Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2019 i Marie Claire Australia

A side from compiling the pages of this magazine, the greatest part of my job is meeting some pretty awesome women. And by that I mean you, the reader. Thankfully, we’ve had plenty of opportunities to connect this year at various marie claire events (in fact, we’ve held more consumer gatherings in 2019 than ever before), and I’m continually astounded at how smart, savvy and innovative you are. At our recent Small Business Brilliance series in Sydney and Melbourne, I managed to mingle with scores of marie claire devotees and hear their inspiring start-up stories. There was the former marketing manager who sold her house to fund a now-successful boutique skincare company; the two BFFs who launched a bag biz from their living room (and are now casually turning over…

OPEN EYES For a young Italian teacher, a trip to Africa offered new perspective When Gabriella Cigliano, 23, went to Tanzania in East Africa to work in a school, she expected her role would be to teach children – but ultimately she also learnt something from them. Travelling through Zanzibar one day, she came across two sisters on a white-sand beach. Cigliano pulled out her iPhone to capture the moment; the pair had an undeniable sisterly bond. “We couldn’t talk much, except for a few words in Swahili I had learned in the previous weeks, but those kids could definitely talk with their eyes,” says Cigliano, an amateur photographer. Her arresting image went on to win her the Photographer of the Year Grand Prize in the 2019 iPhone Photography Awards,…

For the past 24 years, Clare Bowen has carried a note from her grandmother in her wallet. It reads: “Never give in.” Her grandmother gave it to her when she was 11, struggling with survivor’s guilt and low self-esteem after battling kidney cancer and losing all her hair from chemotherapy. “I overheard the doctors saying I had two weeks [to live]. It was freezing in the hospital and I asked my mum if there were heaters in heaven,” says Bowen, of her darkest days lying in a Sydney hospital bed. “My mum said, ‘You don’t need to go to heaven yet. You’ve got to hold on.’” And hold on she did. Now 35, Bowen still pinches herself that she’s alive – the fact she’s an adored actress and singer is…

MARNIE GODING, Elk “I want to go to sleep at night knowing I’m a responsible corporate citizen of the world. I don’t want to go home and tuck my children into their warm bed knowing on the other side of the world the lady who made my pyjamas can’t afford to feed her children,” says Marnie Goding, who founded the fashion label Elk 15 years ago and has spent the past five years focused on making the business more sustainable and ethical. Goding’s mission started in 2014 after a visit to one of Elk’s suppliers in the Philippines left her feeling uneasy. Concerned about the supplier’s refusal to address waste management and chemical use, Goding cut ties with them and started an interrogation of Elk’s entire supply chain – with…

CAPTURE THE BLUSH OF AN ENGLISH ROSE My Burberry Blush is a fruity floral eau de parfum with a sparkling twist. Like stepping into a London garden awakening in the first light of day, it captures the senses as blossoming flowers pop with spirited energy. Visit davidjones.com RESTORE RADIANCE Clarins Double Serum is a Complete Age Control Concentrate formulated to help work on the five vital functions of the skin for a more youthful and radiant complexion. Double Serum acts on the appearance of major signs of skin-ageing. Skin is more radiant, firmer and fine lines are smoothed. Visit clarins.com.au RADIANT COLOUR The Euphoria collection from Aquablu is a celebration of colour. Decadent hues blended with lush flora and fauna make a bold statement for summer. Perfect for beach, bar…

STYLE TIP ’Tis the season for sequins; opt for a sweet sprinkling or top-to-toe sparkles. STYLE TIP Add fun, festive accessories to take the look from day to night. STYLE TIP Embellishment is key: try a top-handle bag finished with fringing.…

MICROBIOME: THE LOWDOWN Recently, the term microbiome has been cropping up on our skincare products. But our microbiome is nothing new. “Microbiome is the invisible, carefully balanced collection of trillions of microbes that live on our skin,” says Katy Bacon, education director for Murad Australia. “It’s what helps keep our skin clean, clear and healthy.” The issue is that our obsession with hygiene has put our skin at risk of being stripped of its good bacteria, leaving it prone to a host of skin issues, including pimples. “A functioning microbiome provides a healthy external immune system that is better able to fight disease, inflammation and defend against undesired bacteria,” explains Bacon. PROBIOTICS AND PREBIOTICS EXPLAINED Probiotics: coined “good bacteria”, probiotics help balance and restore the microbiome in our body. “They…

RETINOL 101 Need a crash chemistry lesson on vitamin A and retinol? This will help. Part of the vitamin A family, retinol is a type of retinoid. “Retinoids are a group of compounds that have vitamin A as their core structure,” says Dr Eleni Yiasemides, dermatologist and Mohs surgeon. “Retinoids are naturally occurring derivatives of betacarotene.” Types of retinoids include retinol, retinoic acid, retinaldehyde and retinyl esters, so look for these on your skincare ingredients lists. THE SKIN BENEFITS The skin benefits of retinol have been studied and proven to work. “It is well known retinol improves the signs of skin photo damage, such as fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation as well as age spots,” says Yiasemides. “It thickens collagen, improves elasticity, exfoliates and provides smoother-looking skin.” That means a…

ALFRESCO DREAMS GlobeWest’s new Positano collection of outdoor furniture is a Mediterranean fancy. From $680. Visit globewest.com.au Raise a glass Like a Lenny Kravitz hit, the rockstar-turned-Dom-Pérignon-creativedirector’s newest release ain’t over till it’s over. The box, itself, turns into a candelabra after the bottle has been drained of its last decadent drop. Lenny Kravitz X Limited Edition Vintage 2008, $289, domperignon.com FILL YOUR BOOTS Gingle Bells, a gift set of six floral-gin baubles, is quite possibly the best stocking stuffer in the history of Christmas. $79, ginglebellsgin.com BREEZY BEDDING Is your spare bedroom guest-ready for summer? Ettitude’s new bedding line, from $50, is 100 per cent bamboo lyocell, which means it’s super soft, sustainable (water is reused up to 200 times in manufacturing) and highly breathable. Visit ettitude.com.au GUILT-FREE TRAVEL…

THE TREND MODERN GODDESS Is this the new power dressing? Designers turn to Greek goddess Aphrodite and her fellow female frontrunners for style notes this summer. Cue diaphanous draped dresses à la Gucci, and lashings of gold jewellery that hark back to ancient Greece. THE TREND TO HAVE AND TO HOLD No longer the supporting act, the handbag becomes a hero piece for the party season. Opt for sweet and petite styles embellished with pearls, feathers and sparkling adornments – and eschew practicality for panache. THE TREND LOVE LACE This delicate fabric tends to fall into one of two fashion camps: dainty and demure or sheer and sultry. But here it melds all manner of moods, with refined silhouettes and buttoned-up collars offset by cheeky peekaboo details and delicious ice-cream…

Kimberley Motley has spent the past 11 years living in a war zone, though it’s not the threat of bomb blasts that scares her. “I’m afraid of mice,” she says with a laugh. “And, to be honest, traffic is the most disruptive thing about life in Afghanistan.” The American lawyer moved to the Islamic republic in 2008 to work in a legal training program. She was supposed to stay for only a year, but when Motley visited a local jail she felt an instant compulsion to help voiceless victims. She soon became the first foreign lawyer to litigate in an Afghan court, representing foreigners trapped in the country’s judicial system, child brides and domestic violence victims. In 2015, she tracked down two Australian children (above right) who had been kidnapped…

On both sides of the Pacific Ocean, children’s books that empower the next generation are booming. Being Brave (MH Publishing), by Sydney women Hester Leung and Sema Musson, is an ode to female friendship and resilience, while Julián Is A Mermaid (Walker Books Australia), by Jessica Love, tells the touching tale of a transgender boy in New York City. The pictures are pretty, the stories are simple, but what really sets apart these page-turning tomes? They’re not just for kids.…

Kylie Maslen spent 14 years trying to find an answer for the excruciating, debilitating pain that accompanied her period each month. From the age of 13 to 27 she knew something was wrong. “It was like getting gastro every period; I would throw up a lot, I’d have diarrhoea, I’d get migraines and lots of symptoms that I knew other girls around me weren’t getting,” Maslen remembers. “I’d be literally doubled over in pain and I just had this really instinctive feeling that something wasn’t right.” Some months the crippling symptoms lasted three weeks. She routinely had her appendix checked and took dozens of pregnancy tests in a futile bid to find an explanation. Countless doctors told her it was normal for some women to have more painful periods than…

MC: Your exhibition Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson: Step Into Paradise explores your creative partnership over the past 40 years. Take us back to the day you first met … LJ: It was at an exhibition in Sydney, and we just stood there and looked at each other. JK: It was creative love at first sight. She looked straight out of a ’50s movie, and designed and made these exquisite clothes. There was an instant camaraderie. When we were together it was like we were in a bubble – we only vibed with each other. MC: From your infamous liaison with John Lennon to selling clothes to Mick Jagger in London, Jenny, what was it like being in the epicentre of a legendary era? JK: It was a completely unique…

Starting a small business is no small feat. Every experience is unique and all perspectives are important. Growing your small business is a constant journey, equally full of challenges and wins. Mistakes are inevitable but they can be avoided with a little sage advice. So, with that in mind, here are my tips for getting your business off the ground on the right foot. THE THREE Ps: PURPOSE, PASSION AND PEOPLE I firmly believe that at the heart of every successful small business is a deep belief in the purpose of the business; this is why you do what you do, not what you do. When that is coupled with the passion to bring that purpose to life, this then becomes contagious – across your employees, your business partners and…

STEALING BEAUTY Forget the “ugly” fashion trend. This season’s sartorial selection is all about its aesthetic appeal: dreamy looks for sun-kissed days; contemporary lace; luxe minimalism (modelled by Elyse Knowles); and oriental prints for the party season. On that note, our dress edit boasts 30 stand-out styles for less than $300.…

CHIC AROMAS Whether crisp and fruity or a traditional soft floral, this is the moment to find your new, refined fragrance. SMELLS LIKE SUMMER Want to add a new spritz to your summer line-up? Here are some guidelines: LIGHTEN UP When the weather is warm, seek out fragrances with a hint of freshness. “Go for lighter airy florals,” says Edwards. “That means fresh florals with citrus notes.” GO SOFTER “If you love orientals, downscale to a floral oriental with fresh notes,” suggests Edwards. “Same with the woody orientals.” AVOID SWEETNESS If you love pleasant notes such as vanilla and honey, consider lightening up a bit. “Be wary of gourmand notes which can get too sweet on the skin in the warm weather,” says Edwards. FIND THE PERFECT FRAGRANCE FOR YOU…

Louis Vuitton has been upping our travel game since the brand was founded in 1854. Adored by travellers, shoppers, career women and It-girls alike, Louis Vuitton remains to this day both elegantly designed and finely crafted, yet still fit for the practicalities of travel. So it makes good sense that travel – that act of getting to your destination – has been the inspiration for Louis Vuitton’s stable of women’s fragrances. The brand’s latest creation, Coeur Battant (which translates from French to “beating heart”) has recently hit shelves, and it too has been guided by the thrill of travelling. Rather than the destination itself, this fragrance evokes that rush of holding your passport in your hand and getting on a plane. “I was dreaming of creating a perfume full of…

Every December our diaries fill-up with endless Christmas parties, catch-ups, after-work drinks, family lunches and end-of-year celebrations … all of which we stubbornly cram into the four short weeks leading up to New Year’s Eve. Why, then, is a catch-up in “no time to sleep” December worth more than in “diaries wide open” January? No-one knows, but every year, without fail, it happens. So in order to stay on the healthy bandwagon this year, we asked four wellness experts for their best advice on how to handle a hangover – the healthy way. THE PERSONAL TRAINER Sydney-based personal trainer Cassey Maynard says the first thing you should do when you wake up isn’t drag yourself to the closest couch and start surfing Netflix. She recommends combating a hangover with a…

An Australian white Christmas is more about sand than snow, but when you have 16 hours of daylight, it sparkles so much brighter. This year we’re ditching the red and green and going pure platinum. Foraged foliage gives decorations a handspun feel, and dustings of metallic sparkle set off the look. LIGHT FANTASTIC This tranquil setting (left) is the poster child for a dreamy Christmas. It is made contemporary thanks to a desaturated palette. A handmade wreath, spray-painted white, and posies of scrubby natives displayed on the wall, add charm. SIMPLE STOCKINGS Continuing the muted aesthetic, folksy knitted prints on traditional Christmas stockings are swapped out for linen in refined neutrals, which have been sewn into oversized stockings (below). HEIGHTEN THE ATMOSPHERE WITH A MASS GROUPING OF PILLAR CANDLES. VARY…

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT Made from organic cotton, Lee Mathews’ LM Workroom range gives new meaning to timeless: down the track, seasonal colours can be dyed black to extend each piece’s life cycle. Balmy nights call for fancy feet – and we’re loving these embellished sandals, a collab between two of our favourite accessories labels. Just add a floaty white frock and a pedi that pops. FOR THE NEW ROMANTIC Karen Walker branches into bridal with Karen Walker Atelier, a curated collection of dreamy dresses, chic suits and dazzling rings – including this Deco-inspired delight. GIFT OF LUXE Tiffany & Co.’s first-ever advent calendar is not your average Christmas countdown – the treasure trove is stuffed with 24 sumptuous surprises, from bangles to brooches, each in a little blue box.…

On a Saturday afternoon in August, 19-year-old student Uyinene Mrwetyana went to a Cape Town post office where she was raped and killed, allegedly by an employee. Sadly this is not a new story; in South Africa, a woman is murdered every three hours. But now they’ve had enough and are rising up and revolting against the scourge of femicide. Their hashtag – #AmINext – is eerie yet hard-hitting, a powerful call to the government to end the epidemic, fast.…

I’m a bona fide, lifelong, sing-it-from-the-treetops member of the sisterhood. I have long spoken out against gender-based inequality and violence, and advocated for intersectional equality in my roles as our country’s first National Champion for UN Women NC Australia and as a founding member of 50/50 by 2020, an organisation that aims to ensure greater representation of women, people of colour, LGBTQIA+ and people with disabilities. But there’s an emerging trend in the “brotherhood” that’s got me feeling positive about the future of equality. Actor Benedict Cumberbatch announced (in 2018) that he will only take jobs where women are paid equally, and has encouraged others to do so. Tennis player Andy Murray corrected a reporter for referring to him as the first tennis player to win multiple gold medals, saying,…

— EMILY, 29 Emily was living out of home for the first time when she found out she was pregnant. She was young, had no money and didn’t have a very strong relationship with her parents. Initially in denial, she soon had to accept her pregnancy was real – and the idea of having a baby terrified her. “Every cell of me said, ‘No, this is not the right time,’” Emily recalls. She was 21 weeks pregnant which meant she couldn’t have a termination in Queensland and she assumed she could not have a procedure anywhere else either. Her dad and stepmother paid for her to travel to Victoria for a late-term abortion and accompanied Emily for the trip. They made the situation a lot more comfortable than it could…

EVENT Wedding L I SA, 37, FITNESS INSTRUCTOR “I’m the mum of three boys and I don’t get dressed up very often, but I was going to a black-tie wedding so it made sense to rent something special, and the red of this gown is really wow! I wore it with red shoes from Isabel Marant and my husband matched his tuxedo with a red cummerbund and handkerchief. The wedding was at Como The Treasury in Perth and it was very elegant – I’m glad I had a dress that was appropriate. Plus, it was great for dancing in. My feet were the only problem, as my heels were killing me! I’d definitely rent for a special occasion in the future. A dress could sit in your wardrobe growing mould,…

9:30AM I definitely don’t have a very set routine. It’s a cliché, but every day is different. When I’ve got a big project, I’m often working back in my studio until the wee hours of the morning, so I will start my day later. 9:35AM I have a pretty basic beauty routine. Mascara is my go-to. If I’ve got that, then I’m cool. I love swimming in the ocean at Bronte Beach [Sydney] in the morning, and even just sitting in the sunshine. I feel like I get the winter blues. 9:40AM When I get dressed in the morning, I am driven by practicality. I love wearing denim with a basic T-shirt. I have these painting pants, which are a pair of high-waisted denim jeans that I’ve had for over…

WHETHER IT’S THE BEST AUTOMATIC DETERGENT SYSTEM, CERTIFIED CLEANLINESS AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY OR THE OPTIMUM RESULTS FOR THOSE GARMENTS THAT REQUIRE SPECIAL CARE, MIELE HAS BEEN MAKING LIVES EXTRAORDINARY SINCE 1899. THE SPECIALIST Australia’s only 10-star energy-rated 8kg heat-pump dryer not only saves you money, it allows you to dry even the most delicate of items. Garments are always gently and precisely dried with PerfectDry, with fewer creases and easier, quicker ironing. FragranceDos gives your laundry a beautiful scent while drying, and the scent lasts for up to 4 weeks, while EcoDry keeps energy consumption low and drying times short, showing Miele’s commitment to a better planet. MIELE 8KG HEAT PUMP TUMBLE DRYER, $2199 (TCE630) There are so many clever ideas from Miele that will change the way you launder.…

STYLE TIP “A watch that makes a bold statement is the only accessory you need,” says Elyse Knowles, a local friend of TAG Heuer. STYLE TIP “A cool, lightweight suit is everyone’s must-have for work and play,” says Elyse. STYLE TIP Team everyday staples with a watch – it adds sophisticated appeal,” says Elyse.…

The ROMANTIC The COLLECTOR The NATURALIST The SPORTIF The FREE SPIRIT…

LUXE HAVE This 96 per cent natural-origin mascara by celebrity make-up artist Gucci Westman (she counts Jennifer Aniston among her pals) looks good – and delivers. The lash result? Bold, voluminous and defined. WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING This night-time treatment will have you breezing through summer with lush-looking hair. Dosed with iris root extract, it hydrates, softens and makes even the driest hair more manageable. SHIMMER AND SHINE Get into the silly season with sparkling limbs. Here are our picks of the season. SMOOTH IT Blending rosehip, lavender and carrot seed essential oils with a nourishing jojoba, avocado and almond oil base, this targeted oil by Natio helps smooth the appearance of scars and cellulite. POWER SERUM Completely organic, this single-ingredient Aussie rosehip oil from Biologi boasts a shopping list…

POMEGRANATE, STRAWBERRY & ROSEWATER COCONUTWAFERS MAKES 4 ¼ cup honey1½ tsps rosewater1 cup thick vanilla bean or coconut yoghurt 250gstrawberries, hulled and sliced ½ cup pomegranate seeds COCONUT WAFERS 1 cup shredded coconut1 eggwhite¼ cup raw caster (superfine) sugar 1 To make the coconut wafers, preheat oven to 160°C. Line 2 baking trays with non-stick baking paper. 2 Place coconut, eggwhite and sugar in a medium bowl and mix to combine. Spoon the mixture onto the trays to make 8 x 8cm rounds, flattening them slightly using the back of the spoon. Bake for 12–14 minutes, or until lightly golden. Allow to cool on the trays. 3 Place honey and rosewater in a small bowl and mix to combine. Place 4 of the coconut wafers onto serving plates. Top with…

CAR: Hyundai Venue Go ROUTE: Braidwood, NSW We’re about an hour out of Sydney along the Hume Highway when RNB Fridays crackles to oblivion. Two taps later and my podcast queue is loaded on the touchscreen monitor thanks to my new best friend, Apple CarPlay. As the dulcet tones of Modern Love fill the car through six speakers, the scenery suddenly becomes mistier and more tranquil. Using voice control to switch between my iTunes library and audiobook collection keeps things interesting through long stretches of cruise control. The road candy gets prettier the moment we turn off at Goulburn through bushranger country to Braidwood. We take a dirt road when the mud mode comes on as we glide through a puddle without losing traction (there’s also snow and sand modes).…

It was 1932 and Cincinnati dance studio Hessler’s announced it was giving away 25 free lessons to the child who could stand on their hands the longest. For dance-obsessed 10-year-old Doris Day, it was the prize of a lifetime and she would do whatever it took to win. “For weeks, I was never on my feet. I went up and down stairs on my hands. I got up in the morning on my hands and went to bed that way,” she revealed years later. “I won the prize easily.” It was this tenacity that saw Day survive a near-death accident to become one of the most successful actresses and singers during Hollywood’s golden age, starring in 38 films and recording more than 650 songs. When she died in May this…

MARCIA SPICER It’s been 20 years since my mum Marcia passed away after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She was 52, the same age as I am now. Mum was a trailblazer. She wouldn’t have called herself a feminist, but she was the first female courier driver in Queensland. She also worked as a model, childcare teacher and real estate agent. She was a career woman and worked the same number of hours as my dad. They split the household duties 50/50, which was unusual for that era. Mum also had a wicked sense of humour and did not suffer fools gladly. She always had a comeback and taught my sister and I to stand up for ourselves – in a humorous way. There’s a lot to be said for…