In news that is saddening for the local Australian fashion brand, Lover has gone into voluntary administration, according to a media release from Ferrier Hodgson – a financial advisory firm.
Ferrier Hodgson were appointed as administrators on 23 November, with the firm stating it would be “business as usual whilst the administrators assess the business and immediately call for expressions of interest for a sale as a going concern.”
The media released by Ferrier Hodgson further stated, “Lover is an iconic and well-established fashion brand that represents a unique opportunity for interested parties.”
Continuing with, “we plan to work closely with Lover’s management to find an acquirer for this popular brand.”
Lover will still go forth actively online, with prices of all garments marked down to sale.
At this time, Lover has not yet released a statement.
This news follows further desolate news pertaining to several other retailers facing the financial chopping block – Marcs and David Lawrence, Topshop and Kit and Ace included.
Please say the end to our wedding-inspired dreams haven’t come to a close.
It is a reflection of our identity; it is both personal and public.
Just like your eyebrows shape your eyes and face, Having amazing hair, either short or long, does make an unbelievable difference to your overall look!
You all know I do love long and thick hair, whilst my hair is long, being blonde it is not a thick as I would like, i love very thick hair! That's why I have been working closely with Alison from Honeycombe Hair Extensions who has helped create extra length and volume for my overall look.
I can always rely on Alison to do an outstanding job. She is a genuine specialist who sources great hair and custom makes wefts for her clients.
For anyone wanting hair extensions for the first time it is so important to choose a qualified extensionist who has a hairdressing background. Too many times I see women with nasty hair extensions hanging out of their hair.
Alison takes the time to test and understand your individual hair - scalp, strength of hair, growth patterns and many other things which are important in order to avoid damage to your scalp and hair. Being an experienced hairdresser, she knows exactly how to distribute the extension weight to make sure you feel comfortable. This is important because you don't want headaches or to damage your natural hair.
If you want the best check out Alison Verdonck who owns Honeycombe Hair Extensions in High Street. Malvern (Melbourne, Australia)
Click the below links to take you directly to contact details and website:
While we haven't had a chance to glimpse Meghan Markle's engagement ring yet, meet jewellery designer Natalie Marie who Markle is a fan of and we are sure Prince Harry took notes from when choosing his fiancée's ring.
Though originally form the UK, Marie and her eponymous jewellery label have been Sydneysiders for some time now: Marie moved from the UK in 2007 and debuted her line in 2012 after graduating with a bachelor of fine arts; jewellery and object from Sydney College of the Arts in 2010.
With bespoke options for the discerning bride, delicate rings adorned with glittering jewels and thoroughly modern earrings that play with negative space and shape in a way that would make the cubist movement proud, it’s no wonder Marie has caught the eye of Hollywood.
“It’s invaluable to have someone that truly loves and supports the brand wearing our pieces,” Marie says of Hollywood’s potential next princess, Meghan Markle and her support of the brand, adding that Markle opted for the dotted over necklace and a host of stackable rings in her order.
“I think I have approached jewellery from a different angle to the traditional jeweller in that my tendency is to try and deconstruct and pull back the overall picture, so that specific elements can be emphasised,” Marie says of her pared back aesthetic.
For Marie, mixing and matching isn’t reserved for stacking rings, metals too play a role in the playful yet refined line.
“I am all for mixing metals, so many of my bridal sets are two-tone. In my experience silver/white gold wearers are better off mixing with rose gold, while rose and yellow gold pieces worn together create a rich and tonal combination.”
So what advice does Marie have for brides looking for that something special?
“An engagement ring is something that really needs to stand the test of time. When I meet with brides who are designing their own ring, I always advise them to factor in their lifestyle, taste and long term factors,” says Marie, adding that, “I always encourage brides to opt for stones and materials that complement their skin tone and aesthetic, rather than selecting something that’s particularly on trend. Your engagement ring should be perfectly you, without influence from outside factors.”
We hope you’re taking notes, especially if you’re on the hunt for something exceptional.
Fans of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show will be pleased to know that yes, the 2017 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show will be airing in Australia, and yes, everyone who wants to will be able to watch it.
Channel Nine will be airing the show on Wednesday November 29 at 9pm, meaning there's no excuse not to watch those Angels do their thing on the runway.
Channel Nine has previously aired the 2016 and 2015 shows, only days after it hit the United States. This year, CBS will be airing the show in the US on November 28 at 10pm Eastern Time — so we're getting it only a day later. Win.
The taping of the show occurred on November 20, with Angels and models heading to Shanghai for the annual extravaganza — you can see the red carpet here.
Probably three of my favourite words in the world when it comes to movies. I'm a sucker for murder mysteries and the more suspenseful, the better. The Snowmanis a 2017 Norway-based movie heralding performances from Michael Fassbender, Rebecca Ferguson and Val Kilmer. This euro-thriller had all of the pieces in place for a winner, a brooding detective with a troubled past, a wide-eyed up and comer looking to catch her break, and a serial killer murdering bad parents like they were Evil Santa from Futurama. Have a read of what I thought of the movie below!
** SPOILERS AHEAD**
This movie fell flat for a few reasons, yet mainly it was the literal serial killer falling flat on his face and delving straight into the icy depths just before he could grab our protagonist was a copout not seen since Friday the 13th... and at least Jason popped back up invincible serial killer style!
Being a fairly knowledgable one in the sorts of serial killers, the lukewarm attempt at thriller horror didn't remotely compare to the real stories of our violent indecency that has actually occurred in below average temperatures... (Andrei Chikatiloring any bells? IT SHOULD)
Next time you're seeking a good scare, skip The Snowman and snuggle up with something like Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Thank you to Kate from Universal Pictures for inviting me to see this movie!
So, who else feels like they were having fun on a Friday night, out in town and then 5 minutes later… It's Monday again..?
If you want my opinion, that's really the sneakiest thing about weekends; like it or not, the minute you're having a blast, time flies ;) Now, I must admit I am not quite the party girl I used to be in College, in fact, my idea of a fun Friday/Saturday night usually involves, great wine, small bites and hours of digital content creation. But from time to time, I totally feel like having the girls come by, spending hours getting hair and makeup ready, putting on my new favourite party dress and pulling an all-nighter (the good kind!).
We shot these images a few weeks ago during London Fashion Week, right before heading to the Love Bullets x British Fashion Council after party in Nothing Hill, and I was really looking forward to put these up on the blog. It is one of the very first nighttime imagery content I feel happy about, thanks to my good friends J.j., who was able to catch the perfect bits of lights, here and there, to make these photos as vibrant as they are ! I like the effortless feel behind those images; aside from my light-catching sequin dress and this gorgeous Louis Vuitton 'Randonnée' Bucket Bag I found on my favourite vintage designer handbags destination, Luxuca in Montreal, I thought natural, weekend hair, strobing and a bright lip would pull off this party look just right.
And yes, I did go for a very casual pair of white sneakers to complete this ensemble as my feet couldn't bare one more second in sky-high's for the day ;) The harsh reality of Fashion Week season, it is not always all glam and shine but… Almost !
After months and months of teasers, sneak peeks, one of the greatest H&M collab’ campaigns of all times and yet, a major runway show in New York, the Balmain x H&M collection has now finally touched base in the motherland and will be available to shop as of November 5th within a few H&M stores across Canada as well as online, worldwide.
Now, I know H&M’s designer partnerships launches always are the craziest times of the year and getting your hand on THAT particular piece you’ve been drooling over for the past 6 months can become quite an obsession yet, still very challenging. I’ve been myself a strong supporter of the movement ever since the infamous Versace x H&M collaboration a few years back and with time, if there is one thing I witnessed so far it’s that, shopping those exclusive collections always is ultra-competitive. So competitive that you may need, as a matter of fact, a good shopping strategy to go through the whole process ever-so smoothly. Happy to share with you my Girl’s Guide to Shopping Balmain x H&M !
Oh, and for one last sneaky peek at what's going to be in store for you guys tomorrow morning, make sure to check out my Instagram, Twitter feed and Snapchat profile tonight as of 7:00 PM (Eastern Time) as I will be (finally!) previewing the collection in exclusivity with the lovely team of H&M ! More to come...
1) Make a Top 10 List
I build up a mental list of everything I’d be interested in getting myself before every major shopping spree. Usually, I try to keep it down to my Top 10, this way, I don’t go overboard, confusing wants, needs and just plain “useless-but-so-pretty” ;) At this time, I don’t really take under consideration prices as we’ll get down to that in the following steps; basically, anything that would make me happy and could be of a great use is welcome on that list ! To make up my mind, I also like to review lookbooks or stocklists, when available, so I can see the bigger picture when it comes to purchasing statement pieces likes boots, coats and eveningwear. Basics, including tees, underwear, socks and bottom pieces generally come up on a needs vs. wants base. Check out my Balmain x H&M Top 10 list down below…
2) Evaluate Your Wants vs. Needs
Once you're satisfied with your list, take the time to go through every single item, one by one, and ask yourself: Is that a want or a need ? Then, prioritize your needs over your wants until you top off your allowed budget and if you have some extra pocket money left (you'd have been quite good already!), add on those pieces you don't need urgently but would still enjoy very much owning in your closet ;) This way, you'll end up happy about your purchases and won't have second thoughts nor regrets !
3) Fix Yourself a Budget
Speaking of budget, every good serial shopper will tell you that shopping without a pre-fixed budget can be a pretty bad idea… If you want to operate some damage control on your bank account, I recommend fixing yourself a reasonable budget, keeping in mind to include taxes. Then, take a 10-15% chunk off that initial amount that will act as a buffer on your wallet, preventing you to go too overboard with last-minute coups de coeur !
It goes without saying, do respect your budget once at the store ;)
4) Figure Out When and Where You're Going to Shop In store
I will never mention this enough, as the designer collections are usually very popular, there are a few things to keep in mind for a great shopping experience, in-store… First check out H&M's Store Locator page to find the location closest to you that will stock the collection. To all my Canadians gals, I've got you covered on this one:
BURNABY
Metropolis at Metrotown
MONTREAL
Rockland Centre
St. Catherine St. West at Peel St.
TORONTO
Bloor Street West
Toronto Eaton Centre
Yorkdale Shopping Centre
VANCOUVER
The Pacific Centre
Then, keep in mind that doors will open at 8:00 AM (local time) and that you may want to get there a little early to secure your spot in the queue among the first costumers. I'm insisting on this point because like they did with the Alexander Wang collaboration, H&M will hand out coloured bracelets to the first 420 people in line; 14 colours with one for each group of 30 customers, to be precise. Your colour will determine when it will be your time to shop in the designer collection area.
Each group will have 10 minutes to shop. There will be 5 minutes between each group for re-stocking. Also, the bracelets are only for customers shopping the Balmain x H&M collection so if you are not in the first 420, you can still shop in the store as the bracelet system only applies to the designer collaboration. After the last group is done shopping, H&M will open the designer collection area to all customers !
Online
The collection will go live at 8:00 AM (Eastern Time) on hm.ca/balmain, so my tip is to do your timezone math and set a calendar alert ;) For the best chance at actually getting what you put in your cart, be sure to set up an account on hm.ca in advance and remember to save your shipping and billing details so your checkout goes smoothly, quick and easy ! Online shopping regulars will agree with me on this one, the last step will SAVE YOUR LIFE !
5) Keep in Mind the Purchase Restrictions
Very often, if you are planning on getting up bright and early on November 5th to go and join the queue to shop the collection at 8:00 AM precisely, you might end up with some friends or family commisioning you to make a purchase or two on their behalf. Happens to me every year, I must admit ;) To avoid any type of confusion, dissapointment or troubles at cashwrap, keep in mind that to allow as many customers as possible to buy from the Balmain x H&M collection, H&M will be limiting purchases to no more than two items per product. The way I understand it is that, when it comes to shoes and garments, you will most likely have to choose two different sizes if purchasing the same pieces twice. As for accessories, if there is no sizing involved, you'll be allowed to purchase up to two, top.
This applies to all items in the collection.
6) Get Familiar With the Return Policy
So you arrived extra early to make sure to secure yourself a spot in the queue among the 420 first customers. You're in ! Somehow, when it's time to browse the collection, try on a few sizes and, pick and choose what you ultimately want to buy, the frenesy around a brand new, exclusive collection on a Thursday morning can definitely become overwelhming and starts getting on your nerves. If you're not feeling like waiting around for a changing room or to get in line at cashwrap for God knows how long, you can always pick up the pieces you might be interested in (remember, no more than two per item!), purchase everything and try it on/make up your mind quietly at home. It is indeed a great thing that returns from the designer collections are now accepted within the next 7 days.
Be careful though, items must be returned to THE STORE OF ORIGINAL PURCHASE with YOUR ORIGINAL RECIEPT. Items must also be UNWORN/UNUSED with TAGS ATTACHED. Lastly, I would assume that, just like in every other store, earrings and underwear may not be returned for hygienic reasons, of course !
