If the Shoe Fits

You can't go past a classic black heel and I thought this new shoe from Oroton was worth a plug. Simple, sexy and not too high, these are the perfect choice if you're on the hunt for a stylish, versatile, go anywhere heel. I also have a weird fixation for shoes with out of the ordinary soles. Go figure. 

Praise for My New Lover

I have a new lover. No, you don't have to worry that my husband is going to visit this blog and heave himself off the nearest high precipice. My new lover is from Chanel and it's a shade of Rouge Allure lipstick.

For ages I have wanted to be one of those people who could wear red lipstick, but all the shades I had found had always looked too orange or just too cheap. As a fair-skinned woman red is quite a statement, so it is really important to get the right shade.

I've tried quite a few shades from some of my favourite cosmetic brands, but haven't been happy with the outcome. I've always known the 'Queen' of the red lipstick is Chanel so I popped past the counter at David Jones on the weekend to see what they had in store. 

After telling her I was looking for a blue-based red (ideal for fair skin and if you want to avoid that orange look) the lovely assistant presented me with a selection of shades to choose from. The ones she tried on me was the Rouge Allure in Lover and it was love at first sight. I've only had this since Saturday and I've already worn it three times. 

So are you a red lipstick aficionado or does the idea of bright red lips make you recoil in horror? We'd love you to share your experiences both good and bad. If you have a shade you love, make sure you share your tip with our readers in the comment field provided below. Don't worry you can be anonymous, so your husband will never know!

A Terrifying Experience

As I got out of the car my palms were sweaty and my knees quacked just a little bit. Who knew what was going to happen when I walked through that door? I was about to go through that horrible experience that women everywhere face at some point - going to a new hairdresser.

I received the horrible news a few weeks ago. I rang my regular salon to book in with my hairdresser only to be told she was no longer with the salon. No amount of pleading, wailing or cash incentives (maybe I made that last one up) could sway the stalwart receptionist into telling me where my old hairdresser had gone. So I hung up. Since then my hair has continued to get longer, messier and my regrowth has started to look like balayage.

Then last week I was asked to write a story for The West Australian that was going to involve me being photographed, so I had no choice but to finally had to bite the bullet and confront my fear. Calling the salon again, I ate humble pie and politely asked for them to book me in with a new hairdresser.

I won't bore you with all the details of what went on during that fateful three hours (sitting in a hairdressers chair for three hours is boring enough without reading about it as well) but despite some initial misgivings - the hairdresser had her fingernail tips painted glittery gold - I didn't leave the salon with a lopsided do or horrifying orange streaks. The cut is not too short and not too long and hasn't left me with the triangle shape do every curly-haired woman fears. The hairdresser's careful application of fine foils in three different colours resulted in a soft and natural look. Today I am breathing a giant sigh of relief.

Not only did I survive the experience unscathed (this time) but my husband commented the cut made me look like Jennifer Aniston. I may have found a new hairdresser.

Now it's your turn to share your horrifying hair stories. Have you been forced into a new salon by a cruel twist of fate only to have the best haircut of your life or have you had a truly unimaginable hair disaster?

A New Addiction

I love a good fad as much as the next person and thanks to my brother-in-law on the weekend I discovered Words with Friends. Although essentially this game is just a high-tech new way of playing Scrabble it is surprisingly addictive.

I installed the app on my iPhone (although I think there are other ways you can play) initially using the free version although the ads that pop up between each move soon get annoying. I've already gone and bought the paid ad-free version (just $3.99 from iTunes).

Basically you can sign in with your Facebook or Twitter accounts or use your email address and either challenge friends, Twitter followers or complete strangers to a game.

These long-distance Scrabble games can be played over an hour or over a week and you can set the game to notify you when anyone you are playing makes a move so you can take your turn. You can also use the chat function to send messages to the person you are playing - essentially like free SMS if you are playing with friends.

It might not sound like much but my husband and I lost most of our Sunday afternoon trying to come up with ways to use a Z or a Q on a triple letter score square. So far I've resisted breaking out my king-sized professional dictionary I use for my journalism work but it's only a matter of time.

Are you also hooked on Words with Friends or is there something else you've found yourself addicted to this week?

New Product: iPhone Now in White

I am kind of glad I haven't got around to ordering my new iPhone 4 as Apple have just released the phone in white. Ever since I saw a white iPhone in an episode of Cashmere Mafia I had wished I had bought a white iPhone instead of a black one. Now it looks like I'll get my chance.

Out & About: Hobart Deli

I love checking out new places to eat and on Friday friends invited me to lunch at the Hobart Deli in North Perth. It was definitely a winner for me, a nice relaxing spot away from the hustle and bustle of Subiaco or Mt Lawley and sitting outside was very pleasant. I also found they had a good variety of healthy meal options, which was a nice change. 

I enjoyed a cauliflower frittata on a bed of quinoa salad and it was as delicious as it sounds. I know many people rate a good cafe by their coffee and although I've never had a taste for the stuff myself, my two friends both ordered coffee and were pretty happy with the result. This is definitely somewhere I will check out again soon - either for a casual weekend breakfast or lunch with friends. 

Have you been there and want to share your thoughts? Make sure you hit comment below. We'd also appreciate any tips you may have on other great places we should check out.  

Hobart Deli, 45A Hobart Street - North Perth.

New Trend: Nailing It

While neon bright nails were the hot thing during summer, now the weather has finally cooled down in Perth it's time to pop those yellows and pinks back in the cupboard. During autumn/winter the key look for your nails will be darker and much more dramatic.

Striking shades of jewel-toned copper, wine and berry red take centrestage, while the deepest, darkest shades of green, gray and chocolate also have their turn in the limelight. Red lovers can also rejoice, for endless shades of red, with gold and other metallic undertones and duo-chrome finishes, will abound this season. 

My personal favourite nail polish brand ZOYA (I love that they release new on trend colours each season) have already released two new ranges for autumns called Wicked and Wonderful that capture all these trends. The Wicked collection is all about shimmer and metallics while Wonderful is a range of more luxurious cream tones. The colours range from Carrie Ann (metallic scarlet red) to Kelly (creamy grey with purple undertones). Personally, I really like the look of the Wonderful range (below).

They retail for $17 a bottle or $90 for the full six from either the Wicked or Wonderful range. www.zoya.com.au

What's your favourite polish at the moment and do you wear it on your hands, toes or both?

Ideas Down the Drain

Why is it that we always seem to get bouts of inspiration when we're in the shower? Some of my best story ideas have come mid-scrub and I often remember things that I need to do, important dates and so forth.

It must be something to do with the fact it is the one time of the day when our mind is free to wander wherever it may and our subconscious finally gets the opportunity to wave its hand in the air and catch our attention.

The only problem for me is that I've found my mind wanders so far that by the time I am out, dressed and in front of a notepad and pen again I've invented so many things and solved so many global crises that I've totally forgotten that first brilliant idea for a novel that was surely going to be the next Harry Potter if only I could remember what it was about.

Therefore, I was rather excited to find that someone has actually created a solution. AquaNotes are waterproof notebooks that can be mounted on the wall of the shower. You can write down all your brilliant ideas as they come through your mind and then rip off the sheet and take it out of the shower with you. Why didn't I think of that? Now where's my shower cap?

Win tix to the Pirates of the Caribbean premiere

When I was invited to the preview screening of the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie, I didn't go. I thought, 'a camp film about swashbuckling pirates? I don't think so.'

It was only when the buzz for this movie reached monumental proportions that I finally ate my words and went to check it out. I liked it. In fact, I thought it was funny, unique and pretty great. Clearly I wasn't the only one as there have been several more movies released since and all did very well in the old box office.

Now the franchise is heading to the next level as the next instalment, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, is coming out in 3D. Even better, five lucky WA Stylers (and their guest of choice) will be attending the WA premiere at Belmont Cinemas on May 18.

All you need to do to enter is hit comment below and tell us why you deserve to swashbuckle your way into the screening. The most creative answers will win. Aarrr.

What the movie is about:
When Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz), he’s not sure if it’s love—or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past. © Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Competition closes May 12, 2011.

Going wild for wood

At the moment designers are going wild for wood and not just for homewares, we're also seeing it in furniture, wallpaper and laminates and fashion won't be far behind. In the coming months we're going to be seeing a lot of wood and natural based products (think products like cork) in homewares stores and featured in interesting ways at our fashion boutiques from shoe heels to jewellery.

According to the talented style moguls I interviewed recently for an article in The West Australian about designEX, light woods in particular are going to be hot, hot, hot.

Pictured: Baskets from Laura Ashley, Dakota wedges from Betts, Concept chair from Globe West, Necklace from Lovisa and new wood laminate from Laminex.