Floral maxi = must have for summer. You can copy me if you like.

As I mentioned yesterday, I had my engagement party on the weekend. Bummer about the weather - it was a bit chilly and damp - but thankfully my Dad saved the day with four braziers to keep the crowd toasty.
Big ups, Mr. P!

Me and my two favourite almost-cousins.
Aren't they gorgeous?!

Naturally, I had a sleeveless dress. I could have predicted the weather from the moment I left the store 3 weeks ago with the dress in tow. But that's alright, I had a denim jacket and plenty of champagne & guava to stay warm. My dress was a gorgeous black maxi (fitted bodice, flowy skirt) with a pink and purple flower print. It's from Minty Meets Munt (called the Swifty Maxi) and the Minty girls were telling me that  they had the print custom commissioned and hand dyed for the Spring 2010 collection. I can tell it's hand dyed because there are imperfections in the print, and I love that. Doesn't feel so mass produced. Bless Minty Meets Munt.

The Minty girls were really cheeky and sold me the dress before it hit shelves, but I think it's in their store now. If not, there is a short version and pants in the same fabric. If you do buy something from this range, maybe call me if we're going to be at the same event. Could be awkward if we're unintentional twins.

Price: $189.95
From: Minty Meets Munty - 275 Crown St Surry Hills
Why you need it: Everyone needs a maxi for summer

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Tiptoe through the tulips with Portmans

Have you been into a Portmans store recently? Amazing. Sydney just got a big new Portmans in Pitt Street Mall (which I think might be a flagship) and it is G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S. The racks are overflowing with sugary sweet floral confections for summer, and the store is full of lovely vignettes that inspire (me to open my wallet). Pop over to Sassybella and check out the campaign imagery for the Spring campaign – sad that an illustration is way hotter than I will ever be. 

I haven’t been a floral dress wearer since I was about 12, but after the success (read: compliment magnet) of my orange Urban Outfitters dress, I was ready to take that plunge again (twice – I’ll tell you about the dress I got for my engagement party soon).

I went out on a limb and bought a white dress with pink and purple-y grey flowers. White means I need to be fairly vigilant with my fake tan, but I have a cupboard full of new tans that I’m trying out at the moment. Or, will try out when I get the motivation. Are you a floral girl? Have you been into a new-look Portmans yet? Are you looking forward to fake tan season?

Price: $99.95
From: Portmans

Why you need to check out their stores: It's like running through a field of poppies!

Picture credit: portmans.com.au

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Urban Outfitters haul post! Yesssss!

I get so excited by online shopping, especially when it’s from overseas stores. Whether it’s my own purchase or I’m living vicariously through someone else’s basket, there is a total thrill from hitting the submit button, then waiting for the parcel arrive. Then the rush of success when that box hits your desk and you piously open it to withdraw your beautiful clothes and accessories that have just come from across the ocean.

I got one of those parcels a couple of weeks ago. I had been putting off making my Urban Outfitters order for a while because it was all summer dresses, and ordering summer dresses in June just seemed like self-inflicted cruelty. But August is fine. It’s kind of like summer-lite in Sydney right now anyway. Right? Right?! (this is me justifying it to myself)

In no particular order, I bought: a sequin cardigan, bright green sleeveless dress, orange chiffon dress and some very rude cross stitch cards. I have worn the orange dress 5 times already (it’s a total keeper and looks rad with black tights), worn the sequin cardi twice and it’s slated for another outing this week, I have written one card and the green dress sits poised and ready for the warmer weather. I just can’t bring myself to wear a sleeveless dress when it’s still this cold.

My theory is by buying from Urban Outfitters I won’t run into too many people who have the same clothes as me (this is a huge problem when you shop at local hotspots like Sportsgirl or Myer). That said, I got in a lift this week wearing a blazer I bought from UO last year and the girl standing next to me had the same blazer in a slightly darker colour.

Price: (all in USD)
BDG Pleated Frock in green - $40, Pins & Needles Puff Sleeve Chiffon Dress in orange - $50, Silence & Noise sequin cardigan - $40, Go F*ck Yourself Subversive Cross Stitch Notecards - $5, Shipping $10
From: Urban Outfitters
Why you need to hit up UO: Fabulous, awesome clothes which are very affordable with the exchange rate right now.

Picture credit: all pics graciously stolen from urbanoutfitters.com

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Getting my urban on for winter

I went a little nuts a couple of weeks ago when the dollar was so good. I did a huge Urban Outfitters order and wrote a massive list for Victoria’s Secret and Sephora since my Mum was going over. Sadly, by the time my Mum went shopping in LA the dollar had significantly weakened (don’t worry, that didn’t stop her though) but I was far more successful with my exchange rate on my Urban Outfitters order. I love that being seasonally opposite means I can pick up their end of season stuff for a steal.

I bought two dresses, a jacket, a pair of legwarmers and 2 gifts. The jacket was a bust – first time I have been disappointed with UO. They have a range called Urban Renewal that is recycled vintage stuff, and the jacket they sent me was nothing at all like the jacket on the website. If anyone is a size 10-12 and 5’5”+, then have I got the vintage grey tweed blazer for you! Email me. But I digress.

The two dresses kick ass. I have worn the green one half a dozen times already – it’s a sweater dress so it’s warm and it has cute shoulders. The other dress also has cute shoulders but it’s super short so I can’t wear it on days I intend to bend over a lot. It’s an important consideration.

As for the legwarmers...well, I look at them a lot but I’m not sure about wearing them with tights (faux pas?) and it’s too cold for bare legs. This is quite the conundrum. Maybe I can just wear them on my arms?

Price: legwarmers $4.99; green dress $14.99; dot dress $19.99 + shipping (all in USD)
From: Urban Outfitters
Why you need it: At those prices, you’re crazy not to grab some end of season bargains!

Picture credit: All from urbanoutfitters.com

All I need is a Harley

I currently have a list in my notebook of all the big, expensive things I want to buy myself. Whilst I have been frequently adding to it, I had not been able to cross anything off until this weekend. There is nothing more satisfying than crossing something off a list, agreed?

My sister and I were catching up with an old friend for lunch and a couple of drinks at one of my locals (Hi Louise) and while we were waiting for her we did a few laps of all the vintage/secondhand/recycled stores down the Oxford St end of Crown St. I have found some amazing things in U-Turn and Cream on Crown in the past (hello, black leather skirt and silver cardigan) but this is by far the best. A black leather hoodie jacket. I think (and I’m not certain here) that they take old leather jackets and refashion them with hoods and pockets on the front. My sister bought a very similar jacket last year at General Pants; as an aside, now we have two matching leather jackets (I would say she idolises me, but it might be the other way around).

The jacket fits me snugly, it is beautiful soft leather and it looks bitchin. I can almost guarantee I’ll wear it every day for the next 4 months.

Price: $130
From: Cream on Crown
Why you need it: To keep you warm this winter AND look a little bit badass

Let's talk about my underwear

My sister, bless her little cottontails, recently started work at Nearly Nude (they are shapewear designers, get your mind out of the gutter!) This excited me no end because I have been eyeing off their goods for quite some time. You will be relieved to know she gets a staff discount - I know I was!

Anyway, being a lady of the ‘larger breasted’ variety, I have a lot of trouble with the ladies when I sleep. Nearly Nude do a bedtime bra singlet which I had wanted to buy for a while but very naively went for the cheaper option. The cheapie does the job to a degree, but now that I have experienced the true comfort of the Nearly Nude bedtime bra, I could never go back. The straps are thin, so they don’t crumple up, the cups are reinforced so they hold you in place without being invasive (especially when I’m lying on my back – my endowed sisters know what I’m talkin’ about), and they are made of the most divine fabric so they are super comfy (mainly polyamide, so it’s non flammable, comfortable and with a bit of stretch for a firm fit). I also got the skinny strap tank, which is very similar to the bedtime bra, and I wear it around the house because it’s just so darn easy to wear. My sister wears hers every day instead of a bra (too much information?) because it gives enough support and has a slight hint of tummy control. If only I was petite enough to get away with that. Sigh.

Apart from my new love of their singlets, I am completely enamoured with their unmentionables. I have always been a hard and fast Bonds girl – I have every colour of the rainbow, all in the same size and cut (are we getting too personal here?) Nearly Nude do a few different cuts –hi top, hi top g, regular g, regular briefs and boy shorts. I normally hate boy shorts but man are these great! They are so soft it feels like you are wearing nothing at all. They also have a seam in them that makes them 100% wedgie proof. No kidding, Wedgie. Proof. Undies. No wedge. No butt picking. No awkward yanking. This feature alone is worth the price.

Price: Skinny Strap Tank - $45.95, Perfect Pants (boy shorts) - $24.95, Bedtime Bra - $64.95
From: Check the Nearly Nude website for stockists – they can either give you online sites of find a stockist near your postcode
Why you need it: To look after your cleavage and never have to pick your bum again!

Picture credit: nearlynude.com.au – I wish my ass looked that good!

Mother Mary in her habit

So I had to go to a Christening yesterday, which meant going to church. After 13 years in the Catholic school system, my trips to church are few and far between these days. I see a positive in every situation though, and a trip to church meant having to buy a church-appropriate dress (and Boyfriend couldn’t object, since it was his family).

What do I deem church appropriate? Floral and knee length. The ruffle was a bonus, although there was perhaps a little too much cleavage. That said, pretty much everything I wear has too much cleavage. Blessing or curse?

Good things about this dress:
* It looks nice
* Church appropriate also covers off weddings
* It matches my new Lola by Marc Jacobs perfume ring perfectly (best birthday present! Thanks Mama Bear and Papa Bear)

Bad thing about this dress:
* It was probably the only thing in Myer not on sale when I bought it

That’s three against one, baby!

Price: $89.95
From: Myer (it’s Bardot)
Why you need it: So you too can be church appropriate

I really should have photoshopped in a halo

What's my fantasy?

As any big-boobied girl will tell you, finding bras to fit is tricky. Finding bras to fit that don’t look like maternity and/or grandma bras is even more tricky. God I wish Victoria’s Secret was in Australia. Thankfully, they ship internationally! Yes, I know we have discussed VS before, but my new order arrived yesterday so I’m all about the bra right now.

Having been to a store and been fitted properly, I know what size I am in VS so I can order online. If you haven’t been fitted in a store, you can still measure yourself at home with their very easy to follow step-by-step bra guide. Then it’s all a matter of choice. Seriously, Victoria’s Secret has so many colours, shapes, patterns, degrees of push-up, that there must be hundreds of thousands to choose from.

Personally, I tend to skip the Miranda Kerr push-ups and go straight to the DD options. Lined or un-lined? Demi or full coverage? This time around I picked 2 of the new VS Cotton, mainly because they come in 21 awesome colours but also because they are on sale 2 for $40. Oh, and because they are full coverage and mega-comfy.

So here I am, writing this blog post in my new VS Cotton pink stripes bra (yes, I look like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley) and VS Pink college trackies (yellow...UCLA...go Bruins!). No top...why would I want to wear a top and hide this beautiful work of art? In fact, I may never wear a top at home again. I’m sure Boyfriend will appreciate it, but I don’t know how our other flatmate will feel. Hmmm...

Price: VS is having a mega sale at the moment – loads of cheap deals! Shipping is scalable depending how much you order; an order under $75 is $28 shipping. (I just bought 2 bras, trackies and a swimsuit for a total of US$131 incl shipping)
From: Victoria’s Secret
Why you need it: a) Bras are really expensive in Aus and b) They are, generally speaking, ugly for the girls with girls. Big boobs deserve to look good too!

Picture credit: victoriassecret.com

Outfit yourself; look urban

I know I have said this before, but there is nothing greater than receiving a parcel in the post. When you order clothes online though, it is a whole different type of anticipation – excitement mixed in with fear of things not fitting. This feeling is amplified times 100 when you order from the States or the UK and you a) pay a fortune for shipping and b) can’t return it if it isn’t right. This was me last week. I had been lusting over a blazer from Urban Outfitters for weeks and for once in my life I was very restrained and didn’t just rush into the purchase. I must have been sick or something. Two weeks and many page impressions later, I put the credit card details in (and added a few extra things to the cart since I was already paying for shipping) and then...the wait.

Most importantly - thank goodness everything fit!!! I bought the most kick-ass camel Silence & Noise Open Front Blazer, which is going to be one of my summer go-to’s. It has a lovely almost-boyfriend shape to it, and is a versatile colour (even though I am still figuring out what it goes with). I also bought a Silence & Noise Little Brother Blazer in a bright cobalt blue. I have black and navy blazers already so thought I would go for a pop of colour in a fitted, cropped style.
I must have been having a blue moment because I also bought a BDG hammered silk tee in electric blue (or thames blue, as they call it) which creases really really easily. Darn silk. And I bought something else neon blue, but I won’t tell you about it in case it ends up in my sister’s Christmas stocking.

One of the best things about ordering from Urban Outfitters, apart from the super-fast international shipping, is the fact they are so conscious about security. They verify the card on each and every order, either with your bank or with you personally (it involves scanning your drivers license and most recent bill). I give this two very enthusiastic thumbs up because it demonstrates that they care about their customers security, and that can only be a good thing.

Price: They always have stuff on sale – tops starting from US$10 going up to US$100+ for jackets (my camel blazer was US$78) – shipping is US$70
From: Urban Outfitters
Why you need to check out their online store: For cool fashion that you can’t get here!

Picture credit: urbanoutfitters.com

Sparkle and shine on a Friday!

Happy Friday! After a quick glance in the mirror, it appears Friday is all about the sparkles. I'm rocking my black sequin cropped jacket that I bought a couple of weeks ago. I went on a lunchtime shopping mission today and got about 6 compliments on my jacket, so the ego is feeling pretty good right about now. It was a cheapie purchase from a little store in the QVB, but, according to my friend who works in fashion, it looks expensive. Works for me.

Speaking of my lunchtime mission, I bought SO much today! I went a little nuts in Sportsgirl and will write all about my purchases at some stage on the weekend. I also popped into Equip and picked up a really fat, chunky sparkler. It's a cocktail ring with a huge dome of black diamantes that is quite heavy and could do some serious damage if you crossed me in a dark alley. It's also a little difficult to type whilst wearing it, but I had to put it on straight away. Nevermind that I will probably end up with bruises on my hands by the end of the day! Maybe I should just stop working now...hmmm...

The jacket

Price: $29.95

From: Ignite - QVB Sydney

Why you need it: Sequin jacket! It turns every outfit into a party.

The ring

Price: $19.99

From: Equip

Why you need it: We covered off cocktail rings on Monday, so hopefully you have retained that important message. This is a small bucks entry into the category.

Picture credit: 'scuse the crappy camera-phone pics

Attention shoppers: it's a sale-y kinda weekend!

If you're a Sydney gal, make sure you grab your wallet, put on something you can modestly change in and out of (singlet and skirt is best) and head down to Fox Studios, sorry, "Entertainment Quarter", on the weekend for the Sass & Bide warehouse sale.

I went down last night to check it out and walked away with a couple of bargains. It's still big bucks for the fashion garments - think sequin vests, jackets, black rats and studded singlets, but the real bargains are in the jeans. With the jeans starting at $30, you're crazy not to just grab armloads. That's chump change for Sass & Bide's! There are a few seasons worth of designs, ranging from the regular blue jeans to the crazy textured, coloured and detailed seasonal stuff. I counted about 12 tables of jeans so you definitely need patience when searching (the signs that indicate what size is available on each table? Merely a guide) but you can uncover a whole bunch of denim gold (but sadly, no gold denim. I checked)

My hot tip is to lurk around the outside of the changing room (that's not as creepy as it sounds) because after people try stuff on and then dump it, it goes back to the table just outside the door to be hung and redistributed. You'll thank me later.

Price: S&B jeans from $30
From: S&B warehouse sale - Byron Kennedy Hall, The Entertainment Quarter (Lang Road, Moore Park) Friday 6th Nov: 10am - 6pm; Saturday 7th Nov: 10am - 5pm; Sunday 8th Nov: 10am - 3pm - Cash EFTPOS and major credit cards accepted.
Why you need it: Everyone needs hot jeans!

Good news for our northern friends: Brisbane gets the goods 26th - 29th November 2009 RNA showgrounds. Melbourne isn't due for another sale til 2010.

Something else special that's happening this weekend is the offtherunway.com.au pop up shop in Woollahra. Usually restricted to the cyber-highways of the interwebs, this lux accessories retailer will be live and in the flesh at 39 Queen St Woollahra peddling their wares from names like Michelle Jank, Elke, Anya Hindmarch, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Luella and many more.

I have my eye on a particular lara bohinc wallet that I have been in love with for quite some time, so if you make it down and see it, ask them to put it aside for me.

Price: $475 for the lara bohinc wallet I want (I can dream, right?!)
From: offtherunway.com.au Pop Up store - 39 Queen St Woollahra Fri 6th - Sun 8th Nov 9am-6pm each day
Why you need it: So you can touch and feel the gorgeous accessories you would normally have to buy online without seeing first.

Picture credit: offtherunway.com.au; sassandbide.com

Charity on your chest with Jeanswest

You know October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, right? This is a hugely important issue for EVERYONE everywhere, not just women (everyone has a mother). I've already talked about Dunlop's efforts and no doubt I'll talk about a few more in the coming weeks, but today it's all about Jeanswest. This is the fifth year that Jeanswest have done the Designer Charity Tee Collection (I still have my Kirrily Johnston shirt from 2 years ago - love). Each year Jeanswest join forces with a handful of fashionable-type-important people and $10 from the sale of every shirt goes to the Cancer Council's Pink Ribbon Day. So really, it's a perfectly legitimate excuse to go shopping.

This year Arabella Ramsay, Lucette and Mimco all designed tees and the three designs are quite different to each other so you should be able to find something that suits your taste (folk art? tribal stencilling? girl band glam? well you're just picky, aren't you!). I bought the pink Arabella Ramsey shirt, and I'm considering going back for the Lucette tribal shirt.

Price: $29.99
From: Jeanswest
Why you need one: You'll get a warm, fuzzy feeling from knowing you're supporting a worthwile charity, whilst also rocking a kickass new shirt.

Picture credit: jeanswest.com.au

Shiny Shoes! Sexy Men!

You've heard of Williams Shoes, right? When I say Williams you probably think school shoes. Or Hush Puppies. "Williams The Shoemen". Not somewhere you would go to buy party shoes.

WRONG!

So wrong. Williams got sexy! They have revamped their image and produced an amazing line of shoes with dangerously high spikes. I tried on a bunch of different pairs today and instantly fell in love with two of them. For incredible glamour I would recommend Golden from the Corelli Collection. Towering heights with a sassy slingback, metallic gold platforms and a lush, shiny patent. I'm imagining a sequin minidress and some big earrings for the work Christmas party (I don't care that's it's only September!). Yes? These shoes mean business.

On the other hand (foot?) I fell in love with the Sway sandals, also from the Corelli Collection. They are all about dressed up glam - denim shorts, a nautical stripe top, a wrist full of silver bangles and a pair of Ray Bans. Kind of quirky and very shiny.

The best bit of this new look Williams? They used Jay Lyon in their ad campaign. I think I'm going to hang out in their stores just to stare at the posters. (If you don't know who Jay Lyon is...shame on you...I recommend you get your hands season 1 of The City)

Price: Golden - $109.99, Sway - $79.99 (these are about standard prices for heels and flats from the new collection)
From: Williams Shoes
Why you need a pair: Everyone needs a fancy pair of shoes!
Plus! Williams have a 25% off new styles offer with a discount voucher - I have a couple of vouchers spare so if you want some shoes but don't have a card, shoot me an email and I'll pop one in the post.

Picture credit: williamsshoes.com.au

Current Obsession - Sequins

Can I just say...well duh. I am insanely attracted to anything shiny. It could be a disease. My piece of the season is a LIFEwithBIRD singlet with some really unusual black laser square sequins on the chest (more on the amazing LIFEwithBIRD collection some other time) but right now I'll take anything with a bit of a shine and a flash of colour. In fact, inspired by the LIFEwithBIRD singlet (and while I am saving up to buy it), I went to Photios Bros on Druitt St in the city and bought a few bags of sequins to embellish a couple of singlets I bought the other week that were lacking in personality. You don't even need sewing skills to put sequins on things - buy a bottle of Gem-Tac and stick them down like I did. You can get sequins in all sorts of shapes and colours so you will no doubt find something. Plus, going to Photios Bros is like stepping into Olivanders Wand Shop in Diagon Alley (yes, that's a Harry Potter reference). Photios is this amazing old store that has been on Druitt St since the 1950s (it's a family business that started in 1920) and is an integral part of the fashion industry throughout Australia. They shut for lunch between 1-2 and you usually have to wait because they are always busy but it is worth it. I remember going to Photios as a kid to pick out crystals to put on my dancing costumes. Memories. Speaking of crystals, they stock a HUGE range of stick on and sew on crystals of varying qualities and colours (over 60 colours, regular and AB!). I bought some crystals to bling out my sisters phone - sure, phone bling might be so 3 years ago but that isn't up for discussion right now.

Price: sequins from $5.50 depending on size and colour (the black laser are from $6.50); Gem-Tac is $9.50
From: Photios Bros - 66 Druitt Sydney
Why you need them: to add a bit of sparkle to your day

Picture credit: photiosbros.com.au

Wrapped up in pink

Is there any greater joy in life than receiving a parcel in the mail? Well, yes, there probably is. But that doesn't mean it isn't super exciting when a package lands on your desk/in your mail box/at the post office. The initial surprise, the anticipation of opening the bag, the delight at pulling out the contents. No matter how big or small the package, I still get shivers of excitement (goodness me that sounded dirty, didn't it?).

So speaking of parcels, I got one today. Woohoo! Victoria's Secret! I bought two bras from Victoria's Secret when I was in San Fran last year and they are the best bras I have ever owned. Naturally after 10 months solid wear it's getting close to replacement time, so I took that gamble and ordered another two online. I figured that since hauling my buns into Myer or BnT here is such a drama because I can never find anything that fits, then I may as well order online from a brand that I know has an exact fit. Plus, the dollar is good at the moment and even with the cost of shipping it is equal to what I would spend on one expensive or two cheaper bras here anyway. Add that to the fact that VS are having huge sales and gift offers; we might not be able to get the free shipping because we are international, but the bargains are worth it and all their summer stock is going for a song right now.

Bonus gift: when you order online they send you a catalogue. Boyfriend loves me even more now!

Price: bras from $20, panties from $5, swimsuits and summer dresses from $15
From: www.victoriassecret.com
Why you need to shop here: Awesomeness! That's about it really. OH! And I bought some amazing body oil spray from here that smells like candy (called Candy, Baby) and it makes me smelled like boiled lollies.

Picture credit: That's me in the picture! I lie - www.victoriassecret.com
It's the Body by Victoria Ipex Full Coverage Bra and it's very comfortable, thank you

MORE tough love

So I am clearly on some sort of stud roll at the moment, because after acquiring aformentioned stud belt I also came to own the most gorgeous silver stud cuff and a lovely hardware-adorned dress (birthday present from Mum so might not count as Stuff That I Bought, but I did choose it plus, hey, it's my blog).

I bought this gorgeous Samantha Wills cuff from one of my favourite stores for jewellery, Mushu on Crown St. Pricey, but the kind of thing you rationalise with a cost per wear ratio and the knowledge it may someday be a family heirloom (a little dramatic, but I had to convince Boyfriend it was worth the outlay). My wrists are the only part of me that are truly skinny, so I jam that sucker up my forearm and admire it every morning on the bus trip to work. It comes off as soon as I get there because it just bashes against the desk and gets in the way, but I love the half an hour I get to spend with it to and from work every day.

Price: $75

From: Mushu on Crown St, but also available at Samantha Wills online store

Why you need it: Because it is pretty. Why else do you buy jewellery?

Picture credit: Samantha Wills website

So not only did I get the gorgeous cuff, but I also got a really cute dress for my birthday. You know when you walk into a store, see something and just know instantly that it will be yours. Before I had even gotten to the change room I was picturing where I would be wearing it, what bags and shoes it would be teamed with and would I be able to wear my stud cuff or belt with my stud dress (the answer is no...one stud piece per outfit).

Don't Ask Amanda do some really lovely, functional, and very wearable pieces and they are my brand of choice whenever I venture into a General Pants store. Not only that, they are affordable and good quality too, which should always be important factors when making wardrobe purchases. I'm not going to lecture, but you should have a good balance of quality basics, investment pieces and cheaper trends. Do I sound like a fashion magazine? I have probably just read too many of them. It is my job after all.

What was I saying? Oh right; dress. Isn't it lovely? It has had a few spins around the block already and does the trick nicely. Thanks Mum!

Price: $99.95

From: General Pants

Why you need it: Everyone needs an LBD and this puts a quirky spin on a basic silhouette.

Picture credit: General pants website

Got big cans?

Because I have big cans. Great, heaving masses of flesh that get in the way a lot. I can't wear anything strapless, dainty or delicate because they just get swamped by my enormous girth. Gravity is not my friend. Swimsuits are not my friend. Shopping at Myer/DJs/BnT...also not my friend. Which is why I had to seek out alternative methods of purchasing boulder-holders. Cue Storm In A D-Cup.

I can't even remember how I first stumbled upon this website. I might have read about it somewhere, or I might have been googling, I'm not sure. Either way, I was glad I got there. There is a nice range of pretty and feminine bras for those of us who are 'endowed' (I HATE this word) and the customer service is really great. If something is being ordered from overseas, you get update emails. They don't charge you until you receive everything that you ordered. They accept returns. They do fittings if you can make it to their Bondi location. All in all, they help make what is normally a terribly traumatic experience, pleasant.

My most recent purchase was an Impact Free by Royce, which is a very scary looking sports bra. I try to get to the gym a couple of times a week, but it's always low impact because I don't "do" running and jumping. I'm afraid that if I run: a) I'll hit myself in the eye and b) gravity will finally win and I will literally have nipples at my knees. So I ordered myself one of these snazzy looking contraptions and so far I am enjoying my 'female jockey tested' impact free experience. Granted, it is for low to medium impact (so still no running or jumping, but truly I'm ok with that) and for a sports bra it is surprisingly comfortable. It has a wide, padded band around the bottom and padding in the shoulders, plus a super heavy duty 3 hook clip at the back, which you cover by velcro. Velcro on my bra! It might take a while to receive it if they don't have it in stock, but it's worth the wait. They range in sizes from 10D - 16J. Yes, that's right, J. And I thought I had it bad! Imagine trying to exercise with those mams.

Price: $89.95
From: Storm in a D Cup
Why you need it: So you can exercise without causing you, your cans, or anyone nearby, major damage.

PS - that's totally not me in the picture. I have the good sense to tie my hair back when I exercise!

It's all about me!

Ahh Christmas. It means even more excuses to go shopping. Funnily enough, I always go out with a list of things to buy other people and only seem to come home with things for myself. One for you, two for me!

So, as usual, I'm hunting for things for Boyfriend and Sister and end up finding a bunch of stuff I love. You've all seen the 'boys are stupid, throw rocks at them' cartoon by Todd Goldman. Todd has over 5,000 designs that he has slapped on t-shirts, pyjamas, hoodies and all manner of accessories, which can be found at www.davidandgoliathtees.com. I was blown away with the awesomeness (not a real word?) of his stores The Stupid Factory over in the States, so was incredibly delighted to discover the site ships internationally (woohoo! are you listening Sephora?), and they promise 4-6 business days with UPS tracking. Rare.

For myself, a couple of lovely light pj sets for summer ('Spooning Leads To Forking' and 'I'm A Hoot'), for Sister 'It's All About Me' (incredibly appropriate) and 'You Rock, You Rule' pjs and for Boyfriend 'Duck Duck Goose World Champion' shirt.

You can spend hours browsing through the site, laughing at all the cute cartoons. and it's almost guaranteed you can find something for everyone you know. I know I did, although I mainly bought stuff for me.

Price: The accessories start from as cheap as US$1.00, unfortunately UPS international shipping is very expensive (think upwards of $40 if you're buying clothes)
From: David and Goliath tees or The Stupid Factory (in the US)
Why you need it: Perfect for that personalised gift with a touch of humour. Plus, this stuff isn't widely available in Aus so you'll be original.