What’s a one year anniversary celebration without some hot models and a big ass cake, right? With boohoo now being the 4th most visited fashion site in Oz & NZ, selling six dresses every minute, I can see why the peeps at boohoo, including its founders Carol and Mahmud, were all down to par-tay for our last night in Sydney. Mix a bunch of kiwis, ozzies and guys and gals from the UK, and a big night will mos def be had. But, conveniently, what goes on tour, stays on tour… shout outs to Courtney from Always, Sometimes, Anytime tho, you’re the man.

But before dancing til the wee hours, we were able to admire pieces from the boohoo ‘Boutique’ and ‘Future Sports’ ranges (due out around July/August) on some stunning models. The Future Sports pieces were some of my faves from the showroom and it was even better seeing them worn IRL. My love for the neon-pink leopard print ensemble grew even more. I’d somewhat overlooked the ‘Boutique’ range at the showing, the collection being darker and a bit more serious, but the dresses got my attention that night. Plus, I’m a sucker for wearing socks with heels, and flower crowns, so that put it over the edge for me. More fash & food pics after the jump xx

I can’t say that I’ve been all the way in on the X-FactorNZ ride, but I am all the way in with the Melanie Blatt fan-club. She always seemed the coolest/most bad-ass member of the All Saints – though they all look pretty rad, let’s be honest –  and I’m sure she’d be great to get on the piss with. I saw the episode where she was choosing the final group contestants, and it looked like she was trying so hard to not laugh out loud the whole time, it was great. After watching last nights show, I started reminiscing with the bf about how the All Saints were cooler than other ‘girl’ groups, they were more adult, had more attitude, and had more babes in the group. We also debated our all-time favourite All Saints song. For me, it’s ‘Never Ever’, from the spoken intro which ties into the end of the song when Shaznay sings with gusto ‘you can tell me to my face, you can tell me on the phone, oooooh, you can write it in a letter babe, cos I really need to know!” This song has so many bridges and hooks, it was impossible for it to not succeed. EDIT: The bf has just pointed out that while ‘I Know Where It’s At’ is a good first single, ‘Never Ever’ is actually his fave too. ‘Pure Shores’ of course is up there, but doesn’t quite hold the same nostalgia for me as ‘Never Ever’, though I know for a lot of people, probably a bit younger than I, it will. ‘Booty Call’ is fun and funny, so I had to add it in there, and I’ve always thought ‘Black Coffee’ was great and a cleverly written song. So, now that I’ve gone down All Saints memory lane, why don’t you too…  (P.S How good a song writer is Shaznay Lewis, ay?)

“Sometimes vocabulary runs through my head, the alphabet runs right from A to Zed, conversations, hesitations in my mind, you got my conscience asking questions that I can’t find…”

“If you wanna have a good time, I know where it’s at, If you know you’ve got something on your mind, I know where it’s at!”

“I’m moving, I’m coming , can you hear, what I hear, it’s calling you my dear, out of reach…”

“You know I wanna be diggy down, boy, but I don’t get around, Jimmy has to ride in your pocket or lock him in your wallet,
It’s just a bootie call”

“I wouldnt wanna take, everything out on you, though I know I do, although I know I do, everytime I fall”

The Ivy Penthouse in Sydney was decked out and dazzling with racks of soon to be released boohoo garments, each collection catering to a specific look and feel;  California festival-girl with crochet, dip dye and denim, Aztec geo-prints and rich reds, sexy sports luxe with cut outs & see through panels, animal print and patterns on patterns on sophisticated party dresses or super distressed denim, sequins and netted skirts and kimono type matching pant suits. It was all very pleasing to the eye and semi-distressing that I wasn’t able to be left alone to try on absolutely everything. Click through for all the fab accessories and cute DIY table on display…

I was part of a small New Zealand media contingent taken to Sydney to be part of the festivities to celebrate boohoo being in NZ & Ozzie for one year. It was so much fun getting to meet and hang out with everyone whilst mixing fashion, champagne and great food. So thanks, boohoo & Beat. Youse are choice as. On another note, it was rumoured that Rihanna stayed at the Ivy Penthouse the last time she was in Sydney, we were unable to verify this, but I could totally see her ballin’ outta control in that suite. It is major.

WIW. The End.

I have spent the weekend recovering from what started as a very relaxing trip to Sydney, and ended with a bang. I was in Sydney for the launch of a number of Boohoo collections, as well as to celebrate its first year in New Zealand and Australia (expect many more posts on this to come). So, I’m obviously feelin the love when it comes to boohoo & Sydney. More links to more stuff I’m loving after the jump.

I love that friends and I have finally discovered good Mac&Cheese in Auckland, at The Grill. We ordered The Grill Wagyu burger with duck fat chips and a side of mac&cheese. It was all great, but the M&C was our highlight.

Link-loving :

Sliced down the middle, conceptual food art by Beth Galton & Charlotte Omnes.

Black marker coffee cup art by Cheeming Boey.

A collection of Chris Hadfield’s photographs of Earth from Space.

This one is fun. The style evolution of Cher.

RUBY – The End

For Spring/Summer 2013, the RUBY girl runs away to the Italian seaside.

Drawing inspiration from ‘Plein Soleil’ and recent adaptation ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’, The End focuses on the beauty of the Ingenues at the heart of these stories, American and Italian worlds colliding.

liam – in conversation

The vivid descriptions of the Indian Territory in The Sundarbans Jungle in Salman Rushdies’s novel Midnight’s Children is the conversation started for the Liam spring/summer 2013 collection.

Designer Emily Miller-Sharma wanted to in Rushdie’s dynamic and surreal jungle. The marriage of Rushdie’s jungle with Liam’s simple sophistication makes an enchanting conversation.

Zambesi Woman : ”A collection that is both delicate and strong…An understated palette is complimented by pristine white taffeta and intricate prints of embroidered paisley, kaleidoscopic curls and an exclusive in-house design of plaid reworked in silk organza and cotton voile”

Zambesi Man : ”proportions are exaggerated in long lean coats and oversized board shorts. Sartorial tailoring is achieved using unexpected fabrics, most notably stretch indigo denim. While silk organza shirts paired with slim white ties offer an endearing lightness.”

Seeing the collection in person, I fell in love with everything Zambesi has done in the plaid print, both womens and mens styles but I was most excited at seeing the reversible jumpsuit, high-necked with a scoop back one way, or cleavage baring the other – either way, it’s sexy as hell. The mens baggy grey dungarees are high on the want list, and how elegant yet bad-ass do those floor length kimonos look?

A few photos I took of the details of the garments below :

A clever series of negative space designed animals by artist George Bokhua.

Whilst I am still without my own laptop, I do have a new phone, which came with the flipboard app pre-loaded and I am obsessed. I am reading and discovering so much more new and interesting things than ever before. If you have an ipad or smartphone, I highly recommend the app. I predict my bits & pieces section is going to become a lot more regular and interesting as a result. Here’s a bunch of cool things I found over the past week and loved.

A slideshow of work from photographer Todd McLellan’s book ‘Things Come Apart’  - the crazy cool deconstruction of everyday items.

Beautiful mirrored images of city skylines.

Photographer Henry Hargreaves recreates famous bands backstage riders in new series ‘Band Riders’

Greece holiday, anyone? A collection of amazing Greece hotels with breathtaking views.

This Ozzie homewares store, ‘Lightly’, is rad.

Throwing a party? Here’s some decoration tips.

I broke my laptop. I was re-watching The Wire season 2 at 3 in the morning, and spilt water on the keyboard, wiped it off, thought nothing of it, tried to start it in the morning. Dead. I even bought a 10 kg bag of rice and put my laptop in it to dry it out (don’t laugh, it worked for a friend and her phone once) (OK, laugh, I laughed too) But it was too far gone. So, I’ve been without blogging capabilities for awhile. The bf is going to have to lend me his laptop until I get it repaired/a new one but you know, he’s been busy of late finishing up a classic album and has been in more need of his laptop than I – hence the lack of posts. But I will be back properly, soon. Promise. Just thought I’d check in quickly with y’all. Cos, also, have you noticed how freaking rad my site looks now? Thanks to the cool kids at sorbet design.

Oh, and I got my hair colour re-up & this cool PassPort beanie from Arcade. Laters

After cafe hopping in Kingsland, Shirl and I went into the vintage and gift shop Mixt for a quick look. Maybe it was the two coffees in the space of an hour, but we went a wee bit crazy, left a little poorer but with a few super cool pieces we couldn’t wait to add to our rooms. Everything we bought was made by NZ designers, so cool!

Budgie & Puppy wreath stick-on wall decals by Evie Kemp, Bunting from Tikitibu by Jane Galloway,  Wooden jewellery tree by Newbies.

I also made my own bunting out of Kikki.K envelopes & cross stitch pieces my sister Talia made for me based on the David Dallas – Til Tomorrow  and Take A Picture  video animations. In case you’re wondering, Shirl’s bedding is from Urban Outfitters.