foxy

Roald Dahl has always been one of my favourite writers, Wes Anderson is one of my favourite directors, and I think Jason Schwartzman is a total dreamboat. So I'm pretty excited about the upcoming film adaptation of Fantastic Mr. Fox. The trailer has just been released; it looks cute.

bookworm

So reading is trendy, according to The Cut. Models have been photographed reading backstage at shows, Sasha Pivovarova holds a book in a recent Italian Vogue shoot and the new Alberta Ferretti campaign features models surrounded by books and flying pages. Three is indeed a trend, but you know what? Being a bookworm has always been hot. Reading rules. I like Wellington illustrator Kelly Thompson's latest pieces of nerdy boys and girls, part of her recent 'Bookworms Never Go To Bed Alone' exhibition - take a look at more of her work here. And for Auckland based bookworms, the Variety Monster Book Fair is on this weekend; I can't wait.

pretty in pink

girl power

Do you consider yourself a feminist? I do, and I have no qualms admitting it. But I know a lot of girls my age don't like to call themselves that, or even hint at the possibility of considering calling themselves one. I'm not sure why - probably because of all the negative connotations. You know what I'm talking about: lesbian, hairy, man hater, all of that nonsense. I think it's ridiculous. I am not a lesbian, I am not hairy and oh yeah, I'm certainly not a man hater. I do however believe that women and men should have equal rights - and Elle Macpherson can eat a dick.

There's also this gross idea of 'modern female sexuality' that really gets me going: girls who think dressing and acting like a skank is proof that you're sexually liberated. I've already ranted about this. But I think some questions writer Ariel Levy asks are good ones to ponder right now (if you're in NZ, the reason I bring it up will hopefully become clear tomorrow afternoon). Why? Because Pamela Anderson, pretty much the epitome of everything I hate, is coming to New Zealand Fashion Week (although who knows, maybe she is quite smart?)

"How is resurrecting every stereotype of female sexuality that feminism endeavored to banish good for women? Why is labouring to look like Paris Hilton (or Pamela Anderson) empowering? And how is imitating a stripper or a porn star - a woman whose job is to imitate arousal in the first place - going to render us sexually liberated?"

I interviewed Guardian writer Hadley Freeman recently and asked her about all of this, and I think she summed it up pretty well when she said, "Feminism just means believing men and women should have equal rights so anyone who doesn't consider themselves a feminist is clearly a bit weird". Right on.

clean up

So, I'm not very healthy or responsible. I like red wine, very much. Sometimes instead of dinner, or as my dinner. I also like parties, and champagne, and cake. I just like to have a coffee for breakfast, and oftentimes I forget to eat, and sometimes I find myself enjoying toast for dinner. Toast, tea and Thai takeaways are the stalwart of my diet. Occasionally I have a flurry of faux-domesticity, and spend stupid amounts of a fridge full of produce I am not home to eat. I love cooking, but I just don't have time.

But, that's all changed, because my very kind and thoughtful friend gave me this. For ten whole days I ate three meals a day, and snacks. I didn't drink any wine, or any coffee (it was very strange). I ate brown rice, and lots of vegetables, and fish and soups and things like that. I didn't eat wheat, or dairy, or meat, or sugar. It turned up on my doorstep each morning, and I didn't have to cook at all. This may be the part I will miss the most. That and the pomengranate juice. And the little organised servings of nuts.

There is nothing more boring than holier-than-thou girls wanking on about diets, so I will stop here. What I will say, however, is that if you can do it, you should. That's all. And thankyou, Emily, I really, really appreciate it.

excess baggage

Is it just me or are handbags a huge pain in the ass? Right now my day to day handbag is an ugly vintage Oroton bag that's starting to come apart at the seams. I need a new one, but shopping for bags makes me get very anxious and indecisive. There are too many options, I don't know where to start and it has to be exactly the right size and shape, otherwise it's a complete waste of money. Oh yeah, and they're bloody expensive. Well, Mulberry Bayswater and Sofia Coppola for Louis Vuitton bags are, and right now these are the only two I want. Hmm, I'll keep dreaming... What type of bag do you carry - or do you want to carry?

Photos from Jak and Jil

we love karen and karen loves...

I think Karen Walker is incredible. I adore her clothes - probably half of the clothes and accessories I own are Karen Walker, something my family and friends mock me about mercilessly. I like the brand's sense of humour, and that the clothes are unpretentious, effortless and just the right amount of cute. I have a lot of respect for her as a businesswoman. And I really like that she draws inspiration from "anti it-girls", like naughty prom queens, Amelia Earhart, land girls and The Breakfast Club's Allison Reynolds. Her Annie Hall inspired 'Liberal and Miserable' collection still makes me feel all funny inside (look at it here). And in case you were wondering (a lot of people ask me): no, we are not related.

I asked a busy Karen to give us a list of her 10 favourite things right now - and here they are:

1. My daughter, Valentina
2. Tokyo
3. In the Loop
4. Brass band music
5. Morrissey
6. Scrabble on my iPhone
7. Mah Jong
8. Escentric Molecule fragrance
9. Karen Walker Eyewear 'Helter Skelter' (above)
10. 'In The Night Garden' TV show

hazy winter days

Life is better in soft focus...

good girl gone bad

So I know it's cool to be all bad ass and sexy and stuff, but sometimes I can't help but prefer movie characters before their glamorous/hot girl/slutty makeovers. Like Sabrina, Cry Baby's Allison when she was a square, Laney Boggs and a full-skirted Sandy.

tiny dancer

I just saw this cute photo of Alexa Chung and Tennessee Thomas dancing and doing the twist on Refinery29.com, and it made me miss my BFF (Natalie) so much.

get a room

Over-the-top, public displays of affection are lame. I like cute, private moments. In black and white. Held hands, sweet awkward kisses, hand on the back, secret smiles, private jokes. It's enough to make my inner cynic swoon.

all that she wants

At the top of my wish list right now? Nothing sexy or fashionable - just a desk. Because writing in bed isn't exactly conducive to creativity. I am convinced that a desk will solve my procrastination and organisational problems; plus they look cool. Pens, post-it notes, a chair, a small vase of fresh flowers, maybe even a "mood board" to inspire - all I want is a creative space that's not intended for sleeping in.

happy days

It is so sunny today in Sydney it's hard to believe it is the middle of winter. That said, I can't wait for real summer - cut offs and teeshirts every day, pancakes for lunch, sea swimming, lazy warm nights.