TOMS and World Sight Day

Remember when I had laser eye surgery? It’s a pretty scary operation, but not as scary as losing your sight forever.

world sight

Last week TOMS celebrated World Sight Day (October 9) by asking what does sight mean to you? As we sat down to breakfast, we were all asked to apply a blindford, and listen to photographer Peter Brew-Bevan share his story about sight.

TOMS_Sight_Day_Mugshots_004

Peter was recently diagnosed with early onset glaucoma, a confronting reality for a photographer and artist. His creativity has kicked in and he has begun exploring the world of art for the visually impaired.

TOMS_Sight_Day_Mugshots_006

We also heard from John at TOMS, who educated us about sight, advising that 80% of the worlds 259 million blind people don’t actually need to be. By buying TOMS sunglasses, and allowing them to give sight to someone in a third world country, we are helping not only give sight back to someone, but likely a member of their family who has had their freedom stolen to help the blind person.

The breakfast was fascinating – who knew one could learn so much if you just closed your eyes?

DSC00581With the gorgeous Cecylia post breakfast! Image thanks to cecylia.com

So what does sight meant to you? For me, its colour, smiles and words.

 

 

The Wolf & I Windsor

I love a good cocktail, and last week I was invited to try several at The Wolf & I, Windsor. Espresso martinis and pretty pink drinks were served while we enjoyed the exclusive cocktail lounge space, upstairs from the main bar and restaurant area.
esprepp
Besides being a very cool spot to hang out on a Friday or Saturday night, it would make an amazing function space for a themed party – think Great Gatsby or a murder mystery. They even have a library room! BYO your own Cluedo board game.
If you feel like popping in and trying a cocktail, tell them you know me and they’ll knock 10% off your bill (offer expires Nov 1 2014)!!
breast cancer
If organised events are more your thing, the National Breast Cancer Foundation is hosting a fundraiser next Friday, with 100% of profits going to the fund. The Wolf & I aims to help them in achieving their goal of zero deaths from Breast Cancer by the year 2030.
‘A Howl for Breast Cancer’ will be held on Friday the 24th October. Tickets are only $65pp and if you book five tickets, you’ll get one free ticket when purchased with the promo code SARAHSSTYLEEMPORIUM. There’ll be bubbles on arrival, canapes, a raffle and silent auction, entertainment and a special guest speaker! Book here.

When boyfriends are away….

My boyfriend is currently away. It’s 7.53pm on a Tuesday – I’m 4 nights into an 8 day break; two glasses of wine and one Cadbury Creme Egg into my evening. But seriously, how AWESOME (and awfully sad) at the same time.

I miss him terribly. I wake up in the morning and can smell his deodorant on our sheets. I think about dinner as if I were planning for two. I stare anxiously at my phone willing it to buzz with the sound of a text message, telling me how he is doing and how much he misses me.

truthWho am I kidding? I totally do this
(then laugh when I find an ecard that tells me other people do it too).

But the flip side? CADBURY CREME EGGS. It’s October people!! And I don’t have to share. And I can watch bad cooking shows and reality TV without feeling like I’m killing brain cells, or that the can of soup that I just heated for dinner is an inadequate form of nutrition.

Sleeping alone sucks. But having the couch and the remote to oneself is a godsend. Alarms don’t go off an hour and a half before I need to get up, and the mirror isn’t all steamed up when I’m trying to apply make up.

Attending events alone sucks. But eating at whatever time you want – eating CADBURY CREME EGGS IN OCTOBER whenever you want – might just be worth it.

Come home soon, darling. I do miss you. x

F.R.I.E.N.D.S Trivia Night!

F.R.I.E.N.D.S has been my favourite TV show for as long as I can remember. In the same way I know where I was when Princess Diana was killed, I can relate episodes of the show to various points in my life, and no matter how many times I watch reruns, I always find something new to laugh at.

logo

The adventures of Joey, Rachel, Ross, Chandler, Monica and Phoebe are etched in folklore and pop culture history forever, but how much do you really know about the gang?

Carly from Smaggle and I wanted to find out, and so have created the inaugural F.R.I.E.N.D.S Trivia Night, to test everyones knowledge of our favourite six.

The event will be held at Honey Bar on Thursday October 30 at 7pm and we’ll be raising some dollars for the special school Carly teaches at – you can read more about her campaign, ‘Doing silly things for a bus’ here.

Just $10 will put the fun in fundraiser, and you can come along and show us all just how much television you really watch.

Book your tickets here.

Can’t wait to see you there – max tables of 8 and lot’s of prizes. See you there!

Advanced Style

I’m a big fan of festivals in Melbourne – even more so when the word ‘fashion’ is included – but it was the Melbourne International Film Festival that I attended recently where I first heard of Advanced Style.

advanced style

Advanced Style is a fashion documentary by Ari Seth Cohen, an extension of his blog and coffee table book where his subjects are past 50, but exude style in all forms. His still photography and blog posts are bought to life on the big screen by Lina Plioplyte, and the women themselves are such characters, its hard to believe they haven’t been scouted before. You’ll wish your nana was that cool!

This is a lovely film, full of laughs and home truths, that will have you grinning from ear to ear. You’ll also feel like your own personal wardrobe sucks, and wonder why you are not wearing more hats/scarves/brooches/earrings.

AriCohenAdvancedStyle-04copy2

I’m so thrilled that Ari and Lena were in town for the MIFF release of Advanced Style, and I was privvy to a Q&A session with them following the screening. Their passion for their job is fantastic – who wouldn’t want to spend all day with women of this calibre!

Advanced Style hits cinemas in Melbourne from October 2, and I have 3 double passes to giveaway. I recommend you take your nana. To win, simply comment on this post telling me whose Advanced Style you most admire. Winner drawn Tuesday 30 September at midday – Victorian entries only. Good Luck!

More Luxe to Less Love

Remember this Maticevski ensemble at VAMFF this year? I’ve seen it on a few celebs and stylists – always looking fricken fabulous. I’d go get one myself, I just don’t have any spare green notes lying round.

Photo by Lucas Dawson

And then I saw this in the window at Bardot over the weekend. $89.95 for the top, $89.95 for the skirt.

 

bardot

Do want!! I heart luxe to less….

Fabulous Frock Friday

luxe to less

Fabulous Frock Friday isn’t always about amazing dresses I can never afford. Today I’m showing you the runway to the high street version of this cute yellow lace dress. On the right, Alex Perry has created a gorgeous frock, perfect for Melbourne Cup Day. On the left, Forever New have devised a cheap and cheerful version, currently on sale with 20% off! (Ends Sunday 14 September).

Daily News – Spring Racing Millinery

Yesterday I attended the Myer Spring Fashion Lunch at Flemington and host Samantha Armytage was wearing an awesome fascinator. Or, headpiece, if you will.

Sam ArmytageSamantha Amytage wears Ann Shoebridge headpiece and Alex Perry dress. Image thanks to Donna Demaio

It took me several Instagram searches and a bit of googling to track down who had created said headpiece, before discovering it was made by milliner Ann Shoebridge.

dailypaper le monde

dailypaper

I ask you to admire this piece of millinery and its cleverness, playfulness and style, ahead of the Spring Racing Carnival, where no doubt many will not bother with headwear, or find something at a department store.

This bespoke piece is genius – and any who would like to donate to my Spring Racing Fund are welcome to help me pay for it.

White Shirts

MSFW_Runway_4 1053-XL

MSFW_Runway_4 413-XL

MSFW_Runway_4 100-XL

The new White Shirt Dress. Which will you wear?

Top to bottom: Leonard Street, Above Label and Bul (Images thanks to Meagan Harding Photography)

… and then there was this one on the Emerging Designers Runway – Brooke Ross from Melbourne School of Fashion (with thanks to the @_MSFW_ instagram account)

Brook Ross

Nicholas The Label

thermo floral silk ball dress

Nicholas Thermo Floral Silk Ball Dress