The Dinner Table

There's that age old question: who would your ideal dinner guests be, dead or alive? For me, having just watched Clive James on Andrew Denton's Elders, I need to set a new place at the table. I've always had Andrew Denton on that invitation list, his stories of who he has met would captivate all in attendance and keep everyone entertained. And now Clive James' additional commentary on life and happiness would assist for entertainment value. For me, he had a fantastic view of success and how it can be measured. I can apply his view of how to measure happiness to my own personal writing. He said that you're lucky if you're getting paid to do something that you'd do anyway for free, and my philosophy is that you can only keep learning from what you're doing, paid or unpaid. The biggest lessons in life, I think, are learned when you're doing it because you want to, not because you're obligated to, and in many cases a paid job becomes more of an obligation to sustain the intangible aspects of life. Continue to do what you do naturally, and your reward will be first and foremost to yourself and no one else. They can't take that away.

Me and My Pencils

For they send many running in the other direction, to me they are a challenge, but certainly rewarding. Not for everyone, the pencil skirt is something I have come to cherish. I never used to enjoy the constricting high waist of the skirt of my school uniform, but have learned to embrace my pencils skirts, as they certainly embrace me, and in all the right places too.
There was a moment in the Galleries Lafayette in Paris when my heart literally grew. I had found a black Hussein Chalayan on a sale rack (impossible I know) and the instant I tried it on, it was like magic what it did for my figure. I suddenly had a waist and hips, and because it finished somewhere north of my belly button, made my legs appear longer too. I know people with heavier legs aren't really supposed to wear pencils skirts as something with more fullness balances their silhouette but I've found some styles that are without a doubt true gems.
You've got to love Collette Dinnigan sample sales as well, because she's taken some gorgeous and truley unique fabrics in the past and turned them into optical illusion masterpieces. While the black Chalayan one is safe and like having plastic surgery yet not going anywhere near a scalpel, the red and gold ones make more of a statement thanks to the texture they create. They're great for work because they appear structured and change your posture to a more upright position. But beware, people will be able to tell if you're uncomfortable, so trying many styles on is the key.
Cinderella's story.

T H A N K Y O U

I'd like to start by saying a big thank you so much to you all for supporting me and continuing to read PROFILE. It's been four weeks today since I placed a tracker on my blog and here's a map of where you all come from in the world. I consider you to be on this fantastic journey with me so it's only fair that I keep you up to date with the progress of http://www.profile-profilemagazine.blogspot.com
I'm very proud to say that in the past four weeks alone, I've had over 300 visitors to PROFILE and hope that I continue to be able to provide you with something interesting to read and look at for a brief few moments during your day.
I love writing for my blog and will keep writing as much as I can over the holidays, stay tuned.
THANK YOU again,
Tegan

A Disobedient Girl | Ru Freeman

There's always an overwhelming sense of loss when finishing a much loved novel don't you think? Maybe that's too dramatic an assumption, but I know I've felt the pinge of no longer being able to look forward to sitting down and absorbing in the pages that twist and turn once I close the covers for the final time.
Most recently, this was the case for Ru Freeman's A Disobedient Girl. Her brilliant style of writing and fantastic plot, woven only at the end left me reveling in how brilliant this story really was. Transporting between chapters, and in this novel, different voices for two separate protagonists very cleverly told the journey of two women, one all in the space of two or three days, the other spanning thirty years. And it's this technique that generously answered all the questions in the end so perfectly, I was in, not wanting it to end and could recommend this for anyone's Christmas stocking.
Don't let the title fool you, naughty or nice.

Choc Chip Cookies | Dairy and Gluten Free

Remind me again why I turned the oven on, on a 35C day? Call me crazy, but these cookies are definitely worth it. As promised back in one of my very first blogs, here's the tried (many times) and tested recipe for the yummiest dairy and gluten free choc chip cookies around.
You'll need an electric mixer for this. In a large mixing bowl, mix 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup of brown sugar and 1/2 cup of Nuttelex (dairy free margarine). Then once combined, add 2/3 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1 egg, mix again. Add 1 1/2 cups of gluten free all purpose flour, 2/3 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and mix. Mix in 100g of Sweet William Dairy Free Chocolate Chips. Place baking paper on a tray and spoon tablespoon size mixture onto the baking sheet. Bake at 180C for 10 minutes, it's very quick I know. But there's just enough time to lick the bowl and beaters before they come out as golden little rock cakes. That's the beauty of them they don't flatten out like many other cookies tend to do. They're really easy to remove from the tray as well, and they slide right onto a cooling rack. All a little too easy really, they're most definitely too easy to eat and you won't be able to stop at one, I promise.
There you have it. Little moments of bliss.

Colette Paris

I am proud to be the bearer of the most wonderful news. 213 RUE SAINT-HONORÉ 75001 PARIS might just be my favourite address in Paris, and for this reason alone, elaboration is key. Colette houses unique cd's all amongst a wall of head phones for true guilty pleasures, and one off books too. Treasured specialty jewellery and boutique beauty products including Australia's own Model Co also make the event of visiting this store memorable. But the defining style reigns from the gorgeous candles and fragrances leading the path to the stairs to level two, mens and ladies fashion. I was in awe when I visited one wintry Paris afternoon, and didn't want to leave even though my tummy was grumbling. There's a great cafe in the basement but my budget couldn't stretch.
And now there's one opening as a pop-up store in London... oh take me there. What makes this even more special is that it's a bit like a treasure hunt to gain entry though. It's home is at the Old Truman Brewery's Boilerhouse and no no, it's not as simple as just walking in the door. One must look out for Nissan Cube cars at venues and events around London and then ask the driver for a membership card to admit you. Cool.
Innovation is not an option, it's an essential element prescribed to brilliant ideas and all creatively housed under Colette's roof. Home sweet home.

apple | green | duck

I'm a big, big fan of anything green, therefore I'm a big, big fan of these fabulous bags from apple green duck. They're only about $2.95 each, and they're made of calico with gorgeous prints or eye catching ribbon to make them a little more exciting than your standard Woolies or Coles bag for example. All stockist details are available at www.applegreenduck.com
How exciting for that mini-stocking filler we all dread the though of trying to find. They might just be perfect and the environment will thank you for it. You've gotta love that.
I was reading marie claire's December issue with Eva Mendes on the cover and it counts down the most memorable moments from the last decade. Al Gore's movement to treat the threat of Global Warming stands at the forefront of many other natural or humanly caused disasters, and we can all try and help in some small way.

Victoria's Secret 2009

They put on a show beyond anyone's expectations year after year, and 2009 Victoria's Secret didn't disappoint. November 19, cue the most highly sought after and enviable models in the industry, call them angels and let them play. Doutzen is still one of my favourites, and our Australian angels also worked their magic including Abbey Lee Kershaw, Stephanie Stephens and Miranda Kerr. But the true astonishing fact is that once again, Heidi Klum has wowed the audience just weeks after giving birth to her fourth child. That woman needs to be scientifically studied, genetics shmanetics.
Fergie gave the models a run for their money in full angel get up, I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate fun in the fashion industry, when others take it so seriously. Pen down, there's nothing really left to say. The images speak for themselves.

A Street Car Named Desire in NY

Adoration for Cate Blanchette is at an all time high for me now. I would have loved nothing more than to see her perform in The Sydney Theater Company adaptation of A Street Car Named Desire along side Joel Edgerton, and now it's moved to New York. These stunning shots hark from US Vogue and portray the true range of Blanchette's facial expression perfectly. She's a true performer, and although she was injured at the start of the season in Sydney, here's hoping she doesn't incur further drama as the production travels. Australian pride in spades.

Britney | Concert

Gimme more was all I could think, without givin me whiplash from all those head flicks. Britney's concert was well worth seeing, even if it didn't reach it's full showstopping potential. To be that close in proximity to her was true excitement for all in the audience, yet it was as though she was a little unsure of herself and not confident if left alone on stage, giving more of a puppeteering performance for the stage managers. Her back up dancers provided true talent, and to steal an observation by my friends, produced the most personal part of the show when they were individually introduced towards the end, right before she performed Toxic and Baby One More Time. The crowd roared when these oldies came on, and boy were they goodies... Perhaps she should have stuck to her former hits rather than a lot of songs from her new album that no one has heard before. Otherwise spanning the arena to see a very still audience, this was the only time right at the end, when people jumped out of their seats to sing along.
Unsteadily skipping in her heels, she didn't so much dance, but get pushed around the stage on wheeled props, but I'm not complaining, Me Against The Music saw her finally giving the Britney performance we all expect from a worldwide star performer. Lip syncing her address to the audience, and then lip syncing the one ballad she was supposed to perform live didn't leave much to impress with, and her constant disappearance from the stage no doubt to regain her breath back, left no opportunity to interact and engage the audience. We had great seats and could see everything clearly, and it's the company you go with that makes the experience memorable. For all the teenage girls that went to the effort of dressing up, this was most definitely for you, and I hope if there are any dreams of performing in the future, that last night's show gives inspiration to do a better job. See you at the peak.

7 Fantismes of Women

It will be three years on Sunday, since I flew from Sydney to Paris. I would love nothing more than to travel back there again, and my nostalgia for France lies firmly in this book. I was lucky enough to be taken on a private tour with a friend through Maison Moet et Chandon, given tastings of First Cru and amazing other treats. It's a time I'll cherish fervently and this book is a memento of that particular 'rock star' day.
Karl Lagerfeld's brilliance stems beyond fashion design into photography. 7 Fantismes of Women highlights the beauty of Moet et Chandon and features Helena Christensen seductively telling the story through these images. To me, it's a priceless book, not only for the sentimentality of where it came from, but for the relationship between luxury fashion and luxury drinks that inspires so many. Hardcover decadence.

CHRISTMAS | 09

Spanning three stories, the QVB Christmas Tree is a sight to behold. In collaboration with Swarovski Crystals, the tree shimmers brightly at the base on Ground Floor, and twinkles right to the top, near the dome. This image is deliberately cut in half, made from two photo's I took at the base and at the top. If you get a chance to venture into the city before Christmas, this sight will certainly put you in the spirit of all things Christmas.
Another spectacular vantage point for Christmas lights, is sparkling brightly in Louis Vuitton's window display. The famous motif that makes the French fashion house instantly recognisable, has been blown up in neon lights to represent what Christmas is all about. See for yourself at the corner of Castlereagh Street and King Street in Sydney.

Fashion Extremes

Fantastic fashionable fantasies were in full swing at the Nars event hosted by Marc Jacobs and Daphne Guinness. She was decked out in Alexander McQueen and truly an illustration rather than real life figure that any mere mortal could relate to. I sat through Transformers the other week and had never been more confused by a non-existing plot line. But Guinness proves that you can indeed tell a story with a little trans-formative help from your garments.
And at the other end of the spectrum is Rachel Bilson. In my opinion, she never gets it wrong. Her style is always impeccable and rarely more over the top than sporting her favourite lime green sunglasses. This particular outfit is a personal fave, it's classic at the same time as being completely modern thanks to the cropped pants and tucked in shirt. Conservative as it is, she's still feminine thanks to her flowing hair and shoes, all effortlessly pulled off to perfection.
Inspiration anyone?

Favourite Moments in Fashion

It's a personal revelation that I realised as I looked through my collection and snapshots of favourite moments in fashion, that they should revolve around colour and mood as opposed to style and garments.
Grace Kelly on a beach, looking very happy and relaxed, has to be the epitome of summer. Her white bikini is simple and she appears incredibly comfortable, exuding confidence.
It's Christy Turlington's overall expression in this Calvin Klein campaign that resonates her self assurance. The ability to make the setting look warm, while she's in nothing but her intimates is a talent, achieved through her confident posture and assuring glare.
The Ralph Lauren Romance fragrance campaign featured a model couple, and there is a sensitive feel to these shots, with very gentle sensibilities creating a romantic atmosphere, exactly what the fragrance is designed to be.
Collette Dinnigan's sparkling designs were recognised by celebrities such as Halle Berry and Naomi Watts in the early 00's and as were about to embark on the 10's, she's significantly driven Australia's fashion palette onto the world map. Designers such as Sass & Bide and Willow have emerged to grow the Australian Designers presence internationally, but Collette is and always will be the back bone.
I adore the make up colours on Jennifer Hawkins in this image. In some editorial shots, she can be made to look incredibly hard edged, or at the other end of the spectrum, the typical athletic girl next door. These colours soften her overall look and she appears graceful and classic, possibly the softest and most feminine I've ever seen her.
Scrapbook something that you see if you find it interesting. You never know how it could influence you or when and that's the beauty of it.

Beauty

When it previously heralded as 'Megan Gale' Jet Set Tan, I relied on it to safely bronze my fair complexion without exposing it to the Australian sun. And now, like all other products once falling under the label of Megan Gale, it's now re-branded as Invisible Zinc. There's a huge tv and print campaign featuring Elle MacPherson to assist with the title change, but the original ingredient is still the same. I use the SPF 30+ tinted moisuriser daily, and I still use the jet set tan when I know it would offend people's eyes to show them my incredibly pale legs in particular.
Invisible Zinc is a patented technology, developed by Ganehill in Western Australia. That's the one ingredient missing from Jet Set Tan, but it's ok, because once it's rubbed in, it's instantly dry and sunscreen over the top doesn't affect it's blending quality. I'm so impressed by it's streak free finish and I'll continue to use it in the future.
Our skin is an organ that's there to protect all our other organs, and I'm very mindful now to protect the protection.

Purple Sydney | Textiles

Have you noticed how Sydney has turned purple recently? A haze of Jacaranda blankets the footpaths and there's a multitude of ideas that spring to mind, spring being one of them; how original. After years of studying the wonders of Adobe Photoshop at university, I've played around with some textile print ideas just from taking a simple photograph of a snapshot covered section on my street. The first image is the original image, pebbled concrete and all. Then I've added multiply layers and added a filter to a selection of those layers. It's a little darker and has a real sense of nature about it compared to the next image. It has the same layers and filters, just removing the original background and it instantly looks more computer generated, less natural. Taking that one step further, I've taken the filters away on the next print and added screens, hard light and vivid light to create a more abstracted image, not very literal to the theme. The final shot is the most literal, removing all screens and simply piling on layer after layer of just the petals, and to me, it's suddenly a more mature print suitable for someone a little older. Try taking simple ideas from your surroundings and transforming them into more abstracted form. It'll make that bus trip home seem all the more interesting. I dare you.

Australian Model Watch

There was a period of time when Australian model Gemma Ward absolutely dominated the international runway. I remember seeing her emerge at various Australian fashion events in 2002 and 2003, but by the Autumn Winter collections in 2004, there was no model more sought after than her. In her early days, she had an uncanny resemblance to Goldie Hawn, with a doll like face, blond curls and pillowy lips. It was at a Chanel Resort show that the media began to notice her slightly curvier frame, and the rest as they say, is history.
I'm so saddened by the media hype surrounding her weight this week, I can't believe they're calling her fat. Ok, she's admittedly bigger than she used to be, but by social standards today, her figure is healthy and balances her tall frame. Ward lives in New York, and hasn't modelled since the January 2008 death of her rumoured love at the time, Heath Ledger. But he was also reportedly linked to an Olsen at the same time so I'm not believing any stories. And she took a stellar turn in The Black Ballon, showing casing her acting talents last year, so it's no surprise that she's left the short lived career of a model to focus on other interests. She's 22 years old and has already had an amazing and exciting career, I can only wish her well in her career: part 2.
Taking a lighter spin on the topic, the situation reminds me of an obsessed fan blubbering from behind black, tear smudged eyes "leave Britney alone". Considering I'm seeing her in concert next week, who knows what to expect. Britney's come under serious fire in Australia for lip-syncing, and I don't mind at all, as long as she puts some energy into her famous dance routines. Don't let us down Britney.
So I can only say leave Gemma alone. She's young and healthy, and although the recent images don't quite portray it, hopefully she's happy too.