Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2017 i ELLE Australia

This issue, some of the ELLE team travelled to Los Angeles to shoot the cover with Jessica Alba. It’s  a  place we’ve been lucky enough to travel to together for work many times before – kind of like a vacay with your girlfriends but with hundreds of thousands of dollars of designer samples stuffed into your suitcases, a celebrity to coordinate and, you know, infinitely more pressure. But I do love it there. I used to hold LA up to New York and find it wanting, but now I’ve learned you just can’t compare the two cities – they’re different planets, each with its own qualities that make it like nowhere else on earth. And the joy of LA is that, even when you’re there for work, and despite all the…

“Australia’s paid parental leave system is one of the stingiest in the world” JO BRISKEY executive director of The Parenthood  theparenthood.org.au Any day now, I’ll give birth to my second child. Honestly, I feel like she could pop out any minute. Thankfully, I’ve just finished work and have started my parental leave. My workplace is among the 50 per cent of Australian workplaces that provide paid parental leave (PPL). Together with around 80,000 new parents across Australia, I’m combining the government’s 18 weeks of PPL with my employer PPL to maximise the time I’m able to spend at home with my new baby. Australia’s PPL system – still young at just six years old – is one of the stingiest systems in the developed world. Most developed countries offer something closer to a full year of paid leave. The World Health…

The upbeat message at the Topshop Unique show in London this past February was one of colour and optimism. Let’s face it, with next-gen cool girls like Sofia Richie, Dua Lipa, Yara Shahidi and Justine Skye in the front row, there was always going to be a  “party on” vibe – world crisis, be damned! The collection, which opened with a ’90s raver sweatshirt emblazoned with “Happy Wkndr Forever” and closed with a  sparkling bias-cut dress, was aimed at a  generation that won’t be kowtowed by far-right politics or hate culture. “It’s part of our DNA,” says Topshop’s design consultant Jacqui Markham. “We like adapting and responding and reacting.” As the sole designer for the inaugural Kate Moss Topshop capsule (the sales of which went stratospheric when it dropped in…

career highlight The Calvin Klein campaigns are the most classic and timeless images I’ve done, and that feels good. I’m proud of the Eternity fragrance affiliation. The Calvin Klein woman is modern and iconic. daily get-up I wear a lot of Frame, Rag & Bone or Citizens Of Humanity jeans with sweaters from Calvin. Oh, and I have a lot of great chunky Céline knits. wardrobe raid My [13-year-old] daughter Grace can have anything of mine – I’m not precious. She’s just started to borrow my sweaters but her feet don’t fit my shoes... yet. class pass I have a yoga room in my house but I rarely use it – I actually like to get into another space where there are other people practising. fitness on the go When I…

FIVE ON A TREASURE ISLAND by Enid Blyton As a kid, I was an obsessive bookworm and although I read and re-read all of Enid Blyton’s books, it was my aunt’s hand-me-down Famous Five series that I returned to most often. I was a tomboy, just like George, and she inspired me to have my hair cut like a boy when I was eight. I don’t remember the hairdresser using an actual bowl to do this, but they may as well have. The Famous Five were my only friends for the few years it took my hair to grow back. JOE CINQUE’S CONSOLATION by Helen Garner This book completely changed the way I thought about journalism, and the power of narrative non-fiction. Garner follows the bizarre true-crime story of a…

They display our most sparkling possessions and animate our every conversation, yet at a  certain point our hands start sending mixed messages – and these you can’t blame on auto-correct. While our hands are constantly exposed to the elements – UV and free-radical damage – very few of us actually protect them. “This causes the breakdown of collagen, elastin and fat,” says Natalie Abouchar, cosmetic nurse and director of Privée Clinic. “The skin in this area is also a lot thinner, which can contribute to making them look much older.” According to Dr Sara Kotai, the anti-ageing expert who founded Man Cave Sydney, our hands are less equipped to protect themselves, too. “The hands have  fewer sebaceous glands than the face, meaning they’re more prone to dryness and can’t heal…

“I raise up my voice – not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard... We cannot succeed when half of us are held back.” – MALALA YOUSAFZAI “It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.” – MADELEINE ALBRIGHT One of the most successful examples of “slacktivism” – the philanthropic trend where actions performed via the internet in support of a political or social cause require little time or involvement – was the ALS ice-bucket challenge, which reached viral status in July 2014. Facebook feeds and news channels were awash (literally) with short video clips of people getting buckets of ice water dumped on their heads, before they’d…

“A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman.” – MELINDA GATES I like to think of my earrings as conversation starters,” says Kristy Dickinson, designer and founder of Australian jewellery brand Haus Of Dizzy. “I think the more we express ourselves through fashion, the more we’re going to talk about issues that we all have to go through on a daily basis.” Thanks to her cult (and growing) designs featuring slogans like “Pussy Power”, “Girl Gang” and “Boss Bitch”, Dickinson’s business has grown out of her one-bedroom apartment into a  brand aimed at empowering women to be “bold and confident and above all sassy”. Completely self-taught, Dickinson designs, laser cuts, hand-paints and assembles all her pieces, and while every one is made with love, some are more…

EAT A PROTEIN-RICH BREAKFAST FAKE IT ’TIL YOU MAKE IT HAVE A FUCK-OFF FUND START A SIDE PROJECT How was your day? If it wasn’t that great, don’t despair that you need to pack it all in and start again. Based on the women we spoke to, those who dominate their careers from boardroom to army base, the formula for happiness depends a  lot more on what you do outside the office than in it. For paramedic Tracey-Lee Beswick, who encounters serious  injuries and death on a regular basis  working in an ambulance, switching off from work by drawing a hot bath or  watching a movie is fundamental. Meanwhile, army staff sergeant Sara Canning feels like she can achieve anything at work by starting her day early with exercise, no…

ALMIRA'S TIPS FOR ... layering fragrances 1. Find similarities in scents if you want them to be complementary. I like similar earthy base notes. The base gives the lasting impression. 2. If you want to mix it up, avoid combining fragrances from opposite ends of the spectrum. Pick a group and play with the notes in it. 3. Use different formulas in different ways to maximise their performance. An oil is best on pulse points, while EDPs or EDTs work well applied all over. 0N SPEED DIAL HAIR Georgia Eriksson at Moody Hair in Sydney’s Surry Hills. She really understands blondes. moodyhair.com.au NAILS Jocelyn Petroni. The space is so calming and beautiful, and you never leave disappointed. jocelynpetroni.com BROWS I do my own. I tweeze for a…

AUSTRALIA Given the expansive geography and diverse flora of this Great Southern Land, it might be surprising to know that perfumery in Australia is only just now hitting its hot button. Thanks to a few clever minds (and noses), we’re going from the sunburnt country to the smells-great country. Dimitri Weber created Goldfield & Banks as a tribute to his adopted home. “I’ve always been intrigued that Australia has no fragrances despite the fact that it produces all the essences you can dream of. There’s aromatic lavender and boronia to be found in Tasmania, pepper, gardenia, woods, pods and incredible vanilla in Queensland – my aim is to tell that story to the world,” he says. Weber worked with a group of French expats living Down Under to create a…

At 35, tennis pro Serena Williams has made GOAT status on the court, backed up Beyoncé and is even part of an amateur dance troupe, recently displaying her skills in a  dance-themed commercial for bra-makers Berlei. She’s basically living your best life. So how does she manage to combine all that power and precision with her penchant for making a  style statement every tournament (“I like simple silhouettes, but then I bring some pop culture into it”) and a love of Mexican food? It’s a little thing called balance. ELLE: Tennis aside, how do you work out? SERENA WILLIAMS: It depends how I feel, but I  run or I  dance. I love the freedom to move. In dance, you use different muscles – you wake up sore in areas you’ve never…

WEDDING BLUES DEAR E JEAN, Every time I start to plan my wedding, I feel suffocated. So much of the traditional ceremony is rooted in sexism (“giving away” the bride, wearing “virginal” white, etc), and now it’s time to finalise things, I just want to hide. My fiancé is fine with a  small wedding or a big one, and we’re heading towards a 200-person day. I  don’t know if it’s the guest list, the church ceremony or an inner aversion to traditional weddings that bothers me most. A lot has been planned by my parents, and I do feel obligated to make them happy. I  just wish I could be more drawn to the whole “bride” thing – but the more weddings I  attend, the more distant I feel from those women in…

STREET THE OTKB When the temperature drops, the model-off-duty MVPs come out to play – and right now, the over-the-knee boot is in favour. Team with skinny denim and a jumbo jacket. SHOP Three fashion collaborations with major feel-good factor AQUAZZURA X HAPPY HEARTS FUND Aquazzura and model/philanthropist Petra Nemcova have joined forces for the Happy Hearts Sandal, a red stiletto adorned by handmade hearts. A quarter of sales will aid Nemcova’s Happy Hearts Fund, which rebuilds schools in areas affected by natural disasters. JAC+ JACK X VIRGINIA WILSON An inability to throw anything out led Sydney-based art consultant Virginia Wilson to start darning her well-worn knits. Now, Jac+ Jack is launching a capsule collection with Wilson called The Darning Project, with sales helping to support the Yarrenyty Arltere…

FORWARD MARCH Trends may come and go, designers may move in and out of favour, but Marni’s Consuelo Castiglioni has always been unswayed in her vision. Hers is a brand that celebrates individualism – not of a look-at-me variety but rather the kind that suggests it’s time to listen. Call it intelligent design for women who have something to say. For SS17, her final collection, Castiglioni’s architectural pieces had a combative air about them. Urban workwear, complete with cargo pockets and carryall briefcases, was worn with unapologetic earrings and bold frames for a look that’s ready to take on the world – or at least have a say in the running of it.…

“Kate and Laura looked at Coach with fresh eyes and helped me see its heritage in new ways” In case you were wondering, yes, this is a Coach bag. A little more “disco” than you’re used to from the all-American brand, right? That’s because the do-no-wrong creative director of the label, Stuart Vevers, has very cleverly teamed up with the Mulleavy sisters to bring some of their Rodarte West Coast magic to the New York-based leathergoods house. A chance scheduling of their shows on the same day at fashion week plus a joint passion for heritage and craftsmanship, Americana, youth culture, art and film (Days Of Heaven is a  shared top pick) saw the three designers become fast friends. Pretty soon, Vevers was hitting the highway to LA to hang with fashion’s favourite Cali girls. “They took…

Silk taffeta evening dress BY CRISTÓBAL BALENCIAGA, PARIS, 1955 While preparing this exquisite evening dress, we found a set of mystery ties in the inside hem. After much research, we discovered the dress was designed to be knotted above the knee, to lift and balloon the hem. For the first time, we’re displaying the dress as Cristóbal Balenciaga originally meant for it to be seen, with his secret ties knotted, so the skirt balloons to full effect. We have X-rayed the dress to reveal the construction details invisible to the naked eye, giving new insight into Balenciaga’s unique approach to design. Wool and silk skirt suit BY DEMNA GVASALIA FOR BALENCIAGA, PARIS, AW16-17 READY-TO-WEAR In 2015, Demna Gvasalia took over as creative director of Balenciaga. He shares the independent spirit of the house founder and cited his 360-degree approach to…

Translated simply as “to cut” or “section”, poké (pronounced poh-kay) is a traditional Hawaiian dish of raw fish, rice, salad, toppings and seasoning. Its current status as your lunch staple can be attributed to the fact that it’s good-looking and good for you, with plenty of hole-in-the-wall restaurants and kiosks now offering modern interpretations of the centuries-old dish where mixing and matching is de rigueur. Hate fish? Go for avocado and sweet potato. Zero interest in seaweed? Try some pickled watermelon. But it’s not the only Hawaiian speciality worthy of a  shout-out on your social media. First, there’s Spam musubi, a  popular snack sold at convenience stores that’s really just a slice of grilled Spam layered on white rice and wrapped in nori. Also in the not-so-photogenic-but-still-tasty category is loco…

CAN’T STOP THE FEELING Just one glance at Giorgio Armani’s delectable inky-blue bag on the runway was all it took to trigger our sartorial craving for satin, croc embossing and, yes, even curtain tassels... all at once. It surprised no-one more than us, but that’s the beauty of accessories – they speak to a different part of your brain. The part that can curate the perfect Spotify playlist, convinces you to stay another round and always, always buy the shoes. Thankfully, the other, more pragmatic part of your brain never really gets too upset when you invest in accessories because they do serve a purpose (need shoes for walking, need bags for commuting, need jewellery for... adorning). Perhaps they don’t have to be so tassel-y or so satin-y, but the best thing…

YOU COULD: Sign a petition BUT YOU CAN ALSO: Write a letter or, better still, arrange a meeting with your local MP to explain your feelings on the issue and ask them to put pressure on the government (then send a thankyou note afterwards reminding them of what they agreed to). YOU COULD: Donate money to a cause BUT YOU CAN ALSO: Donate your time. Many grassroots organisations need hands-on help. You may just be stuffing envelopes, making phone calls or painting T-shirts, but it’s those jobs that can make all the difference. YOU COULD: Commiserate with female colleagues BUT YOU CAN ALSO: Mentor a female staff member. A little support and guidance can go a long way in helping other women navigate their way through the workplace and build…

Rachelle Hruska MacPherson’s line of hand-embroidered cashmere, Lingua Franca, had simple beginnings, with the US entrepreneur tracing hip-hop lyrics onto knits for friends. She now employs more than 40 part-time embroiders – women of diverse backgrounds, including immigrants, students and a refugee – to help create her “resistance sweaters”. Stitched with slogans like “Rise up” and “Power to the people”, each jumper is unique. For every one bought over email (info@linguafranca.nyc), half of the purchase is donated to charity. IN OUR OFFICES THE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION, EVERYONE WAS QUIET AND SERIOUS. You could feel the heaviness. For the first time, I  was truly able to feel and understand political dissonance. The lives of the people I cared about, women I saw daily, were hanging in the balance. We started slowly…

US model and celebrity Hailey Baldwin has teamed up with iconic Australian beauty brand ModelCo to create the Hailey Baldwin for ModelCo limited edition cosmetics collection. The range is inspired by Hailey’s signature beauty look and contains all her “must-have” beauty products for face, eyes, lips and body. Shop it while it lasts! Glow Skin Perfecting Beauty Balm This multi-tasking balm instantly hydrates skin with moisture, minimises appearance of pores and diffuses lines, leaving a radiant, healthy glow ($59.00). The Filter Contour & Glow - Cream/ Powder Allows you to shade and highlight the face with a custom cream/powder duo ($49.00). On-The-Glow Cream Highlighter A subtle, natural highlighter to spotlight your best features, leaving a sheer, next-level glow without sparkle. Available in 3 shades…

LESS IS MORE. I remember my mum out at our pool with no makeup and wet hair – she had this incredible sense of effortless glamour. To this day, I always find women to be the most beautiful when they’re natural and undone, so I keep my daily routine simple. Tinted moisturiser goes a long way as well as mascara and a natural lip colour. I WORK OUT FOR 30 MINUTES MOST MORNINGS. Wellness is about feeling great, happy and confident, so I try to squeeze in a  workout, even while travelling. I love yoga, spin, playing tennis or running in Central Park. It keeps me feeling energised throughout the day. I SWEAR BY MY FACIALISTS. I go to Georgia Louise or Tracie Martyn in New York every couple of months. I also try…

DON’T KNOW WHICH NEW EAU TO GO FOR? DECIDE IF YOU WANT A LITTLE SALT OR A LITTLE SPICE. THESE FRAGRANCES ARE A STUDY IN BLACK AND WHITE SALT Olympéa Intense, $155 for 80ml, Paco Rabanne, myer.com.au Sweet (with vanilla), but with an edge (that’s the salt). J’adore In Joy, $135 for 50ml,  Dior, (02) 9295 9022 The hint of salt makes the floral scent feel more modern. Reveal, $90 for 50ml, Calvin Klein, 1800 812 663 The salty note is designed to mimic skin. Wear at own risk. PEPPER Clémentine California, $180 for 100ml, Atelier Cologne, (02) 8002 4488 Pepper and star anise give this a little kick. Balenciaga Paris, $150 for 50ml, Balenciaga, 1800 812 663 It’s floral but earthy, like blooms gone wild on the forest floor. Black Pepper,…

MAKE YOUR WORKOUT WORK HARDER Wrist-based Heart Rate: Using the Elevate™ wrist heart rate technology, this function allows you to count steps, track sleep and will accurately monitor your heart rate – minus the annoying chest strap. It also uses the heart rate reading to tell you the intensity of your activity and the calories burned. Advanced Performance Metrics: See how hard you’re really working with sophisticated performance metrics. The VO2 Max Estimator uses your personal fitness data to estimate the maximum rate of oxygen consumption during your exercise – so you can determine your endurance capacity. Plus, the training status and effect features show your workout’s aerobic and anaerobic benefits. Swim Profiles. Skiing, Paddle Sports, Golf and More: The fenix 5s takes sports tracking to the next level. Ski…

THIS MONTH TAURUS APR 21 – MAY 21 Early May will shake up your inner world, bringing things to your awareness in sudden spurts. Your mind is in overdrive, but don’t think constant busy-ness is productive. Take time to breathe and process new developments, especially around the full moon in Scorpio on May 10, which will highlight tension within close partnerships. You’ll need to work out financial issues with people in your network, and while you’ll be more communicative once Mercury enters your sign on May 12, money and your sense of self-worth will continue to be major themes all month. Be mindful of your relationship to the material world as the new moon arrives on May 25. GEMINI MAY 22 – JUN 21 May will be an active month…

HOMETOWN HOTSPOT: The island of Mo’orea in French Polynesia is a little jewel. There are amazing beaches, mountains to hike and the clearest lagoon you’ll ever see. FAVOURITE AW17-18 SHOW: I’m a  Chloé girl at heart. I love its elegance and sometimes tomboy-ish nature. I also loved Alexander Wang. ON REPEAT: The Bunny The Bear and Joni Mitchell. RESTAURANT: Brick in San Clemente, California. I  always order the four-cheese pizza. MUST-VISIT IN SYDNEY: The Boathouse Shelly Beach. Everything on the menu is amazing and you can go for a  dip right after. DATE NIGHT: Pilu at Freshwater in Sydney is extraordinary. You have to order the porcetto arrosto [suckling pig]. SKIN SAVIOUR: Aesop Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream. HAIR MVP: Kérastase masks, conditioners and oils are the only products I use on my hair. STEAL FROM THE SHOOT “The Max Mara jumpsuit –…

Any woman worth her wedges knows that the key to rebel chic lies in the cool-classic equation. That is, one part tough plus one part glamour equals heavy-duty style. Take Tiffany & Co’s chain necklaces from the new HardWear collection. The timeless sheen of gold coupled with the don’t-mess-with-me links and ball-bearings gives this jewellery the ability to mould to the personal tastes of almost any woman wearing it. Case in point: the set of ELLE’s fashion shoot (which you can catch from p96), where road-tests were mandatory for models in torn denim, a  silk slip-clad makeup artist, our photographer Jennifer, who sported a  slogan tee and blazer, and even our male hairstylist (the collection was inspired by a unisex bracelet from 1971, after all). The pieces suited all of them, in a…

In this month’s slick, Guy Ritchie-directed King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword, Charlie Hunnam plays the titular character, whose circumstances are upended when he pulls a sword from a stone. The film may be yet another fantastical retelling of the classic legend, but the story resonates with the 37-year-old, who was raised in rough-and-tumble Newcastle, England. His parents split when he was young and Hunnam, who was discovered in a shoe store, moved to the US at age 18,  married a woman he met at an audition for Dawson’s  Creek, struggled to find work, got divorced, then found fame in an unlikely place: on the gritty TV series Sons Of Anarchy.  The show was positively Shakespearean in its drama, not unlike Hunnam’s life off-screen: last year,  the actor was forced to make a public plea for fans to stop harassing his long-time…

Two years after it was published in her native France, Delphine de Vigan’s Based On A True Story has finally been translated into English and, trust us, you’ll be behind the eight ball if you don’t start reading it now. The psychological thriller is not your standard-fare Gone Girl wannabe, but instead tells of how the writer’s new friendship with the enigmatic “L” quickly descends into a case of blurred lines and insidious identity theft. Unsurprisingly, the Roman Polanski-directed film adaptation, with Eva Green as L, is already in post-production. $24.99, Bloomsbury This is the latest instalment of the ELLE Book Club, a place where each month we recommend a read we know you’ll love and want to discuss endlessly. To win a copy of this one, head to ELLE…

“I FEEL GUILTY ABOUT THE YEARS I TREATED HER AS A CHEF (MUCH CRITICISED), TAXI DRIVER (ONE STAR: TOO MUCH MICHAEL BOLTON) AND CLEANER (‘WHERE IS MY OUTFIT? I LEFT IT SAFELY ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR’). HER LIFE, HER PERSONALITY, HER WANTS WERE ALL OBSCURED BY MY OWN” There is a young woman opposite me on the train. She is drunkenly lolling, skirt riding up, head leaning on the glass behind her. Her wedges are rain-splashed, on her leg a streak of crusted mud. She’s got green in her hair, braces on her top teeth. She might be 14, she might be 20. I’m filled with maternal instinct, despite being nearly as drunk as she is, and I stay on past my stop to guard her like an egg. I…

“I'm a feminist who wants not only to hear the term intersectionality, but actually feel it, and see the evolution of what intersectional feminism can actually achieve.” That was Solange Knowles speaking out about what feminism means to her for a recent cover story for Bust (the magazine “for women with something to get off their chests”). The 30-year-old singer, who has previously brought attention to sexism in the music industry and stood up for her beliefs (and her big sis) by calling out a lack of diversity at the Grammys, identifies as a “proud black feminist and womanist”, and calls for women’s rights to be “equally honoured, uplifted and heard”. She also echoes a growing holler for the “fight” to include all women of diverse backgrounds, ability and sexuality.…

LEAN IN WHATEVER YOUR CAUSE, A MISHMASH OF FLORAL, MILITARY AND TWEED WILL HAVE YOU READY FOR THE RALLY. TEE + TULLE Put the femme in feminism with a hardworking slogan tee paired with playful tulle. Consider it your uprising uniform. ALL IN ONE These jumpsuits are made for ladies on the go. Throw on combat boots, tighten your laces and get cracking. LO-LUXE BRING VELVET, SILK AND HERRINGBONE UP TO DATE WITH OVERSIZED SHAPES AND STATEMENT ACCESSORIES. CHECK MATE Herringbone is the new pattern du jour. Try it in unconventional structures like a double-breasted jacket, round-shouldered shift dress or flared pants. THE SLIDE TRIBE When it’s too hot for boots and too cold for sandals, enter The Slide. Choose from these three must-haves: the backless brogue, the slipper or…

ART CLASS BOBBI BROWN FOUND INSPIRATION FOR HER NEW LIPPIE IN AN ART STORE, BROWSING THE COLOURED PENCILS AND PAINTS – BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE CRAFTY TO LOVE IT. THE SEMI-MATTE FINISH LASTS ALL DAY... IDEAL IF YOUR PREFERRED CULTURAL PURSUITS ARE MORE, AHEM, BEVERAGE-RELATED. Art Stick Liquid Lip in Pink Heather, $46, Bobbi Brown, bobbibrown.com.au SUFFERING FROM FACE-OIL FATIGUE? BURT’S BEES MIGHT HAVE THE CURE. IT’S 99.9 PER CENT NATURAL, SOFTENS FINE LINES AND IS SO AFFORDABLE YOU WON’T HYPERVENTILATE IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY SPILL A DROP. Complete Nourishment Facial Oil, $37.95, Burt’s Bees, 1800 813 661 RED LIGHT A super-rich pigment and plumping hyaluronic acid means your lips will look so good you’ll be tempted to do a duck face in the mirror, but you’re better than…

“Flowerbomb Bloom was developed from our desire to create an airy fragrance – one that was synonymous with the burst of fresh flowers and the bloom of spring” VIKTOR HORSTING AND ROLF SNOEREN The Dutch design duo behind Viktor & Rolf, Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren, are known for their incomparable creativity and for pushing the limits of fashion. So it’s no surprise they’ve managed to come up with one of the most innovative notes the fragrance industry has seen in years for their latest scent: air. Flowerbomb Bloom, an updated take on the much-loved Flowerbomb fragrance that’s been a bestseller since it was launched in 2005, has a distinctive fresh new tone thanks to the presence of a groundbreaking molecule called “Liquid Living Air” – a re-creation of the…

1889: the Eiffel Tower was inaugurated, Charlie Chaplin and Adolf Hitler were born, Vincent van Gogh painted “The Starry Night” and American journalist Nellie Bly circumnavigated the world in a record 72 days. Change was in the air. The year also marked the debut of Guerlain’s Jicky, the first perfume to combine both synthetic and natural notes to create an abstract olfactory effect that was simultaneously spicy, strange and striking. Before this, if you had pressed your nose to a woman’s wrist or a man’s lapel, you would have smelled only flowers. Jicky contained two relatively inexpensive and versatile synthetics – coumarin, a  substance found in tonka beans that smells of freshly mown hay, and vanillin, a vanilla-scented molecule derived from pine bark – and was considered the first truly…

“THINK OF PARASITES AS LIKE A BARNACLE ATTACHED TO A WHALE, BUT ON YOUR INSIDES. FEELING QUEASY YET?” There are certain ailments guaranteed to bring out the heebie-jeebies. Nits and ticks, for example, are sure to send a shiver down your spine as you imagine the crawling micro-creatures sucking your blood and laying eggs while nestled in your hair or burrowed into your skin. But these creepy intruders are at least on the outside, visible and treatable. It’s easy to forget our bodies play host to countless internal living microorganisms, including something you may never suspect: parasites. Sure, hygiene standards may be high in Australia, but that doesn’t mean we’re not at risk of parasites: an organism that lives on or in another species and feeds off it. Think of it like…