A little boy walks into a living room and goes up to an older lady in the corner chair, who is knitting. ‘Nana’, he says, ‘will you tell me the story of how you and grandpa met again?’

The older lady pulls in the little boy into her lap and begins.
‘Well’, she starts ‘it all started when your Aunt Molly and I went speed dating one night… ‘

Not exactly the fairytale story is it? What happened to meeting Mr Right at a party, having your eyes meet across the room and experiencing the magic of that first glance? More and more, single twenty-somethings (and thirty-somethings and forty-somethings) are turning to alternative methods because Mr Right, or Miss Right, just doesn’t seem to be at the party anymore. Where are all the single people??

I’m here to tell you, I found them.

You can read about where to find them too, on this guest post that I wrote for The Modern Woman’s Survival Guide. I went to Fast Impressions Speed Dating, who provide a range of different event for singles.

The day is finally here. In a few short hours, I will be getting laser eye surgery and bring an end to a decade of contact lens and glasses wear.

A decade is a really long time to do something. Wearing contacts, or on occasion glasses, has been a part of who I am for a really long time. How different it will be to get up in the morning and not have to think about putting in lenses before making a coffee, or come home late at night and forgetting to take them out in a champagne haze.

If only I’d been this cute in glasses!

The surgery itself doesn’t sound like all that much fun and neither does the recovery process, but I do get to spend four days, esentially, doing nothing. A compulsory rest. Win, right?

But the downside (besides the pain and the cost of aforementioned surgery) is that I won’t be able to look at a computer, see a mobile phone screen or access the internet for those four, long, days.

But never fear. While the Style Emporium (and twitter and facebook) will be unusually quiet over the next few days, I have back up posts ready to go if I can teach my mum how to publish. Perhaps I’ll just see you next week?

Go Hawks!

Sarah xx

It’s been many months since I visited Paris but I still think about it every day.

I was given the chance to pretend for just a few hours, at the L’Heure du The French High Tea, held at the Langham Hotel and a mecca for all things French over the weekend! The event also supported the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Besides delicate sandwiches, tiny cakes and macarons, styled by the lovely Pierrick Boyer of Le Petite Gateau, the afternoon bought a collection of French inspired retailers together for a mini market known as the Petit Emporium.

Together with many fashionable friends, we sipped on Madame Flavour teas while listening to a harpist and ogling the most divine dresses in a couture installation supplied by Dean and JC at Madam Virtue & Co.

Thom from Everyone’s Celebrity; Cecylia; JC from Madam Virtue, Chian and I at the Langham. This photo was taken by the lovely Lisa from Stylus Muse, where you can see lot’s and lot’s more photos from our afternoon in Paris!

It was so lovely to see so many girls (and guys) dressed in their most Parisian outfits in the middle of a Saturday afternoon (so much Chanel in one place!) and the sun shining just enough to make it warm enough for a spectacular selection of dresses.

The Peony Melbourne Haute Parfumerie provided sweet smells (and a gorgeously fitted out booth), while reworked vintage jewels from Ghost & Lola and pearls from Francoise Esterhazy showed off plenty of bling. A favourite was the leather cuffs from Dimacci and Marie Claire Paris parasols.

I wore my couture dress from Vivianna Lorikeet, worn first to the Eiffel Tower in Paris and today to the chocolate Eiffel Tower in the ballroom at the Langham. Divine.

My thanks to Kyra at Pybus PR and Cecylia for a wonderful day!

Remember all the drama a month or so ago when I was a the victim of an bit of online hate? I am a case study (so to speak) in this months Cosmopolitian magazine, on shelves now. You can also see the online version.

It’s nearly 11pm and it’s not Melbourne Spring Fashion Week. What am I doing blogging, you might ask?

Well, besides the fact that although the blog is looking rather pretty lately with all the photos I have posted in the last week, I haven’t been able to write much general blog happenings since life took over.

And by life, I mean Melbourne Spring Fashion Week.You have seen all the pictures, hopefully read the reviews I penned for Onya Magazine and now are probably a bit over fashion week? I know I am tired. A bit lethargic. And of course, totally broke and not able to afford any of the treasures that paraded the catwalk last week.

What’s a girl to do? Well, tonight I went to Fashion Business Chics, an informal gathering of girls (ladies, women) that have an interest in the fashion industry. Photographers, designers, retailers, bloggers, stylists – anyone who knows the difference between Chanel and the Channel.

And that is why I am writing at 11pm. Because these women (girls, ladies) inspire me. They encourage me to be my best, to follow my dreams, to pursue my passion. They don’t let me talk myself down, they share stories of their own and they laugh at my jokes.

They make me feel like I can succeed at anything I try, that there is more out there and that I deserve to achieve it.

I have not known these ladies (girls, women) long – some just a week, others only a year, one I just met tonight – but they seem to know me better than people I have known nearly my whole life. They understand. They get it.

I want to thank them for words of wisdom, support and sisterhood. For smiles, cups of tea and beautifully written postcards. For random gifts, invites and tweets. To all my fashion friends, from tonight, last week and the past year – Thank You.

Visit the Honey Facebook page for more info

As seen at Melbourne Spring Fashion Week. Liliko by Siren Shoes.

White Suede, MSFW Work and Play Runway, Thursday 8 September 2011
Image thanks to Jennifer Estrada

Read my review of Work and Play at Onya Magazine

Autonomy, MSFW Work and Play Runway, Thursday 8 September 2011
Image by Jennifer Estrada

Read my review of Work and Play at Onya Magazine

Alexi Freeman, MSFW Work and Play Runway, Thursday 8 September 2011
Image thanks to Jennifer Estrada

Read my review of Work and Play at Onya Magazine