Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2020 i ELLE Australia

if there’s a sentence that sums up the sentiment of this issue I would have to attribute it to Rebekah Robertson, who says of her relationship with daughter Georgie Stone in our “Sister To Sister” portfolio on p70: “We’re stronger together, more adventurous together and more powerful together.” The pair recently received the medal of the Order of Australia for their work advocating for transgender youth and parents. Of her mum, Stone says, “She’s a constant.” It’s this kind of unconditional, rock-solid relationship that we honour this month in line with International Women’s Day, which aims to celebrate each other’s achievements, raise awareness against bias and take action for equality. “THE kind of HIGHS WE CAN ACHIEVE with the support of A GOOD WOMAN behind us ARE LIMITLESS” Whether it’s…

the ’80s gave us plenty to be thankful for: Madonna, peak-era Alaïa, that scene in Perfect where Jamie Lee Curtis and John Travolta air-gyrate in an aerobics class… But it also left women with an irrational fear of padded shoulders and statement sleeves. We say in 2020, it’s time to face that fear head-on – there are simply too many fabulous voluminous blouses and dresses not to. Given this is a trend practically made for breezy late-summer days, it’s no surprise Australian designers are leading the charge – look to Alice McCall, Matin and Aje for some of the best iterations. Meanwhile, well-dressed women such as Sofia Sanchez de Betak (right) offered playful-but-polished takes on the trend outside the SS20 shows, giving a modern spin to “Like A Virgin”-level blouses…

Banoffee After touring with Charli XCX, Melbourne-born, LA-based Martha Brown (aka Banoffee) is about to drop her debut album, Look At Us Now Dad. Listen out for tracks with fellow alt-pop forces SOPHIE and Empress Of. Out February 21 TOKiMONSTA LA producer, DJ and electro darling TOKiMONSTA (who’s collaborated with artists as diverse as Anderson Paak and Skrillex) is about to release her new album Oasis Nocturno – and it’s basically guaranteed to be full of bangers. Out March 20 Grimes Between all her prophesying about the end of human art and riding around in Elon Musk’s Cybertruck, it’s easy to forget Grimes (who was named Noisey’s artist of the past decade) has also been busy making music. Her fifth studio album, Miss Anthropocene, is bound to be as tweeted-about…

last year, hundreds of people descended on a bar in Brooklyn to match-make via PowerPoint. They were there to see a dozen different presenters click through slideshows extolling the virtues, target demographic and ROI of their best mates (eg. if you date my friend, you’ll be tagged in great memes), while said-friend sat beside them waiting for a follow-up Q&A with the audience. It was the IRL version of showing your mates the profile of someone you’ve matched with to gauge their opinion. Events like this one, called YouShouldDate.ppt, are gaining traction in the US as people move away from swipe-centric dating apps and turn to more analogue ways of meeting people. And it’s a trend we’re starting to see here, too – Eventbrite reports a 47 per cent increase…

like Mean Girls, exy Asian-fusion food and silk slip skirts, the enduring popularity of a dewy complexion seemingly knows no bounds. Rather than one-dimensional, ’90s-style mattes, we’re coveting that radiant, glossy-not-greasy skin that’s usually the result of a 10-day greens-only detox. Most of us don’t have the time (or stomach) for that, which is where a little extra glow can come in handy – because let’s face it, some mornings even Beyoncé doesn’t wake up like this. An AHA-heavy skincare routine helps, but some strategically placed highlighter can deliver the same effect in an instant. The secret? Apply your highlighter before your foundation. It might sound like a strange concept, but clever makeup artists have been employing the technique for years. Ross Andrewartha, director of artistry for YSL and Armani…

So what does a “good skin day” mean to you? It might be waking up to your face at its best and brightest, or perhaps it’s simply the nights you’re able to summon the physical and mental wherewithal to double cleanse. Regardless of how you classify it, how we see our skin is part of an ever-evolving journey that influences how we walk into the world each day. It’s easy to conflate a clear complexion with limitless confidence, but these days embracing your bare face – perceived flaws and all – could be considered the epitome of self-assurance. As conversations progress around body positivity, it’s time to do the same for our skin. So whatever your concerns, treat them and your skin with the love it deserves. Whether it’s using…

The old-school remedy favoured by your nanna is experiencing a revival. In fact, searches for “witch hazel” increased 305 per cent on Pinterest last year, with the all-natural astringent said to have a plethora of skin benefits. As a result, brands are now bringing it to the forefront of their skincare formulations. When applied directly to the skin, it’s believed to tighten the area, calm inflammation and help eliminate acne-causing bacteria. It’s also reported that witch hazel can soothe the effects of eczema and psoriasis. Like 2019’s clean-beauty It-ingredient bakuchiol, significant clinical evidence is still yet to support the loftier claims concerning witch hazel, but that hasn’t stopped brands from betting big on its would-be clarifying properties. Our advice? Opt for natural iterations only, such as witch hazel leaf extract,…

Attention: time-poor people with skin goals. I was recently reminded about the wonders of the 30-minute HydraFacial (from $175), a treatment that sits somewhere between a spa facial and in-office procedures. In derm-speak, it’s medical-grade hydradermabrasion: rather than skin being blasted with gritty particles as with traditional dermabrasion, a small suction device vacuums out pores while pushing active ingredients into the skin to hydrate (hyaluronic acid), protect (antioxidants), brighten (glycolic and salicylic acids) and plump (peptides). Over the course of three steps, the pen-like device passes over the skin, dragging a little without feeling uncomfortable. The highlight was the pore-cleaning (no squeezing required) – and the aftermath. My face was flushed for a few hours, but the next day, so radiant. I can see why it’s loved by celebs during…

if you don’t immediately recognise Elise Pioch Balzac’s name, you most certainly will her super-chic homewares products. Named for her maternal grandparents, descendants of the writer Honoré de Balzac, Maison Balzac’s collection of candles, delicately formed glasses and colourful carafes has caught the eye of stylish women all over the world, with Elise working with a number of Australian, French and Mongolian artisans to produce her wares. “The idea is to create beautiful and simple objects, with a touch of surrealism,” explains Elise, who worked in fashion in Paris, then Sydney, before devoting herself to her passion for decoration and beautiful things. “EACH OBJECT is linked to A PERSONAL STORY” The collection is inspired by Elise’s childhood in the south of France. So it was natural for her to come…

REVLON Revlon Ultra HD Vinyl Lip Polish delivers megawatt shine and high-impact colour in just one swipe. Loaded with vitamin E and shea butter, it also smooths and nourishes lips while ensuring the colour doesn’t feather. $24.95; revlonanz.com WANDERERS TRAVEL CO Explore the world in style thanks to Wanderers Travel Co. It offers a chic edit of passport holders, bags and wallets, created using soft, full-grain leather that will only get better with age. wandererstravelco.com SAKÉ Saké Restaurant And Bar serves up award-winning contemporary Japanese cuisine in some of Australia’s most iconic destinations, including The Rocks in Sydney and Melbourne’s Flinders Lane. Enjoy innovative takes on sushi, sashimi and tempura, all washed down with a glass of its namesake. sakerestaurant.com.au TESALATE One of the most genius ideas we’ve heard in…

SARA SMITH @sarasmithstylist The stylist is all about investment pieces, as evidenced in her “Class Of 2020” story on p116. IN THREE WORDS, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? Easy, boyish, (slightly) unkempt. WHAT IS YOUR HOT PICK FOR A NEW-SEASON TREND? I’m not a huge believer in “trends”. The best way to approach style is to find the look that floats your boat and gradually build on it season after season. A long-term vision is better for your wardrobe and the environment. WHAT IS ON YOUR WISH LIST? Shirting from Rika Studios, “dad” jeans from Raey and a serious suit. WHAT PIECE IN YOUR WARDROBE WILL YOU BE REVIVING? Jil Sander chelsea boots. WHO IS YOUR ALL-TIME FAVOURITE STYLE MUSE? Caroline de Maigret. HOLLY WHITAKER @holly The writer talks…

at a time of global climate crisis, Mother Nature is occupying our collective psyche more than ever before. The same can be said in the fashion industry, with designers drawing on the natural world for inspiration throughout the SS20 season. Dior’s Maria Grazia Chiuri led the charge with a collection that was anything but garden-variety (pardon the pun). Woven raffia sun hats, short boilersuits reminiscent of gardening overalls and evening gowns with delicately embroidered floral imagery were all stand-out moments, and spoke to the season’s larger statement about sustainability in fashion (the label partnered with Coloco, an environmental design collective focusing on urban regeneration, for the show, creating a grove of trees that were later planted around Paris). Garden motifs were seen elsewhere this season, too. At Valentino and Marc…

at a time when there’s so much focus on over-consumption, it’s perhaps no surprise that designers veered towards clean, concise and remarkably pared-back clothing for SS20. The colour palette? Classic hues of white, beige, navy and black. The silhouettes? Streamlined, with an emphasis on quality tailoring and flattering proportions. As such, the season presents an opportunity to update our wardrobes mindfully via clever styling tricks (such as sandals laced up over trousers, à la Bottega Veneta) as well as an invitation to splurge on a few key investment pieces. “Less is more” never looked so good. simplicity city SLEEK MINIMALISM WAS OUT IN FORCE AT SS20 THE SUMMER COLLECTIONS served as a reminder that sometimes nothing looks as good as a few great basics. Victoria Beckham perfected neutral suiting, Bottega…

LUCIA PICA global creative makeup and colour designer for Chanel i’ve been working with Chanel since 2015, and every runway show has been an incredible experience. About a week out, I’ll meet with Virginie [Viard, Chanel’s artistic director] and she’ll show me the collection for the first time. That’s when we start talking about her inspiration and about the clothes, and usually some ideas will begin to form, but it’s all very casual. In those settings, I’ll tend to pick out something from the collection — whether it’s a texture, colour or the overall vibe of a certain girl — and I will come up with a makeup look from there. For instance, I did a black lip for the cruise 2020 show because when I  saw the collection, I…

ARLO PARKS With influences as diverse as Sylvia Plath, Allen Ginsberg and Fela Kuti, and poetic lyrics like “I’m much more alive when you’re not in my eyes”, Arlo Parks’ take on bedroom pop is getting her noticed. Even Lily Allen loves the track “Cola”, saying it “knocked me off my feet”. @arlo.parks BEABADOOBEE At 19, Bea Kristi is already a seriously promising talent – she nabbed a Brit Award 2020 Rising Star nomination and has released three albums in the space of a year. Stream her if ’90s-esque dream-pop is your bag.   @radvxz SAN MEI A rising talent on the local indie scene, not only is this the second time she’s been invited to SXSW, but San Mei has already played Falls Festival, as well as support slots…

“i lost my virginity to a paedophile. There was a film he made me watch, The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie. I can still hear the line: “Give me a girl at an impressionable age, and she is mine for life.” He would sit me in his lap like I was his little girl. That’s what he wanted me to be: a child. “Why didn’t you just say no?” I’m asked, born of the belief that if you appeal to an abuser with reason, they’ll respect your wishes. But to them, reason, respect, even words are meaningless. Resistance only leads to more suffering, so you learn helplessness. Silence. Psychological manipulation is illogical and oppressive. When abuse is your reality, you have no say. Gag laws reinforce this: abusers dictate the…

at the age of 25, I moved to San Francisco to work for a data analytics start-up. The company had 20 employees, four of whom were women – a decent ratio, in 2013. My job was in customer support, and meant my days were full of men: programmers and data scientists, analysts and marketers. When the software didn’t behave as expected, the men wrote in to me. I would explain how to fix their problems, and find ways to take responsibility. I apologised, over and over, for mistakes that they had made. Does that make sense? I’d ask every few minutes, as gently as a tutor, giving them space to shift the blame back to me. Being the only woman on a non-technical team, providing customer support to software developers,…

TRUE colours SEEN AT: Salvatore Ferragamo, Oscar De La Renta The reign of the smoky eye is officially over. Instead, the graphic-eye looks of SS20 sought inspiration from the classic painter’s palette of blue, yellow, pink and green. Application was organic, liberal and open-ended, evoking all the whimsy of watercolour workmanship but with an end result that’s more audacious than abstract. As Picasso once said, “Great artists steal,” so imitate the paint-pot peepers by smudging a bold primary hue through the outer corners of your eyes. ONCE bitten SEEN AT: Jil Sander, Max Mara If the red lip is makeup’s LBD, then Jil Sander’s bruised-berry iteration is the silk slip you’d don for the after-party – it’s elegant, uncontrived and all the more manageable after a few glasses of champagne.…

until just a few years ago, the only way to know what was in your cleanser or serum was to read the tiny label on the back of the packaging. But then, brands like The Ordinary launched, showing off star ingredients front and centre. The line’s Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution and Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, for example, quickly became cult favourites. Fast-forward to 2020 and anyone serious about skincare knows the difference between hyaluronic and salicylic acids (the first is hydrating, the second is drying). Suddenly, we’re all ingredient experts – or so we think. “I find most of my patients spend a lot of money on the wrong things,” says dermatologist Dr Anne Chapas. Without knowing what works best for their skin, they run the risk of…

it’s the ultimate makeover story: something no longer cutting-edge is reborn newer, better and cooler. For years, retinol has been touted by skin experts as the gold-standard ingredient for its anti-ageing and acne-fighting superpowers. Skin enzymes convert retinol into retinoic acid, which encourages cellular turnover and can improve the “scaffolding of the skin” so it looks smoother, cosmetic dermatologist Dr Heidi Waldorf says. In fact, a study in the Journal Of Cosmetic Dermatology concluded that retinol affects the skin on a molecular level, increasing collagen production to significantly reduce the look of wrinkles after 12 weeks of use. But the skin-smoothing, glow-inducing effects often came at a price – redness and irritation – that caused many users to jump ship and sent plenty of skincare companies back to the lab.…

Skincare has long been predicated on the belief that all traces of bacteria should be removed. But increasing research into the skin’s microbiome – the ecosystem of microorganisms that defends, repairs and regulates the skin – is turning that notion on its head, making the case that good bacteria, and thus a balanced microbiome, are essential to optimum skin functionality. “If the microbiome is healthy, then your skin can perform the function it’s supposed to, which is to protect,” says Lena Korres, co-founder of Korres. A diverse microflora also helps to boost immunity and thwart inflammation. A new crop of products is encouraging healthy bugs to thrive thanks to the addition of probiotics and prebiotics. And Korres says it’s only the start of what discoveries about the microbiome mean. “It’s…

A FUNDAMENTAL FLAW I’m an atheist, I’m 25 years old and I have a brilliant job. I’m also deeply in love with a guy who comes from a conservative, ultra-religious, anti-woman family. He checks off so many boxes for me, and we’re talking about marriage and kids. But his parents want me to convert. Even more important to them than my conversion is their future grandchildren, who they want to be brought up in the same fundamentalist, female-subservient tradition. This is deeply concerning to me – once I do have children of my own, I won’t want to cede any kind of “raising” to anybody but myself and my husband. My parents have met my boyfriend, like him and just want me to be happy. I’m set to meet his…

THE tipple Insert some French flair into your next dinner party with this recipe for Hubert’s Vieux Carré – a punchy cocktail named after the French Quarter in New Orleans that’s ideal for cosy nights in. Take 20ml rye whiskey, 20ml sweet vermouth, 20ml cognac, 1 tsp Dom Benedictine, plus a dash each of Angostura bitters and Peychauds bitters. Stir and strain into a tumbler over a large piece of ice; garnish with lemon zest. Et voilà! THE soundtrack Icons such as Françoise Hardy, Serge Gainsbourg and Édith Piaf, and modern stars Christine And The Queens and Lou Doillon may all sing in French, but you don’t need to comprehend the lyrics for a good time. On high rotation at Hubert? Gainsbourg’s “Intoxicated Man”, Charles Aznavour’s “Je M’Voyais Déjà” and…

Sonoya Mizuno has been, how can I put this... “shat” upon. Some leaky sparrow shit, to be precise, which sits centre stage on her navy trousers. It’s a warm morning, and we’re seated outside a cafe in New York’s East Village. As the 33-year-old actor quietly excuses herself to clean up in the bathroom with a good-natured shrug, the feathered culprit dances around us. “It’s supposed to be good luck, right?” she asks. Many will remember Mizuno as the bride in Crazy Rich Asians, which raked in $350 million worldwide at the box office, making it the highest-grossing romantic comedy of the past 10 years. Or perhaps you’ll recall her as one of the dancing roommates in Damien Chazelle’s La La Land. Or the awkward, chain-smoking Dr Azumi Fujita in…

you know that nagging sense of anxiety you can’t quite put a finger on, or that bad mood that keeps getting worse because you can’t identify the cause (you’ve even checked the calendar: it’s not PMS and none of the planets are in retrograde)? It might not have been yours to begin with. Just as we pass on germs to the people closest (in proximity and otherwise) to us, we also share and contract one another’s feelings in a phenomenon known as emotional contagion. Instagram’s favourite illustrator Julie Houts (@jooleeloren) recently posted a visual representation of this: a hand waving (labelled “Me”) from underneath a pile of dirt (labelled “Your bullshit”) and a smiley-face balloon floating away (labelled “My good day”). Psychologist, researcher and author Dr Lea Waters explains emotional…

Phoebe Tonkin is a good friend. I don’t say this from personal experience, just from the evidence: her decade-long friendship with fellow actor Teresa Palmer, which blossomed on a road trip to Coachella; her support for Ilona Hamer and Peta Heinsen that saw her make her runway debut for their brand Matteau; her enduring bond with H ² 0: Just Add Water co-star Claire Holt, who has also acted with her in The Vampire Diaries and its spin-off, The Originals. but Tonkin says she’s the fortunate one. “I’m really lucky that I have some beautiful, wonderful friends and we support each other, and I can’t imagine a world in which we wouldn’t,” the Australian actor says. “My friends are a strong, feisty, supportive, goal-oriented and balanced group of women. They…

runway shows rarely make me delve deep. They make me reconsider volume and hemlines, but self-analysis? Not so much. That was until models started walking down this season’s runways looking more vulnerable than usual: lashes were clumpy, eye makeup was smeared and tear-shaped crystals dangled from their faces. It became clear: fashion has fallen back in love with all the feels. As I watched this faux-catharsis, I pondered the last time I had a  really good cry. I can pinpoint the exact moment because I’m not a crier. In fact, I pride myself on being able to white-knuckle it through tough times where others might break down. But that changed a few months ago when I was placed on total voice restriction for five (yes five) whole days. And as…

THE HYDRATOR Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, drawing moisture to the skin to boost and retain hydration. 1. Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, $12.90, THE ORDINARY, adorebeauty.com.au THE EXFOLIATOR Glycolic acid exfoliates the upper layer of skin to reveal a smoother complexion. 2. TLC Framboos Glycolic Night Serum, $138, DRUNK ELEPHANT, mecca.com.au THE SOOTHER Niacinamide helps to calm inflammation and redness in acne- and rosacea-prone skin. 3. Niacinamide Face Serum, $12, THE INKEY LIST, sephora.com.au…

the days of understanding our complexion in terms of type (dry, sensitive, combination, whatever) are drawing to a close. Truth be told, few of us actually fit into those categories. As we learn more about our biology through epigenetics (the study of changes in the expression of genes), a shift is occurring. Australian brand Rationale has been at the forefront of using actives to influence “certain ‘on/off’ switches that reside above our genetic code,” says founder Richard Parker. “You may have a genetic tendency towards skin cancer or rosacea, but by changing your behaviour and using the right skincare, you take matters into your own hands and determine the outcome.” For a few years now, Rationale has been tailoring skin regimens around DNA testing, obtaining information about your skin and…

in my hand is a skincare product that costs more than most people pay in rent per month. In fact, I could nap at the Four Seasons for a few days at the same price. So who, I wondered while applying the golden goo to my skin, has that much spare cash to splash on their face? And is it really worth it? La Mer, Guerlain, 111Skin, La Prairie and AmorePacific have all launched products that cost as much as a designer handbag – and people are buying them. In bulk. Net-A-Porter has seen a 120 per cent increase in customers investing in “status skincare” (a product that costs $550-plus) over the past year. The item people are willing to spend the most on? Serums. In fact, La Prairie’s Platinum…

“FOCUS ON feeling good THEN DIRECTING THAT energy towards YOUR DESIRES” you’d be forgiven for writing off Gabrielle Bernstein as the kind of self-help author who floats through life on a cloud, wrapped in spiritual cottonwool. After all, she meditates twice a day, she doesn’t eat sugar and she literally puts her phone to bed (a miniature wooden one with silk sheets that was given to her by good friend Arianna Huffington) an hour before she heads off to her own. But you’d be wrong. Her new (and seventh) book, Super Attractor: Methods For Manifesting A Life Beyond Your Wildest Dreams, reveals plenty of bumps in the road, from drug addiction to a stress-related gut crisis and fertility struggles. By her own admission: “I write books related to whatever I’m…

australian actor and director Rachel Griffiths’ words, shared when she helped launch a NSW government initiative to increase the number of female directors back in 2018, still ring true. This month, she joins the judging panel of the Australian Womens Film Festival – a short-film festival created by women, for women – alongside Teresa Palmer and Sue Maslin. In line with International Women’s Day, which for 2020 is themed #EachForEqual in a call to action to accelerate gender equality, the festival aims to encourage and celebrate female storytellers both in front and behind the camera. Each female-led film entered must meet three strict criteria: have at least two women in it; who talk to each other; about something besides a man. The support is welcome in an industry where the…