Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2018 i ELLE Australia

Is there anything more difficult than getting back into the swing of real life after a holiday? I’m writing this on the first day back at work after a summer break spent in Marrakech, where I couldn’t have been more removed from my normal day-to-day if I tried. I’m feeling completely discombobulated as a result. Being woken by an alarm and not mint tea and a Moroccan pancake is so uncivilised. The hunger pangs resulting from going from three courses for every breakfast, lunch and dinner to a normal, non-holiday eating schedule are real. Why is a  kaftan and sandals not standardised office attire? Normal clothing feels so restrictive and, frankly, does my new Moroccan pancake-shaped body no favours. My credit card hasn’t purchased anything that I absolutely can’t live without but…

#1 WHOA THERE A vintage cowboy boot is eternal. But for SS18, the fashion editor-approved update is a pointed, laced and buckled version, courtesy of Chloé’s new creative director Natacha Ramsay-Levi. #2 ALTERED VIEWING In 2018, if you’re not binging on a new series the day it lands, you’re too late. Clear your schedule on February 2 for Altered Carbon, a Black Mirror-on-crack sci-fi thriller, and one of the most expensive Netflix productions ever made. #3 THE PLEASURE IS ALL YOURS Self-pleasure is back on the agenda, so make room in your drawer for a chic gift-to-self from Porte-À-Vie, the freshly relaunched luxe e-tailer (from a former magazine editor) specialising in do-not-disturb designer lingerie, toys, luxe oils and perfumes. porteavie.com #4 GET LIT If you don’t own a worn-in pot of…

After countless seasons in the spotlight, statement earrings have transitioned from a jewellery trend to our permanent state of accessorisation. An everyday pair should fall midway on the scale of small hoops to Saturday-night shoulder-grazers. Take this artsy version: their sculptural mix of metal and enamel makes them the most outfit-adaptable pair out there. Try them effortlessly swinging over a  faithful white T-shirt or an equally artinclined dress…

If the nostalgic designs of Australian label Posse conjure up images of life in a  tropical paradise, you’d be spot on. Made in Bali, the “off-duty essentials”, including airy sundresses and ’70s-style handcrafted accessories, are rapidly gathering a  devoted social-media following for their effortless appeal and affordable price point. Every piece is made mostly by craftswomen who work from home so they can work at their own pace while still raising their families. That’s one girl gang worth signing up for.…

THE PLAY IS A RESPONSE TO THE KIND OF CULTURE THAT EXISTS IN FOOTBALL that all Australians are very familiar with. We’ve had a history of hearing about sexual misconduct – which is a lenient expression – and potential crimes in the press, yet it feels like there’s never been any kind of satisfying response, and nobody has ended up being prosecuted. Of course everyone agrees that behaviour is despicable, and yet to be able to find a way in and make it feel like it’s not something that we’ve heard over and over again has been really challenging and exciting. CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT ARE OFTEN NO-GO ZONES IN AUSTRALIA, and we’re quite silent about the level of abuse that occurs. In terms of sport, these institutions are absolutely hallowed.…

While your earliest memories of bread might involve the consumption of hundreds-and-thousands-topped triangles of Tip Top’s softest white, it’s likely that somewhere along the way, that adoration fell victim to a well-intentioned “cleanse” that didn’t advocate for anything nearly as carb-laden. But now that experts are refuting the claims behind such aversions (not only are there suggestions cutting carbs and fibre from our diets could be detrimental to our health, research has also shown white bread is no longer  believed to be any worse for you than brown), bread is back with a vengeance as fierce as your appetite during said juice cleanse. Just look to some of the country’s top restaurants, which are elevating bread beyond its typical incarnation of “slightly warmed and served with butter”. Former Noma chef…

DYSCHRONIA BY JENNIFER MILLS  Imagine waking up one morning and discovering the ocean had disappeared, which is what the residents in the small coastal town of Clapstone experience. No-one saw it coming except for Sam, who is plagued by troubling visions of this and other catastrophes. Dyschronia is a gripping read by Aussie author Jennifer Mills, whose lyrical prose in this, her third novel, weaves and raises interesting questions of consciousness and conscience. Dyschronia ($29.99, Pan Macmillan) is out January 30 This is the latest instalment of the ELLE Book Club, where each month we recommend one read we know you’ll love. To win a copy of this one, head to ELLE.com.au/win…

An extra-long, super-fine belt shifts a boxy shirt into a peplum blouse silhouette. To shake the seriousness of a buttoned-up neckline, layer talismanic necklaces under the collar. A strappy Friday-night dress is ready for Monday morning with a shirt layered underneath. Buy a shirt two sizes bigger and pull the cuffs through your jacket sleeves for a very impressive taxi hail. For a jumpsuit effect, colour- match to your favourite pants. Cinch with a contrasting belt.…

In my early twenties, I experienced something of an overnight makeover. I went from being a  recreational therapist at a nursing home, where my job was to perk up the residents – organising art classes for our Alzheimer’s patients and hosting the Frank Sinatra Appreciation Society – to landing a coveted job as an MTV VJ. (I’d sent the network an unsolicited audition tape of myself interviewing people; I had only a few acting classes under my belt, but figured I had experience entertaining an audience with a short attention span.) At the Village Nursing Home, my uniform was black pants and a crisp button-down shirt.  But television, as you may have heard, is a  visual medium. Goodbye, frowzy substitute-teacher separates; hello, unlimited sartorial choices, courtesy of MTV’s stylists and wardrobe…

“I never thought women needed a different [investing] environment than men did; I thought the idea was patronising and sexist,” says Sallie Krawcheck, chair of America’s Ellevate Network and co-founder of Ellevest – career and investing platforms that are geared towards women. But as Krawcheck began to do a little digging, she was hit with startling disparities: while we’re all aware of the gender pay gap (in Australia, full-time working women earn on average $251.20 per week less than men), over the course of a career, the lesser-known gender investing gap can also cost women thousands – even millions – of dollars. According to Krawcheck, women retire, on average, with two-thirds of the money that men do. This, she says, “tells me something is not working for women”. “It was…

IS CONFIDENCE SOMETHING THAT YOU’VE HAD TO WORK ON? I’m still addressing it. The interesting thing is, I’ve now been fortunate enough to have met some extremely successful people and,  generally speaking, once you get to know them you realise they are just as insecure, but they’re doing it anyway. I think the key thing is the drive and the decision that you’re going to follow through. I’ve come to realise that there are two ways you can look at this stuff. You could either be somebody who always thought, “Wow, I probably had amazing potential,” but you were too afraid to push as hard as you could and see where that potential got you, to see at what point you would fail. Or you could be a person who…

BE FIRM BUT FAIR I always have an open-door policy. I pretty much know all the staff by name. We form a family but it’s important to be firm as well. We’re still running a five-star hotel – we can’t let standards slip. But I think I’m a very fair person and very friendly and warm and wanting to understand what people do as well outside of work. BALANCE IS IMPORTANT In a previous role we used to do ridiculous hours – we started at 7am and didn’t leave until 10pm, and that was expected. But now I have my own family, going to children’s assembly is important. When we hire people, we instil that into the staff that they understand that if there’s a sports day at school, they…

BEAUTY NOTE Repent the sins of summer with an uber-nourishing step you can add into your shower regimen. Try 3 Minute Miracle Repair & Protect Conditioner, $7,PANTENE, 1800 028 280 To plan your trip to Auckland, visit aucklandnz.com/visit…

As far as foundation camps go, it used to be a stay-in-your-lane situation. You want long-lasting? Go matte and never look back.  Sensitive? Mineral makeup only. Now, new hybrid, high-tech formulas spiked with skincare ingredients are allowing for more freedom when it comes to choosing the bedrock of your makeup routine. The new Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation evens skin tone and lasts well past lunchtime (or last drinks), while still achieving the Holy Grail base requirement of making your skin look like skin, only better. “When I develop a new foundation, I task the chemists to create formulas that are so lightweight they appear invisible on the skin,”  says founder François Nars. “They provide coverage without looking too heavy or masking the skin.” The team at Nars have homed in on the skincare-meets-makeup…

You’ve seen one matte liquid lipstick, you’ve seen them all, right? Wrong. This latest offering from Yves Saint Laurent is the hardest-working lipstick of the season. It applies with hawk-eye precision (courtesy of the odd but genius oblong-shaped sponge) and layers on super matte but feels featherlight on the lips, like you have nothing on. Then, instead of wearing off in patches like most matte liquid lipsticks, it fades evenly and leaves a just-bitten stain all over that lasts hours. So you get a  tint and an on-trend matte in one chic bottle.…

Call it the Kirakira+ effect or just makeup artists trying their hand at the high-shine silver trend, because suddenly there were more crystals backstage at fashion week than on the set of Margot Robbie’s new ice-skating film, I, Tonya. Following the lead from the lit looks at Dries Van Noten and Jeremy Scott, the trend works best against fresh skin, brushed-up brows and a coat of mascara.…

“FOCUS! OBSTACLES ARE WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE PRIZE.” PAY ON THE RUN With Ionic’s new Fitbit Pay™ function, you can literally pay on the run. Just load your debit and credit cards into the Fitbit wallet, and your post-run reward can be paid for in one contactless swipe. *Fitbit Pay works with major credit and debit cards from top banks and card issuers around the world. Visit https://www.fitbit.com/au/fitbitpay/banks for more information. WHY YOU NEED IT! Take your sweat to the next level with more of the good stuff – the latest features, function and style. Guidance Like your very own PT, on-screen workouts will take you through moves and adjust based on your feedback. Convenient App-packed to make life easier. Make payments, call,…

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FAVOURITE CAFE FOR SUNDAY BRUNCH? Victoria Lee: Bluestone Lane. The baked eggs are my go-to order, or the avocado toast with poached eggs. Darren McDonald: Diner in Williamsburg. WHERE TO FIND THE BEST COFFEE? VL: Blue Bottle in Chelsea. DM: Sweatshop in Brooklyn. HOT RESTAURANT TO TRY? VL: I finally tried Sugarfish. Everything on the “Trust Me” set menu is delicious. DM: Aska and The Four Horsemen, both in Brooklyn. GO-TO TAKEAWAY? VL: Hu Kitchen. I order roast chicken with cauliflower mash and greens. The banana bread and chocolate bars are also amazing. DM: Sweetgreen salad bar. BEST BAR FOR A LATE- NIGHT DRINK? VL: Loosie Rouge in Williamsburg. DM: Loosie Rouge. HOMESICK HANGOUT? VL: The Flower Shop on the Lower East Side. DM: My brother’s apartment. EASIEST WAY TO GET A…

Blame Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ 2012 release “Thrift Shop” and its billion-plus views, but secondhand shopping just isn’t what it used to be. Those unique vintage gems you lived to unearth, paid $3 for and wore until they frayed at the seams? Now few and far between, picked over, pumped up in price or replaced by a sea of lower-quality mass-produced pieces from the negligible noughties. But that’s not to say our fascination with pieces from the past is waning. Instead, we’re turning to the retro-inflected collections of today’s designers, which meld the best of fashion’s heydays with a modern twist. Miu Miu’s resort 2018 presentation played out at the Paris Automobile Club in an ode to the jumpsuit – from zip-knit rompers to body-repair-shop coveralls complete with uniform patches and Miu Miu…

The Matrix-style micro shades are proving to be summer’s hottest trend, spotted on Rihanna, street-style royalty and the SS18 runways alike. There were naysayers aplenty in the ELLE office but, with a  swift try-on, even members of the oversized-only squad discovered their instant-cool impact. Try them with relaxed tailoring to add a quirky twist to grown-up polish, or take your cue from Zoë Kravitz, who paired her tiny frames with classic black separates. Still have doubts? We found squarish face shapes are better off opting for rounder ’90s  styles, while heart and round faces best suit the cheek-defining cat-eyes as seen at Prada and Louis Vuitton. Try on and behold the smallest (but mightiest) building block to your sharpest new look. Try them with relaxed tailoring to add a quirky twist to grownup polish…

THE CRITICS’ CHOICE Taking out awards at just about every major film festival, The Wound (Inxeba) is an inspired take on the notions of masculinity and tradition that surround South African male initiation rituals, and the young men at their centre. In cinemas February 8 THE REAL-LIFE HEROES In August 2015, three Americans on a train from Amsterdam to Paris subdued an armed man who began firing at passengers, thwarting a  suspected terrorist attack. They star as themselves (alongside Hollywood faves Judy Greer and Jenna Fischer) in the Clint Eastwood-directed retelling, The 15:17 To Paris. In cinemas February 8 THE GUILTY PLEASURE Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan round out your favourite so-bad-it’s-good trilogy with its final instalment, Fifty Shades Freed. In cinemas February 8…

WHO: KELSEY WHELAN, NETFLIX PRODUCT MANAGER WHAT: I’m excited about cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin. There have been ups and downs, but the idea of self-governing, distributed systems fascinates me and I think we’ll see a lot of meaningful innovation and creativity here in 2018. WHO: DR AMANTHA IMBER, FOUNDER OF INVENTIUM WHAT: I’m excited to try Spire. It’s a wearable device that tracks your breathing and notifies you if you’re feeling stressed. I’m hoping it’s a way to keep me more mindful. WHO: CASSIE DE COLLING, UKU360° DIRECTOR AND FILMMAKER WHAT: I’m interested in Google Pixel Buds, earphones that can translate 40 languages in real time. WHO: RITA ARRIGO, MICROSOFT CHIEF DIGITAL ADVISER WHAT: Artificial intelligence, mainly [the app] Seeing AI as Microsoft is now working with Pivothead to bring vision…

WHAT? Fermented potato bread with trout roe and kefir cream. WHERE? Ester in Chippendale, Sydney; ester-restaurant.com.au WHAT? Pavoni’s garlic bread (wood-fired sweet buns with marjoram, oregano and rosemary crisped in garlic butter). WHERE? Sotto Sopra in Newport, Sydney; sottosopra.com.au WHAT? Wholemeal sourdough flatbread with butter curd. WHERE? Bar Liberty in Fitzroy, Melbourne; barliberty.com…

“THERE’S A SCENE in 2016’s Hidden Figures where Janelle Monáe’s character, a maths genius, stands up for herself in court and explains that, in order to be an engineer at NASA, she needs to take courses only available to white men. It brought some of my male co-workers to tears while we were filming, which was something I’d never experienced before on a shoot. It proved the film we were making, which turned out to be a hit at the box office, was an important story to tell, featuring a  group of successful women who made history. It’s moments like these that make me realise the power of my job. I grew up in the suburbs of Melbourne and my family was typical of the ’70s. My father would go…

#1 PICK YOUR BASE A textured, strong-shouldered blazer is the leafy green basis on which to build your look. #2 CHOOSE YOUR PROTEIN For sustenance, add hardworking, wide-leg trousers in fail-safe grey, pinstripe or black. #3 TOP IT OFF A striped shirt, ribbed knit or silk blouse are the perfect contrasting pieces. #4 NOW FOR THE DRESSING Choose up to three for maximum polish.…

Not since the Spice Girls hip-popped onto the scene in the mid-’90s has the word held so much significance. Girl Power changed everything for a generation who no longer identified with traditional definitions of feminism and were looking for a new brand of independence. But as Victoria Beckham, now a powerhouse in her own right, has so succinctly stated since, “We always stood for Girl Power and now maybe it’s woman power.” With “feminism” Merriam-Webster’s most looked-up word of last year, and ever more women standing up and being heard in a post #MeToo world, there’s never been a better time to talk about how we can help get more women into positions of power, elevate women’s voices and be the best versions of the bold, brave women we were born…

Judging by the millions of Google hits for the phrase “future of work”, the issue is on many of our minds at the moment. If it’s not, it probably should be. Mid-last year, The Foundation For Young Australians released its New Work Smarts report after analysing more than 20 billion hours of work completed by 12 million Australians across 400 occupations to predict the skills and capabilities that will be needed in 2030. The research estimates young workers will on average spend more than 77 per cent more time using science, technology, maths and engineering (STEM) skills than the same jobs demand now. Competing in a digitally savvy environment will be paramount. In truth, it already is. With the rise of automation, robots and artificial intelligence, the World Economic Forum’s…

If you’re one of the 111K people following PE Nation’s co-founder Pip Edwards on Instagram, the fact she practises Pilates won’t have escaped you. The svelte creative director is a living advertisement for her fitness brand as she documents her morning routine with Fluidform Pilates. But for the busy mum who’s spent the past year building her business into an international success and found herself struggling with the juggle, anguish and guilt, her practice goes beyond just presenting a  polished image on social media. “It’s my new feminism. It’s my new mantra,” she says. “It’s what’s actually saved me in the past three months... it has allowed me to connect with my female self.” While the concept of tapping into our feminine energy for most of us means switching our…

It’s taken almost 20 years, but people are starting to warm to Tracy Flick. Before she was Legally Blonde’s ditzy Elle Woods or sassy Madeline Martha Mackenzie on Big Little Lies, Reese Witherspoon played Flick, the overly ambitious, doggedly prepared, obnoxious wannabe school captain in the cult film Election. In a way, this brilliantly portrayed, if flawed, character has been the yardstick for women running for public office ever since: pushy, know-it-all and deserving of derision for her ambition. Hillary Clinton didn’t escape the comparisons throughout her failed attempts to make it to the Oval Office. Clinton’s most recent disappointment though has been a boon for gen X and millennial political aspirants and idealists. Women around the world are rising up. Something is happening in politics right now that doesn’t involve one of Donald Trump’s…

GROWING UP IN AUSTRALIA, I was taught the importance of skin protection from a young age. I like sunscreen that isn’t too thick or greasy –  and I use it every day. I USE HAIR TREATMENTS REGULARLY. A stylist once recommended Redken’s leave-in treatment and it works wonders on stressed ends. My mum also bought me Aesop’s moisturising mask years ago. I  use it once or twice a week and it makes my hair feel incredible. I MAKE SURE I USE A FACE MASK once or twice a week – Mario Badescu’s  makes my skin feel so soft. And BareMinerals’ cream is a must at bedtime. I love the thick texture. A BEAUTY EDITOR gave the This Works face oil to me – I apply it every morning. It’s nourishing and gives a great glow. I GET…

1. WHEEL DEAL The beauty world is littered with gimmicks, with only a few making the leap from novelty to necessity. Revlon’s new eyeliner fits firmly into the latter camp. In place of a  brush or felt tip is a pizza wheel-esque roller, which makes lining your lashes and creating sharp flicks a cinch. 2. FACE FACTS DIY tanning your body is one thing, but tackling the face can be tricky (and it can’t be covered with clothing if things go wrong). Drop this pure tanning solution into any moisturiser to build a believable bronze, stress-free. 3. UP TO THE MASK Up the ante of your at-home masking sessions with this clever kit. The brush uses less product than fingers and allows for precise application (particularly if you’re multi-masking, with two…

“If I need to create shiny, healthy-looking hair fast, these are my go-to tools. The brushes [produce] negative ions, which smooth strands, while ceramic and ionic technology in the hairdryer reduces frizz, making hair look (and feel) healthier.” 1. Pro Curling Iron, $279, BEACHWAVER, sydneysalonsupplies.com.au 12. Ceramic brush, $24, LA BIOSTHÉTIQUE, labiosthetique.com.aulabiosthetique.com.au 13. Ceramic brush, $22, LA BIOSTHÉTIQUE, 14. Advance Light Ceramic And Ionic Hair Dryer, $260, PARLUX, i-glamour.com.au “For blondes that have gone green from chlorine, a quick trick is tomato sauce. The acidity will neutralise any discolouration. Red and green are opposites on the colour wheel, so the redness of the tomato sauce will counteract any green tones. Comb through the hair where any discolouration has occurred, rinse out after five minutes then shampoo and condition.” 2. Tomato…

Some trends enter the beauty zeitgeist overnight, infiltrating our social-media feeds for a short while before returning to oblivion. Then there are the mainstays – those that slice through the buzz and carve out their place as a decade-defining beauty movement. Think ’90s over-plucked brows, ’00s D-cup boob jobs and, now, our fixation with lip fillers. But you knew that already. You’re living in the age of the “lip job”, with the popularity of non-surgical lip treatments skyrocketing, particularly among young women. But how did fillers move on from their “trout pout”  reputation to the modern working woman’s “tweakment” of choice? These days, it seems plumping your lips with a syringe full of filler is as routine as teeth whitening and as easy to fit into your lunch break as a shellac manicure. Scroll through Instagram and you could be…

Here’s a familiar scenario: it’s 3pm on a Thursday. You’ve barely left your desk all day, and you’ll probably sit staring at your computer screen until 8  o’clock tonight. If you don’t already have a  headache, you know there’s one coming, so you do the sensible thing and down two painkillers from your top-drawer stash. Sure, some fresh air or a massage could help. Likewise, stretching out in a  dark room. But in situations where your body is threatening to slow you down, whether it’s that creeping headache, period pain or just sore muscles post-boxing class, we grab the easy, sometimes only option and just get on with it. Like the ad says, when pain is gone, life takes its place. Resorting to quick pharmaceutical fixes isn’t a  new trend, but there’s…

COACH Fresh from Coach’s pre-spring 2018 collection, this Rexy Tote is set for It-bag status. Crafted from canvas with smooth leather accents and featuring the brand’s signature chain motif (not to mention an adorable Rexy the dinosaur embellishment), it’s more fun than ferocious – and a must for fashionistas everywhere. $275; coachaustralia.com FITBIT The Fitbit Ionic smart watch is engineered for the active trendsetter, featuring comprehensive activity monitoring to help you stay motivated. Plus, it’s compatible with popular smart watch apps and the battery lasts days not hours. You’ll wonder how you lived without it. $447; harveynorman.com.au DRESSED UP Love designer labels but your bank account doesn’t? Or hate the thought of forking out big for something you’ll wear once? We have the solution: rent it! Dressed Up not only…

AQUARIUS jan 21 – feb 19 FEBRUARY IS SET TO BE EVENTFUL. A SOLAR ECLIPSE ARRIVES MID-MONTH TO SHAKE UP YOUR SENSE OF SELF AND HOW YOU RELATE TO THE WORLD. YOU’RE EXPERIENCING A LOT BENEATH THE SURFACE, SO SET ASIDE ALONE TIME TO PROCESS THE CHANGES IN YOUR IDENTITY. WORLDLY MATTERS WILL ALSO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO YOUR WALLET, FORCING YOU TO RECONCILE YOUR REPUTATION AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS WITH YOUR FRIENDS. DON’T LET YOUR SOCIAL CIRCLE DICTATE YOUR IMAGE AS YOU ADJUST TO THIS BALANCING ACT. PISCES FEB 20 – MAR 20 While February’s astrology revolves around your career, distant goals and your social circle will offer a mix of spiritual growth and encouragement. Listen to your body and be sure to get plenty of rest, especially around the solar…

1. The friends-sincekindy friend: You’ve seen her twice in the past five years, but both times it took exactly three minutes to reconnect. Even if you’ve followed different paths, anyone who’s seen you pee your bunk at camp isn’t a girl to let go of. 2. The work spouse: She’ll body-block you from the vending machine, misuse Slack for entertainment purposes and festoon your desk with streamers on your birthday. 3. The hold-your-hair-back friend: Whether or not Friday night still involves projecting a stomach-full of crème de menthe against the side of a portaloo, there’s still a place in life for a party mum, with her Lucozade and pre-emptive Nurofen.…

This season, it’s all about lingerie you won’t want to keep undercover. Cue delicate bras and briefs in muted shades of gold, blush and grey. Look for lace inserts and clever panelling for sexy with a  side of subtle. Done-up buttons optional.…

SARAH & SEBASTIAN THE CULT JEWELLERY BRAND IS ABOUT TO COLOUR YOUR WORLD If you’ve travelled to Reykjavik around this time of year, you may have been lucky enough to catch the elusive aurora borealis, or northern lights, in dancing shades of red, yellow, green, blue and violet. We can only imagine it’s somewhat akin to viewing Sarah & Sebastian’s latest collection, Prism. Inspired by the vibrating colours of Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson’s works, the jumble of sculptural rings, earrings, bracelets and chains seems to shine from within – no shabby result from the seven-year-old minimally minded jeweller only now dipping its toe into colour. Heavily influenced by the art world, the brand founded in 2011 by Sarah Gittoes and Robert Sebastian Grynkofki has gained cult status off the back of its iconic pieces,…

Once upon a time, Hollywood thrived on women fighting, whether that was on set or on screen. There’s a reason why Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Dynasty’s Krystle and Alexis and the entire female cast of (the OG) Melrose Place hold a special place in the hearts of drama fans. But the tide has turned thanks to UnReal, where women can bicker and bitch but still be besties and bosses who get stuff done. The popular series may be about people seeking romance on reality TV, but strip away the supporting cast who are treated like puppets by hot mess TV producer Rachel (Shiri Appleby) and acid-tongued executive Quinn (Constance Zimmer), and the show’s true heart is exposed. This show-within-a-show is a story about strong, powerful women, and season three resembles…

We’ve embraced the Danish concept of hygge and spent all our surplus income on Swedish fast fashion and Norwegian wood; now it’s time to move our attention to Scandinavia’s next star: Finland. The enlightened people who gave us the greatest game since Mario Kart – Nokia 3310’s Snake II – are the focus of a book by journalist (and proud Finn) Anu Partanen. The Nordic Theory Of Everything: In Search Of A Better Life is a part-memoir, part-lifestyle guide for those wanting a calmer, more innovative existence. Partanen’s story chronicles her journey from a confident, successful professional to a wary, anxious mess after she moves from her homeland to the US for love. Overwhelmed by everyday basics like paying gratuity and trying to buy a mobile phone, she started suffering panic attacks…

THE KEY TO CARRYING AN OVERSIZED TOTE A POUCH FOR EVERYTHING AND EVERYTHING IN ITS POUCH Rid your life of let-me-find-that anxiety by adopting the pouch system. A slew of hyper-specific pouches, purses and pockets in complementary tones housed in a supersized bag is all that’s needed for workwear efficiency. The “just in case I make plans tonight” clutch 1. Bag, $900, BURBERRY au.burberry.com The “loyalty cards I never use” holder 2. Wallet, $1,050, LOUIS VUITTON, au.louisvuitton.com The “sure to impress” business-card holder 3. Card holder, $69, GINGER & SMART, gingerandsmart.com The “bank cards I use every day” holder 4. Card holder, $300, BURBERRY, au.burberry. The diary that won’t say “storage almost full” 5. Notebook, $250, LOUIS VUITTON, au.louisvuitton.com The “of course I should carry a needle and thread” pouch 6.…

Watch, $14,700, OMEGA, (02) 8080 9696 Freshen up rose gold with sapphire and silver. Watch, $2,625, RADO, rado.com With unfussy details and non-existent numbers,  this is a timepiece for the minimalist. Watch, $3,560, HERMÈS, (02) 9287 3200 A stylish wrap leather bracelet that just happens to tell the time. Watch, $5,195, FENDI, fendi.com A sleek black face paired with mixed gold and silver will match every colour palette. Watch, $12,200, CARTIER, au.cartier.com The kind of heirloom watch we hope to inherit one day (or gift to ourself).…

At a TED Global 2012 conference, social psychologist Amy Cuddy gave the talk “Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are”, in which she detailed the effects of “power posing”, based on her research that found that adopting expansive postures (where we open up, spread out and make ourselves big) causes people to feel more powerful. It was a simple finding that went viral, going on to become one of TED’s most-watched talks ever, with currently more than 44 million views. In her work as a Harvard Business School professor, Cuddy observed that posture seemed to be related to gender, with women much more likely to make themselves smaller than men. “Women feel chronically less powerful than men, so this is not surprising,” she said. Her intent was to see…

As an actress, I’m passionate about telling people’s stories because I believe everyone’s stories deserves to be told, but my other passion in life is certain areas of the justice system that I feel are failing our citizens. I was lucky enough to do very well at school and my marks were such that I was able to qualify to study law. I felt very strongly from a young age that the statutory provisions covering sex crimes against women and children were abhorrent and needed to be amended, and I thought the only way to really be a catalyst for change was to get into the system. Then along came Neighbours when I was in my fourth year studying, and I managed both for six months and then it became too…

STYLE IS A FORM OF SELF-EXPRESSION FOR ME and a form of communication with the world at large. If I’m going to a meeting, I want to communicate my competence but also a bit of originality. I love fashion. My job is intense and serious, so it’s nice to have a creative outlet every morning – I dress for the day I am going to have... I don’t think what I wear affects my actual performance, but I certainly feel more confident and happier if I like my outfit. I often say, “Good shoes make me a better lawyer,” which I don’t really believe is true, but what it comes down to is my frame of mind, and if that comes from my outfit then great – it’s a simple…

ONCE UPON A TIME there was a young mother, with two kids under five, living in inner-city Sydney. Her children had to play in the street as the neighbourhood parks were nothing but asphalt and barbed wire. Out of her frustration she launched a  petition for new public spaces that attracted 500 signatures and established a “little community group, a little vegetable club and a babysitting group” before she went on to run for local council because no-one in government cared about the quality of life for those living in the inner ‘burbs of Sydney during the ’80s. That young mother is now Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore, one of the most successful Independent politicians in the country. Decades later, with rising costs of living and other similar frustrations affecting so…

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MORNING SWIM: With vanilla absolute, iris butter and ambrette, it truly smells like sunshine. LONG LUNCH: Peppery and herby, it sprays on like a  crisp breeze. LAZY AFTERNOON: With bright bergamot pulled back with magnolia, it’s the ultimate spritz and chill. SUNSET DRINK: For something more girlie, switch to this floral bouquet of cassis and lily-of-the-valley. ALL NIGHT OUT: Blending blackberry with Bulgarian rose and ambery woods, it’s  a bold scent that lasts hours.…

WHAT IT IS: Leading the rise of non-obvious “tweakment” procedures is fat-melting injectable Belkyra, designed to dissolve the stubborn fat under the chin. It also increases collagen production, so the whole area is tightened in two to six treatments, with results lasting years. WHAT HAPPENS: Dr Jonathan Hopkirk took me through the process, pain expectations, post-care and results. Then he numbed the area and mapped out where he would inject, before the main event, which only took around five minutes. WHAT IT FEELS LIKE: Hopkirk explained that his special blend of Belkyra with anaesthetic would reduce the pain and I have to say, it didn’t hurt any more than other injectables. Ice was applied afterwards and in the days following, which is when the “ouch” slightly set in. Nothing major, but…

WHAT ARE THEY? The filler itself is made up of a hyaluronic acid molecule, which is a naturally occurring compound in the body that attracts water and can hold up to 1,000 times its own weight. Injected, this results in a plumper, fuller lip effect. CAN ANYONE GET THEM? Most good doctors won’t perform injectables on people under the age of 18. And no clinical studies have ever proven that it’s okay to undergo treatment while pregnant, when fluctuating hormones make it more difficult to predict results. HOW LONG DO THEY LAST? It depends on the product, the patient and a number of other factors. As a ballpark figure, the first treatment should last four to six months, and after that can be anything from nine months-plus. WHAT’S THE HEALING…

“It’s about balance. I have areas covered in colour next to spaces with nothing” IN THE SLEEPY LITTLE TOWN of Federal, in the hinterland above busy Byron Bay, you’ll find this charming timber Queenslander belonging to interior designer and owner of Jatana Interiors, Sonya Marish. “As soon as I saw it, I fell in love – I bought it the same day,” she says. Her family of five moved in, and Marish soon made it her own. “I’m no minimalist,” she laughs. “I love layering, mixing, matching and cluttering. I think displaying trinkets and memories is what creates the warmth of your home – it becomes your cocoon.” “I wanted everywhere and you sit like to a feel beautiful new, different experience” “I find my pieces at markets, reclaim yards…

KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL For the past few years, I’ve been waking up in the middle of the night to eat (yes, I have dinner and eat regular meals throughout the day). I could stand to lose a few kilos, but I’m not overweight by any means. I don’t binge, really; I’ll usually just have a few bites of leftovers and then go back to sleep. I started this terrible habit when I was in university. I know it’s wrong but just can’t seem to kick it. Do you have any ideas of how I can break the pattern? – LOVE SOME BRUTAL ADVICE Miss Love Some Wait. Hold on. Have I  wrapped my nightgown around my brain, or are you trying to tell me that you eat “a few bites” and…

…THING YOU BOUGHT WITH CASH? I tipped a guy this morning. …INVESTMENT PIECE YOU BOUGHT? Paintings by artist Henrik Uldalen. They’re a triptych of a male, female and a hand holding a key. …PARTY YOU WENT TO? My fragrance launch party at The Hollywood Roosevelt. But I’m not really a party person. …VACATION YOU TOOK? I’ve never taken a vacation. What’s a vacation?! …THING THAT MADE YOU MAD? People piss me off all the time, but the last time I was really mad was when our god-awful President pulled America from the Paris climate agreement. …THING YOU DID BEFORE LEAVING THE HOUSE TODAY? I spray-painted my shoes black. …FRAGRANCE YOU SPRITZED? My Saint and Sinner perfumes. …BOOK YOU READ? Letting Go: The Pathway Of Surrender by David R Hawkins. ...TIME…