Curvy bra brand in search of a new Aussie pin-up girl . . .

The UK bra brand, Curvy Kate are about to launch a 'curvy' model search in Australia, focusing on searching for "naturally curvy girls who are confident, charismatic and above a D cup."

The winner will model for the Curvy Kate brand.

According to the Curcy Kate crew, the Australian average boob size is now above a D cup and the average dress size a 14, many fashion brands still lack in choosing models that relate to these statistics, choosing stick thin girls to support their brand. Going against the grain, Curvy Kate are championing Australia’s shapely figures by searching for "a D plus girl who is curvy, charismatic and confident with a fuller body and natural bust."

With over 2000 entrants in the UK in the first three years, 'Star in a Bra Australia' looks set to see a big response with the brand now being sold in over 150 stores nationwide.

Curvy Kate specialises in lingerie for the fuller bust from D to K cups with back sizes from 6-24. Bras retail from $74.95 to $89.95. Take a look at http://www.curvykate.com/.

The competition will launch in Australia soon . . . Will keep you posted . . .

A big box of memories . .

I have been going through boxes of 'stuff'.
Lots of this 'stuff' has been accumulated between various moves, homes and relationships and much of it is now, at home, in one of those stupidly expensive inner-city storage spaces.
And boy, you should see what I been uncovering. It was a rummage through big chunks of my life.
There were exercise books from high school; modern history essays; school reports; musings to former boyfriends (that were never sent); hard copy pictures from when I first started writing in newspaper-land and even dolls, all of whom I had named with pinned-on name tags that are still in tact.
There was my old McDonalds uniform (ditto for my green school uniform); a tonne of small bits of bric-a-brac that I had picked up on my first travels; a heap of photo albums and even an impressive dot painting by indigenous artist Russell Saunders. (It was a thank-you gift when I guest judged the 'Flair' fashion awards in Taree in 1997.)
Looking back at 'stuff' from your past is cathartic and in my case, it also pin-pointed some good and questionable fashion memories.
There was some crappy and some kinda cool stuff. And once I'd brushed away a wee bit of cockroach poo from some of it I found a Christian Lacroix, panne velvet floral jacket; an Azzzedine Alaia black short jumpsuit and a beige cream safari suit (both from the early 90s); a stack of 'vintage' Morrissey & Edmiston pieces (even some M&E alligator vinyl pants); a YSL 'Variation' red suit; a Thierry Mugler tie-dyed biker-shape jacket and of course, all my school formal dresses.
One from Thornton Hall (it was a hot New Zealand design house) as well as a Lynda Car frock in blood-red. It was silk georgette short, swathed and if I remember correcntly, a dress in which I think I got lucky.
Not forgetting a Jonathan Ward green velvet dress, complete with a huge, matching, satin-back wrap. There are a series of Stephen Galloway exquisite white, puffy shirts and brown, wide-legged silk-georgette Palazzo pants. And hey, even a George Gross beaded jacket with gold and silver matte beading on cream silk.
The red woollen Armani Exchange military jacket is quite fantastic (and will get a run this nyear) as is the Norma Kamali, tan-colored over sized shirt. Mad about the Cartier soft briefcase (and without the mildew, it will come up beautifully) and there's even a cream silk kimono with black spots from some hard-working artisan in Japan.
And in amongst all the fashion-ese there's also a box full of trophies, medals and ribbons from my dancing eisteddfod days and a tonne of baby clothes that I wore, let alone the Gucci loafers given to my son when he was born.
I still love the delicious cream 'Val Doonican' cardigan my mum knitted my son (google Val and you'll get the picture of his penchant for cardies).
It's funny, but it's like what do you do with all this stuff?
Will my son 'get' it once I explain what it's all about?
I only wish storage costs weren't so darn expensive, otherwise I would keep it, and lots more, forever . . . .

Babies . . .

Even of you're not into cutesy 'babies' . . . this doco looks like a visual goodie . . http://www.focusfeatures.com/video/babies_the_trailer

Coogee Bay Hotel embraces a responsible alcohol alternative: The Hangover Squad . . .

Today's story at http://tiny.cc/bvtv9 got me thinking about a conversation I recently had with former bar promoter, Sam Coffey.
It's all about an idea from this one Sydney guy who is taking a softly, softly approach to helping the Coogee Bay pub avoid alcohol-related conflict.


If encountering a batch of big, burly bodyguards isn't your idea of enhancing a night out, enter a new wave of pub 'security', aptly called The Hangover Squad.
THS is a group made up of professional people who are hired by venues to help their customers drink alcohol in a responsible manner.
"I sincerely believe that given the right support, this business could play a large role in helping to change the prevalent binge drinking culture that exists in a large section of the Australian society,'' says events organizer & former bar promoter, Sam Coffey.
So much so, he has plans to take THS to the broader community: "I developed it at the Coogee Bay Hotel and it is already beginning to change the culture there as slowly customers are becoming more responsible themselves.''
The business is so named as it proactively targets hangovers before they happen, basically having the goal of preemptively preventing them. It also makes it a very positive evolutionary development in the management of the Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) at venues.
"The business has been developed, tested & refined on the grounds of the Coogee Bay Hotel over the past 13 months, where it has shown great results. It has significantly reduced customer conflict & increased general customer well being and the venue’s customer feedback is that of overwhelming support & appreciation for the service.''
Sam says “The Hangover Squad are the drinkers’ friend, not the drinkers’ enemy,” as they work work with a venue’s customers with the goal of positively influencing their drinking behaviour.
"THS proactively use their skills of communication, negotiation & influence to help customers have a responsibly enjoyable night, actively & discreetly, watching over the changing intoxication levels of customers within a venue.''
With an emphasis on duty of care, Sam says THS members will advise customers on responsible drinking behaviour, give out free bottles of water, remind people to eat if they haven’t done so
already, advise rapid drinkers to slow down with their drinking.
"I sincerely believe that given the right support, this business could play a large role in helping to change the prevalent binge drinking culture that exists in a large section of the Australian society,'' says Sam.
For info, email info@thehangoversquad.com or call 0433 132 731

David Jones . . the verdict, the frocks and the buzz . . . .

We're all a bit over the 'Store Wars' moniker (gawd, it was coined way back in my old newspaper days) but it always raises its head around this time.
David Jones and then Myer unleash their latest designer collections with mega runway shows for the new season and it all turns into one mega fashion fiesta.
Why one fashion show, with 350 invite-only guests makes SO much news on the TV, in newspapers, on radio and online is about one thing only. Well three things, actually.
1/DJs have a big ad spend so the media love them and 2/outlets love a pic of a pretty frock to counterbalance other shit that happens and 3/retail has to fight, more than ever, for every bit of cash register business it can get . . .
Last nights show was a return to the glam, old school party days of the retailer, even though most were out the door before 9pm and home in time to watch for Packed to the Rafters.
After being greeted by new Djs boss Paul Zahra, we made our way up 7 sets of escalators for French 'poo (Veuve) and food from Guillaume Brahimi served to guests like Dannii Minogue, Lara Bingle, Djs face Megan Gale, Jodhi Meares, Justin Hemmes (admiring his latest gal-pal, the divine model Alexandra Agoston) and the svelte actress, Melissa George.
As usual, there was a huge contingent of lifestyle, fash-mag and gossipy media types including Fairfax and News daily paper editors who must as have been chomping at the bit, as while this was happening, some serious shit was happening in Canberra.
Designers like Lisa Ho, Collette Dinnigan, Alannah Hill, Scanlan & Theodore, Trelise Cooper and George Gross showed the gamut of the saleable and safe seasonal trends: camel, lace, leather and red, on a black perspex runway that snaked around the former "On 7" international designer precinct of the store.
Giving a fresher, younger vibe to the show (and to the Djs brand) were names like Dion Lee, Josh Goot, One Teaspoon, Thurley, Willow, Camilla & Marc, Bianca Spender and even Camilla Franks, who managed to move her signature kaftans (given a tick of approval by the Oprah Foundation) outta loud-color land and into a nice shade of autumnal brown.
Everything on the runway look polished and poised (the model's MAC make-up was incredibly strong and a tad heavy around the lip-line department) and there was very polite applause following the finale of 'red' creations from each of DJs featured designers.
The passive "I was just thinking about the chicken sausages I'm having when I get home,'' line from my front row buddy had me spluttering the sparkling eau, but then, for many, this is just another requirement of their job.
To see and to be seen. Then get home for that sausage.
All up, it was a clean-looking, sleek and commercially minded show . . . A strong 8/10 . .
THE BUZZ . . .
*It was matter of coming, seeing and leaving for News boss John Hartigan and Seven's James Warburton, who both where pretty much the first media heavies down the escalators and out straight after the frock show.
*Vivacious shoe designer and budding WAGS reality TV star Terry Biviano and fiance Anthony "Minni" Minicello were showing off one mighty fine David Nader-designed engagement ring. Marriage is on the cards for them "next year" but perhaps even sooner . . .
*A little bit of chat about a reality TV show starring the bolshie marie claire editor, Jackie Frank. With the unveiling of 'Park Street' on Foxtel in a few weeks (I've seen an ep and there are a few unexpected stand-out characters) it seems everyone is on the tele nowadays . . . .
*While the multi-million dollar sale of sass & bide was pretty much yesterday's news (such is the pace of the news cycle, including fashion) with most hounds still in awe of the staggering figure Myer paid for the brand. Imagine what Collette Dinnigan could get?
*Pia Miranda, Alyssa McLelland, Gracie Otto, Marcus Graham, Emma Lung were some of the cool thesps in the Djs crowd
*Other guests included Skye Leckie, Lyndey Milan, Julian Tobias, Lisa Keighery and Angela Bishop while doing a great job introducing the evening was fashion boss, David Bush.
*Wondered why the man who invented Australian Fashion Week and who is the recipient of this year's government-lauded Fashion Laureate award, Simon Lock was in Row B . . . and when there were only 2 rows, 'twas a bit rough . . . He really deserves much more than that . .


above runway pic courtesy of News Limited