L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Le Vernis

The most incredible package arrived this week from L’Oréal Paris with treats from their new Colour Riche Le Vernis collection. I love well presented colorful nails but I lack the technique to ever really paint a good nail UNTIL I splashed this range on my paws. 

5 reasons why I recommend this polish:

- The brush is wide and flat offering even coverage.. No gloopy or streaky nails! 
- It dries really fast
- It is a gel formulation with a built in top coat so you get a super dense colour with a super glossy salon finish without having to give up a weeks food budget
- THE COLOURS! 33 colours of the rainbow!
- At only $9.99 a bottle this product is a steal!

The L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Le Vernis collection is available from Farmers and selected pharmacies from September. Best way to brighten your day or send some love to a special person!

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The Project [R]evolution - Day 1

I am buzzing after attending the first day of The Project [R]evolution. The digital and social media conference is the brainchild of Social Media NZ, The United States Embassy and AUT University.

Some highlights of the day:

Marie C. Damour (Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embasy) in an off handed comment mentioned that she only uses her PC for emails and to play World of Warcraft!

Waldo Kuipers (Corporate Affairs Manager, Microsoft NZ) gave some insights into the product development cycle at Microsoft. I loved his recommendation to keep an element of secrecy and surprise as you design technology. Develop the product in a bunker if necessary! 

Dan Neely (Manager for Community Resilience, Wellington Regional Emergency Management Office) was able to show the audience how his team have the daunting task of engaging Wellingtonians with preparing for a disaster. 

He offered the example of how his team used the Marmite shortage to engage Facebook users by "reporting" on the "crisis" and at the same time ask some basic questions around emergency kits in the home and office. 

Michael Jones (Chief Technology Advocate, Google) reminded attendees of how Sesame Street made learning fun by producing content that was engaging and memorable. We have the same opportunity in education with this digital revolution! 

I learned in the Pacific Shift forum that the Pacific community is 12million people strong spread across the Pacific Islands (including NZ), Australia, and America. Increased access to digital communications (we all sighed re ultra fast broadband) will play a key role in uniting this diasporic community and preserving their heritage. 

Have you ever wondered what would happen when you put a PR man, a journalist and a media commentator on a panel together? Paul Brislen, Greer McDonald and Russell Brown provided some vigorous discussion on the impacts of the digitization of our news culture. Mostly they disagreed with each other! Just goes to show that online media platforms are an evolving medium and the experts still utilize them differently. 

Rick Shera (Lowndes Jordan) aka LawGeekNZ explained some of the confusing things about fair use and copyright law. He shared how social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook are giving brands the opportunity to deal with complaints and feedback instantly before they become a story on FairGo.

The Quick Fire presentations by Mike Wilson, Anthony Deos, Cate Owen (Media Works), Alexis Lam (Burgerfuel), David Barton Ginger (New Zealand Rugby Union) all provided some sharp commentary on their respective industries - make sure you follow all of them on Twitter!

Image: Alec Ross et moi

Alec Ross (Senior Advisor for Innovation to Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton) was the keynote speaker today and boy is he a sharp cookie! I felt all giddy and happy when he discussed how citizen centered movements take power away from hierarchies and invest it in networks of citizens. He explained technologies role in shifting geo-political movements - revolutions that were being built in basements over years can now take place over open platforms of communication that allow a spark to become a wildfire. 

My mind is buzzing! It was an incredible honor to be in a room filled with high level digital practitioners for a day. 

I'm going to be mulling over all of these conversations and I hope to chat about them a bit more in-depth over the coming month. To follow the chatter in real time tomorrow tune into Twitter and monitor #ProjectRevolution. 

Readers, you are awesome!

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(Updated) TUNE INTO PARLIAMENT TV NOW TO SEE HISTORY MADE!

Right now Louisa Wall's Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill is being read in New Zealand's Parliament. Tune in to Parliament TV and watch history being made.

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Update: The bill passed the first reading 80 votes to 40! This is the bringing of a long process that could take 3-6 months but it feels pretty awesome to be a Kiwi right now. Long overdue!

With thousands of others I tuned into Parliament TV tonight to watch the action live. Here are some of the amazing speeches from across the political spectrum:



Louisa Wall introduces the bill to Parliament.



Nikki Kaye discusses why she supports the bill. 



Kevin Hague talks about the real impact this bill will have on breaking down prejudice. 

Check out the rest of the speeches at In The House.

Pretty cool day in our history!

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Levi's x Stephanie Di Giusto

Levi's have teamed up with director Stephanie Di Giusto and created this clip to showcase their Curve ID range. What do you think? I like the sequence with the dancer! 

There is something so strangely beautiful about this piece. I watched it yesterday when it was released and it has been on my mind off and on for the last 24 hours. There is an energy in it that I just can't quite describe. I think I like it!

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Summer Nights

Photo: Chilling roadside with Rosie The House Bus

Can you feel summer? Here in Auckland the skies are blue and I am yearning for a little holiday. These two snaps are from the amazing trip I did with some good friends over New Years '10/'11 in Rosie The House Bus. In anticipation I made my tumblr all pretty and summer like. Check it!

Photo: Chilling at the top New Zealand, Cape Reinga

Photos by the amazing Jordan Dodson

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Dapper Sundays

Have you seen the easy How To Tie A... guide over at General Knot? I finally caved in and did a massive wardrobe cull today and discovered a couple of cute silk pocket squares. I think they might need to make an appearance at NZFW? 8 sleeps till the first show... Eeep!

My pocket square inspiration for the week (the first is my fave):

Image via Prepfection

Image via GQ Japan

Image via Let Julio Show You

Image via The Fancy

Image via How To Talk To Girls At Parties

Have a dapper week!

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Introducing: The Style Insider

This week I caught up with Leonie Barlow of The Style Insider to chat about her latest adventures. I first had the pleasure of meeting Leonie over lunch at a beauty event when she was working as the editor of The Australian Women's Weekly. I instantly knew she was a gem! With a warm heart and quick wit this brilliant woman has recently launched The Style Insider, a daily dose of fashion and beauty inspiration.

Five words to describe The Style Insider?

Flirty, fabulous, flash, fashiony, fun

You have launched The Style Insider with a wealth of experience in print media - what would be your advice for someone starting out in their career in that field?

As sad as it sounds I really do think the old saying still applies: "It's not what you know it's who you know".  It's aways hard to get that first break and you do have to do whatever it takes to stand out from the crowd. You have to make like a little terrier and get out there as much as you can and meet people in the industry. Push your way into events and press conferences even if it goes against the grain for you. 

I door-knocked the editor of a major national newspaper to get my first break into print journalism. I found out where he lived and bowled up to his front door. He gave me a job because I had the audacity to door-knock him. 

To get my first job in magazines I bowled up to the ACP offices (after the applications had closed off for a job at Woman's Day) and did a sit-in at reception waiting for the editor to "come back from a meeting". The receptionist was trying to get rid of me but I wasn't going anywhere. Then as a stroke of luck someone I knew walked past reception and saw me, put in a good word to the editor (who was sitting at her desk and not out at a meeting) and I got the job. 

So in my experience I'd say you need to meet lots of people and be bold and brave and go after what you want.

That is amazing advice! It is so refreshing to chat to someone with real drive!

What is one of your dreams for The Style Insider?

My dream is that people will love the site and it will put a smile on their faces. If I happen to make a few bucks along the way then that will be the icing on the cake. But I'm not holding my breath on that one.

Let me know when you figure out the golden rule to monetisation! We really do this because we love it... 

An insight on the transition from print to digital?

Well it's still early days for me and I feel very much like a new kid on the blogosphere block but I love the immediacy of digital. I'm still getting used to a more relaxed and less formulaic style of writing and I know I've got SO much to learn. At 45 I'm out to prove to the world that you can still teach an old dog new tricks.

Tell me a few words about YOUR style? 

I love fashion but my own style is fairly classic and paired back. I always feel best when I'm wearing black but I LOVE seeing other people rocking out in colour. If I'm feeling really adventurous I'll throw a bit of grey marle or white into the mix. I'm addicted to accessories and interesting jewelry. 

Thanks Leonie!

Check out The Style Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!

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May you speak with glitter!

Image via Wanderlust

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Doppelgänger Drama

Oh Internet, what a bizarre 24 hours it has been! 

Last night I got a tweet from Lou Draper asking if  I was in the latest Hell Pizza TVC. At this point I freaked out worried the TVC had a crowd shot or something that I had been captured in. Incase you haven't heard Hell Pizza said some really dumb things about sexual assault in the last week.  After checking the add I was glad to see it wasn't me but an actor who looks very similar... cue tweets and Facebook messages asking if it was me.

I posted the above still from the add on my Facebook page and thanks to the wonders of the internet a friend of a friend knew the actor. It turns out my doppelgänger is Miranda AKA beat maker Randa who I got to meet at Proud Mary briefly last month. Isn't the resemblance uncanny? Friends at PM remarked just how similar we looked but after seeing the Hell Pizza TVC I totally agree! Here is a pic for comparison:

So, in an attempt to figure out if Miranda and I share any other uncanny similarities we decided to answer a few random questions and compare answers:

Ideal Sunday afternoon?

Miranda: Music making, gummi worms, nerd documentary, pop album listening session & a cup of tea.

Aych: Drinking tea in the sun with friends, catching up on the internet and probably baking something delicious. 

Favorite thing you own?

Miranda: Korg synth. Super fun!!

Aych: Glitter Litas in Slate.. SO sparkly!

Your best friend would describe you as ...

Miranda: ... a Honeysuckle Gangsta.

Aych: ... a sparkling little dinosaur. 

If you won a million bucks you would ...

Miranda: ...open a taco stand, employ my friends, give away tacos to the hungry... and send some drum kits to skilled kids who cannot afford them.  

Aych: ... open a 24 hour cafe in central Auckland filled with all my friends, awesome books and amazing food+coffee that you pay for by donation!

M&Ms, Pebbles or Smarties?

Miranda: M&Ms, (those Smarties are hella tasty though aye).

Aych: M&Ms, there is no other option!

I'm kind of weirded out! But I this is a pretty cool person to be mistaken for right?

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Check out RANDA's music and follow their adventures on Twitter.

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MEN LIKE US

Last night (thanks to Express) I got to check out the New Zealand premiere of Men Like Us at Rialto Cinemas. I stand by the belief that one of the most powerful ways of breaking down barriers between people is telling our stories and listening to the stories of others.

 A revealing documentary window into the lives of nine New Zealand gay men aged 24 through 78, ‘Men Like Us’ highlights the common threads in our continuing struggle for everyday happiness in a straight man’s world.   

It’s a tapestry of uplifting and challenging tales of ordinary men overcoming the extraordinary obstacles that life throws in our way, including body image and masculinity, bullying and bereavement, migration and aging, HIV, cultural identity and spirituality. 

A unique look into the stories behind the faces we see every day in our bars, at our pride events, and on our smartphones, the diverse stories in ‘Men Like Us’ are a sharp reminder that simple conversation and caring can change the course of our lives for the better.

When I was chatting with a  friend today about the film I remarked on how awesome it was to see the  stories, struggles and triumphs of gay New Zealanders documented on the big screen. Often queer stories that are recorded are from other countries and/or cemented in the past. Hooray for contemporary queer representation!

In a discussion after the documentary someone asked the question of how we can make spaces to have these conversations where we support and celebrate our journeys. I think developing a culture of being available for our friends and family is a good start. How many times have you wanted to hangout with a friend on a bad day only to feel that they would probably be too busy? We live with an air of business that is killing genuine relationships in our lives.

I'm always reminded of just how present we can be for our loved ones during times of crisis and trauma. If someone we love is rushed to hospital from a severe car accident we would drop everything to be there. Some stuff just takes precedence. It is in these moments that I get over myself and remember how precious people are. It's so important to remember that our love is needed in the every day and not just in the bottom of the cliff moments.

Here is to being present, available and deeply compassionate people.

Also, make sure you check out Men Like Us when it opens at Rialto Cinemas on August 30th.

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Levi's WaterLess Jeans

Back in March I blogged about Levi's partnership with Water.Org to challenge consumers to think about the impact of the textile industry on the planet. Did you know that the average pair of jeans uses 42 liters of water in the finishing process? Ahh! That is ridiculously scary! 

Through Levi's WaterLess project the denim company has challenged itself to drastically reduce the amount of water used in production processes and challenge consumers to do the same in the care of their jeans at home. 

The Levi's WaterLess finishing process will reduce water by 172 million liters of water per season. How you ask? Check out the video above to see these techniques in action:

• Reducing the number of washing machine cycles by combining multiple wet cycle processes into a single wet process
• Incorporating ozone processing into the garment washing
• Removing the water from the stone wash

One of the things I really appreciate about this initiative is the cradle to cradle ideology that seems to be embedded in the motivation for this project. Recognizing problems and using intelligent design processes to combat environmental unsustainable production practices while refining the product to take the aesthetic elements of the product to a new place.

I was lucky enough to be gifted a pair of Levi's this winter and I'm sold. I'm wearing the 510 skinny in rinse (mens) and I feel like a rockstar!

Check out the full Levi's WaterLess range online and make a commitment to think about the life cycle of what you buy.

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ALL THE TUMBLR IS ALL ANNA PIAGGI

Tumblr is ALL Anna Piaggi today celebrating her life. Sadly the 81 year old fashion journalist passed away in her home in Milan on Tuesday morning (Milan time).

I've always been in awe of her daring style and I hope one day to be as bold as her! 

Rest well.

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Things I learned from Dawn Withers:

Rest in Peace Dawn x

This morning an inspirational person in my life passed away. Dawn Withers was a rockstar to me through late teenagehood. She was the first person in those years (who I listened to) who said that they were proud of me. Those incredible words were spoken while I was filled with tears and sadness and were the empowering foundation that I stood on for many years. Knowing that someone who I respected the heck out of was proud of me for me was the fuel in my tank. Not for grades or medals but for the way I lived my life. She was proud of me for the world I hoped for and the dreams I had. The huge love that Dawn had for every person who came across her path blew me away. She always seemed to have room in her arms for one more broken heart. 

Dawn told me stories of world changers and the integrity needed to build good foundations for great change. She encouraged me to view the world through a lens of great compassion and deep humility. 

An important lesson that Dawn taught me was that we are all are precious, broken, redeemable and valuable. And that we have a responsibility to use our lives to advocate for the people in our world who society tramples on. To live a life of great impact. 

I don't know how a life could have been more full, more loving and more world changing. 

My heart is heavy as I feel both sadness and relief that her time with cancer has come to an end.

All my love to her sister Merr and to the thousands of people who she worked with over her life in youth work. 

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Ice-Phone please be My-Phone (I know... Corny post title..)

I am geeking out over the Ice-Phone by Ice-Watch! Retailing at $99 from their online store, Ice-Watch have made my day with this rad smartphone handset. I think I need one oui? I'm watching Mad Men at the moment and find myself desiring a "real" phone, kick ass desk and crystal glasses. 

Now to decide on a colour...

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The Week That Was

1. Last night I went to the August edition of Proud Mary and fell in love with Randa, a 19 year old beatmaker who is super cute and has a LOTS to say. Check out the sample above! After Randa's set I was a total fan kid and told them how much I loved their set... And it turns out that they read this blog! Weeeee! *blushes*

Image: Me in comic form thanks to the awesome Sam Orchard

2. I participated in my first ever ZineFest this week at the art festival First Thursdays. I made a cute little zine on being magically gendered and gave it away at my friend Sam's table. So many people! Sam made a cute comic about the experience *:-) Big congratulations to Cleo Barnett and team for organizing such a huge event. Looking forward to the next installment! Drop me a line if you fancy a copy of my zine... I'll figure out a way to put it up here soon!

Image: Zambesi Eyewear

3. Zambesi launched their eyewear collection on Wednesday night. Check out the full collection.  Designed with Australian based eyewear designer and optician Joshua Matta the Zambesi eyewear range is super slick!

Image: Moustache Glasses Stand by OMM Design

4. In other eye wear related news I bought this cute little glasses stand by OMM Design this week and it makes me so happy!

5. New Zealand Fashion Week is just under a month away and I am having a hard time figuring out where the last year has gone... NZFW '11 feels like yesterday! This last year has been incredible... I'm almost frightened to see what the next year will bring!

Image: Hand painted tea cup by Burke Hare Co

6. I have a severe coffee allergy and a mixup at a cafe left me with a drop of this poison in my mouth this morning. Very sad Aych! I'm always worried that a mix up like this will happen at a really important life moment.

7. Ten days ago here in New Zealand a private members bill was drawn from the ballot box in parliament proposing marriage equality. Conservative Party leader Colin Craig has been saying some silly things in response to this proposed piece of legislation. The best chatter on the internet I saw this week was this Facebook post from Central Auckland MP Nikki Kaye:

Have a magical week!

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Stephen Marr & Hallertau present The Marr Factory

I can't believe that New Zealand Fashion Week is a month away!

In the build up to the big week, Stephen Marr and Hallertau are producing a show a night at Golden Dawn entitled The Marr Factory to showcase Spring/Summer '12/'13 collections from Karen Walker, Zambesi, Helen Cherry & Workshop, Nom*D and Kate Sylvester. 

All designers (bar Zambesi) featured in this showcase are not exhibiting on the official NZFW schedule so this event will be an alternative way of connecting with consumers during a big fashion month. I think it is a verrrry clever idea! 

Stephen Marr says:  “The shows provide us with a unique creative platform to marry our stylist teams to the labels who we’ve supported for so many years and who share our artistic values.  Hallertau is a great fit for us and The Golden Dawn culturally –it’s a bit rock ‘n’ roll and anti-corporate which we love.”

50 tickets are available to the public for each show (100 for the Nom*D show) and are available via iTicket. 

Sunday 26^th August – KAREN WALKER in association with Black Magazine

Monday 27^th August - ZAMBESI

Tuesday 28^th August -  HELEN CHERRY & WORKSHOP

Wednesday 29^th August -  NOM*D

Thursday 30^th August -  KATE SYLVESTER in association with NZ Herald Viva.

Fashion fashion fashion!

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