Come and see the real thing...

Join me on an authentically documented trip around the world, with images I found on this sweet photography blog, Kampol Litkanjanajul, that I stumbled upon recently.

Finland.

Helsinki, Finland.

Helsinki, Finland.

Istanbul, Turkey.

Japan.

Japan.

Liverpool.

New Mexico, USA.

New Orleans, USA.

New Orleans, USA.

New Orleans, USA.

York Minster, England.

York Minster, England.

Makes me want to travel the world all the more...

Catch.

Romany

[photos courtesy of kampoll.com]

Fairytale, indeed...

Miranda Kerr stars in this whimsical photo shoot by Simon Lekias, for Harper's Bazaar Australia's December issue.

My personal favourite.

Not usually a huge Miranda fan, but this is too gorgeous not to love.
Catch.

Romany

[photos courtesy of fashiongonerogue.com]

The city has sex...

(item details)

For a night on the town...

Catch.

Romany

[photo courtesy of polyvore.com]

Lusting After...

Christian Louboutin heel, $825.

A ladylike black patent pump defines the term 'well-heeled'. You can't go wrong with this sexy but sophisticated extra.

If I can't have these Louboutins, I need (okay so maybe I don't need them) something exactly the same. My current going-out shoes pale in comparison to these babies.

Catch.

Romany

[photo courtesy of harpersbazaar.com]

The truth...

A while back I placed a poll on my blog asking the question Do you think the fashion industry is to blame for the 'body image' crisis? The poll ended and I saved the results, but for some reason I had completely forgotten about them until I stumbled upon them a few minutes ago while cleaning out old files. Out of sight, out of mind I suppose. I thought it might be interesting to share the results.

Do you think the fashion industry is to blame for the 'body image' crisis?

72% said Yes -- how can young girls feel beautiful within themselves when there is an entire industry devoted to telling them they're not pretty enough?

16% said No --'body image' issues are the product of being surrounded by unsupportive people.

4% said No --the fashion and beauty industries are helping young girls with self-esteem issues, by providing them with products/clothes that make them feel prettier.

4% said Unhealthy 'body image' is not a crisis as far as I'm concerned.

8% were Undecided.

I provided the additional answers to help voters decide.
What do you think of these results? Shocked or unsurprised?

Catch.

Romany

MTV VMA's 2009 Red Carpet

Was I the only one who thought this year's VMA's were the best VMA's in a long time? Recently the show has been rather disappointing, but the show this year absolutely delivered.
I may even be rethinking my aversion to all things Beyonce (with the exception of Single Ladies, one of the greatest songs of the decade, and one of the best music videos of all time), given her graciousness?

Catch.

Romany

[photos courtesy of mtv.com]

Wardrobe Envy: Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett in Paris to celebrate the release of her album with Peter Yorn

I have only recently converted from being a Scarlett anti-fan, and seeing her in an outfit as cute as this only makes me like her more. Very french, very retro, very chic.
What do you all think? Yay or nay?

Catch.

Romany

[photos courtesy of popsugar.com]

Vintage...

Catch.

Romany

[photos courtesy of eightyonedesign.co.uk]

Vogue Australia September 2009

Cate Blanchett by David Downton.
Pure genius.





Catch.

Romany

[photos courtesy of thefashionspot.com]

A fashionable read...

Recently, I have had the pleasure of flipping through the mesmerizing pages of the Mr & Mrs Smith Boutique Hotel Collection: The Global Shortlist. Featuring 30 hotels -- from atmospheric French chateaux and Italian castellos to glamorous chic retreats in Brazil and the US -- this stunning guide stands out for its elegant design, witty text, and stunning original photography.

"For the perfect escape to paradise it's best to get on board fast with Mr. and Mrs. Smith." —Time

"The perfect way to discover the chicest, most individual hotels for your next getaway." —Style.com/Vogue

Even without the prospect of a holiday on the horizon (unless Schoolies counts? Didn't think so.), I thoroughly enjoyed flipping through this book, if not simply for the captivating images, but for the tongue-in-cheek reviews of every hotel penned by each different Mr & Mrs Smith (some of them celebrities, all of them honest). If it's a 5 star trip you're after, surrounded by luxury so tangible you can taste it in the air, then I would highly recommend acquiring a copy of The Global Shortlist.

Catch.

Romany

[photos courtesy of mrandmrssmith.com]

Vexation

“The world will be my oyster once I’m too thin; I’m not there yet.”

I must admit, there are times when I completely relate to a statement like this.

I am enraged and disgusted that society has done this to us girls. What did we ever do to deserve this pressure?

Fabulous Body Survey 2008

Women Say...

Do you want to Lose weight?

79% Women said YES

21% Women said NO

Men Say...

Does womens body size matter to you?

74% men said yes

26% men said no

I rather admire the honesty of these participants. But am still saddened by the results.


Catch.

Romany

[photo courtesy of newsweek.com]

Fetish...

Warning: nudity.


This may be a few years old, but the underlying theme is ever-relevant.

Two years ago, spring had been dubbed the season of "extreme footwear"; i.e. shoes that can rightfully be described as fetishistic (defined by the Oxford English Dictionary with typical dryness as "an object . . . which serves as the stimulus to, or the end in itself of, sexual desire").



At the time, in Paris, there was an exhibition celebrating this very concept. David Lynch and Christian Louboutin had collaborated for the baldly named photography show Fetish, in which two women pose in a Blue Velvet atmosphere for Lynch, wearing Louboutin shoes.



"You can channel that feeling [comfort with one's sexuality] into your shoes in a way you can't with your clothes," says Serena Rees, co-founder of boutique sex-wear chain Agent Provocateur. "If you work in a bank, you can just wear your massive heels beneath your suit, suggesting something underneath."


"...heels celebrate a woman," Rees says. "They add and emphasise a woman's curves: they're not about skinniness." In the notes accompanying the Parisian show, Louboutin writes, "David [Lynch] had only one demand: 'No bones'." And the models are lusciously curvy.



"Our take has always been to make a woman feel good about herself," Rees continues. But how does wearing shoes that squeeze make anyone feel better? "A woman who feels sexy feels good about herself, but she has to be doing it for herself, not a man."


And so one comes to the conclusion that, fine, a woman feels better if she believes she's looking good, but isn't that just because she's getting sexual attention, in which case, isn't it ultimately another example of women suffering physical discomfort for male attention?

I would love to hear the general consensus on this issue. Is the energy a woman puts into looking good ultimately spent simply to garner attention from men (or other women)?

I know there's no definitive answer to this, but what about your individual points of view?
I hate to admit it, but personally, this is sometimes the basis for my appearance choices in the morning, and before going out at night.

Catch.

Romany

[photos courtesy of smh.com.au and wallpaper.com]

Old School...

All hail photographer Stacey Mark.
Models edition.

Wild at heart.
Lynch, baby. Lynch.

Malin.

Harriet.

Lydia Hearst.
Exemplifying 90s sex appeal...

Kemp Muhl.

Kirsty Hume.

Where the wild roses grow...

Irina the bride.

Eniko Mahalik.

Why does this make me think of the original Friday the 13th?

Cookie.

Fin. Coming soon: celebrity edition.

Catch.

Romany

[photos courtesy of staceymark.com]

Runs in the family...

Today, as I was going about my usual procrastination of homework routine I stumbled across a neat little slide show put together by Style.com on stylish mother/daughter pairs. Needless to say, I was inspired! As I began my research I decided to broaden my criteria, and, rather than confine it to style, simply compile a list of the most fascinating, compelling and, of course, beautiful mother/daughter pairs throughout Hollywood history. Here are my favourites, in no particular order...

Priscilla Presley and daughter Lisa Marie Presley (with father Elvis)

Actress -- Musician

Edith "Big Edie" Bouvier Beale and daughter Edith "Little Edie" Bouvier Beale (aunt and first cousin to Jackie O)
Amateur musician -- Socialite

Jayne Mansfield and daughter Mariska Hargitay
Both actresses
One of the most fascinating pairs, in my opinion. How would being the daughter of such a notorious sex symbol have affected Mariska's life, I wonder?

Madonna and daughter Lourdes Ciccone
Musician -- Teenager

Judy Garland and daughter Liza Minelli
Both actress/singers

Although Minnelli and her mother shared a warm personal relationship, during the London Palladium performances, Garland recognized Minnelli's talent and felt a sense of competition. Minnelli recalled a time where she was singing on stage: "I was onstage with my mother, but suddenly, she wasn't Mama ... she was Judy Garland." Garland attempted suicide on a number of occasions, and died of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 47, leaving children Liza Minelli, Lorna Luft and Joey Luft.

Though this is common in Hollywood (and life, in general) I still see this as one of the saddest stories...

Jane Birkin and daughters Charlotte Gainsbourg (with father Serge) and Lou Doillon (Birkin's daughter with director Jacques Doillon)
Actress/Singer -- Actress/Singer -- Actress/Model
Oh I just adore this happy little family...

Isabella Rossellini and daughter Elettra Rossellini Weidemann

Actress/model -- Model
I only really started to appreciate Isabella Rossellini's appeal after I saw David Lynch's 'Blue Velvet', and now I find her endlessly fascinating...

Goldie Hawn and daughter Kate Hudson
Both actresses
Everybody loves these two bubbly blondes...

I wonder who these lists will comprise 10 years from now? Angelina and Shiloh, perhaps? Katie and Suri, for sure. Or maybe Jessica with her Honor-Marie, or even Nicole with her Sunday? I guess only time will tell...

Catch.

Romany

[photos courtesy beautifulgirl.yuku.com, style.com, theage.com.au, dressingvintage.com, elvispresleymusic.com.au, sheknows.com 1 and 2 and jgdb.com]