HOW TO BE PERFECT!

I have my moments just like everyone else... those moments where you feel like it is just a bit too much and you just want to give in or give up. The days where you feel like the world is against you and you just cant see how things are ever going to get better. The days that you are so busy looking down that you cant see the brilliant light at the end of that tunnel. In the past year I have had a couple of those moments. I am 24 years old, unemployed and a single mother of one. To be honest I never thought I would end up here and if you confronted my old school buddies and asked who was the least likely to be in this position they would say me. I always envisioned a person with such a description to be barefoot, pregnant, no bra, a cigarette in one hand and a Bundy Rum in the other. I’m not that girl. When I saw those two little lines pop up on that plastic stick I was terrified. I was ‘off’ with my on again off again boyfriend when I found out. I quickly called him, crying into the phone, and told him our news. He was over joyed at the idea of being a father, he promised he would change his unruly ways and said we should get back together and go through this as a couple... so we did. Six months after our beautiful son was born we split. Now what does this story have to do with being perfect? It was my beautiful son Beau who actually helped me realise the true meaning of being perfect. For those of you who have children know the amazing power a child has over you as soon as they are born. The love that en-captures you is completely out of this world and is something that you do not know you are even capable of feeling. This love is something so divine and pure and it grows with every little breath they take. You could forgive them anything, you would do everything in your power to protect them, accommodate their every need and help them on their way to happiness without even blinking an eye. I used to be obsessed with the idea of perfection. Everything I did and everything I said I used to do it with 'what other people think' in mind. Everything I did had to be perfect in such a way that if it wasn't I was not happy. I was not even happy if I missed out on my 'projection of perfection' by even a millimetre. I used to make myself sick with worry, I was never satisfied and I stayed in situations where I shouldn't have just because I believed in an awful and stereotypical definition of perfection. I am not perfect. No one is or ever will be. But I strive for perfection every day. Here is the real definition of perfection that you should live by... perfection is: doing your best. That's it. You have to come to a point in your life where you realise you will never be perfect because as you grow and change, your idea of perfection will change also, so you just have to keep striving for perfection but at the same time understand that you will never get there. Throughout your life you will continually grow as a person. You will come across circumstances and situations every day that teach you life lessons and if you are wise you will learn from them instead of feeling life is against you and continuously looking down and failing (or even in some peoples case refusing!) to see the light. You are constantly expanding your knowledge and being educated so something you considered perfect a year ago might not be perfect to you now because your goals have gotten bigger and your mind has expanded in such a way that it has also changed. Perfection is SUBJECTIVE. Take what you think your 'perfect' life would be and strive for that every day. You might change your mind in a year but that's fine! Mine did! I went from the idea of perfection being a working woman who would use her 20's to buy a house and make money which would help support my husband and I when we decided to have children in our mid 30's! Now my idea of perfection is being the perfect Mother, provider and role model to my son! Circumstances changed and I have learnt and grown. Not all ideas and goals change as drastically but remember there is no such thing as a perfect anyone or anything. Its just you striving to do your best at any given moment. I truly believe that if you know this it takes away a lot of the pressure and the illusion of what people think is perfection disappears because what is perfect is that you try your hardest to strive towards the things you believe are good and the things you want. That is perfection- doing your best. As one of my all time favourite authors, Don Miguel Ruiz, Says “your best will change from day to day because as we all know we have good days and bad”. Hence doing your best means doing your best in your situation and emotional state at that time. Now I understand this... I am no longer sick, lethargic or have headaches from constantly disappointing myself because I am not perfect. I love my life and my son and I am enjoying the ride and learning from the lessons and educating myself on how to be the best I can be. That is my idea of perfection. When I do have my moments of 'hopelessness' I look up and see the light which reminds me that I am stronger than I know and that these lessons are to be learnt from and let go which helps me in my continual life education so I can keep on striving for perfection! I hope you now also have a better understanding of perfection and you untie the knots that hold you to the old idea, release yourself to the winds of life, embrace yourself flaws and all and do the best and be the best you can be at any given moment. Now that is the true meaning of perfection. Stay fabulous! X
CLE

Temple's Launch of Fashion Fridays!

On a freezing cold and rainy Friday I managed to talk my little brother, Alex, into coming along as my photographer to the launch of Fashion Fridays at Temple's Sass Lounge. I had heard a little bit about Temple but not since the launch of their Sass lounge and I had never actually been to Temple. Alex had been there before and after he had vaguely pointed in the direction of where it was as I drove by then made me park down a side street I started to wonder whether or not I should have stayed at home! We jumped out of the car and it was raining, I had a hell of alot of eye make-up on that I needed to protect and no umbrella.... great. I followed Alex hoping he knew where this place was while trying to sheild my eyes and started to doubt where we were going when he started leading me along a boardwalk. "Here it is!" he said as we got to the entrance.



I couldnt look up as the rain was blistering down by this time so I ran up those stairs and into the beautiful warmth and radiance Temple has to offer! I was astounded. Such a beautiful, welcoming and clean place with an amazing view of the water.... why had I not been here before!? Wooden floors, leather lounges and projections of fashion images surrounded a gorgeous SASS runway highlighted by pink lighting. The bar was gorgeous and the staff were very friendly! If you cannot tell by now.... I loved Temple! It reminded me of Brisbane... I love Brisbane and it's beautiful lounge bars that adorn the river. Now I have somewhere on the GC that I love just as much!

The night was covered by the online TV show SASS & BENTLEY TV! Sass & Bentley TV began late last year and has covered events including - Ralph Model of the Year, Playboy Golf Party, Slam Summer Volleyball Festival, Good Vibrations Festival 2010, and Sanctuary Cove's Spring Carnivale. Sass & Bentley teamed up with Temple to create the Sass Lounge that had it's official launch party on the 18th of July. With Fashion Fridays they are hoping to create a unique opportunity for local designers and boutiques to take the next step in the industry by having their collections seen by the people that matter the most!

They are also the official organiser and promoters for GOLD COAST FASHION WEEK 2010! Make sure you check it out! www.goldcoastfashionweek.com.au


The night was hosted by beautiful Tenielle Stoltenkamp (wearing Ashlee Hart) who did an amazing job with her gorgeous voice that you could listen to all night!
Now to the extra important bits.... THE FASHION!



The gorgeous girls, Tal Fitzpatrick (left) and Erin Davis (right), from Pavo Tails were the first up for the night and again they put on a lovely showcase. This was their 3rd showcase for their label Pavo Tails yet the debut for their new range!


The girls from Pavo Tails love their fantasy pieces and I tell you what this Red Riding Hood would become alot of men's fantasy! Pavo Tails are known for their signature capes and I just love the sexy spin on this entire look! The skirt was gorgeous with huge splits up each side (for more pictures of all the garments see my facebook http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Casey-Evans/122857967749771?ref=ts ).

The new Pavo Tails range had their signature hoods and capes as well as their references to peacock feathers! It was an extremely diverse range, showing their wonderful talent for creativity, yet every piece had in common its feminine beauty with attention to detail and lovely fabrics. Tal also informed me that they like to use a diverse range of models which is great to see a designer respecting the Code of Conduct for the fashion industy!


The gorgeous and quirky, pocket rocket designer Stephanie Kim was the second designer up that night! Stephanie started fashion school at 16 yet has only just launched her label this year. Stephanies garments are light weight cotton gypsywear that is inspired by our beautiful Gold Coast beaches! Stephanie wants to make affordable beachwear for the GC so her pieces are no more than $30! It was Stephanie's debut and although there were a few minor mistakes (that I wouldn't have noticed if she hadn't have pointed them out to me!) she did very well! Stephanies pieces are exactly what she wants them to be.... vibrant and affordable beachwear.



Stephanie informed me that she had been working tirelessly as every single piece she showcased had been made in the past 5 days! Any designers first runway show is nerve-wracking and can have a few mistakes but the important thing is that you learn from these mistakes and keep going! I take my hat off to Stephanie as the fashion industry can be difficult and she is doing what most others are too afraid to do.... get out there, make a name for yourself and make things happen! Well done Stephanie and I look forward to seeing more of your designs!

Next up is Ashlee Hart. As you all know I love Ashlee's designs and I tell you now she certainly did not dissapoint! I love Ashlee's business savvy and professional approach. Her pieces are devine in their tailoring of gorgeous fabrics and colours. Her models strolled and strutted down the runway in time to an amazing remix of 'Why don't you do it right' (reminding me of Jessica Rabbit's sultry version!) showing off the attitude of these classy garments!



I love her attention to detail with hats, sequins (which I usually hate but love on her pieces!), feathers, gold gilding and the low and loose backs which seems quite popular with designers at the moment yet Ashlee does them like she has been doing it for years!
Ashlee's eveningwear is gorgeous, classy and luxurious its like the Palazzo Versace in a dress.


Last but not least the oh so talented Melina Hollway! This showcase was possibly my favourite of the night! I was privilaged enough to get a glimpse of one of Melina's designs during the Elsewhere Fashion Finale yet I didn't manage to get a close look... but this time I did and I must say I am beyond impressed! Not only was she showcasing her amazing handmade eveningwear but some gooooorgeous couture lingerie. Melina's models put on an amazing performance to Nancy Sinatra's mesmerizing song 'Bang Bang' with their weapons, wings and gowns inspired by the movie 'Kill Bill'.




The four models originally came out wearing their evening gowns and then undressed on stage to make it that much more fun and memorable! Melina's eye for detail and choice of fabric colour and texture when it comes to her garments is so incredibly impressive. Her pieces were sexy, charming and luxurious rolled into one resulting in a visual delight. Each garment had so many dimensions it was amazing and wonderful to see so much creativity go into a single piece! Melina informed me that she was aiming for 'seductive glamour' and I tell you now she certainly hit her target! Well done Melina I loved every piece!

Needless to say I had a great night and met some wonderful people! Alex also had a great night to his surprise (I'm not sure what he thought I did at these events! :D ) and after falling in love with all of the models and a number of phone calls to friends bragging that he was hanging with models back stage he took some great pictures and footage for me! Thank you to everyone, especially Ryan & Melissa from Sass & Bentley TV, for allowing me access to this wonderful launch of what I am sure will continue to be a fun filled and visual delight of an event! Anyone who supports our local talent certainly gets my tick of approval!
Make sure you check out the gallery on my facebook to view all the garments and behind the scenes pictures!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Casey-Evans/122857967749771?ref=ts
I'm not sure when Sass & Bentley TV are putting up the footage from the night but here is their website as it's worth a look and I will let you know when they post the episode!
http://www.sassandbentleytv.com/

Stay fabulous! x
CLE

Fashion Industry Code of Conduct

Something quite big and possibly well over due has occurred in Australia. Our Youth Minister Kate Ellis is making the fashion industry and media take some responsibility for the epidemic of poor body image in Australia. Ms Ellis stated that "Body image is an issue that we must take seriously because it is affecting the health and happiness of substantial sections of our community".
According to Mia Freedman, former editor of Cosmopolitan magazine and the Chair of the Body Image Advisory group, organisations that sign up to this code of conduct will abide by the following principles:

Positive content and messaging- Use positive content and messaging to support the development of a positive body image and realistic and healthy physical goals and aspirations among consumers.

Diversity- Use a diverse range of people that are appropriate to their target audience. When considering diversity, particular focus should be given to including a range of body shapes, sizes and ethnicities.

Fair placement- Use advertising that supports positive and healthy body image behaviour. Advertising that contradicts positive body image messages will not be used.

Realistic and natural images of people- Should not use digital technology in a way that alters images of people so that their body shape and features are unrealistic or unattainable through healthy practices. Make consumers aware of the extent to which images of people have been manipulated.

Healthy weight models- Use models that are clearly of a healthy weight.

Appropriate modelling age- Only use people aged 16 years or older to model adult clothes or to work or model in fashion shows targeting an adult audience.

Fashion retailers supporting positive body image- Stock a wide variety of sizes that reflects demand from customers.

Kate Ellis also launched a new body image tick of approval which will be awarded to businesses who stick to the new guidelines outlined in the code. Mia Freedman is an amazing woman who I look up to and i'm sure she will do a wonderful job with helping to fairly police the fashion industry along with the other members of the board. If you have never been to Mia's website it is definitely worth a look in. www.mamamia.com.au

Now for my honest take on the whole issue....

I completely agree that women and men alike, not just in Australia but all over the world, suffer from poor body image. It is evident in our news, advertising and well.... walk down the street and you will see it. People are shy, insecure and lack confidence. As much as I agree with the code of conduct I don't think it is the correct 'first step' to be taking in regards to promoting a healthy body image. The code of conduct really is just giving people a get out of jail free card by shifting the blame outside of themselves.

What they are trying to promote is self-esteem and it is not called SELF-esteem for no reason. The esteem needs to come from your SELF. I hate to disapoint you but no one can give you a healthy body image but YOU. I personally have never had a large amount of self-esteem although I have been surrounded by beautiful friends and family all my life that do nothing but compliment me, call me beautiful, smart, etc. Yet I have always 'suffered' from poor self-esteem. It is not until I realised that I was responsible for my lack of esteem and all the compliments in the world from other people were not going to help, that I decided to do something about it. The first step in promoting healthy body image should not have been the government pointing fingers at the fashion industry... rather it should have been educating women and men on how to cultivate their own self worth. I fail to see how that was not the logical first step.

Yes glossy magazines have grossly underweight and ridiculously airbrushed models gracing their pages. But they don't do it make people feel bad about themselves.... they do it to sell YOU a product. We are the consumers and advertising is directed at us. We are the ones who buy the magazines and the products. So maybe if we raised the bar by taking responsibility for our own self-esteem issues and stopped falling for such a fake world then don't you think they would have to re-evaluate their advertising stragegies? Again don't get me wrong I think the code of conduct is a great idea but it really is a band-aid trying to cover up a shotgun wound with the shooters being ourselves. We as individuals need to take responsibility for ourself and stop pointing fingers at others. So on the path to taking responsibility for yourself... here are some tips to help you along the way!

EDUCATE YOURSELF- Read books, take classes, go to seminars, listen to audio tapes, do what ever you have to do to educate yourself on how to improve your self worth. Life is a continual journey and to make the road less bumpy you need to educate yourself on strategies to make life that much easier. People tend to 'poo-hoo' self help books but just picking up even one can help make life that much easier. They are full of wisdom and strategies to help you help yourself. The only person who is educated is the person who understands that education is a life long process and you will never stop learning and taking your mind that one step further. The smart person chooses what they are educated on. So choose.

"The things taught in schools and colleges are not an education, but the means to an education." Emerson

CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE- Your attitude towards yourself defines your self worth. Do you think you are a worthy person who deserves the best and can do and be anything you want? Do you look in the mirror and think you like the way you look and when you think about your mind do you think of it as amazing? If you dont.... you should. You have to really start paying attention to your own self talk. It really is amazing how often that little voice in our head is all too willing to put us down. You need to start being an active participant when it comes to your thinking instead of being on autopilot. Adopt an attitude of love and respect for yourself. When you have a negative thought about yourself replace it with a positive thought. Start being grateful for the body and mind you have. Even if you just start off with being thankful for the legs that allow you to move around this earth or the hands that give you the power to create. Take small steps towards changing your attitude and make sure you do it every day. There is no magic pill that will change your attitude. You can wear all the make up, get all the cosmetic surgery and have all the support from your peers and family in the world but only you can change your atittude. It is easy yet it takes time and perseverance.

"Our attitudes control our lives. Attitudes are a secret power working twenty-four hours a day, for good or bad. It is of paramount importance that we know how to harness and control this great force." Tom Blandi

and last but not least....

STOP WORRYING ABOUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK- One of my all time favourite books, which really is a must read, The 4 Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz gave me one of the best ideas ever and transformed what I thought about others and stopped me worrying about them judging me. The second agreement in this magnificent book is... Don’t take anything personally. Don says

"Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering."

Love it! Take this to heart and repeat it to yourself daily. The amount of time we spend worrying about what other people think about us is quite amazing. The amount of times we dont go for our dreams or do something or say something positive because we are afraid of what our friends or family will think is uncanny. Imagine the freedom you will gain if you lived by the idea 'Dont take anything personally'.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

Be grateful for the amazing world we live in. If you think the world is against you get over it and be grateful for what you have because when you are grateful you open the door to receive more! Do what makes you happy and realise you are responsible for your own happiness. Life is intoxicating in its beauty, wealth and love so why deny yourself the wonderful life you deserve? Look after yourself, the BEST friend you will EVER have is yourself...

Stay Fabulous! x

CLE

Burlesque Amore Fashion Finale

I actually wasn't originally going to go to any of the Elsewhere's fashion nights during their month of fashion as I don't like the club scene in surfers and thought it was a strange place to have such an event. But when it came to the finale I had nothing on that week so I thought I might as well go along for a look. I arrived at the event at 10.15pm, the doors opened at 10pm, to a huge line! I was pleasantly surprised that the event was going to be so popular! It was advertised all over facebook which was a great use of the social networking site and they had some very cute and effective flyers. The finale was composed of nine designers who were chosen from the previous 3 Fridays where designers showcased their best designs and were judged by a panel comprising of Andy Wilson (Rufus Green), Julia Kylie (Cubic Collective), Zhanna (Mod's Hair) and Atlantis Dell' Aqua (Absolute Indulgence International). The winning desingers were asked to design an extravigant piece for the Finale with the theme being Burlesque Amore and the inpsiration being Marliyn Manson's song 'We are from America'. I believe this was certainly a strange and somewhat contradictory mix... going from the high octane glamour of burlesque to the dark quality of Manson's song. They were certainly not going to make it easy for the designers! But I tell you what.... I take my hat off to them because they had some great designs! The models used were also professional dancers and did some very high energy, hot and sexy dances throughout the show making it extra entertaining!


Photo courtesy of Vincija Kovac.

This design was by ANE & HAL. The woman behind Ane & Hal is Vanessa Halls who is a 4th yr law student with a real passion for fashion. Vanessa states "Fashion just makes me feel so free, It really gets the creative juiced flowing!". Vanessa has been screen-printing and sewing since high school but has never studied fashion.



Here is a clearer picture of Vanessa's design from her Ane & Hal page.
I asked Vanessa what the story and inspiration was behind her design-
"As soon as we were asked to complete a couture dress for the final I knew I wanted to make a fishtail dress. I've always loved them. They're totally old school Hollywood glamour - beautiful, feminine and really dramatic and I think the black colour really helped being that out. The only thing was that the model could hardly walk in it! I'd also never made and evening gown so it was really enjoyable seeing the finished product."

Regardless of having no piece of paper to 'prove' she knows what she is doing, which she cleary does, Vanessa hopes to proceed with a career in the fashion industry and with her organic talent I certainly believe she can take on the world. I admire Vanessa's perseverance and really enjoy her designs. She is one talented young lady!

Photo courtesy of Vincija Kovac.

Next up was JANIN by the very talented Aneta Rycombel. This was definately the most thought out design of the night and Aneta should be so proud as to how much thought and effort went into this outfit. When I spoke to her about the design she said-
"We all recieved the same song as an inspiration - Marilyn Manson 'We are from America'. The song is quite dark and strong, something completaly different than I usually listen to, so that was a challenge for me to design to that song. I created beautiful version of the devil, so it is like deception. America tempts like an amazing woman but is depraved and bad inside. The fastener on the corset has meaning, usually it is on the back, but I placed it on the front, to show that its all the wrong way. The big collar shows power as America thinks is the most powerfull country in the world."



Aneta did all this with the required burlesque twist! I am so impressed as to how inventive, thorough and creative Aneta is. The detail is certainly admirable and the design was great! Aneta you should be so proud!
The model pictured for JANIN, Riely Saville, is the talented young woman who choreographed the dance for the night which was amazing. Riely is an amazing dancer who's work credit list is as long as my arm! Just to name a few.... she has toured & performed with the Ajkun Ballet Theatre, NYC, where she danced the principal roles of ‘Juliet’ in “Romeo and Juliet” and ‘Murderess’ in “Murder in Buenos Aires” by Michael Mao as well as performing locally with the Gold Coast City Ballet Company. Nice work Riley!

Photo courtesy of Vincija Kovac.

This outfit is by Matt Scott for his own label VINTAGE MAY. I havent managed to speak to Matt in regards to his design which was certainly very unique. I dont know anything about Matt but I did manage to find a little bit about him in the newspaper which I assume was published after winning his heat for the Elsewhere Fashion Month. It says "Matt is a 23 year old Burleigh Heads man who goes completely by his own ideologies and beliefs when expressing fashion design. Scott has been designing for seven years but has only recently launched his label Vintage May". I added him on facebook and had a look at his designs and I must say I like them. Some very hot and fresh T-shirt designs and jeans. If your interested check out his website vintagemay.com. I didn't really understand his design for the finale until I had a look at what he usually designs and now I can see his twist on the burlesque theme. He was also quite lucky to get a dancer/model who was reminicent of Caroline O'Connor as Nini Legs-in-the-Air in Moulin Rouge!

Possibly my favourite design of the night... ASHLEE HART. I adore Ashlee. She is so talented and sweet, a great combination! She is a made to measure designer specialising in silk, cotton and lace who draws inspiration from travel, events and luxurious fabrics from all over the world. Her design was beautiful and really showed it's relevance to the theme and inspiration provided. I haven't managed to get in contact with Ashlee as she is busy getting ready for the launch of Fashion Friday at Temple! Well done Ashlee!

Photo courtesy of Emma Erbs Photography.

This design is by the lovely girls from PAVO TAILS! Erin Davis and Tal Fitzpatrick got together at the beginning of 2010 and successfully applied for a Regional Arts Development Fund to start Pavo Tails-a unique collaboration between fashion designer/seamstress and contemporary artist. The name Pavo Tails refers to the scientific classification (genus) of the peacock... so the name really translates to: peacock tails!
When I asked Tal what their inspiration was behind their Finale piece she said....
"Our finale outfit was inspired by the amount of class Dita Von Teese manages to emanate as a burlesque artists...we wanted to steer away from the classic burlesque look... cloaks and capes are a part of the outfit as they are our 'signature dish'. I designed the fabric pattern which was inspired by Japanese wood block prints and fabrics". The girls have some gorgeous designs with some very unique prints that are very soft and feminine.

Photo courtesy of Emma Erbs Photography.

Their design on the night was lovely. I am a big fan of the cape jacket, I loved the matching gloves and the effect it created and the dress was great! I wish I had a better picture of it for you! Well done girls!

Photo courtesy of Joanne-Jen Leong from LaTDolly Makeup Artistry.

This design is by MELINA HOLLWAY. This is another designer I haven't managed to get in contact with but she has just been interviewed by SEEN magazine and she certainly has a Cinderella tale! Here are some snippets from the SEEN mag's article on the extraordinary designer...

"Last year, a serious car accident left Gold Coast designer, Melina Hollway, severely injured and unable to provide for her family. Hollway, her husband (who was also unable to work), and their two-year-old son soon found themselves homeless. “Our life spiralled out of control in a matter of weeks and we were destitute,” says 29-year-old, Hollway. After one month of desperately trying to find a roof over their heads, Hollway’s sister told her she needed to start designing again. Hollway attributes a girl’s need to be unique as a driving force to her success as a designer. “It seems the more exotic looking and intricate my dresses became, the more people would be asking for them, and it was at this time that I knew people were looking for that different, left-of-centre dress so can they can stand out from the crowd,” says Hollway. "
For the full article go to http://www.seenmodels.biz/news/fashionnews.html

Photo courtesy of Joanne-Jen Leong from LaTDolly.

Melina's design was lovely and I wish I had got in contact with her to find out her inspiration and motivation in regards to this design. The make up was beautifully done by Joanne-Jen Leong from LaTDolly.
Melina was considered as one of the top ten emerging designers at the L’Oreal Fashion Festival, with her entry in the “Spirit of the Black Dress” category. If you see her designs you can certainly see why! Her designs are very beautiful in their own intricate and unique way. Her pieces really are a visual delight!


Photo courtesy of Vincija Kovac.
ALICE NIGHTINGALE! Loved this design! So pretty and so cute yet kind of.... Bride of Chucky! It was great! I spoke to Alice and here is what she told me!

"I'm a busy little 18 year old who graduated from the Australian Institute of Creative Design in 2009 with a Diploma of Fashion Design. I design, patternmake, sew, knit, crochet and pretty much try my hand at anything!

The inspiration for the outfit came from a mix of three things - The song 'we're from america' (our given inspiration), Dita von Teese and the usual alice nightingale 'cuteness'.

My aim was to create this 'perfect', trustworthy doll with a naughty edge, much like the american military. That really refined, wholesome image bursting with secrets and mystery!

I have always been very fond of Dita, she has that amazing type of glamour that I really adore. The type invented in the Thirties. But then there's that under layer of her personality, that girl who stripped for money and fell for Marilyn Manson.

Through all of this, I endeavored to keep the outfit very 'alice nightingale'. Hence the puffy skirt and bows!"

Alice is such a sweety and I love that she really knows her style and what she is going for in regards to effects with her designs. Great work Alice I look forward to seeing more of your gorgeous designs in the future!

Photo courtesy of Vincija Kovac (right).
Another gorgeous, sweet and talented designer... VINCIJA KOVAC.
Vincija's design was amazing. Very dark (Manson) but made beautiful and surreal by the makeup and pearls (Burlesque)!



At one point I could have sworn her model was floating down the runway! Its quite different to Vincija's usual designs which are so vibrant and colourful! Here is what Vincija had to say about her design- "The inspiration behind the final piece was obviously the dark marilyn manson side that we were asked to do but I also wanted to add a hint of vincija with the signiture ruffle look that I have been doing throughout the years. I really like velvet this season so I thought I would do it in velvet".
If you would like to see Vincija's pieces check out her ebay store at
http://stores.shop.ebay.com.au/VINCIJA__W0QQ_armrsZ1
"People have offered to stock my label in their shops but ebay just works so well for me that i dont really see the need of going wholesale or atleast not just yet". Nice work Vinny!


And last but not least... ELIZA JAYNE (right). Eliza seems to be elusive! Unfortunately I cannot find anything about her anywhere and I haven't managed to get incontact with her! Nevertheless her design was gorgeous and very creative! As soon as I know more about this pocket rocket designer I will let you know!

All in all I had a good night and it was great to meet the designers and speak to them later. Elsewhere should also be happy as they put on a great show and I found their staff so friendly and polite, even the bouncers had brilliant manners and were professional yet managed to keep the place relaxed and controlled rather than on edge as you find in alot of other night venues, it was great! I have been privy to alot of Gold Coast design talent in the past month and I must say I am more impressed than I ever imagined I would be. Well done to all the girls and Matt for putting on a great show! I wish you all the best of luck! For more pictures check out my facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001178530063#!/pages/Casey-Evans/122857967749771?ref=ts
Remeber... Stay Fabulous!
CLE

ARBONNE

A few weeks ago I went to an Arbonne night. I am never usually up for these nights, it has nothing to do with Arbonne its just that over the years I have been invited to tupperware parties, lingerie parties, candle parties and all the rest... so I go and never usually like the product and feel pressured into buying something I believe is way overpriced hence I tend to avoid these nights at all costs! But the person hosting the party, Mikkie Walker, is a great friend of mine so I agreed and now I am actually really glad I went! I really enjoyed this night! The Arbonne consultant, Melissa, was lovely and she kept the spiel short and sweet only telling us the information we really needed to know including her personal favourite products and then she told us to jump in and try any products we liked.... and we did!

The pictures above are actual pictures from the night and all of the products were there for our use! Arbonne has lovely make up and skin care lines. All of their products come with a 45 day money back guarentee, are vegan certified, no animal by products and are not tested on animals. There is no animal hair in their brushes either (they have great brushes! I much preferred these brushes to my Napoleon ones that moult all over my face!).
Melissa's personal favourite 5 products were:
1. Primer- It's a crime not to prime! Vitamin-rich makeup primer visually diminishes fine lines and pores, creating a canvas for flawless makeup application.
2. Perfecting liquid foundation - The foundations come in 15 different colours so you are bound to find one that suits your skin tone!
3. Firming body cream. - The cream supports collagen and elastin to help promote a firmer, more toned, smoother look and feel to skin.
4. Shea Butter Hand and Body Care Duo- This includes a handwash and handlotion that comes in a convient caddy to put by your bathroom basin or kitchen sink!
5. Hair Mask - Contains antioxidants, vitamins and minerals with a hydrating formula that helps strengthen, condition, repair and revitalize the hair shaft for a lustrous, healthy shine.

I purchased the primer and I must say.... I am in love with this product. There is no way I could put foundation on without it now. It helps my foundation go on so much easier. I put it on my neck as well as my face as it makes it ssoooo much easier for me to work my foundation down my neck so I don't get a nasty foundation line. It goes on like silk and makes your skin feel like the most beautiful canvas you could ever imagine! Love it!


My top tips to have a great Arbonne party (because I now reccommend it!) are-
1. Give your friends plenty of notice so they have time to save some money incase they would like to make a purchase, which i'm sure they will!
2. Ask if you can have the catalogues early so you can have a browse and decide what you need, what you like and what you want to try on the night!
3. Wear no make up! Scary I know but to try these products is so much fun and you will get a real feel for them which will help you decide if you like the product or not.
4. Champagne and nibblies! Mikkie put on a brilliant array of food we could eat while drinking our champers and trying the make up! Food, Champagne, Skin Care and Cosmetics.... What more can a girl want?!
5. Melissa Holtsbaum. Melissa was a wonderful consultant! She was extremely knowledgeable, honest, and at no time did anyone feel pressured into buying the products.
If you would like Melissa to host an arbonne party for you send me an email and I can put you in contact with her. casey.lee.evans@gmail.com

Melissa (left) and Mikkie (right).
Thanks for a great night ladies! I look forward to trying more arbonne products in the future!
CLE

Speechless

I have been left speechless by today's incredible turn around.... the fall of Kevin 07' and the rise of Julia Gillard. I assumed it would be easy to do a blog on the giant step for women's rights this day has seemed to have had and that Kevin did this wrong and that wrong which is why he no longer resides in power. But its way more complicated than I could ever have imagined so I will keep it short and sweet as I don't feel informed enough to comment too much on the subject and technically the whole of Australia should have that attitude....

Now I am honestly not going to claim that I know anything about politics because I don't. I decided to distance myself from it due to the lack of integrity that the Australian Government shows. After going through high school watching Behind the News and then on to university where you watched Australian Parliamentary Question Time (which I think is an absolute abomination and cannot believe adults would ever act in such a manner, not to mention the fact its an extremely bad example to be setting for our younger generations) and shown ABC documentaries on the corruption and insanity that goes on within our Government... I just decided to not give it my attention any more. But this I could not ignore. I have been researching all day and I thought it would be simple to do a blog on this extraordinary event but it turns out it is not. The more I research the more I seem to see that in the past 24 hours something BIG happened behind the scenes in our government and what saddens me is that we will more than likely not ever know what it actually was. Yes, a lot of fingers are certainly pointing at the mining industry but there are so many conspiracy theories floating around I don't care to list any of them as I have found this whole day a complete and utter smoke and mirrors scenario. I wish I could honestly stand up and whole heartedly celebrate the fact that for the first time in Australian history we have a female as our Prime Minister but I cant. I find that this fact is being used as a distraction and the whole process moved so quickly that a whole lot of 'something' has gone down and I am seriously annoyed at the fact that it certainly seems like the people we vote into power actually don't have 'the power'. I am not usually a sceptic or a conspiracy believer... I am fully aware of the fact that certain things happen within governments that never see the light of day let alone brought to our attention but this is something that possibly for the first time has hit close to home and I am old enough to understand that this really isn't right. I wish Julia Gillard good luck in her new position and I wish Kevin Rudd and his family all the best. That is the one thing I can whole heartedly say because I have no idea what went down today.... who was right or who was wrong... I withhold judgement as the press are remaining vague and are moving as quick as the events unfold without any time for real investigation. Maybe tomorrow will shed more light on the past 24 hours... or not.

CLE

Just Say Me

After watching a hilariously funny episode of my new favourite 'mindless crap' tv show The Secret Life of an American Teenager titled “Just Say Me” I was left thinking and intrigued by the idea of masturbation. In this particular episode, based around a bunch of strangely intelligent and articulate teenagers including a teenage mother, a Christian girl, a 'slut' and their boyfriends that trapse along for the ride, the girls discuss how having sex has got them into so much trouble. It got Amy pregnant at 15, it got Grace kicked out of her Christian celibacy group and Adrian uses it as a tool for revenge, which she apparently regrets. So they decided instead of worrying about sex with boys any more they would masturbate but instead of calling it the ugly 'M' word they decided to call it “Just Say Me”.

It was so strange to see it on tv as it was something that was rarely talked about by anyone until Sex and The City certainly threw the topic of female masturbation into the mainstream and to be honest I'm quite glad they did. It opened up women to the idea that it was ok to 'just say me', men do it and it is common knowledge that men do it, so why cant women? I love the 'rabbit intervention' episode of Sex and the City, it is hilarious and there was nothing smutty or vulgar about it. Yet in saying this and the steps that female masturbation has taken up the 'topic of conversation' ladder it still seems to provoke anxiety in men and women alike. The Oprah Winfrey show did a segment on educating women on the benefits of feeling sexually alive, and calling attention to masturbation's role, biochemically and emotionally. It received terrible reviews, degrading and chastising the women who were brave enough to talk about their own masturbation experiences on the show and this was in 2008, ten years after the SATC 'Rabbit' episode opened up the topic to the world.

The psychoanalyst behind womensrealities.com Joyce McFaden did a study in 2008 and she stated that

“Women still experience guilt and shame around masturbation. 70% of the respondents to my study felt guilty, and 80% of them were never taught about it as a normal aspect of human sexuality - with a surprising 4/5 of those women being under the age of 35 and raised by mothers of the post feminist era. 88% of them reported a strong desire to hear other women's thoughts and feelings on masturbation, with most of them responding yes and absolutely emphasized with one to three exclamation points.”

After further delving into the topic I found that not many woman masturbate but a lot of women actually want to. The trends seem to be they either don't know how, they think it's 'gross' and should be left to men (haha!), and quite a large amount of women admitted to assuming that they should be passive, naive, and dependent when it comes to sex as women are never really taught otherwise.

I was 17 when I bought my first vibrator. I basically just bought it to show it off to my boyfriend at the time who had never made me orgasm and to tell the truth I didn't even believe at that stage that girls could orgasm! After playing around with it for six months I decided to lie down and see if the female orgasm was a myth or not. Much to my surprise it was no myth! Sex education at school covers how to put a condom on a banana and mothers rarely broach the subject with their daughters. But times are changing and women need to realise masturbation is just as natural as sex and allows you to have a better and healthier understanding of sex. If you keep it taboo and quiet, that is when it becomes unhealthy. Sex is an even playing field for both men and women we just need to be more open about the topic and realise that you should be empowered in the bedroom not the opposite.

So for the women out there who are not sure about it here are some of the known health benefits of masturbation:

• Eases some of the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome
• Relief from menstrual cramps
• Muscle relaxation
• Helps you to fall asleep
• Promotes release of the brain’s opioid-like neurotransmitters (endorphins), which cause feelings of physical and mental well-being
• Reduces stress
• Enhances self-esteem.

Some of the known sexual health benefits of masturbation include:

• Solo masturbation is a safe sex practice that carries no risk of sexually transmissible infection and unwanted pregnancy. As part of lovemaking between two people, it is known as ‘mutual masturbation’.
• Sexual tension is released. Masturbation allows a person to express their sexuality by themselves and is valuable if, for example, they don’t have a partner or if sex with their partner isn’t available, or if they want to (or have to) abstain from sex for any reason.
• Being familiar with your own sexual responses allows you to better communicate your wants and needs to your partner.
• Masturbation is a popular treatment for sexual dysfunction; for example, women who don’t orgasm can learn by masturbating.

If you would like information on how to 'just say me' or even to improve your technique the appropriately named Clitical.com has a truck load of information from your anatomy to moral issues to technique. It really is a perfectly natural body function it's not like your taking a mood enhancement drug to reach a level of stimulation... this is what these specific parts of your body are specifically for. It's not wrong if you do do it and it's not wrong if you don't do it. If you like it, great! If you don't, don't do it. It all comes down to personal choice!

CLE