The Blow Out Bar

This weekend, I attended my second wedding in two weeks. It seems February is THE time to get married, and everyone is doing it – or at least everyone I know. I’m just turning 30! (What’s the rush?!)

With all the events I’ve had of late, my creativity in the hair department is at it’s end. Failing a ponytail with a bit of height, my not-cut-since-Christmas locks are a bit tired and flat, overworked (and underpaid) with heat and product. I put in an emergency call to the Blow Out Bar for a stylish wedding do and got ready to RE-LAX.

After a quick sesh at the Napoleon Perdis Lifestyle store at the Como Centre for a wedding make up look, I arrived at the Blow Out Bar only knowing I wanted something not too ‘done’ – which I am sure stylists hear all the time, probably a bit like asking for a Big Mac with a diet coke.

Blow out bar

My stylist Aiden showed me some pictures and I oohed and ahhed, and then told him to do whatever he thought would look good and get it ‘up’, out of the weather. Magazines were thrust into my hands and I sat in the opulent surrounds while Aiden set to work. The TV was also showing a movie, with teletext to follow over the music, and within minutes I was immersed in back issues of Shop Til You Drop, and ‘Identity Thief‘.

Aiden curled and twisted, pinned and spritzed. He added a donut (hair speak for ‘you don’t have enough hair’) and braids for some fun at the front. It was the exact right mix of formal and fun. Fabulous.

wedding lookDress by Sol Hermana, Shoes by Sachi and Clutch by Kmart. Jewels by Swarovski.

Braids are all the rage at the moment, according to Simone Van Haltren, the General Manager at BlowOut Bar Toorak, with celebs Scarlett Johansson being famous for braid crowns, Blake Lively often rocking the fishtail braid and Sienna Miller, Jessica Alba and Charlize Theron all sporting the look of late. It seems the braid is the new top knot, effortlessly combining the more relaxed natural look with a ‘done’ but ‘undone’ style.

I ask whether braids are particularly suited to any face shape or hairstyle, and Simone tells me that braids are best in blonde and medium brown hair, as highlights and differences in tones show up best, but that any face shape can rock the braided look. The stylists at Blow Out Bar can assist in working out whether the hair should be parted in the centre, or the side, and whether the majority of the hair should sit at the back or to either side.

I leave the Blow Out Bar sufficiently relaxed, and in need of a video store so I can see how Identity Thief ends. The wedding was divine (as weddings are!) and my hair stayed put for a good twelve hours, collecting compliments along the way.

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And just in case you were wondering (as I was!), what the difference between a plait and a braid is? A braid incorporates whole sections (big or small) of the hair and can be done in many different shapes and forms – the 3 strand braid, 4 strand braid, 5 strand braid, up- close to the scalp, away from the scalp, fishtail or waterfall. A plait is more simplistic and usually only uses 3 strands. It’s much more limited with the choice of shape and sectioning patterns, a plait can not be done close to the scalp and has a more loose appeal to the eye.

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 coatH&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

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

Turnbull Stakes Day

It’s finally here. Spring Racing has started for 2013 with a spectacular day out for Turnbull Stakes last Saturday, and many more (hopefully!) to come!

Flemington Turnbull Stakes

A few spots of rain on the way to the tram were not to dampen the spirits of those who headed to the track for the Melbourne Cup preview day, especially the girl whose shoe had broken at Flinders Street Station! Kudos to her girlfriends who, in MacGyver-esque fashion, saved her shoe with a safety pin and bandaids.

Sarah Kempson Sol Hermana

On arrival, we headed to the Flemington Fling Bar, presented by Schweppes, where DJ Andy Murphy was in residence to make music, while behind the bar, mixologists created the original races cocktail, the Flemington Fling. Nail technicians were on hand to pamper the hands of racegoers with nailart designed by Helen Thurley.

Flemington Fling

Samantha Wills and Flemington FlingA gorgeous Samantha Wills ring, and a Flemington Fling mani!

The cocktails went down easily whilst we got our groove on early, before crossing the track to the Yellowglen marquee to enjoy some time in the sun with a glass of bubbles. Jewellery designer Samantha Wills had her fanciest cocktail rings on display and I thoroughly enjoyed sipping sparkling and trading racing tips with Phoebe of Lady Melbourne, Kyra of Pybus PR and Jan Breen Burns of Voxfrock. Note: we didn’t win!

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Yellowglen

Sarah Kempson Turnbull Stakes

A massive thanks to Sol Hermana for my Turnbull Stakes Day dress – a gorgeous polka dot number (which also has a matching blazer!) My headpiece is from Target (only $40!) and shoes are eBay (presumably fake) Manolo Blahnik.

Style GallvinatorL-R Me, Miranda (Style Gallivanter), Phoebe (Lady Melbourne), Erica (Melbgirl) and Charisma at the Flemington Fling Bar. Image thanks to StyleGallivanter.com

Visit the Schweppes Flemington Fling Bar at all four racedays at Flemington, on Level 1 of the Hill Stand. Expected to host over 2,000 racegoers throughout the Carnival, you can make your own at home by visiting www.cocktailrevolution.com.au. 

Fabulous Frock Friday

Sol Hermana polka Dot Dress

 

Thanks to Aussie label Sol Hermana, I’ll be wearing this polka dot frock to Turnbull Stakes Day tomorrow. See you at the track!