Trackies and Uggs (Urghhh...)

One week on living in the city and I think I might have already become a bit of a city fashion snob. Last night I ventured back to the burbs to see the new Harry Potter flick with friends (PS. don’t bother spending $19, wait for the DVD), and was noticeably shocked by the presence of several young ladies wandering Knox Shopping Centre in tracksuit pants and Ugg boots. Maybe I just never noticed it before, or maybe I have spent too much time on Chapel Street recently, but when did it become okay to wear these items, together, out in public?

As I walked around the fashion precinct looking at the gorgeous new season outfits adorning the windows, I couldn’t help but look as these girls and wonder what possessed them to leave the house looking like that. There is a time and place for trackies and Ugg’s, and the shopping centre is not it.* Not to mention, some were with their mothers and these women really should know better.

I will confess, I do own not one, but two pairs of Ugg boots, and about three pairs of tracksuit pants. Of these five items, I think I would only actually wear one outside the four walls of my house. They are what I like to call, more ‘upmarket’ Ugg boots: boots that are ok when teamed with skinny leg jeans and a fitted jacket to a movie night with the girls or dinner at mum and dads. Tracksuit pants are only good for Friday nights on the couch and when I muster the energy to go to the gym at 6am on a weekday.

And speaking of exercise, last night I completed my first full lap of Albert Park lake. There is some debate as to whether the track is 4.7km or 5km or somewhere in between, but for arguments sake, let’s say it was 5km and be done with it (cause it certainly felt like 5km!).

It was a beautiful night in Melbourne, and as I walked around I wondered why anyone could want to live anywhere else. One week down and two to go in the city… whatever will next week bring?



Albert Park Lake at Dusk, Thursday 16th July 2009

*After noticing said tracksuit pants and Ugg’s, and posting comment on Twitter, miss_melbourne asked if wearing trackies and Uggs to Safeway late at night was ok. I will concede this is okay only if one is just ducking in for a) chocolate, b) ice cream or c) tampons.

Baby, take a bow

During a burst of sunshine yesterday afternoon, I took to the streets of Melbourne for a spot of impromptu shopping. Number 31 tram to the Paris end of Collins Street, I wandered Australia on Collins, through to Royal Arcade, down Little Collins and back through the Walk Arcade, ending up at the Block Arcade and back to Collins Street to the 31. I could have spent hours scouring the little stores hidden in the alleys and envying the casual, laid back lifestyles of the people sipping coffee but there was shopping to be done, and my credit card was burning a hole in my pocket.

24 hours before pay day, and it had been a while since my last fashion purchase. My skin was tingly with the anticipation of new fabric, while my eyes worked their way up and down rack after rack of items, searching for the elusive garment that was to be mine.

A stop at the Christopher Ari store in the Walk Arcade yielded success. This gorgeous and very cute grey knit with sequin bow can be dressed up with skinny leg dark denim jeans and a killer heel for a night on the town, or paired with boyfriend jeans and comfy flats for (more) shopping with the girls. A bargain at only $39.95, and the perfect pick me up to get through the afternoon.

As for pay day tomorrow, I’m planning a trip to the Alice McCall (www.alicemccall.com) Sample Sale this Friday and Saturday at the corner of Chapel St and Cecil Place, Prahran (enter 2a Cecil Place). Styles are up to 75% off and prices start at just $20. Eftpos, Cash and Credit all accepted.

Then on Sunday, get along to the ‘This is not a Design Market’ market, www.thisisnotadesignmarket.com, at 500 Latrobe Street, Melbourne from 10am. The market is part of the State of Design Festival and is sure to have something fashionable or fabulous for everyone, foodies included.

If you’re not into the design scene and vintage is more your thing, the Take 2 Market is also on this Sunday, www.take2markets.com.au. The market, at the Hawthorn Town Hall from 10am, is the second anniversary for the team whose recycled fashion heaven helps us shop in a more affordable and sustainable way.

Where will you spend this weeks paycheck? Happy shopping!

Not so dangerous Liaison

Once in a while, you find somewhere hidden in the laneways in Melbourne that you want to tell the world about. Every now and then, a gem of a café or restaurant, bookstore or undiscovered designer reveals itself and you wonder how you ever survived without it before.

Today I visited Liaison, a café on Ridgway Place up the top end of Melbourne, where I was presented with fabulous coffee, divine breakfast offerings and superb surroundings off the beaten track of Melbourne’s main grid.

In true Melbourne tradition, the best finds in our laneways are the ones most easily missed. Ridgway Place would pass you by if you didn’t know where to look. Just off Little Collins St, between Exhibition and Spring, the cobblestones of this alleyway lead to Monaco House where Liaison has set up shop.

A small outfit with limited indoor seating, Liaison feels like an exclusive space that you are privy to even know about. One of Melbourne’s great finds, the coffee here is fantastic (as verified by Kayne West, www.threethousand.com.au/eat-drink/liaison) and the breakfast dishes a great start to the day.

My thrill at being offered gluten free muesli with fruit and yoghurt was not lost on my companions, who also enjoyed croissant with tomato and cheese. Other pastries and various toasts were on offer; a limited menu but sufficient and fitting for the space and style of Liaison.

Quirky graphics of people in various states of running, walking and biking move across the shopfront and this motif is continued on the business card – symbolic of the people who are no doubt flocking to this treasure. Get in before it the secret gets out.

Liaison
22 Ridgway Place
Melbourne 3000
9663 3225

Age, Sex and Location Location Location

They say ‘dress for the job you want, not the job you have’ – the same could be said for my living situation. Does ‘live the way you want to, not the way you are’, have the same ring to it? This weekend was my first doing the inner city living thing and as I sit here on Sunday night assessing it, I have to admit to feeling pretty at home here!

Friday night I stayed in with a DVD but just looking at the lights of the city skyline was entertainment enough. Saturday morning I braved the weather and joined the other diehards (read: idiots) running around Albert Park lake in the wind and rain. Made it 1.5km before I gave up and turned back in favour of a hot shower. That still meant I walked close to 4km and that’s good enough for me!

Then ventured out to Rowville to help a girlfriend and her husband move house. Now I wouldn’t like anyone to get the wrong opinion of me and expect that when they move house that I will be first in line to assist. I don’t do heavy lifting. Or cleaning. Or general unpacking. I offer to do lunch, because it means I can still wear heels and skirt, plus I get brownie points for ‘helping’. Friends’ hubby had bought the muscle power so I figure it’s only fair that someone take on the 1950’s stereotype and feed the troops. Party pies, sausage rolls and chips were the order of the day (it was still pretty darn cold) and the boys were grateful. Not a particularly inventive or original menu, but sometimes you have to realise that men are simple creatures who just want to be fed, and that any kind of culinary delicacy loses it’s appeal when served on home brand paper plates.

Saturday night – friends graduation party, and I was headed south to Moorabbin. Dinner was standard pub fare at the Sandbelt Hotel, www.sandbeltclubhotel.com.au, however the Vietnamese Chicken Risotto I had was particularly good! Awesome kid’s area, that even had a fairy with free face painting! Almost makes you want to bring someone else’s kids, just to take advantage of the facilities. We partied on to the Southside Six Over 28s, www.southsidesix28s.com.au, with halfprice entry before 10pm and two free drinks. While our group collectively bought the average age of the patrons down about a decade, we strutted our stuff on the podium and gave the gentlemen who looked about 60 wearing a badge that said ‘birthday boy’ something pretty to look at for a few hours. Spent some time star spotting – pretty sure I saw the likes of Kamahl, Donatella Versace and Rose Porteous in the crowd, and don’t even get me started on what some of these women wore out in public. I think there are a few general rules a lady should follow once she reaches a certain age. These include but are not limited to;
1) Tights with shorts over them are a no-no (actually, this is no good for anyone, I don’t care how old you are)
2) Skirts so short we can see your underwear (again, I actually think this rule is also ageless)
3) If you are too old to know what CFM means, you should not be wearing them.

We didn’t pay for a drink all night – the two free on arrival kept us going until we won Midori shakers for dance competition after dance competition. I think it helped that the Midori promo girl was our age and when she was handing out chupa-chups and I commented that she had an awesome job, she advised that no job was worth the lecherous stares of the over 28 crowd (which was really more of an over 48 crowd for most of the room).

Tired feet hours later I crashed at my friends place, and when my physio asks tomorrow what the hell I did on the weekend to stuff my back up so bad, there will be no mention of 10 inch high heels or falling asleep on a couch. Recovery day Sunday started with home cooked bacon and eggs, followed by the trip back to the city. Some quiet reading time and a nap later, I took a walk down Commercial road to Chapel street. Visited the Prahran Market and took in the sights, sounds and smells of the area. Enjoyed a coffee and got some groceries, and took my time walking back. Quite sensibly did not take my credit card, however I will be back because Landes, Sportsgirl and French Connection all stole my heart while I walked the strip and I feel it’s only fair that I visit again.

One weekend down, two more to go, and still so many places to see and explore!

Bright Lights, Big City

I have been trying to move house since January of this year. Currently I live in the outer suburbs, a good hour from where I work in the CBD, and spend a good deal of my time in transit – be it on a freeway or on a train. My thought was to rent out my place in the ‘burbs, and rent something cute and quirky closer to the CBD, effectively cancelling out my mortgage and being footloose and fancy free in the city.

But then, the rental market is a horrible place right now. People are offering over and above the advertised prices and happy couples are beating out the single white female. And just like that, 6 months on, and I am still a resident in the dreary outer east.

A good friend of mine lives very close to the city. A stone’s throw in fact, to all manner of amenity. Albert Park Lake, Cafes and Restaurants, Docklands, CBD, Richmond – everything is not much more than a short tram ride or walk away.

While she has decided to go trekking to the other side of the world, I have taken up residence in her inner city abode for three weeks, putting me in the middle of my universe – a shopping and dining haven. Last night was my first staying at her place, and my eyes are newly opened to the differences between the sleepy suburbs, and the chaotic city.

First, the traffic! And lot’s of it! Actual ear plug inducing traffic noise. I woke up in the middle of the night, thought, ‘wow, few cars going by, must be close to the 6am peak hour rush’, and looked at my phone only to discover it was 2am.

The views, convenience and constant activity are amazing. I could have stared out the window for hours at the city by night, looking at a view I have only experienced in hotel rooms before. Imagine living like that all the time. Feel like an ice cream? 7 Eleven at the end of the street. A run? Pop down the road to Albert Park Lake and join the throng that beat a path daily. Coffee? Which café will I go to? It’s all about choice here and I feel like I am living in the New York of Sex and the City or Friends – being the middle of it all and experiencing Melbourne city the way it is meant to be lived!

All of this after just one night! I haven’t really had time to get to know half of what the lifestyle will be like for the next few weeks, but I have a feeling it will be amazing. I am looking for your tips and tricks for inner city living – what can I cook in a kitchen that would fit into my house’s bathroom? What are the greatest café spots and restaurants along St Kilda road and through to Albert Park, Chapel and High streets Prahran? Where can I find tucked away fashion stores with vintage pieces and the most promising up and coming designers? And tell me about the markets!

I have three weeks here, and a change is as good as a holiday! Tell me all your secrets and I’ll tell you most of mine – come along for the ride!

Stilletto sprints for Shakuhachi

Today appeared to start out like any other day, but maybe a bit of the odd side. I know this might sound strange, but I had that experience where you can’t remember if you were awake, or asleep and dreaming. For some reason I thought I had set my alarm clock back two hours on purpose. Clock said 4am, I thought it was 6am. So I lay there, arguing with myself as to whether I should get up or go back to sleep for another 20 mins and risk being late for my 9am meeting. Inevitably I fell asleep again (if I was even awake to begin with!) and woke up when the alarm went off at 6am.

A very odd start, but then it got more left of centre. I’m a fairly typical Melbourne girl, and generally wear our standard uniform in shades of black and grey. Today, in honour of the crispness of the temperature and the touch of winter sun, I choose a rather eclectic spring colour palette – yellow, orange, hot pink and brown Claude de Alban summer dress over black long sleeve tee and tights with knee high brown stiletto boots. Add a hot pink coat and scarf – I look like a flower bouquet – and off to work. In a city like Melbourne, I now stood out like a sore thumb (literally, due to all the pink!). So with all these people looking at the girl in the strange bright outfit, it seemed fitting that today I would develop a rather unpleasant static issue. My skirt is clinging to my butt and my hair has a mind of its own.

I don’t know why I am so statically charged today! What causes this? And more to the point, how do I get rid of it? I have static spray – but it’s at home. I also have hairspray. Also at home. I needed a miracle cure! While trawling the web for a quick fix at lunch, a fleeting check of Twitter bought my attention to today’s Project Runway OZ competition.

Those who follow me on Twitter will know that yesterday I missed out on the Hussy dress at DFO by mere seconds, so when I saw that the team were again in my territory, I threw on my coat to cover the static cling and took to the streets! 15 minutes and a tram ride later, I was manically checking Twitter on my iphone to ensure the prize had not yet been claimed and missed the tram stop! Result – a girl in a hot pink coat and knee high stiletto boots running down the Paris end of Collins Street towards the Regent theatre (comment if you saw me!).

But it was worth it, because I won! After a minute of getting my breath back, I became the proud owner of a Shakuhachi dress. Unfortunately a size 8, but the thrill of winning is enough for me! You can check out all the Shakuhachi designs here www.shakuhachi.net.au

I also won a CocoLee voucher for being runner up yesterday – a gorgeous online fashion boutique where I can shop up a storm - can’t wait to find a bargain! www.cocolee.com.au

And so my afternoon at work has been a bit of an anticlimax after such an exciting lunchbreak. My static cling and aching feet have kept me confined to the desk and I am now considering the benefits of doing away with hosiery all together as I can’t possibly continue to walk around like this! But for future reference, I will bring the static spray back to my office drawer, and endeavour to wear more sensible shoes when planning on running in the pursuit of designer dresses.

Don’t forget Project Runway Australia, starting tonight on Foxtel, 8.30opm!

The best thing to come out of America...

Close to two years ago, I started working in Melbourne’s CBD. Not long after that, I visited the Sugar Shack at Southern Cross Station. The Sugar Shack is exactly what it sounds like – a little shop full to bursting of everything a dentist fears and more. Pick and mix, chocolate bars, choc coated coffee beans, cans of exotic sounding drinks and imported sweets, toffee and other filling extracting niceties. But the most exciting discovery I made on my visit so long ago, was Peanut Butter M and Ms.

I am a big fan of M and Ms. Australian varieties – plain, peanut, crispy and mixed up (although I notice you can now get mint and jaffa!) – are great and were definately in my top 5 candies, until I met Peanut Butter M and Ms. Now, I don’t even like Peanut Butter, so I have no idea what inspired me to buy these little bite sized pieces of heaven to start with, but once you have them, you will forever wonder why something so good isn’t available freely in Australia.

At $2.60 for a 50g bag, the imported candy is on the expensive side, but definitely worth the investment. Shortly after my first time (and in the early stages of addiction), I contacted Masterfoods, (the lords of M and Ms) to enquire as to why this variety was not for sale in Australia. Apparently one ingredient isn’t available here, and they have no plans to manufacture the Peanut Butter variety in Australia.

Words could not express my disappointment. My addiction was up to several bags a week, and although the walk to the Sugar Shack could compensate a little, I’m quite sure that calories consumed was outweighing energy expended. So I quit cold turkey. I cut off my daily expedition to the city and avoided the Sugar Shack… until months later I attended a BBQ with an international visitor, who had bought the biggest bag of Peanut Butter M and Ms from the States to the party I have ever seen.

And here we are, two years after my first time and it doesn’t get easier.
This week I bought a big bag off eBay from a store in Brisbane. An intervention might be needed to save my arteries and my wallet. But in the meantime, try this recipe for Peanut Butter Cookies. The cookie dough somewhat resembles Peanut Butter M and Ms – and if you find you still need your fix, email Masterfoods. Surely if they receive enough emails we can get Peanut Butter M and Ms in Oz!

Peanut Butter and Choc Chip Cookies
1 cup Crunchy Peanut Butter
1 cup Brown Sugar
1 cup Dark Choc Chips
1 tsp bi-carb soda1 egg, lightly beaten

Mix the Peaunut Butter, Brown Sugar and bicarb soda. Add the egg, and finally the choc chips. The mix will be very sticky! Use a teaspoon to create balls, put these on a greased baking tray and flatten slightly with a fork. Bake in a 180 degree over for 8-10 mins until slightly browned.

If you find you still need the real thing, try

LollyworldShop 3/6 Ebert Parade
Lawton, Brisbane
http://www.lollywood.com.au/
07 3285 6559

Or the Sugar Shack at Southern Cross Station, Melbourne City!