Ask the experimenters why they experiment on animals, and the answer is:  "Because the animals are like us."  Ask the experimenters why it is morally okay to experiment on animals, and the answer is:  "Because the animals are not like us."  Animal experimentation rests on a logical contradiction. 

-Professor Charles R. Magel

Word: Lamé
Pronunciation:  la-mey
Function: noun
Date: 1920–25
Meaning: An ornamental fabric in which metallic threads, as of gold or silver, are woven with silk, wool, rayon, or cotton.

It’s not enough to condemn perfumes that use animal testing, because anyone can do that. I needed to take it a step further, and look for alternatives that my readers and I can use.

I’m splitting my finds into three sections, the first one being companies I know are cruelty free. Starting with The Cruelty Free Shop, which has three 100ml fragrances at $30 each, a little expensive for the amount but could work if you’re buying more than one item on the online store. Next is Dolphin Clinic’s solid perfume sticks, which looks like a lip balm and contains no parabens, sulphates, phthalates, or alcohol- all you need to do is find a stockist. After that is Lush, who have a great range best seen instore. If you want designer-style fragrances, you can check out Le Reve / House of Scents in Greenhithe. The four most expensive options are MAC Cosmetics, Bobbi Brown,  L’occitane and Jo Malone, but their stores are easy to find and at Jo Malone you can create your own signature scent.

Coming in second are anti-animal testing subsidiary companies whose parent companies pursue testing with no apologies, or use lawyers lingo to soothe the masses, but don’t actually admit they don’t test on animals or contract with companies that conduct animal tests on their behalf. The best example I can find is The Body Shop (parent company L'Oreal), but their fragrances are good value, and probably will be my first choice when I buy another perfume. I know it’s not very ethical of me to do so, but they do support some good causes.

Then coming in third, there's two companies I’m undecided whether they’re cruelty free or not, Avon and Estee Lauder.

It’s not hard (or expensive) to switch to animal friendly products. Here’s a Choose Cruelty Free list to look at to see if you’re on the right track.

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ll know I just finished watching Freaks and Geeks, a teenage drama show about two siblings living in the 80’s trying to find their way through high school. My favourite character was Lindsay Weir, an intelligent but alienated teen who feels disillusioned with her studious life. Lindsay starts wearing her father’s army jacket after the death of her grandmother, and styling herself in a tomboyish way- far from the buttoned up, feminine style she had as a ‘mathlete’.

Now the surplus look is back, and you can pick up jackets at almost every chain store in the country. I cannot pull off tomboy even if I tried (damn you, feminine body), but when I did hiking for school trips I used to wear something quite similar. These jackets are great for a casual outfit, and a military alternative to denim jackets. Mouse over the pictures for prices, and click to head through to the product page. I may have to wander into Cotton On and try one on…wish they had them in grey!

They had me at ‘free sausage sizzle’…

When you’re sick of all your clothes- Jezebel

The strangest jobs in fashion- Independent

Do thick glasses make you look cool- or look like a tool? – Details

Melbourne designer talking about ‘boutique territorialism’- Ragtrader

63 Ways to personalise your look- Marie Claire

The rise and (inevitable) fall of American Apparel- Guardian

Check out the best dressed at Stockholm Fashion Week- Elle 

Shopping for Spring- Stuff.co.nz

Tommy Hilfiger’s guide to classic style- Glamour

How to achieve a ‘rockabilly roll’ in three steps- The Sun

Vintage style for the modern day woman- The Age

Accessories 101- Jezebel

How to look great in a pair of blue denims- LA Times

Daisy Lowe: Get the look- The Fashion Spot

Grab the latest purse trend by the handle- 3 News

I love these guys, their staff is so nice and they have some great street wear brands. I’ve already picked up a few pieces for me and my partner, I highly recommend that you check it out if you live in the area.

Natio Delicate Eye Cream , Boots No 7 Gentle Renewing Exfoliator, Biore Restore Skin-Boosting Night Serum, Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, Biore Rejuvenate Cooling Eye Gel Total Price: $44

I’ve been feeling dissatisfied with my eye creams, and I still haven’t found one I’m sweet on yet. This month I was just going to buy something budget to get me through (The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye cream) until I could save up for a luxury eye cream, but I did some research and ended up getting the Natio Eye Cream as it was slightly cheaper (on sale at Pharmacy Direct) and is made specifically for people with sensitive skin (like myself).

I also haven’t had a good facial scrub, all the ones I’ve bought are supermarket brands that just don’t cut the mustard. So I was waiting for my old man to arrive in Onehunga, and I decide to wander through the Postie store. I don’t like their clothes, so I took a look at their cosmetics area, and found they have a whole range of Boots products, especially the Botanics Range (for those not in the know, Boots is a budget brand in the UK). I went home, did some research, and the next week I bought the scrub feeling confident that it would work.

The two Biore products and the Norwegian hand cream were all $5 each at the Life Pharmacy Outlet in Onehunga. I was rather annoyed I found a $5 eye cream when I paid four times the amount to have one sent to me. Argh!

Redwin Sorbolene Moisturiser, Organic Care Fine Fullness Shampoo & Conditioner, Cetaphil.Total Price: $44

My previous body moisturiser was the same brand, but was 1L for $10 from the Warehouse, and I found 2L of it in Kmart for $13. I’m not fussed about fancy packaging for body moisturiser, as I apply it almost every second day and the nice stuff only lasts a month or so and usually does jack all for my skin. The only con with this product is that it can have a slight medicinal smell in the bottle (probably because it’s fragrance-free) and it takes 5mins to sink in. But it’s great value for money, my skin is always soft and smooth, and I won’t run out for at least six months plus.

Thanks to an article on Organic Haircare, I was directed towards Natures Organics, an Australian brand that is stocked in The Warehouse, which is great because it’s easier to get my hands on and I don’t have to walk into a pretentious salon to purchase it (I’d rather crawl on broken glass than do that). I picked the Fine Fullness Shampoo & Conditioner because I’m trying to inject some body into my limp, fine hair and I don’t want to be massaging mousse through constantly.

The one naughty thing about Nature’s Organics is that they use Palm Oil, but this is what they wrote:

Natures Organics share your concerns with the supply shortages of Palm oil and the impact this is having on old growth forests in Indonesia.

We are always keen to look into alternative materials but our choices are limited to what is commercially viable and readily available in the global market. At present, the only substitute ingredient to palm oil is a form of animal fat.

Natures Organics have approached the use of this ingredient extremely ethically as we are very stringent in communicating to our suppliers that we will not accept materials that compromise our cruelty free policy.  This is a fundamental requirement that any supplier must satisfy before we consider doing business with them.  We source all of our Palm oil from Malaysia, the practices for cultivating is damaging in Indonesia because they are destroying and burning old growth forests to make way for Palm plantations. We have written assurances from all of our surfactant suppliers that they do not purchase any Palm oil from the affected areas and that if they do they will lose all business they have with Natures Organics and face legal action for misrepresenting themselves.

We are in the process of reformulating all of our products with new Sugar and Corn derived surfactants but this takes time and these new ingredients have only become recently available. Unfortunately at this present time we cannot get away from the fact that all surfactants and detergents come from either Petroleum derived or Coconut and Palm derived ingredients

All the ingredients are stated on our labels as we choose to do so. This is not a mandatory requirement for these types of household products, hence, many manufacturers do not provide such information on the labels of other products.

Natures Organics can assure you that we aim to protect the environment and its creatures.

I’m impressed that they admitted their usage of Palm Oil, and straightforwardly told the public that they will try to change their ingredients.

And last but not least, I got myself the perfect cleanser- Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. It will be part of my permanent skincare regime from now on, and it makes a great makeup remover. It’s fragrance-free, doesn’t strip the oils from your face, and doesn’t unbalance the pH levels of your skin.

So that’s my beauty buys this month, all I need now is a soothing day moisturiser that works for me…

Plucked from Melbourne and bought to Mt Eden, I strongly suspect Lilyhart’s second collection (Winter 2010) was inspired by the late Michael Jackson. I’d never heard of this label until I purchased the jacket from the Broken Puppet Boutique sale, and I wasn’t even going to try it on. But curiosity got the better of me, and I liked how it was businesslike yet casual at the same time. It’s perfect for the husband’s events where I have to be slightly dressier than usual, all I have to do is throw it over a dress or jeans and I’m set. The retail price was $300+ but I got mine for $65. Sweet!

I don’t think you can buy the jacket in New Zealand anymore, so if you want it you might want to start hunting…

Torture for the cosmetic industry

Death for the cosmetic industry

Victim of the cosmetic industry

NOAH is a German organization devoted to the prevention of animal testing. These ads are from February ‘09 but I came across them yesterday…and they’re so gruesome and shocking it’s made me think twice about what happens to my perfume before it’s sold to me. I’m sure many of us see advertising like this in magazines or on billboards, with beautiful photography and fancy French wording, but the repulsive testing isn’t attractive at all. I think when my YSL perfume runs out I’ll be looking into an animal friendly alternative…

If you'd like to help animal welfare in New Zealand, check out SAFE’s website for ideas and take a browse through their store.

The Mockers chorus is in my head…listen and sing along with me…

Rope belts, pipes and parasols…the hot accessories of 1910 New Zealand? Maybe these three are trendsetters…

My sweetheart decided to treat me yesterday by getting me two mini-sized Miki Nail polishes for $5 at Life Pharmacy. I can’t wear pastels or brights as they don’t suit my colouring, but that doesn’t stop me from painting my nails in those shades!

Here’s an not-so-artistic photo of me lying on the couch reading my favourite non-fashion rag, Good Magazine. The Miki Mint Green matches the cover lettering almost perfectly!

Is this not a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon?

 My sister was the first person I knew who was casually rocking these sneakers (two pairs in white and black), so to give full disclosure she totally had them first. I honestly didn’t think they were my style and thought for the price ($20-$13) they just weren't worth it.  But a few months later I saw them again on Nzgirl for $8 and I figured they were a bargain for that price.

Now a word of warning: If you are going to stroll into The Warehouse to buy a pair, take a gas mask first. The sneaker aisle seriously has a nasty, plastic chemical smell that can choke you if you’re not careful (I’m guessing the glue used to keep the materials together is the culprit). I used one of my tissues to cover my nose and mouth, and dashed out into the open as soon as I found my size. I ended up going a size smaller than usual, and after using the sneaker protector overnight, they were all ready to wear for a quiet, peaceful afternoon of fruit and veg shopping. I decided to be a little geeky and team them with my bow socks from Aussie Sox. They look so cute together!

This is perfect for me, as it’s just five mins walk down the road. I took my sister there a month ago and she loved it! Some of the clothes aren’t very practical and are too trendy, but the shoes and menswear prices can’t be beat.

Which fashion career is right for you? I want to get into Visual Presentation/Styling- Fashionista

Britain's love for fast fashion is pushing impoverished workers into starvation- Guardian

Transitional trench coats on the street- NY Mag

Article on blow-dry bars popping up in New Zealand- NZ Herald

What does ‘petite size’ mean?- Jezebel

Japanese trend: Wearing fake school uniforms- Trends in Japan

The story of a child sweatshop worker and her family in America- You Magazine

Hats are back, but do you know hat etiquette? - 3 News 

One Pencil Skirt + Five Indie Stores = Five Hot Looks- NY Mag

Blue eyeshadow is back, chignons are chic, and purple is on everybody's lips- The Independent

Jewellery inspired by nature- The Age

Where to find the best men’s shoes- Details

Between seasons, you should buy accessories instead of clothes- Guardian

Terrible, TERRIBLE Ed Hardy products- Refinery 29

I might have to wake up very very early on a Friday morning if I want to take advantage of this sale…

Because our largest telecommunications service provider was busy rewiring our neighbourhood for faster broadband, my house hasn’t had internet for five days. Now that’s it’s turned on, everyone in the household is using up the broadband like crazy to catch up on downloads, etc that we all missed out on. So I’m still here, just trying to catch up!

I’m assuming the role of DJ today and playing one of my favourite nostalgia songs- from the 90’s hip-hop girl group Moizna. I didn’t hear this song till late 2000 at 2am on what used to be my favourite radio station (until they became sell-outs). I loved their music, and five years ago I found this single on an American website, so I bought it and it’s part of my NZ CD collection. Listen, love and find more of their songs on Youtube.

The last Stolen GF’s Club Sale had a crowd so large it went down the street, so I passed and used the sale money to buy a couch instead (probably was a better choice anyway). But if you’re a sample size and can handle large crowds I say go crazy this weekend!

You’ve got until next Sunday to pick up an adorable 100% certified fairtrade organic cotton clothing from Kowtow’s online store.

Here’s my three picks- click on the pictures to visit the product page.

Supermodel Kate Moss, who pioneered the ‘heroin chic’ look, made her Vogue cover debut in March 1993 and 17 years later she’s still in demand. So why is this 36 year old still successful when so many have failed? Here’s her answer:

“People think your success is just a matter of having a pretty face. But it's easy to be chewed up and spat out. You've got to stay ahead of the game to be able to stay in it.”

And she’s absolutely right. Her Topshop clothing range has doubled her income, and almost every fashionable woman in England (and some in America) consider her to be their fashion muse. I don’t find her to be particularly inspiring when it comes to her style, but I admire her business savvy. It’s what makes her super and not just a model.

This picture proves that when you’re young and have a good figure you can wear anything, even a rudimentary fur vest and a tartan blanket!

So damn tempting…I have no idea if I’ll go but right now my mind is screaming “YESYESYES!!!”

10 years of parties, glamour and gossip at Fashion Week- NZ Herald

Keeping your cool at Summer soirées- Wall Street Journal

Fashion labels are only making plus size to bring in money- Femail

RRRRED- Stuff.co.nz

Conceal and Reveal strategies- Oprah

How to make a zip-up purse – Guardian

Why do so many idiots pay out the nose to smell like ‘celebrities’? - Stuff.co.nz

Sheath dresses for every shape- Real Simple

Professional stylists help you make a statement- Independent

Top tips for holiday dressing- The Age

Asians wearing hilarious Engrish shirts- Acidcow

Beat-the-Heat Summer hairstyles- Oprah

Word: Midi
Pronunciation:  mid-ee
Function: noun
Date: 1965–70
Meaning: A skirt or skirt part, as of a dress or coat, ending at the middle of the calf.

Okay, I’m splitting my five month purchases into three posts now as I’m having a bitch of a time trying to photograph my clothes.

My beauty regime right now consists of a cheap Moisture Mist cleanser that I picked up in a Shiseido sale,  but I’m trying out the Bioré products to find a suitable, high quality moisturiser. The Power Couple Moisturiser is for the day, it’s a light fluid mixed with sunscreen so I no longer need tinted moisturiser with SPF. And the Hard Days Night Overnight Moisturiser is a thick, nourishing moisturiser that hydrates my skin while I snooze.

I’ve been growing my hair out, and I’m trying hard to keep it looking good before it gets styled and cut in September. I did try to stick to my eco-friendly mantra and bought Hsuan Wen Hua Hair Treatment from Lush, but at $19.90 for only FOUR uses it’s not economical. I decided to check out Shahji's Royal Masala and picked up Bajaj Brahmi Amla Hair oil for under $4. I wasn’t too sure how to use amla but thankfully Google had the answer.

I also found the hair commercial for my hair oil on YouTube. I cannot understand the language but I believe that Gandalf the Grey is giving this damsel in distress the blessing of perfect Disney-princess hair!

What makes this commercial different from the Australasian hair ads? This product actually works. My hair is shiny, silky and doesn’t seem to frizz out in the humidity. I heartily recommend buying it, and after three months (using it weekly) I’m only a third of the way through the bottle- seriously good value for money.

“New Zealand is a country of thirty thousand million sheep, three million of whom think they are human.”

-Barry Humphries (aka Dame Edna)

I’m keeping this quote in mind if I’m lucky enough to check out Fashion Week in September…

So Miu Miu’s Spring 2010 RTW had a quirky collection of sweet animal prints, and my favourite is the swallow print (the cat print is a close second).

 Victoria Beckham was spotted wearing the Miu Miu dress (that cost just under $2,000USD) to a playdate in June.

Karen Walker had her own cute bird design for Spring 2010 RTW- a 30’s seagull print, inspired by the TV show The Prisoner.

Now Max has caught on and their brand new Spring Collection has two swallow print items- the Lizzie Printed Cardigan and the Swallow Bird Print Top. Sadly the top is far too sheer for me, and the cardigan’s cheap buttons don’t keep it closed properly- but I’m considering buying the cardigan anyway and sewing it closed so it’s more like a V-neck sweater.

Here are my three picks from their online store, click on the pictures to see the product page:

Starting from the top left to bottom right: Grey fingerless gloves from Portmans, Cameo beret (Beret purchased in Comrades, Cameo from Trademe), Black rosary from Factorie, Silver bow earrings from Portmans, Holly Golightly earrings from Atruim on Elliot, Key necklace from Factorie, Gold ‘Lovely’ hoop earrings from Factorie, Gold bird ring from Covet, Gold charm watch from Fossil, Coral gloves from Peachy Keen.

Because I have neglected documenting my purchases for FIVE MONTHS I’m breaking it up into two posts. There’s kind of a feminine/military theme going on, which is an odd mix but I like it.

Everything from Factorie I bought on their store launch in Sylvia Park, and the fingerless gloves not long after. I picked the bow earrings because they were similar to the Karen Walker bow earrings, and I’m a big fan of Breakfast at Tiffany's so after deliberating for a few seconds I used the last of my July money to buy the Holly Golightly earrings. I’ve always envied American girls in films who had nameplate earrings, so it was nice to pick a cute  cheap pair for myself. I wanted the gold bird ring to complement my newly fixed Fossil charm watch (it’s been sitting in a drawer for two years because the battery ran out). And the gloves were picked up during a scouting tour of the Peachy Keen store inside Real Groovy. I always thought I would own a black or white pair, but the store owner told me having a pair with colour was a much better choice.

Nothing I bought here (except the watch which doesn’t count) was over $30, which proves you can still find a bargain if you know where to look!

Check out their online sale rack fast before they bring in their summer stock…

Why ‘Elite Shoppers’ eschew logos- NY Times

Fashion has fallen out of love with its A-list clotheshorses- Independent

Make your Beauty treatments last longer- Real Simple

‘Cabin fever’ fashion editorial- The Age

The Best and Worst of July Fashion Magazines- NY Mag

It's a dress-down revolution- You Magazine

Are you addicted to cosmetics? - LA Times

Fashion tips for larger ladies- Stuff.co.nz

Sexy skin is healthy skin- Oprah

“I’m 180 cm tall and can’t find pants that fit.”- Independent.ie

Gross beauty problems decoded- MSNBC Fashion

The 40-plus market need clothes too- NZ Herald

Scents for summer- Canada.com

Packing your holiday suitcase- Guardian

Wardrobe wrangling- LA Times

How can two tiny bits of fabric cause such anguish? – Femail

Word: Kitten Heel
Function: noun
Meaning: A woman's shoe with a  thin, low stiletto heel (usually 1.5 inches or less) that is set in from the back of the shoe.

Angelina

I was very excited to read in Thread.co.nz (love the horse-based puns in the article) that BLAZE and Glassons are collaborating to bring express blow-dries and up-do’s to chain store shoppers at affordable prices.

Brooke / Marlene / Lauren

There are eight hairstyles to choose from, and they change techniques every season. It only takes 30 minutes, and the price? A whopping $35.

Charlize / Gloria / Scarlett

Perfect for shoppers who want to buy a party outfit and get their hair done for that special occasion (or at that price, any occasion) and still afford a fancy cocktail (or three) afterwards.

Cindy

Pony Xpress will open inside Glassons @ 237 Broadway, Newmarket on 20 August 2010. I’ll be ordering the ‘Cindy’!

Don’t miss out!

Samantha Harris is my fashion muse because she has shown that ethnicity and poverty mean nothing when you are truly beautiful inside and out. Her mother, Myrna Sussye, was part of the Stolen Generations (Aboriginal children who were forcibly removed from their parents and ‘re-educated’ so they could be assimilated into European culture as servants). She then had to raise four children in a housing estate, struggling to finance Samantha’s dream of becoming a beauty queen/model.

Samantha started attending beauty pageants when she was six years old, wearing op shop gowns and encountering rejection and subtle racism, as she was always finalist and never a winner. What did the winners look like? White with blonde hair and blue eyes, usually wearing a $500+ outfit. Her mother convinced her to keep going, instilling ideals about her inner beauty and at age 13, she was a finalist in Girlfriend Magazine, and was signed up to Chic Management not long after.

So why haven’t we heard of this girl until this year? Because she was being smart: going to school while looking after her body, and only doing modelling gigs on holidays and weekends. Samantha finally graduated high school, her portfolio with new pictures were sent to every big name in Australia- and she ended up walking in 18 shows (the majority she opened) during their fashion week. Now that she has conquered Oz with her good looks, the rest of the world should be sitting up and taking notice.

Crystal Renn being interviewed about her ‘retouched’ pictures- Huffington Post

Ready for your close-up? - Elle UK

Fashion 101: How to wear layers- Stuff.co.nz 

Could you wear only six items of clothing for a month? - NY Times

Vegan designer tries to justify wearing fur- Femail

R.I.P Gus Fisher- NZ Herald

Bikinis are annoying when you’re expected to achieve a bikini body too- Jezebel

Are fashion interns getting experience or being exploited? - Guardian

What you need to know about buying and selling vintage clothing- The Age

Do you need retail therapy or real therapy? – TIME

Red cloche from Spacesuit , Grey wool coat from Paddington Coat Factory , Red envelope clutch, Black mesh shirt, Herringbone pencil skirt from Portmans Dressmart , Red shoes with zipper heel from The Shoe Gallery @ 121 Aprirana Ave, Glen Innes.

Anyone who is comparing this outfit post to my first one might be asking themselves right now, ‘Why does she wear red all the time?’ To answer that, I need the fantastic Lola from Kinky Boots to explain while showing her extreme dissatisfaction for boring burgundy:

“Burgundy. Please, God, tell me I have not inspired something burgundy. Red. Red. RED. RED, Charlie boy. RED! Is the colour of sex! Burgundy is the colour of hot water bottles! Red is the colour of sex and fear and danger and signs that say, Do. Not. Enter. All my favourite things in life.”

Yes, red is a fantastic colour. Red gives you a sexual edge, and that's exactly what you need on a date night. I could say I was inspired by the classic cliché of sexy librarian/50s woman but to be honest I just wanted to pull off a perfect ass like Christina Hendricks (I can try, right?). Then two things I didn’t expect happened: It started bucketing down so I added my winter coat and cloche to keep out the rain, and I ran from Aotea Square to Sky City Casino in under 5mins flat (IN HEELS) so I could catch the start of the movie!

So the Bill Cunningham documentary was very insightful- I admire how he doesn’t care if you’re a billionaire or if you don’t have a cent to your name, if you are well dressed he will capture you with his camera. He has forsaken fame, money and fancy living to be a man who seeks out the eccentric, artistic individuals in a city full of cookie cutter clones and tiresome celebrities with free clothes. And of course the larger than life ‘eccentric individuals’ were interviewed as well- the entire cinema exploded with laughter when the Nepalese UN Diplomat exhibited his three piece suit with matching boots, created from his old couch and ottoman. I also came away with one great piece of advice- never accept money or gifts: if they don’t pay you they can’t pervert your artistic vision.

After a quick, cheap dinner we were back in the cinema again to watch Bill Hicks’ documentary. It’s laughable that for his first stand up gig he had to sneak out of his house and convince his high school buddies to drive him to the comedy club. And it’s sad that when he got older people would buy him drinks and bring them to the stage to see how wasted they could get him. It’s heartbreaking that even though the international audiences worshipped him and his view of the American Dream, all he really wanted was the USA to recognise him- but they either got offended or were totally clueless about his message. He hated the soulless, anti-intellectual, mediocre ‘role models’ that the USA idolised, and even up to his death in 94 he was still trying in vain to educate the masses. So what message did I come away with after that movie? Try magic mushrooms, they’re fucking mind-blowing.

I had a great night, much better than going to watch whatever Tits & Explosions blockbuster they usually have on in the cinema. It’s given me conviction that there are people out there who want to continue the work of both great Bills.

You lucky Cantabrians get to attend the Federation Sample Sale next week!

I’m very excited about tomorrow- for the first time in my life, I am actually attending the 2010 NZ Film Festival. Every year I tell myself that I will go watch one of their movies, but I forget or have no money and the festival passes me by. But not this year. This year I’m going to two movies, all on the same night! Bill Cunningham was my first male Fashion Muse and I always try to post one of his videos every now and then. I was amazed to hear there was a documentary on his life, as I knew that he was an intensely private person. I HAVE to see this film because this man has an overwhelming passion for street style, and I need to understand what drives him when he’s working. If I want to be a part of this industry, I need to learn how Bill Cunningham has managed to live his dream for 50 years and still be a humble person who hasn’t sold his soul to consumerism.

Here’s an interview with Bill Cunningham at the premiere of his documentary in New York.

So after that I’m going to check out Bill Hicks. I honestly don’t know much about him- I’ve watched a lot of American comedians but never gotten around to checking out his work. I have no idea why, he’s a foulmouthed, cynical Yank that smokes like a chimney- what's not to like? The only thing I’ve ever seen him in is the clip in the legendary film Human Traffic…

Remember movie patrons, turn off your cell phones while I am watching these films or I’ll be forced to choke a bitch!

DO: Edit your wardrobe twice a year-  take the clothes that are out of season and store them away in cloth bags, boxes or suitcases.

DON’T: Use those vacuum packing systems. They seem like a great idea, but when the vacuum removes air from the bag, the garment cannot breathe and wrinkles get permanently scored into your clothes.

What makes a successful model? – Jezebel

Here are the impoverished children that make the UK’s cheap clothes- Femail

Catwalk spills caught on camera-  Acidcow.com 

Luxurious underwear isn’t always expensive- Stuff.co.nz

15 Unusual and Creative shoes- Toxel

Purify spotty skin- You Magazine

An interview about Victor Gruen, inventor of the shopping mall- Failure Magazine

The psychology of pricing- Etch Magazine

Some very weird fashion- Acidcow.com

WAGS are NOT fashionable- Femail

Forever 21 thinks anything over Size 10 is ‘plus size’- The Frisky

Doll-eyed contacts could harm your eyes- 3 News

This is the last of the series- I’ve really enjoyed searching for these pictures and putting them up for everyone to see…next in the series will be Maori in Colonial/European Clothing…watch this space!

I don’t think I can describe why I like this girl better than Isaac Likes can-  Stuff.co.nz has already declared her ‘the next big thing’ and the Australians have already claimed her as one of their own (typical!). She was discovered when she was 13 (along with her older sister) and she’s been working ever since.

I’m impressed that a girl can fly around the world on a gruelling models schedule and still find time to study extramurally for her Bachelor of Science!