I've waited a long time for some XLB
Three times is the number of attempts it took to get a seating at Din Tai Fung's Emporium restaurant. And yes of course you are wondering, it is worth all of the hype. After only half an hour waiting time (which was amazing because we were told it would be an hour) our buzzer began ringing, signalling that a table for two had become vacant.
We rushed back after shopping in Uni-Qlo with rumbling tummies. We finally ventured beyond the grand entrance doors. Upon entrance you are greeted with a large glass window that showcases DTF's magical kitchen of dumpling masters and noodle professionals. There are endless stacks of bamboo baskets, each filled with a different type of dumpling. We pass many tables and finally reach ours. The restaurant is luxuriously spacious
We rushed back after shopping in Uni-Qlo with rumbling tummies. We finally ventured beyond the grand entrance doors. Upon entrance you are greeted with a large glass window that showcases DTF's magical kitchen of dumpling masters and noodle professionals. There are endless stacks of bamboo baskets, each filled with a different type of dumpling. We pass many tables and finally reach ours. The restaurant is luxuriously spacious
I scream for nail art
It's an expression of our most cute and creative selves on our fingertips for everybody to see. It's a little me time and pampering session we all deserve from time to time. We all love nail art and I Scream Nails! in Collingwood gets that.
No one would ever imagine that a tiny office space oozing with vibrant and colourful wall designs, cute decorations and tonnes of ice-cream shaped nail polish bottles was tucked away inside of 6/60 Langridge Street.
No one would ever imagine that a tiny office space oozing with vibrant and colourful wall designs, cute decorations and tonnes of ice-cream shaped nail polish bottles was tucked away inside of 6/60 Langridge Street.
Fred definitely gets it
Words
C is for cookie, cookie is for me. RAW!
Stuff on toast
After sprinting down the Peninsula's Main Street to escape the ice-cold wind and rain, seeing the 'Store Fifteen' sign in the distance was like seeing the golden arches after a long night of clubbing. Puffed and dripping with rain drops, it was a relief to finally make it inside. A very small yet humble cafe with limited seating, it is busier than most other cafes along the street that are double its' size. We grab menus and dash to grab the last table for two.
All of the furniture is wooden. The seats are cushioned crates. The store has a holiday vibe and it's very calming to in the midst of. I smell a strong waft of banana that is carried by the draft of the open door. Perusing the menu, our eyes scanning for food as I pass the superfood smoothies, health shots and coffees, I finally find the toast page. Store Fifteen specialises in 'stuff on toast', no doubt one of the most popular menu items to date. I choose the fruit toast and my cafe buddy chooses the avocado toast.
We order our stuffs on toast along with a chai latte and a hot chocolate. The kitchen which only consists of one industrial toaster, smoothie blenders and stainless steel benches is open plan, so we can watch the waitresses preparing our toast. There is nothing like the smell of freshly toasted toast gracing the air. I realise the hunger pangs are starting to kick in as more smells fill the air. Sometimes I get a waft of maple syrup, then feta and then avocado.
All of the furniture is wooden. The seats are cushioned crates. The store has a holiday vibe and it's very calming to in the midst of. I smell a strong waft of banana that is carried by the draft of the open door. Perusing the menu, our eyes scanning for food as I pass the superfood smoothies, health shots and coffees, I finally find the toast page. Store Fifteen specialises in 'stuff on toast', no doubt one of the most popular menu items to date. I choose the fruit toast and my cafe buddy chooses the avocado toast.
We order our stuffs on toast along with a chai latte and a hot chocolate. The kitchen which only consists of one industrial toaster, smoothie blenders and stainless steel benches is open plan, so we can watch the waitresses preparing our toast. There is nothing like the smell of freshly toasted toast gracing the air. I realise the hunger pangs are starting to kick in as more smells fill the air. Sometimes I get a waft of maple syrup, then feta and then avocado.
My board of toast finally arrives after about fifteen minutes and the smell is every bit as sweet and fruity as I was hoping. I can smell every ingredient on the fruit toast. I pick it up with both hands, careful to not drop any of the ingredients off the toast. As I take a bite my tastebuds awaken and a blob of maple syrup falls on my jeans. I am annoyed my moment of joy is interrupted. I quickly wipe my jeans and get back to chewing. I take a second bite and nothing falls on my jeans. Now I can concentrate.
My teeth sink through the maple syrup covered strawberries, next the gooey banana, then the cashew butter and finally the perfectly crunchy fruit toast which is thick and crusty. The sweetness of the maple syrup and banana is offset by the savoury and mildly sweet note of the cashew cream, overall finished off by the slightly sour tang of the strawberry. I had to stop and remind myself that I wasn't eating a fruit Danish.
This is an extremely satisfying dish for anyone with a sweet tooth and surprisingly for someone who is not. And to top it all off, it is completely vegan and guilt-free. I finally got up off of my wooden crate and was definitely harbouring a good baby. Luckily I dressed for winter today and it was well hidden on my way out. Completely satisfied, it's a concoction I will definitely try at home!
My teeth sink through the maple syrup covered strawberries, next the gooey banana, then the cashew butter and finally the perfectly crunchy fruit toast which is thick and crusty. The sweetness of the maple syrup and banana is offset by the savoury and mildly sweet note of the cashew cream, overall finished off by the slightly sour tang of the strawberry. I had to stop and remind myself that I wasn't eating a fruit Danish.
This is an extremely satisfying dish for anyone with a sweet tooth and surprisingly for someone who is not. And to top it all off, it is completely vegan and guilt-free. I finally got up off of my wooden crate and was definitely harbouring a good baby. Luckily I dressed for winter today and it was well hidden on my way out. Completely satisfied, it's a concoction I will definitely try at home!
A spontaneous trip to Bondi Beach
Bondi Beach. Photo by Amber De Luca - Tao
The distant murmur of voices all around me interrupts my less than satisfying sleep. Being bumped back and forth all night on my stiff chair has made my back ache and my neck stiff. I’m cold and slightly disorientated, but I make an effort to sit upright as the smell of freshly toasted bread and espresso fills the cabin. As the crew-member serves me my breakfast, I am informed that our train is about an hour out of Sydney.
Stepping onto the train platform is literally a breath of fresh air as I am greeted with a warm hug of Sydney’s summer breeze. According to my iPhone today is going to be 31 degrees. There and then I decide that today’s mission is going to be destination BONDI BEACH.
We locate a taxi rank. As we pull away from the train station and veer into the city, I peer out of the window. Tall offices and buildings block the sun, making the streets shady and cold. Masses of businessmen and women dressed in black and grey make their way in and out of buildings. And breakfast cafes on street corners are packed out. As the taxi comes to a halt due to peak hour city traffic, my mum turns to me and says, “I wonder if going to Bondi Beach is going to be worth all this stress, not to mention the taxi fare?” I look out the window again and wonder the same thing in my head.
Located just seven kilometres out of Sydney’s CBD, the only thing standing between Bondi and I is a 10 minute taxi ride. As we emerge out of Sydney’s concrete jungle and tall sun-blocking buildings become small holiday-house like dwellings, there is nothing stopping the sun from shining. I can feel the balmy sunrays gracing the skin on my face through the window. I feel tremendously content as I sink into the padded chair.
We begin to slow down and as we turn one final corner the taxi driver says, “This is Campbell Parade. It’s Bondi’s main upmarket shopping strip with many popular cafes and restaurants and of course hotels for the tourists.” The sidewalk is crowded with locals going about their daily business. I see a man in a wet suit. His hair is blonde with sun-kissed highlights and seawater curls. He must have just caught a few waves, I think to myself. Everyone is smiling and relaxed. Their carefree vibe is infectious, even through the car window.
Unlike what it is today, before the 1990’s Bondi Beach used to be a working class suburb. It was mainly immigrants from New Zealand that comprised Bondi’s population. The area today is extremely multicultural which has promoted the growth of the suburb in the last two decades, transforming it from a working class suburb to becoming an upper class community, similar to its’ nearby suburbs, Rose Bay and Bellevue Hill, which have both been listed as the most expensive areas in Sydney.
View of Bondi Beach standing at Bondi Pavilion. Photo by Amber De Luca - Tao
I instinctively roll down my window and my nostrils are hit with an intense waft of refreshingly salty sea breeze. The driver drops us off at the front of Bondi Pavilion; I ask him what the complex is. He tells us it’s a community centre, which hosts many cultural events and is also heritage listed. But what I am most interested in is the five beach view cafes that line the front of the pavilion. As Mum and I wait for our green smoothies in a juice bar called SEJUICED, a local girl beside me overhears us comparing Bondi Beach to Melbourne beaches. She says to us, “It’s massive. Bondi’s a reasonably clean beach and it’s quite nice all year round.”
As we walk out of the juice bar, she mentions, “I’ve grown up in Bondi. The people here are really genuine. I think that’s had an impact on my life.” The lack of comfortable sleep is making me feel tired, the vitamin packed smoothie is kick-starting my energy levels and is definitely worth the $4.50. This must be the case for my mum too as she asks me, “What are we waiting for?” whilst she bends down to hastily unlace her sneakers.
As we venture towards the beach, smoothie in one hand and sneakers in the other, we are met with a large foreshore of emerald green grass. It is lush and thriving and almost looks synthetic. I look further ahead and I can see that it connects to the sand in the distance. A sign in front of us reads: Bondi Park. The prickles of grass under the bare skin of my feet are tickling me in an uncomfortable way, like someone scratching their fingernails under my feet.
I am just getting used to the odd sensation when finally what I am feeling is no longer unsettling. The pads of my feet are being massaged by thousands of warm and powdery particles of soft golden sand. It is soft yet firm and as I take steps I turn and watch my footprint leave its mark on the surface. It’s difficult to find a clean piece of sand, as the entire shore is already covered with footprints from exercise goers already coming for their morning run.
Mum and I pause about three metres from the shore. We nestle our feet deep into the sand. I shut my eyes whilst I appreciate the surroundings. The cool ocean breeze carries the scent of saline. The wind is erratically calm and then aggressive. The draft that carries the ocean water mist is cool on my skin, the perfect balance with the tropical sunshine that is bronzing my skin. I hear the gentle trickle of waves that are continuously creeping up towards my feet. They leave with the sound of water sliding back into the ocean, as it bubbles and leaves a white and foamy residue on the damp sand.
“Oh my!” my Mum exclaims as more powerful waves come far up enough to reach our ankles. The water is shockingly cold. My eyes are open now and I stare out into the horizon. The water seems endless and it’s almost hypnotic. The water is like a patchwork quilt, with a myriad of shades of blue. In some places it is teal and in other is navy. The sun now high in the sky beams down on the water. It creates glittering and blindingly bright inflections that reach across the whole 1km long beach.
The body of water is enclosed by two rocky headlands with national parks and rock pools at the top of each. I can see the waves crash against the base of the headlands. Each wave brushes the rocks with a fresh coat of water. The southern headland is also the base for the well-known Bondi Icebergs swimming club, a popular eating venue for both locals and tourists.
Not prepared for this spontaneous beach trip, we walk to the middle of the sand, take off our jackets and place them down to sit on. We want to soak in as much of the breathtaking view as possible. It’s hard to believe we’ve only been here for an hour. If it weren’t for the growing swarm of inquisitive seagulls beginning to surround us, we’d probably stay longer. If anyone ever told you Bondi Beach is not worth all the hype, they weren’t telling you the truth. As the last drops of our green smoothies try to make it up our straws, which are now impolitely slurping at the bottom of our empty plastic cups, my mum turns to me and says, “This is the softest and cleanest sand I’ve ever felt. I could stay here all day.” But it’s time to leave. Hotel check-in calls.
As we walk out of the juice bar, she mentions, “I’ve grown up in Bondi. The people here are really genuine. I think that’s had an impact on my life.” The lack of comfortable sleep is making me feel tired, the vitamin packed smoothie is kick-starting my energy levels and is definitely worth the $4.50. This must be the case for my mum too as she asks me, “What are we waiting for?” whilst she bends down to hastily unlace her sneakers.
As we venture towards the beach, smoothie in one hand and sneakers in the other, we are met with a large foreshore of emerald green grass. It is lush and thriving and almost looks synthetic. I look further ahead and I can see that it connects to the sand in the distance. A sign in front of us reads: Bondi Park. The prickles of grass under the bare skin of my feet are tickling me in an uncomfortable way, like someone scratching their fingernails under my feet.
I am just getting used to the odd sensation when finally what I am feeling is no longer unsettling. The pads of my feet are being massaged by thousands of warm and powdery particles of soft golden sand. It is soft yet firm and as I take steps I turn and watch my footprint leave its mark on the surface. It’s difficult to find a clean piece of sand, as the entire shore is already covered with footprints from exercise goers already coming for their morning run.
Mum and I pause about three metres from the shore. We nestle our feet deep into the sand. I shut my eyes whilst I appreciate the surroundings. The cool ocean breeze carries the scent of saline. The wind is erratically calm and then aggressive. The draft that carries the ocean water mist is cool on my skin, the perfect balance with the tropical sunshine that is bronzing my skin. I hear the gentle trickle of waves that are continuously creeping up towards my feet. They leave with the sound of water sliding back into the ocean, as it bubbles and leaves a white and foamy residue on the damp sand.
“Oh my!” my Mum exclaims as more powerful waves come far up enough to reach our ankles. The water is shockingly cold. My eyes are open now and I stare out into the horizon. The water seems endless and it’s almost hypnotic. The water is like a patchwork quilt, with a myriad of shades of blue. In some places it is teal and in other is navy. The sun now high in the sky beams down on the water. It creates glittering and blindingly bright inflections that reach across the whole 1km long beach.
The body of water is enclosed by two rocky headlands with national parks and rock pools at the top of each. I can see the waves crash against the base of the headlands. Each wave brushes the rocks with a fresh coat of water. The southern headland is also the base for the well-known Bondi Icebergs swimming club, a popular eating venue for both locals and tourists.
Not prepared for this spontaneous beach trip, we walk to the middle of the sand, take off our jackets and place them down to sit on. We want to soak in as much of the breathtaking view as possible. It’s hard to believe we’ve only been here for an hour. If it weren’t for the growing swarm of inquisitive seagulls beginning to surround us, we’d probably stay longer. If anyone ever told you Bondi Beach is not worth all the hype, they weren’t telling you the truth. As the last drops of our green smoothies try to make it up our straws, which are now impolitely slurping at the bottom of our empty plastic cups, my mum turns to me and says, “This is the softest and cleanest sand I’ve ever felt. I could stay here all day.” But it’s time to leave. Hotel check-in calls.
Byte the burger
Have you ever seen Back to The Future II? The scene where Marty walks into the cafe and The Power of Love by Huey Lewis and The News is playing on the crackly speakers? Well that's literally what happened to me when I walked into 8bit Burger Bar (except the speakers were high quality).
As I stepped through the door I was immediately hit with a wave of happiness radiating from the venue and was greeted by a waft of freshly grilled buns and melted cheese on greasy beef patties. The smell was mainly the only thing I could observe as the line extended all the way to the door. Not to mention the massive line of people already waiting for their orders.
As the lunch rush very slowly began to dissipate, I started to observe the surroundings. The joint is arcade themed, decked out with pixelated fonts and pictures and toys of nostalgia 90's gaming characters like Pac-man and Super Mario. You can't help but feel like you're Wreck-It-Ralph who just jumped into a video game. I notice pops of golden yellow everywhere, the tables, the chairs and of course the crunchy double beer battered chips.
It is an open kitchen so the burger connoisseurs at work are on show for everyone to see. It is not uncommon to watch them stack a burger with the usual suspects (lettuce, tomatoes, chipotle mayo and more) when they catch you staring at them with drops of saliva running down your chin.
As I stepped through the door I was immediately hit with a wave of happiness radiating from the venue and was greeted by a waft of freshly grilled buns and melted cheese on greasy beef patties. The smell was mainly the only thing I could observe as the line extended all the way to the door. Not to mention the massive line of people already waiting for their orders.
As the lunch rush very slowly began to dissipate, I started to observe the surroundings. The joint is arcade themed, decked out with pixelated fonts and pictures and toys of nostalgia 90's gaming characters like Pac-man and Super Mario. You can't help but feel like you're Wreck-It-Ralph who just jumped into a video game. I notice pops of golden yellow everywhere, the tables, the chairs and of course the crunchy double beer battered chips.
It is an open kitchen so the burger connoisseurs at work are on show for everyone to see. It is not uncommon to watch them stack a burger with the usual suspects (lettuce, tomatoes, chipotle mayo and more) when they catch you staring at them with drops of saliva running down your chin.
About an hour has ticked by and I'm still waiting for my order. Although it was my most enjoyable wait for food ever. The 80's tunes kept rolling and watching the never-ending burger making was mesmerising and quite evidently time-consuming. Everyone has their own task. One person is responsible for grilling the buns and frying bacon, another takes care of saucing the burgers and another wraps the burgers in the signature 8bit. pockets. The burgers are served on small metal trays -American high school cafeteria style, something about it makes it so much more fun to eat. As we see a tray coming towards us our excitement levels peak and my tastebuds have woken up just in time for a feeding session.
I take the time to look at package I have just been delivered. The burger looks exactly like a Krabby Patty from the Krusty Krab: a beef patty, cheese (etc). The burger is perfectly tucked into the 8Bit wrapper without a condiment out of place. I firmly grasp the burger in my hands and feel the warmth of the soft bun against the palms of my hands. I take one bite of the whole burger. The buns are as soft as clouds and the beef patty as juicy orange flesh. It's a challenge to take a bite of the burger without either getting grease around your mouth or mustard on your left cheek. I think watching the stress of the kitchen and the care taken into the art of making the burgers takes the taste to the next level.
With a fully satisfied stomach, 8bit won't disappoint satisfying your inner burger loving, arcade game playing needs.
Is fitness as beneficial as we think?
Having washboard abs and a gluteus as tight (and big) as Kim Kardashian’s hasn’t always been a trend. And going against popular belief, females finally know what they want: to be fit. Could it be that women’s desire to be skinny is a fad of the past?
As early as the 1840’s when women began wearing corsets designed to ‘squeeze the body thin’, we’ve been obsessed with modifying the physical appearance of our bodies to match the stick-thin ones we see in magazines.
When unsuccessful in weight loss, developing an eating disorder can become an issue. At the end of 2012, Eating Disorders Victoria declared that nearly 1 million Australians were affected by an eating disorder, 90% of these Australians were women. And in our pursuit of thinness, our perceptions have become extremely distorted.
Last year the UK Telegraph published a story about a woman who was poisoned by the explosion of her appendix. She lost one stone in four days, leaving her extremely malnourished and underweight. When she returned to work she received endless praise from her female colleagues, telling her she looked fantastic and that she had to keep ‘this’ up. Little did they know she had merely cheated death.
But recently it appears that weight loss is no longer trending. From advertisements on Facebook to bus stops on main roads, you’ll find the seven letter f-word plastered there. Whether it’s for promoting Nike’s ‘A Melody of Movement’ fitness campaign or joining Michelle Bridge’s 12 Week Body Challenge, we are being flooded with opportunities to transform our bodies into muscular weapons.
Women are no longer exercising to lose weight. Personal trainer Ramisa Azim says that she used to exercise to shed kilos, but as her passion for fitness grew she became more focused on becoming strong and fit, “…it’s more sustainable compared to a quick-fix paleo or yoyo diet…”
Social media platforms like Instagram have named this fitness-dedicated trend: #fitisthenewskinny. University of Kent psychologist, Rachel Calogero believes that the rise of this trend is most likely due to the increased media attention female athletes are receiving. Fit is the New Skinny seems to be a step towards a positive direction. The Harvard Public School of health explains that engaging in regular exercise enables body systems to function better and helps to keep diseases at bay.
And the benefits of exercising are diverse. Jacqui Krew has been a dedicated gym member for three years and relishes the benefits working out has for her. She explains that she’s a naturally anxious person and going to the gym allows her to alleviate stress.
But despite the positivity surrounding this fitness trend, it has recently been under scrutiny. Tara-Leigh McHugh a body image expert at the University of Alberta questioned the trend, saying that we are just setting up women for more challenges by shifting the ideal from a thin body to a muscular body.
A number of healthy living blogs have begun sending out a new message –that we should not be aspiring to look like anything. If we stop spending all of our time worrying about how our bodies look, we can focus on more important things.
At the forefront of this shifting outlook is Katie Willcox, founder of Healthy is the New Skinny (HNS) and former plus-size model who had negative experiences with body image pressure in the industry. Through HNS, Willcox wants to challenge how the media portrays beauty and our mindsets as individuals. “If we can do things in our life to be healthy instead of skinny, we will be much more successful and happier than chasing an unrealistic goal.”
Willcox says “We have never been exposed to what is natural, healthy beauty since we don't have examples of that in the media. Women and girls don't have anyone to show them that it's okay to be healthy and happy and that they don't have to conform to this so-called norm… The most valuable thing we have in our life is health, and that should be our focus. Healthy bodies are beautiful bodies.”
And this focus on being healthy isn’t just for models, but a message she hopes will spread for girls and women everywhere.
As early as the 1840’s when women began wearing corsets designed to ‘squeeze the body thin’, we’ve been obsessed with modifying the physical appearance of our bodies to match the stick-thin ones we see in magazines.
When unsuccessful in weight loss, developing an eating disorder can become an issue. At the end of 2012, Eating Disorders Victoria declared that nearly 1 million Australians were affected by an eating disorder, 90% of these Australians were women. And in our pursuit of thinness, our perceptions have become extremely distorted.
Last year the UK Telegraph published a story about a woman who was poisoned by the explosion of her appendix. She lost one stone in four days, leaving her extremely malnourished and underweight. When she returned to work she received endless praise from her female colleagues, telling her she looked fantastic and that she had to keep ‘this’ up. Little did they know she had merely cheated death.
But recently it appears that weight loss is no longer trending. From advertisements on Facebook to bus stops on main roads, you’ll find the seven letter f-word plastered there. Whether it’s for promoting Nike’s ‘A Melody of Movement’ fitness campaign or joining Michelle Bridge’s 12 Week Body Challenge, we are being flooded with opportunities to transform our bodies into muscular weapons.
Women are no longer exercising to lose weight. Personal trainer Ramisa Azim says that she used to exercise to shed kilos, but as her passion for fitness grew she became more focused on becoming strong and fit, “…it’s more sustainable compared to a quick-fix paleo or yoyo diet…”
Social media platforms like Instagram have named this fitness-dedicated trend: #fitisthenewskinny. University of Kent psychologist, Rachel Calogero believes that the rise of this trend is most likely due to the increased media attention female athletes are receiving. Fit is the New Skinny seems to be a step towards a positive direction. The Harvard Public School of health explains that engaging in regular exercise enables body systems to function better and helps to keep diseases at bay.
And the benefits of exercising are diverse. Jacqui Krew has been a dedicated gym member for three years and relishes the benefits working out has for her. She explains that she’s a naturally anxious person and going to the gym allows her to alleviate stress.
But despite the positivity surrounding this fitness trend, it has recently been under scrutiny. Tara-Leigh McHugh a body image expert at the University of Alberta questioned the trend, saying that we are just setting up women for more challenges by shifting the ideal from a thin body to a muscular body.
A number of healthy living blogs have begun sending out a new message –that we should not be aspiring to look like anything. If we stop spending all of our time worrying about how our bodies look, we can focus on more important things.
At the forefront of this shifting outlook is Katie Willcox, founder of Healthy is the New Skinny (HNS) and former plus-size model who had negative experiences with body image pressure in the industry. Through HNS, Willcox wants to challenge how the media portrays beauty and our mindsets as individuals. “If we can do things in our life to be healthy instead of skinny, we will be much more successful and happier than chasing an unrealistic goal.”
Willcox says “We have never been exposed to what is natural, healthy beauty since we don't have examples of that in the media. Women and girls don't have anyone to show them that it's okay to be healthy and happy and that they don't have to conform to this so-called norm… The most valuable thing we have in our life is health, and that should be our focus. Healthy bodies are beautiful bodies.”
And this focus on being healthy isn’t just for models, but a message she hopes will spread for girls and women everywhere.
VAMFF 2015 Future Runway
Post runway. Photo by Amber De Luca - Tao
Imagine you’re only 17 years old and you’re sitting in the front row of a fashion show, not as an audience member, but as a designer. Guests are buzzing around you, photographers are taking their places at the end of the catwalk and you’re just as eager as ever for the show to begin. That’s how I met Pep.
In a bright green fluoro Adidas jacket, stripy knee length socks and gleaming eyes, Pep is sitting in the front row smiling. She suits the part to a tee.
Moments before the VAMFF 2015 Future Runway begins, her name appears on the screens, Best designer: Pep Doolan. Deep bass penetrates through the speakers and finally the lights dim. Pep’s collection walks the runway first and I am transported to a realm of vibrant colour and cute-as-a-button designs[1]. It’s not until I caught up with Pep a week later that I found out that she doesn’t want to be a fashion designer.
The Future Runway hits every as part of the Melbourne Fashion Week. It allows high school students right across Australia to showcase their raw and fresh talent through a journal of sketches, showcasing their creative vision, industry awareness and production quality[2]. If successful, the candidates must then create a mini collection that will walk the same stage as world-class established designers such as Josh Goot and Romance Was Born. Every year the show is renowned for exposing up and coming designers as they burst onto the fashion scene[3].
I meet with Pep a week later. She is sporting another Adidas jacket, red this time. Her hair is as lively and curly as ever and she is wearing the same fresh-faced smile as the first night we met. I find out that her mum has owned Fool clothing shop on Greville street for the past 18 years (all of Pep’s life), she loves to play the bass guitar and of course that she doesn’t want to be a fashion designer.
“It’s a weird feeling, you spend so long creating the garments and then it’s just a one-night thing. Having grown up in fashion, I’ve seen the kind of ugly side of it that isn’t advertised as much. Have you seen the devil wears Prada? The fashion industry is exactly like that,” Pep tells me.
And she’s not wrong; the world of catwalk fashion has been constantly criticized of being shallow and referred to as the “…cult of the superficial[4],” and Pep is anything but these descriptions. “I definitely don’t follow the trends, my style is individual I suppose, I’m more ‘see something that I like’ and add something different to it.”
Even Christian Siriano, winner of American Project Runway in 2008 seems to be in agreeance, “At the end of the day, it’s just clothes[5].”
Perhaps it’s the culmination of being engaged in the industry first-hand for the entirety of her life and now being able to tick off, ‘award-winning designer at a real fashion show’ from her checklist, that has sparked her realisation that this is not the path for her. “We couldn’t even see our garments before they went on the runway which I thought was strange. I like being in control of how garments look.”
A branch not too far away from runway fashion on the tree of design, Pep is more than certain that she wants to pursue a career in costume design. “I want to be a costume designer for film. I’d want to keep my own look within the film. Costume design is more free and I have a real interest in fairy tales, this has really influenced me.”
Despite having won a national competition at such a vulnerable age, Pep is still the same girl at heart: honest, visionary and oozing with creative passion. She might just be exactly what the future of Australian costume design is looking for.
In a bright green fluoro Adidas jacket, stripy knee length socks and gleaming eyes, Pep is sitting in the front row smiling. She suits the part to a tee.
Moments before the VAMFF 2015 Future Runway begins, her name appears on the screens, Best designer: Pep Doolan. Deep bass penetrates through the speakers and finally the lights dim. Pep’s collection walks the runway first and I am transported to a realm of vibrant colour and cute-as-a-button designs[1]. It’s not until I caught up with Pep a week later that I found out that she doesn’t want to be a fashion designer.
The Future Runway hits every as part of the Melbourne Fashion Week. It allows high school students right across Australia to showcase their raw and fresh talent through a journal of sketches, showcasing their creative vision, industry awareness and production quality[2]. If successful, the candidates must then create a mini collection that will walk the same stage as world-class established designers such as Josh Goot and Romance Was Born. Every year the show is renowned for exposing up and coming designers as they burst onto the fashion scene[3].
I meet with Pep a week later. She is sporting another Adidas jacket, red this time. Her hair is as lively and curly as ever and she is wearing the same fresh-faced smile as the first night we met. I find out that her mum has owned Fool clothing shop on Greville street for the past 18 years (all of Pep’s life), she loves to play the bass guitar and of course that she doesn’t want to be a fashion designer.
“It’s a weird feeling, you spend so long creating the garments and then it’s just a one-night thing. Having grown up in fashion, I’ve seen the kind of ugly side of it that isn’t advertised as much. Have you seen the devil wears Prada? The fashion industry is exactly like that,” Pep tells me.
And she’s not wrong; the world of catwalk fashion has been constantly criticized of being shallow and referred to as the “…cult of the superficial[4],” and Pep is anything but these descriptions. “I definitely don’t follow the trends, my style is individual I suppose, I’m more ‘see something that I like’ and add something different to it.”
Even Christian Siriano, winner of American Project Runway in 2008 seems to be in agreeance, “At the end of the day, it’s just clothes[5].”
Perhaps it’s the culmination of being engaged in the industry first-hand for the entirety of her life and now being able to tick off, ‘award-winning designer at a real fashion show’ from her checklist, that has sparked her realisation that this is not the path for her. “We couldn’t even see our garments before they went on the runway which I thought was strange. I like being in control of how garments look.”
A branch not too far away from runway fashion on the tree of design, Pep is more than certain that she wants to pursue a career in costume design. “I want to be a costume designer for film. I’d want to keep my own look within the film. Costume design is more free and I have a real interest in fairy tales, this has really influenced me.”
Despite having won a national competition at such a vulnerable age, Pep is still the same girl at heart: honest, visionary and oozing with creative passion. She might just be exactly what the future of Australian costume design is looking for.
He'll be back for pizza at Gradi
Not even Arnold Schwarzenegger can terminate his desire to indulge in a pizza napoletana.
Moments after his Grand Prix Podium appearance, Mr Schwarzenegger had reservations at Gradi, Crown, home of Johnny Di Francesco’s award winning world’s best pizza.
Mr Di Francesco won the title last year at the international Italian Campionato Mondiale Della Pizza competition (World Pizza Championships).
“When I first started making traditional style pizza, people didn’t understand what I was doing. They were so used to fast-food style pizza that a lot of people didn’t appreciate the traditional pizza napoletana style. I am so excited that people such as Arnold have heard about the restaurant and want to eat there,” Mr Di Francesco says.
House-made San Marzano tomato sugo, 00 flour, yeast, a dashing of salt, a 24 hour fermenting process and an impressively short 90 seconds of bubbling away in the 400 degree brick oven is all it takes to create a pizza that’s fresh off the boat from Naples.
Moments after his Grand Prix Podium appearance, Mr Schwarzenegger had reservations at Gradi, Crown, home of Johnny Di Francesco’s award winning world’s best pizza.
Mr Di Francesco won the title last year at the international Italian Campionato Mondiale Della Pizza competition (World Pizza Championships).
“When I first started making traditional style pizza, people didn’t understand what I was doing. They were so used to fast-food style pizza that a lot of people didn’t appreciate the traditional pizza napoletana style. I am so excited that people such as Arnold have heard about the restaurant and want to eat there,” Mr Di Francesco says.
House-made San Marzano tomato sugo, 00 flour, yeast, a dashing of salt, a 24 hour fermenting process and an impressively short 90 seconds of bubbling away in the 400 degree brick oven is all it takes to create a pizza that’s fresh off the boat from Naples.
The pizza is served straight out of the belly of the blistering hot oven; its fiery glow can be seen from any position you are seated in at the restaurant. Scents of tomato sugo and fresh basil dance around your nose, carried to you by the steam of the still sizzling gooey cheese.
Not a task for the chronic knife and fork users, you’ll need two hands to successfully pick up a slice as it playfully insists on flopping about the plate.
The perfectly balanced combination of salty, melted cheese and sweetly savoury tomato sugo causes the inside of the base to become soft and delightful to chew, whilst remaining crisp on its bottom. As this journey of taste and texture draws to a close, you finally arrive at your destination -a crust that is crispy like a potato chip and is embellished with airy bubbles that are as satisfying to pop with your teeth as bubble wrap to your fingers.
Aside from his schedule being fully booked and his restaurants twice as busy since the competition, Johnny says one thing that hasn’t changed is their commitment to the quality of the food they serve. “I have always been committed to using quality ingredients so that I can provide my customers with a quality dining experience, and they appreciate that and so they come back.”
And what’s the secret ingredient you might ask? It must be love.
Not a task for the chronic knife and fork users, you’ll need two hands to successfully pick up a slice as it playfully insists on flopping about the plate.
The perfectly balanced combination of salty, melted cheese and sweetly savoury tomato sugo causes the inside of the base to become soft and delightful to chew, whilst remaining crisp on its bottom. As this journey of taste and texture draws to a close, you finally arrive at your destination -a crust that is crispy like a potato chip and is embellished with airy bubbles that are as satisfying to pop with your teeth as bubble wrap to your fingers.
Aside from his schedule being fully booked and his restaurants twice as busy since the competition, Johnny says one thing that hasn’t changed is their commitment to the quality of the food they serve. “I have always been committed to using quality ingredients so that I can provide my customers with a quality dining experience, and they appreciate that and so they come back.”
And what’s the secret ingredient you might ask? It must be love.
ASOS Student Editor Application
So I recently applied to be an ASOS Student Editor for my uni. Part of the application required me to make a video about the style at my university. Here's the link, would love if you gave it a watch! I had heaps of fun making it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvtL0c-bFks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvtL0c-bFks