Wild Picnic

Last Friday night the sun came out just late enough in the day to be warm and provided the loveliest backdrop possible for the inaugural Wild Picnic at the Queen Victoria Gardens.

Hosted by Reid Cycles and Fowles Wine, the picnic required dressing in ‘country couture’ (or your best version of vintage) and encouraged plenty of sipping Prosecco and lying the sun. I happily obliged.

sarah at wildpicnicMany thanks to Gaynor at The Modern Woman for this snap of me!
Country Couture featuring vintage Valentino blazer, Kmart tee shirt, DeJour jeans and op shop boots. Sunglasses by Burberry.

We tapped croquet bats, flung quoits rings and took happy snaps in front of a spectacular poster proclaiming ‘Ladies who shoot their lunch’. Then there was a ‘duck hunt’, featuring small squeaky rubber ducks hidden among the gardens. Much frivolity ensued as we scoured the grounds, and negotiated with picnic rug neighbours for their share of the bounty. We came runners up, but were awarded a bottle of Prosecco for our efforts and I can’t say I was disappointed with that!

Wild Picnic

The team at Fowles (pictured above) put on a delightful spread of yummy foods and wines that made the afternoon VERY pleasant indeed, while the Reid Cycles guys led an enthusiastic group of travellers on a short bike ride from Federation Square.

Screen Shot 2013-11-18 at 2.48.43 PM

The evening was one of the most delightful events I’ve been to in recent memory. I’m planning a road trip up to Fowles Wine sometime soon, the Prosecco (and I am sure all their wines!) was that good whilst I am considering adopting Country Couture as my dress code of choice, giving my impending move to the ‘country’.

A lot can be learned from ladies who shoot their lunch, apparently.

 

  • 12 years ago
  • 0

Porter Republic

I think I am becoming jaded by the Melbourne cafe scene. There are so many amazing places to eat in and around Melbourne city, and I’m spoilt to have quite a few within walking distance or a short tram ride away. But I’ve found recently I am unimpressed with the local offerings. Same same menus, same same people, same same same. It’s all gotten a bit boring.

porter republic

This weekend my boyfriend and I took an impromptu trip down the coast to Phillip Island, where we are lucky enough to have a house owned by family we can escape to. I’ve spent my entire life holidaying at the Island and am very familiar with the local businesses – namely fish and chip shops. Cafe culture is not really what the Island is known for.

But all this is changing, because a new cafe has popped up in San Remo, the township at the gateway to the Island, and it’s something to write home about. In fact, I’d almost get up an hour early and drive the 90 minutes down the freeway on a Sunday morning just to eat here. I’ve found what Melbourne cafes are missing.

porter republic

Porter Republic lies on the main shopping strip in San Remo, looking out across the bay to Phillip Island. They opened in June, but it’s easy to see why they are already successful. With the brilliant weather yesterday, the outlook was just delightful and the sun warm on the windows of the cafe.

The team at PR believe that coffee is king but that it should be enjoyed with your family (and that includes kids!) and friends. The cool hipster vibe of the space includes a spacious kids play area and a brilliant outdoor courtyard that will be fantastic this coming summer.

Porter RepublicImage thanks to beanhunter.com

Don’t even get me started on the food. I had the breakfast burger – egg, bacon, cheese, a potato rosti, lettuce, tomato and onion – which was on (elective!) gluten free bread (GOOD gluten free bread!) while B had corn cakes with avocado, haloumi, bacon and tomato relish. Yeah, it sounds like Melbourne fare but it was all so much better. Maybe the beach makes everything better?

There is grass on the walls, heaps of reading material, quirky post it notes about the place and that laid back ‘we live by the ocean’ vibe. Plus heaps of smiles. I’m counting down the days until our next weekend away.

Porter Republic

Imagine waking up to this everyday! Enjoy a sunrise with your coffee from Porter Republic.

PSST… these guys also have an ethical, earthy world view, and many of the books you’ll find here are about growing your own food and gardening. They are hosting Rohan Anderson, www.wholelarderlove.com at 7pm, Friday Nov 29 for a discussion on his philosophies on life: Grow. Gather. Hunt. Cook. Tickets are $25 and spots are limited. Hit up their facebook page for more info.

All images thanks to Porter Republic facebook page unless specified.

Porter Republic
117 Marine Parade
San Remo VIC 3925
Open 7 days from 7am

 

 

 

  • 12 years ago
  • 0

Fabulous Frock Friday

Luisa Beccaria

 

Luisa Beccaria Autumn/Winter 12

  • 12 years ago
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Get your Colour Run on!

Remember being a kid? Getting dirty was a way of life, and while Mum frowned at you when you managed to get texta, or crayon, or food on your tee shirt (or the walls), at the end of the day, you were a kid – so it was okay.

And now you are a grown up. A little tomato sauce on your shirt says ‘I’m a bit of a slob’. A coffee spill spurns you to go out and buy a new tee shirt to wear for the rest of the day (don’t laugh – totally happened to me), while if you get something on your walls, you are more worried you won’t get your bond back than how it looks.

The Swisse Colour Run lets you be a bit of kid again. You can get dirty, and no one will mind. In fact, it’s kind of the point. And, it’s much prettier than doing the Tough Mudder event. Who wants mud when you can have rainbows?

The next Colour Run event is sponsored by Highpoint and will take place at Flemington Racecourse on November 24. It’s a 5km dash through coloured powder, where you will come out the other end feeling energised and all sunshine, lollipops and rainbows, aka: the happiest 5kms on earth.

22,000 people will participate in this festival of fun, with Highpoint owning the colour orange. I think it’d be quite novel to own a colour: which would you pick?

Want to participate in this return to your childhood? Just comment with the colour that you want to own and you can win a double pass. Comp closes Sunday 17 November 2013 at 5pm, winner drawn at random and contacted via email. Good Luck!

  • 12 years ago
  • 5

Stakes Day

Finally! The last day of the carnival. My knees hurt. My back hurts. I’m tired. But the show must go on and the last hurrah of the Spring Racing Carnival for 2013 would bring rain, wind and a whole lot of fun.

Sarah Kempson

The weather was proving difficult to dress for and so I committed the fashion crime of the century – I wore pants to Emirates Stakes Day. At seventeen degrees with predicted showers and with two rather bruised and battered knees from my fainting spell on Oaks Day, I felt there was no better time than now to break the fashion rules. Thursday afternoon saw me scouring the wardrobe for alternate options and after a quick trip to the tailors, my pants were ready to go.

Sarah Kempson, Emma Heaslip, Olivia Nunn

Keeping my colours light for Spring, the pink ASOS pants, white ZARA top and nude Sachi heels made for a fresh outfit on a blustery day. Amusingly, my oversized Morgan & Taylor summer hat went very well with my Wayne Cooper coat, H&M gloves and Kmart clutch – all in black!! I love the contradiction of Melbourne weather. The poor kids entering Fashions on the Field stood in line with bare arms and legs shivering through the cold, with smiles on their faces the whole time.

Olivia Nunn and Sarah Kempson

After the merriment of the competition was completed, our team headed to the Birdcage for a well earned champers at Bar Schweppes by Broadsheet, downing bubbles and boutique cocktails like water and munching on the gourmet delights like we hadn’t eaten in a week. Much dancing was done, until the music stopped and the carnival was over.

Sarah Kempson Bar Schweppes

A final hurrah in the carpark rounded out another amazing week at Flemington and the Spring Racing Carnival for 2013. My many thanks to Emma and Olivia for being such great teammates, and MiNC Events for being such wonderful facilitators of the Fashions on the Field competition. To Sachi Shoes for my super comfy heels for the week, Morgan and Taylor for my headpieces and Sol Hermana for dresses – I am a very spoilt girl and it was my pleasure to wear your beautiful things!

Bar Schweppes by Broadsheet

And to all my concerned friends – I will go to the doctor this week!!!

xxx

  • 12 years ago
  • 0

Oaks Day

One for the ladies, Oaks Day was humid and overcast as I made my way to Flemington for the third day of the Cup Carnival. Wearing the girliest of all outfits (my cousin has dubbed me a ‘forest fairy;), I was hopeful the rain would hold off until our work was done, and that we’d have plenty of time post shift to enjoy the hospitality of the Birdcage.

Sarah Kempson SchweppesLeft: At home before heading to the races, wearing Morgan and Taylor floral headband, Target dress (Psst! It’s on sale!!) and Sachi shoes.
Right: In the Schweppes Bar, looking rather windswept and tired at the end of the day! 

Oaks Day is all about the fashions, with the National winner for Womens Racewear at Myer Fashions on the Field being crowned. Representing Victoria, 19 year old Chloe took out the sash, with oodles of prizes including a $95k Lexus, a holiday, a Myer shopping spree, multiple TVs, luggage and whole stack more. Chloe has a serious dedication to the clothes – hailing from the Northern Territory, Chloe flew to Melbourne on Tuesday, won the Cup Day fashion competition, headed home for an exam before jetting back to Flemington for Thursdays final. Just wow!!

Chloe Moo LexusNational Fashions on the Field 2013 Winner, Chloe, is awarded the Lexus!

Speaking of exhausted, I didn’t think I was but an embarrassing little fainting spell says otherwise. In the manner of shoeless drunk girls on the lawn at the end of the day, I collapsed before lunch, smack into a lineup of fashion contestants waiting to go onstage. A bruised knee and a bruised ego, the team at MSS security and St Johns ambulance, as well as my MiNC colleagues, were all wonderful in making sure I was all ok before I resumed my position on the VIP door. Time for an iron levels check up I think (I promise I’d eaten breakfast and all that jazz!!).

Jeff Banks and Sarah KempsonWith Fashions on the Field host and man about town, London suit designer Jeff Banks.

Following the end of a freezing shift on the door, Olivia and I headed to the Birdcage for a somewhat more subdued experience than I had planned! We arrived at Bar Schweppes – presented by Broadsheet – looking for a seat, a heater, and some food. Schweppes had all three, and the food was amazing. Morsels cooked up by Melbourne’s best eateries (and cocktails from our most talented bartenders!!) were served and consumed immediately and I was thrilled to note the table menus also listed which of the items were gluten free! HUGE thumbs up to these guys and a massive thanks for the corn chip encrusted chicken and chips, really hitting the spot at the end of the day.

Sarah Kempson, Olivia Nunn, Emma BoggiL-R: Sarah, Emma and Olivia. Emma wears Manning Cartell; Olivia wears Rodeo Show with Adorn Collection Millinery.

Three days down and one to go – sadly the weather for Stakes Day is looking less than pleasant so an outfit change is in order!

  • 12 years ago
  • 1

Melbourne Cup Day

The first Tuesday in November dawned bright and beautiful, and I was looking forward to another fab day at the track with Myer Fashions on the Field. Heading in alone whilst Olivia had to dart back to Adelaide for important racing duties, it was easy to look around at the gorgeously frocked up punters and remember just how lucky we are to get a public holiday for a horse race, and that its so accessible to the masses – 100,000 people turned up to Flemington to celebrate the race that stops the nation.

Sarah Kempson and Emma Heaslip Cup Day

Emma and I were left to manage the VIPs on our own and on a day with Women’s Racewear, and the Designer Award, there were lots of people to sort out. A huge thanks to Sol Hermana, for my delightfully fun Sangria dress, and to Sachi Shoes and Morgan and Taylor for my accessories. My clutch is a Kmart purse! Emma also looks divine in Ginger and Smart.

Sarah Kempson Cup Day

After the official proceedings concluded, our team headed over to the Birdcage, where we sipped mojitos in the Herald Sun marquee. In residence was Wendy Tuohy, who I had the please of meeting at Melbourne Writer’s Club a few months back, and who I was thrilled to assist in organising headwear for her first Melbourne Cup Day Marquee. Wendy wears a Morgan and Taylor fascinator, and wrote about her Cup Day tips on her blog, The Perch.

Herald SunThe Herald Sun sign, adorned with newspaper flowers!

Wendy Tuohy and Sarah Kempson

A few cocktails later and we were really starting to have a good time, so it was back to the carpark for us, for macarons and champers; pringles and peppermint tea. We really know how to party!

Sarah Kempson and Emma Heaslip

  • 12 years ago
  • 0

Derby Day at the Spring Carnival

It felt like I blinked and it was November. All of a sudden, it was the start of the Cup Carnival; Derby Day was upon us and with it, the most divine weather for a race day we’ve had in quite some time.

Sarah Kempson Derby DayOn the Myer Fashions on the Field Catwalk

Having been TERRIBLY disorganised this year, I was still deciding on an outfit the night before the event. Testing frocks twelve hours before you are due at the track is never a good idea, but the wonder that is my wardrobe spilt forth several options, with the final decision being the tried and tested Dion Lee for Cue number. With millinery provided by Morgan and Taylor and shoes by Sachi, I procured a clutch from Kmart and earrings for a pop of colour from Design Studio at Myer. I was ready to roll.

Sarah Kempson and Olivia NunnWith Olivia in the Myer Fashions on the Field VIP enclosure
(Olivia wears HarryWho with millinery by Adorn and shoes by Mollini)

It was great to be back on track with my Fashions on the Field VIP team – clearly something Olivia said here was hilarious (and I don’t think we’d had any champagne at this point either!) The weather didn’t disappoint, and neither did the calibre of the Fashions on the Field for 2013.

Myer Fashions on the Field winner Derby Day

The gorgeous winner, Ashley Albanese, made her dress from leather and only finished it at 5am! She will be on Oaks Day to vie for the title of Victorian champion and be in the running for a stack of amazing prizes, including a Luxus!

Sarah Kempson Olivia Nunn Emma Heaslip Derby DayWith Olivia and Emma – we make a great looking team!

Another fantastic race day is done – one down, three to go!

  • 12 years ago
  • 0

Fabulous Frock Friday

Carolina HerreraCarolina Herrera

  • 13 years ago
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Hugo Boss Collins Street

The Hugo Boss store relaunched on Collins Street last week, celebrating the new season collections with gusto.

If only the sunshine would come out so we could enjoy the pretty pastels and gilded sandals, perfect for balmy nights.

Hugo Boss

Wedge Sandal $989AUD

Screen Shot 2013-10-18 at 12.55.54 PMMinty Coat $1399AUD

Screen Shot 2013-10-18 at 12.55.25 PMNavy tweed Cropped Jacket $649AUD 

  • 13 years ago
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