Newtown and Enmore for the Eclectic Shopper

Neighbouring suburbs Newtown and Enmore are wonderfully colourful communities with equally lovely quaint shops, eclectic fashion, creative crafts, and metropolitan food. There’s always something for everyone, and after my recent weekend wander I decided to highlight some of my favourite spots.

Pentimento
249 King St Newtown

Pentimento Papeterie is a treasure trove of pretty paper goods, stationery, creative books for all ages, and some divine accessories. I stop in here regularly to see the new range of international greeting card designs, peruse the crafts and novelty books at the front counter display, and admire the beautiful selection of bags.

Flying Penguin
359 King St Newtown

http://www.flyingpenguin.com.au/

Besides having one of the cutest names and the more adorable logo, Flying Penguin produces educational and environmental toys – the perfect combination for the green conscious and savvy shopper. Kids are encouraged to be both creative and active with gorgeously crafted wooden, recycled plastic, organic cotton and sustainable toys.

Beehive Gallery
Shop1 441-443 King Street
http://www.beehivegallery.com.au/

Beehive Gallery specialise in selling handmade items from local artists and designers. The vendors hire out space, u

sually a small cubbyhole, to showcase their designs, which vary from jewellery, leather craft, paper craft, woodcraft, clothes, accessories, bags, and more.

It’s a great idea for creative people to test the market by bringing their goods out to retail on a small scale. I could spend a while in here poking around at the little lovely handmade pieces in every nook and cranny – loving the hand embroidery.

Mink Schmink
457 King St Newtown
http://www.minkschmink.com/

Tatty Devine creates some of the most exciting and fun pieces of laser cut jewellery on the London market. I love the collaborative efforts with Rob Ryan to take his artwork to an accessory level. Mink Schmink stocks Tatty Devine alongside a selection of great designer jewellery mixed with eclectic mixes.

My favourites are the rainbow popping Himalayan felted wool ball necklaces (I know how long it takes me to make them), Mink Schmink's selection of bird necklaces (which you may be seeing grace my neck in the near future), and Tatty Devine’s horse and carriage pieces.

Pastizzi Cafe
523 King St Newtown
http://www.eatability.com.au/au/sydney/pastizzi-cafe/

My sister just introduced me to the Pastizzi Café – a small bustling café serving pastas, salads, and a plethora of pastizzi. Arranged in hot trays on the back wall behind the counter are both sweet and savoury pastizzi. Lentil, vegetable curry, chilli con carne, apple, and cherry and cheese are some of the wide selection of pastries at $1.80 each, or $16 for a hot dozen, or $12 for a frozen dozen. Tasty and very popular, the Pastizzi Café is a great place to pop in.

Caring For Your Hands With L'Occitane

A person may have a flawless complexion but quite often, one look at their hands provides a dead giveaway of their true age (that and their necks but that's another post). From a young age, I've religiously slathered moisturiser and sunscreen onto my face but never gave a second thought to protecting my hands until I recently realised that all these years of neglect have resulted in my hands looking rather old. And although I've got a stockpile of those really daggy cotton driving gloves courtesy of the $2 stores in Asian countries, I fear my family and friends will pretend to not know me if I wore them outside of the car.
But luckily, L'Occitane has a large range of hand care products that cater for everyone's needs.


For the day, one of my favourites is Young Hands from the Immortelle range (I can't seem to find it on the L'Occitane website and am currently having a panic attack wondering whether or not they've discontinued this product! Will check instore ASAP and report back) which not only has an SPF15 factor but also claims to lighten existing spots and pigmentation marks as well as control the production of melanin in order to prevent new age spots from appearing. Most importantly though, it smells great and is not greasy at all.



For the night or whenever my hands are in need of a little TLC, I reach for Shea Butter Hand Cream which instantly moisturises even the driest of hands. This is also one of my travel favourites as the cream is available in a handy 30mL tube as well the full-sized 150mL one.

You can check out the full range of L'Occitane hand care products here (and if my fears are confirmed and the Immortelle Young Hands really is discontinued, I'll be stocking up at Strawberry Net here which is thankfully still stocking it!)

Best Basics - Witchery

Rain, hail or shine I always put my basic white, black and gray long sleeve tees and singlets to good use. And every season without fail I stock up on these basics at Witchery. I used to be a loyal Bonds fan but it always annoyed me that once machine washed, Bonds basics either shrunk and/or lost their shape. But no matter how many times I throw the Witchery ones in the wash, they still look great. Witchery tops also tend to be cut a little longer than other brands which makes them fantastic for layering.
And until 1st November, purchase two or more full-price items at any Witchery store and receive 25% off (simply print off this offer here and present instore) - just in time for Summer!

From Loubies to Uggs

I've always liked the look of Ugg boots - when worn around the home that is. I've never actually been a fan of people wearing them out unless you're say, living in 10 degree daily weather.
But that all changed for me when I spotted the new Classic Cardy boots featured in Ugg Australia's Fall 2009 Ad Campaign. They had to be mine! In grey!!
So off I went to the Official Ugg Australia Website to see where I could hunt them down. Odd that there are flagship stores in the US, UK and Asia but none in Australia (turns out that Ugg Australia is actually an American owned company, go figure). But a quick search through the Authorised Retailers link directed me to Apres Coast which apparently stocks the biggest range of Ugg Australia in the country.


But to my dismay, when I finally made the trip to the Sydney store I was informed that the grey colour was sold out Australia-wide. However all was not lost - more stock was arriving in August =). So after a very long and slow month-long wait, I am finally the proud owner of my very first pair of Uggs. Although I don't think my boyfriend was too impressed that I decided to buy the warmest pair of shoes I own just as the weather is warming up..
Just a warning though, there are HEAPS of counterfeits readily available in Sydney (especially in Chinatown I noticed) so do check the official website for a full list of Authorised Retailers near you.

Shoes, Glorious Shoes!

I've been really good lately. I've been avoiding shopping centres like the plague and have not made a single online purchase for more than three months. But this all turned to crap last week when I received my weekly new arrivals e-mail from The Outnet (aka the outlet site to Net-A-Porter.com) advertising "Red Hot Louboutins up to 70% off". Hmm, I really should stop subscribing to all these websites...
Now I've found that whenever the good stuff pops up on The Outnet, things sell out in a matter of minutes. So having checked my e-mail about 8 hours after it was sent, I was not surprised that only very small or very large sizes (if any) were left. But a quick click in the top left hand corner of the page enabled me to change my location from Australia to United States (items are shipped from the US instead of the UK) where to my delight I was able to bag a pair that had sold out on the UK site (the last one in my size too, yay!). So keep in mind ladies to check the US site for more stock. Shipping and prices in general are a little more than when buying from the UK site - I paid USD45 in shipping fees whereas the UK site charges GBP16.50 for one item - but hey, the savings are still phenomenol!

MV Organic Skincare

Yes, this will be another beauty product review since I'm currently stuck in a fashion rut and therefore have absolutely nothing worth writing about on the fashion front (I'm hoping this will soon change though).
One of the main things I absolutely loathe about my complexion are the red patches that often appear on my cheeks and forehead, a condition my dermatologist refers to as rosacea which is defined by the Australasian College of Dermatologists as an "inflammatory skin condition often resulting in redness of the face". And although I'm grateful that my case is considered mild, I still have to be careful with what I apply to my face in order to not exacerbate the redness. But after years of sticking to 'safe' products like Cetaphil (pretty much the mildest facial products you can get on the market) I decided that it was time for something stronger.
At the advice of my sister, I decided to go down the organic path since less chemicals = less irritation right? And after hours spent researching the different brands available, I decided to take the plunge with MV Organic Skincare (hey, if it's good enough for Maggie Gyllenhaal it's good enough for me) and ordered their Gentle Cream Cleanser,
Rose Hydrating Mist
and their Rose Soothing and Protective Moisturiser.
The verdict? Fan-freaking-tastic. I've been using all three products for close to a year now and have seen a huge difference in my skin.
The cleanser effectively gets rid of all traces of make-up (something that Cetaphil could never do), the hydrating mist primes my skin for maximum moisturiser apsorption (I also spritz it on my face after make-up application in order for my make-up to last longer) and the moisturiser has actually reduced my facial redness.
I strongly urge those with skincare concerns such as redness, acne, sensitivity or even those who simply wish to incorporate a 3-step system into their skincare regime to give the MV Organic range a go. And for those who prefer to try before buying, there is also a MV Radiance Room in Mosman that offers such treatements as a 1 hour organic facial (I have yet to try this out but can imagine it would be a great introduction to MV products). You can check out their full product range here.

Confessions of a periodic shopaholic

There's not alot I can lay claim to knowing something before the rest of the world catches on. But one thing i will stake my claim upon, is the NOTCOT team with www.notcot.org and (formerly NOTCOT) www.tastespotting.com. These are the sites which kickstarted an interest in all things visual design. I still remember spending a good 4-5 hours during my first visit going through each of the 27 NOTCOT.org pages and it seemed alot even back then. Now at 500 pages, muchos congrats to the NOTCOT team!

NOTCOT was nothing like I'd seen before and it immediately entranced and mesmerised. Aesthetically pleasing yet simple and functional, like those solutions that seem so obvious only once presented to you. Yet as amazing as NOTCOT is, it is still only an idea behind a screen on the other side of the world.

Now enter SPACE FURNITURE store and it was like finally visiting NOTCOT in 3D and I was blown away again. Anyways, enjoy!

Myers: Ralph Lauren Grant $AUD9695

Orson & Blake

Orson & Blake: So very Frenchy chic!

Orson & Blake

Orson & Blake

Orson & Blake

SPACE FURNITURE: feels like i've seen this on Ugly Betty before

SPACE Furniture

SPACE FURNITURE: What a bargain the Poltrona Frau red armchair is at $AUD1100 when decorating your center for ants who can't read good. Both human sized armchair and pricetag are at least 3 times as big

SPACE FURNITURE:love the vivid colours in the lights and bookcase. Not sure whether the egg is a fireplace or a tv

SPACE FURNITURE

SPACE FURNITURE: Obligatory cool Bar decor picture

SPACE FURNITURE: Not sure about all the black velvet but love the last couch.

TOTALS: 0 acts committed at Myers; 0 acts committed at Orson & Blake; 0 acts committed at SPACE FURNITURE; 6 tart acts committed at Bourke Street Bakery.

All kinds of awesome

Aesop's Rind Aromatique Body Balm

I absolutely love indulging in decadent body creams - it's a little luxury I get to experience on a daily basis. And I finally got around to purchasing myself a bottle of Aesop's Rind Aromatique Body Balm which I've wanted to try for a few months. Now I have to admit having recently splashed out on Jo Malone's Grapefruit Body Creme only to find that (although divine smelling) not only did the stuff last a mere 2 weeks but it also didn't keep my skin moisturised for long after application, I was a bit skeptical with pricey body moisturisers (before my Jo Malone purchase, The Body Shop Body Butters were the most expensive body creams I had purchased at $27.95 a tub). But in the end the lovely citrus scent of Aesop's Body Balm won me over and although it may initially seem pricey at $99.50, bear in mind you are getting 500mL for that price as opposed to Jo Malone's $125 for 175mL pricetag. Having used the Body Balm for the past week I must say I am impressed with my skin not once experiencing that dry, tight feeling at any time throughout the day. I now can't wait til I run out so that I can try the equally delicious-smelling Geranium Leaf version! You can check out Aesop's products online here or click here to find your nearest store.

The Observatory Hotel Day Spa

The Observatory Hotel Day Spa is one of the more famous day spas in Sydney and so I was ecstatic to be able to finally experience what the hype was all about. I had booked my treatment 3 months in advance (early reservations are highly recommended as I was told by my therapist that the Day Spa is always busy) and boy, was the experience worth the wait.
The Day Spa is located in the Observatory Hotel's sub-basement and as soon as you step out of the elevator it feels as if you've entered another world thanks to the entrance's dim mood lighting as well as a view of the hotel's amazing pool to your right:

Yes, the blissful experience begins straight away here. Clients who are booked in for treatments lasting 1 hour or more are able to fully utilise the hotel's pool, gym and sauna facilities and this was all explained to me immediately upon arrival by the very friendly receptionist who then proceeded to provide me with with my personal locker key before leading me to the ladies change rooms (btw, I've never been to change rooms that provided a section to hang your clothes as well as amenities such as hairdryers and even Listerine!).
Now onto the treatment: I was fortunate enough to be able to experience The Full Body Facial which is a 3 hour package consisting of a full body exfoliation, macadamia body wrap, Tibetan Temple massage (1.5 hours in total) and a La Prairie hydrating facial (1.5 hours). All up I had two therapists - one who carried out the first three sections of the package and another who performed the facial.
The body exfoliation and wrap left my skin totally supple however I must admit that the Tibetan Temple massage left me quite disappointed (much too short!). Thankfully though, the facial part of my treatment made up for this by beginning with a relaxing back massage.
For me, the highlight of the package was definitely the Hydrating Facial: my therapist kindly explained to me each product she was using every step of the way and I left not only with a whole list of La Prairie products suitable for my skin but also an absolutely glowing complexion. What's more, all clients who purchase a La Prairie product on the day of their treatment receive a 20% discount on the price of their treatment. So being the sucker that I am (especially when it comes to things that claim to make me look younger!) I left with a little goodie =)

So I now understand why so many claim the Day Spa to be one of the top in Sydney. And though pricey, their facials are SERIOUSLY good. Their full list of treatments can be found here - do check it out!

Lotus Day Spa

I've had the wonderful opportunity to visit two day spas recently that I've always been keen to try out and as promised to Belle, have decided to post about the experience.
First up was Lotus Day Spa located in Bondi Junction Westfield where I was spoiled with a Pure Bliss package which included a full body exfoliation, full body mud wrap, aroma shower and 30minute massage. Having only ever been for facials and never for any kind of body treatment, I was nervous about having to strip down in front of a total stranger however my (female) therapist was so professional that about 1 minute into my 1hour and 40minute treatment I was totally at ease.
The exfoliation and wrap left my skin feeling silky smooth however the highlight of the package was definitely the aroma shower which I got to experience twice (once after the body exfoliation and once after the mud wrap) and oh how I wish showering every day could be an experience like that! The aroma shower consisted of lying down in an enclosed 'body capsule' with only your head exposed while gentle jets of water sprayed down onto the body. Ahh, pure bliss indeed...
If I could have changed one thing though it would have been to have a longer massage - 30minutes was much too short! However this was a great introduction to my very first professional massage and I now understand why people make regular (legitimate!) massages a necessity in their busy lives. HIGHLY addictive.
I think the great thing about this place is that even though it's located in a busy shopping centre, once you step inside you are in a totally relaxing atmosphere which is enhanced by the friendliness of the staff. So do check out their website for a full list of their treatments and packages.
Next up, The Observatory Hotel Day Spa.

Cheap Retail Fix

I often need a little pick me up and I realised from a very young age that nothing makes me feel better than a little retail therapy. Yes, contrary to my boyfriend's hopes and dreams, buying things has the potential to make me deliriously happy.
And nothing makes me happier than bagging a bargain. I used to frequent stores such as Sportsgirl and Dotti for cheap, up-to-the minute fashion thrills but is it just me or are Sportsgirl styles becoming a bit too 'out there'? And Dotti just annoys me now as they continue to plug the Kate Moss/Sienna Miller bohemian trend.
So I'm thrilled at having discovered Forever New - cheap, fashionable clothes that don't have a Valleygirl feel about them. And after spotting a chick clad head-to-toe in the spitting image of one of the catalogue outfits in the middle of Pitt Street, it seems others have discovered the awesomeness of this brand too.
So be sure to check out your nearest store should you feel the urge for a cheap retail fix. I did this morning!

An Oldie But A Goodie - Longchamp Le Pliage

If I only had a few hundred to spend on a bag I would without a doubt choose the Longchamp Le Pliage. Ok, so it's made out of nylon (with cowhide leather trim) but so are alot of Prada bags and they run into the thousands. Plus the truly great thing about this totally roomy carryall (which comes in over 5 sizes) is that it folds up into a flat little rectangle making it the perfect travelling companion.
And great news for Sydney-siders - a new Longchamp store is set to open in the Queen Victoria Building adding to their boutique in the MLC Building (which isn't even open on Sundays!). A smaller range can also be found at Hunt Leather stores and select David Jones and Duty Free stores (see here for a full list).
I'll take a pink one thanks. And maybe a red one. And I've been wanting to get a blue bag too.. =)

Falke Hosiery

Every winter I am on a constant hunt for the perfect pair of opaque tights - ones that are thick, solid black and most importantly do NOT sag down your legs as soon as you start walking. Having tried a whole range of brands such as Kolotex, Voodoo, Wolford, Leona Edmiston, Jonathan Aston and Target, I thought perhaps it was because I was purchasing the incorrect sizes that was causing my stockings to constantly sag (and how horrible is it seeing someone adjusting their hosiery on the street!). But after trying average to extra-large and everything in between I was beginning to become resigned to the fact that perhaps saggy stockings were just a fact of life.
Enter Falke hosiery and I finally think my woes have come to an end - opaques I am finally able to wear for an entire day without having to pull up! I think I am in love...
Unfortunately, this is a German brand and does not have any stockists in Australia but luckily My Tights is able to satisfy all my Falke needs with their huge range of stock (also available at Net-A-Porter but shipping rates are much more expensive there). And unlike alot of the other size charts I've encountered for hosiery, the ones provided by My Tights are very accurate so be sure to check it out in order to obatin your correct size.

Confessions of a periodic shopaholic

It's time for another installment of shopping diary. Final day of the Willow sale, 119 Kippax Street, Surry Hills on 16.05.2009.

1:00pm: Looking for the Willow warehouse in the back streets of Surry Hills. A light breeze blows and the streets are quiet, almost tranquil. Finally find the place and notice Willow's sparse advertising budget. Eye-catching.

Lap 1: The black dress at the Paddington store 4 months ago wasn't there. Sigh. Really love Willow designs... on other people. Damn the lack of form fittings, otherwise plenty of signature flowing dresses and they're fairly cheap. Eye off a dark purple sample baby doll dress which has an interesting collar. It's made of rectangle strips of fabric sewn diagonally creating an Emerald City/bird's nest-like structure for cleavage to reside in. Unfortunately it doesn't really fit, however am taking solace in that the fabric feel's somewhat dated anyways.

Lap 2: Try on a silvery gray knitted dress similar to sass & bide's soldier dress from wolfnation. Am also drawn to this lilac dress with a folded collar and rolled sleeves. The sleeves are very reminiscent of childhood anime costumes (from Voltron?) but it's too big. Spot a smaller size nearby on a rack but another girl is about to try it on too. Our eyes meet a couple of times and something's not quite right. Then mortification pours in; her arse cheeks are out in plain sight and it seems like she's gone commando. Am totally being a sleazy pervert but seriously can't stop glaring and praying she's at least wearing a g-string. Jeepers. Explains the dirties she's giving me, although seriously? Wear some pants, woman!

Lap 3: Have finally found a use for the flowing dresses. Grabbed a royal indigo silk flowing dress to change clothes from underneath. Woot! The sales assistants glance over every once in a while as if to wonder what the nutter in the corner is doing.

3:00pm: Still deliberating about the lilac dress. Come to the realisation that Willow dresses are like recently watched films. They start off strong, then fall apart as if suddenly directionless. Decide to get it anyways as it's cheap for Willow. Wow, free lingerie bags. How generous. Back at the car, there are some people sitting on steps up the street jamming away. Nice.

3:20pm: Lining up at Bourke Street Bakery, there's one more chocolate and sour cherry cookie left. Woohoo!

TOTALS: 6 acts committed at Willow; 1 dress, 5 lingerie pieces and 1 BSB cookie.

Facial Sunscreens

I am an avid believer in sunscreen and was shocked when a quick survey amongst some of my closest friends revealed that nobody else used any. So I thought it would be interesting to provide a brief summary of some of the facial sunscreens I've tried and tested over the years.

SUNSENSE Daily Face SPF30+ (Made in Australia): This seems to be one of the most recommended facial sunscreens by dermatologists probably due to the fact that it has a low-irritant formula and is therefore suitable for even the most sensitive skin conditions (acne, rosacea, etc). When my skin wreaks havoc, I reach for SunSense as I've found it to be the most gentle out of all the facial sunscreens I have used. However although it claims to have a "matt finish", I've never actually noticed this to be true and my skin seems to have a slight sheen to it upon application.



SKINCEUTICALS Sport UV Defense SPF45 (Made in USA): I became obsessed with this sunscreen a couple of years ago - even though it does have a very thick consistency I found it to be readily absorbed into the skin once rubbed in and therefore one of the least greasiest sunscreens I have encountered. What's more, it's claim of containing "transparent zinc oxide" (with zinc oxide being a highly effective in blocking UV rays) is actually true and I never encountered any white cast upon application. However, those with oilier skin types may find this a little too shiny for their liking.


HAMILTON Everyday Face SPF30+ (Made in Australia): One of my favourite sunscreens in high school, Hamilton Everyday Face provides probably the most matt finish out of all the facial sunscreens I've tried. However, I do recall that it still has a slightly greasy feeling upon application. The sunscreen has a slight tint to it but like it claims, this becomes invisible after application. This might be the closest you're going to get to a light moisturing sunscreen without looking too shiny.



NATURAL INSTINCT Mineral Sunscreen SPF30+ (Made in Australia): Having recently discovered the joys of organic skincare I was looking forward to extending this to my sunscreen and so promptly did some googling and found that mineral sunscreen was the way to go. I must admit I had very high hopes for this product but was so disappointed to discover that not only did the sunscreen not rub in well, it also left a very obvious white cast on my face. In my opinion, this stuff is probably better for your body than your face (and in all fairness it does not claim to be a facial sunscreen). So in the meantime, my hunt for a good facial mineral sunscreen continues.


THE CANCER COUNCIL AUSTRALIA Classic Sunscreen SPF30+ (Made in Australia): Unfortunately, this is very similar to the Natural Instinct sunscreen in that it does not absorb into the skin easily and leaves an obvious white cast on your face. Surprisingly, this is one of the only facial sunscreens on offer from The Cancer Council but I think it's more worth your while also using this on your body rather than your face.


LA ROCHE-POSAY Anthelios XL 50+ (Made in France): This product has been described as "the best sunscreen in the world" and I think it just might be (for now). It has become my grail sunscreen of late due to the fact that it hydrates my skin (which is now super-dry thanks to the cold weather), it absorbs easily without leaving any kind of residue (only feeling slightly greasy upon application) and it provides the perfect base for make-up. I did find it to be a tad too oily for my face in the summer months but for winter it's absolutely perfect.

Yayoi Kusama - Mirrored Years

Yayoi Kusama is one of the most significant contemporary artists to emerge from Japan. Her lifelong obsession with polka dots, drawn from her hallucinations since childhood, is the constant recurring theme in her artwork.

Her work spans paintings, drawings, and soft sculpture, and her most exciting art – immersive rooms lined with mirrors creating an infinite stretch of wonder!

It is such an intense pleasure to be able to experience her art first hand and wander between giant plush clouds, reflect in the garden of mirrored balls, and sit in a magical room lit up only by dots.

We’re very lucky to have the Yayoi Kusama – Mirrored Years exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney until 8 June 2009.

Coming To A Westfield Near You

My favourite Westfield shopping centre in Sydney is soon to become even better with Louis Vuitton and Chanel set to open shop there within the next few months. Yay, I'm so excited!
I'd been informed a while ago that Chanel would be opening a store at WBJ dedicated solely to ready-to-wear (sources say it won't include accessories such as bags which is a pity but I'll keep you posted) although I have to admit when I first found out about this, I was more than a little skeptical. Late last year rumours were going around that Zara would be opening a flagship store at WBJ sometime this year but I've seen and heard nothing since.
So as I was shopping for a present for my nephew yesterday I was ecstatic to see the huge black walls with simply 'Chanel, opening in June 2009' situated where Escada used to be. But I truly stopped dead in my tracks when I looked across to see the latest LV campaign featuring Madonna staring back at me. It seems that the shop formerly known as Versace was doing as well as Escada so Syndey's third Lous Vuitton store (and the first in the country to open in an Australian shopping centre outside a CBD location) will be located there.
It seems that shopping in Sydney is finally being revolutionised and I for one cannot WAIT!!!