Friday morning I was thrilled to have the opportunity to meet Dita up close and personal at the global launch of her new vintage inspired fashion label Muse. Taking inspiration from her much loved wardrobe of 1940′s fashion, Dita has created a simple and elegant line of garments built on couture principles. Each garment is constructed using high quality fabrics, in built corsetry for support and structure as well as those vintage details that those of us so familiar with the nuances of these garments, will applaud. Grosgrain hemming tape and internal waist tape are just two of the immaculate details Dita has included in her creations.

Understanding her fan base has meant Dita created a collection that will both appeal to, and fit, her legion of glamour girls in training. With sizes ranging from 8-20, much thought has been applied in creating these garments that fit, flatter and will remain elegant wardrobe staples for years to come. Each piece has been carefully chosen to compliment the life of a modern women seeking to inject the simple chic of a vintage garment without wanting to appear too retro. From the gorgeous draped, one shouldered formal wear dress to the must have trench coat, this collection is the perfect capsule wardrobe for a woman of style and grace.

Dita’s stunning, 1940′s inspired, print dress featuring her own hand print and signature.

Such a delight! Dita takes time out for a quick chat.

Beautiful friends from Highball Burlesque and I were thrilled to see this collection.

Appearing exclusively in David Jones, this range will be available to the public from February 2012. Watch this space for further updates!

It’s my super cute look number two for Halloween!

Outfit

It just so happened that on a previous trip to Texas, I’d stumbled across this cool authentic cheerleaders outfit. I’d had it stored away for a special occasion, and wouldn’t you know it; it’s just perfect for Bonnie Rose – it even has a ‘B’ on it!  The amazing red suede wedges are from the Spring Summer collection at Siren Shoes.

Makeup Products

Base – Bourjoris liquid foundation in ‘vanilla claire’.

Bobby Brown concealer in ‘cool sand’

Face of Australia Translucent powder in ‘Outback’.

Highlighter – cream highlighter by Urban Decay

Eyeshadow – Urban Decay.  Base- ‘Polyester Bride’,  Lid- ‘ Shattered’, Crease -’ Mildew’.

Eyeliner – Liquid eyeliner in black by Essence

Mascara- Loreal Telescopic in black

Lashes - The Face Shop

Blush – MAC ‘Desirous’

Brows – Brow shadow by Ardel

Lips – Pencil in “No. 6” by Stephanie Marais, lipstick in “Trolley Dolly” by Chi Chi

Download!

Not only have my wonderful Some Fancy Ladies™ team helped me create this great image to share, we’ve created a download for you to use this Halloween as a wallpaper for your smart phone or desktop!  Just visit Some Fancy Ladies here and it’s all your’s for free!

2012 Calendar

On Friday the Some Fancy Ladies™ 2012 calendar finally arrived at headquarters here, and OMG!! It is freaking amazing! So get on over to the website and order your copies now – If you place your order before the end of October, your copy will come personally autographed by each of the ladies. Don’t wait – we’re shipping right now to get your Christmas orders across the world in time!

 

*this post is sponsored by Nuffnang*

Guess where I am right this second? Yes, I’m blogging from my phone down at Southern Cross Station in Melbourne with the Schweppes team.

While the sun shines down for another spectacular day, the lads here are keeping me amused with both their cocktail suggestions and their juggling skills.
They tell me that Cocktails are back but I doubt they ever left us. Certainly not me; these guys and I go way back.
Today we’re using lemons, limes and oranges, the staple of most fruit bowls; to make our cocktail splash.
I’m partial to a bit of Schweppes Agrum, so just what is the virtual bar tender suggesting I imbibe this evening?

A night on the town? Oh well, if you insist!
I’m already practicing my party poses on their big screen.

If you’re looking for some inspiration for this weekends festivities, pop on over NOW to Southern Cross station to see me, and we can pose with our best cocktail Blue Steel faces. Or come and see these lads in their yellow suspenders anytime before 7pm in the next few days.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

On Saturday I had the privilege of spending some time with Celebrity Stylist Gok Wan on his Australian Westfield Tour. Here to launch the new Westfield body shape calculator, and encourage women to explore their personalities through style; Gok took a moment out to chat with me about some of my pressing style questions.

My obvious love of lingerie comes through in this interview, and I was particularly interested to chat with Gok about that topic as he has his own line of shape wear that does larger sizes beautifully. Check it out at Simply Gok Wan.

There were a few other things we chatted about off camera, like our favourite vintage reproduction labels, (he loves Diva and Vivien of Holloway) and even what pomade he uses in his hair, (I recommended Atomic Life). There was so much we could have stayed and talked about, but it was a refreshing moment to chat to a fashion industry insider who is just as passionate as I am about the beauty on the inside being given every opportunity to shine without. Amazing work Gok, keep giving women what we need!

*This post is a Nuffnang Sponsored post*

It just wouldn’t be the proper introduction to a weekend without a Friday night cocktail hour here. Even if you’re someone (like me) who works on the weekend, there is something very important about mixing it up and giving your days some punctuation.

The whole idea of coming home and mindlessly cracking open whatever happens to be lurking in the fridge is totally unacceptable to my mind; I mean, where is the glamour in that! No, instead I like to take a moment to weigh up my mood with what delights happen to be in my bar that evening and set about creating a cocktail menu for the evening.

Now you could get quite organized about the whole process, plan out your menu and go on a spending spree to stock up the cabinet; but most of us have a standard selection of our favorite liquors and those that have been hiding out for a while.  Once I have all of these lining the bench top I like to do a bit of a Cocktail Creation moment.

Like being the kind of chef that stands in the kitchen and begins with one key ingredient, adding each new one as you imagine the flavor combinations; that’s how I create my cocktails. And while I’m not much chop when it comes to creating the next big thing for the plate, I may possibly be a cocktail savant.

 With the warmer days here, my afternoons are always tinged with that wish to be somewhere tropical, and with that thought in mind this is the cocktail I created especially to cater for your holiday state of mind. (Yes, this is a Candice DeVille original cocktail, created at 3am as most great inventions are)

I’ve named this drink for my favorite designer of classic 1950’s Hawaiian poolside chic.

 

“The Shaheen Dream”

Blender 1/3 filed with ice (approx. 3 cups of ice cubes)

250 ml of Pearl Royal Coconut water (without a doubt the best and most pure tasting coconut water in my opinion).

Half a fresh mango

4 jiggers of Peach Schnapps

4 jiggers Cointreau

½ cup Caster sugar

Half a lemon slice

Lychees and maraschino cherries for garnish

1.         Using your lemon slice, rub around the rim of the glass until it is coated in juice, the place rim down into the caster sugar to give it a nice even coating.

2.         Place ice, coconut water, mango, peach schnapps and Cointreau in the blender. Blend on high until all ingredients are just combined and the ice has become slushy. Don’t over blend.

3.         Pour into each sugar rimmed glass, garnish the rim with a split lychee and maraschino cherry on toothpick.

4.         Drink with friends while wearing your best Hawaiian print sarong dress.

* A jigger measure is 1 ½ ounces*

 

While you’re in this laid back and tropical mood, it always pays to have another delight on offer to surprise you senses and keep your guests smiling at your exceptional hostess skills.

The perfect compliment to my “Shaheen Dream” is this sizzling, sun-drenched taste.

“Hot as Haiti”

Two seeded 1-inch lime wedges

Two seeded 1-tangerine or orange wedges

1 tablespoon sugar

1 1/2 cups of crushed ice

1 ounce of killer dark rum – I personally prefer Sailor Jerry Rum

3-4 ounces of Schweppes ginger ale

1. Place the lime, tangerine and sugar in the bottom of a heavy bottomed 8 ounce glass.
2. Muddle the mixture until the juice is extracted and the sugar dissolved.
3. Add enough ice to fill the glass, add the rum and top up with the Schweppes ginger ale.

Fancy that drink now? I’ll bet you do!  To help you find your muse, Schweppes has created the ‘Cocktail Revolution’. Because enjoying a drink is a sensory experience. It is a moment that should entice your eyes, set your taste buds alive and put a smile on your face.

I know not everyone has my gift for finding a fabulous flavor (you’re probably that amazing  chef I envy so much), Schweppes has created a virtual cocktail mixing experience where you can come and mix it up. Located at Southern Cross Station from now until November 4^th, from 7am-7pm each day, you can come and create your own cocktail sensation.

In a virtual reality experience, you get to pick a Schweppes product and a selection of fruit, that the very clever virtual bartender will then mix up your own personalized recipe for you to take away and impress your friends with. But that’s not all..

While you’re getting your mix on, the Schweppes virtual cocktail bar will take your photo that can be uploaded to Facebook and tagged, giving you the chance to win all kinds of great Schweppes cocktail prizes – including the major prize of hosting your own Schweppes mixing party!!

So come on down to Southern Cross Station and join the Cocktail Revolution, where you can take home a goodie bag of your own Schweppes mixers and recipes.  I’ll be there on Thursday 20^th October in my vintage cocktail finery to mix it up with you. Who knows – you might even inspire my next cocktail creation!