Homeware & decor

         I'm a woman that has recently turned a quarter of a century and I am in the process of anxiously waiting for my boyfriend of almost six years to propose to me. Eeek! As you get older, you're bestowed with much more responsibility and less funds to just irrationally spend on a Givenchy Antigona bag or a nude pair of Louboutin shoes. Retrospectively, we have also discussed buying either an already established home or building our first home together. I get anxiety just thinking about it! 

The thing I love most about David Jones (asides from the timeless houndstooth print) is that they never cease to amaze and astonish. Because of my fervour for vintage and monochrome contemporary, I would like to take you on an ocular journey of what I would like my home to look like… WELCOME!!!

      As my guests arrive, they would be greeted underneath a crystal chandelier. To the left would be the master bedroom- the bed itself covered in a Ralph Lauren modern bed quilt cover and matching pillow cases. Adjacent to the bed, there would be a vintage white chair and the bedside table would be sweetly coated in the wonderful scent of Tahaa Triple Scented Glasshouse candle. 

They say that first impressions last, so I strongly believe that your lounge room (or preferably what I'd like to call the entertainment room) should epitomise your sense of style and persona. To be a good host, you should cook one of your signature meals (I make a mean pasta), which I would whip up in my Global and Scanpan collection. Subsequently after dinner, I would seat my guests on the Helsinki black leather sofa and crack open a bottle of Moet to celebrate this milestone of an occasion and then rest it on the Georg Jensen grand champagne bowl. This is where we would collectively cheers to old love- to new home- to great friends and to good health! 

Food & Culture

      

    As hump day looms over us, we as hard-working citizens often leave the office in desperate need of a ‘pick me up’, so there is nothing more liberating on a balmy night than attending the Queen Victoria Night Market from 5pm-10pm. I highly recommend you get in early, particularly if you want to see the talented clairvoyant Helen Novak if you’re as spiritual as I am…

There is something exuberant about night markets: multi-cultures coming together to showcase their scrumptious cuisines, whilst you walk through and catch a whiff of intertwined smoke around you. During my time spent at the night market, I like to commence my night with a cup of infamous Running Bull Sangria. The initial sip puts my mind at ease and instantly, all of my daily pressures and concerns are pushed aside (but not forgotten of course!)

Just briefly, the fashion at the night market is very eclectic. I do have a wondering eye and often happen to be caught gazing at different trends, having to rapidly look away without appearing to come across as a mild stalker. Ooops! However, the trend I like to associate night markets to would have to be the Bohemian look- printed maxi’s, vintage clogs, jewelled headpieces or flowers in one’s hair (what I like to call, ‘the dreamy look’).

The selection of food at the night market is so diverse and if you’re anything like me (an indecisive Libran), your taste buds would be flying in every direction. With over 60 foodies serving up the tastiest street food Melbourne has to offer, you’re left with no other selfish choice but to try a little bit of everything. And that’s exactly what I did!

To kick start my hunger, I would indulge in a curly Korean potato stick (either going for chilli or the satay flavour). The soft clouds of potato are so delicious and they’re the perfect treat whilst walking around the fashion stalls. My next stop would be to Hammer and Tong for their tantalising soft-shell crab burger- these are a must have! Chef Simon Ward is an absolute genius for creating such burgers that contain soft-shell crab sliders with shredded cabbage, sriracha  mayo and coriander.

As a subsequent main meal, if you’re looking for something that would go perfectly with the refreshing taste of sangria, then I highly recommend people try out the traditional paella by Spanish Gourmet Caterers- particularly the chicken and chorizo paella. It’s mouth-watering and flavoursome!

Ultimately, with every enchanting entrée and marvellous main comes a delightful dessert (*drum roll*) at the Tram Stop Dutch Pancakes Caravan. There is quite the variety in toppings from chocolate sauce, to ice cream to maple syrup and lemon with jam. And if you’re not done there, on the way home, why not make a cheeky stop to the Sweet and Sour fruit liquorice store. Introduced to Australia in 2006, Sweet and Sour have become renowned for their sensational liquorice flavours such as watermelon, bubblegum, sour apple and cherry.

Overall, the night market is a fantastic opportunity to gather together a few of your closest family and friends and enjoy Melbourne’s passion for food and cultural ambiance. Furthermore, a social event you wouldn’t want to miss would have to be the St Kilda Festival which is on from the 1^st-9^th of February. A Melbourne tradition, people come together to rejoice summer, music and quite simply- to celebrate life…

David Jones Autumn/Winter 2014 trends

     From the eyes, to the strut, to the elongated pose- Jessica Gomes, Montana Cox and Jason Dundas led the David Jones Autumn/Winter 2014 fashion parade with an aesthetically appealing story to tell. As summer draws to an end, we often find ourselves contributing to what I’d like to call: ‘a wardrobe detox’- a crucial moment in time where we get to re-examine our taste in fashion and reconsider whether certain trends are simply timeless; or whether we as individuals are just outdated.

I couldn’t help but notice the diversity in trends from Dion Lee’s leather panels and asymmetrical cut-out skirts to Bianca Spender’s tantalising shades of tangelo teamed with camel (something I could so see Farrah Fawcett in if she were still alive!) Put quite simply, the David Jones parade exemplifies the notion that women shouldn’t always opt for a sliming, black dress as life is way too short to ignore such bold prints by Camilla and majestic pieces of art like the gold damask print dress by Nicola Finetti.

A model showcases a design by Camilla.

 

A model showcases a design by Nicola Finetti.

Jessica walks the runway in a design by Bianca Spender.

Over the weekend that just passed, I took the pleasure in attending the ‘Modern Love’ exhibition in Bendigo and stood in absolute awe gazing at forty years of fabulous fashion. The exhibition featured my all-time favourite designer brands such as Chanel, YSL, Christian Dior, Toni Maticevski and Vivienne Westwood. Karl Lagerfeld portrayed a strong representation of elegance with his tailored pencil skirts, a pinch of gold chains (which is coming back into trend I might add) and bold-coloured boyfriend blazers (which once again has returned into season). Overall, Christian Dior’s electrifying red gown and Toni Maticevski’s exceptional silhouette and draping skills won me over but I’m biased.

A stunning design by Alexander McQueen

So next time you pluck out an outfit- whether you’re about to attend a winery, paint the town red or go out on a blind date, why not choose the multi-coloured maxi by Camilla over bleak black, the sweetheart bodice by Josh Goot, the avant-garde cape by Ginger and Smart or go all out and team your black and white nautical stripes by Bec and Bridge with a big, brim cowboy hat or better yet, be the fiery prowess that you are and rock out a tribal necklace by Mimco. I promise, you won’t regret it!