News | Hold the Glamour

Since arriving in Sydney, Australia a week ago the fabulous spring weather has been nothing but delightful. I love it here at this time of year. The days are sunny and bright, the evenings still crisp and cool. I can smell and feel the change of season and there’s an excitement in the air. The time has come to shed your winter layers and get moving, going. A rebirth is around the corner.

Sydney – My change room on Coogee Beach

Our shoot for Ezibuy goes well and we have great weather to prove it. We shoot in various suburbs in Sydney which include Coogee Beach, Seaforth, Dover Heights and the studio in Waterloo.

Sydney – Hello sunshine! Views from Dover Heights

Our mornings start at 6.30am for hair and make-up, so that means my alarm goes off at 5am to ensure I’m at work on time. By lunchtime we are well and truly in to our day and by 9pm I fall into my bed exhausted, more than ready to rest and be still.

Sydney – Studio day with a hair & make-up change

Location days are generally more difficult than shooting in the studio. You have weather, sun, reflection, equipment to maneuver and light to consider and work around. In the studio, it’s a controlled environment. You can change the background and adjust the lighting depending on whether you are shooting full length, waist-up or waist-down. I like mixing up my days in studio and on location.

Sydney – Time to bring on the glamour

I manage to have some down time with a dear friend of mine and her family on the Northern Beaches of Sydney and we have brunch at The Boathouse Palm Beach (my first time). The views are spectacular, the food is delicious (fresh Australian cuisine) and the atmosphere is beachside and truly relaxed. It is a must on your Sydney agenda and worth the 45 min drive north.

Sydney – Views from The Boathouse Palm Beach

Sydney – Lying on the grass soaking up the sun after our brunch at The Boathouse

Now, I return to my annual tax return, filing, opening of mail and general office work. It’s the other side to my, ‘oh so glamourous’ life. Ha!

What are some of your favourite Sydney spots to live or visit?

Where is the best ‘brunch’ served in your opinion?

What makes or defines the best brunch?

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September 5, 2012

Fashion darlink!

Over the weekend I flew from New York to Sydney. It was a good flight, as long as a 27-hour, door-to-door travel experience goes. It’s a long way people however, worth it at both ends of the journey. I truly believe the more you do it, the more familiar the process becomes therefore, the easier or more bearable the trip becomes. I’ve been making this journey four times a year for almost 11 years. It adds up quickly.

This week, New York Fashion Week commences and simultaneously, Melbourne Spring Fashion week has been making a colourful splash. It is a fashion explosion of fabric, hair, make-up, accessories, music, flashes, people, celebrity and poses.

Already, there are trends for both the northern and southern hemispheres emerging. Colour that is bright, bold and even neon in palette is everywhere. Denim is back and beautiful. Some of my favourite colours include cobalt, teal and coral. Not to forget florals, lace, metallics, prints and the forever favourite of black are hot, hot, hot no matter where your plane is landing.

Speaking of cobalt, I was walking along 23rd Street last week in New York when I looked up and saw at least six people in front of me wearing hues of cobalt. I stared in wonder, laughed and struggled to get my phone out of my bag to take a photo. I was crossing 6th Avenue so it wasn’t particularly safe and sensible of me. As I reached the other side of 6th Ave, half of my cobalt people walked down the subway steps whilst the others continued along 23rd. My photo-op was over. It was a great, random vision of colour.

A that moment, I was reminded what a fashion trend was. When people embrace something that is being sold to them and run with it on mass – no matter what it is. It is a trend. It is fashion.

So get ready as the world of fashion darlink prepares to unleash its power of persuasion and wonder. Stirring up a need inside us to buy, buy, buy. A must have if you will!

What are some of your favourite pieces or trends that are coming off the runways?

What do you simply oppose?

Do you have any predictions to share?

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August 28, 2012

New York rush hour

As I got off the ‘E’ train at 42nd Street and 8th Avenue this morning, I walked up one flight of stairs heading toward street level when I discovered hundreds of people swarming underground around me, frantically going somewhere. It was rush hour in New York at it’s best on a Monday morning.

I walked past the MTA ticket machines which were lined up side-by-side on one of the long corridors (there would have been about 10 of them). I couldn’t believe each line had approximately six to eight people, waiting to buy their train tickets. Some were patient and others were not. I had to take a photo.

NYC – 42nd Street and 8th Avenue subway stop

Out on street level, the Fashion District was buzzing and humming well and truly. It was 8.30am and the day was still young. People were rushing off in all directions. It’s an amazing sight and experience to say the least. So much activity. It reminded me why I love New York so much – the energy.

I look up at where I am when I get on the street, get my bearings then start walking to the studio. It was my first time at Go Studio (Penthouse). It only recently opened and it was a lovely new white space to work in.

NYC – 39th Street & 8th Avenue

When I walked in, the studio was familiar however, I didn’t know why. Then, someone in the crew mentioned that Project Runway aired an episode two weeks ago where the two teams had a fashion shoot in this same studio. Who would have known? New York is like that – so big however, tightly connected and woven in so many ways.

NYC – Go Studio (Penthouse)

I was about to leave for the day only to discover when I looked out one of the many windows that it was raining hard and fast. I didn’t know it was going to rain today so I didn’t bring an umbrella. I usually try to take notice of the weather reports since it’s New York and anything can happen and change at a moment’s notice. I like to be prepared where possible – I’m on foot most of the time.

The city was wrapped in a veil of haze and mist. It was hot and humid to say the least – the perfect summer storm that washes away all sins and sinners. A chance to start clean and new. I waited out the storm in the studio, happy I didn’t have to walk the streets with a plastic bag over my head (which is what I was going to do before the crew urged me to wait it out). I’m so glad I did. It was a beauty!

After an hour, the rain had stopped and I left for the subway again, dodging puddles along the way.

NYC – Summer storm

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August 21, 2012

Giving lady luck a shot in Atlantic City

My husband and I went away for the weekend with friends (who have two children of similar ages to our’s), for the first time since Mila was born almost four-and-a-half years ago. We were together, without children, overnight and away for over 24 hours. That means, we went to bed late and slept in without interruption to our precious sleep.

We drove to Atlantic City, New Jersey which is about two-and-a-half hours away without traffic. It took us a little longer with traffic and petrol/gas stops. We were ready to get out and stretch our legs by the time we arrived.

Atlantic City – Jennifer Miller and I on approach to our hotel

Atlantic City – Borgata Hotel

It was my first time to A.C. and I didn’t expect it to be so flat, on the coast and spread out like it was. It’s a little ‘Vegas’, where people come to gamble, see shows and get away from reality and daylight (we didn’t have a clock in our room). I’ve been to Vegas many times for both work and play and it’s on another level. Atlantic City is I guess, the east coast version of the gambling mecca.

A.C. – The view from our room on the 36th floor at the Borgata hotel

We checked in and took the fast elevator up to the 36th floor – what an amazing view and spread before us. It was lovely to see the ocean and calm of the blue sky. I love being by the water and coastline – I guess that’s all I know as I’ve lived in Sydney and New York for most of my life.

Then it was time for Jen and I to hit the spa whilst the men folk hit the floor for a flutter or two. A perfect way to make everyone happy as Jen and I don’t really gamble nor do we know much about that kind of stuff. We do know however, about spa treatments and what makes us feel good.

We had an afternoon of bliss – facial, massage, spa, steam room and sauna. It was a sleepy, relaxing and hypnotic experience. I had a hard time ‘waking-up’. We had zero interruptions or commitments and the time was ours – what a novelty!

A.C. – Jen and I after our afternoon at the spa

We return to our hotel room, get ready for dinner and meet our husbands at the restaurant. We inhale the food as we are well and truly hungry by now. We had a delicious meal accompanied with lovely wine to celebrate this first-time occasion (the kids were doing well and missing us just enough). Truth be told, they were excited that we had mentioned there may be a treat coming their way if they behaved well. I know you’re not supposed to ‘bribe’ your children – once in while is quite alright I think.

Next up, we all hit the floor. Jen and I received a crash course on the roulette table whilst the ‘men’ played with us dispersing chips of their own colour across the felt. We had some fun and killed some time then pulled out of the game just before we lost all our money. See, that’s why I don’t gamble with money.

I’d rather spend my money elsewhere and do other things with it. I personally believe when one is gambling, that you are giving the money away for free, for nothing. I found it rather sad, lonely and desperate to be honest. There were people from everywhere, young and old, people from all races giving lady luck a shot. It was a vortex of smoke, alcohol, lights, noise and people. I couldn’t believe they had designated ‘smoking’ areas. My hair and clothes stank like back in the day when people could smoke everywhere and anywhere. Haven’t times changed for the better?!

The next day we slept, ate, checked out and drove back home toward New York City. We passed a flea market that seemed like it was stuck in some time warp or better still, a Hollywood movie. We stopped and took a look around. It was hot, quiet and I felt sorry for the people trying to make a sale under such conditions and desperation.

A.C. – Flea market just as we were leaving our hotel

NYC – A view of the city from the Verrazano Bridge

By the time we made it home – the four of us couldn’t wait to wrap ourselves around our angels. We had missed them and it was wonderful to have had the opportunity to have missed them. Kisses and hugs were flowing for hours. We went for a walk around our neighborhood, then back for dinner, bath and bedtime. Another day, another weekend etched into our memory. Another fun weekend with our friends.

Have you ever been to Atlantic City? A casino or place to gamble? What did you think about it? Would you return?

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August 15, 2012

Goodbye Olympics, hello double standards

What do we do now that the London 2012 Olympics are finished? What are you doing? Did you watch any or all of it? Can you wait for the next games held in Rio? Are you a sports junkie? Are you over it?

In our household, we had the games on most of the time over the 16 day event. Even Mila and Levi became educated in the sports of water polo, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics and diving. We are not ‘quiet’ spectators and if we weren’t going for Australia, we were behind the USA, Croatia, Serbia or Montenegro (splintered pieces from the former Yugoslavia). It was a treat for them to have the TV on for a period longer than one of their ‘programs’. After a while, they forgot about it and the novelty wore off – thank goodness!

One of the sports we didn’t get to see unfortunately were the female weightlifters. There was a lot of talk around the Olympics regarding Holley Mangold for team USA, and Zoe Smith from Great Britain. Lots of people talking about how they are perceived by men and in media for being “big girls”… Really now?! Are you kidding me?!

Getty Images – A world-class Holley Mangold doing her thing

Camera Press – James Veysey (Zoe Smith showing us some of her red carpet curves)

I was firstly amazed at how brilliant these two young athletes are and what does it have to do with their weight, clothing size, body shape? They come across as grounded, funny, quick-witted, feminine women who love their sport and are very good at it. What does it have to do with men (predominately) sitting at home eating potato chips and what they think a world-class athlete should be and should look like? Who made up the rules by the way?

I have done a little research and am horrified that not only do some men feel this way however, there are some young women who do also. What is with that? How far have we come in the weight debate, size debate, sex debate? Now, we are talking about athletes and their skills and accomplishments. Who gives anyone the right to judge and more importantly, publicly comment on a world-class athletes size and weight rather than their ability and ranking?

Do we dissect and discuss a male weightlifters size, weight, shape or appearance (or any world-class athlete for that matter)? Clearly not! So why is it hot news when two chicks get on stage and lift some metal? Clearly, it’s double standards.

What are your thoughts and sentiments?

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August 9, 2012

There’s a new skyscraper in town – One World Trade Center

NYC – On my way to work listening to Snow Patrol

The other day I was walking to work (to shoot for a catalogue client) from the subway. It was so hot and humid already – I felt like I was about to melt. I was rushing to get out of the heat – put it this way, when I left home my hair was wet and by the time I arrived at the studio, my hair was basically dry. With the amount of hair I have it takes a long time for it to dry naturally. It has been one of the hottest summers I can remember in New York and most people I talk to would agree.

It appeared to be just another summers day in the city, to most of us New Yorker’s anyway. We go about our business like most other city or urban dwellers, rushing from point A to point B. The only people I see that are somewhat relaxed and taking it nice and slow are the tourists who have come to the Big Apple for their summer holidays. I can spot the tourists from a mile away – it is rather incredible really. I sometimes wish, I could be more like them in my own city – where I live, work and play without the need or desire to rush and hurry.

NYC – On the corner of Hudson and Canal Streets

The studio has an amazing view and the building is located on the corner of Hudson and Canal Streets. It’s on the top floor so we have panoramic views of the city spread out before us.

Once I was done with hair & make-up, I looked out the massive wrap around windows and saw the view below. I asked someone what the large building was in the centre. I was told it was One World Trade Center or 1 WTC (previously known as The Freedom Tower). I couldn’t believe how much of it was erected – all of a sudden it seemed. I was informed that as it stands now, 1 WTC is the tallest building in New York City and will finish up at 1776 feet (541 m) and will be 82 stories high. Now that’s a nose bleed!

NYC – The view from the studio

I haven’t been to 1 WTC in a long time so I’m not surprised by the transformation of the site. It has after all, been six years since work commenced. I’m simply not used to seeing the Skyscraper so prominently in the city’s skyline. It seems odd and foreign however, beautiful and sleek. I wonder when it will become familiar? I wonder what the new World Trade Center will look like when completed? It’s hard to really know until you experience it personally. From what I can see and read online and in the news, it will become an integral part of lower Manhattan and certainly of New York and what the city represents – an international city on so many levels where the people have become one and unified.

NYC – One Word Trade Center or 1 WTC

What do you think of One World Trade Center?

Have you seen it, been there?

Are you looking forward to its completion in 2014?

What does it mean to you?

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July 31, 2012

How sex sells

NYC – Broadway in SoHo

Yesterday I went to Cutler Salon in SoHo and on my way back to the subway stop, I saw something I’ve seen many times before however, was reminded of how funny, weird and odd it was. Hollister California (on the corner of Broadway and Houston) is a brand that describes itself as, ‘Classical, preppy style with an effortless attitude’. It is a brand for young, hot, tanned, pretty, cool dudes and chicks that evoke the ideal Californian beach lifestyle.

NYC – Hollister California’s store in SoHo

I smiled to myself as I looked around me at all the tourists not only doing a double-take but staring in disbelief, shock and at times amusement at what they saw. Two hot, early twenty somethings were standing outside the store’s entrance in nothing but a pair of red board shorts and a pair of havaianas on their feet. They were greased up and their taught, tight abs appeared rubber-like.

The dudes were simply standing there to meet and greet customers – to lure customers in to the store. It was attention grabbing at its best – using sex to sell. This time it wasn’t the girls in their bikinis however, the guys were stripping down and appeared to be enjoying it.

The companies other big brand, Abercrombie & Fitch approaches ‘privileged prep’ with flesh also. A&F’s greeter’s have hot, college school boy looks and wonderfully wicked athletic bodies. For some it’s all a little too much, for others – bring it on! I’m never one to shy away from eye candy however, I’m not always wanting their flesh in my face either.

What do you think?

Is it OK for men to use their sex to sell and not just women?

Where do we draw the line?

NYC – Guy in red shorts & flip-flops grabbing a lot of attention in SoHo

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July 25, 2012

Visions of a studio set

NYC - Sets are typically black and white as can be seen above

NYC – Studio set

NYC – Back shot of a model

I’m sitting on the sidelines, waiting for my turn to get on set and start shooting. The hair and make-up station can be seen peeking through the first picture on the left-hand side. The round lights are blinding sometimes and the station can’t be missed.

Studio sets are typically black and white as can be seen above. Reflector boards are always present allowing the light to dance about on set. Sometimes they face me as black boards and other times as white – it depends if I’m wearing light or dark colours and the setting the lights are on.

The wind machine is tilted, waiting to blow ‘Victoria Secret’ like hair. They can make your eyes water like rivers when turned up too much. This is not good for make-up and when I’m not shooting, I step out of the direction of the machine or the hairstylist angles it away.

Above, the model is patiently waiting and ready to start shooting. She waits for the photographer to check with the digital technician to make sure the light is correct. Computers and digital photography have made this process faster, easier and immediately accurate.

In the second picture you can see the power pack (small box sitting on the ground to the right-hand side with lots of electrical cords coming out of it). A power pack connects with the base of a camera to add more power – it is designed to provide a power boost.

It’s a glimpse of some behind-the-scenes action I get to see and experience when shooting in studio.

Have you ever been on a studio set before? What aspect of your experience or the set interested you the most?

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July 18, 2012

Women of the world

I arrived in Minneapolis 11.15pm local time (that’s 12.15am EST). I was picked up from the airport and taken to my hotel along with a straight-sized model Lana that I worked with earlier this year and with another client. We were busy sleeping on the plane so we caught-up once we were in the car and on our way.

Our hotel room was nice and clean. I unpacked, got my work bag ready and fell in to the big, comfortable bed by 12.30am local time. When the alarm sounded at 7am, I was pretty sure I hadn’t moved all night.

On the ground floor of the hotel, I meet the four other models I was working with over the next few days at Starbucks – a very necessary start to our day. I knew Lana already and my dear and stunning friend Barbara Brickner was the other full-figured model on the shoot. The other two lovely ladies were straight-sized.

Minneapolis – Our shoot on location

We hit it off right away, discussing family (husbands & children), work, travel, schooling, fashion and of course the juggling of it all. It was a common thread amongst all five of us and we had a lot in common. We didn’t stop talking, asking questions and sharing advice whilst the camera clicked away. It was so refreshing to be amongst women of the world who had come from all four corners and traveled it well both personally and professionally.

Minneapolis – Behind the scenes

That evening, our client took us out for a delicious Japanese dinner. We all loved it and ended up in bed a little later than we had anticipated. See what happens when women get together and spontaneously have glamourous fun over dinner and a glass of wine?! It was a great way to start the shoot and it gave us the opportunity to get to know each other, including the client and producer.

Minneapolis – The stunning Barbara Brickner laying one on me!

One of the models had ‘googled’ me since it was my first time working with her, this client and the other four models. They other’s have been regularly working together over the last year or two. I thought it a little odd at first. I can’t say I’ve ‘googled’ another model prior to a shoot before – perhaps it has become more of a common thing these days. Well, she knew a bit about me before we started shooting anyway – it started the conversation rolling amongst the crew.

One of the questions that was asked of me was, what editorial was I most proud of or that I liked the most that I have done in my career. There were two that came to mind – one was the jet-setting feature I did in the Australian Cosmopolitan magazine about five years ago and the other was in the Australian Women’s Weekly. I must say, the women’s magazines in Australia really support curvy, beautiful women of all shapes, sizes and ages. This is wonderful, exciting and rewarding at the same time.

Wouldn’t it be fabulous and fantastic to have more editorials for women who are curvy and of all shapes, size, colour and age represented by more, if not all magazines around the world – a representation of WOMAN not just young, slim and pretty?

What are your thoughts?

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July 9, 2012

Getting it all done Big Apple style

Since returning home to New York, my time has flown by at record speed as usual. From unpacking to re-organising my entire closet/robe and getting rid of the clothes that needed to be, oh so long ago to purging the kid’s clothes again that are now too small and we have to make way for more to getting back to the gym and surviving the heat wave we’ve had in the last 10 days to getting back to my husband, kids and life in the Big Apple.

I had to go in to Ford and try a pair of jeans on for a client that had sent them to my agency for me to try on. So I went in, was introduced to two new bookers on our Ford + board then tried the jeans on. My booker took photos of me in the jeans and he emailed them through to the client. We had a quick meeting to discuss the work I have coming up and then I was off to run another errand or 10.

I worked a few days in the city and caught up with some wonderful friends and people I work with regularly in the industry. Here is a visual of my week at work.

NYC – The Empire State Building at 7am on my way to work

NYC – The beautiful Julie Henderson and I getting into mischief

NYC – My amazing hair & make-up artist, Keiko Hamaguchi and I

NYC – The studio in midtown

And now I must dash as I have a car waiting for me outside to take me to JFK airport. It really isn’t all that glamourous when I think back to my day and what I’ve had to do to get it all done.

The images my booker took must have worked – I’m going to work for them over the next few days. Till then…

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Hold the Glamour

Category: News

September 11, 2012

Spring in Sydney

September 5, 2012

Fashion darlink!

August 28, 2012

New York rush hour

August 21, 2012

Giving lady luck a shot in Atlantic City

August 15, 2012

Goodbye Olympics, hello double standards

August 9, 2012

There’s a new skyscraper in town – One World Trade Center

July 31, 2012

How sex sells

July 25, 2012

Visions of a studio set

July 18, 2012

Women of the world

July 9, 2012

Getting it all done Big Apple style