1 + 1 = I'm missing out.

If two people could copulate and produce musical wonderment, it would be these fine individuals- Robin Pecknold (of Fleet Foxes fame) and Joanna Newsom (of tremendous harp talent fame).

And that is exactly what they are doing right now, just in the wrong frigging country. They're doing the rounds across the US, and perhaps having a whale of a time titillating their audience into dazy folk splendour.

I want to be titillated by them.I want to be their private audience.


News of the upcoming new Fleet Foxes album is imminent- some say Summer 2010! And also worthy of a mention is Newsom's new album, 'Have One on Me'. I wish.

Chanel AW

If you've been reading this blog, or indeed if you know the inner-workings of what I covet, you will know that my ears prick up with any news relating to the French house of Chanel.

Creative Director Karl Lagerfield, has positioned the brand into the 21st Century, retaining Coco's original ideas of modesty, grace, sensuality and above all, tailoring. It does pain me to see fake chain bags hawking past from yet another unnamed high street retailer; I know trends are ripped off all the time, but this is like copying the most gorious of handbag hardware, one that has roots and class and all the goodness a ladies bag requires.

Though enough of my ranting on Chanel copies, this post is about some delightful news indeed!

The lovely Australian model Abby Lee Kershaw (below), has recently been announced to front Chanel's AW 10/11 campaign- a considerate feat for a 22 yr old Australian. Apparently, Lagerfield sees Kershaw as a 'modern beauty', and although I definately agree, I somehow did not consider her to be a Chanel lady. How I shall be proven wrong.

The campaign stars Freja Beha Erichsen and Brad Kroenig (excellent choices), and apparently features a considerate amount of fur (perhaps not such an excellent choice).

And just because I think he's a gas, here are some quotes from Karl Lagerfield. Mad-hatter that he is.

'What I hate most in life are people who are not really the peach of the day but who want to be young and sexy. You can fool nobody. There is a moment when you have to accept that somebody else is younger and fresher and hotter. Life is not a beauty contest.'

'There is a sort of melancholia which I find quite elegant after the 'bimbo years'.'
  
'Yes, some people say to me you're too skinny, but never a skinny person says that to me, only people who could lose a few pounds say that.'

Ég elska þig

When I travelled to the US in 2003, I met a man who told me that he wandered past a garage in Iceland one day, and did a double take. He thought the music coming out of that garage was particularly good, so he poked his head around and playing in front of him, was Dave Grohl. He was jamming with some kids, before he was due to play that evening.

That initial anecdote provided my interest in Iceland; further reading and stories maintained it.

So 7 years later, after hearing of the amazing creativity flowing like its geothermal pools, I will be heading to the northern most capital in the world, Reykjavik.

Terrifically excited, bumbling around like a child, deciding what to do in the short time I am there, I would like to make 100% use of what Iceland has to offer me. Of course, suggestions are welcome.

I like Vikings. I like museums. I like design stores. I like gigs. And books. And great coffee. And delicious food.I'm opening up to Reykjavik.

Takk.


NB: Apparently, this is a useful phrase in Icelandic, 'Svifnökkvinn minn er fullur af álum.' It means, 'My hovercraft is full of eels.'

Eat, Pray, Love

Wow, neglect!

Pure laziness, no. Tiredness, definately. Time for myself, somewhat attainable though want more.

I claimed time to myself last weekend, and I did something that I haven't done since I was a teen- I read all day. I was on the couch, I pulled the duvet up so I was nice and toasty, I made a cup of tea and then I read. It was indulgent. It was bliss.

The book I am fixated on is called 'Eat, Pray, Love' by Elizabeth Gilbert. I purchased it at the airport on the way to NYC, and thought it would be a good holiday read. I also purchased and read, 'The Lovely Bones' which was depressing as hell, and so I ended up not even touching 'Eat, Pray, Love'.

I was rewarded for my wait though, as the aforementioned does take me on a bender of emotions; it's witty, moving, empathetic, sad, happy, and set across the universe, just the way I like it.

I did think that this novel was going to be somewhat of a bore, given that the film version is due out in Summer with Julia Roberts playing the title role, though I implore you not to be distracted by this minor setback. It is well-written, and as it's based on Gilbert's own experiences, it's touching to read how she overcame 'it' all. 'It' is a divorce, a heartbreak and her subsequent depression.

My sister tried to read the first few pages and found it awfully off putting. I don't know if that's because she isn't a social reader (she devours medical textbooks for fun), or because she is happily married. I on the other hand, am not married, nor can see myself married in the foreseeable future, and do eat books like they're on a never-ending sale at Dymocks. I am a traveller, and it literally pains me that I can't just buy all the books I want. Instead, I probably pick up two a month. Excess baggage, pfft.

So lunchtime ranting over. The book is worth it.

Throws

Because I'm a bit of a nanna, there is nothing better for me than couch-time on a cold day with a soft throw. I have sensitive skin, so it's paramount that the throw be the right fabric, nothing itchy will suffice.
Here are some ones that I could love to adorn my couch with.

Jocker Throw, by Missoni Home - £213

Merino Throw, by Waverley Woollen - $289



Large camel wool throw, by Cammello - £239

Nancy knitted grey throw, by feather & black -£99

Maca-swoon.

They are typically pastel in colour.

They are slightly chewy though delicate in flavour.

In fact, they can come in a variety of flavours.

They are French in origin, though this is debated by the Italians.

They melt my heart whenever I look at them.

They are, the macaroon.

To me, macaroons as absolutely gorgeous to look at, one cannot pass by their sugary beauty. They adorn the cover of Delicious magazine this month and being frivolous in spirit, I picked up a copy and intend to try my hand in making them.

The flavours perhaps shall be chocolate, strawberry and vanilla though once I have mastered the basics, maybe I can take a page out of celebrity macaroon chef Adriano Zumbo.

Zumbo is based in Sydney's Balmain, and has a hole-in-the-wall patisserie that is filled with tarts, cakes and of course, macaroons. Though I have never been there, I have read about it extensively, all from my London living room- such is the power of the written word on sugar. I intend to visit when I get back, though if the articles written are to be believed, haste is to be had as dawdlers miss out due to his powerful reputation.

If my intentions of making macaroons where to be in question, they were reaffirmed when reading the free magazine Stylist (damn good read when travelling on the tube on Wednesday morning). They wrote about the L'atelier des Chefs, a cookery school in London that is hosting 2 hr macaroon-making classes- bliss.

Macaroons seem like special occcasion food, though they don't seem that difficult. Maybe they should replace biscuits with our tea. Imagine a world.

If you would like to explore more, perhaps a good place to start is Ladurée - they claim to sell 15 000 macaroons every day.

NB: When researching macaroons, I came across a blog gem http://www.davidlebovitz.com/. Food heaven in Paris.

Another NB: There are variations in the spelling of macaroons (macarons).

Asos discount code

To those of you who are interested, Asos Outlet have up to 70% off their stock.

PLUS, until March 14th you can claim an extra 20% off by entering OUTLETLFW at the checkout.

Visit Asos here.

Alice at the Barbican

Last Saturday, I saw the much-anticipated Alice in Wonderland 3D.

Since I visited Tim Burton's exhibition a few weeks back at the MoMA (below) in New York, I was keen to see how his images translated to Alice. He isn't my favourite director by any stretch, though I love his designs, illustrations and intriguing ideas. He's the original ideas man, perhaps.

Watching Alice felt like a visual trip, encrusted in a rainbow and blended with sugar. It was ridiculously detailed and even if the film ran at half of its intended speed, you would still miss elements of its mis en scene. Alice was a rich exploration of one man's mind, combing through a classic and making it into the bizarre.

On a general scale, Alice in Wonderland was not entirely my cup of sweet tea, though I was absorbed beyond the story. Getting something out of this story is certainly inevitable.

Ms Newsom

The beautifully talented Ms Joanna Newsom is visting London in May and tragedy upon tragedy, I do not have a ticket.

It seems the world has opened up to her harpist talents and gravel-like voice, all the more captivating for it.

In some ways, I wish her talents were contained and she didn't have these grand venues to play it (Royal Festival Hall, Sydney Opera House), though I am glad her music is so accepted and people are so receptive.

I am beyond upset about not seeing her for the second time, though I can live with the fact that her music will not go away and there's always next time...

WTF McD & WW?

My first job was at a fast food chain restaurant, typically known to all that exist. I was 14 and a half, my first shift coinciding with Princess Diana's televised funeral. I remember poking my head around the corner of the drive thru area, into the breakroom where the TV was, keen to catch a glimpse of those sad faces. I was a Royalist at age 14.

I worked there, earning my 5.35 an hour for about a year and half. I didn't always enjoy the work, though I didn't so much mind the food; looking back, I'm wondering who I was back then to have worked for a place such as that. I suppose I blame the recruitment drive running through my high school and the fact that I wanted to buy my own clothes.

After moving onwards and upwards in my career, I have managed to avoid hospitality (save the part-time 2nd job I obtained whilst saving for my travels). This intrigues me, as pretty much my favourite thing is food. I talk about it constantly. I judge it to no end. I'm decidedly a 'foodie', and though my standards are high, I do go low sometimes.

So I come back to my first job. An article in today's Sydney Morning Herald caught my eye as it reported that this chain made a deal with Weight Watchers, to label their food 'point' friendly, ie, 2 points for one burger etc.

This to me seems utterly irresponsible and ultimately astounding that no amount of governance can block this obvious marketing initiative. How can this obvious promotion of fat-laden, calorie-heavy 'food' be promoted as healthy? Even when it does meet Weight Watcher standards, the drive to get people in will ultimately feed further than the dieter. For instance, getting a dieting mother in for a point-friendly option, will surely see her buy a cheery meal for her 2 whinging kids?

I just don't understand this relationship. This to me demerits the credibility of Weight Watchers, advising its international clientele that it doesn't matter what you put in your body, just as long as it has under 'x' amount of calories.Completely negligent behavious. 

It doesn't cost much to eat at fast food restaurants, just as it doesn't cost much to prepare healthy options. Often times, the healthy otions will keep on feeding for more than one sitdown meal. Leftovers are one of the brilliant things!

I'm not standing on any soapbox, though I do abhor the fact that people are feeding their fat faces with junk, and then are developing conditions which my tax dollars pay for in later life. No, that's not even it, that's what taxes are for often times. I just care about food and it's right to be not turned into something that kills you.

A Vogue treat

Alexa Chung has just round up a month of 'What I'm wearing' on the British Vogue website, posting her glorious wears with a predilection for vintage, Chanel, APC and Miu Miu. A girl after my own heart, really.

Alexa is becoming a bit of a style icon, and in my opinon this title is well deserved. She is divine, quick-witted and so fun to watch- such a shame she hopped over the pond whilst I was back in Australia. Now that MTV had dropped her US show, I wonder if she is tempted to head back home.

Here are some of my favourite outfits from Alexa:

'Dress, bag and shoes all Chanel - my dream outfit.'

'All of this is Miu Miu... Beige cat skirt, black cardi and black cage shoes.'

To see Alexa's February wardrobe, click here.