Future Music Festival 2013

Okay, so I know I claimed Stereosonic 2011 would be my last music festival ever but when I saw the lineup for Future 2013, I just couldn’t pass it up. Bloc Party, Azealia Banks, FUN., Ellie Goulding, Nervo, The Temper Trap, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, A-Trak, Hardwell, Rita Ora, Dizzee Rascal, The Prodigy, Steve Aoki AND Avicii?! All in the one place? It was a no-brainer.

My flatmate Ally rounded up a few of her friends to join us for a weekend in Brisbane, complete with accommodation at The Jephson Hotel. In typical FMF fashion, torrential rain poured down on Doomben Racecourse throughout the week leading up to the event, preparing the usual mudpit for festival-goers.

You’d think this would put a slight dampening on things but you see, it’s all about your attitude. I personally believe if you’re going to let a bit of rain ruin your day, the chances are it most certainly will ruin your day. I marched into the festival prepped with a disposable raincoat and an appropriately bubble-wrapped, zip-locked iPhone.

However, heed my warning: if you’re happy to dance around like a crazy person in such weather, you may end up looking something like this:

But hey, what’s a little dirt? The mud made it easier to move around anyway. I’m telling you, I just about achieved an LMFAO-esque shuffle with the charming manner in which I slid through that mud.

Dancing to Steve Aoki was probably the most exercise I’ve had in years. No Beef is my jam. As is Turbulence. And Pursuit of Happiness. I just couldn’t stop moving to those beats! Mind you, by the way, I was completely sober throughout the day. Not a drop to drink and I didn’t even need to resort to the back-up No-Doz tablets I had ready in my bum bag. I was purely high on life and it was some of the best fun I’ve had in my 21 years. What a revelation: one does not need to consume alcohol in order to have a good time. Who would have thought?

Other highlight acts included Azealia Banks and The Temper Trap. Unfortunately, I arrived at the party too late to catch Ellie Goulding and an unwell Avicii cancelled on us at the last minute. While it was clearly a poor effort on the organisers’ behalf to announce the cancellation so late in the day (within the hour of the renowned DJ’s scheduled set time), I was so content with such a fun-filled day by that point that the announcement didn’t even really bother me. I most certainly wish him a speedy recovery.

I’m still pulling mud out of all kinds of nooks and crannies (ie. nostrils, ears and belly button) and it will probably take weeks for my hair to get back to normal but it’s totally worth the amazing day I had. Next up for me is the The xx concert in Brisbane next month. Of course, there probably won’t be quite so much mud-flinging and attempted shuffling, but I’m super excited to see one of my favourite bands live in concert. Check out their latest album Coexist if you haven’t already and take a listen to their stand-out track, Angels.

I have a degree!

Well, it’s official. I’m a graduate!

It’s been a long – and often challenging – three years, but I’d undoubtedly do it again and I’m totally proud of my achievement.

The next step is landing a full time journalism position and possibly enrolling in a master’s. I’m considering studying either international relations or human rights.

For yesterday’s ceremony, I wanted to go for a smart/classy look to match my Hogwarts-esque robes and trencher. I wore a simple black Alannah Hill dress, very Audrey Hepburn, don’t you think? For the shoes, just a black patent leather pair from Wittner.

I doubt anyone’s interested in watching the ceremony but here’s a link to the video, just in case. Catch the journalism graduates from 30:10!

Events of the past few months

I feel guilty, as though I’ve been neglecting a child or at least a certain part of my own self. There are so many countless unfinished drafts sitting in my WordPress dashboard that I’ve decided to simply merge the most noteworthy events of the past few months into this one post.

My life saw a lot of changes from September through to November. After returning home from my fashion editorial stint in New York, I decided to move out of my mother’s home and began living with my best friend, Nikki. For full time uni students, we had far too much fun living together, particularly on weekdays. Red wine was consumed, Sex and the City marathons were had. We shared our boy problems, merged our wardrobes and became even closer than we already were.

It was during this time that I ended a 5.5-year long relationship with my boyfriend. I’d been with Mitchell since year 10 when we were in high school together and the love we shared was the kind that many people spend many years searching for. We were very lucky to have such a perfect relationship but I guess all good things come to an end eventually. He ended up moving to Canada to be closer to his mother (he’s half-Canadian) and I chose not to accompany him. Fret not, however, as we’re still very close and frequently in touch. He’s loving getting in touch with his Canadian side and it turns out the beach bum has a knack for snowboarding. Go figure.

A Film Premiere

This great Australian film is a must see

Life goes on and it was only a few weeks later that I found myself attending a red carpet event. I’d been working with The Jane Foundation to help promote the Gold Coast premiere of Australian film The Wedding Party, a comedy directed by Melbourne’s Amanda Jane. The Wedding Party had already become a multi-1award winning success overseas, scooping up awards all over the world such as Best Film at the New York City International Film Festival, Los Angeles Comedy Festival, Bel Air Film Festival, Manhattan Film Festival, Los Angeles Movie Awards and many others.

The film stars Isabel Lucas, Josh Lawson, Steve Bisley, Nadine Garner, Adam Zwar and Rhonda Burchmore and tells the story of Steve Lawson, a loveable anti-hero whose secret marriage of convenience is discovered by his family. Soon enough, he finds himself in the middle of the world’s most farcical wedding. Hilarity ensues.

A red carpet event calls for a designer label.
I went for Sass & Bide’s ‘Thanks In Part’ dress.

I normally don’t think too much of Australian films but The Wedding Party pleasantly surprised me. Trust me, it’s hilarious. In fact, the DVD just hit stores so I sincerely recommend you hit it up and rent it out. Great film. The premiere at Event Cinemas Robina was made complete with VIP privileges and a licensed V-MAX cinema (hello, champagne!) accompanying the red carpet. Plus, I had a hot date.

Off to the Races

Just a few weeks later came the race that truly does stop the nation. I was lucky enough to have the day off work and uni – as well as access to the Gold Coast Turf Club Members’ Lounge. What better excuse to spend more than I can afford on a gorgeous Alannah Hill frock and an overpriced hair flower to go with?

Truth be told, I’m typically not one for fascinators – I consider myself more of a hat girl. But I figured nothing would go better with a floral dress than a flower itself and the sales assistant at Alannah Hill was just much too lovely.

As a poor uni student, I decided to stick by my better judgement and refrained from gambling or anything of the sort. Who needs it anyway? Everyone knows the races are about fashion and fashion alone…

A Launch Party

November was a very rewarding month for me as my very first publication was printed! I’d been the Editor In Chief of Bond University’s Journalism Students’ Association over the semester and had put together the tri-annual student magazine, Baked. It was a lot to take on and I’ll admit that at times, I felt I couldn’t rise to the challenge. Turns out, I have what it takes after all and I have no problem feeling proud of my efforts. Trust me, a lot of blood, sweat and tears went into the creation of this mag. (Okay, maybe not so much blood.) Still, a subsequent launch party was indeed called for.

Proudly flicking through the pages of my very first publication.

Once Upon a December

As November became December, I’d moved house yet again and went through a small heartbreak (don’t worry, it’s nothing I won’t get over.) I’m now living in Varsity Lakes with my lovely flatmates Ally and Jessica, pictured with me below. The two have quickly become two of my closest friends and we all get along swimmingly. Otherwise, I finally finished my degree and allowed myself a well-deserved break, temporarily returning to my life as a socialite to celebrate the end of a chapter.

December drinks with my lovely new flatmates Jessica and Ally

Wearing Guess for Radio Metro’s annual Xmas Party

A last-minute get together with family and friends saw a fabulous Christmas day (is there any other kind?) – and the perfect excuse to show off my MAC Ruby Woo lipstick.

New Years Eve was an eventful eve indeed. Nikki and I, along with our friend Lizzie, welcomed 2013 by sharing a picnic on the beach during the day, complete with champagne and a competitive game of Uno. That night, we went from a house party to the casino, then made it back to the sand by midnight to watch the fireworks over the city. I’d say it was my best NYE yet.

My 21st Birthday

January is easily my favourite month of the year. It’s an obvious reason: my birthday falls on the 24th. This year, however, my birthday was more special than most as I turned the big two-one. I celebrated accordingly with a wonderful party with friends and family held at my mother’s house. I wore a Zimmermann dress for the occasion – a one-shouldered silk dress I’d had my eye on for months. Once it had gone on sale after Christmas, I knew it was a sign and the dress had to be mine. I can thank Eco Tan for my amazing (organic!) spray tan and Tara at Esteem Day Spa for the flawless makeup. I couldn’t have asked for a better night and am so appreciative of all the love I’m blessed with in my life. It was so fantastic to have all the people who mean the most to me in one room, particularly those who flew up from Sydney and Melbourne to be there.

All partied out from the gala, I spent the day of my actual birthday (just a few days later) winding down for high tea at the Palazzo Versace. The treats were delicious and the company was fabulous. I teamed a new Alannah Hill frock with an Alannah Hill bag I’d received as a birthday present and ended the day with Mum and a bottle of Moët.

Alas, I’ve now run out of reasons to party and the time has come to get myself back into gear. My graduation ceremony is next week and the next big step in my career is to land a full time job in journalism. Now that I’m back on track, I’ll be sure to keep the blog updated far more regularly. For those who actually care about my personal life and what I’ve been up to during my online absence, I apologise for leaving you high and dry for so long. Please let me wish you a belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The Evolution of the Wedding Ring

When style icon Carrie Bradshaw first became engaged in season four of Sex and the City, she chose to wear the gorgeous Harry Winston three-carat square-cut emerald ring on a chain around her neck, rather than simply on her finger. It was quite possibly the biggest fashion statement she ever made, with puzzled friends and acquaintances unable to understand the appeal behind breaking such a tradition. “It’s closer to my heart this way,” she explained patiently, typically uncaring of the opinion held by others when it came down to her accessory choices.

Okay sure, so the engagement was eventually called off and it turned out that her fiancé Aidan found the chain to be somewhat of a personal affront, but that’s not the point. What’s important is that Carrie’s bold move was the first in a wave of women evolving the tradition of rings in matrimony. In recent years, brides and wives have been thinking up and trying new ways to symbolise their commitments, either for the sake of a fashion statement or in a stance against conformity. But where is the line? In a society that already seems to lack in culture and convention, it seems possible that some may be taking it too far when it comes to meddling with matrimonial tradition.

Take ring remodeling for example. More and more couples seem to be having their rings redesigned and cut into brand new pieces, despite the romantic value of the original ring having played a part in initially consolidating the relationship. After all, the man who proposed has spent extensive amounts of time and consideration (as well as a customary two months salary) in an effort to pick out the perfect ring she couldn’t say ‘no’ to. Surely some are left feeling somewhat sheepish when their bride decides to trade the gem in for something more suited to her personal taste.

Of course, there can be many other circumstances in which remodeling is called for. For example, Paradise Jewellers has included an example in their blog. A married couple with three rings wanted to combine all of them into one modern design. The woman had an engagement, wedding and eternity ring that had aged over time and was after something more convenient and beautiful. “We used all the same gold from the original rings so as to keep the sentimental value… We just redefined the yellow gold, extracted the fine gold and added white alloys to make it into 18-carat white gold.” The centre section was also tripled in size, with round diamonds micro set in an angled plate around the original princess-cut diamond, resulting in one beautiful ring.

The remodeled ring, as designed by Shane Paradise

Meanwhile, an even more recent move shows the ring not being worn at all. Controversy broke out last October when the newly appointed Commander of Australian Forces announced a ban on wedding rings for Aussie troops. Major General Michael Crane explained to the media that he was concerned about jewellery becoming entangled and leading to injuries at battle. “I’ve seen guys who have lost a finger from having a ring catch on a piece of equipment or the back of a vehicle door or a tail gate,” he said.

While many servicemen and women have expressed their dissatisfaction with the ban, there are many who have agreed with the move as a safety precaution, despite sentimental value. Townsville RSL president Rod McLeod told the Courier Mail he’d seen a lot of people damage their hands. “People I knew… had skin stripped off their fingers to the bone getting them caught jumping off the back of vehicles,” he said. “It doesn’t mean you can’t have them with you, it just means you can’t have them on your finger.”

So with all the safety risks and controversy surrounding the Western tradition, perhaps it’s time to rethink the significance of the wedding ring.

Dave Thornton certainly thinks so. The guest blogger stirred up Mamamia readers with his post: ‘I’ll Never Wear a Wedding Ring’ in October. “To me, a wedding ring is a nice tradition but it doesn’t define the relationship,” he wrote. Besides, “the jewellery would be annoying.”

Readers fired back in the comments with arguments as to why the ring is an important tradition to preserve. “When you get married to someone, you make a commitment to them. The ring is a physical symbol of your commitment,” said one. “I realise that it’s considered cool & edgy to buck tradition, but I wear my wedding ring and I’m bloody proud to wear it,” another chimed in. However, there were some commentators who backed Dave up with his stance. One had a friend who had lost a hand after getting caught in a machine. One said a ring had given their Mother arthritis. Some just weren’t big on jewellery or tradition and thought the money could be better spent on the couple building their lives together or put towards buying a house.

Perhaps the ideology behind the ring has become weak enough to replace it with a tattoo or whatever else the non-conformist mind dreams up. Perhaps tradition means nothing at all in this crazy new world anyway. At the end of the day, it’s really up to the distinct couple and what works for them. There doesn’t have to be a right or wrong way to live out a marriage or to prove a commitment to the rest of the world. All that really matters is true happiness on behalf of both parties in the relationship and showing it off in a way that suits them best.

Study in the spring time

So after nearly six months of not attending classes – you know, just casually frolicking around New York City and all that jazz – I’m right back into the swing of things for my last semester EVER. I’m currently in week five and can’t wait to finally have my bachelors degree in my hot little hands. In the meantime, however, I’m making the most of student life and the gorgeous campus at Bond University.

I’ve been working on a street style photography project for our student publication, Baked magazine, of which I’m the editor this semester. Having constantly kept an eye out for every trendy little detail of every well-dressed student, I’ve found myself putting just that little bit more effort into my own outfit each day, even just to study in the library.

It’s difficult to dress in an appropriate manner for this unpredictable spring weather – some days it’s hot, some days it’s cold, quite often it’s windy and there’s been a drizzle of rain on the odd occasion. On top of that, the air conditioning at Bond is beyond ridiculous, and so layering is essential.

Thanks to this gorgeous striped jacket, I think I’ve got that whole layering thing down pat. At least for today’s outfit. I picked this little beauty up for a bargain (somewhere between $10-20) at a hidden little shop in SoHo. I think it was called Mystique Boutique, or something like that anyway.

As I’ve discussed previously, the tangerine Michael Kors tote and I were obvs meant to be together. I don’t think I need to carry on any more about that little wonder than I already have. 

The sandals are Aldo, the top’s Forever New, the belt’s Kookai, the shades are Vogue Eyewear. I wish this had been a better shot of the cuff – it’s a gorgeous gold-studded leather piece from Little Locket, my new favourite online jewellery store. I wear it quite often, so you’ll probably see it in another post in the near future anyway.

I’m completely obsessed with this skirt at the moment – my second cousin Roma picked it out for me while we were op shopping at a wonderful little op shop in Brooklyn and I fell in love straight away.  Op shopping is normally something I just don’t do. I don’t mean that in a snobby “ewwwwww gross, not second-hand!” kind of way, but mostly just because I don’t think I’m very good at ‘digging’ for clothes, if you know what I mean. It’s like I just wait for things to jump out at me.

Anyhoo, there we have it. My take on student spring fashion. Be sure to leave feedback in the comments below.

Bombs Away at Platinum Nightclub

View the published article at InTheMix

Platinum Nightclub never fails to provide a good night out, what with its outstanding lighting, decent dance space and most importantly, an impressive list of A-class DJs. Guests who’ve rocked Platinum in the past include Utah Saints, Ferry Corsten, LMFAO, Laidback Luke, Miami Horror,Vandalism, Bloc Party, Fedde Le Grande and many more from all over the world.

In the meantime, Bombs Away is Australia’s answer to LMFAO – going from strength to strength as a couple of the country’s most sought-after artists, not only within the club industry, but also with their original tracks hitting the charts and staying there. So what could be a better night out than rocking out to Bombs Away at Platinum Nightclub? Clearly, that was the question on the minds of half the GC on Saturday night as they lined up out the door in Broadbeach.

No strangers to the club scene, the Bombs Away boys know how to entertain. The moment they hit the decks somewhere around 1am, sequin-studded girls jumped to the nearest podiums to bust their moves while those remaining quickly made their way to the already packed dance floor. The boys got the crowd going with their big hits, including Big Booty Bitches, Swagger, Get Stoopid and my personal favourite, Supersoaker. They kept the room’s energy levels high with their own moves, jumping up next to their decks with mikes and not holding back for even just a second.

Platinum added to an already energized performance with first-class special effects, including a shower of confetti from the ceiling and a smoke machine overload. Drinks were spilling all over the place but the party people were too caught up in having fun to mind. Even the most sober of guests were kept buzzing from energetic lights and sounds, unable to stop dancing until my feet could no longer keep on moving. Who would have thought that even as the designated driver, this could have turned into one of my best ever nights out? Huge kudos to Platinum for such an awesome, entertaining event – I can’t wait to see who’s headlining next!

Static Revenger at Liv Nightclub

View the published article at InTheMix

Liv Nightclub may have only opened its doors with a fantastic grand opening gala just over two weeks ago, but the new Surfers Paradise club is already reeling in big headliner names. Not only is popular DJ and singer Havana Brown scheduled to play later this month, but the renowned Static Revenger also came all the way from the US of A to deliver a world-class performance at the venue on Saturday night.

Armed with two rocking go-go dancers on either side, he wasted no time in getting the party started, starting the set off just past midnight with none other than I like that, the classic 2009 hit produced by the main man himself, alongside Richard Vission and with vocals from club scene queen Luciana. With that, the crowd immediately flocked to the floor, unable to resist such a first-rate dance floor anthem.

Aside from his own self-produced tracks, he dropped an abundance of his own takes on party favourites with remixes of The Killers’ Mr Brightside and of course, a touch of Daft Punk. My personal pick was an upbeat revise of Kim Carnes hit, Bette Davis Eyes, revamped with a hip-swaying twist for the dance club scene.

This club is all about lights, lights, lights and the magnificent LED and strobe light displays perfectly complimented the ambience of SRs static beats. Liv made the night complete with custom glow sticks and of course, a giant anthropomorphic penguin (what else?) to add a little something extra to photo opportunities and pump up the already energetic crowd. I found myself not wanting to risk heading to the bar to order a drink for fear of missing any moment of the show. Instead, I stayed glued to the dance floor, pumping my arms in the air with my two novelty foam-padded glow sticks and dancing like there was no tomorrow.

One can only dance in stilettos for so long before losing all feeling in their feet and so the time eventually came to make my way to the Orchid Ave taxi rank and leave the nightclub, still pumping, behind me. The Static Revenger show was beyond entertaining and evidently well organised, the epitome of a successful night out dancing. After a great start to a brand new club, I’ll be sure to return to Liv in the near future, keen to see what more they have planned for the party people of the Gold Coast.