FAVOURITE THINGS. APRIL 2008.

As I am going away for the remainder of April, here are my favourite things for this month a little earlier then usual!

1.ENGINEERED GARMENTS. Designer Daiki Suzuki and mastered the concept of engineering clothes from original patterns of workwear, military uniforms and sportwear, bringing to the public, masculine and practical clothes. http://www.engineeredgarments.com/

2.KARA ROSS NECKLACE. This ebony linked necklace with 24 links and 18c gold stands out in this months US Harpers Bazaar. Kara Ross designs vintage inspired pieces that never fade from style.

3.THE DREAM BED. Retailing for USD$50, 000, the HASTENS Vividus Bed promises to put to sleep even the most severe zzzzzzz deprived man, woman and child. Featuring a flax-lined, solid pine frame, and two mattresses made of 'virgin' steel coils, and filled with hand-teased horsehair, wool and cotton, this bed produced in Koping, Sweden is an aswer to all your slumber prayers!

Start Saving. Available in some hotels around the world. http://www.hastens.com/

4.NUDE PRODUCTS are biocompatible, using high performance bioavailable ingredients, meaning they utilize natural ingredients that work with the skin's natural inherent biology.

http://www.nudeskincare.com/

5.ADELE. 19 year old Londoner Adele Adkins' new album, is full of soul tinged songs of love lost and memories made, and is set to resonate throughout 2008. Buy it Now!!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/

A MAN'S WORLD!

With the opening of BELINDA and TRIBUNE, (A Jean Brown offshoot), I am putting this out there in the hope that boutique owners etc hear the call.

As Brisbane's stylish women flock to these emporiums, (not to mention a healthy throng of southern women as well), I have to ask......Where are all the stylish men going?

Now I know HUGO BOSS has opened and the new DAVID JONES has an extensive range of clobber, not to mention FALLOW and BLONDE VENUS, but why do us blokes get overlooked when it comes to top quality stores?

For every Bettina Liano, Little Joe and Scanlan & Theodore, we have an Elio Moda and Herringbone. Which quite frankly, just does'nt cut it.

Where can we get good expensive shoes? It's nice to go to the coast as an excuse to visit Gucci and Prada, but why can't we have something half decent in the city to whet our fashionable appetite.

Maybe the Jean Brown chain will surprise us one day, and we all know that Belinda won't be doing anything soon after the closure of Belinda Menswear in Sydney, but please, someone, open something soon!! You only have to look at James Street to see sexism first hand....and don't even mention CEO!!!!

Stores like the OUTPOST and DIRTBOX stock great casual clothes that not too many other men own, but I think Brisbane men are ready for something even more exclusive.

Marni Menswear, Dior Homme, Lanvin and Dries Van Noten could seriously work here for the dude out to impress, and with an eye for detail. Not to forget how great it would be to buy shoes that actually took a bit of time and effort to produce!!! I just don't understand why so many stores from down south have'nt opened already. Calibre and Farage, although not everyone's taste, would make a killing, and honestly, sometimes it's nicer walking into an actual store rather the one of the Department size if you get my drift.

Anyway, just another personal opinion of mine. I have faith that this little wish will come true in the not too distant future, I 've got fingers and Adidas covered toes crossed!!!

LEGENDE.

For your information, a lively little bistro has opened in Grey Street near Southbank. PIAF is the little sparrow opened by Simon Livingstone of Espresso Garage fame. And already, like it's namesake, it's a legend.

With dishes priced between $8 - $16, an attractive interior that others lack, and fast, competant service, you're in for a satisfying experience.

Forget about reading contradictive reviews.......you be the judge. I can guarantee, you'll love it as much as I did.

THE DREAM PARTY.

Cherell Greenberg (PR Maven) Thakoon.

Bronwyn Etheridge (Instyle Chief) Martin Grant.

Elizabeth Clarke (Fashion Journalist/Stylist) Bottega Veneta.
Nicole Witty (World Adventurer) Behnaz Sarafpour.

Karissa McClaren (Make-Up Artist) Gucci.
Kara Holloway (BIFFI Owner) Ungaro.
Juli Grbac (Designer) Marchesa.

Jen Plummer (Beautifier) Christopher Kane.
Jenna Downey (Melbournite) 6267
Sascha Goodbar (Tanning Expert) Balmain.
Trish Holland (ELSKA Owner) Elie Saab.

Bianca Theis (Stylist) Chanel.
Shannon de Luca (Media Magnate/Designer) Burberry Prorsum.
Bianca de Luca (KOVA Owner) BCBG Max Azria.
Chelsea de Luca (Jewellery Designer) Dries Van Noten.
Amanda Shea (Architect) Allesandro Dell'Acqua.

Addy Lynch (Psychologist) Versace.
Angela Briggs (Recruitment) Zac Posen

As my birthday weekend approaches (4th, 5th & 6th April), and the celebrations kick off, I thought of doing something fun for my more 'feminine' friends.

Now, as some cannot attend the festivities, I've decided to put together a Lookbook of what I think my girlfriends would wear to my little shindig! The clothes are from the Autumn/Winter Collections shown in New York, Milan, Paris and London in February this year.

I hope they all agree, and if my divine little confidants don't, then they should'nt worry, because they all have a 100% positive return policy.

Happy Birthday to Me! x

THE PEN-ULTIMATE.

Pissed off when you can't find a pen? Angry you can't co-ordinate your writing utensil with your Jennifer Alfano python clutch? Well throw away the 'Bic' and look no further then VISCONTI.

Made from Resin, Vermeil and Ivory, and finished with an 18ct gold nib, the VISCONTI ROMANICA VERMEIL fountain pen is the Bentley Continental GT of Pens.

Priced at AUD$3995 and thanks to patented ink-filling system, these exquisite pens are also designed not to leak during flight while you Sudoku yourself to sleep!

http://www.visconti.com/

THE NEWCOMER.

As most of you would know, Belinda Seper has opened her eponymous up-market store BELINDA in Fortitude Valley, and what a lovely store!

Her Brisbane store is not only her new baby, it's her 15th and largest in the chain, which includes 'The Frock Exchange', 'Belinda Shoe Salon', 'The Corner Shop' and one of her newest ventures, 'Edit' which sells beautiful and unique pieces for your home.

BELINDA Brisbane will no doubt duplicate the success of all Ms Seper's ventures, just like her recent opening of BELINDA in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Stocking everything from ready-to-wear Chloe, Marni, Missoni and 3.1 Phillip Lim, to handbags, shoes and jewellery (check out the divine pieces from Lanvin), there is most definetly something for every Brisbane woman who considers herself at the forefront of style.

So go, browse, and treat yourself.

BELINDA

The Mercado

8 Wandoo Street,

Fortitude Valley.

(07) 3252 8544

PS. Re: My visit - Sydney service does'nt belong in Brisbane!