Magazine "Beauty"

Every time I catch a flight somewhere I remember why it is I don't buy magazines anymore. This is the only time I will ever actually pick up a trashy mag to have a flip through, in the hope it will entertain me while I fly. I have the option of either airbrushed wholesomeness or "Stars without their makeup!" What is it about these women's magazines that make them think I want to see this? I truly don't.

The options that were before me featured celebrities shot in their natural environment, not looking like their cover/photo shop version. They used some complimentary headline ie "I am a real woman" while featuring a photo showing some more curves than we are used to seeing on a cover. Wow, she's a real woman?! Shock horror! Of course she is a real woman! Just as I am, just as Angelina Jolie is, just as my mother is, just as you are. I don't understand how these magazines still make it to print. But most of all I don't understand why we still read it. I don't want to buy into the so called beauty culture as it is nowadays. Summer-time especially angers me, as I see publication after publication using the same style headline constantly. "Our real beach bodies" "Young stars Secret Surgery" and "How we did it!" (lost the weight) I don't actually care...

I hate the fascination, we as woman, can actually have with these photographs. Hearing the dialogue in my own head and hating myself for it when it creeps in. "Wow look Elle Machpherson has cellulite! And she's a model??" Um she is also 49 and f*king fabulous! So, she has cellulite. Who cares?? This is what makes the cover? How in this day and age does this still happen? I understand what the magazine was trying to do. Show us photos of these normally done up, airbrushed, beauties in their natural environment. Giving us a reason to look and think better about ourselves (after two months prior, putting the airbrushed version of the same celebrity on their cover mind you). It shouldn't be about lowering someone elses image to make us feel better about ourselves. I want to fight back against this sort of publication. I want it to change. And I'm sure most women out there feel the same.

I have been dealing with females and their bodies for over 10 years and not one of them is completely happy with what they have. I often have clients actually apologise, for me having to see their bodies unclothed. It kills me to hear this and it hurts even more if they say that I wouldn't understand. "You're younger than me, you don't have fat rolls like I do, you haven't had three kids etc etc...."  And I feel I have to point out my physical faults and flaws in order to make them feel better about their own body. Again their perception of themselves being a result of a comparison to someone else. I don't want to hear you apologise for your appearance. I don't want to hear that the woman in the lingerie poster could wear it by you don't have the body to. I don't want to hear- "I'm too fat to wear something sexy. I'm too old to wear something bright. I have too many stretch marks to warrant wearing something beautiful." I'm tired of this self deprecation and as media gets worse and worse, so will this thought process. How will the next generation be? Self esteem built up on how many likes you get on that bikini clad selfie? I dread the thought...

I don't want to see ridiculously airbrushed celebrities on magazine covers. I don't want to read how I can shed 5kg is 5 weeks. I don't want to see only size zero models being featured in fashion spreads. I don't want to see photos of celebrities in bikinis on holidays with a tacky headline. I don't want to see advertisements telling me I need to dye my hair or wax my body. I don't want to compare myself to others. I don't want to feel I have to change how I look to feel better. I actually like who I am, don't make me question that.

I'm scared of this world of judgmental beauty and I don't want to see the next generation being even more self critical than this one. I'm over comparing myself to others. I'm over women judging themselves via how they look and judging how they look based on someone elses appearance. This isn't healthy. This isn't reality. Why cant we just be ourselves and be happy with it?

I have a project in the pipe line... I look forward to telling you more about it soon.

Rant over
My Lingerie Addiction

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Agent Provocateur in Australia (Part #1)

Agent Provocateur has finally landed in Australia and it's a label that truly needs no introduction. Most people, even those not familiar with lingerie brands, can automatically conjure up an image of what AP represents. The name alone creates images of sexy Russian secret agents from the 60s with big hair, big guns and big attitudes who kick enemy butt while dressed in not much more than stockings and suspenders. Well this is what I see when the name is mentioned anyway...

 I have talked about this label before and the story behind it, now let me tell you a little bit more about Australia's first Agent Provocateur concession stores. Located within Sydney and Melbourne CBD David Jones' lingerie department, you cant miss this raunchy boutique. The area is rather small for such a famous label but it's set up as an open concession making it easy for lingerie buyers to peruse the racks and up their lingerie level. What is on display is one of each style available in the sample size of 12B. Don't think it's like the rest of David Jones, with every single size hanging for you to grab yourself and head to the change room with. It's a fully manned area where you can get assistance (hopefully, but more on that later).

Agent Provocateur slipped into the Australian fashion scene in February of this year to a small amount of fan fare. Not as much as I expected to be honest, for this internationally known label. They launched in Melbourne at midday on Valentines day. Strange time to have a launch party, when every man needed to have already purchased their gift at least the day before or they'd get a not so fun hiding. I went along to the opening and watched B grade celebrities talking with the beautiful people, but no one seemed to be purchasing. Women mingled and talked about how cool the launch was, with champagne in one hand while they did their best skinny arm pose in front of Herald Sun photographers. It was exactly what I expected for a fashion event.

The turn out was pretty impressive for a lunch time launch. Guests made an effort in their best version of lingerie as outerwear, in an attempt to get photographed by someone....anyone. Models posed in the range just released on the Australian market. Black on black with a touch of black, the perfect Melbournian attire. Bra, bottom, suspender, stockings, and robe to match. It was good to see the garments on, showing the fashionistas how it's meant to be done. It wasn't too overt the outfits they chose, and they showed a good balance of raunch versus class.    

I got to speak to a few people about the label and what the brands aim was to be here. It's obviously huge around the world and Australia was a frontier they needed to conquer. I was looking forward to their lingerie domination in Melbourne especially. Marketing for this label is beyond phenomenal and they already have a huge Australian online following. What would happen when the label finally launched here? The sky was the limit. The lingerie boom was starting...
 

Let me give you a brief rundown on what is available in-store for those who cant make it to either the Sydney or Melbourne David Jones concessions. The stock runs same season as EU in order to keep up with public demand. Lingerie labels release stock the same as fashion brands, colours that work with the seasonal weather and current trends. Winter hues released in November overseas may not appeal as much in the warm Australian climate. However Aussies can purchase these garments direct from the Agent Provocateur website so they had to follow the brands release times in order to keep up.

Luckily, lingerie isn't like fashion, it's not seen by others (well perhaps only by a fortunate one) So trends and colours don't matter too much, especially with fun stuff when it comes to purchasing undergarments. Prices are high for this label but comparable with their overseas prices as they must compete with the online store. I felt a little awkward as I wandered, looking at tags and jotting down prices while staff walked around me, so I don't have a lot of prices here. But at least it gives you an idea of the cost for this label. Let me give you a basic run down of how much Agent Provocateur will be costing you here in Australia...

Ariel

Ariel Bra $235, Brief $205 Suspender $180 Stockings $50 so in other words that full set would set you back $670

Raphaella

Raphaella Corset $930 bottom not available in store....

Rizzo

Rizzo Corsollete $550 I didn't look at the prices for the bra set as the slip was the one I loved.

I have part #2 of this review coming later...

Have you been in to check out Agent Provocateur yet? What did you think?

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