An inspired take on a much loved classic, from the very talented and affable George Sampson

a beautiful talent...

Check out my very talented director friends music video for Micki Green.

MICKY GREEN - "BEGIN TO FADE" from shaun hartas on Vimeo.


You can check his other work at http://shaunhartas.com/

The boy is going places!!

WOWSA! Organic tampons. Who would-a thunk it?

T.O.M organic tampons were created because we all need to be more aware of what we are putting into our bodies in an increasingly polluted environment. T.O.M tampons are manufactured from the finest organic cotton free from chemicals, pesticides, bleaches and are 100% biodegradable. Me likey! 

Take a look inside the Chinese Fur Industry

Undercover investigators from Swiss Animal Protection/EAST International toured fur farms in China's Hebei Province, and it quickly became clear why outsiders are banned from visiting. There are no regulations governing fur farms in China—farmers can house and slaughter animals however they see fit. The investigators found horrors beyond their worst imaginings and concluded, "Conditions on Chinese fur farms make a mockery of the most elementary animal welfare standards. In their lives and their unspeakable deaths, these animals have been denied even the simplest acts of kindness.

On these farms, foxes, minks, rabbits, and other animals pace and shiver in outdoor wire cages, exposed to driving rain, freezing nights, and, at other times, scorching sun. Mother animals, who are driven crazy from rough handling and intense confinement and have nowhere to hide while giving birth, often kill their babies after delivering litters. 

Pledge to go fur-free at PETA.org.




The globalization of the fur trade has made it impossible to know where fur products come from. China supplies more than half of the finished fur garments imported for sale in the United States. Even if a fur garment's label says it was made in a European country, the animals were likely raised and slaughtered elsewhere—possibly on an unregulated Chinese fur farm. 


For more information visit http://www.peta.org/feat/ChineseFurFarms/index.asp

High, Flying Adored

Mens grooming tips from Jonathan Pease

I loved this so much I simply had to share. I couldn't have said it better myself, so I'll leave it to the master....

As much as you’d like to pretend the opposite, what you wear defines you in the eyes of others. The initial impression people have about you is superficial by nature, but that doesn’t mean that your clothes can’t have a deeper meaning. Clothing and accessories that have a “cool factor” are not just designer labels; if it were that easy then Dubai and Las Vegas would be filled with “cool people”… not the case. They key to cool is about finding unique items that reflect who you are, recall a time in your life, and make you look sexy… all at the same time.

1. Sunglasses – Nothing beats a killer pair of shades. The mystery factor alone is worth spending some money on great sunglasses. I prefer rare vintage specs. I’m talking Dior, circa 1983. I’m talking Alain Mikli. I’m talking Cazal. But if all that’s too complicated just find a way to get a pair of AM Eyewea. Just don’t wear them at night.

2. Vintage Air Force Jacket – Must be from a foreign country such as Canada or Belgium. Must be vintage. “I got this for 10 francs oops… I mean Euros when I was in Paris years ago”.

3. Rare Sneakers – I’m a die-hard sneaker collector. There is no guest bedroom in my house because my sneaker collection sleeps there peacefully. Any footwear fanatic knows that you have to earn your kicks. You may have to scour the Web or travel to another country, but finding a great pair of wheels that no one has ever seen before will keep you cool all day long.

4. Vintage Watch – Who wants to be another pretentious tool wearing a Rolex (I sold mine and bought 40 pairs of rare Nikes). Like shoes, the key to a great watch is its uniqueness. Screw Panerai. Go on Ebay and check out old diving watches from the mid-20th Century or vintage Swatches from the late 80’s early 90’s. And it doesn’t matter if it works, as long as it looks good. Use your cell phone to tell the damn time.

5. A Brazilian “Scapular” Necklace – Say your ex gave it to you while you were in Brazil. You’re not allowed to take it off until the rope wears down and it falls off your neck. So mysterious.

6. Ironic Socks – Yes socks my fine-feathered friend. Mismatching, preferably expensive argyle socks or children’s socks. Most people won’t see them. But that’s the idea. When they do, they’ll think you’re so cool that you don’t care about how you look. “Oh yeah I just grabbed two cashmere socks out of the drawer, didn’t even notice they don’t match because I have so many”. That’s cool.

7. Dog Tags – You’re Uncle gave them to you. You don’t want to talk about it.

8. Hermes Scarf – Wear it in Winter to keep warm. Wear it in Summer over a t-shirt. You’ll look like an asshole. A very rich important asshole.

9. A Black Cashmere Cardigan – Simple. Elegant. Laid.

10. A Great Pair of Jeans – It’s cliché for a reason, nothing beats a great pair of jeans. I don’t care if you have to save up all year. No Jeans, No Cool. Preferably Japanese Denim or a local designer brand. I prefer darker colors; blues and blacks. Enough of this ironic bright colorful nonsense. We get it… you were alive in the Eighties. Now go get a real pair of pants.

Read more of his tips at: www.jonathanpease.com.au

Blinged out

I am disgusted by Bling Water. Can you believe that people are willing to pay around $35 a bottle when literally millions of people around the world struggle everyday to find enough clean drinking water to survive. Anyone who buys this should be ashamed of themselves. 

My suggestion? Get a glass of water from the tap and donate $35.00 to World Vision who helps struggling communities to build wells.

Having a moment...

 

With pink. Can I stress that I usually wear black, but for some reason just love these. Even Angie's dress, despite it reminding me of the dress that Jordan married Peter Andre in!

Jenny Packham did the first short dress.... love. Is she available in Australia? Off to investigate.... will report back. 

My faves from the Oscars.

 

Nobody really went wrong this year at all which is always a bit boring for us style bloggers as there's no one to bitch about!! 

Avatar star Zoe Saldana looked stunning in one of my favourite frocks of the year. Givenchy by Riccardo Tisc

Several people rocked bright lipsticks to great effect - namely Sandra Bullock (who wore Marchesa) and Maggie G (in Dries Van Noten). 

Cam's Oscar de la Renta dress looked amazing, although her hair was a bit too Dynasty for my liking. 

And what about Miley Cyrus?? Normally she looks like a teen hooker (those over the top smokey eyes and hideous hair extensions) but this time she looks fab in a Jenny Packham creation. I can't really fault her apart from a small suggestion that she choose a smaller fake eye lash next time. 

Zac... this is purely gratuitous. I love!

Yoghurt: Plus or a Negative?

So the PR company who looks after Yoghurt Plus have kindly sent me some product for my doggy to trial. Dudley is a white toy poodle that I got from the pound a couple of months ago. After a pretty rough start (he had a urinary tract infection amongst other things) and a lot of patience (dudley likes to escape through open windows) we're finally at a place that we both feel comfortable. 

So I was really pleased to take part in this trial as I want him to be happy and healthy. He was very skinny and not very well when we got him!!

A spiel from the website... Yoghurt Plus is a unique pet food that delivers a range of unique benefits to your pet. It is a holistic, symbiotic blend of pro and pre biotics, lactose free yoghurt and enzymes, that work together to give your pet a complete and balanced feed. Most importantly, it shows the same level of microbial activity before and after production. Just like yoghurt creates inner health for humans, through the use of beneficial bacteria, Yoghurt Plus creates the same benefits for your pet. Let them enjoy the same health benefits that the whole family does, after all they are part of the family.

Assists Digestion- Helps in the digestion of food, whilst improving stool quality and protein metabolism.

Aids Immunity- Helps augment immune defences, particularly in the gut, by providing a better balance of intestinal flora and additional antioxidants.

Helps Reduce Skin Disease- An optimal blend of nutrient rich Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids, that helps promote a healthy, shining coat and assists in the reduction of skin problems.

Helps Reduce Stool Volume & Odour- Assists digestion, helps to decrease the potential pathogens in the GI Tract and helps decrease the compounds that can lead to unpleasent odours in stools.

Assists Urinary Tract Health- Helps stimulate the dilution and acidification of urine, thereby assisting the function of the urinary system.

Helps Reduce Lawn Burn- Helps promote the dilution and acidification of the urine that converts the damaging and harmful nitrogen compounds that burn lawns to other less harmful forms.

So far so good... he wolfs it down (YP gets an A for taste) and his poo's definitely seem to be lighter in colour and odour. He also used to have runny poo's quite a bit and this seems to have eased off too - so its good news all round so far.

I'll keep you posted on how Dudders likes it... In the meantime you can pick it up from Coles.

Being that it is my favourite part of the mag...

I decided to ask myself some of the famous Proust questions - a series of questions posed to find out about people’s lives, thoughts, values and experience. 

Having recently risen to prominence in the pages of Vanity Fair, you’d be forgiven for thinking that VF or someone called Mr. Proust compiled The Proust Questionnaire. In fact, it began, as a parlor game among the novelist’s bourgeois crowd in Paris and it was the daughter of the 19th-century French president, Félix Faure, who popularized the game. Antoinette Faure’s album was a red leather journal that contained entries from many in her social circle. She’d invite friends over for tea and cake and then ask them each a set of identical questions. Her friends would write their answers in her red book.

Marcel Proust was one such who friend, who filled out the questionnaire twice —first when he was 14 and then again at 20. Eventually he published his answers in1892 in an article for La Revue Illustrée XV, resulting in his name being linked forever more with the game as it was adopted more widely.  Today the questions are used to conduct interviews and help people learn about themselves.

And so we begin…

The Proust Questions

What is your most marked characteristic?
Compassion for others and animals, drive and my sense of humour.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Getting in Brentstreet, getting my dance teachers diploma and winning Most Promising Teacher of the Year, becoming an Account Manager at 21. But really I think these things are all pretty mundane... i think the biggest achievement is yet to come.

When and where were you happiest?
I'm a happy person, but right now I'm as happy as ever.

What is your greatest regret?
I dont really indulge in regrets. Or maybe its simply that I dont have any worth mentioning right now. Ask me again in 10 years!

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Feeling safe and feeling confident about your body, relationship, friends and career.

What is your most treasured possession?
My boyfriend - but he's not really a possession.

Where would you like to live?
Florence or Tuscany.

What is your greatest fear?
Not having my health

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Procrastination, lack of patience, self doubt

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Big noting, bad sense of humour, laziness, unethical behaviour

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Virginity

What is your greatest extravagance?
Massages and pedicures and the like - as often as I can!

What is your favorite journey?
The one you're about to embark on!

What is it that you most dislike?
Ignorance

What is the quality you most like in a man?
Strength, intelligence, a thirst to learn, humour

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Strength, intelligence, a thirst to learn, humour

What do you most value in your friends?
Trust, humour, patience, generosity

If you were to come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
A beauty editor.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?
An actress in Hollywood

How would you like to die?
When I'm old in my sleep

NARS Lipstick in SCHIAP is my favourite lipstick of all time!

Is anyone else in love with George Craig from the Burberry ads?

    

Obsessed with Burberry

All about Christopher Bailey....

With a penchant for heart-rending music at his shows and the prettiest of people in his ad campaigns (we're talking Lily Donaldson as a flower pot girl for spring/summer 2009, Sam Riley and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley embraced for autumn/winter 2008-9 and Kate Moss, Stella Tennant and Sophie Dahl shot by Mario Testino for spring/summer 2007), Christopher Bailey has well and truly put his sartorial stamp on the quintessentially British brand Burberry since becoming creative director in 2001.

Responsible for the design of all Burberry collections and product lines including Burberry Prorsum, Burberry London, Thomas Burberry and all Burberry licensed products globally, Yorkshire-born Bailey is also responsible for the company's overall image including all advertising, corporate art direction and store design.

• Bailey joined Burberry in May 2001.
• Prior to his appointment at Burberry, Bailey was the senior designer of womenswear at Gucci from 1996 to 2001.
• From 1994 to 1996 he was the womenswear designer at Donna Karan.

Since joining Burberry, Bailey has won numerous awards and accolades:

• In 2003, he received an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Art, from where he graduated in 1994.
• He won Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in 2005.
• In 2006, Bailey was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Westminster, from where he graduated in 1990.
• He was named Menswear Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in 2007 and, the same year, also received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Huddersfield, Yorkshire.
• In 2008 he scooped Menswear Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards.
• In the November 2008 issue of Vogue, Sarah Harris documented the diary of Bailey's Burberry Prorsum feather dress.
• In 2009 Burberry shows at London Fashion Week for the first time.

www.burberry.com

Text from www.style.com 

Proenzer Schouler: It could be love.

MY ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE LOOK OF THE YEAR!

Available in Australia from Jean Brown (Brisbane) and Landsend (Paddington, Sydney)

Current Status? Obsessed with the scent of Frangipani, thanks to Evodia

If you want a little mid week pick-me-up, then try and get your mitts on some Evodia Coconut and Lime Body Lotion $21.95. This little gem is rich in avocado oil and blended with the scents of coconut and lime. 

Next give yourself a liberal spray of Evodia’s Mango and Pink Grapefruit Body Mist $23.95 200mL. This gorgeous product will make you smell like exotic summer fruits or try the new Tropical Passion fragrance that has been specifically designed to capture the mood of the hot passion of the tropics. I suggest you mist it on your body and pillow, hell, all around the room. Then close your eyes and dream of a passionate holiday fling in the Maldives.

Lastly, dust yourself all over with Evodia’s Earthly Possessions Frangipani Shimmering Dusting Powder $14.95 100g which has a sparkling gold shimmer and a lingering fragrance of frangipani. It leaves skin soft and smooth and looks beautiful when dusted lightly over your shoulders and décolletage.

A little note about this company also…. they are Australian owned and all their products are made in Australia which is rare these days. Not only that, their products are not tested on animals – hoorah! I like to support Aussie industry and how could you not with amazing products such as these?

Evodia is available from David Jones, Myer, leading pharmacies and gift and lifestyle stores nationally.

MAC Lipsticks

The lovely girls at MAC Cosmetics Australia sent me some bright lippy's to try out for an 

article I'm writing. And I have to say - I love them!  MAC lipsticks provide colour plus texture for the lips and are available in a huge variety of shades. 

My picks? Morange Lipstick $35.00 and Show Orchid Lipstick $35.00. 

Also check out the Viva Glam Lipstick $35 range as every cent raised from the sales of these lipsticks goes to the MAC AIDS Fund to support the fight against HIV/AIDS. 

Check out www.maccosmetics.com.au or call 1800 613 828 for more information.