Mmmmmmm

I don't want to write about food too often here, don't get me wrong, i LOVE food but i feel like there are a lot of people out there with better instagram skills and more appropriate language to be able to write about food. My reviews tend to be just sounds of drool hitting my desk or the sound of my stomach rumbling.

I do however HAVE to review two dishes i've had recently that need to be shared;

The first was todays lunch over at one of my work faves Cavallero. I've only eaten there a handful of times, their baked eggs in the morning are amazing, as is their coffee and most wines which is what i tend to stick to. Today however i had to try one of their famed sandwiches. Now it was a hard decision between the 'collingwood meatball' sub, the schnitzel and coleslaw sandwich however in the end I went for the Reuben. Now I love a good corned beef on rye, in fact this is what turned my from 7 years as a vegetarian into a full blown meat eater (later that year whilst spending christmas with my family in Greece i even at turkey brains.......). The Sandwich was DE-lish, amazing actually, well, i'm pretty sure the image speaks for itself!

The second dish was at The Newmarket, the south side flavour of the month that has drawn me in a number of times. Recently was the first time i'd sampled the dessert and Oh my god, the chocolate tart with Kahlua ice cream and toffee shards is as ridiculous as it sounds.

**I apologise for the quality of this image, i think I was too excited to eat!

So there is my culinary advice for the weekend, no doubt there will be the odd one in the future but i'll probably get distracted by clothes!!

A.mbition to C.reate N.ovel E.xpression

Have you seen anything more fun than the outfit below?

Thanks to the amazing Geri Hirsch from the blog Because i'm Addicted for posting these picks of the new Acne Leathers range. WANT!

Since seeing Mikael Schiller, CEO of Acne at this years LMFF Business Seminar, I've been more obsessed with the idea of owning one of their leather jackets than i am with owning a dog (desperate to but our apartment is way too small). The brands ethos about rational thought and creativity really stuck a cord with my. This was one of the best talks of the day!

Still swooning over this vest!!

1. Whyred knit and Acne leather skirt
2. COS dress and Acne leather vest

Photos: Carolines Mode

True Genius

Anish Kapoor is one if those people whose work literally stops me in my tracks and makes me rethink everything i have ever done with my time and brain. I'm surrounded by a lot of creative people as part of my job and also my friends and aquaitances. I see people do great things and it's incredibly inspiring. This however, is different.

As part of Monumenta 2011, Kapoor created something quite extraordinary. The Paris based event is like no other, each year the French Ministry of Culture and Communication selects relevant and prolific contemporary artists to appropriate the Grand Palais Nave with art works specifically created for the event.

This year it was Kapoor's turn and as a result Leviathan was born. Now, i've seen some pretty impressive things in my time - The Parthenon, New York City, Joshua Tree National Park and George Clooney however Leviathan is something different and I have only seen photos.

I've written and deleted and re written my own review/appraisal of the work but nothing I say does it justice. What I will do is leave this photo, and link to the VIDEO that completely and utterly changed my opinion of this artist. He is a true visionary.

Anish Kapoor – Leviathan – Interior view of the artwork
© MONUMENTA 2011- Anish Kapoor – Leviathan – Interior view of the artwork. Photo Didier Plowy – All rights reserved Monumenta 2011, French Ministry for Culture and Communication

MiFF AKA 14 days of fun

It's my favourite time of year! Not only is it my birthday (weeeeeeeeeeeeeee, last year of my 20s **shock **horror **booze) but Miff (Melbourne International Film Festival) begins. In actual fact, it ends the day after my birthday so the next two weeks will be a film filled build up to my day (it's MY DAY!!!!!)

Every year my sister and I (her birthday is three days after mine) get each other a festival emini pass which gets you 10 flicks and 3 extra ones before 5pm on a weekday. It's a bloody bargain and quite indulgent. Anyway, i haven't book all my films but here are a selections of the ones i'm heading to. I always favour documentaries but there are a couple of features thrown in also;

El Bulli (Documentary)

Said to profile the inner workings of the Spanish eatery, El Bulli exposes the genius behind the restaurants Chef, Ferran Adria. I have had a long standing fascination with him since my other culinary heart throb Anthony Bourdain visited on his TV show No Reservations. Adria is a true genius, less Chef more mad scientist. Very much looking forward to this!

Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Elliot Spitzer (Documentary)

I feel a bit sorry for poor ole Elliot. After the fall of the US financial system, the then New York State Attorney General rose to power only to be pulled back down to earth with a resonating thud. One of the key prosecutors of the powerful and wealthy, Spitzers skeletons were leaked to the New York Times which involved him in a prostitution ring that caused perhaps the only real Democratic hope to fall from grace.

Martha Marcy May Marlene (Feature)

Now, i have a fascination with Cults. Not that i'd ever be in one but i'm quite intrigued as to the nature of them and the people who choose to be in them. Most if not all are violent, crazy and just plane weird and it sounds like the one in this film is not different. The film follows Martha (the Olsen Twin's sister Elizabeth) escape from such a cult living in upstate New York. This film looks dark and slightly harrowing but said to be amazing non the less.

There are a lot more where these came from so visit the website and see for yourself.

Melbourne International Films Festival

21st July - 7th August 2011

Make Love(r) not War

I have been catching up on my blog reading this evening, work has been busy so i've been out of the game for a while, out I might add for the duration of Rosemount Australian Fashion Week!

Anyway, the girls over at So much to tell you included an image from the Lover show. Now I LOVE Lover, I mean LOVE!! However, the minute I saw these pieces, something happened. See for yourself;

Now, not only does this red dress completely knock my socks off but i'm sure wearing it is a whole other story. I covet them both! I thought they'd nailed it with their previous collection (see my faves below) but from what i've seen and heard of the show, we ain't seen nothing yet!!

See more from the collection, available later in the year HERE. Completely timeless!

Dear Lover, I Love You!

SWOON!!

At this time of year I begin to think about what the best live acts have been so far. I've not seen a huge amount which is pretty poor given i'm a pretty avid live music fan however, a few months ago I witnessed Local Natives at the corner hotel. Right then and there i realised they were probably going to top the list for 2011. They were BEAUTIFUL, just amazing and still, months later after listening to their album countless times, their songs continue to amaze.

THIS song is my absolute favorite. Cubism Dream gives me goose bumps no matter how many times I listen to it. Sadly it's now winter, I can actually hear the rain outside as I type. When i first heard the song the weather was warm and i'm sure I was in the sun somewhere.

Oh well, at least the song will keep me warm for the months ahead. Enjoy!!

Four Eyes

So this whole Bouffant-Gate thing that surfaced today (basically a Melbourne suburban school asked the photography company hired to shoot the school photos to airbrush the students, oh dear!) has inspired me to write about something from my school photo days that always made me feel a little awkward, I definitely wished the airbrushing thing was around in my day!

For as long as I can remember I have worn glasses. I got called four-eyes, have numerous photos of me with them all the way down the end of my nose and, well, it made it a little awkward when it came time to start kissing boys, they quite frankly got in the way!

Now however, it seems to be the age of eyewear. Devendra Banhart and his amazing looking girlfriend, Rebecca Schwartz appeared in the short film for Oliver Peoples Eye Wear, Zooey Dechanel also models for the brand (se above) and Tom Ford's line is just, well, you look at the photo below and judge for yourself.

Glasses are cool, sexy even now but they certainly weren't when I was in school and if I could show you my prep school photo (which i'm not cause this is the internet) you, for my sake would wish there had been air brushing back then too!!

Acquisitions

I LOVE jewellery! Love it! When I was little I used to dress myself up in my mothers necklaces, bracelets and rings and run around the living room singing to Whitney Huston and Madonna (i was pretty cool) then when i got older I took it upon myself to rifle through those treasures again and claim my favourite pieces. In hindsight, not completely ethical but hey, I like shiny things!

Over the years I have built up quite the collection including cheapies from Sportsgirl, things found at op shops, more from my family (ahem) and lots of gifts. The image below is of my latest acquisitions. One is a necklace by Polly Van Der Glas given to me by my lovely boy who just so happens to have the best taste in jewellery, lucky me!

Polly's work is exquisite, this ring on a necklace is a silver cast of a plaited lock of hair, just beautiful! Her work is on display at QV in Melbourne, 25 Jane Bell Lane and runs till April 2nd, get there quick!

The other 'knock someone out' ring was Finders Keepers Market purchase. Now, embarrassingly, I have to admit to not remembering the stall I bought it from so I can't tell you the designers name. I think I had tunnel vision or something, I bought the ring, ripped it out of the bag (throwing it carelessly in the bin) and shoved it on my finger where it has stayed every since. I ADORE it but don't know who made it and have trawled through the market website to try and find them, alas no luck. Any help would be much appreciated but this ring is too cool not to tell everyone about.

Hope you like my shiny things!!

The other Moss

So word on the street/email newsletter is that The Kills are coming to Australia for Splendour in the Grass. I REALLY want to go, it's around the time of my birthday, it's technically a holiday and if the rumours are true, the line up is going to be amazing!

I love The Kills for both their music and front woman. Alison Mosshart is freaking amazing! Her style is outstanding and i'm in love with her bravado! She's like Mick Jagger in a beautiful, cool woman's body!

Here is my ode to her in pictures;

** I have wanted these gold Marc Jacobs boots for an eternity. Are they not just amazing?!

** Mosshart in her side project The Dead Weather

** Ok, looking at this pictures makes me wish I never gave up smoking!

** As does this!

** In all her glory and those MJ boots!

Testing!

Ok so my blog layout is definitely a work in progress right now. I do however adore this background image but Anatoly Zenkov an amazing Russian Interactive designer. He's seriously brilliant.

Anyway, i'll leave it up for a bit and see how it goes!

3

So i'm going to tell you what I think of three things;

1. The new TV on the Radio song.

My first encounter with TV on the Radio was in NYC as an unknown, amazing sounding band i had never heard of. Flash forward to being back in Australia and hearing Wolf like Me on the radio....that was when i fell in love.

This band is truly incredible, not only for having David Bowie singing back up 'Province' (PS TVOTR also covered Heros) but because you can not pigeon hole them into one genre. I love bands that dabble in a range of sounds from electro, to funk, to full on indie to.....Ambulance, a song performed completely acapella, it also happens to be one of my favourites. Their last album was released in 2008 and was called Dear Science. I was lucky enough again to see their very sweaty, 40+ degree performance at the Hi Fi Bar. It was amazing and the band did extremely well under the roasting conditions, I was exhausted but left wanting more! I waited and waited and waited and the last week, scrolling through Twitter I noticed that Pitchfork posted a link to the bands new song. To say the least, i'm so excited! The band is back to form and i can not wait to hear what the rest of the album sounds like. Listen for yourself;

Will Do by Tv on the Radio

2. The Curve of Forgotten Things

I think Elle Fanning is amazing! I've said it in my review of Somewhere and i'll say so again, the girl is exquisite and only 12 years old! The Curve of Forgotten Things, directed by Todd Cole as a collaboration with Rodarte, soundtracked by Deerhunter was created to highlight the designers 2011 Spring collection. I tell you, i have never seen anything more beautiful! Elle looks like one of those California girls from the 70s with just a hint of The Virgin Suicides. With an LA backdrop shot through a vintage lens, the film gives you that warm sense of nostalgia disrupted ever so slightly by the modern touches to Rodartes collection. I could watch this over and over again. It's so calming and glamorous and I imagine myself walking aimlessly through historic houses and down winding roads instead of sitting her at my desk in a stupid white cube.....ok, i need to watch it again but here are some photos to tied me over;

3. The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall

I am reading this at the moment and i LOVE it. My friend Charisse read it whilst we were overseas mid year and she raved and raved about it. Finally back in Melbourne i picked it up from The Paperback Book store after trying a couple other places to no avail. It is incredibly well written and a fascinating story of a polygamist called Golden Richards whose life and convictions go through a but of a revolution due to a number of hilarious and often heartbreaking occurrences. I'm not going to go through too much as I'm only about half way through and hate reading reviews of books i haven't read so don't really want to write one! Anyway, if you are looking for something to do now that Melbourne weather has officially decided to give us the finger, this is my pick.

So there, three things, i've told you about them and now i can get back to work!

Pimps Trying to catch a woman that's weak

Image: Bobby Womack in The Black Zorro

So, my mate Coop (who has this awesome blog The Graf with another friend of mine B-Doggg) works with me occasionally came into the office with an awesome play list today.

He called it something like Dancing Soul (not sure bout that, sorry Coop) but it's AMAZING..

Things like Mr Pitiful by Otis Redding and Save Me by Aretha Franklin and Be My Baby by The Ronettes were on it and we were all in such great moods all day just singing along and enjoying ourselves, at work....I know right?? After the past few weeks I had, it was a nice change!

Then Across 1010th Street by Bobby Womack came on. MAN, that song makes me want to be on a balcony somewhere singing my guts out, or driving cross country after some huge disaster like Jackie Brown at the end of the movie.

There is SO much soul in this song full of desperate verses about pimps and hoes but well before rappers were singing about them. I LOVE Hip Hop but there ain't no one who sings about hard times (and pimp) like Bobby in this song.

Well

Happy New Year, slightly late but relevant all the same. Not sure it's just me but it's taken a while for me to get into the swing of 2011, it feels strange but i think it'll be a good year.

Despite my optimism i've had a shitty week and sometimes I need to look at nice things to get me through, most of them have something to do with fashion or food. So, for the sake of my shitty, shitty week, here are some things that make me smile!

Oh how I love Chloe Sevigny, for her style for her work in the best movie ever Last Days of Disco and for her funny friends.

These necklaces by Pamela Love make me want to die. I love them AND my lovely BF bought me the silver tribal spike on the left for Christmas, SO spoilt!!!

New St Kilda eatery The Newmarket Hotel is delicious both for it's food and interior. The amazing Melbourne based studio 6 Degrees designed the space and Chef Paul Wilson creates unbelievable South American style food. The Corn is mental!

Local Natives are an amazing band from Orange Country apparently. They were here for Laneway Festival which I sadly missed but I was lucky enough to go to their sold out show at the Corner. 2011 has just started but this is definitely going to be the gig of the year. Their music, simply, is beautiful. They are amazing musicians with incredible voices that really do give me goos bumps. Check out their album, Gorilla Manor, highlights for me are Wide Eyes, Sun Hands and the lovely Cubism Dream. THIS initially drew my attention to the band, so good!

OK, back to my shitty week......think i can handle it now!

'Somewhere'

All i can say about Somewhere is that Sofia coppola is a genius. This film and indeed all her others represent the world in a beautiful way, no matter how painful it really is.

Somewhere her forth feature seems to be a more personal piece, lacking in any real narrative but allowing the audience to swim in the stunning visuals she gives to them. Coppola has a knack for being able to set up seemingly ordinary, everyday scenes, and turns them into a work of art. She takes a world as heartless and cruel as the Los Angeles celebrity vacuum and depicts it as sort of fairytale wonderland. Often heartwernching, the winner of the 2010 Best Picture award at the Venice Film Festival, is more visual than narrative. The first 10 or more minutes of the film is noticeably without dialogue and you instantly relate to the protagonists isolation from his surroundings and indeed himself. Stephen Dorff has been away from the screen for a few years, not exactly sure where he went but he play's Jonny Marco, an 'It' actor living at the Chateau Marmont a place synonymous with Hollywood debauchery. Jonny is surrounded by everybodys and nobodies and doesn't' really seem to care about anything. The only real depth you see from him is through his daughter Cleo played superbly by Elle Fanning (the girl is ridiculously beautiful at just 11 years old). Even then you see a distance between them due to circumstance and the world they live in. Though their journey throughout the film is playful and heartfelt in some ways, there is huge void between them that Coppola tries to close but which you know will remain open.

Sophia has a way of being able to make any environment look inviting, even LA and though there are shots of endless highways (perhaps a reflection of the main character) the lush green vistas and incredibly decadent lifestyle definitely makes you envious. To say what the film is 'about' would be quite hard as it isn't really about anything, it's more of a reflection of a life which perhaps the film maker herself can relate to. There is slight catharsis at the end of the film however you do leave the cinema with the longing felt throughout.

The film is beautiful and it's nice to be able to sit and appreciate Coppola's aesthetic for a few hours. My favourite scene involves a fun day out between Jonny and Cleo. They swim and eat and shop and in one instance they pat a little puppy to a backing track of Julian Casablancas' 'I'll try anything once". Seriously, there is nothing better than that!

Terry's World

Popular culture has a very love/hate relationship with Terry Richardson. The 45 year old photographer son of Bob Richardson, renowned fashion photographer, is also known for his fashion and editorial photographs usually containing nudity and a lot of sexual innuendo. Since I signed up to Google Analytics, the program that allows you to gage traffic on your blog, I noticed that I’ve received a spike in traffic all because of my post about the Pirelli calendar. No coincidence that all of a sudden, i have been receiving 30 hits a day the same time I posted pictures of naked girls. Part of me thinks my boyfriend is the one looking at the ladies but the other half of me is not surprised that this post in particular has garnered so much attention.

The images on the post that I like most and that I think stand out are the two that Richardson shot for the 2010 calendar. They are pretty gratuitous but I like them cause they are so obvious. There is no hidden message, no subtle suggestion just a picture of a nice ass in tight shorts. Richardson spawned the idea of 'Fashion Smut' (a term coined by myself whilst writing this) that led to the popularity of the Purple Journal publication and the more 'art' focused works of Jurgen Teller. Richardson cops a lot of shit, most recently for the spread he did of the kids from Glee in GQ and the allegations of him being a bit 'handsy' with models when they come to his studio.

Drama aside, I’m really fond of his aesthetic both in his personal works and the work he does for major fashion houses and magazine spreads. I love the washed out white backgrounds that make his subjects, whoever they are, quite arresting in their appearance. From Obama to James Franco in drag for Candy magazine to some random modal, his subjects are majestic, they have a sense of strength and a command over theirs and our sexuality (well, perhaps not Obama he just makes me want to high five him).

Ours is a world where sex sells, you see it in the way all those little pop teen tarts dress and by the spontaneous traffic on my blog. We can’t escape it cause we created it and there really is not point getting your knickers in a twist, instead, take your clothes off and let Terry take a photo of them;). Big and ridiculous statements aside, his photos are awesome, take a look at his blog, the images (in particular the ones with Terry and his subject usually flipping the camera off)are incredibly entertaining!

All images by Terry Richardson

Sophia

Image: Sophia Coppola on set, from Slachfilm.com

I'm really excited about seeing the new Sophia Coppola film "Somewhere"with my sister on Sunday. Apart from re-introducing Stephen Dorff back into the world (Sophia, I thank you) and casting the exquisite Elle Fanning (Dakotas' Sister) her films have always been truly amazing visual experiences and this is apparently no different.

Image: Elle Fanning and Stephen Dorff 'Somewhere', from Slachfilm.com

Debuting on the film scene in Godfather Part III did not do Sophia any acting favours however almost 10 years later, she had developed as a director and gave us The Virgin Suicides. This film is a harrowing and beautiful and her style was definitely apparent right from the beginning. Watching this and her other titles which include Lost In Translation and Marie Antoinette, you are transported into a dreamlike state where reality seems so far away and for 2 hours you can just be lost in her world.

Lost In Translation was poignant for the time and received wonderful feedback, Maria Antoinette had mixed reviews but spawned French Revolutions chic (and had an amazing soundtrack) and though Somewhere has not had an official release yet, critics are saying Oscar!

Here is a bit of a Sophia gallery;

Image: Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray, Lost in translation, 2003

Image: Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette, 2006

Image: Scarlett's gorgeous behind, Lost In Translation, 2003

Image: Kirsten Dunst, The Virgin Suicides, 1999

Advanced Screenings of 'Somewhere' are at Nova Cinema in Carlton this weekend December 17th, 18th and 19th 2010

Revised Letter to Melbourne Weather

Well, It seems my rants have paid off. The weather this weekend really was sublime. I did the things I said I wanted to and for that Melbourne I say thanks. I got to lie in a park, I drank during the day, I basked and wore shorts and it was bliss so thank you Melbourne for turning it on.

Now I don't want to push my luck but it's Meredith Music Festival this weekend and instead of being like this;

as has been in the last few years, can you but more like this;

Thanks ever so!

PS: you're looking fabulous today!

An open letter to Melbourne Weather.

Dear Melbourne Weather

I just wanted to let you know that I'm having serious nostalgia for summer time.

Right now Melbourne, you are shitting me. It's the 2nd of December today, it's

summer and you're a miserable rainy mess and have been for a good month or more. This is what you are;

And this is what you should be;

I've been waiting and waiting for the weather to get even slightly better so I can stop wearing tights a boots and not have to worry about the fact that i've lost my umbrella. Right now, I've got a bad case of Summertime Blues and we all know that there ain't no cure for the Summertime Blues especially since there appears to be no summer time what so ever!

Where are you sun? I want to walk around bare footed and have ice cream melt down my chin. I want sand in my hair from the beach and sweat dripping down the back of my legs. I WANT A TAN! I want to wear a t-shirt and no jacket and sun dresses and thongs but instead you rain and i have frizzy hair and a scowl on my face! Just so you know, next weekend is Meredith and if you rain (again) i'm gonna flip!

In conclusion, I love you Melbourne. Your city rocks, in particular when the sun is out. So c'mon, stop this nonsense and bring me a heat wave!

Sincerely Surly Leni

Pirelli Update

The 2011 Pirelli Calendar was launched in Moscow last night and was shot by celebrated designer and photography Karl Lagerfeld. Featuring a selection of the most coveted models including Anja Rubik, Abbey Lee Kershaw and Erin Wasson and surprisingly some boys, the calendar is sharp and classic. Shot in black and white, Lagerfeld's 'Mythology' calendar reflects Greek and Roman gods, goddesses, hero's and heroins. 15 female models and 5 males grace the pages of this truly beautiful publication. You are amazing Karl.

All image credits to Karl Lagerfeld, 2011