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Online shopping is the greatest, if you know how to do it properly. You get all the convenience of not being surrounded by mad crazy shoppers, judgmental fools and giant lines for change rooms.

From the comfort of your own home you can choose that gold sparkly halter dress you are going to wear to your friends Hoochie themed party without people actually thinking it’s just what you wear out on the town. Or if you do where that kind of thing out and about, then you are clearly Beyoncé. HI BEYONCE!

Online shopping gives you access to a multitude of brands from all around the world without having to do any of the footwork. What’s even better is that online you are generally less likely to pay full price for items you find in store.

So time to get savvy and hit the interwebs for all your fashion/make-up/linen/homeware/giant fish tank needs.

As a seasoned online shopper I am going to give you the basic outline for buying stuff like a pro.

1. KNOW YOUR MEASUREMENTS

Grab a ruler or tape measure (you can grab free ones at Ikea), and know you height, chest, hips, waist, leg length and foot size.

The reason? Online you will see just how absurd sizing really is, you may be a UK8, AUS10 or USA6. And they will all be the same. UGH. But if you know your actual size you can’t go wrong.

2. RESEARCH

Once you know your size its time to know where to shop. The best deals come from anywhere really, but the major online stores do provide ace discounts and generally free shipping. Win!

Here are some sites you should check out:

http://au.strawberrynet.com/

http://www.topshop.com/

http://www.asos.com/au/

http://www.birdsnest.com.au/

3. LEAVE IT IN YOUR “BAG” “WATCH LIST” “ETC”

I have found that if you leave items saved in your bag/watch list and what nots, the sites will start sending you emails for discounts. You see thanks to the fancy internet, they know you are two shakes of a penguin’s tail from buying something on their site and they want to seal the deal. So play hard to get and you might get a fancy little offer very soon.

4. READ REVIEWS

Make sure that when you have found that dreamy pair of shoes or gorgeous dress you read all the reviews or feedback from previous buyers. It will usually be on the site itself, but if not use the old Google machine. The advice is from common folk like yourself and you’ll end up with a helpful tip EVERY TIME.

Personal Experience: I had my greedy little eyes on a gorgeous pair of leather boots (actually I’m wearing them right now) and was about to buy them when I remembered my own advice. I read all the reviews and found out they ran a size too small. I took that on board and ordered a size up. Lucky thing I did because they were so very right.

5. WHEN ON EBAY, COMMITMENT MEANS MORE THAN AT A WEDDING

When you have selected to buy. YOU HAVE SELECTED TO BUY. Don’t be a douche and do a pull-out-bro on the poor sellers. So make sure you are totally keen on the purchase BEFORE hitting the button.

6. SUBSCRIBE

What’s better than diving head first into the web for bargains? Having the bargains swim right into your fish tank of course!

By subscribing to newletters you will get first access to new collections and all the discounts, so become a member or simply drop them your email and half the work is done for you.

By the way, I don’t know who that dude is below, but I like his silly little yellow pillow.

Yay! Now all you need to do is a get a second job to accomodate for your shopping problem. I kid I kid. Now it’s time to set your savvy little hands free on the web and score yourself something pretty.

HAVE FUN

- Mac

*****

I know this as a fact! My mission when I went to London last year was to finally get my hands on a gorgeous Burberry trench coat, that iconic piece of clothing that every single fashion savvy person would insist on having.

From the moment I walked into the shop till this very second I am so glad I made the giant purchase.

Burberry is a staple, they make iconic pieces and put new spins on old ones. They manage to make clothes accessible, wearable and fashionable with one swoop. So I like many others switched on to the show live streaming last night (I’m in Australia, but staying up was well worth it). It was gorgeous.

What I loved in particular were all the accessories, because we all know brands can be a little bit out of our reach. But god damn mamma is going to save to get her hands inside those brilliant black silver-studded gloves. YES!

So here is a little peek into my favourite brand. Oh and with all those famous faces you can see I am not the only one swooning. Christopher bailey you have done it again!

*****

I borrowed some photos from Garance Dore as I was unluckily unable to attend (some one invite meeeeee)

I really want this owl jumper and bow belt!

So ladies I suggest we start saving our pennies, because we are going to want a few items here (read… we want ALL items here).

- Mac

*****

Everyone’s favourite new French Vogue Editor-in-Chief Emmanuelle Alt (sorry Carine Roitfeld) is hamming it up Justin Wu style for the re-launch of the famous fashion house’s new look website.

Having succeeded Carine Roitfeld in February 2011, Emmanuelle has worked to keep that standard of French Vogue as is, stating “I don’t think there should be radical changes”.

The 44-year-old Parisienne is a power house within the fashion industry as both an editor and a fashion icon, with even Ralph Lauren singing her praises “Emmanuelle’s style is always original, part street, part romantic, very personal—and very French. She has a way of dressing that I love.”

With her positive and happy nature it is no surprise that her manner of launching the new-look French Vogue website is with a humorous and densely fashion packed music clip. Set to the bouncy Wham! track “Wake me up before you go-go”, the whole French Vogue team make use of their hairbrush singing skills and bring in the new site with flair and fun.

*****

I wore a bow tie to work today; my workmate announced we were dating. See they do work.

Now we aren’t really dating, but that’s the power of the bow tie, spontaneous announcements, wedding proposals, and prizes. It’s all part of the deal. Because when even Doctor Who himself is sporting one, then you know you’re onto something gold.

So below I have provided an array of ways to wear the dear bow tie, from male to female, young and old, human or time lord.

ENJOY! AND MAKE SURE TO TRY IT OUT, EVEN FOR A DAY.

Doctor Who looks ever so dashing these days.

Can’t go wrong when the Bass is doing it too.

If Diane Kruger is working it, then clearly it’s time to give it a go.

Rachel Zoe is ex stylist and gorgeous man about town Brad Goreski.

Throw in some skulls and your look gets a little more punk than nerdy.

Heck you can even buy bow tie jewellery and give it a clip on go.

It can even work in the office (I know this by personal experience!)

Or of course out on the street, it’ll make you so lovely and cosy around the neck. Also, make any basic shirt and blazer combo absolutely divine.

If this gorgeous little lad can wear one, SO CAN YOU. Actually the site where I got this delightful image also has a brilliant HOW-TO on making bow ties. Give it a look and a try!

- Mac

*****

If you answered YES to any of the above then you need to try out this gorgeous old trend.

I have recently picked up some make up skills, particularly a hell of an ace liquid eyeliner. So I have been looking up what I can do with it, and how I can make the rest of my look as rad to match.

So the other day I was meeting some friends at the pub and down walked my gorgeous friend Eva, she’s a total babe with the most wicked tattoos. But what really got my attention was her total look. She was rocking a high waisted pair of blue jeans, white tucked in white shirt, black winged eyeliner and bright red lipstick, topped off with a bitchin’ old school black and white bandana. If I was a cartoon I would have wolf whistled and banged my beer on the table.

This look is surprisingly easy to do, and works on both long and short hair, fair or dark skin, young and old, slim or curvy. If you have a face and some hair you can do this!

What you need:

Red Lipstick

.RIMMEL Diva Red is ace, or the classic MAC Ruby Woo.

Black Eyeliner

.The more pigmented the better. MAC do a great new eyeliner pen, or JEMMA have a liquid pot that stays on even after a dip in the pool.

Accessories

.Bandana. High-waisted anything; shorts, skirt or jeans. Tattoos. A gorgeous guy with a motorcycle.

*****

The trick to this is to perfect the hair and makeup and have fun with the rest. Keep it clean and simple on the face and then you can accessorize the hell out of your outfit. It’s fun to play with your look every once in a while, and this look is sure to get you some attention.

-Mac

The video for “Welcome to your life”, featuring the vocals of producer Mt. Sims, is totally insane and inexplicably enslaving, in true Leila style.

You can buy “U&I” here. Extrêmement nécessaire.

- Kaity

*****

So get yourselves ready for some exciting new looks from the major giant, which will reach our paws as everyone takes notes.

- Mac

*****

Perfume is one of those wonderful things, it makes people smell amazing and also distinctly like themselves. I can’t smell Chanel Chance without thinking of my best friend Michaela who has worn it since high school.

When I was 16 my boyfriend at the time bought me D&G Light Blue and I wore it all the time, it became such a part of that age and time of my life. I was glad when it ran out because it meant I could be a new person, so my Dad bought me a new scent for my start into senior year, and I have had it ever since.

Cinema by Yves Saint Laurent

Cinema by Yves Saint Laurent is my signature scent, the one that people smell and go “hey that reminds me of Maca”.

Funnily enough Kaity and I share this. I arrived to her flat in London and saw it sitting on a shelf, I was amazed, what are the chances. Kaity you rock.

So I am here to tell you that although I adore perfume and own three. I think everyman woman and (older teen) child, needs to have a signature scent.

There is something so romantic about perfume, the way it lingers, ignites one’s memory and makes everything smell so pretty.

I buy my perfumes with great care and often find they remind me of when I bought them at a particular time of my life.

Flora By Gucci

I really loved the ad for this fragrance and on a trip to Los Angeles thought I would buy it duty free for myself. Well after a particularly crazy night, my best friends boyfriend bought it for me as a thank you gift. I used it the rest of the trip and when ever I smell it to this day it reminds me of that cool Autumn in Echo Park when I paraded from bar to bar drinking margaritas and eating salsa with my best friend.

Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel

While on a trip to London as I indulgently shopped at every single store, mall and market known to man I happened upon this fragrance. It’s so feminine and strong, such a classic scent. I loved it.

Then one night I was invited by a friend of friend to attend a play The Children’s Hour starring Keira Knightley, who also happens to star in the Chanel ad campaign.

So the deal was done, now the smell so strongly reminds me of London is makes me a little sad for my little romantic holiday over there.

*****

So tonight when I go out, and the next day, when I have breakfast and the day after that when I head off to work I will spray a little perfume on myself and smile at all the things, places and people it reminds me of.

- Mac

Lips are super super super important, they take up a huge part of your face and they can wear clothes (sort of), so you MUST take good care of them.

Always use lip balm with an SPF during the day, and give them a heavy coating of the balm without SPF at night. Also every now and again give them a gentle exfoliating treatment with some warm water and brown sugar, and watch them come back to that lovely supple feeling once more.

Now I know that lipsticks can rob your precious pout of its lovely soft feeling, so sometimes you need to ditch the extreme colour and opt for a tint or tinted balm.

BUT what if you could have the entire juicy colour, a natural but glossy looking lip and still take care of the soft skin underneath?

I have been waiting for this product for agessss. Something that gave me a lovely ruby tinge without too much colour and left my lips feeling soft afterwards.

CLINIQUE CHUBBY STICKS

My personal favourite is the Chunky Cherry, you get all the ruby colour but with a natural finish.

I have five of these already, and I adore them Actually David Jones is having a rad sale on them now for Christmas, you can get four of them for less than the price of two! BUY BUY BUY! Thanks Santa.

Chunky Cherry

These are perfect for the cold, windy, rainy, stormy weather we have been having of late. You can keep your pout moisturised and still have a pop of colour for the holiday season.

- Mac

Toronto based filmmaker Graydon Sheppard and his partner Kyle Humphrey created the humorous account for laughs, and now along with pal Juliette Lewis the pair has a certified YouTube hit on their hands. I look forward to many more episodes to come.