Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2025 i ELLE Australia

The radical wisdom of Tilda Swinton is something I have now experienced first-hand. Our impromptu meeting at the afterparty of Chanel’s cruise 2026 show in Singapore took place at a little white cast-iron table on the veranda of legendary hotel Raffles. Towering in a Chanel gold lurex damask trouser suit — one as shiny as a polished Oscar in March — Swinton leaned in and listened intently as I spoke, so as to hear me above the music. Audacious, fearless and always compelling, Swinton is one of the most original and powerful performers of the 21st century — something that was not lost on me as we sat across from each other. We chatted briefly about the show we had just watched, and about how Raffles perfectly encapsulates the collection’s…

Shop: Haelo Dion Lee rises from the ashes with Haelo, a brand that takes a lighter, more feminine approach to design than his eponymous label, which shuttered in mid-2024. It’s available to shop now at haelo.world. Carry: Dior’s Bow bag Jonathan Anderson’s recent debut at Dior had the fashion set in a spell. Now, you can officially shop the Bow bag, a covetable piece in the shape of a classic Dior code. It’s available in six colours — the metallic gold will keep party season going well into the new year — and the crisscrossing bow chain is a classically sly Anderson injection. Read: Roger Vivier: Heritage and Inagination In this new Rizzoli publication, legendary Parisian shoemaker Roger Vivier comes back to life. Across 300 pages, curator Elizabeth Semmelhack takes…

It’s just after midnight in New York and the queue outside popular downtown club Jean’s snakes down the block. Leather jackets shine under the streetlights, a group of girls in matching patent boots share a cigarette and someone’s dropped a tiny disco ball that keeps rolling between the crowd of stilettos and suede sneakers. Inside, it’s humid and loud. Bodies rub, hands reach up and the bass is so deep it feels like your own heartbeat. Someone’s filming. Another is losing their mind to a house remix of Haley Joelle’s “Addicted”. And the rest of the city is asleep. Although, it’s never felt so awake. Across the world, scenes like this are playing out again. In London, friends pile into the back of black cabs at 2am, liner smudged around…

LIFE’S A BEACH Dressing for summer doesn’t have to mean cossies and thongs. Keep your wardrobe elevated with cute dresses in fun prints. Beach bag essential. TOWEL OFF Going from beach to ... somewhere else? Throw a chic skirt and ballet flats over your bikini and you’re good to go. LYIN’ IN THE SAND Velvet, jacquard, chiffon, shimmer — all of these textures are unexpected at the beach, which makes them exciting. SEA CHANGE Summer’s version of the LBD is the LBB: the little black bikini. Skip the boring over-shirt for one that’s luxuriously decorated. SWING FROM THE RAFTERS At the heart of it, the summer holidays are all about fun. So use this time to experiment: a pleated midi with a knotted tee is dressed, but not serious. FRESH…

STRANGERS BY BELLE BURDEN As if the pandemic wasn’t bad enough, Belle Burden’s husband of 20 years took the opportunity to announce — out of nowhere — that he wanted a divorce. Three years later, she wrote an essay for The New York Times in which she pondered how the man who was the father of her three children, and who seemed perfectly happy with their life, could be harbouring such a deep, unknown desire to leave her. Strangers is an extension of that essay, and it explores how Burden went from passive participant in her life to completely in control. $36.99 (Penguin), out now KIN BY TAYARI JONES From the author of the acclaimed An American Marriage comes Kin, a story of motherhood (and growing up motherless), sisterhood and…

Q1 Which cafe on the top floor of London’s Dover Street Market is famous for its cult carrot cake and Alexa Chung sightings? Q2 Order a martini dry and what are you really requesting: more vermouth or less? Q3 Which indie publisher is instantly recognisable by its Yves Klein blue book covers? Q4 What colour are the pool loungers at Chateau Marmont? Q5 What Australian invention once warmed the ankles of every 2000s It-girl? Q6 In fashion shorthand, CSM refers to which industry-shaping institution? Q7 Which of the following items did not make it onto Joan Didion’s ever-practical packing list from The White Album: cigarettes, cashmere socks, baby oil, bourbon or a mohair throw? Q9 Before Hermès designed her a namesake bag, what did Jane Birkin take with her everywhere?…

JISOO exploded into the zeitgeist when she joined the K-pop supergroup Blackpink as a bright-eyed 21-year-old in 2016. A decade on, the South Korean powerhouse is a beyond-successful solo artist and the proud founder of her own music and filmmaking label. Blissoo is a fitting portmanteau of Bliss and JISOO that perfectly encapsulates the attitude of her new era. ELLE: For our shoot, we’ve captured you in a picturesque landscape. What kind of paintings do you usually like? JISOO: I think my preferences vary depending on the harmony of colours. I’m more drawn to subtle, calming colours than bright, overpowering ones. I also like cute, cartoon-like drawings, as well as ones depicting trees and flowers. ELLE: Looking back at 2025, what was your warmest, most wonderful scene, similar to your…

“I ALWAYS WANT TO BE THAT LITTLE BIT BETTER ... TRYING TO BREAK THAT NEXT GOAL OR GETTING STRONGER, FASTER OR FITTER” ELLIE Carpenter Footballer, Chelsea Women & Matildas Training isn’t just part of the job for Ellie Carpenter; it’s the rhythm her life moves to. “Even if I weren’t a footballer, I’d still be active,” she says. As part of Australia’s national women’s football team, the Matildas, Carpenter has helped to ignite passion for the sport among a new generation of women and girls. So how does she keep herself fit so she can continue to inspire younger players? It’s a balance between training with her team and smashing out a gym session solo. “I love working on the pitch with my team and creating those relationships and being…

DEAR ANNALISA, Is there a tasteful way to picnic outside? Every time I try, half the food ends up sandy and the rosé turns warm. Long summer picnics always remind me of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. In chapter one, when Nick visits the Buchanans, a slow, hazy heat fills the scene as Daisy and Jordan, both dressed in white, languish on the divan while the curtains billow in the hot wind. It feels like summer: hopeful, dreamy, glamorous, suspended in a heat-soaked mirage. I want all my summer picnics to feel like that scene: slow, hot, indulgent and drawn out for far too long. I love dining outdoors, but there’s nothing worse than warm rosé, no back support and sand as a garnish. I believe in infrastructure. When…

For more, turn to page 84. There’s a scene in Chloé Zhao’s intimate and heartbreaking new film, Hamnet, where Agnes Shakespeare (the witchy, almost forest-sprite-looking wife of William Shakespeare, played by ELLE cover star Jessie Buckley) kneels to her 11-year-old son, Hamnet (played by Jacobi Jupe). “Rub your hands together like this, and blow a wish [into them],” she says, before releasing her arms into the air. “Fwoosh!” Opposite Buckley is Paul Mescal in the role of the famous playwright — and together they are dynamite. The story follows the couple’s meet-cute, their little family’s rituals and, without spoiling it for you, their immense grief. Produced by Steven Spielberg and adapted from a novel written by Maggie O’Farrell, Hamnet deftly breathes in the primal screams and the quiet aches that…

“THE NOTION OF EQUILIBRIUM AND BALANCE IS AT THE FOUNDING HEART OF CARTIER” Beijing has long embodied a philosophy of balance. An urban symphony where grandeur is tempered by order. These aren’t just notions. A strict 7.8-kilometre north-south Central Axis runs through the city, puncturing the centre of major landmarks: the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the list goes on, as if guiding the area’s rhythm. I recently visited the latter, a vast series of imperial palaces that were home to several Chinese emperors over a period of more than 500 years. Gates, courtyards, bridges and halls unfold one after another in a straight, unbroken sequence. It’s extraordinary. According to my guide, if you folded the palace in half, all of these parts would perfectly overlap. Even…

While her older brother Cruz is hard-launching his music and manhood, rumour has it the youngest Beckham — who per her Instagram bio identifies as “your fav blonde” — is ready to step into her mum’s stilettos, with a Korean-inspired beauty line, Hiku By Harper, said to be in the works. “I was born into this. I don’t have work ethic and I don’t have tips and tricks and I don’t have insights on the business because, honestly, I just sit on my ass and write songs and post on TikTok,” said the self-aware, bambi-eyed blonde who’s broken the internet twice: once for trying to charter a helicopter on her dad’s credit card, and then for getting Jacob Elordi to dance on camera. All alabaster skin and deep brown eyes,…

In ancient Europe, there was a phenomenon called the ‘burned house horizon’, when civilisations periodically burned everything they owned. This mostly happened in the settlements of the Cucuteni-Trypillia culture, which spanned the western edge of the Black Sea — land that would eventually become Romania, Moldova and Ukraine. Between 5500 and 2750BC, archaeological records show that every 60 years or so, the people here lit fires, deliberately turning their belongings to ash. While academics continue to debate their motivations, the desire to be unburdened by possessions is one that endures thousands of years later. Perhaps with the greatest potency when it comes to our wardrobes, especially as we look ahead to the new year and give ourselves the time and space to imagine who we might wish to become. At…

TAKE A HIKE The recipe for a great summer day out: a chic swimsuit (or two), light layers, hiking boots and a bag big enough for all the essentials. Add a fun little key chain to taste. KEEP IT BRIEF An all-dayer is the new all-nighter. Stay out for hours with mandatory sun safety in the form of statement sunnies and a dad cap. Take cues from your mum and don’t forget to take a jacket. HOT TAKE What are your plans today? Beach? Walk? Porque no los dos? Be prepared for all activities with a sun-blocking bucket hat, a water bottle holder and sturdy shoes. But pants? Who needs ’em? WEATHERING HEIGHTS When it comes to summer spontaneity, it’s all about the contingency plan. A utilitarian bag, a fleece…

Odessa A’zion has just seen the blimp. You know the one: the deeply orange Marty Supreme blimp that’s been hanging in the air over the States for the past few months, usually with Timothée Chalamet underneath it. “We just took a picture with it, which was so cool because that was my first time seeing it,” she says, a little breathless as though she’s just rushed back inside. “I feel like everyone and their mother has seen it except for me.” The blimp is part of the huge marketing campaign for Josh Safdie’s new film, Marty Supreme, loosely based on the life of table tennis legend Marty Reisman and his quest to be named world champion. Chalamet plays the anti-hero Marty Mauser, while A’zion plays Rachel, his long-suffering love interest.…

The outer planets take decades to go through all the signs of the zodiac, and they move at different speeds. In the case of Saturn and Neptune, they’re only together once every 36 years. Saturn is the planet of rules and regulations; Neptune is the planet of visionary ideals. When they meet, dreams can become reality. Last year, Saturn and Neptune both spent time in Aries, where they’ll meet in February, and that gave us a taste of what might lie ahead. Aries is a sign of new beginnings and of direct action — often without compromise. The softness of Pisces, where Neptune has been for the past 14 years, will be gone, and Saturn will be quick to impose new rules of its own. Of course, the world won’t…

FRAGRANCE NOTE Dior Sauvage Elixir, 60ml, $260. Felix Mallard has been patiently waiting for years for the right project to bring him home to Australia. The star of Netflix’s hit series Ginny & Georgia — an angsty, coming-of-age drama that is filmed in Toronto, and in which Mallard plays the complicated guy next door — he’d had several conversations with his agent about finding the right local opportunity. Because Mallard didn’t want just any project to bring him home to Oz; he wanted it to mean something. And then, along came Goolagong, a three-part mini-series based on the inspiring true-life story of world champion tennis player Evonne Goolagong Cawley, streaming now on ABC iview. Mallard plays Evonne’s husband, Roger Cawley, the steadfast backbone to his wife as she fought her…

PRECIOUS gems An ultra-glossy ruby-toned lip is perfect for this time of year. Opt for a sheer oil formula and leave the rest of the face pristine and pared back for a decidedly modern take. JUST bitten A sweet raspberry shade gives lips a hit of brightness that lights up the entire complexion — and very little else is required for makeup to look ‘done’. If you do want to take it up a notch, add a winged line of pink at the lashes. FRAGRANCE NOTE Dior Addict Purple Glow, 50ml, $180. STARLIGHT, star bright Give skin a shimmering finish that gleams when the light hits it. Silvery highlighter makes cheekbones pop, while a holographic-flecked lip oil will gives lips a glossy, glass-like finish. FRAGRANCE NOTE Dior Addict Peachy Glow,…

“COGNITIVE WELLNESS IS THE NEW LUXURY” High, high up in the Austrian mountains, it’s hard to imagine an oxygen source preferable to the crisp — free — Alpine air. Hotel Krallerhof is betting against that. In an entirely glass-fronted spa, guests of the luxury wellness resort are welcomed to try a slew of interventions designed to boost body and mind — and brain. There’s full-body cryotherapy, red-light therapy, sauna, mud-bathing and even IHHT. Interval hypoxiahyperoxia therapy asks you to lie back, slow down and slip an oxygen mask over your face, outsourcing your breathing to a minutely calculated program. You’ll breathe air of different oxygen concentrations, sometimes as thin as ultra-high altitude air, and other times closer to pure, unmixed oxygen. It’s a workout for your brain, designed to train…

Like a choc-top at the movies, a road trip in the middle of summer is an irresistible pairing. It’s a state of being — tunes spinning, wind on your arm and the promise of something unexpected around the bend. As you answer the call of the open road, heighten the senses by exploring some of the country’s most remarkable regional art galleries while en route, or make them a destination on their own. These are places where world-class collections are tucked inside architectural gems that amplify natural beauty, local heritage and Country, and where First Nations stories meet bold contemporary art and public programming. This is art worth travelling for — deeply tied to place, shaped by community and embedded in landscapes that stay with you long after the drive…

Author, ‘Dear Annalisa’ ANNALISA FERRARIS “Last year felt fast and full. I want 2026 to have a rhythm that lets me enjoy the things I’m building, with a little less haste. Always continue to dream, work, connect with people — and maybe one of the ideas I’ve been nurturing in my mind for years will come to fruition.” Stylist, ‘Game. Set. Felix.’ NADIA PIZZIMENTI “My goals all revolve around being present – whether that’s disconnecting from social media, my phone or work in order to focus on myself, friends and family, or just embracing nature and the world around me. I’d like to take a moment to slow down and appreciate all that I have.” Model, ‘Cruise Control’ ACHOK AKOI “I want to grow mentally, physically and spiritually. Personal growth…

THAT’S A WRAP On hot summer days when a high-collar, floor-length, long-sleeve dress is a bit too much, you can still embody Gucci extravagance with a silk headscarf tied under the chin. Oversized sunglasses will finish the drama-queen look. Collection is in stores now. When Demna was announced as the new creative director at Gucci — fresh from Balenciaga — the fashion world waited with bated breath to see what he would do with the storied Italian brand. The Georgian designer is not known for his subtlety, which made him the perfect fit for a luxury house that embodies flamboyance, flair and a more-is-more attitude. On page 35 of his Gucci: La Famiglia lookbook — through which he presented his debut collection for the house — there’s a particularly dramatic…

For a while, the ’90s aesthetic lived mostly in grainy paparazzi photos, vintage magazine clippings and red carpet moments you’d now only find buried in Getty archives. Off-duty snaps of Jennifer Aniston, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and other icons of the era remain the blueprint for ’90s style: relaxed tailoring, subtle logos and, notably, a pair of glasses perched casually on the nose. Over the past year, that look has threaded back through fashion — slim designs, tinted lenses and understated retro shapes now appear everywhere as a nod to the timeless style of the decade. It’s the kind of look that has naturally invited a new wave of interpretations. At the forefront is Gucci’s autumn/winter 2025 eyewear collection, which takes those ’90s small-frame moods and plays with them in the…

LUCY Dacus AHEAD OF HER PINCH-ME PERFORMANCE AT THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE, THE SINGER AND GUITARIST REFLECTS ON THE DECADE SINCE SHE RELEASED HER DEBUT ALBUM “A full decade is actually wild,” says Lucy Dacus, a little stunned at the thought that her performance at the Sydney Opera House falls almost 10 years to the day since she released her very first album, No Burden, in February 2016. “Geez, I gotta throw a little party,” she says, “or maybe I’ll go to dinner alone.” Back then, Dacus was living in Richmond, Virginia, making music in her father was a graphic designer. “Growing up, creativity wasn’t so encouraged as a job, but it was encouraged as a hobby,” she says. “I actually didn’t think [of music] as a job until I…

When she was filming Hamnet, Jessie Buckley dreamt that she was underwater. “There’s a huge stingray coming over you,” she narrates in her meditation app-worthy Irish lilt, “swallowing something that you’re trying to save that’s stuck behind a rock.” For Buckley, who plays a mother trying to save her child in Chloé Zhao’s adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, it was one of many subconscious moments that made it into her performance. Buckley even worked with a dream coach, Kim Gillingham, to help channel those nocturnal visions into reality. In Hamnet, Buckley evokes grief in a way possibly never seen on-screen. Though it’s a cliché to say an actor disappears into her roles, she really does subsume herself into the part of Agnes, William Shakespeare’s wife, as she has in so…

There’s an enduring image of the Australian summer: blinding light, humming cicadas and bronzed bodies glistening after a saltwater swim. For many, Sammy Robinson, one of Australia’s biggest influencers, has embodied that sun-kissed fantasy. But as the archetype of the ‘Aussie beach girl’ has evolved, so too has Robinson’s approach to summer. Now 29, the entrepreneur and content creator prioritises skincare, sun safety and protecting the glow she’s known for. Here, she shares her favourite summer memories as well as her warm-weather beauty routine. ELLE: What are some of your most treasured summer memories? SAMMY ROBINSON: Going to Forster, NSW, with my family as a kid, swimming in the ocean every day, walking around barefoot, buying 20c lollies from the corner shop, and having fish and chips at sunset on…

In the span of a few seconds, your body reaches peak tension relief. Your brain starts firing in all corners. A surge of feel-good hormones, like oxytocin and dopamine, floods your bloodstream. Headaches and pains might vanish, your immune system may get a boost and you could experience better sleep. No, this isn’t a luxury wellness treatment; it’s what happens to your body when you orgasm. The Kama Sutra, written around 3CE, was a guide that focused on sexual pleasure as a piece of the larger wellbeing puzzle. Yet thousands of years later, sexual pleasure — in some ways the ultimate health hack — has left the wellness chat. Stem cell infusions, cryotherapy, tech-forward tracking, biohacking, cold plunges — it’s all pretty sexless. At even the most comprehensive wellness retreats,…

As a little girl, I would change my clothing up to six times a day. I would be constantly taking things out of my closet, and wearing my special ‘party’ dresses to the supermarket with Mum or around the house. I grew up with my family in Sydney and had a wonderful upbringing and connection to nature. We spent a lot of time camping. My mother [left] was the first person who inspired me and opened my eyes to what clothes can do. She has had incredible style since she was young and I truly mean style. There is a huge difference between fashion and clothing and style — someone who can take anything and wear it their own way, with their own confidence. Last year I travelled for 250…