Walking ON water is soooooo last century – the Japanese, ahead of the pack yet again, are proving you can walk UNDER water, fully clothed, without even getting wet.

This isn’t the work of a magician – a small swimming pool has been installed in the middle of the 21^st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa  shows people walking and talking INSIDE the water, and even staring up at you!

It turns out that the swirling water is actually on a layer of glass and visitors can explore the underwater world via an underground passage.

Very clever – if slightly claustrophobic!

Amy xx

We Betties are LOVING the current crop of tunes which are sure to be big hits at the summer festies. Here’s the office favourites that have us bopping along at our desks:

Calvin Harris – I’m Not Alone

His last album was an infectious collection of electro-pop numbers, he’s done the remixing honours with Kylie, and the Dumfries lad is back with this stormer – makes us want to don our dancing shoes!

Bluejuice – Broken Leg

We’ve already tweeted our love for this song – and the video is even better, showing the band performing in the World Skipping Championships!

Kasabian – Where Did All the Love Go

British indie at it’s best – a vintage guitar riff, edgy vocals, and already up for the UK critic’s biggest music prize the Mercury – we choose Kasabian over the Arctic Monkeys any day…

Amy xx

Why? Because in the world of Binns more is more. The Irish born designer is single handedly redefining bling.

I’m sort of undermining the previous notion of what’s fashion and what’s jewellery,” he says. ” ‘A few old pieces of discarded junk and tie it around your neck.’ It’s a very simple equation.”

What he means by junk literally is junk: rusty keys, broken baubles, bits and pieces of old costume jewellery which he then combines with more precious jewellery elements. With nine jewellery lines out so far there’s a piece of jewellery for every type of girl – including Michelle Obama, who’s been spotted wearing Mr Binn’s creations to various political events.

We love his ‘Faux Real Gems’ collection. Featuring huge brightly coloured rhinestones and rough cut Swarovski crystals, pearls and even skulls they are perfect for glamming up any outfit. Whether it’s a chunky necklace or a sexy cuff, wearing a Tom Binns, you’ll guarantee that all eyes are on you!

Alexanda McQueen truly knows the way to the modern woman’s heart– hot hardware, crazy croc and above all, I can’t even believe I am writing this, functionality.

Functional fashion isn’t often a mantra I follow– in my books the heels should be high and stacked to the max, bags oversized to the point where they resemble luggage and the bangles piled so far up the arm that any kind of extensive movement is restricted. Truth be told though- when one flies through the day as quickly as us Betties it is a little hard to be efficient whilst working under the weight of a mass of accessories.

Whilst I am not going to push aside the almost bigger than my hand cocktail ring I am sporting today, I could be persuaded into trading in my super sized handbag (so big it needs its own seat wherever we go together) – for a bag that puts real meaning into the word HAND bag.

Introducing Alexanda McQueen’s latest – slightly Michael Jackson-esque – Clutch/handbag/glove combo AKA the “Faithful Glove Clutch.” Pop it on the hand and off you go!

Taking the weight off your shoulders Mr McQueen has made it just that much easier to sprint to the bus stop (yes we all hit snooze occasionally), dance the night away (no more awkward bag at feet dancing) and slide through the crowd (my bag has wacked many a passerby).

To hold functional fashion at its best in the palm of your hand -

http://www.alexandermcqueen.com/us/en/shop/Womenswear/autumn-winter-09/Bags/P-BLACK-FAITHFUL-GLOVE-CLUTCH.aspx

Xxxx Maz

We’ve made no secret of our adoration for The Sartorialist, aka fashion photographer Scott Schuman, and his candid snaps of stylish ensembles that everyday people throw together on in world’s streets and alleyways.

Now iconic Australian label Saba has joined the ‘Sarts fan club, persuading the famed snapper to take time of his recent trip down under to shoot their new Denim collection.

In the spirit of all things Sartorially (yes, we made that word up!), the creative team headed to Melbourne, where SABA first burst on to the scene in 1965, to capture shots of the city’s stylemeisters in the kooky laneways of Australia’s creative hub.

The results? Stark and simple shots featuring unsung beauties, that captures the essence of Melbourne in a single frame. Visit http://denimblog.saba.com.au/ to view Scott’s masterpieces.

Amy xx

Central St Martins college in London has seen some of Fashion’s biggest names pass through it’s hallowed halls – John Galliano, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Matthew Williamson to name a few – and is  responsible for grooming the UK fashion greats of the future. Case in point: Laura Mackness…

A recent graduate of the Central Saint Martins MA Fashion course, Laura’s London Fashion Week debut saw her show a striking 26-piece collection which has earned her critical acclaim from UK and international fashion critics.

Bright, witty, and verging on the surreal, Laura’s minimalist collection focused on sleek, streamlined silhouettes with quirky unexpected details –  a blazer jacket with loose lapels, the structured tunic top and a trompe l’oeil fur-print coat complimented by Mackness’ flocked ‘eyelash’  necklace, cone-shaped hats, and leggings with knee-cap accents (seriously coveting these!)

The sophisticated colour palette cut with wacky humorous detail makes this the ultimate ‘tongue-in-cheek’ collection, and we predict fashion packs from Shoreditch to Soho will be sporting these looks all season. Another reminder that when it comes to fashion, London rocks to its own unique beat…

Amy xx

When you scanned your eyes over the above image you may have noticed the leggy blonde with the come hither stare and the great blue shoes, you may have also noticed the style guru himself Karl Lagerfeld or if particularly observant you may have noticed the multi coloured, spotted skirt worn by an interested spectator in background. Me? My eagle eyes went straight for the Chanel logo emblazoned upon the state of the art glossy black motorbike that the leggy blonde is precariously perched upon – after all what could be more eye-catching than a Chanel logo? And my first thought? Where can I get myself one of those!!!!! Whilst I am not sure my wardrobe is motorbike ready (does a leather skirt count?) – the prospect of traveling from A to B upon a designer bike would certainly be worth the investment in a leather pant and helmet ensemble!

Whilst we only have the pleasure of observing a mere snap shot of the above extravaganza, lucky passersby found themselves witnessing  Karl Largerfeld out and about shooting the press kit for Chanel’s pre-spring collection “Starting Point” with models Lara Stone and Baptiste Giacobini (you may have also noticed him on first glance, for me he was second to the bike).

Sad news though – customized for Chanel in Toulouse, France, the glossy bike I so envisaged myself cruising around on (Baptiste on the back ofcourse) won’t be commercialized anytime soon.

Looks like I will have to settle for the blue shoes (they are the best twist on the Mary Jane I have seen to date!! 

xxxxxx Maz

None the Richer has officially exploded onto the fashion scene with MTV’s Ruby Rose Wearing the labels hero piece, a black cocktail dress with a grunge edge, for her 7pm Project debut on Channel 10.

 With a line-up boasting some serious homegrown talent, Ruby Rose more than held her own on the show, which is expected to produce ratings gold for the Ten Network. Intelligent, beautiful and exuding an enviable effortless cool, we expected nothing less from Australia’s answer to Alexa Chung.  

 As for None the Richer – this is a label to watch, and who wouldn’t want to watch it whilst it is draped over the likes of Ruby Rose.

 The creation of an Australian brother and sister design duo, this independent label has produced two collections to date, the latest being ‘We Run This City’ – a collection stacked to the brim with unique, street inspired, statement pieces.

Ruby’s domination continues with her latest TV project – and with her eclectic style, she’s set to run this city for years to come!

For more please visit www.nonethericher.com.au

Maz xxxx

When it comes to horror movies, I’m a glutton for punishment – I boldly buy the cinema tickets, settle in my seat with an air of casual boredom…and spend most of the film with my face buried in the boyfriends shoulder, counting down every scary second until the end and suffering from nightmares for days after.

So it was with some trepidation that we made our way to the ‘Drag Me to Hell’ preview last night – having been tipped as this year’s horror blockbuster, and with a very unsettling trailer doing the rounds, I had a feeling this film was going to scare my socks off – and I wasn’t wrong!

Drag Me to Hell is the ultimate spine-chilling gore-fest that won’t disappoint horror fans – Christine Brown, a mild-mannered mortgage broker with her eyes on a promotion, is approached by an old gypsy, Mrs Ganush, for an extension on her bank loan to avoid her house being repossessed. When Christine refuses, the old woman causes a scene and later attacks her in the parking lot, placing a curse on Christine and vanishing into the night.

What follows is a typical horror-fest – our heroine starts to hear voices, is attacked by an invisible demon in her home, her boyfriend (played by the lovable Justin Long) starts to question her sanity, she consults a medium – but what sets Drag Me to Hell apart from the usual scary movies are the great comic moments – Christine reading a myth about animal sacrifice while her pet kitten purrs at her feet, a hilarious séance scene where the demon spirit rises in the body of a goat, and a toe-curling ‘meeting the parents’ dinner party when she loses the plot completely, topped off with some disgusting moments – Christine swallowing a fly and burping it out at the worst moment, a tussle at a funeral involving a dead body… I could go on but it would probably put you off food for the rest of the day!

Directed by Sam Raimi of Spiderman fame, Drag Me to Hell has proved a huge hit in the US already – and its one horror film I would happily watch again. But be warned – don’t go and see it with a full stomach!

Amy xx

You’ve seen the who’s who of cutting edge photographers, musicians, designers, fashion and lifestyle grace the pages of Australian bi-monthly magazine Oyster – and now Crocs go high fashion in the latest issue of this fashion and lifestyle bible.

Photographed by Milos Mali the shoot Nuclear stands out for more reasons than the stunning models, colours and fashion by Josh Goot, K by Karl Largerfeld and Tina Kalivas – Crocs!!

This once practical footwear is being seen in a new light by the fashion pack; far from the original Beach ‘Clog,’ Crocs now come in many fashion forward styles and are being seen in high fashion shoots far and wide.

If they are good enough for Oyster and the French brand of the iconic fashion glossy, Vogue, (http://stylefrizz.com/200808/vogue-paris-hearts-crocs/) then who are we to say they are not, if you pardon the pun, in vogue?

www.crocs.com.au