Forget about the factories of China that seem to dominate the british high street these days. Melbourne houses one the worlds next hot brands in the form of luxury knitwear that not only helps to stave off the winter chill but stands for chic style which is enough to make any city girl look her best and keep herself right on trend!

Made from the finest Australian and European wool the collection contains essential pieces of clothing that scream sophistication and elegance. From dresses to coats, there is a wearable array of stylish designs that cater for every occasion.

Knitwear has never been at the top of the list when it comes to fashion, but Intarsia’s designs have a subtle current running right through their collection. The designs are infused with a modern and fresh twist that bring figure hugging mini dresses to wearable mini skirts and military inspired jackets that keep an up to date look but with a more simplistic tone.

Keep your eye on Intarsia… there is more to come!

For more information go to www.intarsiamelbourne.com or get in touch with Ailsa Mellinis on +44 (0)77 2458 9996 in London.

After months of being charmed by English banker Patrick in a whirl-wind romance, Catherine takes the plunge and agrees to move in with him: Not only agrees to move in with him, but, leave her life in New York and move over 3000 miles across the Atlantic to London to be with the man she loves. She had finally found her Prince Charming and was looking forward to the happily ever after that all girls long for. However, 2 days before her move to London, Catherine received the dreaded “I never want to see you again” email from Patrick, who insisted they meet up on her arrival to discuss the break-up. Ironically, choosing the Bleeding Heart restaurant to tell her the reason she has been dumped is her lack of focus in life, making her an “unreliable” partner. Now she has to start a new life in a new city, with no boyfriend, no apartment, no job. Luckily things soon start look to up when she moves in with the bold and brash Victoria, starts writing for a column for a top, national newspaper and her search to find Mr Right turns into finding Mr Right now.

Sleeping Around by Catherine Townsend is a non fictitious book published a couple of years ago. The author is an American, freelance journalist and until recently wrote a weekly sex column for the Independent. The title may lead the reader to have some preconceptions about the book, but Catherine goes beyond writing about just her sexual experiences and discusses the ideas of falling in and out of love to the age old taboo that men can sleep around, but women can’t to men’s fear of the post feminist woman who says and does as she pleases. Having stated that, this book is definitely not for the prudish. I read this book in a day, sitting in Le Jardin de Luxemburg in Paris. I think the Parisians thought I had a mental condition as I lost count at the number of times I laughed out loud while reading this book. From getting over a break up to threesomes, from friendships to marriage of necessity, from an addiction to kinky lingerie to a fantasy about a certain British politician and more. A very funny, modern approach to finding love and having fun for the young, forward thinking woman. I can surely say that all women can relate to at least one of Catherine’s experiences. I certainly did, which made it a more intriguing and enticing read.

 Absolutely Sex and the City meets cool and trendy London. The main character of the book has Samantha’s sexual prowess and adventures, Charlotte’s search for love and that one man who takes her breath away, Miranda’s sternness towards the opposite sex and Carrie’s ideas of love and life as a sex columnist. Not forgetting the love of shopping. Although, Carrie’s love for Monolo’s is substituted for Catherine’s love for Agent Provocateur and Coco de Mer. One of Catherine’s favourite mantras is one I think all women should do. No matter what life throws at you, look in the mirror, wipe the mascara from your cheeks and repeat “you are a rock star, you ARE a rock star and he’s an idiot”. I do believe that the modern, ambitious, career driven woman truly is a rock star.

I am definitely looking forward to reading the second instalment of Catherine’s work which came out earlier this year. I must admit, I do take pleasure in having a sneak peek into another person’s life. Even if it is sitting in a café getting lost in a book for an afternoon.

You can purhase the book from Amazon.com here or Amazon.co.uk here. Please let us know what you thought of the book in the comments below!

Hot Tip – Look out for Lanvin, definitely one of the most hottest designers of the moment, designed by Alber Elbaz, you can’t go wrong with any of his gorgeous dresses! Plus, the high street will be teaming with Lanvin inspired numbers.

Ankle Boots. In almost every collection, perfect for dressing up and down. Try looking for heeled, wedged and stilettos. Look out for Paul & Joe, House of Holland, Maison Martin Margiela, Julien Macdonald, Givenchy and Lanvin

Black. Black is truly the new black, featured everywhere. Bored of black? Then opt for Navy.

Dinner Jackets. These are a wonderful addition to any outfit. Want to be really on trend? Then go for big shoulders. Look out for Yves Saint Laurent, Costume National, Hussein Chalayan, Balenciaga, Prada, Stella McCartney, Balmain, Nina Ricci and Miu Miu.

Leather Leggings. Gucci nailed this perfectly. Leggings have been for a few seasons now, but leather is the new twist. Look out for Hermes, Tory Burch, Jean Paul Gaultier, Gucci and Pucci.

Super Shoulders. Very early 80’s. Another recycled trend from summer. Coats, tops, dresses and dinner jackets, they were all over the catwalks. Look out for Stella McCartney, Victoria Beckham, Karen Walker, Jonathan Saunders, Balmain, Zac Posen, Nicole Farhi, D&G, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Nina Ricci.

Zebra Stripes, Animal prints are hot news for Autumn/winter. For the hottest look opt for zebra stripes. Look out for Issa, Ashish, Balmain and Miu Miu.

The Perfect Trouser. Again, a ruling trend which most designers agreed on. Find your perfect fit and where with ankle boots.

Early 80’s. the 80’s are popping up again, but this time go for early 80’s even late 70’s styles. Look out for Vena Cava, Ashley Isham, Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, Basso & Brooke, Giorgio Armani, Emanuel Ungaro, Ashish, Betsey Johnson, Julien Macdonald, Gucci and Balmain.

The 40’s inspired dress. Belted at the waist and everywhere! Lanvin and Hermes did them best.

Afgan Coats. The rule is the shaggier the better. Go as wild as you dare! Look out for Paul & Joe, House of Holland, Maison Martin Margiela, Julien Macdonald, Givenchy and Lanvin.

Our top tip? Lanvin. The most sort after designer of the moment produces it’s best collection to date with Alber Elbaz at the helm. With the trainers and tux signature, Lanvin sums up the mood precisely with army green, trousers tucked into boots and muted colours of black, grey and monochrome. You can’t go wrong with any of his pieces! Below are our essential picks to get you bang on trend.

Military. Opt for military jackets and coats. A rather recycled trend, but a steadfast good looker. There are a host of classic cuts to choose from, the military angle gives an essential twist to get you standing out from the crowd. Look out for Gareth Pugh, Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Burberry and Givenchy.

Black. Just like the women’s wear trends black is the new black.

Tote bag. Practical and stylish. Great for work and play.

Crocodile – Laced shoes and bags.

Ties Ties Ties. Another recurring trend, but do ties ever go out of fashion?! Team them with suits or cardigans. Add an optional flare with bright colours.

Bye Bye geek chic, hello classic style – Classic italian style, almost preppy. Slim fit suits, colourful shirts against black or grey suits. Look out for Gucci and Hermes.

Rock and Rolla. Leather jackets and bomber style jackets. A sure look at into the rock band style.

Velvet. Apparent in overcoats, suits and blazers.  Jill Sander, Bogetta Veneta and Giorgio Armani did them best.

Mean Boys. Construction boots, metal and leather. A perfect way to toughen up your look. Lanvin did this best be also look out for Calvin Klein, 3.1 Phillip Lam and Prada.

Winter whites. Versace did this to a back drop of images of broken icebergs, emphasizing the plight of the modern times and it’s involvement in global warming.

The choice is explained by Stefano Gabbana: “The names and numbers on the bottles relate to tarot cards. Tarot is very common in Mediterranean countries and conveys the different aspects of people’s personalities.” Domenico Dolce expands: “We picked the tarot cards with the clearest, most identifiable traits such as the seducer, charmer and dreamer. We can all relate to these characters.”
And they have women and guys to match that, just look at the five fragrance list -- Le Bateleur 1 (The Magician, Tyson Ballou), L’Imperatrice 3 (The Empress, Naomi Campbell) , L’Amoureaux 6 (Noah Mills), La Roue de la Fortune 10 (The Wheel of Fortune, Eva Herzigova and Fernando Fernandes) and La Lune 18 (The Moon, Claudia Schiffer).

“We choose Claudia, Naomi and Eva for the iconic value they have in the minds of everybody,” said Dolce “They are icons,” added Gabbana, “not just for young women but older women too. Sometimes they are better known than actresses. People need to create icons, to see people they recognize.”

The advertising campaign for the new eau de toilettes was shot by legendary photographer Mario Testino in Paris. He also did a TV commercial for the collection. The company refused to discusses the budget, but in the industry it is rumoured that Dolce and Gabbana might have spend as much as $20 million on media alone.

The new D&G Fragrance Anthology is set to launch globally in September and sells for $65.

Versace | VOGUE.co.uk The smokey eye. This is never far from the catwalk. We took the inspiration by Pat McGrath for Versace. Layered black pigment in a feline form around the entire eye, lashings of liner, a hint of brown pencil and a tiny amount of metallic blue blended into the corners of the eye. Note the dramatic eyes and nude lips, always play down the lips when accentuating the eyes.

Marc Jacobs | VOGUE.co.uk The uber 80’s. Marc Jacobs opted for eccentric 80’s punk for his look. We have more feline themes here with over sized cat flicks. Try all bright colours from reds, blues, oranges, yellows and purples.

Carolina Herrera | VOGUE.co.uk Carolina Herrera opts for the clean and sheer look for Autumn. Glowing skin, frosted highlights for cheeks, temples and noses. Mix rose bud lips and peach washed eyes and you’ll be bang on trend.

Mochino | VOGUE.co.uk Moschino. A classic look with a post war twist for the eyes. Red lips and fluid lined eyes. Think polished and 50’s. Use a cherry red liner to perfect the shape of lips and then just colour in using matte red lipstick.

Dell'Acqua | VOGUE.co.uk It seemed to be all about the golden goddess at Alessandro Dell’Acqua. The face was shaped and contoured to perfection. Opt for 70’s safari colours, accentuate the eyes with a touch of black and use shimmery bronze blush and metallic lips.

]]> http://shinemag.com/2009/07/23/autumn-2009-makeup-trends/feed/ 3 http://shinemag.com/2009/07/10/the-bold-and-the-botox/ http://shinemag.com/2009/07/10/the-bold-and-the-botox/#comments Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:00:30 +0000 Jason Stringer http://shinemag.com/?p=183 When I thought of Botox I always said no way! Are you crazy?! Injecting a toxin in to my face! That was until I saw the results on my friend, quite literally, it was not written all over her face. Smooth skin, which screamed late 20’s. Now she was in noway old, late 30’s infact, but the flawless forehead and lineless eyes were too good to miss out on. Is this really a miracle? I found out for myself.

When I picked where to have my first experience for the cure of my early signs of ageing, I decided to ask friends and colleagues for advice. Better still were the people who owned up to having been fans for quite sometime. In my opinion judging the results close up was the best way to go.

Like a Botox virgin ... Madonna goes under the needle in the clip for her song Hollywood

After countless Googling hours of celebrity Botox spotting and checking out all the relevant certificates for the shortlisted surgeries, I picked my doctor and made an appointment. If it’s good enough for Kylie, then it’s good enough for me!

I had to wait four weeks to get in to see my desired Botox guru, which actually made me feel much better as he was obviously in demand for his miracle services. Got to be a good sign! When the day came I was excited and nervous at the same time. After checking my fine lines and expressive forehead for the last time, I hailed a cab and started my journey for a more youthful face.

The surgery was luxurious and tranquil. The lovely receptionist asked me to fill in a few forms detailing any medical issues before I went in to see the doctor for a consultation before committing to the procedure. The doctor was extremely pleasant and explained all the possible side effects as well as answering all my questions, which were many! “So,” he said, “are we going to go for it?”, I thought hard for a moment, my friends flawless face popped into my head. There was no doubt in my mind. “Yes, yes, yes!”

The whole procedure didn’t last long. I had 12 tiny injections in my forehead and a few in my frown lines between my eye brows. The doctor explained it would take up to two weeks to see the full effect, at which time I would come back for him to check the results and make any corrections. On my way home I read and re-read the do’s and don’ts. I arrived home, propped myself up with pillows and waited for the Botox to do it’s magic.

As the days and eventually weeks past, my forehead became smoother and smoother. The frown lines seemed to melt away, I was hooked! The sensation took a while to get used to. I was unable to raise my eyebrows like before, and it was impossible to frown, but I was in my late 20’s again! On my return appointment the doctor was as happy as I was with the results. I had a little top up in the odd place, but overall, the appearance was better than I dreamed.

Six months later? I made my next appointment to keep the results going. Addictive? Yes! A miracle cure? No! Continued 4 to 6 monthly injections required to maintain the results.

Botox reaches all those places where my serum can't! | Picture courtesy http://www.dailymail.co.uk

SHINE’s Top Botox Doctors in the UK:

Dr Michael Prager – Described as the ‘Karl Lagerfeld’ of injectables. The stars flock to his Wimpole Street clinic. For more information call 020 7323 3660 or visit www.drmichaelprager.com.

Dr Jean-Louis Sebagh – The undisputed king of Botox. His clinics on Rue De Longchamp in Paris and on Wimpole Street will be packed! Tel: 020 7637 0548 or visit www.drsebgh.com.

Dr Andrew Markey – An expert with lasers as well as Botox and fillers. Book well ahead as there can be a long waiting list at his clinic in Lister Hospital. Tel: 020 7730 1219 or www.listerhospital.com.

SHINE’s Top Botox Doctors in the US:

Darrick E. Antell, MD, top NY Manhattan Plastic Surgeon – New York’s most famous cosmetic surgeon. As well as fantastic botox he offers face lift miracles. For more information telephone 212-988-4040 or visit www.antell-md.com.

Dr Frederic Brandt, MD. A pro when it comes to facial rejuvenation, a whizz with botox, lasers and the famous Dr Brandt skincare line. With locations in New York and Miami go to www.drfredricbrandt.com for more information.

Dr. Kenneth Beer. A highly sort after Palm Beach Botox guru! There are many prcedures at the clinic to rejuvenate the face, but Dr Beer is the best at Botox. For more information go to www.palmbeachcosmetic.com.

Seek medical advice before committing to Botox. Check all relevant certificates and governing bodies. Be beauty safe.

Disney’s writer Linda Woolverton (of Beuaty and the Beast, Homeward Bound, and Lion King) has written a script for weird and wonderful director Tim Burton to take us back to Wonderland. The classic novel by Lewis Carroll Alice in Wonderland is joined by little known original sequel Through the Looking Glass (available in a single edition from Penguin books at $9.00 in the USA or £4.49 in the UK) to create exciting new adventure presented with visually stunning effects combined with live-action footage.

The filming is going ahead in Cornwall, England and the title role is played by little known 18-year-old Australian actress Mia Wasikowska. She is joined by a stellar cast including Johnny Depp, who is playing Mad Hatter, Helena Bonham Carter as Red Queen and Anne Hathaway as the White Queen. England is not only contributing as a filming venue, but Matt Lucas and David Walliams from television show Little Britain have been cast as Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee.

Burton reveals in Sci Fi Wire more details about the concept and that he respects the story as it is:

It’s just such a classic, and the imagery is so surreal,” Burton said in an interview while promoting his film -- Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. “I don’t know; I’ve never seen a version where I feel like they got it all. It’s a series of weird adventures, and to try to do it where it works as a movie will be interesting.”

The stories are like drugs for children, you know?” Burton said. “It’s like, ‘Whoa, man.’ The imagery, they’ve never quite nailed making it compelling as a full story. So I think it’s an interesting challenge to direct.”

The film begins when Alice, now 17, is attending a party. She unexpectedly finds out that she is about to be proposed in front of hundreds of hundreds snooty high society types. She escapes and ends up following the white rabbit down the hole, back to Wonderland – a place she visited before, but has no memories about. The creatures of Wonderland are on the wedge of revolt and were waiting for Alice to come and help them. But will she? Can she?

Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland will hit theaters on March 5th 2010.

Click here to visit USA Today site for high resolution images where the pictures have premiered earlier today!

UPDATE 29/07/2009: Check out the official movie trailer!

Take a look on more pictures from our gallery:

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