Keep Calm and something something...

Life is full of surprises, isn't it?

I mean it is absolutely bursting at seams with little surprises all patiently waiting for you.

It could be a new found friend, a pay increase at the never ending life suck we call work, finding money in the bottom of your favourite bag. All of these have happened to me in the past week, but I I am not the kind of person who sees these situations as 'surprises', but rather the general course of life. I mean, was I really going to not make a new friend for the rest of my life? Was I forever going to be on $15 an hour? And was I really only going to ever find money in my wallet?

No, no I wasn't.

When it comes to little old me, I see myself as on the other scale of life. The very much, other scale. Whilst my life is amazing in all its glory, my idea of surprises goes a little something along the lines of...

I am group leader, and my computer crashing the night before the last final assessment is due.
I have been given a possible career changing opportunity, but I don't have the time spare to take it.
I have been the make and break of friendships I thought were indestructable.
Two major exams are coming up with zilch time and motivation to open up my textbook.
I'm running out of weetbix.

And again, all of this has happened in the past week or so. But me being me, I do not see the pay rise and the new friendships as life's greatest treats. Instead, it is bypassed by those little bitch of a moments that can really break a person down. Doctor's diagnosis: I have the inability to keep calm.

Let me start from the start...

I have been involved in the education system since I was a teeny weeny five years of age. I have gone from finger painting, to addition and subtraction, to national politics, history and geography, science and religion, social studies, to advertising, marketing, to public relations. And at 21 years of age, here I sit with not a clue as to what I am going go to do in the next stage of my life. Yes here I sit, riding on the final week of university life with absolutely zero job prospects. Staring right down the barrel of the gun that I like to call, "welcome to life... you're fucked". And it's fully loaded.

I must admit, because of this very fact, the past few weeks have not been my finest. It seems that every time I wake up and greet the day, there is something waiting for me to open up my eyes and scream "TODAY IS NOT GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY", and so being an over emotional female who hasn't yet had her morning coffee and who misses her boyfriend, I cry and agree. Essentially, I set myself up for ruin for the next 18 or so hours I am awake.

This new part of my life bothers me. After having every single part of my life carefully set out and planned right down to the finest detail, I am standing on the edge of a cliff. I have all the sticks and rope that I need to make a bridge across to the other side, where there is the rest of my life waiting for me. Everything I have is right at my side and I have absolutely no obstacles in my way except for one thing... I was never taught how to build a bridge.

And the moment I realise that, is the moment my problems start shining with an answer I never saw before. I just don't know how to get across to the other side because it isn't something I have ever done. That is the reason I am stressing and 'on-edge' (get it!) all the time... because this is so new and different to me that I have nothing else to but to sit and cry, waiting for help.

But it doesn't matter.

It's okay if you don't know how to build that bridge to get to the next stage.

Why?

Because everything you need is at your side. Tools, materials, everything. And now is your opportunity to learn something new, learn something on your own, build something that decides the rest of your life. And if you stuff up, and it all crashes into the ocean beneath you, that's perfectly okay. Because everything you need is still there, and if you have to start over, you now know more of how to build it than you didn't before.

It puts a whole nother meaning to building a bridge and getting over it.

I started this piece earlier in the week, but it had a totally different tune than to what it does now. It was packed full of typical female confusion, depression, an overloaded desire for some sort of fatty candy to wish it all away. But when I hit my absolute lowest in the past 24 hours, where I genuinely thought I was going to chuck myself over that cliff, there were two people who completely changed the way I feel about life: my best friend Courtney, and my boyfriend Nicholas. It has been these two people through the absolute highest of my days, and when it came to the lowest, they have done nothing but step up more to the plate to help me out. To watch me in support building my bridge.

So let me be the angels they are to me, and pass on the wealth of advice for when you feel life just isn't happening for you anymore.

Look at life in pieces, not as a whole. Like a puzzle, you cannot figure it out just from the box.
Step away from your desk, and go outside for a while.
Eat a ridiculous amount of junk food. Sure you might get fat, but it tasted good.
Go for a run outside, and clear your mind of everything thats going on. And just run.
Surround yourself with nothing but love love love love.
Keep calm, and carry on.

To this particular blog, I dedicate it to one person in my life: my partner of four years Nicholas. We have been together since I was 16, so you can imagine the number of teenage out of control tantrum and tears this man has had to endure. It has been topping the thousands, but he has stuck by me through the absolute all. Through all the friendships I lost, the achievements I gained, my emotionally-charged arguments, the sun-soaked lunches on the harbour, the late night movie sessions, my drunken revelations, the nights I cried into his shoulder... the absolute all. And in the end of it, he was always there waiting with a kiss on my head and a cuddle to follow. I would not be the intelligent, happy life-smart young woman that I am today, I really wouldn't be. Nic, you bring the brightest of lights into my life, brighter than all the cities of the world... and for that I love you.

Reach for the stars, and it's okay if you don't, because you're already on top of the world.

Practice what you preach

I love Project Runway. I honestly cannot get enough of it - it's amazing! For those in the big wide world who are oblivious to all things good and great, Project Runway is a show that has rocketed many aspiring fashion designers in both America and Australia alike into the spotlight. The other day, I had decided to take a much needed lazy day off, and in my blur of bottomless teas and warm blankets, I was amazed to find the last seven episodes of Project Runway season 8 waiting patiently in my TV recordings. A solid win. And let me tell you, this season did not let me down! Full of all the necessary drama, and backstabbing antics you expect when clawing your way to the top, reality TV style. And as the season was coming to a close and the five remaining designers sewed their poor little fingers to the bone to showcase at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, one of them really got me thinking: April Johnston.

Let me enlighten you: April is a mere 21 years old from Georgia. She was definitely one of my top favourite in the show, flaunting her expertise in dark structured yet flowing pieces full of raw emotion and ideas. As the show was winding up, it became painfully aware that April did everything in their power to keep her ethereal meets sinister design ethic strong in every piece, from every challenge. But as breathtaking as they were, it was this very stance that saw her fall shy of Fashion Week debut and subsequently finish fifth.

Designer trademark, or just playing it safe?

This pushed a button in me. So as I peeled myself off the couch and down to my wardrobe, I shifted through in shock. So many of my beloved clothes now looked strikingly the same to every other piece staring back at me. Somewhere in my shopping madness did I lose track of what I loved in fashion, and simply ended up buying pieces that blurred together and looked all too manufactured. Granted, I have been dappling in some differences lately - my scarfs are becoming statement pieces in colour and texture, and I am really turning to outstanding blazers and jumpers to speak a little louder than others. But I feel like I have been playing it all too safe. So in some last minute salvation before my weekend getaway with my boyfriend Nic, I ruffled through all my clothes, and found some .long lost items that I once bought out of rash decision making. No better than the present to re-invent some items.

Saturday. Harbour side brunch and shopping in Sydney. Outfit made up of a black high waisted maxi skirt with brown, tan and white stripes on the bottom hem. Topped with a tight black top, tanned woven belt, and my ever-handy black and white striped structure blazer. Now first I tought it was all a little too matchy matchy but when looking in the mirror for the millionth time (the vanity in me), I really took a liking to it. Much was the same during our harbour side dinner, with a strapless black shirt with a high waisted leopard print maxi. Though it was a small step in my new found voyage, it was such a refreshing break away from mundane black tights and jeans. Finally, a breath of air that my poor outfits needed!

Now, dont get me wrong - this was only the passing weekend, but almost immediately once wearing something different did I start looking for outfits more striking and one-off than what I already have. The best thing about it is that I really don't need to start pulling out all the big bucks, because in reality it is all hanging up in my closet as we speak. All I (and you!) really need to do is to dig through those treasured items of yours, watch hours of designing shows and really get your fashion juices flowing! So soon will you find clothes once over-worn to look fresh when topped with something different... dare it be an outspoken necklace, a different hairstyle, a different type of pant or shirt.

Find what you love ladies, and run with it. Fashion always comes back around but so be free to make it your own.

xo

Traditional V Transitional

This is Andrej Pejic. Born into a Serbian family in 1991, Andrej was scouted at the ripening age of seventeen at a swimming pool in Melbourne, Australia. Almost instantly, were they thrown onto the international platform that is the fashion world. With incredible platinum hair complimentry to envious pale skin and bone structure that only God himself could build, Pejic graced the catwalk in Jean Paul Gaultier's Spring 2011 show, as well as the coinciding campaign alongside superstar hottie Karolina Kurkova. Andrej also caught the eye of fashion god Marc Jacobs for his Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring campaign just this year. With an ever growing number of magazine covers and global muse-worthy status, its not too bad a start for a nineteen year old from Australia.

This insane beauty is Lea T. Born in 1981, this Brazilian bombshell dappled occasionally in fashion aspirations until was one day discovered by Givenchy's senior designer Riccardo Tisci. What soon followed can only be described as an explosion onto the fashion scene. Given the new title of the 2010-2011 face of Givenchy, Leat T shook the fashion elites with a debut at Sao Paulo Fashion Week in the first weeks of 2011, and features in  renowned Vogue Paris, Hercules Magazine, as well as Interview Magazine and Love Magazine. Not only this, but Lea T also pulled rank in the Top 50 Models by models.com, all within the first two years of her discovery. Impressive.

These two models, my dear readers, are the new international faces of 21st Century fashion. Not only do they tick off all the elements of supermodels, that is being super incredibly gorgeous, but their differing appearances and grace together cover all bases that the fashion world strives for: pale and waifer like, or tanned and electric. With these two young models on the scene, dear old faces can kiss goodbye campaigns they once claimed residence upon.

Oh, and did I mention that these two models are men?

Yes, that is right! The heart-stopping Andrej Pejic from Australia is 100 percent male. Whilst the picture above screams nothing but feministic beauty, enlighten yourself and pop onto Google Images. There you will see countless visuals of Pejic completely flat chested with absolutely no hint of female sex at all. Believe it! While you are there, do a little background research on dimple-faced Lea T. You will be surprised to see that Lea T (born Leonardo) came into this world looking like every other male on earth. But come 2011, Lea opted for a sex change and has been a female ever since.

Funnily enough, unless you knew their background, you would have absolutely no idea whatsoever that these two models are not everything you would assume that they are in those images. Because I was in the exact same boat. But yet, like anything different in life, controversy soon follows. So, I ask, what exactly is the problem?

The problem is that this is not traditional fashion. You'd think that I was joking: look at how much fashion changes itself! I find it hard to believe that tradition actually exists in fashion itself, but yet here we are. One problem in particular that lied with Andrej Pejic is the fact that it wasn't immediately made aware of the actual sex of him. Everyone just assumed he was a girl without question. His modelling didn't change, his photoshoots still continued to wow all those who saw them. But bring it to the public's attention that he was in fact a female, and everyone immediately begins to question the integrity of the fashion marketplace! But why?

The same issues lie with beautiful Lea T. What people seem to be forgetting is that yes, Lea was indeed born Leonardo, but he... sorry, she... has now taken all the necessary steps into being a woman. All the surgery has been performed and as you can see, all too successful in the transformation. Rapid controversy hit the fashionista world lately when Lea T was booked and catwalked rather skimpy swimwear, some people believing such a role better left to the elite Victoria Secret Angels. But what people need to understand is this is indeed the way in which fashion is turning.

The answer is that androgynous figures on international magazines, billboards, and catwalks, are the future of major fashion houses. As Cator Sparks, a NY men's fashion journalist pointed out, "To be more philosophical about it, we are growing as a people and as races and as cultures, it's OK to not care what your gender is as long as you look great in clothes." And I couldn't agree more! A supermodel is literally modelling the clothes, and it is the clothes that you are looking at - a model merely adds to the appeal of the garment. So what should it matter who or what the model is? It makes no difference to the job that they do, it just makes headlines and pushes them more into stardom.

The fact is, we live in a crazy upside down world and this is simply just another spanner in the works of life. These models are clearly making big bucks and this is exactly what they do in life, so who is society to question? Lady Gaga changed genders for a shoot, and James Franco did it for an edition of Candy Magazine. The idea of girls being girls and boys being boys is being phased out. Society as a whole is an example in itself. Men are more aware and conscious than ever about their appearance and go to great lengths to maintain and groom their body. Females often turn to male fashion for pieces to add to their wardrobe. I, myself, am a serial offender of the boyfriend jumpers and baggy pants. Its all about experimenting, and these models know exactly how to do it! Its all about adapting, and accepting.

Andrej and Lea T might be a first in their class in this fashion era, but the path was paved long before: Andy Warhol's Candy Darling (L), and April Ashley. Both males, but you wouldn't know this otherwise with beauty like this.

"I think every man should wear a pair of high heels once in his life. We have to know how the other half lives."



xo

Winter Chills

I am not going to lie: I am a massive Summer fan. The flowing summer dresses, the cute tanned men, the long hot evenings.. oh my! Sometimes I feel like without the heat and the sun, I would surely die. I say this as I am tucked up next to my heater on the floor begging for a hot tea. But there is something about Winter and its fashion that I simply cannot look past! And after diving into this Winter season in particular, it has really gotten me cosied up in excitement!

This has really gotten me in the mood for Winter. The clothes, the colours, the textures, the beauty! Vintage is rapidly coming back in the style with the explosion of people running from all angles to pick up the Winter woolies for under $10. Being a uni student, I know how to spot a bargain when I see one. And with vintage shopping comes the large oversized knitted scarves, the baggy knits, and ofcourse... the fur coats! Faux fur of course, lets not get ridiculous.

These amazing outfits by Valentino have really opened my eyes to the beauty of Winter, and have got me reaching for the door in search for some warm unique pieces such as these. Just the weekend that passed, I found myself some beautiful new scarves... yes, it is true. I am one of those people. I am an all year, every season, avid scarf lover. I have the colours, the textures, the designs. I simply cannot help myself. And its  gotten me thinking about what it is about this season that grabs me. And I am here to pass it onto you.

1. Always stick to the basics and the neutrals: cream, white, olive, camel, brown, grey, black. These are absolute necessities in my eyes, especially for Winter. Just look at how Olivia Palermo does it - will she ever put a foot wrong? I just recently picked up a fitted cropped olive blazer, and I feel as though I am already wearing it out. Top it with jeans, tights, a sexy mini, a cute maxi... its amazing. Camel this season has also become huge, and I take to it like an investment piece. I dont think this will be the last we will see of old cammy camel! Knits are perfect in these kinds of colours, and will honestly do with everything.

2. It never hurts to dress it up. You dont want to feel between the cracks that winter brings, and especially in wearing basic colours it is so easy to get brought down in the dampy feeling of Winter! But I have come across a recent wonderful discovery: the colour red. YES! Red. In my market hunting this past weekend, I came across a beautiful crinkled red scarf for $10. I like a good challenge, so I picked it up. I wore it that night topped off with a white tee and my new found olive blazer, and it absolutely exploded off my outfit. I felt so confident and forward just wearing that one piece. It really brought the otherwise drab colours to life. Purple, baby pink, yellow and lilac are really starting to take off too in bringing an outfit to people's attention. Doesnt even have to be a scarf, can be a beanie or a bag or jewellery. Get them while its hot, ladies!

3. Its gotta be big and its gotta be beautiful. Now I am and have always been a massive fan of layers. A lot of the reason is because I can never decide on an outfit, but mostly because Winter is insanely cold. Take advantage of this. Not only are you warm, but its a billion outfits in one, and you can fit into almost every occasion with whatever you are wearing. Thats almost too perfect for me. One thing again that really gets an outfit rolling is a scarf (ofcourse!). Like these fabulous ladies above, imagine what they would have looked like without these scarves? You could almost tell something is missing. So definitely invest! You will not regret it, and like me, you will soon become obsessed with wearing them with everything. Also new found favourites are knitted vests, under jackets, and mittens. It can be cute, can be sexy, can be girly, can be fierce. You simply cannot lose!

4. Keep it smooth and clean. Winter is cold, its windy, its wet. The last thing you want to do on those cold chilly mornings is get up early and spend time otherwise left snoozing on packing make up and hair products to your beautiful head. Dont like the idea of it? Then don't do it! There is something so overworked and messy about a lot of make up and big hair, with even bigger scarves and accessories. Nobody likes a walking fashion editorial, so keep the hair and  face clean. A basic foundation, a little blush for the cute Winte hue, and a basic mascara application. Why not look sexy with a nude or pale pink lip? Perfect. Not only will you look refreshed in the beautiful Winter sun, but your skin will love you for it. There is nothing worse than fighting hair through gale force winds, and getting blotchy skin from the devilish mixture of cold and hot temperatures. Think of the ramifications girls! It isnt worth it! But if you really want to get a little colour splashed onto your face, the soft colours of purples and pinks never hurt, or a bronzer for a day to night transition.

5. My personal WINTER MUST HAVE. Seriously girls, Im not even going to lie. You have to invest in a blazer for the cold seasons. It is something you cannot go without! I am hitting them hard, and I have not looked back. I had a little month or so obsession with a silk baby blue blazer that, as hoped, goes with just about everything. And who could forget the basic black with purple cuffs, or the black silk number with the overbearing jewelled pendant lingering in my wardrobe? My personal favourites. But I have recently rebirthed my Lady Gaga-esque vertical striped blazer: black and white with gold military buttons and oversized shoulder pads, concaved in shape with a full front collar. I do not regret fishing this baby out. Really creates an outfit. But whatever colour/style you want or have (these power shoulders, and that sequined blazer on the right has got my heart racing!), definitely don't go without a blazer. It won't go unnoticed.

Now I am not fashionista ladies, but I know what I want. My heart lies in the warmer seasons, but I feel as though, style wise, I am born for Winter. I have milk skin, dark mahogany hair, and blue eyes - hell, I scream Snow Queen. After my love of fashion research, I can definitely see where the cosy style is going this season, and I have gotta say: I am innn llooveeeeeee! Oh dont get me wrong, I am an expert with popping on the hoodies and uggs, getting the kettle to boil and cuddling up to my man away from all the peering eyes of fashion rules and regulations. But this Winter, these styles and trends just cannot go unrecognised.

xo

61 Malborough Street.

Didn't sleep properly last night. Woke up this morning, dried eyed, to the ear piercing sound of my alarm. I got up as quick as I could to avoid the morning chill, and launched over to my heater. Found my clothes in and around my room. Had breakfast. Changed my hair three times. Chugged a coffee standing in an express train all the way to Central station. 8:50am. I was back into the world of interning.

Today is my first day at my new internship, Agent 25 Communications. And how amazing it was! I immediately loved the five girls working there, and from knowing two other interns that work/have worked there is even better.

PR 101 = its not what you know, its who you know.

Their amazing office space was merely icing on the cake. Walking through glass doors off a quiet street, you are brought into a mediocre empty space with mailbox slots and an elevator. Take yourself up to level three and take a left. Instantly you are thrown into high ceilings, timber floors, and crisp white walls with open cascading windows. Walk a little, take it in, and find yourself in the Agent 25 studio. Columns upon  columns of fashion, shoes, jewellery, swimwear... everything you want to see on a cold Winter's morning! The girls who took me on are so warm and welcoming and excited to see me that I thought the light bulbs would explode from extra brightness. But it was beautiful :)

Sitting there starving to death, sending out and making returns on garments, I immediately noticed this was my dream. Dealing with fashion clients, creating looks for their campaigns, discussing and pitching ideas that are so far and beyond its too hard to say no. Now dont get me wrong, I dont whip my hair around and claim to know the world about every elite designer, but I know what I like, and I like what I can create, so there is where I need to be in life. I am still an apple ripening on the vine, and I need all the gardening I can get. There is just something about throwing yourself into the fashion industry. But it is so overrated. Its exhausting the demand of clients, making them happy, meeting deadlines, sorting their shit out before you can your own! But if you love it like I love it, its all worth it in the end.

I now sit in my room, exactly where I started this morning. My tummy is full of soup, my face is scrubbed hard and clean, and I am reading to call it a night. Work beckons for me tomorrow, and my bank account wouldn't mind it either! Anyone know where I may invest in a money tree?

Gotta be in it to win it. xo

From the get go.

Hello dear bloggers! This is my official birth into the online world. In fact, this week has been a production of technological rebirths for me. I have revitalised my Twitter account. My Facebook account still booms with constant status updates, picture uploads and posts. I have an email account, a very forgotten MySpace account, an online bank account, university account, youtube account, job search account... if anything, this is merely the icing on the advancing cake! Yum.

I figure this was coming though - my university's obsession with the 'new world' and the 'new media' has forced me to come online and create a blog! Plus I guess it wouldnt hurt, being a public relations student, to get familiar with constant writing and word. I'm not too sure what the purpose of this blog will be: fashion, beauty, life, love, friends, my general thoughts of day to day happenings... who knows! It intrigues me though, I can write virtually anything on here. No character restrictions, nothing. Utter wording bliss :) So I guess lets kick it off by welcoming myself to the Year of The Blogger.

WELCOME!

So much is happening in my life right now! I am in my third and final year of my Public Relations degree, and I cannot wait to break into the world that is PR. Tomorrow I am due to start my second of four internships at the amazing boutique Agent  25 Communications - fashion, beauty, lifestyle... where else would I rather be to be perfectly honest! Hmm what else? I am still in love after four years, very much in love to a wonderful man named Nic. I still have my amazing friends that I can fall upon at any time, my beautiful parents, my siblings, my family... I love them all! And now, in the present day, I sit in my room of pillows with a heater by my feet and a tea by my side, dreaming of beautiful Summer days! How much I miss them. I am most definitely not enjoying this Winter... shameful to think it only just began today.

So this is my welcome into blogger life, and I am really quite comfy :) watch this space for more of my thoughts and days, should I get around to making this a habit.

xo