Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2015 i Vogue Australia

This is a very special issue. Nicole Kidman is one of the most famous women in the world, a proud Australian and a pleasure to work with. Often a celebrity is promoting a project when they sit for our covers; an actor may have a new film release or a musician might have a tour or a new album coming up. This cover is about something else entirely. It focuses on Australia’s spiritual heartland and, importantly, the Anangu women who belong to that area and their work in preserving their culture. In March, and in celebration of International Women’s Day, Nicole graciously agreed to write for Vogue about her work as a UN Women goodwill ambassador. She wrote: “As a mother, I teach my children to live with respect for…

WILL DAVIDSON New York-based photographer Will Davidson was excited when he was first approached by Vogue for a very unique assignment: shooting Nicole Kidman at Uluru for our cover story “Wonder Land”, from page 218 . “I loved going to Uluru. It’s a very special place. I have a huge amount of respect for its presence and what it represents to the community.” Although it wasn’t the first time Davidson had worked with our cover girl, whom he describes as a “dream to shoot”. “It’s always awesome working with Nicole,” he adds. MICHAEL WILLIAMS “My favourite thing about the job is to see the sketches of original costume and set designs realised successfully on stage,” says Michael Williams, wardrobe production manager at the Australian Ballet…

Fashion has made a habit of reaching into the past and rejigging it in its entirety – a frame of reference recreated in facsimile is always easy to hook a collection on. Miuccia Prada took this to the hilt with her dress-up box of retro treasures from decades past: it was as if her models, in the role of vintage-hunting young students, styled these pieces; they wore them with carelessness and cool, making the final effect entirely indiscernible from its provenance.…

Elegance is a tricky concept in fashion. Make a design too sterile and austere and it lacks emotion and a sense of individuality and personality; too much frippery to tip the balance the other way plays sheer havoc. We can always rely upon Alber Elbaz for a regular study of Parisian chic, but with his own idiosyncratic twist – this season he took a turn for the more exotic waters of North African inspiration, with Berber fringes trimming jackets, spliced leather harnessed upon draped fabrics, and necks adorned with rope-twisted chains. “Fashion is a human story,” as he said backstage of his show. “An industry that makes things with its hands. High-tech stole the glamour of fashion.” It’s a beat that Dries Van Noten has played upon for a while…

Crazy but true: it took just one young man to distil the sartorial signature of the USA, and it started with a sports shirt. Barely two years after the Bronx-raised Ralph Lauren branded his first short-sleeved cotton T-shirt with a miniature polo horse, women swooned over Robert Redford wearing Ralph Lauren in The Great Gatsby . They adopted men’s tailoring in droves, and were also influenced by the great Diane Keaton as Annie Hall, who too wore Ralph Lauren. And therein lies the great man’s genius: taking the classics – a man’s blazer, denim, flannel shirts, leather – and refining it all with the type of guts and gloss that takes them all the way uptown, and all over the world.…

BASKET CASE THE STRING BAG, OR THE AVOSKA AS THE RUSSIANS KNOW IT, GETS A FASHION-APPROPRIATIONREDUX FROM CÉLINE. The dominant jewellery vibe isn’t about weight; both delicate charms and more outré chains can exist in tandem. We’re not being bound to just one, but dressing for the day’s mood. The rule? Multiply and layer. THE DIGITAL AGE The iPod, the iPad and now the Apple Watch … the new era is here. HEADCASE If you’re going to wear a hat, why not go bigger and better with vintage felts at Maison Margiela by John Galliano or feathery furs at Fendi? ARCHITECTURAL HEELS WEAR ART ON YOUR FEET WITH SALVATORE FERRAGAMO’S FEATS OF SCULPTURAL EXCELLENCE. CRYSTAL METHOD Add edge to shimmer and shine by seeking raw crystal shapes by way of…

HAND IN GLOVE Elegant, long and skin-tight in the finest of leathers. CENTREPIECE  ORGANIC FORMS TAKE PRIDE OF PLACE ON BIB NECKLACES. IN THE CLEAR  PACO RABANNE COLLECTIONS IN THE 60S SUGGESTED WHAT WE’D WEAR IN THE FUTURE. OUR ANSWER? MOULDED HEELS IN TRANSPARENT PERSPEX, NATURALLY. DINING IN With the Chanel show set in a cafe, the accessories riffed on dining tropes with clutches disguised as plates and menus.…

Alexa Chung is in the middle of a wardrobe purge. On the phone from New York, where it’s late, she’s simultaneously packing, reordering her closet and smoking a cigarette. “My apartment has too many clothes in it, as you can imagine, but really to the point where it’s not funny.” It’s not unusual that a conversation with British-born-and-raised Chung will begin with clothes. “I’m naturally very interested in visuals, and it always comes back to clothes, even if I’m in an art gallery or something, I’m like: ‘That would be an amazing jumper!’” she says. “I can’t walk past shops without thinking: ‘Why didn’t they do something differently?’” Having just finished designing her second collection with LA-based denim label AG, it is an awareness brands are more than eager to…

Auctioneer Kerry Taylor might deal in vintage but she isn’t backwards in coming forwards. When textile designer Celia Birtwell telephoned her with the idea of auctioning off her personal collection of pieces by fashion designer Ossie Clark, Taylor promptly whizzed over to Birtwell’s London home and bundled the lot into the back of her car right there and then. “There were boxes upon boxes, everything beautifully wrapped in tissue,” recalls Taylor, looking over at the rails in her Bermondsey offices, where the clothes now hang in zippered clear plastic covers on padded coathangers. “It was just so incredible going through it all; finding pieces that you’ve seen immortalised in the pages of Vogue or even painted by David Hockney.” Birtwell, Clark and Hockney formed a creative trio that blazed through…

When it comes to gender equality, you can never underestimate the symbolism. That’s why so many of us feel passionate about women in positions of power,” says Natasha Stott Despoja of attending the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York this March, which celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. “It was a statement for women and girls, and measuring how far we’ve progressed has been a real milestone,” she says. “To acknowledge gender equality to be part of government agenda and human rights 20 years on was extraordinary.” It was a milestone both for women’s rights and for Stott Despoja: it is 20 years since she entered politics as the then youngest woman elected to our Parliament (she was 26). She…

GET GRAPHIC UP IN SMOKE WALK THE (WATER) LINE If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then there was a whole lot of soul-searching going on backstage this season. At Rochas and Christian Dior it was graphic but, thanks to the rounded edges, strong and feminine. Once again proving that a classic smoky eye will always have a place on the runway, the backstage cornerstone returned at Elie Saab and (at the hand of make-up artist Pat McGrath) Diane von Furstenberg. In typical style, Rick Owens took eye make-up to audacious (albeit modern) levels with the attention diverted from lids to the lower line. Whatever the look, the message was loud and clear: be bold and be brave. NIGHT RIDER No longer content with a one-dimensional view, the…

When Alessandro Michele was appointed the new creative director of Gucci at the beginning of this year, the fashion firmament expressed a certain surprise at the positioning of a relative unknown at the helm of the storied billion-dollar Italian luxury brand. No-one, however, was more surprised than the 42-year-old Michele himself. With the quirky, long-haired looks of a Merovingian king and a personal style that runs to flower-sprigged Lisa Corti hippie blouses, neckerchiefs that he scissors from lengths of Indian silks, and fistfuls of antique rings, Michele could not be further removed from the sleekly controlled understatement of his predecessor Frida Giannini, who left the company abruptly in January with her partner, then-Gucci CEO, Patrizio di Marco. “I wasn’t even on the list,” Michele says, referring to the presumed roster…

Let me start with a confession: I hate exercise. I’m one of those cynics who rolls my eyes at extreme health foods and who considers it gauche to wear exercise gear when you’re not exercising. But one day, on a whim, I tried on a Lululemon zip-up top and Hipwidth leggings – both brands that focus on activewear, also called performancewear, leisurewear, or my favourite awkward portmanteau, athleisure wear – and I finally got it. The cuffs of the top had holes to slot your thumbs in, or could be folded over the hand-like makeshift mittens – ideal for cold winter mornings – and the leggings were thick enough to feel firm but thin enough to be easy to move in. I almost hated myself for liking them so much.…

VIRGO 24 AUGUST – 23 SEPTEMBER This month is all about power – reclaiming yours, mostly. You’re driven to make a name for yourself like never before. Your word is the final say on anything, especially at home, and you have the upper hand in love and at work now, too. It’s all good, although you may need a month or two to process this mind-blowing turn of events. STYLE ICON: Beyoncé LIBRA 24 SEPTEMBER – 23 OCTOBER You might come across as a little dazed and confused this month with mind planet Mercury reversing in your sign. But under the surface your wit and wisdom are sharpening up. You realise there is more value and love in friendships rather than power players now. And as finances start to stabilise,…

In the current age of hectic lifestyles and demanding aesthetic ideals, more people than ever are turning to experts for help in enhancing their natural beauty and regaining a more youthful look. A pioneer of laser cosmetic surgery in Australia, Dr Jack Ting is internationally trained and globally recognised as a highly skilled specialist. He has practised laser surgery since 1988; in 1992 he performed Australia’s first laser eyelid surgery and laser facial skin resurfacing. Dr Ting’s philosophy is about achieving a natural look, safely. He uses his expertise in laser cosmetic surgery to address skin damage such as wrinkles, scars and pigmentation, achieving excellent results. DISCOVER A MORE YOUTHFUL YOU WITH DR JACK TING MB.BS.FACCS Dr Ting recommends basic surgical procedures designed to rejuvenate three key areas affected by…

Julie Bishop is such a role model for all women. Her intelligence, demeanour and fashion sense are to be so admired. Earlier this year she came to a Liberal Q&A meeting in our seaside village of Robe. Perched on a high stool alongside our local member, she looked so elegant in a beautiful jacket and skirt, and answered every question so eloquently and with a pertinent sense of humour. I am in my 80th year and was blown away. Please keep these stories coming. Articles like these are one more reason I still subscribe to Vogue . LOUISE SANGSTER Robe, South Australia As a child, I would borrow old copies of Vogue Australia from the local library, gazing at the beautiful clothing…

Eclectic bohemia not your tastes? Prepare yourself for the modern age with leather armoury, laced around the torso in classic Azzedine Alaïa-meets-Barbarella style, like at Alexander McQueen – Sarah Burton charged herself with presenting something more wearable this season but lost none of the strength of the McQueen woman. There’s a sizeable group of women who want to dress with grown-up sophistication – youthful insouciance doesn’t always translate into a wearable wardrobe. But this season they desire a more personal expression in their style; a crystal hatpin holding close a voluminous tweed coat at Balenciaga, or slip dresses covered in paillettes at Hugo Boss, sewn so closely together that they mimic undulating metallic armour. VICTORIANA SEEK OUT DETAILS: LACE-UP HEELS AND TRENCHES IN LACE IN A STRICTLY MONOCHROMATIC PALETTE.…

Domenico Dolce called upon his nieces and nephews to contribute their drawings to Dolce & Gabbana’s autumn/winter’15/’16 prints (the theme of the collection was “Viva La Mamma”). Céline also looked to childish innocence; silk prints of otters and beavers came from children’s illustrated books. At Christopher Kane, life drawing sessions that took place in the design studio resulted in embroidered lace figurines that wrapped around dresses like Matisse’s Fauvist dancers, limbs linked and overlapped. THE OUTSIDER: KHAKI OVERCOATS AND DENIM? THANK YOU, JUDD NELSON AND KURT COBAIN. MARIE HAGERTY X GARY BIGENI  “The work has strength without being too overpowering, which translates well on my designs,” says Gary Bigeni of working with artist Marie Hagerty on prints for his collection. LINDA JACKSON X ROMANCE WAS BORN  Luke Sales and Anna…

MONSTERS INC  WHIMSICAL FURRY FRIENDS FIND A NEW HOME IN OUR WARDROBES. THE THIN LINE Nonchalant, effortless: they’re the forever keywords we want to achieve with a feature buckle or a delicate chain slung carelessly around the waist. SIDE SADDLE Altuzarra’s new handbag line drew on equestrian details. COME INTO BLOOM:  DRIES VAN NOTEN CHANNELLED AN OLD-WORLD DECADENT BOHEMIA WITH MODELS’ NECKS DECKED WITH VELVET THIGH HIGH Tied up and fussed up, the theme seen in the Victorian lace-up thigh-high boots at Altuzarra and Christian Dior hints at a subversive sexuality, a duality in force this season. EAR-DROPPING  ADORN YOURSELF WITH MULTIPLE EARRINGS AT THE LOBE AND THE EAR’S RIM, OR GO FOR A SINGULAR STATEMENT PIECE.…

On February 19, 2015, the last night of New York fashion week, Marc Jacobs took over the Park Avenue Armory. The walls were draped with handpainted scarlet canvases, an homage to Diana Vreeland’s famous living room, and the models wore breathtaking sequin columns, embellished snakeskin coats and floor-sweeping pleated skirts. Backstage after the show, the designer explained how Vreeland’s fierce dedication to the universe of style inspired him. “I felt like that’s what fashion is, that complete addiction, obsession, that I’ve-got-to-have-it need until I basically wouldn’t be caught dead in it,” he said, as the houselights came on and the crowd streamed out of the circa-1880 building. Jacobs’s show took place within walking distance of the Upper West Side neighbourhood where he grew up. His early home life was troubled,…

I didn’t realise how much I’d missed singing until I started again,” Natalie Imbruglia admits from her home in London. “I said to my producer: ‘I don’t know what’s going to come out – I’ve just been singing in the shower!’” she says, laughing. “My voice was actually stronger than ever.” It’s been six years since we’ve heard new material from the Sydney-born singer, and 18 years since Left of the Middle , the album that shot her to fame and earned her three Grammy nominations and two Brit Awards. “Singing is so natural to me, it’s home,” she says. “I can be on stage, close my eyes, and be off in my own little world. It feels good to be doing it again.” With Mr Wilson, her Maltese terrier…

TAKE A STAND Combining retro colours and curves with modern technology, the 1950s-inspired range of small appliances from Smeg offers an ideal blend of style and function. The 50s-style Smeg Stand Mixer is set to become a kitchen essential with its powerful 800-watt motor, 10 speed settings and versatile range of attachments. Visit www.smeg50style.com.au. EASY AS ABC SKINCARE MADE SIMPLE IS THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND ASAP’S PLATINUM COLLECTION. IT FEATURES SIX PRODUCTS FORMULATED TO FIGHT THE VISIBLE SIGNS OF AGEING, INCLUDING SUPER A+ SERUM, SUPER B COMPLEX AND SUPER C SERUM. FOR STOCKISTS, VISIT WWW.ASAPSKINPRODUCTS.COM. LOTUS POSITION Say “namaste” to the Lotus collection of rings and pendants from Ole Lynggaard Copenhagen. Inspired by the soft shapes of the lotus flower, the collection features a colourful range of cabochon gemstones and diamonds…

Primer instinct Ask any make-up artist about their secret weapon and chances are it’s to prime, prime, prime. Not only does it create a flawless base for anything that goes on top, it also protects what’s underneath. Simple. AFTERGLOW WE’RE CALLING THESE THE “IN-BETWEEN” SUMMER PALETTES, BECAUSE THEY’RE MAKING THE TRANSITION FROM LACKLUSTRE WINTER SKIN TO A SUMMER GLOW THAT MUCH EASIER. APPLY LIBERALLY. THE NEXT BEST THING If invasive treatments are a little too, well, invasive, up the ante with your skincare regimen. Think of it as spring-cleaning for your skin. NEW KIDS ONTHE BLOCK RUNWAY REGULARS MIU MIU AND ALAÏA ARE GETTING IN ON THE FRAGRANCE GAME WITH THEIR VERY FIRST JUICES. IT’S SAFE TO SAY WE’RE COVETING THESE OLFACTIVE CONCOCTIONS AS MUCH AS WE DO THEIR SARTORIAL…

Jordan Askill is one of those people you want to hang out with – go see an exhibition and drift around New York (his current home), or lie on your back in Central Park and look up at the sky and talk. He is passionate about his work: kind, gentle, cool and completely generous. “There’s a nature reserve here near my brother’s house where I’m staying,” he says over Skype from Garrison, upstate Putnam County, on the east side of the Hudson River. “I’ve become quite passionate about it and I spend a lot of my time there, getting ideas, especially when I was first designing this collection for Georg Jensen.” The young Australian is the first designer in 15 years whom Georg Jensen has invited to collaborate. He was…

On the day David McAllister turned 50, he had a burning question to ask that would bring a fairytale ending to the Australian Ballet artistic director’s life-long dream. “We met in this bar and David said: ‘It’s my 50th birthday today. For my birthday, would you consider doing The Sleeping Beauty with me?’” designer Gabriela Tylesova recalls with a throaty laugh. “I thought about it then said: ‘Okay, it’s your birthday present.’ He was so excited! It’s a brilliant show to do – a fairytale.” Every significant ballet company has in its repertoire a handful of beautiful productions of the classics: Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Giselle, Romeo & Juliet and The Sleeping Beauty. The Australian Ballet has an embarrassment of riches, with not one but two interpretations of Swan Lake…

You can tell when you have almost arrived at Uluru when everyone on one side of the plane gasps. The sight of the giant, 348-metre-high red sandstone monolith looming large from the desert in the middle of the Outback is, quite simply, breathtaking. No matter how many times you look at Uluru, formerly known as Ayers Rock, it never ceases to amaze. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, in part because of its enormous cultural significance to the Anangu, the traditional owners, to whom the rock holds many sacred meanings and stories, a heritage they refer to as tjukurpa. It is one of the world’s most photographed natural wonders, but up close Uluru looks different from almost every angle. It is soft and almost crumbly to touch, and there…

I just read August’s “Femme fatale” article, which I enjoyed very much. It got me thinking about women and how different we all are, how we are all living our own unique experience. My thought is that not all of us will accomplish great things in accordance with what society believes to be great; not all of us will build empires of wealth based on what society believes to be distinct; not all of us will have statues erected in our honour; or grace the cover of Vogue … And I am okay with this because, as mentioned above, we are all living our own unique experience. Our value system is ours for the taking or the designing or the building and the appreciating … and…

The thing about the new is that we often don’t realise we’re in need of it until it’s already zoomed straight past us. The new is surprising and unexpected; it takes time for the eye to grow used to it. We’re uncertain, and it challenges what we know (or think, and believe to know). But give it time and then everything around it suddenly makes that much more sense. The tipping point happened in Milan. At Gucci’s show Alessandro Michele sent wan models down the runway bedecked in a vintage treasure-trove of goods, thrown together with liberal, romantic abandon. Now that’s a way to press reset on the Italian house. Embroidered and crystallised birds over silk gowns and colourful jewelled rings were triumphant in their eclectic quirkiness. It was thoughtful,…

Mixed prints and textural play are fashion idioms that have made their way around the block a few times. But imagine taking what we know and turning the volume up higher and higher – yes, it is the time to wear your multicoloured checked Marni blouse with Alice McCall brocade trousers! It’s not all op-shop finds, though: Valentino gave its delicate lace an old-world extravagance with colourful patchwork technique.…

The exterior of Pierre Hardy’s finely jewelled pieces for Hermès hides a level of ingenuity so intricate one must be an expert to decipher them. This is the man who once made a $2 million handbag of solid gold and 11,000 gems, after all. In Hardy’s newest pieces for the house, gold is coaxed into long twists of thick rope then sprinkled with hundreds of perfectly placed diamonds. The expertly crafted horse motif carries the equestrian house’s legacy well into the future. We can all marvel at his artistry up close when the Nombre d’Or exhibition of fine gold jewellery opens this month. We will be there, because who doesn’t want Hermès wrangled, reined and roped around their most delicate points. At a gallop. The Nombre d’Or exhibition runs from…

THE MADE-TO-MEASURE HANDBAG Jason Wu at Hugo Boss aims to please even the most discerning of his clients. A continuation of the German house’s heritage in tailored menswear, its new personalised handbag, Boss Bespoke Bag, similarly offers a choice of textiles and colours – inspired by the luxury of bespoke suiting – and its fastening is taken from a cufflink’s turn-lock design. Made in the Italian municipality of Scandicci, it takes up to eight weeks to create. The final option? Whether we’d like our initials ingrained on the back in a subtle ice gold or shiny palladium. It’s the luxury of choice. TWINKLE TOES  THE EPITOME OF CHIC IS A VINTAGE BROOCH CASUALLY THROWN ONTO A WOVEN HEEL.THANK YOU, PHOEBE. HAVING A CRUSH Engraved white or yellow gold to mimic…

As the senior buyer for international and Australian designers at Myer, Teneille Ferguson has finessed the process of creating a wardrobe, whittling down the core lessons from the field that work on a personal scale. Here, she passes on her wisdom. INVESTMENT VERSUS TREND Working as a buyer of men’s denim at David Jones when she started taught Ferguson how to take her own emotion out of the equation. Moving to womenswear at House of Fraser in London, she learnt a smart buy is an investment. “Now I’m getting older it’s about buying some hero pieces and having fewer of them, rather than having lots of disposable pieces,” she says. “I still like to play with the trends but I won’t invest in the trend piece.” DRESSING THE PART Meetings…

Given the choice, a lot of Australian women would choose to be Kyly Clarke. She travels frequently, attends award ceremonies and events, and has an extensive wardrobe of clothes by Australian designers, some of whom she is close to (Alex Perry custom-made her dress for her wedding in 2012). What many might not realise is that all this comes with an intense amount of scrutiny, in part because she is married to Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke. If constant questions about it bother her, she doesn’t let on. “Certain things come with the territory,” she says. “I think it’s funny when I get asked: ‘What’s it like being Michael’s wife?’ I laugh, because I think it’s the same as any other wife.” After launching the blog Lyfestyled late last year,…

Maison Ruinart, the French champagne house, has had an association with contemporary art since 1895, when it commissioned a poster by then-unknown artist Alphonse Mucha, who went on to become a leader of the art nouveau style. “The Ruinart family has had a long dynasty of art collectors ... the family has asked artists to dedicate work to promote [the champagne],” says international communications director Jean-Christophe Laizeau. This year the Ruinart house has championed such artists as Hubert Le Gall of France, whose glass sculptures depicting the 12-month growth cycle of a grapevine were shown at Ruinart’s stall at Hong Kong Art Basel in March. Ruinart’s exhibition stall at this year’s Sydney Contemporary will show works by Israeli artist Gideon Rubin, whose faceless oil-paint portraits (below) represent members of the…

It was always going to be a sparkling night when world-class wine brand Croser and Vogue Australia partnered to recognise the achievements of a group of remarkable Australian women.Co-hosted by Vogue Australia editor-in-chief Edwina McCann and Croser, the recent Women of the Moment dinner at The Atlantic restaurant in Melbourne’s Crown Entertainment Complex toasted the honorees in a range of categories, including Catherine Andrews (community), Tanja Gacic (style), Megan Hess (art), Kate Morris (business) and Bianca Spender (fashion). The philosophy at Croser is that major milestones and smaller, but still meaningful, moments should be celebrated in style. Saying cheers to the honorees were the more than 40 influential women attending the dinner, as well as Croser’s Bill Webb and Nicky Gameau and Vogue readers Ashleigh Chambers, Sadi Myers and Katie…

Sepia self Among the scientists, poets, housemaids and children depicted in Julia Margaret Cameron’s striking portraits from the 1860s and 70s are two faces that had an enormous impact on modern culture: Alice Liddell (the girl who inspired Lewis Carroll to write Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland ) and Julia Jackson, the photographer’s niece and the mother of Virginia Woolf. They are just two subjects from the artistic elite of Victorian England in the Victoria & Albert Museum’s Julia Margaret Cameron exhibition of more than 100 portraits now showing at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Also on display are letters to the V&A from Mrs Cameron, revealing a canny self-promoter and businesswoman and a remarkable photographer, who only picked up her first camera at 48, just 11 years before…

GIRL ON TOP While gunmetal grey and charcoal usually lend themselves to a metallic finish, consider a lighter approach for a spring update. Focus all your attention on the lids, rather than the lower lash line, for a fresh take, and keep the look modern by sidestepping the mascara. THE NEW WING It’s the perennially revived look for good reason: the cat’s eye not only elongates the contour of the eye but suits almost any eye shape. Opt for shadow over liquid or pencil liners for foolproof application. PRECIOUS METAL At Christian Dior’s autumn/winter’15/’16 show, Peter Philips sent models down the runway with rich, metallic eyeshadow in shades from navy to aubergine. The point of difference? Colour made its way right into the inner corners of the lids for a…

Blame the BB, the CC or even the DD creams, but somewhere along the way the lure of “one product that does it all” has become well and truly overworked. Recognising that this nonprescriptive methodology isn’t necessarily what women want, more and more brands are offering alternative, bespoke solutions and changing the way they develop and market their products to reflect this. This desire for customisation is hardly surprising. Thanks in part to the internet and the wealth of resource it provides, today’s consumers are increasingly savvy about what’s available to them, and, according to a recent study by market research group Mintel, they’re self-taught experts who are proficient in online and in-store diagnostics. A recent US survey also showed that 72 per cent of anti-ageing skincare users were interested…

The most frequently asked question posed to Natalie Massenet – founder and CEO of Net-A-Porter, chairwoman of the British Fashion Council and the #girlcrush of many women worldwide – is how she came up with the idea for Net-A-Porter. Celebrating 15 years in business this year, the e-commerce retailer has since become the byword for a certain standard; designers tout being stocked on the website as a gold seal; and it’s a regular port of call for the luxury fashion shopper. “I feel like that question is no longer relevant,” says Massenet. “I’m like: ‘Well, I wanted to create a shoppable magazine …’” she drifts off, mimicking the exasperation each time the question arises. “When that question was first asked, people were like: ‘What the hell are you thinking? Where…

ULURU TOURS IMMERSE yourself in the culture and tradition of this world heritage site by booking in a tour led by local guides. MARUKU ARTS Traditional dot painting workshops and ceremonies are run daily through Maruku Arts, run by the local Mutitjulu community, with workshops held by local Anangu artists, where visitors can learn about Aboriginal art and create their own artworks. LOCAL CULTURE One of the best ways to experience the culture and learn the history and sacred significance of the area is through Uluru Aboriginal Tours (UAT), run by members of the local Mutitjulu Indigenous community. UAT run daily sunrise tours from Ayers Rock Resort. The tours around Uluru explain the significance of the area to the Anangu, a culture that dates back 22,000 years. With stories passed…

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DIVINE FASHION DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR Sisters and Co. is a high-end department store bringing you many of the worlds most coveted designers, located in the beautiful coastal town of Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. Bringing you a refined collection from over 50 globally renowned New Zealand and international designers. The fashion is complemented with our in store Styling Room, providing the finishing touches from head to toe. The experience doesn’t stop at bricks and mortar. Mirroring the same personal shopping indulgence via the Sisters & Co e-commerce store, delivering divine fashion to your door 24/7. Shop Rag & Bone, J Brand, Equipment, Bassike, Juliette Hogan, Karen Walker, Ruby, Beau Coops, Deadly Ponies & more. www.sistersandco.co.nz www.instagram.com/sisterssnaps/ www.facebook.com/sistersnz www.pinterest.com/sistersnz/ ORANA FASHION BUSINESS COLLEGE Secure your place in the fashion…