Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2018 i ELLE Australia

Between debaucherous office parties and marathon family lunches, most of us find ourselves casting a glance back at the year that was. Time brings change and a lot can shift in just 12 months. For you, that might have meant finding new love or saying goodbye to an old one, moving house, shifting career, joining a running club, even discovering a new hairstyle or pair of boots that revolutionised your personal style. For me it meant stepping into the editor’s shoes at ELLE – and despite my hard-to-fit size 41s, it feels like the perfect fit. A Cinderella moment. Except life, as we know, doesn’t always play out like a  fairytale. I wasn’t just handed my dream job by a  kindly fairy godmother (although there have been a few of…

After seasons of the statement earring, try the next big (little) thing in jewellery trends: the necklace stack. Allow gold-dipped talismans to fall on a bare décolletage for an effortless day-to-evening look.…

Tis the season to be sociable, so you need celebratory pieces that sing whether you’re heading for drinks, hitting the dance floor or staying in your own kitchen with good friends and great wine.  Inject your wardrobe with sequins, next-gen twin sets and jumbo jewels, plus get the need-to-know tricks to navigate December in style. Cheers! THE DRAMATIC DANGLER Larger-than-life earrings lift an outfit, make for great small talk and allow for not-so-polished hair. Pick fun shapes that reach towards your collarbone. SPARKLE 2 .0 Sequins don’t discriminate this season: rainbow discs, glitzy black, pastel-pink tassels… as long as it glimmers, get it on your body. Go full disco ball OH DAMN! I NEED A DRESS A good old-fashioned party frock is powerful: do froufrou skirts, billowy sleeves or fun details and you’ll be…

DJ BEC ADAMS (who’s played at clubs like Le Bain in New York): “For guaranteed laughs, call in your closest friends and do the move where you make your way to the floor in a  squat. Or play any song by Crystal Waters or William Onyeabor!” HOSPITALITY PUBLICIST JEANINE BRIBOSIA (events mastermind for restaurants like Aria, Chiswick and Nomad): “Room set-up is so important. Think about where your guests will gravitate to, and ensure there are enough seats and places to perch” DIRECTOR OF JERICO CONTEMPORARY, JERICO TRACY (who hosts openings for artists such as Christiane Spangsberg): “Serve champagne upon arrival and make a point of introducing guests to each other. As the night goes on, light candles to create an intimate mood.” HEAPS GAY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, KAT DOPPER (thrower…

Ghosting is actually the correct way to leave a party. It’s bad manners to make a big announcement: it makes others question their own life choices. The best way to leave any party: be present, don’t look like you’re about to go (ie don’t stand around with an esky in one hand and handbag in the other), be radiant,  offer sincere, feel-good compliments to people so you (hopefully) improve their night, then slip out without saying a word. It’s  only unacceptable to ghost if it’s  your best friend’s party or if it’s  your own party, in which case, you’re stuck.…

THE PHRASE “CULT STATUS’ is bandied about nowadays, used to describe hot-for-a-minute brands or a dress/bag/shoe with a  brief moment in the Instagram sun. The truth is, few deserve the title – but Spell & The Gypsy Collective may be a rare exception. First there’s the obvious stuff: the 933,000 Instagram followers and celebrity endorsements from the likes of Margot Robbie, Elsa Pataky and Blake Lively. Then there’s the fact customers line up around the block of the brand’s Byron Bay flagship when a  new collection drops, or that there’s a Facebook group dedicated to buying, selling and swapping Spell wares, with more than 12,000 members. Even further proof: a group of Spell diehards recently launched the first-ever “Spell Sisters” retreat in California’s Palm Desert, replete with themed nights and photo…

American author Lucia Berlin built a  small but steadfast following for her colourful and constantly surprising short stories while she was alive, but it was only upon the posthumous release of A  Manual For Cleaning Women in 2015 that her writing gained a wider audience. The book hit The New York Times bestseller list within a fortnight of its release and, within weeks, had outsold all of her previous books combined. Following that, Welcome Home is the memoir Berlin was writing at the time of her death, about a unique life that informed an inimitable body of work. ($34.99, Picador)…

Have you heard the one about how sleep will change your life? Of course you have. We all know lack of sleep comes with a laundry list of side effects, from decreased productivity to a dissipated sex drive, depression and anxiety. We know, and yet all this thinking about losing sleep is making us anxious, which means we’re less likely to sleep. It’s a vicious, exhausting cycle. But experts are no longer concerned simply with how much we sleep, they now want to know how effectively we sleep, as well. Studies show that dreaming helps us to cope with stress, retain memories and regenerate neurochemicals like mood-boosting serotonin. “Control your dreams to heal emotional trauma and find creative stimulation” The new forefront of the rest revolution is lucid dreaming, the…

An estimated three million Australians live with depression and anxiety. For those who don’t experience it, it can be difficult to understand, but a  new wave of Insta illustrators are unpacking what it means to live with mental illness. Gemma Correll (@gemmacorrell) is one of them. Her wry comics depict everything from impostor syndrome to “reward stickers” (like for “remembering to breathe”). They’re relatable and – weirdly – kind of adorable. “Comics are easy to digest,” says Correll, explaining the success of her illustrations. “They get to the point and add humour to something that’s generally awful; it’s a good coping mechanism.” It’s kind of an, “If I don’t laugh, I’ll cry” situation, she says. For Insta illustrator Loryn Brantz (@lorynbrantz), the success of her mental health comics comes from being able to include…

FLORENCE WELCH APPEARED ON THE MUSIC SCENE IN 2008 IN A HAZE OF HEDONISM, RED HAIR AND GLITTER AS THE FRONTWOMAN OF INDIE BAND FLORENCE + THE MACHINE. Now – a decade later – the band has three number-one multi-platinum albums and countless Grammy, BRIT and MTV awards, while the 32-year-old has landed several Gucci campaigns and published a poetry book. With one of the most distinctive voices of her generation, Welch’s sound merges music you want to jump up and down and dance to with lyrics that are perhaps best described by Greta Gerwig, the director of Lady Bird, as evoking “the deepest, darkest well of pain”. The single “Hunger”, from her latest album High As Hope, is a classic example of this tension. It’s a  deceptively breezy, upbeat anthem…

LISTEN: The Lonely Hour podcast examines solitude, from solo travel to tables for one, while the Strangers podcast is a  gentle reminder that you’re never really alone. READ: How to Be Alone by Sara Maitland, published by The School Of Life, discusses solo time vs antisocialism. Loneliness: Human Nature And  The Need For Social Connection by John T  Cacioppo and William Patrick, is a neuroscientist’s take on the issue. WATCH: BoJack Horseman. Black comedy for those who feel lonely, but are never alone.…

When Melinda Gates had three small children (her youngest is now 16), she noticed she was always the last one standing – and cleaning – in the kitchen after dinner. How did it happen? Her spouse (that’d be Microsoft founder Bill Gates) was a fair-minded partner; he’d even recently caused a kerfuffle at their daughter Jennifer’s preschool when he started dropping her off two days a  week, obliterating every other father’s excuse for not being there. Gates, an early pioneer in the male-dominated tech industry (she was a Microsoft product manager when she met Bill and initially turned him down), needed a hack for this domestic conundrum. “Finally I came up with this rule: nobody leaves the kitchen until Mum leaves the kitchen,” says Gates. “Well, guess what? Everybody asks,…

MANDY MOORE THOUGHT HER CAREER WAS OVER. In early 2015 she’d completed filming yet another television pilot for a US network – a fourth straight, by her count – that again would not see the light of day. Her personal life was a shambles; she was in the midst of a  bitter divorce from indie rocker Ryan Adams and, after close to 20 years in the entertainment business, she was on the verge of chucking it all in and becoming a journalist like her mum or maybe even a blogger. Anything else. “There was no forward momentum in any respect and it wasn’t just frustrating and daunting, I was questioning whether or not I was meant to be a performer anymore,” the 34-year-old actor and musician says from her mid-century home…

Q. What’s the best way to treat the under-eye area? I hate caking on concealer in summer. A . We’ve got a two-pronged approach for you: a great eye cream and a killer pair of sunnies. First, treat the area with a nourishing topical cream packed with ingredients that work as hard as the eyes themselves — six tiny muscles make about 100,000 movements per day! Look for peptides, which plump fine lines by increasing the thin skin’s precious collagen stores, and an antioxidant to protect the area from the elements. “The eyes are subject to many aggressors, from constant blinking and expressions to bright lights, wind, dust and pollutants — so helping to protect from oxidative stress is always a good idea,” says Sonia Amoroso, founder and CEO of skincare…

Whether it’s a minor blemish or a major issue, skin problems have the power to really bring us down. That’s where Laser Clinics Australia come in, lifting you back up again. Their staff are trained to treat all kinds of concerns from pigmentation to acne, the signs of ageing and more. Rest easy, knowing your skin is in safe hands with their highly trained experts. Results are just around the corner. UNEVEN SKIN TONE PROBLEM My complexion is uneven and blotchy. SOLUTION First, book a complimentary consultation to see whether your patchy areas are pigmentation or simply build-up and congestion. Laser Clinics Australia’s experts can analyse your skin, then recommend a treatment like laser pigmentation removal, chemical peels or skin needling, which can even out skin tone and add brightness.…

Caring for the face and décolletage is a  given, but the skin above the face needs your love and attention, too. “Exfoliating your scalp is super important as you’re removing dead skin cells, dandruff, excess oil and any hair products that have built up over time, making hair dull and flat,” says Anthony Nader, scalp scrub enthusiast and owner of Sydney’s RAW salon. The cardinal rules of scrubbing apply: no micro-beads or abrasives. Celebrity stylist Jen Atkin opted for a  sugar base with probiotics and coconut oil in her Ouai scrub, and IGK’s is a mix of walnut oil and apple cider vinegar for a detox treatment. A scrub can also quiet irritated, flaky scalps. 3’” More Inches’ blend of essential oils reduces dandruff and inflammation for a  happy scalp that…

DO DAIRY? There’s a stigma in wellness circles about consuming cow’s milk, but if it agrees with you (and you’ll likely know if it doesn’t), then it’s more than fine to enjoy it in a daily latte or two. “I believe in consuming all food groups in moderation,” says Sepel. “That said, when it comes to dairy, opt for organic where possible and stick to one or two cups a day.” She also selects whole milk over skim as it’s “the wholefood version”, with nutrients and good fats. If a milk alternative is preferred, Sepel suggests unsweetened almond milk for calcium. “I even add a splash to my soups and baked treats.” H20 GO! Needing to sip the recommended two litres per day but in a quandary about whether to tap or not…

ELLE’S COPY DIRECTOR NATALIE REEVES MUSES ON FINALLY FINDING THE ONE “Pounding head, nausea, intolerance to bright lights… no, this isn’t the result of a  two-day tequila bender, it’s the trifecta of symptoms I endure if someone sprays their favourite fragrance in close range. In a  former life, I used to be a  perfume junkie, each pretty new signature scent lined up like candy in my bathroom cabinet. Now, even a small spritz of it, or sitting next to an overzealous sprayer on the train, sparks a migraine. Enter my exception: Abel Organics Perfume. All their ingredients are naturally derived – which means minimal assault on my senses (except in a good way) – as well as fairtrade farmed. Their Cobalt Amber blend – a  sophisticated oriental with notes of pink pepper…

1. BMW ConnectedDrive (bmwconnecteddrive.com.au ) This system connects my phone with my car, and syncs the destinations in my calendar with the sat-nav. It already knows where I need to go and what the traffic is like, so it tells me if I need to leave earlier, chooses the best route and alerts people if I’m  running late. 2. SONOS Play:5 ($749, sonos.com) I like to work to music so when I get into the office or home I’ll immediately connect to my Spotify playlists. 3. SQUARE Contactless Reader ($59, squareup.com/au) We use these little touch payment devices for Stylerunner pop-ups. They’re so easy to use – you can connect to your bank account in minutes. Genius. 4. AMERICAN EXPRESS Amex Band (americanexpress.com/australia) My latest obsession is this beautiful fine-leather wristband with a payment…

TABERNA DA RUA DAS FLORES This hole-in-the-wall eatery is certainly not a secret – go early to put your name on the waitlist, then let the staff serve you a glass of organic wine on the street while you wait. @tabernadasflores SANTA BICA Perch yourself on the terrace out the back at sunset – with its tealights, trees and glimpses of the city below – to feel like you’ve landed at a local’s place for dinner. santabica.com SOL E PESCA Head to this little nook of an eatery for gourmet tinned fish (Lisbon’s specialty) served up in inventive ways, or take home the kitsch tins that line the walls. R. Nova do Carvalho 44…

MG3 The new MG3 Auto delivers style (think: tartan-print seats!), personality and performance. As well as being easy on the eye thanks to its sleek design, it’s also packed with great techy features like Apple CarPlay and comes with a  seven-year warranty. Three truly is the magic number. From $15,990-$17,990 driveway, mgmotor.com.au OGX Hit the reset button on your hair and deep cleanse with Detoxifying + Pomegranate &  Ginger Shampoo and Conditioner. You’ll shift stubborn dry shampoo and product build-up to get soft and detoxified hair. $17.99 each, aus.ogxbeauty.com OLAY Wake up to youthful, firmer and plumper skin with this revolutionary starter kit including the Olay Magnemasks Infusion Rejuvenating Jar Mask and a  Magnetic Infuser. The double act will help deliver vitamin B3 and penta-peptides, 10 layers deep. $54.99, olay.com.au HAWAIIAN TROPIC Your beach-bag essential this summer: Hawaiian Tropic…

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM I’m so embarrassed! I saw my co-worker’s penis. We have small, private-room bathrooms where I work, and I opened the door without knocking and walked right in when he was urinating. I screamed, “Sorry!” and ran out. When he reappeared, he was extremely red, and neither of us brought it up. That was two days ago, and we’ve sort of avoided each other ever since. The thing is, I’ve always thought he was hot and we’ve had flirtations in the past. Has this incident ruined it? — SHOULD I BRING IT UP? Up, honey. Oh, for God’s sake. It’s just a penis. There are 20 trillion of them on the planet. No need to mention it,  but recommence the flirting – perhaps greeting him with a “Hi, Dick!  I  mean… (insert real name).” SMALL TALK Please help me…

PANDORA SYKES @pandorasykes The London-based journalist, consultant and broadcaster (and contributing editor at Man Repeller), is also the co-host of current affairs podcast The High Low. For the most part, however, she can be found sniffing her new baby’s head. Peek in her wardrobe in “Social Conscience” on p54. On my playlist: The Week Unwrapped, Call Your Girlfriend and Breasts Unbound podcasts. On my reading list: I’m currently reading The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer and This Is Just My Face: Try Not To Stare by Gabourey Sidibe. On my to-do list: Pilates. I  literally crunch when I walk. And not in a good way. On my wish list: A painted tray by Luke Edward Hall x  The Lacquer Company, a  velvet dress from The Vampire’s Wife and a hot tub…

From candy wrappers to lip gloss, sports cars and the new iPhone XS in gold – as humans we’re hot-wired to like shiny things. Theories abound around our preference for glossy surfaces, but whether it’s the association with wealth and luxury, our innate need for water or just a basic desire for pretty stuff, shimmering surfaces have been catching our attention since we first reached for the mirror on our baby play mat. For all our sophistication as a  species, we’re a sucker for glow. Which is why when party season rolls around, there’s an understanding that fully-fledged indulgence in all things that glimmer is a given. “As humans we’re hot-wired to like shiny things” For resort season, the most clever designers are tapping a mix of base and precious metals…

1. IGNORE DULL DRESS CODES A Halpern woman wears sequinned pieces to go out all night till dawn, then eats breakfast in her sparkle. But she can also entertain at home in a  full-on sequin jumpsuit. 2. MIX IT UP Pairing sequins with print or jeans is a great way to make things fresh and casual. I  can never go past head-to-toe sequins with fabulous sneakers. 3. HAVE A MUSE Jerry Hall, Cher and Bianca Jagger (who I had the amazing pleasure to meet recently) are always inspiring. But women like (US Supreme Court justice) Ruth Bader Ginsburg are incredible references because of their striking power and voice – and defiant sparkle.…

Don’t toast with water. The alcohol-free beverages popping up on the market mean you’ve finally got options other than soft drink and juice. Keep people guessing. If your drink looks like a G&T, people will be less inclined to ask questions. Become a sober-seeking missile. Seek out other guests who don’t drink and hang with them. Arrive on time, circulate, have fun while everyone’s at their best, then bail before it digresses into a shouty, slurring mess.…

HAWAIIAN TIME Pare back a tropi-cool botanical print with a sleek, burgundy bikini, strappy sandals and candy-hued sunglasses. Add extra character with a kitschy-cute folk-detail tote. FRENCH DRESSING Summer like a Parisian It-girl with a striped full-piece, straw hat and bag, retro-style shades and towering cork wedges. Denim takes the look from beach to brunch and beyond. HOLA, MEXICO Make like you’re in Tulum with an artfully clashed emerald velvet bikini and acid-bright sundress. Just add a floppy hat, simple slides and a woven bag tied with a tonal-print scarf. Start your round-the-world trip at H&M, where the new-season collection takes inspiration from global travel. So whether you’re jetting off to Waikiki, lounging by the sea in the Côte d’Azur or splashing in the Caribbean waters of Playa del Carmen,…

“THE STORY of the Romanov family is so crazy; they died because of contrasting beliefs and political stances at the time [the family were brutally massacred in 1918 by an opposing faction]. It’s  hard to get your head around that when you’re just reading it online or in books. The characters in [The Romanoffs] believe they’re connected to the family, and I found their desire to feel like they’re a part of it, or to feel like they’re a royal, really interesting. I had to figure out why it was important to my character. It’s not only the Romanov family – everyone wants to know where they’re from and feel like they’re part of a community. It’s universal.” “PLAYING A LEAD in a film like [Mortal Engines] was a bit daunting…

“I hadn’t visited the reef before I took on this role [in 2016], so the third week into the post I was taken to Heron Island and went snorkelling. On my very first snorkel I saw sea turtles and so many incredible fish and corals, but then I turned around and there was a shark behind me! But seriously what struck me was the absolute abundance of life, and because I was with a marine scientist I  really did see it in all its complexity and richness. Going there on the boat was also the first time I realised I get profoundly seasick, but that’s another story. I often think the relationship Australians have with the reef is like the marriage of an old married couple: you know it’s there,…

The offer from a London pub was simple: if you’re going to be alone on Christmas Day, come here. There’ll be a hot meal and your choice of festive poison waiting for you. And company. On what can be the loneliest day of the year for many, it was a lifeline – something to cling to when everyone else had, quite literally, gone home. Christmas can be the most wonderful time of the year – but not for all of us. For many, it’s a season of extreme loneliness. If your family lives far away, if you’re grieving, if you’ve just been through a break-up, if you have nobody, then all those carols about being together and the magazine spreads featuring family feasts are completely at odds with how you’ll…

You don’t have to be a tennis buff to know what happened at the 2018 US Open final. You probably heard about Serena Williams’ argument with the umpire and the New York Post (unjustly) dubbing it “the mother of all meltdowns”. Williams had the right to be angry. But it was the massive reaction to her anger that told a bigger story. Women are not supposed to be angry. And as a woman of colour, Williams faced double the backlash. She was spectacularly vilified with misogynistic and racist commentary – and that was just the mainstream media. A tweet from former US tennis champion Billie Jean King summed it up. “When a woman is emotional, she’s ‘hysterical’ and she’s penalised for it. When a man does the same, he’s ‘outspoken’…

All dressed up and everywhere to go: Chanel’s iconic No. 5 fragrances – No. 5 L’eau and No. 5 EDP – have been given a makeover for the silly season. The juice remains the same classic blends, but the bottle, designed by Coco Chanel herself, is remixed for the first time in nearly a century. Dyed a rich crimson, the powerful colour of love and passion, it marks a fiery but fleeting new chapter for the grande dame. Get the limited-edition bottles while they’re (red) hot.…

1. LIP SERVICE Like an LBD that you can trick up for every occasion come party season, this squad of matt lipsticks gives you endless options. Wear the colours solo or blend them together to make a signature shade of your own. 2. JUST ADD SHINE If your glitter years are behind you but you still want a festive touch, this glimmer hairspray is just the twinkle your holiday get-up needs. 3. GOOD, BETTER, BEST The cult-favourite base now comes in an oil-free, long-last matt-finish variety. We predict there will still be a waiting list, so join it now. 4. SLEEPING BEAUTY A potent combo of age-busting ingredients work together to repair skin while you sleep. 5. MASK LIKE YOU MEAN IT Like a tall drink of water for skin, this fancy formula plumps and…

GET THE RIGHT CUT Removing ragged ends is essential to achieving a beautiful mane. “Your natural hair texture will come back to life,” promises Chris Appleton, the LA stylist behind Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez’s lustrous locks. Do the trim test Pull small sections of hair straight up so you can see from the roots to ends in a mirror. “Hair is slightly thinner at the ends, because that’s where it’s older and more damaged, but if it’s dramatically uneven, it’s time for a  cut,” says Appleton. Ask for a dry cut Curls or waves in your hair’s DNA? A dry-snip will enhance the natural texture, ensuring it’s “the best custom cut for your hair needs,” says New York-based Aveda stylist Tippi Shorter, who works with Jennifer Hudson and Alicia…

WAVE FRIZZ GOODBYE Extreme heat. It’s fast become the bad guy on the block; enemy to those who have deep respect for their hair, the regular culprit of frizz and permanent hair-shaft damage and shine’s greatest nemesis. So when 230 engineering and motor experts at Dyson spent six years perfecting a tool that could put an end to all of this destruction, we were pretty keen to see the results. Enter, the Dyson AirwrapTM styler. She may be the Dyson SupersonicTM hair dryer‘s little sister, but she’s in a class all of her own. And she comes with attachments for every hair style. In a nutshell, the Dyson AirwrapTM styler dries, smoothes, curls and waves hair without over-zealous heat use. Running on the same small yet powerful Dyson digital motor…

The 2018 woman is woke, empowered and dynamic: we want a scent that represents our new mindset and strong voice, that sums up our complexities and contrasts. Enter WOMEN by CALVIN KLEIN, a portrait of today’s woman: she lives by her own rules but is all about the sisterhood, she evolves and reinvents herself and isn’t afraid to speak out about her passions. Developed under CALVIN KLEIN’S visionary chief creative officer Raf Simons and dreamt up by parfumers Annick Menardo and Honorine Blanc, the rich woody floral weaves notes of delicate orange flower petals, fresh eucalyptus acorns and rich Alaskan cedarwood. Artist Anne Collier created the bottle’s motif of a female eye looking outwards to the world. “EARTHA KITT AND KATHARINE HEPBURN DIDN’T ACCEPT THE STATUS QUO. I AM DRAWN…

LAST MONTH, I CRIED INCONSOLABLY FOR HOURS. Worse than that, I  didn’t know why. Even worse, I was fine afterwards. I  wish that I  could say this was out of character, but it’s the reason I’ve forked out for therapy over the past year and why I’ve spent my entire twenties terrified of my moods. If you’ve ever taken something way too personally at work and ended up having an embarrassing sob in the loo, then you know what I’m talking about: it’s the fluctuations, and not being able to predict or control them. I know this is almost certainly down to my hormones but, worryingly, I don’t actually know how they are affecting my mood. Science doesn’t help much, either, with research telling me decreased levels of oestrogen (the primary female…

SWEAT I use this when I travel because I can do a great workout using the hotel gym or my room. ANALYTICS PRO I regularly log into this during the day to check our site’s visitor numbers and activity. BLINKIST This app has short summaries of amazing books so I can take them in much faster. MINDBODY I use this regularly to book all my workouts – it works in so many cities. REDDIT I check this to see what’s happening in street style. My favourite subreddits are /streetwear and /womensstreetwear. PLECO CHINESE DICTIONARY I studied Chinese 10 years ago, and have started brushing up with tutoring. I use this to look up words and phrases.…

KEEP IT CLASSIC Give a timeless present they’ll love forever VACAY SASHAY A summer Christmas trumps snow. These gifts prove it WHIZ KIDS Gifts that will get Santa in the good books GIFTS FOR GOOD With these charitable and ethical pressies, it truly is the thought that counts SECRET SANTA KK pressies that won’t get regifted FIT KIT Goodies guaranteed to inspire harder workouts BOOK CLUB Made for coffee tables of the fashion-forward HOME BASE Your challenge: browse these without smiling MAN UP Start the hunt for the blokes in your life HOST, MOST Get schooled on how to gift a party thrower GIFT GREEN Pressies that are also kind to our planet…

Dainty lace adds new-season energy to your party look. Do contrasting lace panels, handkerchief-style hemlines and big, billowy sleeves (all the better to dance with).…

TOM COLLINS “A delicious, boozy lemonade-y drink, made with Tanqueray London Dry Gin, lemon juice, sugar and soda water. Serve it to a  group in a nice carafe.” MOSCOW MULE “Adding fresh ginger juice to a simple mix of Ketel One vodka, lime and ginger beer will give this tipple an added, delicious sting.” DAIQUIRI “The classic is made using only rum, fresh lime and sugar, but my favourite twist involves shaking Pampero Blanco rum, half a fresh lime and a tablespoon of vanilla-infused caster sugar.”…

QUICK: Roll sliced leg ham, Monterey Jack cheese and Dijon mustard into a good puff pastry so it forms a cylinder, brush with egg and cracked pepper and bake. It’s like a sausage roll, but better. QUICKER: Make toasties with quality leg ham or cured meats, antipasti and cheeses, with hot sauces and mustards as sides. QUICKEST: You can’t go wrong with charcuterie, anchovies and bread and butter. Buy the best you can afford.…

Beverage director of The Moon (themooninmelbourne.com), Rhiannon Lahatte, spills the drops that’ll go with your festive faves. BEST WITH BREAKFAST “Pétillant-naturel (AKA pét-nat) is a sparkling wine made with minimal intervention. Little Reddie’s 2018 Pat Nat is fun, juicy, and more affordable than champagne!” SIP WITH SALMON “Seafood is best balanced by a  crisp, dry white wine. Unico Zelo’s Jade & Jasper is a bone dry Italian-style white with notes of ginger. A quencher on a hot day.” THE MAIN EVENT “No festivity would be complete without a sparkling red over lunch. Try Vitivinicola Dario Rota 27 Lambrusco – it’s perfect with ham.” AFTERNOON CRICKET “With its lower alcohol content and zesty watermelon flavour, a sour beer like Stomping Ground’s Watermelon Smash will keep you on the field longer than…

If you spend your entire annual leave period mindlessly scrolling Instagram, you’re probably going to end up feeling more lonely than if you’d taken yourself to the movies on a solo date. Kira Asatryan, author of Stop Being Lonely, says to make the best use of your solitude, be proactive: “Make a list of things you enjoy doing completely alone. Do one of those things when you have alone time, and make a point not to post anything about it.” Be alone – and like it.…

START A CLUB Clubs: places to go dancing until 5am, things cavemen hunted with, your grandma’s favourite card game… Also, a  place where like-minded individuals get together – a trend currently proliferating as we take our obsession with fast-paced Facebook groups offline. All it takes to start one is a shared interest or appreciation (natural wine, The Teacher’s Pet), then meet once a month. Bring cake. THROW A REGISTRY WEDDING As demonstrated by the likes of Emily Ratajkowski, Domino Kirke and Keira Knightley, city hall weddings are cheap and chic. The Festive Co’s Alexis Teasdale advises you keep the guest list to a  minimum to maintain the intimate magic. “You may need a witness or two and it’s nice if it’s someone close to you,” she says. “Ask them to…

NIGHT FEVER An ’80s silhouette feels 2019 fresh when paired with pops of pink and lilac. Just add statement earrings. POP ROCKS Your earrings criteria: big, gold and blingy. If they don’t sway as you walk, go up a size. HELLO, MONO Black-and-white after-hours attire gets a  shake-up when paired with rock’n’roll extras. BLACK MAGIC Just as good on the dancefloor as they are swinging from your hands on the sand.…

“My dyed auburn hair can be prone to dryness. This shampoo is a miracle worker on split ends!” 1. K Reflection Bain Chromatique, $40, KÉRASTASE, kerastase.com.au “The shape of this eyeliner applicator means I can easily achieve a winged eye. It’s run-proof and super long-lasting.” 2. They’re Real! Push-Up Liner, $39, BENEFIT, benefitcosmetics.com “My skin can be sensitive and prone to breakouts, and for years I’ve experimented with different products to help. I’ve finally settled on three by Grown Alchemist. ” 3. Polishing Facial Exfoliant: Pink Grapefruit & Glucomannan Extract, $60, Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser: Olive Leaf & Plantago Extract, $49, Hydra-Repair Day Cream: Camellia & Geranium Blossom, $55, all GROWN ALCHEMIST, mecca.com.au “A friend recommended this. It’s so good on trouble spots.” 4. Drying Lotion, $24, MARIO BADESCU SKIN CARE, mecca.com.au “I love this…

“I recommend Olaplex’s new shampoo and conditioner to my clients –  regardless of whether or not they have coloured hair – to help them obtain and maintain healthy, fantastic-looking locks.” 1. No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo, $49.95, OLAPLEX, olapex.com.au “I use all of my friend Jen Atkin’s Ouai products. I’m always travelling, so I keep a travel-size of her dry shampoo with me, and the Rose Hair & Body Oil is delicious on skin and hair.” 2. Ouai Rose Hair & Body Oil, $50,OUAI, sephora.com.au “I love my Dyson dryer. It’s small, compact, light on my arms and the air distribution allows even drying.” 3. Supersonic Hair Dryer, $499, DYSON, dyson.com.au “Sheila Stotts makes my favourite brushes. The bristles are flexible enough that they don’t compromise hair, but strong enough to tackle teased…

WHAT IT IS: Venustus, the Sydney beauty institution, is more of a House of Healing than your average day spa. Along with intuitive skin and body treatments, you can indulge in a luxurious six-hand massage, where three therapists work simultaneously to massage, clear and cleanse negative energy using all six of their collective hands. They also incorporate tools such as prescribed crystals, singing bowls, Tibetan cymbals and sage and Palo Santo smudging to transport your mind and body to a higher plane of existence. WHAT IT FEELS LIKE: Before you’re even ushered into the sanctuary of a warm massage bed, the treatment commences with a consultation about the kind of massage you’re in need of and a chat about your lifestyle that feels more akin to a therapy session. A massage…

YOU’RE THE FACE OF DOLCE &  GABBANA’S NEW FRAGRANCE, THE ONLY ONE. WHAT SORT OF FRAGRANCE WEARER ARE YOU? Perfume is definitely an accessory to an overall look. There’s something wonderful about watching someone walk away and leaving their fragrance behind them. You need fruity top notes, but also intensity, to make it seductive and I think The Only One does that really well. It’s got some really beautiful notes that just linger in a  room — it’s definitely got power. WHAT ARE YOUR BEAUTY NON-NEGOTIABLES? My mum always drilled into me to cleanse, tone and moisturise and not to wear too much makeup. I cleanse, tone and moisturise twice a day, every day. I  also always wear SPF because I think it’s just sensible. I just try, without using too much, to…

1. BEST FACE MASK The Australian Clay Hydrating Mask, a nourishing blend of white clay, flannel flower and rosella, also doubles as a hair treatment. It can even be used on sensitive complexions. 2. BEST SKIN TONE CORRECTOR The Australian Clay Brightening Mask, formulated with black clay, moonstone and snow flower, restores radiance to dull and uneven skin tones. 3. BEST AGE MANAGEMENT PRODUCT Australian Clay Rejuvenating Mask, helps revive tired and sun-damaged complexions with its combination of soothing pink clay, Kakadu plum and pomegranate. MINENSSEY mask range, $79 each, minenssey.com…

WITH THE HELP OF A DESIGNER… The latest fashion scents are pocket-sized investment pieces WITH THE NEW NATURAL SCENTS… Put your preconceived notions aside – the new breed of botanically based fragrances are attracting serious scent devotees Incense. Patchouli. Folk festivals. Yoga studios. Play a game of word association and we’re guessing that’s what comes to mind at the mention of natural fragrances. But the days of overpowering herbaceous blends are over and, thanks to consumer awareness and demand, the natural fragrance market is leading the overall category’s growth — and with it comes sophisticated blends. “Natural fragrances are essential oils and isolates that are derived from botanical ingredients,” says Erin Norden, founder and owner of online beauty store Clean Beauty Market. She’s experienced a boom of fragrance sales on her…

TO LOOK AT THE BLISSFUL SIMPLICITY of Emily Berlach’s home, five minutes from the beach on New South Wales’ pretty Central Coast, you would never know that she shares it with a chaotic extended cast of characters: husband Dave, three children, two dogs and two chooks. “I steer away from a fixed style in preference of a more practical, ever-evolving bowerbird approach,” she explains of her taste in decor. The house was built in the ‘70s, apparently by an artist, though the patina on the exterior walls and the well-established gardens make it look much older – as though it’s been there for generations. Like her house, Berlach’s fashion line Bohemian Traders is just as dynamic. The brand releases eight collections a year and has recently expanded to include Mister…

FRANCE GOING TO: PARIS Just steps from the Louvre, Jardin des Tuileries and Musée de l’Orangerie, the Le Roch Hotel & Spa (lerochhotel.com) is a Parisian first-timer’s paradise. Though it’s hard to justify time not spent shopping or snaffling eclairs, hanging in the hotel is well worth it for the incredible interiors (by designer Sarah Lavoine), Michelin-starred restaurant and dark,  moody indoor pool complete with a hammam. THEN TRY: A ROAD TRIP THROUGH THE SOUTH OF FRANCE THE ITINERARY: Fly into Nice, then follow the coastal road west,  taking a detour inland for a  side-trip to the magical commune of St Paul de Vence, then heading up to the hills of the Alpes-Maritimes, to the pretty medieval village of Tourrettes-sur-Loup, before popping down to the marina in Antibes to ogle the super-yachts. Take a detour…