Whether it’s stealing their name for our first-born, pinching their latest hair dos, or following their totally unrealistic diet plans – we just can’t get enough of celebrities!

 And now, thanks to our trusty online friend eBay – also known as the place where you can buy and sell “anything” (including your own virginity!) – we can get even closer to our A-list besties.

 That’s because, in a bid to discard any designer gear they’ve worn once (and can’t bear to possibly be “papped” in again), more and more celebrities are auctioning off their treasure trove of cast offs on – you guessed it- eBay!

For the record, I’m not talking here about a shameless splash- out on totally pointless collectibles like Britney Spears’ used gum or a lock of Justin Bieber’s first chest hair, we are talking about a serious treasure trove of trash. 

From Carey Mulligan’s exquisite silver and gold Prada Met Gala gown to Kim Kardashian’s crystal Jimmy Choo clutch as well as Kim’s sis Kourtney’s diamond Dunamis watch.  It’s almost like taking a virtual tour of the enviable walk-in-wardrobes of the showbiz world’s favourite fashionistas.

Not one to miss out on a potential designer bargain or the chance take a nosey inside someone else’s closet, I allowed myself an innocent flick through the shiny expensive goods on offer.

And after pondering a glamorous life looking just like one of the flawlessly made-up Kardashian sisters, I made my cyber move.

Restraining myself to a single bid, I opted for Kim’s classic cream Christian Louboutin heels which were clearly destined to be mine seeing as they were exactly my size – an almost impossible to find 36.5.

Now in the midst of all this economic uncertainty, you may chastise me for forking out for such an extravagance.  But consider this, not only are these “must have” Louboutin platforms totally necessary to boost my 5ft frame, I’m also helping Kim inject some much needed cash into one of her fav charities – not to mention into the global economy by encouraging her to shop for a whole new wardrobe!   

Since making my first bid, with just 4 days and 10 hours to go, I’ve been anxiously logging on, keeping a protective eye on my increasingly expensive new footwear, all while struggling to decide which hip-hugging pencil skirt to pair them with for their first outing….watch this space….

Do we ever really leave the days of school prom behind? With all concentrated efforts made to look like the most amazing and best representation of ourselves, this again gets replicated when we celebrate a birthday, a wedding or as I found Fashion Week which sadly for some ISN’T a foray from runway to runway but a hard slog on a gummy bear sugar high, the come down of which is when your ‘investment wardrobe’ doesn’t fit you and street style photographs come back to haunt you.

Introducing Zotrim by sports and nutritional brand Body Science which was launched to a bevy of health and beauty experts last week. This non-medical weight loss supliment has been proven as the numero uno weight loss product of its kind with studies in the UK finding an average weight loss of 5kg over 45 days for simply taking the tablet three times daily.

As explained by Sydney nutritionist Susie Burrell who has introduced Zotrim to her own client base, in conjunction with a healthy eating plan ‘Clients who are able to get a kg or two off over a week seem to be able to get an extra kg or two each week during the 4 – 6 week period’ but with the added bonus as Susie stated of ‘no noted side effects’.

All this might sound pretty complicated but the idea is simple. Using organic plant extracts Yerbe Mate, Damiana and Guarana, the 3pm sugar cravings which kill us all are reduced, and when we do eat our stomachs feel fuller for longer plus with the added bonus of Guarana your more likely to feel more active and energetic to exercise.

So as my Shakuhachi Day Tripper Dress sits idly in the wardrobe, I’ve done a double whammy of taking Body for Woman Zotrim and following Susie Burrell’s ‘The January Plan’ from an old archived issue of Grazia Australia. Although 4 days in is a little too early to say, with the addition of 2 tablet’s of Zotrim in the morning I’m feeling that extra little bit extra chipper which be it the guaranna or the buzz around doing something nice for yourself, is a worthy investment for a princely $39.95 a packet.

www.bodyforwomen.com.au

Photos courtesy of  Sweaty Betty PR

After a very successful three years at the helm of Harper’s Bazaar McCann’s defection would definitely have come as a surprise to ACP magazines who publish Bazaar, whilst at the same time be a major coup to their News Magazines counterparts. Commenting on the news, McCann was reported to have said, “I started my career at Vogue and I am very excited about returning to work for the world’s most powerful fashion media brand. The opportunities for this formidable brand online and in a social media landscape are endless and our future is very bright indeed.”

Her new role at Vogue – which she starts in early July – not only entails responsibility for the Vogue Australia brand print-wise but also digitally as she will also head up http://www.vogue.com.au

 With twenty years experience in the luxury fashion market under her ever stylish belt – and not to mention her superb work on Bazaar these past three years – it should be more than enough to bring the Vogue brand – which, if we are all being honest here, has been languishing behind Bazaar for quite some time now, looking a little stale – back to the forefront of magazine publishing where it no doubt belongs. 

While most of my fellow fashionistas were shocked by the announcement, the view most consistently expressed was that the change at Vogue has been a long time coming.  Despite its iconic heritage, the Vogue Australia brand has struggled to maintain dare I say its relevance as an iconic fashion magazine as compared with McCann’s Harper’s Bazaar which has continued to flourish, seemingly going from strength to strength as each issue was put to bed.

A few questions now remain however including: what will happen to Clements? Who will replace McCann at Harper’s Bazaar? Will it be the recently announced new deputy editor in Georgie McCourt (who somewhat ironically previously worked at Vogue herself)? Or – as people have already started whispering – will it be the ever influential Christine Centenera or Claudia Navone, both style icons to many of Harper’s Bazaar’s readers?

A spokesperson for ACP would only say that they had “begun the search for McCann’s successor and would announce a new editor for the magazine in due course”. 

And so we wait.

Images sourced from Getty Images

Feminine effervescence for Michael Lo Sordo has in the past equated to billowing silhouettes. Like a real-life version of Arwen, who couldn’t feel whimsical dressed in such an angelic palette as presented with his Spring 2011 collection one year ago.

Post his SOYA win alongside the likes of designers Romance Was Born and Dion Lee, it would seem Michael’s interpretation of grandiose chic, however changed still remains the same elegant and intelligent aesthetic.

In place of free-form fabrics we’ve more structured tailoring and the most brilliant hue of turquoise blue digi-print as shown at The Apollo in Potts Point last Tuesday as part of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia.

Continuing his 12 month mentorship with Nicky and Simone Zimmerman, it will be interesting to see which aesthetic Michael Lo Sordo now in his 5th consecutive year of AFW will look to present when we meet again this time next year.

http://www.michaellosordo.com/

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‘He’s more than an aesthetic; he’s an ethos’ Style.com‘s Tim Blanks said of Rick Owens in 2011. Looking beyond beauty to the fundamental values of a person, people, culture or movement, Paris based Rick Owens may be an enigma and a world away from ‘Mysteries of the Organism’ designer Shane Newton but still the thought processes behind Shane’s collection reminded me of a mash up of Rick Owens and jeweller Dominic Jones.

The use of earthy block colours and an emphasis on a natural silhouette which may as well be part of the body itself. Shane’s ideal beauty is an anti-beauty but even at that his collection is still one you’d want to wear .. and share. It’s androgynous. Drop pants and the signature Zsadar asymmetrical shirts envelop the body in the same way silver exoskeleton harnesses provided a talking point amongst the crowd. Appearing first only subtly then boom! A hoodies dropped revealing an incredible silvery masterpiece. Like Dominic Jones my second reference, these silver pieces doubly convey strength as much as they do vulnerability.

Such is the meaning of ‘Mysteries of the Organism’ and the designers idea that ‘everything from nature derives from atoms’. As human beings this is something we’ve little to no control over but insofar as the career of Shane Newton, I feel this is a designer on the threshold of a successful career and undoubtedly he’s got a much stronger hold on his future that what we as humans do over the atoms from which were made.

http://www.zsadar.com/

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A few months ago that’s what I did.  With the tiniest of tweets, I announced I would run 13K.   Initially, I thought no one had heard me. 

My training was woeful.  Only two kilometres at first…and second..and..third…and then suddenly I realized someone had heard me.  They said, “don’t give up”.  They said, “it’s all in your mind”.  They said, “just do it”.   And I did.

When I ran 4 kilometres I announced my success.  I knew I could reach 6 kilometres.   And I did.  They said, “keep going”.  They said, “you are going to make it”.  And then they said, “you inspire me”. 

They say with success comes responsibility.  Though my progress was small, I knew there was no backing out.  I had to do it. 

Days away from the race, I ran 9 kilometres.  They said, “awesome”.  They said, “well done”.  They said, “you can do it”.

I believed them.  So on May 3rd at 7pm I ran the night.  I danced to music.  I pumped my fists and I ran past each mile-marker.   They said, “celebrate”.  They said, “believe”.  They said, “finish line”.

I ran 13 kilometres in 1Hr 32 minutes.  It didn’t matter that I wasn’t first.  All that mattered was that I finished.

Just do it.

Does your mum like sport? Is she a yoga worshipper, a runner or does she just enjoy the long walk with the dog and chat with her bestie? Both Lorna Jane and Nike offer some hip fitness fashion options that will get mum going.

 Is your mum one of those ladies who is addicted to style?  For the chic-chick who loves a bargain, it’s hard not to go past Mix@Coles or what about Kookai?  How about a seriously cool watch?  Ice watches offer such an extensive range you will be certain to find something mum will love.

Does your mum love to be pampered? If so she’ll love some of these gifts.  For new mums we love UrbanRituelles selection of products for both mum and bub, or Santornini organic product range, why not keep her feet warm in these cozy Emu Australia slippers???

Finally, name me one mum who wouldn’t like a little sparkle this Mother’s Day?  You are spoiled for choice with COLLETTE and Kookai or why not invest in something a bit more substantial…she’ll love these Georgini earrings, or this OROTON handbag.

As Ellery is fast making her way to becoming the equivalent of Australian Fashion royalty, there can be no denying her SS 12/13  collection had some kind of aristocratic air. However attributed to a soft toy she parted ways with at 18, it would seem Ellery’s bringing the 1600′s back with her show some 412 years later titled ‘Delicatessen’.

You don’t believe me? Let’s start with the shoes. Embellished in the same way as that of a court shoe. Amongst modern-day digi-print we’ve a fluid, fuss free version of the starched cravat.  Full bottoms much like the 1960 Tudor style breaches could otherwise be cumbersome but not here. These are a modern interpretation with the cleanest lines and in the most beautiful tweed, worthy of any court or red carpet for that matter.

Perhaps Ellery’s collection is a culmination of her latest voyage to Paris? The designers been spending some time there ahead of carefully laid plans to show this 2013. A mash up of stately elegance and wayward fun, from stylist to designer is not a leap everyone can make but this Perthian is earning her place in history.

http://www.elleryland.com/

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Those Rainbow Paddle Pop’s are back but in another form. Metamorphosed into fabric all fearless, floaty and down right wanton. You can’t deny the Zimmermann girl’s a contradiction in terms and in this case the devil is most certainly in the detail.

According to Zimmermann ‘Clique Clique’ was ‘about girl cliques’. In any case I  wouldn’t deny it but with sugary sweet concoctions paired with dresses redolent of razor tanks, shanks and an expose of everything above. If it’s a clique as stated then it’s referential to something a little more naughtier than The Babysitters Club kind.

And we all love it. Overtly sexy undeniably has a place but this is subtlety sexy. A tease of fabric here, a brilliant bloom there. Zimmermann’s success rests ultimately is in the duo’s ability to bring flattering type tailoring and beautiful swishy fabrics to all ages.

http://zimmermannwear.com/

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Are statement making pieces what a good collection makes? In any case if this is true, the trio from Manning Cartell are one for the win. A delightful mash up of botanicals and work out wear, from the pretty grey digi-print two-sies to the purple fushia one-sies.

If harmony to the diabolical debate of office to outerwear is a conundrum to which you seek a respite; the answer may lie in a line fishtail skirt and a sports luxe style bra which Manning Cartell paired brilliantly with a clear perspex type blazer.

With Washington, Alyssa Sutherland and Candice Lake in attendance, Manning Cartell popped out the usual standard expected which in this case set in a Darlinghurst church, was inspired by Frida Kahlo by the botanicals which were featured throughout.

http://www.manningcartell.com/

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