Check This Out!

I have just found Elk Accessories online . I love a brooch so I'm in heaven. Lots of delicious jewels and other interesting goodies to look at....only problem is that a few of those that I covet are sold out at the moment :(

It's who you know!

One of the most important things I have learned since starting my own business is that networking and talking to other people in similar situations is soooo crucial to your success.

I've never been great at putting myself out there but in the last 12 months I've joined a number of organisations that have helped me connect to other people in business who are either at the same stage as me or who have years of experience. The one thing they all have in common is that they are happy to share their ideas and give advice.

Talking to others about what has worked and what hasn't, has been very empowering and motivating. I've found that just knowing that your not alone and that others have similar experiences - both highs and lows - is comforting and keeps you focused.

There are a many, many groups out there to choose from. The best ones for me have been:

(click on them for the link)

The NSW Women in Business (free! ...and 100% fantastic!)

Last Thursday Club

Australian Business Women's Network

Also, Ive been told the follow are very good too:

Business Chicks

Business Swap

and then there's Agyness....

Having just declared my delight in the Dita's of this world making vintage glamour seriously sexy again, lets not forget the quirky 80's punk revival being led by the uber cool English model of the moment Agyness Deyn. Her androgynous look is kinda beautiful and although she's supposed to be a tomboy she always looks groomed to perfection to me.

Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) there really aren't too many people who can pull off the whole Duran Duran, Culture Club look with the style and panache of Deyn. Personally, I wouldn't even try as the eighties certainly weren't my fashion high point the first time round, but Agyness is really rocking it now...

Photos: Imaxtree

A return to super glam - 1930's style!

I love return of glam on the catwalks at the moment. The 1930's ankle length sheath dresses with inticate detailing that accentuates the body in all the right places! Bejewelled gowns, high gloss satin, bias cut silks or antique lace with feathers, delicate beading and fringing. It's fantastic to see vintage high glamour making such an impact.

I particularly like the return of seriously styled hair a la Dita Von Teese. The finger curls and glossy waved bobs styled to perfection remind me of Hollywood in it's hey day. It's great to see such elegance being revisited - it's the reason I love vintage so much. You can't beat old skool glamour!


I'd personally like to thank Dita for always making an effort -
and making it always seem effortless
x

handy lessons

Although the final stages of building a (very comprehensive) website is slow going...the organisation and preparation appears to be never ending...then there's the testing, the continuous changes and re-evaluation of functionality...did I mention the testing???

Anyhow...while such things can be laborious and frustrating, actually being part of such a creative process is really very exciting and extremely fulfilling. I have loved everything from drawing each page of the site freehand (in crayons no less!) and discussing the look and feel with the web designers to the fashion shoots, and the endless hours of editing and preparing text.

And most importantly, this last few months has taught me a few very valuable personal skills that may have been lacking in the past:

1 . Patience! A handy lesson for me has been to always over estimate the time it takes to get things done...and not to freak out about things that are fundamentally out of my control. Timeframes blow out...just use the extra time wisely!

2. Prioritise! Spending time working out what my priorities are and focusing on what needs to be done and in which order is soooo important! As is not getting bogged down in the details and wasting time on insignificant things.

3. Support! I have finally learned to network and to ask people for help and advice. The support of a great mentor, which I now have, and the help of a team of experts has made the process so much easier

4. Enjoyment and down time is essentail for a healthy, happy life - And it's your right!

Working from home and for myself is the ultimate reward! I am more disciplined and focused and work much harder now but I have also learned to take some time out each and every day to appreciate how great life really is...and I've never been more relaxed!

weekend leisure

There's nothing quite like a swim, a big fruit salad and a good cappucino (in that order) to cure the symptoms of a few too many good wines the night before!

The water was glorious at Wanda beach, North Cronulla this morning

Kamalh's Kool

Frankie magazine features the iconic crooner Kamahl on the back page in their latest issue. The interview is about his life when he was in his twenties. Now, Kamahl isn't someone that I would normal think about, let alone bother to read an entire article about - but being on the train with two stops to go and having consumed the rest of the mag I ventured on...

And gee I'm glad I did. What a honest, warm man with a conscience and a heartfelt message to those of us out there who are so busying looking for social acceptance that we forget to learn as much as we can about life. His comment about his insecurities and wanting people to like him really touched me; "Instead of reading or learning a language or finding out about other things, I'm still seeking applause...".

I'm not sure about you, but I spent a great deal of my youth desperately seeking approval from others. And although I've always been inquisitive and thirsty to learn about the world, alot of the wonderful opportunities and experiences I had were marred by my lack of self confidence and a fairly low opinion of myself (too fat, not smart enough, not pretty enough blah, blah, blah) .

As I've gotten older, the desire for acceptance from others and all those youthful fears I trudged around with have dissapeared. This is because I made a conscience descision a few years ago to unload that cargo and work on attaining dreams and and chasing grand, magnificent plans instead of wasting any more energy on my insecurities and being miserable. The crash course in the art of being good to yourself is not always an easy one - remembering to be nice to yourself takes practice! But it's worth the effort just to be able to spend each day feeling happy about life and moving forward. As Kamahl says; "theres no point having regrets".

I won't divulge all the details of his interview, instead I urge you to buy the mag for 8 bucks if you don't already have it - It's a little corker by the way - and read the article. His earnest account of his life and who he is today is a short, sweet read that makes him pretty cool in my book.

ANYTHING GOES

While I have always watched trends evolve and passionately (sometimes misguidely) followed fashion where ever it has ventured (apart from hotpants and I steer well clear of anything resembling lycra - even at the gym), I am declaring that RIGHT NOW is the most enjoyable fashion moment ever!!!

Now, I know what your thinking...but you love vintage...what about the fashion of the 30's, 40's, 50's? and yes, they were all amazing...they still are. But you know what? We are still wearing them...Any decade from the 1920's to right now is pretty much in fashion.

The catwalks are brimming with beautiful frocks influenced from every decade and every style imaginable....and the more you mix it up the better. I love that there are no rules. As fashion progresses it's no longer about a certain look or style being prevalent. Fashion now is HOW you wear something. It's more about personal style than ever before. You can be as outrageous or as sleek as you please - no one bats an eye.

Looking at the latest trend reports from Europe, Ive realised you can wear anything you damn well please. The only rule? Pull it off with confidence and your own personal style...don't be a slave to a label and have loads of attitude - That's fashion baby!