paradise

Finally time for another outfit post - done hurriedly in Maggie's cute little room. After lots of fiddling with the flash and pursuing the little light we had on a Sunday evening, we managed to produce these lovely highly exposed and saturated shots of Maggie.

Wearing: Alpaca wool knit cardigan by DL, grey sweatshirt from General Pants and black supre skirt.

Styling and photography by sharon@girlofthecosmos, and makeup by Maggie herself.

The Kids Aren't Alright

All eyes are on the Murdochs, the media is eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the phone hacking saga, while in the horn of Africa something momentous is taking place. Famine is spreading, and people are dying from starvation - something that shouldn't be happening in this day and age while we are sitting in our comfortable bourgeois homes, swamped by updates on the News of the World scandal. As hunger strikes, thousands of Somalians are escaping on foot each day to the world's largest refugee camp in Kenya. With eleven million suffering from the effects of a drought-related food crisis, how can we not question the validity of the avalanche of coverage concerning the Murdoch family? Yes, it is important, but does it not pale in comparison to what would be the equivalent of half the Australian population facing starvation, amongst them two million malnourished children? 


With famine officially declared in South Somalia, Unicef chief, David Bull, unable to withstand the media's perverse prioritising, finally spoke out. Buying out full page spreads in local UK newspapers, Bull inserted an advertisement in the form of an open letter.

"I am writing to ask for your support in moving the news agenda on.

The story about phone hacking does matter, but there’s another, far bigger and vital story that’s going under-reported."

As a citizen of not just our own country, but the world, we have a responsibility to act now, because:

Exploit social media! Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Blogger!

Pictures from http://jonslattery.blogspot.com/ and lolsnaps.com

Peek

What's to come for the winter chills:

Lots of charming photos to come...

styling by sharon,photos by sharon@girlofthecosmos on Flickr.grizzly photo by maggie@girlofthecosmos on Flickr.

Skying

The first single from The Horrors' new album, 'Skying.'

Faris Badwan's enigmatic vocals layered on rich synths and big 80's guitar sounds - brooding, shoegaze-y, cosmic - all at once.

The end of an era

From J.K. Rowling's worldwide phenomenon sprung forth a generation of fiercely loyal witches and wizards,  banding together in cinemas all over the world awaiting the culmination of ten years of magic. The silence is tangible, as we once again experience the series' transcendent capacity to remove us from our dreary humdrum lives to a world of jumping chocolate frogs, moving staircases, and silver wisps of memories stored in delicate little bottles. Goodbyes are always sad, but as the adventures of a skinny boy  with a lightning bolt scar on his forehead comes to a close, I'm grateful for the glimpse of a brilliant world that  Rowling conjured, and David Yates produced. Each page bristling with tales of friendship and love, and each film packed with thrills and triumphs - the sanctum that is Hogwarts will always be in our little hearts, unwavering, brimming with magic, whenever we need an escape.

I Should Have Known Better

I am absolutely horrified when I see young girls frolicking around town serving dessert on their face. Cake Face is not as delicious as it sounds. It's understandable that the main cause of this phenomena is acne, blemishes and scarring, one of many first-world problems. "Less is more" is an excellent solution to this disgustingly sweet epidemic, but sometimes it's just never enough, because of skin pigmentation, visible bumps and flaky skin (no amount of make up will ever cover flaky skin. EXFOLIATE! EXFOLIATE!) But I have found the holy grail to creating a flawless canvas with the least amount of makeup possible. It's all about creating an illusion.

Lisa Eldridge is an English make-up artist, who has worked with countless models, actors and artists on photo shoots and commercials. She has had covers and spreads in Vogue and other high-end fashion magazines and in her spare time, shares invaluable makeup tips on YouTube. This video titled "Acne Covering Makeup" is absolutely amazing. It is a step-to-step guide on how to achieve the perfect face without piling it on like there's no tomorrow. Have a geeze. Be sure to watch to the end for mind-blowing before and after shots.

Subscribing to Lisa Eldridge might be the smartest thing you did today.

Young Guns

Hailee Steinfeld, 14 and Elle Fanning, 13 are two of the fresh young faces who've landed the campaigns of some of fashion's biggest names. 

I love all campaigns of Marc Jacobs', and this is no exception. The fall 2011 campaign features Fanning shot by Juergen Teller in a brick red dress with matching patent boots and beige socks, completed with a leather handbag. Everything in the shot has been orchestrated to whimsical perfection, with that stray wisp of hair flitting across Fanning's face completing the photograph. Watching Sofia Coppola's Somewhere is definitely at the top of my to-do list.

I first became familiar with Hailee Steinfeld when I saw the Coen brothers' film, True Grit. Pitched against the big, tough personas of Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin, she carried herself with just as much - if not more, grit. However, now clad in feminine 40s silhouettes with a country backdrop for the latest Miu Miu Fall 2011 campaign, there is something so nostalgic and demure about the photographs of Steinfeld shot by Bruce Weber. Perhaps it's the sadness in her face that tells the tale of a lost child bride, or maybe the desolate landscape with runaway train tracks - it just works, in that offhandish kind of way that still preserves its elegance and charm.

Photos from Oystermag.com and fashiongonerogue.com

Chloé Resort 2012

I haven’t had time to go through all of the resort collections yet, but of the ones I have seen, Chloé was the one that ended up tugging at my heartstrings. With Hannah MacGibbon gone and Clare Waight Keller yet to make her debut, the Chloé design team reworked the classics to chic perfection. I don’t know if it’s my favourite or not, but the wide hems, breezy skirts in soothing pastels and tailored jackets immediately won me over. The dull teal colour of the parka and jacket are particularly endearing and I especially love the black blouse paired with the long floral blazer. The collection's effortless femininity is a sure winner; -so dreamy.

Photos from style.com

Bespoke SS 11/12

Some time in the middle of June, I tagged along with Sophia to bespoke PR's spring summer showing. Other than treating us to delicious glazed pear tarts and chatting about fashion interning, the lovely ladies at bespoke let us wander between the racks brimming with fresh, new designs.

Shown above are Carmen Steffens, Martha Rey Swimwear, Mister Zimi, House of Iluka, Stillier, Venice Jewellery, Bijoux, Antoine + Stanley and more. I'm especially digging the grey suede vest and colour block swimsuits by House of Iluka. Really excited for the brilliant colours of summer!

When You Wake Up, You Will Find Me

Photograph: Yours Truly

Alice In The Eve dress, Jeffrey Campbell Litas in Navy Suede,

OPI nail polish in Alpine Snow

The next time around

Photographed by Maggie.

Wearing: Miss Unkon dress, Ausko wool hat from Market HQ, Jeffrey Campbell Litas, Mimco watch, bird skull ring and assorted bracelets from Sportsgirl, gifted silver detail ring