I could be brown, I could be blue, I could be...

It seems Mika isn't the only one who wants to be like Grace Kelly. Lol. Naomi Campbell is joining the growing list of celebrities-turned-designers, and is rumoured to be designing a bag for the iconic French luxury goods brand Hermes.
Now the 1st question is: what will it look like? Will it look anything like the Kelly bag? Or perhaps like the Birkin bag, aka the most sought after bag in history?

Or will it resemble Ms. Campbell's own style in some way? Something glamorous? Glittery? Sophisticated? Diva-licious? The list goes on...


The 2nd question: what will it be called? Will they be predictable (or traditional to put it positively, lol) and call it the Campbell bag? I prefer the Naomi bag...at least that way, you can be sure no one will confuse it with a bag named after canned soup. ;-)
Can't wait for this creation!


Catch.


*Romany*

[photos courtesy of celebrityflair.com and nymag.com]

TeenVogue's head on the chopping block?

Page Six is reporting that TeenVogue may be following in Jane's (the magazine and its website will be shutting down as of August 2007) late footsteps.
Although the Conde Nast rep says it's "not true", the likelihood that this is more than just a rumour is quite reasonable. I don't know what I'd do if TeenVogue ceased to exist. Not only will it mean no more fashionable Harry Potter trio spreads, but what's LC (star of Laguna Beach and more recently The Hills: follows her life, including her internship at TeenVogue) going to do??
Hopefully this is all just speculation.
Perhaps we can get a petition started? How does that sound?
UPDATE: so far, it seems TeenVogue is safe. :-) I can breathe a little easier now.


Catch.

*Romany*

Forbes' list of the richest supermodels

Well, no surprises here, really. Although, it's great to see at least one Aussie (Gemma Ward) on the list! Especially one so young...
But it's the Brazillian beauties and Victoria's Secret angels ruling the list this year, again no surprises.

The list (in US dollars):

1. Gisele Bundchen, 27, $33 million
2. Kate Moss, 33, $9 million
3. Heidi Klum, 34, $8 million
4. Adriana Lima, 26, $6 million
5. Alessandra Ambrosio, 26, $6 million
6. Carolyn Murphy, 31, $5 million
7. Natalia Vodianova, 25, $4.5 million
8. Karolina Kurkova, 23, $3.5 million
9. Daria Werbowy, 22, $3.5 million
10. Gemma Ward, 19, $3 million
11. Liya Kebede 29, $2.5 million
12. Hilary Rhoda 20, $2 million
13. Shalom Harlow 33, $2 million
14. Doutzen Kroes, 22, $1.5 million
15. Jessica Stam, 21, $1.5 million

This list is based on annual earnings. Forbes magazine also featured a very interesting article to accompany the list.
Something to add to our inspiration walls perhaps?
Lol.


Catch.

*Romany*

Jennifer Lopez: my hero...lol

In a world of skinny jeans, it's always nice to see someone daring to be different (especially someone as stylish as Jennifer Lopez), and wearing ever-sexy flared jeans. If you ask me, flares are far more practical than skinny jeans. Don't get me wrong, though, skinny jeans are fab, but flares are flattering on more body types.


Jennifer is out dining with friend Leah Remini. Chloe shades? Check. Sexy zebra print? Check. Soon-to-be IT bag? Check. Tres chic.


Catch.


*Romany*

[photo courtesy of fabsugar.com]

Hot (and I mean HOT!) new trend

WAYFARERS!

That's right, they're back and better than ever! This 80s trend (most popularly designed by sunglasses giant Ray Ban) has garnered itself an almost cult-like collection of followers.
They're the type of trend that has divided the nation, however. Alot of people love them, and alot of people find them hideous.


Like the look of them? Sunglass Hut is your best (but not necessarily cheapest) bet. You can get a pair like this (white is more feminine than black, I reckon) for about $230AUD.
Budget? Then eBay is your new best friend! :-)
As far as retro trends, the Wayfarer is one of my favourites. It's 50s and 80s at the same time. They're pretty classy (and sometimes trashy, I admit).
Enjoy. Lol.


Catch.


*Romany*

[photos courtesy of people.com and sunglasses-shop.co.uk and stylebytes.net]

Style Icon du jour: Rihanna!

No one can deny that this year has seen a big change in umbrella-toting, popstar Rihanna's style. She's gone from tomboy with style, to just plain chic! I've rounded up some of her signature styles, so we can all see some of the amazing looks she's pulled off:

BEFORE
RnB babe

AFTER
Couture fashion muse

HIGH WAISTED


STRAPLESS


I, personally, have come to regard Rihanna as a somewhat style icon of late, especially after her change from long, luscious locks to an asymmetrical bob (so hot right now!). A change that big shows us she's versatile, daring and not afraid to stand out. How can you not admire that? :-)

Word on the street is Rihanna's releasing a line of umbrella's. I'm not a big umbrella person but this is an opportunity not to be missed. Now we'll all be standing under her umbrella ella ella eh eh eh.
Lol.


Catch.


*Romany*

[photos courtesy of ultimate-rihanna.com and batchplease.com]

Hit or Miss?

Yes, another one. But can you honestly blame me? A Hit or Miss post is always way fun!
Ok, so we all know that ankle boots are super hot right now, and have even been dubbed the coveted adjective flattering, but is that really true? Look at Mischa Barton here (at a Christian Dior show). She looks great in almost anything, but here her legs just look a tiny bit...stumpy. Plus she's paired the shoes with a completely unmatching dress (and not in a good way). Sorry Mischa, but it's two thumbs down from me.
But what do you think? Did the ecclectic wonder get it right? Or oh so wrong?

[photo courtesy of mischa-b.com]

To die for...

I live near an old-fashion little street called Maling Rd. It's unique in that it's been preserved, resembling the streets of, say, the 1900's. It's quite adorable. People make a big deal about going there, getting dressed up etc.
Anyway, there is a chocolate shop on Maling Rd, surrounded by cute vintage fashion shops, that will honestly blow your mind. It's run by just a few people and it's just one shop, not a franchise which, I think, makes all the difference.
It's called Xocolatl. The name means chocolate in its original form (xocolatl is a Nuhuatl word).
The chocolate is exquisite. Smooth, rich, creamy, everything you want in chocolate, really. But be warned, once you've tried it, you will be back for more.
I had one of their chilli hot chocolates (I am usually not a fan of hot chocolate, or hot drinks in general, at all) this morning and am still in a state of dreamy euphoria. Ok, so I'm slightly exaggerating, but you get the idea: the stuff is good, damn good! Lol.
I highly recommend a trip down to Maling Rd to check the place out for yourself, and while you're there, take the time to enjoy the little avenue in all its vintage glory.


Catch.

*Romany*

Hit or Miss?

I just saw this in the People magazine Hit or Miss section and thought, "honestly, do you even need to ask?" I mean, look at her. Look at the dress. It's simply amazing! I'ts breathtakingly beautiful. But this picture is quite old, it's from the American Music Awards way back in November. Sorry it's old, I just thought it would be interesting to see what everyone else thought...
So what do you think? Did the Voice get it right? Or oh so wrong?

[photo courtesy of people.com]

Sale at Max & Chloe!

Max and Chloe, an online accessories boutique, are having a sale and I couldn't go past this adorable turquoise, strawberry shaped ring by Kenneth Jay Lane.
It also comes in white and (of course) red.
On sale, it's priced at $55.

Max and Chloe have recently become a favourite of mine, me having just chanced upon a visit to their website, their products have set the standard for accessories in my mind.
I also found out that some of their jewellery was used in Christian Dior's A/W ready-to-wear show. Needless to say, I was more than impressed. ;-)

Check out their products www.maxandchloe.com.


Catch.


*Romany*

Movie of the Month: HP and the Order of the Phoenix

Considering it's officially Harry Potter Month, you can be expecting at least a few more Harry Potter posts. Sorry in advance.
Ok so I saw HP and the Order of the Phoenix last wednesday, the day it came out (exciting!). I decided to wait a little while until reviewing it, to let it have it's full effect on me, and now I feel I can probably review it from a somewhat objective perspective, rather than from the perspective of a die-hard fan who wouldn't dare say anything bad about the franchise (which is what I'm usually like).
So here goes:
This is the best Harry Potter movie so far, with the Goblet of Fire coming in at a close 2nd!
However, it most definitely wasn't flawless. For a start, the amount of things left out was probably larger than what was actually left in, which means anyone who hasn't read the book (I've read the books, so I'm only assuming) would not understand the story line properly. But I suppose that's ok because they don't really seem to mind.

Secondly, I cannot help complaining about this Dumbledore. Michael Gambon is a wonderful actor and I'm sure he's a nice guy, don't get me wrong...but as Dumbledore, I'm sorry but he's completely 100% wrong. He has morphed the character into what seems like the oppposite of everything that made Dumbledore such an amazing character. He is no longer kind and placid, but aggressive and downright mean. His relationship with Harry is almost non-existent, when it should be (and is in the books) the most important relationship in the grand scheme.


But besides that, everything was just fantastic! I think Daniel Radcliffe is definitely improving as the years go by, and this is his best performance yet (one scene in particular, towards the end)! The acting from everyone else is great as usual (except Gambon), and the special effects...wow! The fighting was highly entertaining, but the DA was better in the book.

Relationships were explored to a necessary extent (to be honest, there could have been alot more development considering this is a good 20 minutes shorter, when the book is the longest, than some of the other films in the franchise).
The kiss deserves a post of it's own, lol. I've heard quite a few people complaining about this kiss, but I, for one, rather enjoyed it. This was Daniel Radcliffe's (and Katie Leung's) first on-screen kiss and I think they did a really great job. They must have been nervous, but I think they made it look quite natural. Although, their connection (or lack-thereof) seemed more believable in the Goblet of Fire.



Wow, I've somehow turned this into a bit of a scathing review, at some points. Seriously though, this movie was amazing! An absolute must-see!
4/5 stars


Catch.


*Romany*

Congratulations to all those at iVillage!

A while ago, I subscribed to a daily email from iVillage Total Health, so now I get a daily email with diet and fitness tips. It's so heartwarming to know that since subscribing, I've never had to suffer through a 'you have no new emails' moment (and never will have to).
The messages are always helpful, funny, full of facts and very well written. So I just wanted to give a shout out to all those who are writing for iVillage because they're doing an amazing job!

Catch.

*Romany*

Chanel Inimitable: better than earlier anticipated

It's the best mascara I've ever used!
I said earlier that it was a good day mascara, but I've learnt that it's also perfect for a laid back evening out!
But perhaps save your Napoleon Perdis mascara for big nights out on the town.



Highly recommended, two thumbs up!



Catch.


*Romany*

No more CK Jeans??

I went shopping at Brand Smart today.
I chose this place because I had a specific purchase in mind. New jeans (my old ones shrunk in the wash). Specifically, new Calvin Klein jeans. I bought two pairs from CKJ last year and they've been the best pair I've ever owned (I would advise investing in a pair of CKJ's if you're on the prowl), so I figured I'd go there to buy my new pair.
Unfortuantely, I was most shocked to find out that Calvin Klein Jeans (in my eyes, the most valuable store in the whole of Brand Smart) had been removed. Gasp!
What is going on here??
Sure, there are other CKJ stores in Melbourne to shop at, but this particular outlet was my lucky store! I was devastated!
But oh well, no use crying over spilled milk, right?
I'm also on the lookout for a somewhat carry-all type bag for everyday use (carrying around school books etc.), so I went into another little shop in Brand Smart and found this amazing GUESS? bag (GUESS? is my all time favourite brand, by the way)! But ultimately, I decided it simply wasn't big enough. Sigh.
In the end, I only bought 2 things. And they were two of the same thing. A bra. But a very cute bra from Simon Perele. Love it!


Catch.


*Romany*

Could they be any cuter?

It's Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint getting their hands and feet printed!
All of them look absolutely adorable. Emma looks like she's sporting a new 'do (a new blonde 'do, which she says she's done in the spirit of summer).
The movie is coming out tomorrow, and I couldn't be more excited!


This is how their prints turned out. Awesome, right?
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix comes out in cinemas tomorrow.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out on the 21st of July.


Catch.


*Romany*

[photos courtesy of gettyimages.com]

Hit or Miss?

Sarah Jessica Parker (and husband Matthew Broderick) at Valentino's 45th Anniversary in Rome. What do you think?
Did the Queen of Fashion get it right this time? Or oh so wrong?

[photo courtesy of style.com]

The Haute Report...

Head over to www.HarpersBazaar.com.au for all you Haute Couture needs!

It's helped me with my addiction, it'll help you with yours. Lol.


Catch.


*Romany*

[photos courtesy of harpersbazaar.com.au]

Oh the wonders of Chadstonia Megaplex (sorry, in-joke)

Yes, as you can probably guess I spent the day shopping at Chadstone yesterday. And for the first time, I actually got really depressed. Usually Chadstone makes me happy because of all the hustle, bustle and (mostly) fancy stores, but yesterday was just weird. Anyway, no matter because I bought a truly devine skirt, with a Burberry-ish pattern, from Bardot (quickly becoming, if not already become, one of my favourite brands).
It's really tiny, so needless to say I have to wear tights under it. It's fitted with suspenders too, (a trend I'm not necessarily opposed to), but my mum told me to get rid of them because they look daggy. I think they look alright, hanging down. I don't think I'd ever wear them properly (as in, over the shoulders), but the skirt still looks cute with them hanging by the sides. It gives it a feel of...rebellion. Lol.
I also bought the newest WHO and NW magazines. I haven't read them yet, but WHO's front cover boasts "Hot Body Secrets", and NW screams "What stars really eat!". So I thought with only 5 months until bikini season, why not follow the celebs lead and get in better shape, right?
Anyway, I have to run. Party prepping. :-)


Catch.


*Romany*

Haute Couture A/W 07: Christian Dior

As usual, the Dior show was a whimsical, theatrical adventure, that leaves you wanting more! John Galliano really should receive some sort of award, and if his couture designing days ever come to an end he will have no problem getting a job as a costume designer.
Anyway, here are my favourite designs from this year's show.

Gorgeous. And it's pretty awesome that Amber Valletta (old-school supermodel) is modelling this one.

I also love this model. Flavia De Oliveira. She's a rising star, that one.

I really like it how this model has a little more curve to her body than the others.

Show-stopping.

I adore the colour of this absolute masterpiece. It reminds of a snake. A very chic snake, or course.


Unfortunately, this will be the only Haute Couture post this time around. I thought I'd show this collection because it was particularly stunning.
Check out the rest of Haute Couture A/W o7 at HarpersBazaar.com.au


Catch.

*Romany*

[photos courtesy of harpersbazaar.com.au]

Waxing = pain!

I got my legs waxed today.
Unfortunately, this seemingly ridiculous ritual than women put themselves through, waxing, is 100% necessary, not to mention effective.
Sorry, I'm making it sound like I've only just had my first wax. Not so. I'm actually something of a waxing veteran. I just hadn't had it done in a while, and had forgotten how ridiculously painful it is. I've heard some say that you eventually become immune to the pain, after a few years or so. They are lying.
But don't be fooled. The satisfaction after having been waxed is one that cannot be easily beaten.
If you're looking for a place to get waxed you cannot go past Complete Skincare (the beauty salon on Maling Road, Canterbury, Melbourne). The women there are extremely friendly, and they do an excellent job. Nice and quick. Not necessarily painless, but they do their best to distract you from the pain you are obviously experiencing.
Just a helpful hint from yours truly.

Catch.

*Romany*

Melissa George, the face of Napoleon Perdis

Yes, yes. I know this news is almost a year old, but I mainly wanted an excuse to express my opinion on how stunning Melissa looks in her 'Face of Napoleon Perdis' picture.


I'll admit, I'm not the biggest fan of Melissa's movie choices, so far (although I hear she's got a really big blockbuster in the works, which is great, it's about time karma started swinging her way), and I'll also admit I'm not the biggest fan of her wardrobe and makeup choices, red-carpet wise (but those are her choices, and I shouldn't really judge, I guess), but boy, this girl certainly scrubs up well! Napoleon has done an excellent job of making her look stunning, elegant and classy. That is, after all, his job.
Usually, when we see this kind of intensity with eyeliner on a woman it conveys an image of trashiness, when applied loosely. But that is most certainly not the case in this circumstance.

Speaking of 'Faces of Napoleon Perdis', where is Alice Burdeu? Jeez, this girl is harder to find than an available Birkin bag. Perhaps, this particular prize doesn't get awarded until a little later in the year? Whatever, I don't actually care that much, it would just be interesting to see how Alice looks as the Face of Napoleon Perdis. A role which, in my opinion, she is soo not suited for. Sorry, but it's the truth.
Watch this space, I guess.


Catch.

*Romany*

[photo courtesy of napoleonperdis.com]

All grown up...(whoops minor Half Blood Prince spoiler)

Remember little Ginny Weasley (played by Bonnie Wright) from the second Harry Potter movie, Chamber of Secrets?
Well...


Look familiar?
She's grown up quite a bit since then, I guess you could say. I like her hair like this. It sort of looks like she's wearing extensions...? Oh well, no matter. The problem here is the dress. Sorry, but whoever brought tent dresses back in should take them right back out because they do not flatter anyone.
Anyway, can't wait to see Bonnie making out with Daniel in the Half Blood Prince film!

Catch.


*Romany*

[photo courtesy of gettyimages.com]

Hit or Miss?

This is my first Hit or Miss, and I just could not ignore these two.
What do you think?
Did Linda and Naomi (at Christian Dior's 60th Anniversary Party),
get it right? Or oh so wrong?

[photo courtesy of style.com]

Where's the editorial?

Sorry. I know most of my recent posts have been me whining about one magazine or another, but I just have to ask this.
I remember back when Australia's Next Top Model was on, Jodhi (the host) was very clear about the prizes. One of them was an 8-page editorial for Vogue magazine. It's already been almost 2 months since Alice was announced as the winner, and the new Vogue just got released today, and still no editorial. I don't know about anyone else but I am dying to see this editorial. Not only to see what the article will be like, but also to see how Alice handles herself doing this, compared to the challenges of the show. I'd also like to see how the photoshoot turns out. I never particularly liked Alice, but hey, she won...and I'm happy for her. :-)
Anyway, I hope they haven't dropped the whole thing. My girlfriends and I were all so excited, one of my friends was even thinking of subscribing, just to make sure she didn't miss the article.
Oh well, I guess all we can do now is wait...tick tock. Lol.

Catch.

*Romany*