OMG CDL!

My exquisite friend Chelsea de Luca, continues to go from strength to strength.

As reported many times on this Blog, Chelsea is fast becoming, the 'Jeweller to the Stars'. That recent hand-written letter of adoration from Dakota Fanning is a prime example, and is safely guarded with the all the others.

Chelsea's store on James Street, is neither 'Pop-up' or 'Tacky', instead, we are rewarded with one of the cities most loveliest boutiques. And now that she has the divine Katya onboard, this already lauded label is now perfection personified.

www.chelseadeluca.com.au

POP, GOES THE POP UP.

Left: Ginger & Smart.
Right: Willow.










In recent weeks, Brisbane has seen two incredibly successful Australian labels swing open their doors, albeit and sadly, doors to temporary 'pop-up' stores, but nevertheless, they swung them open.

Both WILLOW and GINGER & SMART choose to set up shop on James Street, to hopefully 'test the waters'. Will we see stand alone stores open soon? Or are they just pushing leftover product to the Queenslanders? Time will tell.

Other Oz labels I think should follow suit, should be CALIBRE, ARTHUR GALAN, Men & Women, CAMILLA (Hello! It's Queensland, we Heart a Caftan), JAYSON BRUNSDON, ALICE McCALL, KIRRILLY JOHNSTON, and when they come up for air, KSUBI.

But remember folks, if you do, and if you head to James Street.....do it right!

DAMAGE CONTROL.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Brisbane needs some cleaning up. BIG TIME.

I delved into this subject many years ago, and I honestly thought something would manifest, but no, it did'nt.

Elizabeth Street still looks like the bad end of Sydney's CBD. James Street still looks like tired and the Valley, well the Brunswick Street Mall always riverts back to it's former self, no matter how much PR gets thrown around. The shit always sticks.

Lets start with Elizabeth Street. This could be a world class street. Our version of Castlereagh or Collins Street. The Mitre 10 Building could house a Prada or Gucci, but instead we need prefer spanners and plastic sheeting. If a respected developer came in, the stretch from Albert to Edward could be something very special. There are some wonderful buildings just screaming for a high end retailer, or even an Aussie label to open shop. Hell, us Blokes deserve something, and Xile just does'nt cut it anymore.

I understand it's easier said then done, but why has'nt anyone tried. Brisbane is big enough now to have two major shopping streets side by side. And don't get me started on Adelaide Street, what a whore she is!!!

James Street is the the little street that tries and tries. I know when you've been given such ugly buildings you need to do the best you can, and most retailers do, but please, why have these buildings not been knocked down one by one, and replaced with something really visually stunning. It's honestly not that hard......I think. James Street is what the Beer, umm sorry Wintergarden used to be, odd businesses, both bad and good jammed in together to convince the public that it's something amazing.....but it's not. It's just embarrassing.

Granted there are some excellent port of calls here, businesses that excell at what they do. Whether it's an Eatery or a Jeweller, a Boutique or a Homewares store, MOST, are deserving of their place here. And I know it's all about cashflow, but someone needs to introduce a Dress-Code for Businesses. If you're not prepared to spend money on a fit out and stock decent product, then get the fuck out!! James Street is like that fat woman in a Size 8 Dress, no matter how hard she tries to camouflage it with accessories, she's always going to look CHEAP, or as my grandmother used to say, MUTTON DRESSED UP AS LAMB.

The Valley should be left to rot away like it once did, so perfectly. Once upon a time, the Valley was Brisbane's 'Red Light District', the place your parents told you never to go. Today, it's full of Gen Y girls in their Forever 21 cocktails frocks and their mock Manolo's standing in the caged (garbage bin) area at Zuri with some dude in a Ed Hardy t-shirt vomiting next to them.

It's sad, but it's true, Valley Nightclubs are now putting out the trash, with the trash. Hilarious.

The TCB Building was given an overhaul a few years ago with the hope it would become THE place to shop. Can you honestly see an Ascot Housewife parking her S-Class in Chinatown to shop for her Melbourne Cup hat in the 'gulp' Valley? No, neither can I, but they tried to convince them, with shiny black tiles and a roll call of impressive designer talent, but before we knew it, the homeless were back pissing in the arcade (which says alot), and although the Plasma screens are still there, the designers duds have been replaced by ATM machines and Subway, and the bench seating is now a nice comfy place for the drunks to rest their weary heads!

The Valley is the Valley, it should never have to change. The boutiques will always do well because they cater for people with eclectic cutting edge taste, who have that, 'looks can be deceiving' thing about them. Just because they look like they need a good wash, does'nt mean they can't afford Akira or Dion Lee. Got me?

If the council really wanted to clean up the Valley Mall, then they should've ripped the whole thing out. That's exactly what is happening to Townsville's Mall as we speak. They're replacing a tired, dirty, dangerous, unpopular retail precinct with a well designed road and gardens, that will not only be easy on the eye, but give retailers more of a chance to survive, and it only took them 30 years to come up with the idea. The Valley has character the way it is that's why people go there, trying to change it never works, but you'll never be able to convince council. I say, dirty it up even more. Bring in the prostitutes, open more bars equivilent to The Zoo and enjoy the free spirit, it could be our very own Montemarte.

There are so many parts of Brisbane that could improve, and I will talk about them in later posts. Brisbane is fast becoming a bigger country town then it once was, and with changing times, comes a changing population, and the Government and Local Council's need to enroll in some lessons in not only City Style and Beautification, but a little tutorial in Social Etiquette and Caste Systems would'nt hurt either. We are what we are, and looks are not important, but when it comes to a City as thriving as Brisbane, we need to step it up.

No-one likes the Ugly Cousin!!

THE NEW CHOO errr SHOE.

For any woman invited to a Gay Wedding in the near future, do what Carrie Bradshaw did and wear a pair of CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA Shoes.

I strongly recommend that if your outfit is'nt cutting it, style it up with a pair.

Sometimes spending a little bit extra on the Shoes and Accessories, can change any cheap-arsed dress, and between You and Me, women of the world, alot of you are still getting it very wrong.....in ALL departments.

Whether you're frugal or a spender, with taste or without, take a word of advice, head to JEAN BROWN or go online, it aint that hard. Too many of you are looking cheap and nasty, and just because your Bloke likes you like that, does'nt mean everyone does. When your out to make an impression, make it good one.

Smarten up your act and google CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA, I think the prices will surprise you, but remember, just cos you get a pair does'nt mean your SJP!

www.charlotteolympia.com

A PUBLIC VIOLATION.

It seems that the Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Government have no interest in our History. When it was announced that the iconic REGENT THEATRE that straddles Elizabeth and Queen Streets may be demolished, screams of despair and disgust echoed throughout the burbs, but those sceams were'nt loud enough.

It seems that this murder is going ahead and it's quite simply, and outrage.

The Wintergarden, or what I like to call it, The Beergarden, is undergoing a major re-development, which will bring it up to speed with it's (aging fast) neighbour QueensPlaza, when it is completed, Brisbane's City Heart will have a sleek, cutting edge shopping precinct, that I am sure will not live up to it's name. This multi-million dollar make-over will unveil, not only the 'new' Winter(burp)garden, but also a mutli level tower that will sit on top of it.....eventually, and I am not talking about the Hilton either.

Because of this, it looks like one of Brisbane's most beautiful buildings, The Regent Theatre, will be demolished and replaced with a glass, marble, brass, collage of crap. Yes, I am all for Modern Architecture, but when it replaces something so breathtaking like this legendary Theatre, it makes me wanna set fire to something, say, politicians homes.....see how they like it.

The 'Save the Regent' campaign has failed, sadly, and for all of us, who visited her over the years, at least we have some memories of her. Yes, she smelt of piss and yes, the fabric on the seats were never cleaned, but we adore her and the wonderful thing we liked most, besides her beauty and history, was that Gen Y and it's sad replicas seemed scared of her, so you could always depend on watching a classic without the intrusion from pre-pubescent blokes and their bitches dry rooting behind you.

June 14 is the date we'll see her doors close for the final time. And what a sad day it will be. I do not understand how this has happened, especially when the Council approved places like Cloudland. Brisbane, obviously, still has a long way to go in the 'taste' department.

Farewell our lovely REGENT, you'll be missed, but not by the people who could've saved you!

ONE HELLAVA DELAY.

To All of my readers, I apologise for this lengthy delay in posting another article. 2010 has been somewhat tiring, and my energy towards this Blog subsided. My little Blog amongst the 1000's, ummm, 10's of 1000's of Blogs worldwide seemed insignificant, but I am back, with a little help from my friends. Yes, I did receive your emails and Yes, they encouraged me to re-appear. So I am sorry. Delays are a bitch.