must say, one new archive necklace will find its way home to me soon). The striking thing was that the archive pieces from the 1950s look just as contemporary, relevant and modern today. Trying on pieces designed to be work with tea dresses work with a leather jacket and gladiator heels. The timelessness is what has makes Georg Jensen such a relevant designer today. The pieces are heirlooms for and of every generation, to own them is collect past and future history.

The homewares simply can't even be mentioned such is lust they inspire, to imagine a table laid with Jensen pieces is a picture of perfection in elegance and style. A Jensen vase carelessly stuffed with wildflowers is a quintessential modern image and is just how is should be used; with love and respect but integrated into your life.
Visit Georg Jensen and enjoy the world they offer, you will never want to leave.

Shopping Craving

Does anyone else ever get the urge to shop? Not even knowing what you want to shop for, not that it even really matters, just...shop.
 I had this experience just last week. I wanted to go to my local shopping centre and shop, for what I didn't know, nor did I care but I wanted to buy something.
A girlfriend of mine will often say at the end of a day's shopping that she wants to finish the day off by going home, dumping all her purchases out and rolling around on her new stuff. Such is her level of consumer joy and the anonymity of her purchases. It doesn't matter what they are, she reduces their status by dumping them out on the ground and then, diminishes it even further by referring to it as 'stuff'.
Much research has been done about the neurochemical 'high' experienced when shopping, our primal hunter-gatherer instincts are fulfilled and we release chemicals to reward ourselves for providing for our pack back in the cave. Except, I'm not sure too many cave dwellers need Chanel. The fact that I want it seems immaterial at the time and even less so when I get it home. The fact is, shopping fills a hole in our lives. I have worked very hard to get myself out of debt after being given a credit card much too young with a much too large limit. I confided this to a friend once and her reply was simply 'Why were you so unhappy?' The fact that maybe I was unhappy, or that I had filled a hole with 'stuff' rather than dealing with the issue had never even occurred to me.
Most men like to shop alone, while women prefer to do it is groups. I myself, prefer to do it solo. Partly, so I never have to hear the cost said out loud with witnesses present. I do then love to post my shopping on my Instagram feed and have all the lovely feedback role in. There is more positive reinforcement in that which is another layer of reward; getting 'likes' from friends, fellow bloggers and even total strangers is oddly satisfying. It says 'Yes, you should have bought that.' and it feels great.

And then there is online shopping...

Shopping without leaving the house or office, sometimes, without even getting out of my pyjama's. I love Net-a-Porter. Since I first discovered it there has not been a day since that my wish list has not been well stocked. Some days I transfer it all over to my Shopping Bag and then talk myself down off the ledge. Some days just putting in in my Shopping Bag is enough of a shopping rush that I don't even consider buying it.
Similarly, my Amazon lists are off the charts. In terms on online shopping my habits are a little different. when there is something I really want to buy I watch the Australian dollar against the given currency more avidly than a stockbroker and when the time is right I pounce.
The pleasure from the moment of purchase to arrival is untold.
I track my order twice daily.
I let the receptionist know to sign for it and get quizzed about what it is.
I get eh call to come and collect it.
I get to open it with my colleagues, we gush together.
I get to take it home and try it on.
I get to do the 'big reveal' to my partner.
It's magic time for about a week. Just slow unfolding pleasure.

But, that's just it isn't it? It's pleasure. Either immediate, across a week or even longer. Pleasure. Making me feel good and giving me a new something to love.