SEPHORA Sydney Opening + mini HAUL

Sephora has finally come to Australia! With its flagship store set in the heart of the Sydney CBD, beauty addicts, bloggers and the curious lined up for the opening of Sephora at midday on 5th December.

I joined the queue snaking down Pitt St, and after two hours of waiting in the sun, it was well worth it. International brands such as Marc Jacobs Beauty, Tarte, Givenchy and Sephora's own private line were some of the few new gems stocked at Sydney's Sephora. As an added bonus, prices were kept to US pricing (or as much as they could, given the market).

I tried my damnedest to film footage inside the store so ...  here's my first vlog! Click below to discover my take of the products I bought and sampled!

Christmas Catalog: Boohoo.com

Christmas is a little over five weeks away, and on the back of finishing my first year of university its the perfect time to start thinking about my Christmas wishlist. It's officially party season, people!

Black and white sequin-y goodness mixed with bold fabrics - too bad it's too hot in Australia to wear faux fur during the holiday season - proves that anyone anywhere can celebrate in style. Throw on a festive crop top (or Christmas sweater, if you're in the Northern Hemisphere) and you're good to go!

All these looks are from Boohoo.com's upcoming Christmas collection. I'm definitely nabbing a few of these sparkly numbers to show off on the dance floor!

Run(a)way Fashion Show: What Comes Around Goes Around

DJ Kiko

Off-duty models goofing around

Photos courtesy of Jnoodles Photography.

It's been a busy few weeks, juggling photoshoots, dance, runways and uni. But I thrive best in a busy environment, where time doesn't stop for negative thoughts.

Last Monday, I had the opportunity to walk in a charity vintage fashion show run by Production Eventually. Held at Parke Davis just behind Sydney's QVB, the rustic bar provided a unique backdrop for the "modern vintage" show.

Models were scheduled for hair and makeup four hours before the show started. The amazing outfits were provided by Over The Top Vintage. The event team kept us busy, providing an array of delicious food (yes, actual food at a fashion show!) whilst we were moulded into walking mannequins.

The show featured three sections: Swimwear, Daywear and Evening/Party/Wedding wear.
One of my absolute favourite pieces on the night was the sequined lime green body/swimsuit. A showstopper piece PLUS it gave me a booty to be envied. Doing squats has definitely paid off.

A huge thanks to everyone who poked, prodded, snapped, fed, and watched us - I certainly felt like a million dollars everytime I walked down the stairs.

Foodie Fridays: Devon Cafe

Devon Cafe
76 Devonshire St, Surry Hills 2043
http://www.devoncafe.com.au/

Since restarting uni, I've also discovered a love of staking out cafes for a nice cup of coffee and some good food. I've teamed up with Kristy from thegirlofnovels to scout out great food at student prices.
Having heard only good things about Devon (and its rather peculiar name), we decided to head there during our two hour break between classes. Its close proximity to my uni made it perfect for tired students for a pick-me-up.

Stepping through the doorway to Devon was like coming home to a roaring fire on a cold winter's day. The walls and floors were paneled with a beautiful light wooden finish with the tables and chairs set to match. I was instantly drawn to the cozy atmosphere. Devon certainly made the most out of its limited space - there was a communal table in the front room, as well as bar seating facing the street.

Through the hallway, there was a peek of another "room" - it turned out to be the outdoor seating area.The outdoor seating area retained the cozy feeling of the cafe, however it also provided a "street" vibe - the back walls were covered with artistic graffiti tags, juxtaposing the adjoining courtyard bursting with green foliage.

I ordered the bruschetta; whilst Kristy ordered the pasta salad. Little did I know that this would set off my bruschetta obsession. The bread was crispy without being too tough (just the way I like it) and it contrasted wonderfully with the smoothness of the thickly layered hummus and eggplant. It was gourmet food at a budget price of $10.

I thoroughly enjoyed discovering and eating at Devon Cafe and I look forward to more visits there in the near future.

FOOD: 5 spoons out of 5
SERVICE: 5 spoons out of 5

MBFFS: Red Carpet Runway

All images photographed by GlamouRose.

It's that time of the year where fashion bloggers not lucky enough to score a media pass to the MBFWA fight over front-row seats to get the best shots of the runway at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival Sydney.

I was lucky enough to score third row seats for the Red Carpet Runway show on Thursday - a glance at the packed media pit was enough justification for me to settle in my purchased seat. Second and third row seats or "A-list seats" were gifted with a goodie bag and two free tickets for drinks in the Fashion Hub after the show.

This year, the Red Carpet Runway featured 12 prestigious designers, including the likes of Carla Zampatti, Akira, Rachel Gibert and Alex Perry.

Lace and sequins was a theme throughout - the detailing on some of the designs are exquisite; these are some of my favourite picks from the night.

Miranda Kerr for KORA Organics - David Jones Q&A

Miranda Kerr also popped up exclusively at David Jones on Tuesday as a collaboration for KORA Organics, her skincare range.Wearing a beautiful Erdem dress with a classic Christian Louboutin heels, Miranda alongside Vogue's Health and Beauty Editor Sigourney Cantelo, answered questions about her line and her upcoming goals. KORA Organics has been Miranda's passion project since 2008.

What I love about her range is that it caters to all skin-types, especially sensitive skin and is very gentle on the skin. I've only been using KORA for a week and a half, but it's done quite an amazing job at clearing up my blemishes and redness. Sigourney directed the Q&A, which was followed by a meet and greet and book-signing with Miranda.
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Q. What are some of the ingredients used in KORA?
A: KORA uses all-natural organic ingredients, such as aloe vera. One of her secret ingredients in KORA is her raved Noni juice.

Q. What is Noni Juice and what is it like?
A: Noni is a tropical fruit found in the South Pacific islands and has been used for its powerful medicinal properties for thousands of years. Noni juice is believed to be amazing for the immune system and contains powerful antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin A, niacin and iron, which have anti-aging benefits. It's also great for digestive health as part of a detox.

According to Miranda, it's "palatable" and "smells a bit funny". (Personally, I've been taking Noni juice for about a month, and it's a great morning wake-me-up instead of coffee due to its distinctive taste and smell - I dilute about 20mls with a cup of cold water)

Q. What's one of Miranda's beauty tips?
A: Sometimes, Miranda would keep her eye creams in the refrigerator, as it's extra soothing when applied to de-puff the eyebags after a long day/night of travelling.
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The book-singing and the meet and greet with Miranda was by far the most anticipated part of the morning. I had my copy of her latest book, "Empower Yourself" signed. I chatted to her a bit about the Kids Helpline of which she was the ambassador. She was extremely lovely and kind, taking five minutes with each person, despite the very very long line.

I hope I have the fortune to meet her again in the future - she is one of my fashion and lifestyle inspirations.

Fashion Weekend Sydney 2014

Hitting Fashion Weekend Sydney again this year, I was most excited to see the runway show styled by the very talented Margaret Zhang, from Shine By Three. The lineup included Nicola Finetti, Akin by Ginger and Smart, Talulah, Christensen Cophenhagen, Bec & Bridge and Ixiah.

Trends

Sports Luxe Minimalism

Clean sporty lines and racerback dresses dominated the runway at FWS. The sporty chic look was softened by drop-waist skirts or looser-fitting tops. As with all minimalist designs, a simple monochrome colour palette was chosen.

Silk Designs

Silks were also a hit on the runway. Colour blocking with silks was refreshed with a clean palette, often using blacks and whites to balance out the intensity.

Asymmetry and Cut-outs

When it came to skirts and dresses, many designers opted to forgo the side-split this year, instead focusing on the centre-split. Interesting cut-outs were also another big feature, overlapping into the sports-luxe trend.

Reflection

Gold, silver and gunmetal were solely used for accessories, but also as accent pieces on the runway. I personally was a little confused when these rather futuristic designs strutted down the catwalk, but I have to admit, they are flashy. The placement of the metals made these designs look sleek and not overpower the look.