We just can’t escape Barbie at the moment – if she’s not donning her Christian Louboutin ‘Cat Burglar’ outfit and shinning up drainpipes, she’s sporting the green kermit creation a la Lady Gaga and celebrating her 50th birthday (what’s her secret to eternal youth?? Heaps of botox we reckon!)

Now you can see Miss plastic fantastic in a whole new light, as she recreated some of the most iconic art works in history. Step forward Barbie Teresa, the Mona Barbie, Barbie Chanel and even the Barbie of Liberty! Funny thing is, with today’s celebrity culture and obsession with all things material, Barbie’s probably a more relevant figure than any of those she’s impersonating!

Amy xx

Pics courtesy of http://www.refinery29.com

The new IT-bag must have…presenting…Hermes Jypsiere

The newest Hermes cult bag is without any doubt, the Jypsiere 34.

Available in Orange, Bougainvillea, Taupe and Blue Abysse with silver

& palladium plated hardware, with an adjustable shoulder strap, size 34 x 28 x 15cm.

This baby is the newest member of the H family and for a mere $AU 10,695.00 – I hope

it’s as a-mazing as it looks!

I woke up on Sunday to a shock realisation – at the age of 26, I have become a complete creature of habit. From my morning green tea at exactly 8am every day, to my weekly ‘cleaning nights’ on a Thursday to prepare for the weekend – it seems my nana-ness is getting worse with age. And now I can add a new ‘routine’ to the list – breakfasting at Newtown’s new delicious Bakery, Luxe.

Having discovered this little gem three weeks ago (it’s five minutes walk from my apartment – deadly for the waistline), I have been no fewer than four times – yes, that means twice in one weekend! Why do I love it so? Maybe it’s the seriously indulgent choc oat crunches for a very recession-friendly $3.50, perhaps it’s the best eggs in the inner west, or the creamy, silky smooth Chai lattes, or even just the communal dining atmosphere and great bunch of staff.

Whatever it is, Luxe has completely intoxicated me and I’m a regular fixture on a Sunday morning, kicking back with the papers and soaking it up. Sitting next to the legendary Campos Coffee, this little bakery definitely punches above its weight and dropping by for a Lemon Shortie, tasty coffee or gourmet sandwich is the best way to start your day.

Amy xx

Slideshow courtesy of OneThousand Sydney

Luxe Bakery

191 Missenden Road, Newtown

(I Drowned your Fucking Cat)

With consumer driven obsessions and our media-saturated lives; what does it mean to be a responsive and productive member of modern society? A sobering thought for a Betty who with one glance at her life feels more than a little guilty about her apparent lack of societal responsibility. The Daily Telegraph on my desk lies abandoned daily for Grazia, my idea of budgeting is not eating lunch for a week to afford (and fit into) my sickeningly expensive taste in clothes, and if I don’t get a fake tan before Friday I feel anxious to the point of distraction. On contemplation, my life is probably a prototype muse for Sydney born artist Ben Frost whose pop-art collage style work critiques the shallow desires and wayward ethics of contemporary culture. A little Andy Warhol-esque, but a lot more slap in the face.

Gorker Gallery in Melbourne presents Frost’s newest exhibition, ‘Confessions of a Model Citizen’ opening tonight, 25^th March.  Hailed and hated around the world this new body of work will not disappoint critics and fans alike with his penchant for the perverse and shocking executed in fine form. Using unlikely juxtapositions of images of popular culture, he explores the disconnection experienced by individuals in a world where expectations are bought and sold.

(Australian Idol)

Sure to delight and disgust stands out include; the brash ‘I drowned your F***ing Cat’, the Peter Rabbit gone dark and very twisted ‘Untitled Bunnies’ and then there are the R rated ‘Bob Dyldo’ (think Bob Dylan with…well, you know) and the confronting ‘Australian Idol.’ My personal favourite is ‘Kill Me’ which depicts perky pop symbol Sponge Bob square pants smiling his massive smile with his massive yellow square pants, and the words Kill Me etched into his massive square teeth. A picture and 2 words can say 1000.

The Bettys are loving his in-your-face pop art. Maybe I should forgo food for a painting purchase this week?

Alena xx

Opening Night Thursday 25 March, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Show runs until Sunday 11 April

Gorker Gallery opening hours:
3:00pm – 7:00pm Wednesday – Friday
11:00am – 7:00pm Saturday & Sunday

8am on a sunny Thursday morning, and Sydney’s CBD is buzzing with corporate workers flooding out of the train stations and heading to their office blocks. The daily routine is in full swing, people grabbing coffees, cabs honking horns, Martin Place full of loiterers checking out Kochie and Mel through the windows of Channel 7 HQ. Just a regular day in the city…

Until a white van pulls over, and a block of ice containing $1,000 cash is wheeled out and left in the centre of Martin Place. The rules: the cash is yours if you can get it, smash your way through with anything but a hammer. Then all hell breaks loose!

A devious scheme from the boys behind NEUW denim, this social experiment certainly drew the crowds – Martin Place was awash with people from all walks of life (we counted corporates, tradies, schoolchildren, parents, tourists, even junkies!) using a range of ingenious tools to chip away at the frozen notes. A group of girls came armed with screwdrivers, an electrician plugged away with pliers, pens, hairclips, ice picks and letter openers were all used, and our favourite money grabber Bob the Builder in a hard hat with a tool belt full of ice-smashing devices!

This crazy stunt certainly brought out the best and worst in the crowd; one office worker was so intent on grabbing the dollars that he bloodied his knuckles and carried on regardless, an electric drill was whipped out in the final stages, and one tradie who’d already pocketed $180 gave his last $10 to the pretty girl next to him. Aw!

Introducing their denim in the most unconventional way possible, Neuw Denim’s jeans are made of altered, ruined and re-stitched vintage jeans. These old garments, re-made with instant personality, rebellion and rock ‘n’ roll is what sets this new brand apart from the pack.

Refreshingly well priced for premium denim, the range is mostly under $200 with the ‘core’ jeans less than $150… well priced jeans and money for free – what next?!

These guys will always have you on the edge of your seat. Visit Glue Stores to get your hands on a pair.

Nude is the shade of the moment – from the subtle tones of naked blush at the Oscars, to the elegantly nude lips on every self-respecting fashionista in Sydney – the only way to go is naked this season, if you dare to bare…

Australian make-up artist Max May has been pioneering the nude look from our shores way before it caught the eyes of Hollywood, waving his magic wand over a whole host of celebrities and glamazons and inspiring us to take our faces back to basics.

In fact, Max practically invented the ‘nude lips’ trend that is showcased so fabulously in this week’s Grazia ‘Etihad’ fashion shoot. And when you’re sat in first class, wearing an $8,000 Chanel jacket, we can think of nothing chicer to accessorise with than a pair of nude lips and massive shades!

To work the ‘Max May Nude’ look yourself, invest in MAC PRO Lip Erase – a flesh toned lip balm that wipes out the pink and leaves you with a beautiful matt mouth.

Amy xx

Styling courtesy of Mark Vassallo, Grazia x

Not often do the Betty’s get a chance to leave the office early at the ungodly hour of 5.30pm on a Tuesday afternoon. But when we heard one of the hottest singers of the moment was in town there was not much excuse needed.

Ke$ha, the all American girl, famous for her hits Tik Tok and Blah Blah Blah. And just as well known for throwing up in Paris Hilton’s wardrobe, performed last night at the Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park to kick off her Australian promotional tour.

So off we went, bracing the peak hour traffic, not knowing exactly what to expect from the 23 year old artist who definitely knows how to party hard. After grabbing a bite to eat, Chief Betty Roxy, Chief concert goer Amy and I made our way through the crowds of screaming teenagers to the VIP section. Proudly dodging the trays of sausage rolls, meat pies and quiches with complete self control. The free champagne on offer was more of a challenge, but again, we proved mind over matter and (resentfully) turned down the tempting drop.

We were pleased to see a substantial turn out from the media, music and fashion industry. Bumping into the gossip king and queen Jonathan Moran and Elle Halliway and Channel V presenters Kyle, Renee and Danny.

Support performers, The Rouge Traders were excellent, but we were here to see one person – Ke$ha. In true diva style, Ke$ha came on stage fashionably late. But boy did she make an entrance, complete with a House of Gaga inspired hair shrug, body suit, her face encrusted with glitter and gloves that shot lazer beams into the crowd. She demonstrated that she is a performer in the making.

The true wow factor came at the very end, when glitter and streamers exploded into the air. The night sky the perfect backdrop to capture the reflective light as they descended magically onto the packed audience. The showdown also heralded that it was time to make our way home.

Our verdict: One hit wonder or future pop megastar? – we remain undecided. Nevertheless, we all agreed it was a great evening out. Ke$ha may not be a superstar yet but her show last night definitely showed that she has some serious diva potential. Keep your eye out!

Sim x

Chia is a buzz word I have  been hearing a lot lately, and apart from a vague memory of a  Chia pet I made in year 2, I had no idea what it actually was. After a little investigation I think I have discovered a nutritional godsend. Chia is a type of seed that is high in Omega 3, dietary fibre and protein, goodies which are said to benefit the heart, boost antioxidant levels and improve memory.  The Chia Co produces a range of Chia products, all grown naturally in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The tiny seeds can be sprinkled over a range of foods like salads, cereals and yoghurts, or mixed in with your morning smoothie to add vital nutrients that are often missing from our modern diet.  

As a busy Betty on the go, I am always looking for a way to help boost my energy levels  and get me through the busy days at Sweaty Betty HQ. Usually my answer is a handful of red snakes and a coke zero to beat the 4pm blues, but after hearing about the newest miracle food on the block, I am off to buy a bag and start sprinkling. I feel healthier just thinking about it.

Get yours by visiting

www.thechiaco.com.au

Natalie xx

We have a new favourite website – with amazing contributors, chic design, heaps of information, and best of all, completely devoted to our area of expertise – fashion! But be warned, this site is so addictive we guarantee you’ll have major issues tearing yourself away from it…

Fashion Air is a UK website that’s changing the face of social commerce in the most fabulous way possible. We like to think of it as an online fashion feast, taking the best bits of style news and products from around the world and serving them up a-la carte style to whet your tastebuds! Broken down into four key areas – Fashion Bites, Shopping, People and Personal Style, this online trend-watch is as inspired by creative people on the streets as the major runway shows, and is updated literally hundreds of times a day. Reason enough to set it as your homepage!

Fashion Bites does exactly what it says, offering you a canapé style selection of the top style picks of the week – from LMFF to spring steals, vintage sunnies to cute recipe books – whatever’s rocking the Fashion Air boat that week will be brought to you on one page with links through to the relevant online stores. The Shopping section is the next best thing to wandering down 5^th Avenue, the Champs Elysees, Oxford Street – wherever you like to indulge your shopping habit – with a handy product finder, ‘shop the shows’ runway report, store finder, and ‘Fashion Air edit’, the team’s Top 20 shopping finds.

Our fave area of the site is definitely ‘People’ – who wouldn’t want to ready what Claudia Schiffer thinks of Karl Lagerfeld? Or where Olivia Palermeno likes to shop in NYC? What Collette Dinnegan’s top picks of the season are? Fashion Air has collected fashion tips, recommendations, haunts and advice from celebrities, designers, models, and everyday people as videos on the site, and that’s not all – each video comes with relevant products and links for you to recreate the People’s choices.

Seriously, this site is going to be HUGE – we bet it will be topping everyone’s ‘favourites’ list by the end of the year. Get involved before the rest of the world does – but remember to come up for air!

www.fashionair.com

Be here….Martin Place (Outside the Channel 7 – Sunrise HQ)

When… 25th March at 8am

Can’t wait to see you there!

(Images from the Neuw Denim stunt in Melbourne last week…this could be you!)