unexpected income!

Yesterday I kicked ASS at work and bulldozed my way into a cash bonus, and then spent the tram ride into the city planning how to dispose of this new money. I had a list, as usual, and it was just a matter of priorities/the best usage of birthday gift vouchers and cash.

As I have come into a little money I thought it would be a good idea to stock up on some things that I love to bits but have to accumulate as presents usually as they are just a teensy bit out of my budget for everyday spending. I am talking about Beauty Products. I wrote a list (another one) and it appears I use a combination of cheap, tried-and-true products, spiced up with a few luxurious and really good products. For example, I use Cetaphil as a general cleanser, and Cetaphil moisturising cream as a face moisturiser when I need something reasonably heavy, but in winter or very dry skin phases you cant beat Jurlique Day Care Face Cream (now called Moisture Replenishing Day Cream).I dont always use this cos it can be a little heavy but I use Jurlique Exfoliating Cream (not sure of real name, used to be Face Wash Cream but they've had this image overhaul, but it looks like porridge or muesli if you're trying to find it) every second day. Its the only exfoliator I've found that actually exfoliates, but without drying at all, or scratching half my face off, or leaving me with a rash. Its gentle enough to leave you glowing, but not so soft as to have no effect. 125ml is about $60 but I find its so worth it. I also love the Rosewater hydrating spray, and the handcream.... I have some of that at home now, so for my new job I am treating myself to a tube of Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm. It smells amazing, and will be great to keep at work.
Obsessed with sun protection as I am ( I use Dermalogica Ultra Sensitive sunscreen everyday, I find it a little less oily than the Clinique City Block), I have become a little preoccupied with freckles and sunspots on my face, and wondering if its possible to fade them.... and so from strawberrynet.com I have ordered the Chanel anti-dark-spot serum. I am not looking for anti-aging, necessarily, just to try and stop these spots before its too late, and hope I can get a nice clear complexion.

Finally, I am grabbing a tube of 8 Hour Cream, I use it for chapped bits (lips, flu-ey nose, etc) heels, and pretty much anywhere that is irritated, dry, upset, hurt, scabbing/scarring or less than content.

*It appears that this post has changed from being about my new lack of impulse buys to being about the crap I put on my face.... anyway

Basically the rest of my bonus I spent on a yummy cashmere jumper. I wanted one for ages, and David Jones had a mothers day special thing, and for $199 I have a super soft, super delicious, super warm little jumper that I will get years of wear out of and be lovely.

Sydney Style?

Elle.com (website for Elle US) always has a great street style section- this time around they have focused on Sydney. Click here to have a look...

What do you think? Do these Sydney girls have style, or could we Melburnians do it better?

Got great bosoms?

I went to Target tonight to check out the much-hyped Collette Dinnigan Wild Hearts lingerie.... I've been pestered about this no end and I have maintained I would not go and look because I KNEW the sizes would be ridiculous to the point of depression. But eventually I gave in to curiousity... and I was right. Stupid sizes, and more to the point, by the time I arrived (the stock went on sale on the 17th April)- almost NO briefs left. Tons of bras in small sizes, no knickers. Seems to me that everyone ELSE has gone in there, found no bra to suit, bought a pair of pretty knickers, and left.

In order to avoid both these problems, heres a couple of places to try if you are a) bigger than a C cup, and b) interested in something attractive, matching, and fitted properly:

Storm in a D Cup www.storminadcup.com.au

They stock loads of brands like Fantasie, Freya and Fayreform, Goddess and Vestiny, in cup sizes D to J. Shop online! Its a great site.

My favourite online store is Bellaforma www.bellaforma.com.au

They stock similar brands to Storm in a D Cup, in sized from 6-30, and B-L. This is a gorgeous site, I spend tons of time on here daydreaming- they also have an excellent sizing chart.

Closer to home, try Brava Lingerie www.bravalingerie.com.au

This is also a stunning website with online catalogue, and they have a real-life store too- at 487 High St, Prahran.

Brava also mention on their website that they collect pre-loved bras for disadvantaged Fijian women who cannot afford new bras. You can drop off your old bras at their store, even slightly worn out ones (as the parts can be made into new bras). Any sizes are welcome, but particularly needed are larger sizes- so if you have a few slightly worn bras lurking in your drawer buy some lovely new very well fitted sets and donate your old ones to some women who could really use them! I have always felt a bit odd giving underwear to op-shops, or throwing them out, and this is the perfect solution.

Street Style- Richmond

Kat, 23.

favourite shops/designers: This dress is from Alphaville, also Obus, Harem, Leona Edmiston, and non-affordable stuff like Chloe clothes and bags, Chanel tweed jackets and Burberry trench.

any outfit inspirations/influences?
In love with Prada stockings and and shoe clash...heaps of colours and patterns are very fun.

I love Dita Von Teese's classy outfit and amazing hair, she knows how a woman should dress....despite being a burlesque dancer.....Katie H has improved her dress style eg. Red dress with top cape thingy and that a-symmetrical sparkly pink thing she wore a while back...

I hate jeans and a black top, I hate baggy unshapely dresses and I hate flannel....and big shirts with little belts, 15 year olds with messy hair and too much make-up, bad fabrics, clothes that arent lined...

Wear your conscience on your sleeve

Yeah so recently my mindset about clothing and more importantly the buying of clothing has shifted.

I hated all the bits of tat that I was "snacking" on in all the el cheapo stores (we all know which ones I mean). They aren't what I want to be wearing. They are made from crap fabrics that make your underarms smell funny 20 minutes into wearing them and generally I chuck them out after about three months beacause they have fallen apart, smell bad no matter how much you wash them or have gone see through.

So this brought up two big problems. Firstly the money wasted on the crap items and two the effect on the environment and economy of my disposable wardrobe.

The high turnover of stock in these stores leads me to think that they are not using ethical labour. Who is making these clothes? are they being paid properly and treated fairly? I doubt it. Where are these clothes going when I chuck them? Hopefully the majority are being sold in opshops but that still means there are some in landfills -yuck!

So over the last few months I have stopped buying crap and now I ...

1. have more money for the important purchases
2. smell better
3. wear nice clothes that don't show my bra colour
4. try and buy more from opshops or swap stuff with friends - very fun!
5. feel great wearing fair trade clothes where everyone involved is happy

A great place to look at if this post is something you are thinking about is the New Internationalist. They have lots of fair trade products and answer some common questions.

stay tuned for more!

I dont get into politics, but

I just caught the tail end of an A Current Affair's story on Therese Rein which seemed to have "fashion experts" discussing how the PM's wife could improve her style.... And then gaped with surprise when Tracy Grimshaw said EXACTLY what I (and hopefully every other normal person on earth) was thinking- that Therese Rein has raised 3 kids, built her own multi million dollar business and supported her husband in becoming our PM- dont they have anything better to discuss than her CLOTHES? I am all about fashion, but honestly- Therese clearly has better things to do with her time than worry about whether she is dressed appropriately to be the PM's wife. And I appreciate that she has her own life, her own business, and isnt just a little wifey that wears twin sets and modest hemlines while she smiles beside her husband. It makes me feel that we may be in good hands with ol' Kevin, who clearly loves and supports his wife in whatever she wants to do, and respects strong women with brains and money of their own.

last days of 24.....

Turning 25 and need makeup inspiration? Here it is......

Hats should be HUGE in 2008- starting with Winter. If we can do it all winter, come summer we will be stylish and sunsafe.
This is from one of my all time favourite Vogue shoots. So pretty! Lets all wear giant pearls and have tea at Hopetoun Tea Rooms. Divine. Mimco have some cute hats- not too outrageous, but still warm and chic. The Dietrich Trilby and Bow Mod Top Hat are my favourites.