Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Back by popular demand... Cinnadoodles!



And then, to borrow the immortal words of Faux Fuchsia, last night the universe spoke to me and told me to bake.

It will come as no surprise that I really do love to bake. A regular Betty Crocker. I will often whip up a cake or a batch of biscuits on spec and most of the time will take some of the bounty into the office with me to share with my hard working colleagues (mostly so I don't eat them all myself). The first thing that happened when it was announced I was leaving was that I got a flood of emails from people asking who would now bake for them! I was flattered, and promised to get my bake on in the lead up to my departure.

To honour this promise I got out the old Kenwood Chef last night and whipped up a batch of these beauties, which I discovered on Not Quite Nigella's beautiful blog. They are the best cookies ever and are very well recieved by friends, work colleagues, husbands (who sometimes try to convince you not to take them into the office because they like them so much)...

I am also at a significant advantage because many of my work colleages (who devour these with gusto) often travel to the US for work so they can keep me supplied with cinnamon chips with a minimum of fuss. For those who don't have this luxury, they can be easily accessed through USA Foods in Melbourne. Or follow the recipe for making your own using white chocolate and cinnamon on NQN's site.

I can't recommend these cookies highly enough - they always look beautiful and if you are a cinnamon lover like I am, they are an absolute joy to eat. And I also think they are particularly seasonal, what with Easter this weekend and cinnamon being one of the spices traditionally used in baking Hot Cross Buns. Yummy!

Enjoy!

Kitty xx

Cinnadoodles, courtesy of Not Quite Nigella
(originally adapted from a recipe by Martha Stewart)

2 3/4 cups plain flour plus a few tablespoons more if needed

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup/250g unsalted butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 large eggs

283g bag of Hershey’s cinnamon chocolate chips

3 tablespoons sugar

3 teaspoons ground cinnamon


1. Preheat oven to 350F/180C. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. Put butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in eggs. Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in flour mixture. Add in cinnamon chips.



2. Stir together cinnamon and remaining 3 tablespoons sugar in a small bowl. Shape dough into round balls using a teaspoon; roll in cinnamon sugar. Space 3 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper or a Silpat. Press down slightly to assist in providing a perfect shape when baked.



3. Bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through, until edges are golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Don’t overbake the cookies as they will lose their chewy texture and they will firm up on cooling. Let them cool on cookie sheet for a minute or two, then transfer to a cooling rack.


Reading... The Wedding Officer.

I was first introduced to the writings of Anthony Capella about 18 months ago, while Mr Kitty and I were travelling around Europe on our three month honeymoon. We had arrived at our little hutch (read: tiny house) outside Florence after travelling non-stop for almost two months and this was the first place we had an entire week in the one spot. It was bliss.


As a result of slowing down our travelling pace both Mr Kitty and I got sick. Really sick. I got a really bad cold and Mr Kitty got a migraine. It happens reasonably often to us, but as a result we didn't do an awful lot in Florence this time, other than try and recuperate. I have memories of trying to find strepsils or anything that would stop me coughing and soothe my throat and being offered a Kinder Surprise by an apologetic non-English speaking supermarket employee while searching for lozenges. I know Kinder Suprises are awesome but last time I checked they aren't a cold reliever.

But I digress.

One of the luxuries of this little hutch - other than the big screen TV, swimming pool and blessed airconditioning in the blisteringly hot heat - was the library of books left by previous residents and visitors. One of the books that I read, while Mr Kitty was laying prostrate across our bed, was The Food of Love by Anthony Capella. It's one of the best food books I have ever read - the descriptions of food and the language was so evocative I found myself constantly having to eat. Like a woman posessed. I read it in a day, almost without putting it down. It's sensational. The book tells the story of Laura, a student who comes to Italy to study and who and falls in love with Tomasso, a waiter posing as a chef, but in reality she falls for the spectacular food created by Bruno, Tomasso's best friend, who loves Laura from a far. The food of Rome however, is by far and away the star of this novel and if you like food even just a little bit, I think you'll love this book.


When I noticed last week on my fortnightly trawl of Dymocks that he had written another novel, it was immediately snatched up by moi and devoured. TheWedding Officer is set in occupied Naples just after the Allies invade in 1944. British Captain James Gould arrives in Naples to take up the post of the ‘Wedding Officer’, responsible for discouraging English soldiers from marrying the local women. When he becomes rather too good at his job, the locals arrange for him to employ a recently widowed girl from a small town on the side of Mt Vesuvius called Livia Pertini as his cook, in the hopes that her remarkable skills in the kitchen – not to mention her beauty – will turn him around to their way of thinking. Under her influence and cooking tutorials, James learns to stop worrying about unimportant matters such as war brides, black marketeering, mafia corruption and so on – but when Mt Vesuvius erupts, placing Livia in grave danger, he realises that he is also going to have to make a choice between his orders and his heart.

It's a really good book - if you can get your hands on it for a reasonable price then it's definitely worth a read. Unfortunately I don't think it's as good - from a food point of view - as The Food of Love, but from a historical perspective it is absolutely awesome. He writes with such passion you honestly feel like you are in the novel, cooking with the characters. Apparently they are making the novel into a film which I'm sure will be excellent (so long as they don't make the same mistakes as they made with Captain Corelli's Mandolin, like casting Nicolas Cage).

Apparently Capella has written another book - The Various Flavours of Coffee - that I will attempt to track down and read next. In the mean time I might have to satisfy myself with reading The Food of Love again!

Available at Dymocks online for just $10.95.

Kitty

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Statement necklace: Sale

For those of you who liked Mimco's Tuxedo Princess choker that I posted as part of my accessories update last week, it's now on sale. Reduced from $269 to $149. Bargain.

If I didn't have an almost identical one from last year I'd buy it. Available here along side a whole bunch of fabulously well priced (read - on sale) merchandise.

Kitty

A dilemma: which KitchenAid?

As many of you might already be aware, I am an avid baker. I am particularly fond of baking biscuits and cakes - many of which I give away at Christmas as gifts to friends and work colleagues. We have a very old Kenwood Chef at home - and although it technically still does the trick, admirable after 30+ years of dedicated service, the time has come to look into a replacement. I'll miss baking with her, but I certainly won't miss the insane amount of noise she makes (the cats hide every time I drag her out) - nor will I miss having to hold her down on the bench anytime I want to cook anything.

After many years of lusting after a KitchenAid, the time has finally come to buy a new one. As part of my leaving gift from work, I have asked for a Peters of Kensington voucher which I can put towards the purchase of my shiny new toy!

The only dilemma is - which one to buy? The problem: I'm not sure what colours my new kitchen in the house will be, but it's likely to be a neutral kitchen. It's definitely going to be modern and we are having some kind of caesarstone or granite benchtop. I have narrowed it down to these four:

KitchenAid Cream:
Very neutral and classic - It won't go out of style in a hurry. It wouldn't look out of place in any kitchen - it's a very practical choice. But I wonder if it's a tad... boring for Miss Kitty?

KitchenAid Pistachio:
I've always loved the muted green of this KitchenAid. It's soft enough to not clash with most things but it's got a style and simplicity all it's own. It might make a nice contrast in a neutral kitchen. It's the kind of mixer Martha would own and that would be a good thing. But will the green go out of style?

KitchenAid Candy Apple (Limited Edition):
I'm a sucker for anything limited. It have an exclusivity about it. The metallic sheen of the candy apple makes it more appealing to me than the straight Empire Red (which would have been on this list had the Candy Apple not been available). I do wonder if it's going to be too bright for a neutral kitchen though? And because it's limited, I can't buy the matching blender, kitchenwhizz etc. down the track. Dilemma!

And finally...

KitchenAid Metallic Silver: I do really love this one. We are going to have a fair amount of silver in the house so this will work as an accent without looking too industrial. And it would likely go with the appliances (oven, fridge etc.). But will it be too matchy matchy?

So I'd appreciate your comments - which KitchenAid should I buy??

Kitty xx

Monday, March 29, 2010

Going shopping with Miss Kitty...

Last Thursday I went shopping. Well, I went LOOKING and trying on, with no real intention of buying. Not that I wasn't going to buy but I didn't have the intention, you see. There is a distinct difference.

Anyway, as per usual I found myself at the Strand Arcade Branch of Leona Edmiston. I was looking at the Tara - a beautiful but sadly for me, impractical dress - but managed to walk out instead with these two beauties:

The Carly from the Leona (or Diffusion) line is a dress I wouldn't normally look at. It's navy - with colourful lines across it. It breaks all my fashion rules (it's not black! There are horizontal lines!) but when I put it on, I felt like a 1960's retro princess. A modern version, of course! And it was a bargain at $129.
The Carla (wow - they even almost have the same name) from the Frocks Collection isn't something I would normally look at either. It's black, granted, but it has no waist and it's made of wool, not the stretchy fabrics that I usually gravitate towards. It does have some stretch in it, but it's not thekind of dress I would normally look twice at. However, the lovely sales assistant suggested it as a dress I should try on, and boy am I glad I did.

On first impressions, it does look a bit shapeless, but once you start moving, you can understand the beauty of this dress. The weight of the wool makes it beautifully swishy and the cut means it can be dressed up or down with ease. And although I thought it would be a bit too short on me, the length actually make my legs look reeeeally long. The raffia brooch is detachable and this dress would look fantastic with heels in the office or with opaque stockings and boots on the weekend, for a more casual look.

This dress was significantly more than the other one. But if you average them out it's not too bad...

So - two more dresses to add to my ever expanding collection. Now all I have to do is wait for it to get cool enough to wear them!

Kitty xx

Date night: Kyushu in Neutral Bay

Once a fortnight, Mr Kitty and I go out for Date Night. We go to the same Japanese restaurant in Neutral Bay that we have been going to since we first started dating. The decor isn't great, it's noisy, busy and they turn tables over with breathtaking speed, but the food is sensational. Oh yes, mark my words, you definitely go there for the food. In fact my parents often like to eat here twice when they visit Sydney - it's that good!

Kyushu is located on Grosvenor Street, around the corner from the Oaks (and for anyone who has hunted for wedding dresses in Sydney, a few doors down from the Vera Wang Lady). It's in the bottom of a office building - it doesn't look particularly authentic from the outside. You do need to book - occasionally you can get away with not booking if you come really early and you are prepared to eat at the bar, but my tip is to book - as far in advance as possible!

Mr Kitty and I usually order the same things - or slight variations of the same things. We will always start with the endamame, and then he will usually have the seafood salad and I'll have the spicy tuna rolls. We'll also get some tuna and kingfish nigiri. Occasionally we'll get the gyoza or the fish kara age as a special treat.

For mains we usually stick to the best on the menu - the teriyaki beef. It's sublime. Best I have ever had. However last Friday we opted to only have a few appetisers (sushi and endamame) and instead went the whole hog and ordered the Tonkatsu as well as the beef! Tonkatsu is the Japanese version of schnitzel with BBQ sauce - the thick pork fillet is marinated and then crumbed and deep fried. It's absolute heaven. Calorific, but really good for a treat.


Kyushu Japanese Restaurant

9-11 Grosvenor Street
Neutral Bay 2089
Ph: 02 9953 8272 (be persistant - the phone line is often busy)

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Top Five... Must have accessories!

A little while ago I blogged about the Top 10 Must have clothing staples. It was really well received, and even Leona Edmiston talked about it on her Facebook page vis a vis the LBD recommendation! Unfortunately no free dresses for me (tis a shame since I already own so many and I am a massive brand advocate of her luxe-wear) but I did promise at the time to follow up with a post on accessories. So here it is.

Footwear

Shoes are very important in a classic, well rounded wardrobe. You can't really go far out of the house without them, now can you! My advice around work shoes is really two-fold: buy the most expensive pair you can afford and make sure they are a really classic style. Classic black stiletto heeled pumps are never out of style. Christian Louboutin New Simple 120s are my shoe of choice - They are smart, stylish, high, and they have an almond toe which doesn't date them. They also fit my feet really well which is also super important. Other brands to consider include Prada, Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, Midas, Gary Castles, Nine West and Wittner.


There are other items I think no shoe-drobe is complete without: A good ballet flat or other style flat shoe that is supportive and comfortable for about town activities, a pair of evening shoes or sandals, a comfortable pair of boots (knee-high or ankle - you choose), and a great pair of casual summer sandals. Some people like gladiators, I think they are a passing trend. Like Harem pants.

I love Wittner, Sambag, French Sole, Aerosole and Bloch for flats, I adore Miu Miu and Christian Louboutin for evening shoes, Duo for boots that really fit and I get summer sandals from Midas, Gucci, Miu Miu and Nine West.Jewellery

A really important part of your wardrobe, jewellery can make or break an outfit. Too big and it can draw attention away from your pretty face, too insignificant and it can get lost or be considered an afterthough, too colourful and it can clash with your outfit. After careful consideration, I think everybody needs the following pieces in their accessories draw:

A string of pearls and pearl earrings: They don't have to be traditional or classic, they can be modern and bold. Large baroque pearls or oval pearls can be younger than the 1950's strand of round pearls if you are worried about looking like your Nana. Earrings don't have to match - but they are useful if you work in a corproate environment. Or if you just want to look polished.



Great stockists of real pearls include Kailis, Paspaley, Jan Logan (pictured above) and Autore, or try a mnufacturing jeweller for good quality pearls at a more affordable price. For cheaper alternatives (some that look as good as the real thing) try Mimco (pictured below), The Family Jewels in Paddington and David Jones or Myer.

A statement necklace or earrings: I fully accept that some people aren't fans of earrings (and apparently some people don't even have their ears pierced!) so my caveat on this is that you do what works for you. Quite often you can get some great fashion pieces from places like Diva or Equip - the statement piece doesn't have to be expensive and it can serve a few different purposes depending on what style it takes: it can dress up or down an outfit, it can add a splash of colour or sparkle or add a bit of personality to a corporate look while still keeping it suity.

Prada
did a great line of sparkly necklaces and earrings backed with felt a few seasons ago that were promptly ruined by a certain D-List celebrity who shall go un-named on this blog to a cricketing gala function. Suffice to say Miss Kitty rang Prada the following day and took her name off the waitlist for the necklace. True story.

Back to my point, which is this. A statement piece can be made of wood, diamonds or macaroni. It just has to be big, bold and you. Mimco do an amazing range of statement jewellery.


A classic watch

Something that is timeless but clearly tells the time. For me this is different to jewellery because it's practical as well as decorative. Some people say it's worth investing in an expensive timepiece, the choice is really yours as to how much you want to spend. Good suppliers of quality timewear include TAG Heuer (pictured below), Patek Philippe, Jaeger Le Coultre, Rolex and Longines. Other good - but less expensive - brands include DKNY, Seiko and Swatch.

I have a watch for daytime (a few actually) and one for evening. But a good watch, like the beauty above, can transcend day and night and it's worth spending time to find a good one. I prefer a full metal band but a leather one can look elegant too.

Handbags

I have handbags of all shapes sizes and colours, however I do appreciate that not everyone is as enamoured with handbags as I am. In fact I have friends who have just one. Is true. We have other things in common, you must understand.

The trick with a handbag - if you are going to invest in just the one - is to make it as neutral as possible. Black is preferred, but if you really can't abide it, dark brown will also do.

Think about what you want to do with it - do you need to carry around half a library of books and a make-up counter or is your idea of a heavy load a credit card, a key and a phone? The size of your bag should be dictated by what you need to schlep around.

I think handbags should always complement your outfit - they don't have to match but they should look appropriate - in style, colour and shape. Classic styles include the tote (appropriate for weekends and casual events), the bowling bag (fun but still stylish enough for work in the right material), the shoulder (a classic all purpose bag that is particularly good for Mums, keeping their hands free for other things) and hobos (which are slouchy and fun and great for weekends).

Bag with a lot of hardware might not be appropriate for a particularly corporate setting, but would look great going out of an evening or on the weekend.

Classic "investment" everyday bags can be purchased from Louis Vuitton, Prada, Hermes, Miu Miu (pictured below), Mulberry, Bally, Longchamps, Lanvin, Chloe and Yves St Laurent.
Good quality moderatley priced bags can be snapped up at Furla (online or overseas only, unless you live in Canberra where they still maintain a retail presence - and pictured below), Mimco, Oroton, Coach, Witchery and Estilo.
If you are only going to just have one, I recommend a black or brown shoulder bag made from a soft leather with minimal hardware. This should take you from day to night, from the office to weekends, with a minimal amount of fuss.

Another wardrobe essential is the clutch or evening bag. Some people might argue with me here, but to be honest, carrying around a day bag to a more formal event or cocktails (where you haven't come straights for work) is to me tantamount to wearing blundstone boots with a ballgown. No matter how you look at it, it's clunky. It doesn't have to be fancy, sparkly or fussy (however those things are highly desirable in an evening bag and can help dress up a plainer outfit). A plain black clutch will also do the trick admirably. Good ones can be purchased from Oroton and Bally, less expensive bags, try your local Strandbags. And investment is sometimes warranted here but to be honest, if you aren't going to get that much use out of it, I'd recommend a cheaper option. You are better off spending the money on your day bag.

Wraps and Pashminas

Wraps and pashminas are a great way to add colour to a basic wardrobe and an absolute must have. They act as a scarf, can double as a cardigan or wrap and make a nifty blanket or pillow when you are travelling on a plane. There are lots of different materials and how often you use them (and the climate you live in) should determine how much you spend.

You can buy cheap ($20) colourful ones from Bijoux Terner and I have bought them from eBay, Zara and Myer with no troubles in the past. I also often buy them in markets when I travel through Asia. I have a range of colours including mint green, lavender, pink, dark burgandy, leopard print (my favourite - it's also massive) and silver. I find they add fabulous splashes of colour to a classic black trench or coat and I wear them as much on weekends as I do to the office during winter.

My "investment" recommedation is cashmere. It's beautiful, light but warm and cosy. Fabulous if you travel or if you live in a slightly colder climate or - if you are like me and have poor circulation. The best buys are from the Pashmina Store in the US. They often have sales or if you search on Google you can often find a voucher that will provide you with free shipping or a discount on their already impressively low prices. I have a black one and am thinking about buying another.

That's my list of accessory must haves. Practical and sensible - for the most part - but still an opportunity for expression and personality. Do you think I have missed anything out?

Kitty

Trendspotting: One shouldered maxi gowns

As a devoted lover of impractical fashion trends, I am always on the look out for the next wave in eveningwear.

I don't have much opportunity to get glammed up in a full length gown (neither in my current role and I'm guessing it's probably even less likely in my next one) but that doesn't stop me looking out for divine inspiration...

This season, many designers seem to be doing the one shouldered maxi. Now I am a massive fan of the maxi dress. I find it slimming and stylish on most people and practical for most wardrobes. You can dress it up or down, layer it for winter or throw on some sparkly or statement earrings and you have perfectly acceptable evening attire.

When I first came across the trend, I have to say that the one shoulder threw me somewhat. It's certainly more formal than the average maxi dress, which is why I am referring to them as maxi gowns.

Here are some of my favourites:

Divine number from Marchesa at Net-a-Porter.

Love the colour of this one - again Halston Heritage from Net-a-Porter.

Fabulous colour from the goddess of dresses, Leona Edmiston.


Classic black with texture for interest, from Leona Edmiston.

The frill and beading makes for an interesting contrast. Marc Bouwer Glamit! from Neiman Marcus.

And this dress is a stunner - love the waterfall bow detailing and the colour is gorgeous. Robert Rodriguez Black Label from Neiman Marcus. Wouldn't it go well with these jewels from Rox in the Strand Arcade?
Hmmm. Maybe I might just have to invest in a one shouldered maxi!

Kitty

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

20% off Leona Edmiston Online!


To celebrate the 9th birthday of the label, Leona Edmiston is offering 20% off purchases online. I just bought a Monica dress - pictured below. It's one of my all time favourites, so flattering and classic, and it was so reduced it was practically a steal. A crime not to buy it. They basically gave it away.


Thanks Leona. And I hope you have a truly happy birthday. I know I enjoyed my present!

Kitty x

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Treading water

Does anyone else feel like this occasionally? Like no matter what you do or which way you turn, the status quo never changes. At the moment I feel like this in so many areas of my life - at work, where I have 5 or so weeks to go before finishing up and I don't feel it's particularly my place to start any new projects; at home, where we are on another iteration of plans for the renovation (although I have been reliable informed that we are now really really close); on the baby front where we are constantly waiting waiting waiting...

I just want something to happen! It's really frustrating when you really feel like there is nothing you can do to make things move forward in any area of your life. And for someone who always likes to be busy and productive, it's the worst kind of place to be.

So - I have made a decision. Instead of waiting for things to happen to me, I am going to try and make them happen. My first project combines two areas of my life - job and home. Once I finish up here, my project is going to be working on the renovations pretty much full time. A kind of project manager, if you will (but without the technical expertise and ability). I'll work on materials, finishes and budgets with sign off from Mr Kitty. I'm hoping it's going to be fun and I know it's going to be a really steep learning curve, but I am okay with that. After 14 years of doing essentially the same thing, I am ready for a new challenge, and who knows, this might be a new addition to Miss Kitty's repetoire. A new string to my bow. A new chapter in my book. Yadda yadda.

At least it will keep me off the streets. And make me feel like I am moving forward in a few areas of my life!

Kitty xx

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Hmmmm....

Can't work out if these are hot or hideous.


They might be cutting edge fashion. Or they could be drag queen shoes. It's a very fine line. Either way, I don't think they are for me. Sad, because I usually love everything Miu Miu does.

They are available from Neiman Marcus, if you are interested.

Kitty

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Wednesday: Three things I want...

Hello chickens!

A brief post this Wednesday. Here are three things I really want right now and have put on my list of items to covet:

A Tiffany Key

I have wanted one of these since they came out. I was close to buying one last year when I was in the US but they didn't have the exact chain I wanted and I was hesitant to buy it without seeing it on the chain first. So I didn't. Now I am going back to the US I want to buy one. It's much cheaper to buy over there than in Australia.

Some people might think they are fashionable rather than classic, but I get a lot of wear out of my other Tiffany jewellery so it's something I think is a worthwhile investment. For me anyway. I am planning to put it on an uber long chain. Swishy.

A silver handbag

A disclaimer - I actually already have a silver handbag but it's so pretty I feel I need another. I also didn't take care of the first one very well because I used it every day and the silver leather marks far easier than regular black leather so it's starting to look a bit worn. It's a silver leather Furla Bowling Bag and it is Fabulous. This time I want a slouchy shoulder bag, I think.

I think metallics are the new nude. So versatile.

I like this bag:It's a Burberry Prorsum Bag, available from Net-a-Porter (my shopping Mecca). And I love that it has little fringes - the texture is really cute. Pity about the price (it's a bit more than I wanted to spend right now) but I will keep looking I think... You never know.

Halston Heritage dress


How HOT is this dress? It is AMAZING. Chic chic! Tis very Talitha Getty. I'm SURE Rachael Zoe would approve. It's from Net-a-Porter.

Unfortunately this is the one thing on the list that I want but I probably won't get - although it would very much suit my imagined dream of "a lady who lunches" which I hope to enact once my retirement comes about, I don't think it's particularly practical. Not for cleaning out cupboards and meeting with builders anyway. It's more a cocktail by the pool with friends look.

What are some of the things you are after, my pretties?

Kitty xx

Monday, March 8, 2010

Oscars Fashion

Ahhh - the Academy Awards. How I love a good red carpet frock, and this year's Oscars were certainly up to par with previous occasions. There were some stunners and shockers and a lot of in between.

So, in true Kitty tradition, who do I think were the best and the worst dressed? This is by no means an exhaustive list - in fact I have limited myself to 5 of each, which was a real struggle.

The best of the best

Cameron Diaz



I'm not normally a huge fan of Le Cameron, but tonight she is definitely one of the most stunning women on the red carpet. Her hair, her divine Oscar de la Renta dress, her simple accessories all worked beautifully. She shimmers like the golden girl she is. The message is not lost on us Rachel Zoe.


Carey Mulligan



I recently saw An Education on a plane. It was the best film I have seen in a very long time (better than Avatar, even). And Carey was miraculous in the film - truly stunning. Her Oscars look really represents who she is - her style is truly her own and it is fabulous. the prada dress is quirky yet stylish and fun. She is one to watch for the future, ladies.

Helen Mirren


This woman doesn't do bad red carpet. She always looks amazing, and age appropriate. Her hair is always immaculate, her makeup understated. She is magnificent.

Vera Farmigia



This dress had mixed reviews from the pundits. I loved it. It's interesting, colourful and I adore the texture. It's a brave choice and it pays off. She let the dress speak and kept the accessories minimal. The colour and shape reminds me of the Galliano dress that Cameron Diaz wore to the Costume Institute Gala. Marchesa is usually a safe bet for red carpet.

Mariska Hargitay



This is one seriously under-rated red carpet dresser. Her look is always polished and classic, whilst still retaining that sexy edge. Her hair is perfect, her jewellery minimal. It's all good. and she deserves a place on this list, if only for repeat services rendered to the red carpet over a number of years.



I did toy with putting Tina Fey in the number 5 position on this list, but i really think that she under-did the accessories just a fraction... It's a very fine line. Some people have said she lost her nerve after the reaction to her dress at the golden Globes, but I think she was just playing it a bit safer - the Oscars are a more formal occasion after all.

People who need help


J-Lo


Are you serious? I wonder about the mirrors at this lady's house, I really do. In what universe does a padded dress seem appropriate for a woman with a booty? Massive fail - worst dress of the night. Easily. Hair bad too.

Charlize Theron


In essence, this isn't a bad dress. It's just the tacky detailing that makes this one a no for me. Sad because the colour is pretty and frankly she would look good in a garbage bag. It's more disappointment from me because she can do so much better.

Zoe Saldana


I don't care what the Na'vi wear, this is hideous. the seams aren't flat, the ruffles are prom dress circa 1984 and the less said about the rhinestones the better. it's like the designer (Givenchy, if you are interested) threw together all the elements he knew from red carpet dressing into the one dress. Clumsy and ugly.

Deborah Ann Woll


I don't really know who this actress is (I looked her up and she is in True blood) but she sure made an impact on me, and not for the right reasons. This dress is all kinds of wrong - it makes her round shouldered and the colour is truly bad on her. It makes her look flat chested. The pleating is bad. Just all bad. It hurts my eyes. The less said about the make-up the better.

Chanel Couture



My last entrant in the worst dressed category is actually a tie between Diane Kruger and Sarah Jessica Parker. They both wore Chanel Couture so I think it's appropriate. both women are better dressers than this and their choices were disappointing. SJP's dress had absolutely no shape and the colour was all wrong on her. She wore too much eye make up. Diane's dress was too frilly in the wrong places which made it very unflattering to her toosh and she didn't wear enough make up to carry off the light colour. Her hair was too flat. Sad but true. Get a stylist girls - you might not think you need one but these pictures would disagree.

So those are my picks. Do you agree? Disagree? who were your faves and fails?

Kitty xx

Pictures courtesy of smh.com.au and news.com.au

Anniversary

Today is our second wedding anniversary. It's kind of strange for us, not only because the time has flown so quickly but also because we don't really tend to celebrate our wedding anniversaries as such - we have been together almost 6 years and we celebrate our dating anniversary instead. For us, it's the more relevant one.

We went through a lot together prior to getting married so it seems odd that we wouldn't include that time when thinking about our relationship together. With that in mind, celebrating the actual day we got married isn't as significant to us as it might be to other people - because we felt married long before we actually tied the knot. The wedding ceremony was a formality for us and cemented what we already knew in our hearts. It was a day for us to publicly acknowledge our love and respect for each other in front of our friends and family.

Having said that we had such a lovely wedding day. We were blessed with very good weather everything pretty much ran to plan. It was a lovely day and we look back on it very fondly.

We aren't really doing much tonight - We'll make dinner together, maybe open a bottle of wine. Maybe we'll dig out the wedding album and look at our photos from the day. But most importantly we'll spend the evening together, the same way we plan to spend the rest of our lives.

Happy Anniversary Bunny.

Here are just a few of my favourite shots from our wedding day.




Kitty xxx