I can’t tell you how much I was looking forward to this event last year. I’d planned an outfit, researched the chefs and was gearing up for a good night out.

And then I got food poisoning.

Making the phone call to say I couldn’t make it was shattering. I so badly wanted to go!

So this year I will be there with bells on, joining our top fashion and food types to rain money for the Australian Childhood Foundation.

Over 50 restaurants, chefs and wineries will join forces with 10 of Australia’s leading fashion designers to collaborate at Melbourne’s premier gourmet food event.

There will also be an auction of one-of-a-kind aprons, designed by the fabulous labels participating in the event and matched with an exclusive Melbourne eatery.

Tickets are still available and well worth the investment.

See you on the street!

To Book: Phone 03 9653 7717 or email H1902-fb26@sofitel.com

The happiest place on earth.

Last night, after MUCH anticipation (and a whole lot of renovating), international clothing chain Zara finally opened its gleaming glass doors. 700 of Melbourne’s nearest and dearest were invited to the shindig, myself included, and we were privy to a guided tour of the store, interesting tidbits about the way in which Zara organises itself and 3 floors of the most up to date fashion in the land.

Starting with womenswear on the ground floor, moving to kids and mens on the upper levels, Zara certainly knows what she (or he) is doing. With fashion hitting the shop floor just three weeks after catwalk trends are interpreted, you too can be wearing a little bit of modern loveliness like Kate Middleton.

Womenswear, Level One

If last night was anything to go by – or even Sydney before it – the Melbourne Zara clothing will be walking of the racks in no time. It really is everything you dreamt of and more.

Pricing is good; not unlike the Sportsgirls, Portmans, MNGs and Cues that line our High Streets; and you can put together an outfit for $100 for $500. It’s all about what you want, what you can afford and best of all, what’s on trend.

Kids and babywear, Level Two

So what was on my Zara receipt? Lucky for me this is not my first Zara experience, I was broken in a few months back in Paris and trying things on seemed like a waste of perfectly good shopping time (not to mention champagne!) so I prayed sizing was the same and went for broke.

A skirt I lusted after in Paris, three tone and very 50s, was there before me in my size, $59.95. A lovely cream top the right thickness for Winter, $79.95. Adorable 50s print dress $69.95 and striped Maxi on the recommendation of StyleMelbourne Editor Sarah Willcox, $69.95. All up $279.80 and one happy fashionista.

Traditional Black Menswear, Level Three

The colours popped last night – Melbourne’s traditional black was a rare commodity – but the kids seemed not to care with royal purple, hot pink and iridescent yellow flying off the shelves. Word is the Melbourne store will be incorporating more black into its collections but the need remains to be seen. Perhaps Zara is just what this little town needs to inject some life into a (fast becoming) drab winter wardrobe.

Colour for the boys, Level Three

There will be a lot more to say on Zara if the twitter and facebook buzz is anything to go by. I was pretty fascinated by the whole Zara juggernaut last night too and await the press release with baited breath (they turned on the music during the tour making it very hard to hear!).

Bags for the girls, Level One

If you want to brave the crowds (and the cold), Zara is worth a visit. New clothing drops twice a week, fashion interpretations three weekly, helpful smiling staff (we’ll see how long this lasts) and an amazing range that will easily blend with your current wardrobe.

Just don’t end up wearing the same thing as your bestie. Happy Shopping!

(All pics taken on iPhone4. Excuse the quality! Fancy cameras do not fit in small bags.)

I have been selected as a finalist in the Westfield Insider Guest Blogger competition!!

All you have to do to vote for yours truly is follow this link to the Westfield Insider page and read the three blogs Insider Alyce has selected as her fave’s.
 

Westfield Insider, Alyce Cowell

Select the one you think is the best – as much as I think it’s mine you might not agree – and cast your vote!

The winner will receive a $250 Westfield voucher. Just think of all the things I can blog about with that money!!

Happy Birthday Sarahs Style Emporium!

I’ve been sharing my wonderful world of wackiness and wisdom with all of you for two years – it’s gone by in a flash but I have loved every moment.

There has been fashion, events, Melbourne, books, movies, random ramblings, quotes, photos, Paris and general tidbits from my life – both good and bad.

I hope you have enjoyed reading them as much as i enjoying writing them.

Stick around. The best is yet to come. It’s great to be TWO!

whoo hoo it’s g???reat 2 be two!? tote, $18.50 @ www.cafepress.com.au

Way back in 1997, at the tender age of 13, Titanic was my favourite movie of all time. I don’t think I was alone. Whether you lusted after Leo, or had a fetish for history, that film was epic in all kinds of ways. I don’t dare think how many times I have seen it, how many scrapbooks of clippings lie under the house at Mum and Dads or how much my collection of Titanic coffee table books cost, but it’s safe to say I was slightly obsessed.
 

Ok, a lot obsessed.

So then, a few days ago I found out there is a Titanic II. A sequel. Someone decided that 100 years after Titanic sank, it would be an awesome idea to build another one. Also called Titanic. And just like that, the ship was destined to meet a watery grave and spend eternity on the ocean floor.

As you can imagine, the flick went straight to DVD. But I still want to see it. For old times sake.

Also out this month is And the Band Played On, a true story of love, loss and betrayal written by Christopher Ward, who just happens to be the grandson of Jock Hume. Who is Jock? At 21, he was the youngest member of the original Titanic’s orchestra. Pretty cool huh?

2011 is 100 years since the Titanic was originally built and in a few short years, we will ‘celebrate’ 100 years since the Titanic sank. While I may have outgrown my obsession with all things Titanic, the mystery and facination remains. 

Fashion illustration of Balenciaga dress by Alfredo Bouret . Collection, Powerhouse Museum.

Twenty two hours is a really long time to be on a plane. 14 hours to Doha, an hour on the ground and then another 7 to Paris. It might be a means to an end but it’s no picnic. In fact, even a picnic would have been nice.

I hadn’t done the long haul thing before, at least not on my own. When I was eight, Mum and Dad bought the snacks and extra jumpers and all that jazz – how was I to know how I would be affected by high altitude?

They don’t let you wear contact lenses on long haul flights either.

Your feet blow up. Your legs retain fluid. It’s cold and your back hurts. The pillows they give you cushion nothing. The food is bad. The lights go out for hours. My TV didn’t work. I had the window seat. I didn’t go to the bathroom for ELEVEN HOURS!

Now, not all of these complaints occurred all the time. Sometimes, the food wasn’t awful (to a point and still NOTHING on real food). Miss J bought me the most brilliant travel pillow, which saved my neck a number of times. On the way home I really didn’t care whom I had to ask to move to go to the bathroom. Again, Miss J saved me from frostbite with a handy pair of spare socks.

But I was definitely rescued by a product not usually reserved for planes, but for the racetrack. Or stumbling home from a nightclub.

Tipsy Toes Shoes.

Of course I had dressed for fashion, not function, while travelling and was wearing very cute peep toe flats half a size too small. After a few hours at great heights, my feet were busting out of my cute shoes and the thought of walking though the airport (in PARIS, no less) with scary toe cleavage was too much to bare.

Thank goodness for modern miracles (and overpacking)!

Get yours: http://tipsytoes.com.au

Note: I flew Qatar airlines and even with my limited flying experience, I know they do a pretty decent job and I would recommend them – oh, except for the part where they gave my gluten free meal to someone else. Oops! (but seriously, pleasant staff and ‘decent’ leg room. You know, for economy.)

Jeffrey Campbell at Solestruck. $189.95

All images courtesy of Haute Fashion

I haven’t travelled a lot but hotels hold the kind of appeal a child has with a cardboard box. I love them. What kind of ‘samples’ do they have in the bathroom? What’s in the minibar and how much are they charging for it? What’s the room service list like? Is there a bible in the top drawer? A map?

Our 6th Arrondissement apartment building on Rue de Saint Germain

So when Miss J suggested we stay in an apartment in Paris, I was a bit shattered. What would I wash my hair with? Where would the late night snacks come from? What if I needed a steak at 3am? I looked diligently at the apartments she sent over via email and sighed. It was cheaper and if that meant more money for shopping I supposed I could live with it.

Our first choice was booked for the dates we were travelling but the next spot – a lovely, quiet apartment near Odeon on the Left Bank – was free and in our price range. The photos were quaint, the location was good and we signed on the dotted line.

When we arrived in Paris we were tired and very ready for a shower and a good night’s sleep. 24 hours of planes and airports, taxi’s and general travel craziness later, we pulled up at our apartment building (in a BMW mind you) and climbed the two flights of stairs to our home for the next 8 days.

The living room – quaint!

Met by the agent for the apartment and his wife, we were given the grand tour, a bottle of wine and pringles. It was love. Small but cute, our apartment was located on the second floor (which did mean two flights of stairs – no elevator!) and was fitted out in perfect Parisian style.

We had a little kitchen with dishwasher, oven, microwave and coffee machine (AND a washer/dryer!), a living room with double fold out couch and plasma TV and a bedroom with queen bed, plenty of closet space and an ensuite bathroom with separate toilet.

Miss J let me have the bedroom while she had the fold out couch and we set up our little apartment as our home base for a week in Paree! We shopped at the Carrefour (supermarket) and bio store for gluten free goods but the ultimate was the markets where we bought breads, cheese, fresh fruit and vegies and flowers. Yes, divine roses that we put in a plastic jug because we didn’t have a vase.

The location was perfect, minutes from the shops of Boulevard Saint Germain and one of my favourite Parisian spots, Café de Flore. Odeon station was just around the corner (opposite a Starbucks!) and we found the stairs were actually quite helpful in counteracting the pastries and macaroons.

So if you are going to Paris and want to stay somewhere lovely (and cook authentic French in your very own apartment!) I can totally recommend this spot. The perfect Parisian!

Visit HomeAway to see this property and others!