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Monday 26 March 2012

Snog Marry Avoid? Obsessed





Have you discovered this TV show yet?

Called 'Snog Marry Avoid?', this BBC reality TV gem has been around for a few years, but if you're late to the party like I am, don't worry... this'll get you up to speed.

It's a makeover show with a difference... in that, it's a make-under show.

No words. No, really... no more words.

Just watch:



Even the boys go under the microscope (oh dear: hilare x 10):


To catch 'Snog Marry Avoid?' on Australian TV, tune in to Channel Eleven (131 on your Foxtel remote if you have one) on Fridays 8.30pm.

Mouth agape TV.

Saturday 24 March 2012

Designers and their umbrellas at Castle Towers





To celebrate the launch of winter fashion at the Sydney's Castle Hill shopping centre, Castle Towers, top Australian designers including Alex Perry, Manning Cartell, Leona Edmiston and Jayson Brunsdon have collaborated with Castle Towers to create one-off exclusive designer umbrellas, to support local children’s charity Reach for the Rainbow.

Each designer has created a one of a kind umbrella, custom made by the labels’ design teams. The umbrellas represent their latest Autumn Winter 2012 hero collection pieces.

Alex Perry said, “I wanted to use the fabric from one of my collections this season that really was appropriate for this design, and I think I have found it!

"I am very happy and honoured to be involved in this campaign as it is for a very worthy cause and this initiative is a unique way to spread the message.”

Leona Edmiston added, “There is nothing like a beautiful, colourful umbrella to brighten up a dreary day! And who hasn’t been caught in the rain wishing they had such a stylish umbrella”

These four fashion items are the ultimate fashion collectable and they will be available for purchase for a fantastic cause. Castle Towers Indulge VIP Members will be invited to a VIP Charity Auction evening, hosted by the designers themselves, on Thursday 29 March 2012, where shoppers can indulge with champagne, exclusive retailer offers and the opportunity to bid on the designer umbrellas, with all proceeds going to Reach for the
Rainbow Charity.
















View these one-off designer umbrellas on display for a limited time only at Castle
Towers on Upper Level, near Peter Alexander. 


If you're not yet a Castle Towers VIP, you can sign up today - it's free.


Visit www.castletowers.com.au for more information.


A little more about Reach for the Rainbow - it has been established to ‘change little lives’ by providing support to early intervention services for children in the Hills District. 


The Charity will not only provide funding to services, but will also help establish new services where there is a need and, importantly, fund much-needed purpose-built infrastructure in the local area to support the operation of the services. 


Together, the goal is to ensure that there are world class services available for all disabilities and delays experienced by babies and preschoolers in the Hills District.


“Reach for the Rainbow could not have a finer inaugural fundraising partner than the extraordinary team at Castle Towers. The Designer Umbrella Auction is a truly inspired idea. Any funds raised from this wonderful event will help make a life-changing difference for babies and pre-schoolers in the Hills District who may require early intervention services for an array of disabilities or impairments. 


With partners like Castle Towers, Reach for the Rainbow will be able to best achieve its goal of ‘changing little lives’, now and well into the future” said Yvonne Keane, Founder of Reach for the Rainbow.


"Castle Towers are excited to partner with top Australian designers to raise much needed funds and awareness for the Reach for the Rainbow organisation. We are proud to support such a fantastic local charity that provides exceptional services for Children in the Hills District” said Castle Towers Marketing Manager, Andrea Maguire.


For more info, see: www.castletowers.com.au.

Monday 19 March 2012

Cleo Bachelor of the Year 2012: Finalists announced


This just in.

HERE IT IS:

The highly anticipated, annual Cleo Bachelor of the Year competition is back for 2012 - and this year it celebrates 25 years of the country’s most eligible single males.

Cleo editor Gemma Crisp will introduce a selection of the 2012 Cleo Bachelor Top 50 Finalists today at a special media event - and all of these exemplary men [with exceptional looks] are in the running to be crowned Cleo Bachelor of the Year 2012.

The Top 50 finalists, which are revealed in the April issue of Cleo (on sale today, Monday March 19), were narrowed down from over 300 entries by a panel of [very lucky] Australian trendspotters, fashion industry insiders, and media and TV personalities, including Jesinta Campbell, Laura Dundovic, and Zoe Balbi, style writer Kate Waterhouse, model and singer Erika Heynatz, celebrity designer Rachel Gilbert, DJ Minx, actress Stephanie McIntosh, radio personality Maude Garrett and model Kendal Schuler.

And now, it's down to Cleo's readers to vote for the winner. Lucky us!

So... drumroll please: here is the official Bachelor finalist list for 2012 (you know you want to buy the magazine to check them all out...):

Hayden Quinn – lifeguard and former Masterchef contestant

Nathan Jolliffe – model and Celebrity Apprentice Australia contestant

Timomatic – singer

Johnny Ruffo – singer and X-Factor finalist

Corbin Harris – pro skateboarder and TV presenter

Tim Cruickshank – Big Bash League cricket player for Sydney Thunder

Tai Hara – actor, 'Terra Nova'

Matt Doran – Channel 10 news presenter

Lachlan Cosgrove – 'Beauty and the Geek' winner

Keiynan Lonsdale – singer and MTV VJ

Theo Smallbone – designer

Andy Minh Trieu – actor and presenter of Kitchen Whiz

James Doran – firefighter

Shannan Quinn – sponsorship director, music and sports at Mindshare

Luke Evangelidis – landscaper

Anthony Papadopoulos – theatrical agent

Toby Williams – sales and operations manager

Dwayne Fernandes – world champion tower runner

Andrew MacIver – entrepreneur

Sach Fernando - lawyer and Cleo Bachelor Wildcard winner

More about the renowned, long-running comp:

In 2012, Cleo magazine celebrates the 25th anniversary of its iconic 'property' - Cleo Bachelor of the Year - with a 36-page retrospective booklet accompanying the April issue (did I mention it's on sale now, Monday March 19) and... a one-hour TV special to air on GO! in April. Brilliant.

Since former editor Lisa Wilkinson replaced Cleo's infamous centrefold with an annual list of the country’s 50 Most Eligible Bachelors (Lisa, how ever can we thank you?), Australian women have been drooling in an ever-so-ladylike fashion over the 1,200 men who have joined the exclusive Cleo Bachelor club.

Previous Cleo Bachelors have included actors Eric Bana, Russell Crowe, Ernie Dingo, Jesse Spencer, Sam Worthington, Joel Edgerton, Chris Hemsworth; TV hosts Rove McManus, Jason Dundas, David Reyne, Andrew G, Rob Mills and Eddie McGuire; chef Curtis Stone; tennis players Mark Philippoussis and Pat Rafter; Formula One driver Mark Webber; Olympic swimmers Geoff Huegill, Eamon Sullivan and Grant Hackett; comedian Andy Lee; radio host Kyle Sandilands, and musician Ben Lee, among others (my personal fave: Dan Murray, founder of Aussie men's undie brand Sly Underwear - he was the 2011 Wildcard).

And this year, the added treat is seeing the Cleo Bachelor journey to come to life, with the one-hour TV special to be aired at 9.30pm Wednesday April 18th on GO!, hosted by current issue covergirl Jesinta Campbell and former Bachelor Jules Lund.

Cleo Bachelor of the Year 2012 is supported: by Revlon, GUESS, Thomas Sabo, La Senza and M&Ms.

Tune in! Buy the mag! And vote.

(Picture credits: all images courtesy Cleo magazine).

Friday 16 March 2012

Hollywood Reporter: Top 25 Most Powerful Stylists List, March 2012























There is something about a star introducing us to their fashion stylist which is a little intriguing and exciting.

After all, these are the women (and men) who can make or break the red carpet moments we will be talking about for years (hello, Angie's right leg!).

And if you watch 'The Rachel Zoe Project' or 'It's a Brad, Brad World' like I do, just to see the magic come alive, you'll understand that special bond between starlet and stylist.

Here, Hollywood Reporter magazine profiles the stars and their fashion saviours (in their second annual 'Top 25 Most Powerful Stylists List'), including Charlize Theron, Katie Holmes, Jessica Chastain, and Emma Stone, who all landed the four special covers.

For more, go here: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/










Wednesday 14 March 2012

Chrissy L jewellery: celebrity fave

In the world of fashion, celebrity endorsements are everything.

Australian jewellery brand Chrissy L - now a firm fixture on the US accessories scene - has scored much celeb-cred of late, and the latest slew of stars who have shown their love for Chrissy L pieces is most impressive: Kristen Chenoweth (gosh, she is super-cute) who is on new show 'GCB' [Google that little acronym!]; Sarah Michelle Gellar from TV's 'Ringer', and Michelle Trachtenburg from 'Gossip Girl'.

All have sported Chrissy L pieces, which you can buy right now online (see shopping deets below).

And now, the brand has released the new Arabian Nights collection, available in-store (in the US, it is now stocked in Neimen Marcus and Nordstrom) and online at www.chrissyl.com.au/cart.

My pic from Arabian Nights: the Moroccan Nights bracelet. Divine.










Kim Kardashian, Jon Hamm, Daniel Craig: the insults fly










It’s round two in the fight between Kim Kardashian and Hollywood stars.

And while interest in the Kardashian clan seems on the decline (there's even a site dedicated to boycotting any brand associated with Kim and her family: http://boycottkim.com/) it's now the Hollywood stars that are letting rip on what they think of the family who have made their fame from the foundation of a reality TV show.

First, it was actor Daniel Craig, who said in an interview in a GQ UK magazine in December 2011:

"I think there's a lot to be said for keeping your own counsel.


"It's not about being afraid to be public with your emotions or about who you are and what you stand for. But if you sell it off it's gone.


"You can't buy it back - you can't buy your privacy back. Ooh I want to be alone. F*ck you. We've been in your living room. We were at your birth. You filmed it for us and showed us the placenta and now you want some privacy?"


Referring to the Kardashian clan, Craig continued: "Look at the Kardashians, they're worth millions. I don't think they were that badly off to begin with but now look at them.


"You see that and you think "what, you mean all I have to do is behave like a f*cking idiot on television and then you'll pay me millions".


"I'm not judging it - well, I am obviously."

And now, it's 'Mad Men' actor Jon Hamm's turn.

Hamm referred to Kim when he talked about the modern cult of celebrity, in an interview with Elle UK magazine, saying that it turned "idiots" like Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian into millionaires.

"Whether it's Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian or whoever, stupidity is certainly celebrated," he told the magazine.

"Being a f*cking idiot is a valuable commodity in this culture because you're rewarded significantly."

The actor added that the success of reality TV stars "doesn't make any sense" to him.

And now, the 31-year-old reality star, who was famously married for a whole 72 days, and is said to be worth about $35 million, took to her Twitter page to express her opinion over Hamm's words.

"Calling someone who runs their own businesses, is a part of a successful TV show, produces, writes, designs, and creates, 'stupid,' is in my opinion careless," Kardashian Tweeted.

"I respect Jon and I am a firm believer that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and that not everyone takes the same path in life. We're all working hard and we all have to respect one another."

This profile on the Kardashian family phenomenon was featured on the annual Barbara Walters '10 Most Fascinating People' list of 2011. Watch:

So, what's the verdict? Are we tiring of all things Kardashian? And is it right to insult anyone on the basis that you don't agree with their path to fame or wealth, as opposed to yours?

WAG Nation premieres on Foxtel April 18














The much talked about new reality TV series called WAG Nation will premiere on Foxtel on Wednesday, April 18 at 9.30pm, exclusive to the Arena channel.

The quintet of gorgeous girls are the wives and girlfriends of some of Australia’s biggest sporting stars.

The ‘WAGs’ (a term coined in the UK to describe the wives and girlfriends of football players like David Beckham; indeed, Victoria Beckham would be deemed the honorary, involuntary founder of the club) include:

- shoe designer Terry Biviano, wife of NRL Sydney Roosters player Anthony Minichiello

- event planner Lynette Bolton, wife of AFL Sydney Swans player Jude Bolton

- promotions manager Jana Peterson, long-term girlfriend of NRL Cronulla Sharks player John Williams

- fashion boutique owner Jackie Spong, wife of AFL Carlton Blues player Jarrad Waite

- and model/flight attendant Chantelle Raleigh, then girlfriend of NBL Gold Coast Blaze player Adam Gibson.

The 10-part series will take a voyeuristic look into the lives of these five women as they juggle life and love - plus a jam-packed social calendar (think launch events, fund-raising galas, movie premieres, front row seats at Fashion Week and of course, sporting sidelines).

Expect the five WAGS to set about living up to - and then attempting to debunk - the stereotypical view of who and what a WAG is.

WAG Nation is a new format, created and produced by Shine Australia for Foxtel.

The series will air exclusively on Arena, premiering Wednesday, April 18 at 9.30pm.

Here is a preview clip:


[WAG Nation photo credit (top): Peter Brew-Bevan]