Green With Envy...

Have you ever been so bored, you find yourself taking personality quizzes on the internet (I do this even without the boredom factor)? Last night was one of those moments. With titles such as What will your prom dress look like? and Which Harry Potter character are you? and even Would I date you? screaming at me, I couldn't help but notice the one that asked Which of the Seven Deadly Sins are you? I have to admit, I was intrigued. I'm not 100% familiar with the 7 Deadly Sins (watching that Brad Pitt movie provides the extent of my knowledge on the subject), so I decided to go for it. In case you're wondering, the sins are Pride, Envy, Wrath, Gluttony, Lust, Sloth and Greed. I wasn't at all surprised at my result.

Envy:

Envy is a complex and puzzling emotion. It is, notoriously, one of the seven deadly sins. It is very commonly charged with being (either typically or universally) unreasonable, irrational, imprudent, vicious, or wrong to feel. With very few exceptions, the ample philosophical literature defending the rationality and evaluative importance of emotions explicitly excludes envy and a few other nasty emotions as irredeemable. Indeed, some authors who are prepared to defend even jealousy insist that envy is beyond the pale. Yet there is considerable controversy over what precisely envy is, and the cogency of various specific criticisms of envy depends on what view of that subject is adopted.

Whenever I think of envy I think of this Dior A/W 07 couture piece. It's so...green. I love it.
As I was researching anything I could find on envy, I stumbled upon the website of Melbourne's premier fashion boutique, the poster girl for which you'll never guess (well you probably will actually, I talk about her enough).

You guessed it. Alice Burdeu. Gosh, I could devote an entire other blog to this girl, based on the amount of time I write about her, no? All this aside, however, this shoot leads me to believe her her work is best saved for the runway. Why? I fear that she has Derek Zoolander Syndrome. As I was flipping through the catalogue, all pictures featuring Alice, I noticed that she only really has one look. On the runway, this doesn't matter as much so I'm not too worried for her.
It seems that Green With Envy has been featured in Vogue Australia, and Harper's Bazaar Australia enough to last a lifetime -- this gets me excited. I'm thinking of taking a trip down Flinders Lane and checking this place out for myself. My formal is coming up, after all...

Catch.

Romany

[photos courtesy of harpersbazaar.com.au and greenwithenvy.com.au]

When did the world become so cynical?

As some of you may know it was National Compliments Day last Wednesday, my second favourite day after Christmas, and I went to school ready to fire (sincere) compliments at everyone who crossed my path. It didn't go down as well as I'd hoped... My first complimentee was very graceful in accepting my compliment, blushing and even admitted to being on the verge of tears at my kindness (how sweet, right?). But it was all downhill from then on.
I was told that I shouldn't give compliments to each in a big group of people, as there was a risk of the receivers 'comparing compliments' (e.g. "she didn't say that I was amazing, I thought we were supposed to be friends..."); my compliments were sometimes greeted with a blank look, a.k.a. "why the hell are you talking to me?"; and one person even asked me if I was a recovering alcoholic and assumed this was part of my 12-step program!
After all this, I was forced to ask myself the question: when did the world become so cynical? Is it so bad that I find joy in complimenting others, especially on a day that is dedicated to this very action? I 100% understand and respect that some find receiving praise an uncomfortable situation (I must admit, I find myself in this boat on occasion), but my intentions were good, no? It's all about spreading the L.O.V.E., after all.


On a lighter, more TV-related note, one of my favourite ever TV shows started its new season last night: Australia's Next Top Model. There were tears, there were screams, there were clothes and boy was there bitching! I tell you, I've never seen a group of girls turn against each other so willingly (and after just 1 day, so soon); although it's far less intense that the American syndication.

The Audition Process

Host Jodhi Meares, surrounded by the Melbourne hopefuls.

Notice the girl on the far left in the top left photos -- Diana Bitcon, a friend of mine from school, isn't that exciting? Unfortunately, Diana withdrew from the competition.
Bottom left picture, shows three girls, one of which (far right), Belinda Hodge, is in the top 13!

I cannot wait to see how this season pans out. My favourite, so far? Alyce. She's got a similar name to the winner of the previous season, Alice Burdeu, so surely that's a good sign, right?

Catch.

Romany

[photos courtesy of seattlepi.nwsource.com, news.com.au 1 and 2]

Hot? I got you covered...

A couple of days ago, I did a post on what message the hottest coats of the season may be sending out to the public. This week, I've got those north of the equator in mind.
Just to satisfy any curiosity out there, I did in fact find my perfect coat. I was half-heartedly perusing through the racks of a particular department-type store (before going to what would turn out to be the craziest party I've ever attended), and saw this one creme coloured coat. It was perfect. Soft, flattering, beautiful. But I won't let it slip where it's from, because I'm feeling very label-ist about the situation. Lol.
Anyway, just for a bit more fun here's a selection of this seasons hottest swimsuits (and some accompanying cute white cardigans, a staple for any summer outfit), and what message they may be sending out to the public.

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My favourite? The red Heart Cinched Bandeau (although, I'm not exactly a big-bust-bikini expert yet), because having a big bust means this is the only one I would even fit into. Lol. In a dream world, I would be able to fit into the SPLIT Gidget Bandeau (The French are darn stylish, after all) as well...
Hopefully, combined with the coats, there's a style here for everyone. Happy shopping!

Romany

Mika you're right - Big Girls Are Beautiful

For the first time ever, a size 16 (UK) entrant is in the running for the title of Miss England. Who is this hero, I hear you say? Why, 17 year old Chloe Marshall of course. Ms Marshall has been causing a splash of late, due to the fact that she beat a handful of slimmer hopefuls this month when she won the title of Miss Surrey, and is excited about her chances for the national title, to be announced in July.
But she's not just in the running for no reason - this girl is fit and healthy as well as bold and beautiful (lol).
"I'm a size 16, I eat well, I exercise regularly – I jog, swim, and work out with weights." she says.
But not everyone is as excited about her success....

A newspaper columnist, Monica Grenfell, has publicly said,
"It's a total fallacy that young girls are being pressured into near-starving themselves into being too thin.
She is an ambassador not for the beautiful larger lady as she'd have us believe but a poster girl for diabetes, strokes, heart attacks, cancers and all the other devastating and potentially fatal health problems that are caused or exacerbated by obesity.
I hope she doesn't win the Miss England title. It would send an appalling - and very dangerous - message to other young women that it's okay to be fat."

(I think she's gorgeous. But there is one problem. This is an unflattering bikini - whoever styled this shoot, obviously didn't think things through...)

If she practices what she preaches (eating right, exercises) then we have no reason to believe this girl isn't the picture of good health. I say, good luck to you Chloe! Even if you don't win, you're an inspiration to hopefuls all over the world.

*****

Keeping on the subject of good health...
I recently came across an email I received a while ago about chocolate myths. I thought it was fascinating, and something I should definitely share:

1. Chocolate comes from a plant – it’s the seeds (within the pods) of the cacao tree. It’s naturally very bitter; if you munched on a cacao bean, you would find a very harsh and bitter taste, nothing like chocolate as we know it.
2. Chocolate varies in its preparation. There are government regulations of what can be called “chocolate”, depending on its ratio of: cocoa solids, cocoa butter, sugar, and milk. Ranging from baking chocolate (almost no added sugars), to dark chocolate (limited sugar and abundant cocoa solids), to milk chocolate (lots of sugar, added milk, and less cocoa solids), to “white” chocolate (NOT classified as chocolate at all, because it has no cocoa solids!)
3. A special type of antioxidant is found in cocoa solids, called “flavanols”, which are where the health-promoting heart healthy claims of chocolate come from. This is dose related, meaning the more you eat, the more flavanols you consume. As a comparison, it takes nearly four ounces (that’s 3-4 regular size dark chocolate bars), consumed every day to promote a reduction in blood pressure! That’s 500 calories and 42 grams of fat!
4. The new “super cocoas” are the wave of the future to harness the health benefits associated with the flavanols. The first of these is a Flavanol Rich Chocolate (containing 200 mg per serving – that’s a lot!), produced by the company, Cocoa Via. It’s the active ingredient, without the sugar and fat of a regular chocolate bar.
5. Chocolate is also a “carrier” for other nutrients, which are unrelated to the activity of the flavanols. Calcium fortified chocolates (in milk and dark varieties) provide ½ the daily calcium requirement in one disk (at 30 calories), plus vitamin D. Plus, phytosterols (plant chemicals) are added to some chocolates to boost the cholesterol lowering ability of the product (Cocoa Via bars with 80-100 calories each). Again, any potential health benefits come from regular – daily – consumption.

Sorry this didn't turn out to be a fashion-related post in the slightest. I'll make up for it next time don't worry. Lol. Well, it turns out I've got a fairly jam-packed weekend coming up, so I really hate to say that I may not have as much time for commenting other blogs as I usually do. I'm sorry, I hope you all can forgive me.

Catch.

Romany

[photos courtesy of dailymail.co.uk, thesun.co.uk and telegraph.co.uk]

Tagged? Me?

Everywhere I look, people are tagging each other! Up until yesterday, I had no idea what this business of tagging was. Lol. Now it seems I have been tagged, by Super Kawaii Mama and A dreamer.... Li'l old me has been tagged, can you believe it? I don't think I've been this flattered in a long time. Anyway...

Here are the rules:
1. Link the person(s) who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules in your blog.
3. Write about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them.
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger's blogs letting them know they've been tagged.

Ok. Let's do this...
1. I'm extremely time particular - every single minute counts. I get up extra early in the morning when I know I have to go to work, so that I can leave myself 10 minutes of relaxing time before I actually have to leave.
2. I have a strong memory for faces. I can recognise almost everyone I've ever seen (well, looked at for more than 1 minute, at least); whether it be people I've been served by in stores, or old primary school friends, their faces are burned into my brain.
3. I also have a strong association memory. If I hear a song/smell a smell/see an image etc that reminds of a certain person/place/event etc, I will most likely be consumed by the emotions that particular person/place/event etc evokes in me except multiplied by 10. Nostalgia usually ensues...
4. I buy certain magazines just for the cover. If a magazine's cover doesn't interest me, chances are I won't even bother to flip through it.
5. I go to a wonderful school with a bad reputation. I'm ashamed - not of the school, of our reputation. Whenever I'm asked at work or in public which school I attend, a part of me considers lying every single time...
6. Sometimes I pretend to be someone I'm not around certain people, because I'm scared they won't like the real me. Judge me all you want, but don't deny you've never done this before. Lol.

Ooh can you feel the tears welling up? I can. Lol. Well there you have it, 6 things about me (they turned out more personal than I had intended) that you might otherwise never know.
Now for the 6 people I've tagged (completely random choices, I swear. The last thing I would want is for anyone to feel left out, because they think this is a popularity contest. It's not. It's just for fun. Sorry, I'm just trying to be diplomatic I guess. Lol.):

1. a la moda
2. Cerulean Heels
3. Couturee Yourself
4. Green Grenadine
5. lookbook
6. Kira Fashion

Here's to spreading the L.O.V.E.

UPDATE Ok so by now, most have heard about the shocking news of Nina Garcia's surprise departure from Elle magazine. But thankfully, Girl With a Satchel is reporting that...Nina Garcia may have parted ways with Elle as fashion director, but in lieu of an outright dismissal, Fashion Week Daily has learned that Garcia has been offered a new role at the magazine: editor-at-large or contributing editor.

Catch.

Romany

Cold? I got you covered...

Down here in the Southern Hemisphere, the weather is starting to catch up with the recent runway collections. As I'm on a (so far) unsuccessful mission of trying to find my perfect winter coat, I realised there's a lot more to it than finding something that simply suits my figure. In my eyes, it must suit my personality. What I find is that what one wears can make a big difference to what others think one's personality is, whether it be true or not.
E.g. a hot pink, ruffled top = happy and girlie (when in actual fact, the wearer could be a depressed tomboy). This mixed messaging system is not necessarily a bad thing. But searching for clothes to suit your personality can become overwhelming and confusing.
So just for a bit of fun, lol, here's a selection of this season's hottest coats, and what message they could send out to the public...

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My favourites? The yellow Milly coat (there's no harm in people thinking I'm a fashion editor is there?), and the white Soia and Kyo coat (I guess there's a downside to people thinking your attitude is the polar opposite to what it really is).
Tricky, very tricky...
Not quite winter yet, where you're residing? Rest assured, a hot weather post of the same nature coming soon.

Catch.

Romany

Tote Me, Baby!

It seems that, subconsciously, I am in constant pursuit of the perfect tote bag. In my eyes, for everyday use, a tote is the perfect bag: stylish (well, I guess that depends on which one you buy, right?), practical and secure.
But, believe it or not, there are some real duds out there. Simply typing 'tote bag' into Google, doesn't exactly bring exciting results. So I decided to help anyone out there (as well as myself) who's on the prowl for a pretty tote, and compiled a list of the cutest ones I could find online in half an hour of searching (these aren't meant to be the best out there at the moment, this is just a selection of what I could in half an hour).

1. Chip Chop -- European Vacation $169 (AUD)

2. Juicy Couture -- Daydreamer Velour Tote $195 (USD)

1. Betsey Johnson -- Betseyville $95 (USD)
2. Lauren Bush -- World Food Programme Feed bag -- $59.95 (USD)

1. Dooney & Burke -- Madras Medium Duffle $350 (USD)
2. Anya Hindmarch -- "I'm not a plastic bag" price n/a

Pretty random bunch, eh?
Which is your favourite? Or, got any others to add?

Catch.

Romany

[photos courtesy of amazon.com 1 and 2, juicycouture.neimanmarcus.com, chipchop.com.au, myfashionlife.com and store.dooney.com]

Bring It Back: Old school glamour

Fashion at it's best. Celebrities have been trying their hardest to try and re-create classic hollywood, but as we can tell from this, they cannot be trusted. Unfortunately, some celebrities today are giving a bad name to old school glamour, by making it look trashy and contrived. What ever happened to the good old days (ok so it was quite a few years before I was born) when makeup looked smooth, sexy and effortless? Why have we said goodbye to timeless Oscar style dresses and a smouldering smile, and replaced them with mismatching bags, trashy-red lipstick and impossibly high platform shoes? Why are the high-waisted jeans making a comeback when an even better era of fashion is calling our names, just waiting to be pulled out of the history books and back onto Page Six?
Designers are doing their bit to recreate old hollywood looks at their fashion shows, featuring cherry stained lips, Veronica Lake-esque hair do's and even the clothes being designed bear striking resemblance to those of yesteryear.
Bring these back:

Big Hats

Such a classic style. Sure, we get to see these kinds of hats a few times year at the races, but this would also be perfect for a Sunday brunch, no?

Classic LBD

The LBD (first invented by Coco Chanel herself in the 1920s) is, and always will be, the epitome of class. The trouble is, LBD's are becoming just too complicated. Yes it's great to mix it up once in a while, but every woman should have at least one simple, black cocktail dress at the back of her closet.

Empire Waistline Jackets

I love this look. If I could, I would wear this every day (but that's just tacky, lol). An essential for winter, and an essential for self confidence. Empire waistlines flatter everyone, so it's good to know they don't just come in evening gown form.

Voluminous Evening Gowns

I wish for this more than all of the others. It's so feminine, fun and spectacularly intricate. Honestly wouldn't you rather see the stars wearing something like this at the Oscar's, rather than, say, this:

I like Jessica Biel a lot, and the dress itself is very pretty, but come on...this is the Oscar's we're talking about! The one day a year when one can dress completely majestically and blame it on the spirit of the occasion, so why not take advantage of it, and wear something more interesting to look at (e.g. Vivien Leigh, above)?

The wheels are in motion. Somewhere, a designer has just been struck by the incredible idea of re-creating old hollywood style for his/her new collection, and dreaming that soon Jennifer Aniston will be walking down the street wearing a big hat or an empire waistline jacket (not together though, that's just common sense) that he/she designed. You can thank me later. Lol.

Catch.

Romany

[photos courtesy of hayazg.com, alabasterbrow.blogsome.com, worth1000.com and thedollpalace.com]

Quote of the Week

"I'm reluctant to even indulge a conversation about my body image as it's become such an unhealthy obsession within society. When I had to pose naked in Art School Confidential, I made a conscious decision to put on weight as I feel very strongly that this size zero thing needs to stop."
Sophia Myles, on Hollywood's obsession with weight.

Wow. I have never heard of an actress (or even a woman in the entertainment business) who is so unconcerned with her body that she puts on weight for a nude scene. I'm not sure whether to commend or condemn her. Obviously my first thought was oh what a refreshing and healthy response to the Skinny Obsession... But now that I've thought about it more, is this really healthy? Sure I must admire her bravery to appear nude in a movie, and heavier than usual on top of that, but how is putting on weight to prove a point any different to losing weight (unhealthily)? Neither is healthy, that must be acknowledged. But I can't go past the fact that she did this for the right reasons, and with good intentions.
I'm not sure how much of a difference she made, considering this is the first I've heard of it (I've never even heard of the movie Art School Confidential; but I'm probably the only one lol), but she's doing her bit to knock some sense into the poor women falling prey to the Skinny Obsession (myself included). Perhaps it's not the action (putting on weight) that we should be focusing on, but the attitude and reasoning behind it (wanting to make the world a healthier place).
Good on her, I say...

A scent for each season...

I don't know about everyone else, but in my eyes a fragrance can make or break an outfit. So naturally, it's important to smell your best at all times. Timing your fragrance-wearing in accordance with seasons is of the utmost importance.
Wind and rain in winter, sweating and humidity in summer, additional natural scents in the air in spring, and daily weather changes in autumn can all alter the way your perfume smells.
Not to mention your mood. But it changes with each individual: some people like fruity smells (etc) in winter because it reminds them of summer, whereas others might prefer a more refined or sophisticated smell for the colder months.
My perfect combinations go a little something like this...

Autumn

A strange choice, I know. But with the fairly cool, crisp mornings and then warmer afternoons strolling down a street full of trees and surrounded by dappled sunlight, of autumn I am just inexplicably reminded of Paris (the fragrance and the city, even though I'm yet to visit). Sophistication at its best, Paris can make any woman feel glamorous, and any man double-take. Paris, Yves Saint Laurent 75mL -- $84.95 onwards.
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Winter
Yes another somewhat strange choice, believe me I never would have thought that a perfume like Fantasy would be my ideal winter perfume. But last winter I had been wearing it maybe twice a week or so, and I'd never felt more girlie. It's quite strong, so even with all the wind, I still get compliments of how nice I smell. But beware, if applied in excess, it can get sickly sweet. Fantasy, Britney Spears 100mL -- $115.
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Spring
(left) Even for the non-fans of YSL Paris, the Jardins Romantiques bottle is so cute (and just screams spring, no?) it can persuade anyone. I guess the fact that it has the perfect blend of natural, flowery scents is a bonus, then. Lol. (right) In my eyes, the ultimate compliment is to hear "Mm, you smell nice." (Why, you ask? I once read an article about a man who loved fragrances - and who also couldn't fall in love with a woman if he didn't like the way she smelled. As far as I'm concerned, scent is everything). Well, I've spritzed Daisy twice this week, and received this compliment twice. Coincidence? I think not. Lol.
Paris Jardins Romantiques, Yves Saint Laurent 125mL -- $64 onwards; Daisy, Marc Jacobs 50mL -- $80 onwards.
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Summer
The eternal classic summer scent. Ralph really knew what he was doing when he threw this bunch of ingredients together. Despite the fact that after patch-testing this fragrance on my skin, and finding out that my sensitivity will forever prevent me from be able to wear Cool, it remains one of the best out there as far as I'm concerned.
Ralph Cool, Ralph Lauren 50mL - $60 (AUSD).
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Tell me about all of your favourites, perhaps we have some in common?
Smell you later (ha, couldn't resist)!

Romany

Catch.

[photos courtesy of ralphlauren.com, amazon.com, ivis-bg.com, flowersdirect.co.uk and rachelmaries.co.uk]

Inspiration and Motivation

Are you struggling to keep up you're healthy diet and sufficient workout routine? You're not alone.
I have a little tip for you, though. It helps me quite a lot. Just when I'm thinking to myself 'I'm never going to stay in this shape, what's the point?', and reaching for that chocolate bar, I look over at my inspiration wall and my spirits are lifted. Basically, what I've done is flipped through my favourite magazines and cut out everything from ads, to celebrity posters, to random shots of people who's bodies I admire and stuck them on my wall, in a place where I know I'll always look.

Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway jogging together on the set of their new movie Bride Wars

Of course, everybody's inspiration is different. Mine is filled with this sort of stuff because I'm a teenager feeling the pressure of society (I know it's bad - I should be stronger, right?), but the basics are still the same: if something inspires you, surround yourself with it. Trust me, it will make you feel better.
Sure it may not work for everybody, but don't knock it till you've tried it right?

If visual motivation isn't exactly your thing, there's plenty of other options. Something I love doing, also, is going for a run or heading down to the gym with one of my best friends. She's a lot fitter than I am, which I thought would be a major problem when I first started working out with her, but it's turned out to be quite comforting. If I'm feeling lonely, I know she's there. And if I ever feel like some healthy competition to push myself just that much further, I know she's there. Lol.

Fergie and Josh Duhamel jogging together - perhaps this is the secret to their loving relationship?

So tell me - what inspires you?

Catch.

Romany

[photos courtesy of popsugar.com and celebrities.glam.com]

Wardrobe Envy: Fergie

No, not the Duchess of York - the singer. Lol! For a while now, I've been noticing Fergie has become increasingly more stylish (but then again, I believe she always has. As far as I'm concerned, there are different categories of stylish, 2 of them being... - the type of style that Fergie possessed: mix 'n' match with a splash of bling, Gwen Stefani belongs to this category also; and then there's also the type of style that Fergie has recently adopted: chic, well put-together i.e. traditionally stylish). I know there's a lot of you out there who would whole-heartedly disagree with me (believe me, I know Fergie doesn't have a big fan club, style-wise. Lol.) but, all the same, the point still remains that this a a gorgeous, easy, well put-together outfit, no?

NOTE I realise this post is quite similar to a post that Coco of Coco's Tea Party recently did - which I only just read a few minutes ago - but I insist this is a coincidence. A huge coincidence.
Just wanted to clear that up, in case anyone was planning on telling me off about it. Lol.

Catch.

Romany

[photos courtesy of theskinnywebsite.com]