Donate to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal

Forget fashion today, sometimes there are just more important things to consider.

Tragically the death toll from the Victorian Bushfires currently stands at 173 people, and with the fires still raging across the countryside and despicable arsonists lighting new blazes today, this death toll will continue to rise steadily as the fires leave a devastating loss of life, property, bush land and livestock in their wake.

For those who are lucky enough to survive this tragedy, many have lost loved ones, friends, colleagues, their homes, cars, pets … their entire belongings.

Today we’re asking you to dig deep and donate to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

Visit the Red Cross website to make a secure online donation, or free call 1800 811 700 from anywhere in Australia to make a credit card payment over the phone.

Coming soon to Style Palace ...

Western Australian fashion designers, SU and their new SU ACCESSORY COLLECTION. Check out these gorgeous bangles featured recently in Grazia Magazine. Coming to the Palace soon ... stay tuned!

Hallo Possums!

Whether you love her or hate her (well, him actually), you can’t argue there’s nothing more Australian than Dame Edna! Played by Australian satirist Barry Humphries, The Dame is as Australian as Vegemite, lamingtons or snags on a barbie.

For years, the world’s perception of Australia was coloured by this outlandish character whose mop of purple-rinsed hair would put any self-respecting hairdresser to shame and whose high pitched, whiny voice which called “Hallo Possums” was rather like fingernails down a blackboard. Despite the irritating overtones, Dame Edna has always remained a much-loved Aussie icon and has become synonymous with our sun burnt country.

To celebrate this colourful character, MAC Cosmetics have just released the show-stopping Dame Edna collection in a fitting tribute to this great Australian icon.

Each product in the collection comes in fitting lavender-coloured packaging and sports a motif of Edna’s famous winged red glasses. The ‘looks’ of the collection are as spectacular as the muse, including Wisteria, Spectacle, Possum Nose Pink and Kanga-Rouge to name a few.

The collection is available now from your local MAC Cosmetics counter or log on to http://www.maccosmetics.com.au/ for more inspiration.

That’s right possums; it doesn’t get more Australian than this … apparently.

SP
xx

Cute, Summery and Sexy!

If you’re looking for a super summery, super sexy mini dress - then this is it!

Camilla’s Saville Mini Peasant Dress has been a hit with the media and it’s hitting stylepalace.com.au in the very near future.

It’s finished in white cotton and features a plunging deep neckline framed by traditional Spanish-style embroidery and cute-as-a-button pom-poms at the hemline.

Trust us - this little number won’t last in store for long!

Featured here in Cleo Magazine Feb 09 ...

Trend Report Autumn/Winter 09

We’re all avoiding the fact that winter is not too far around the corner, but hopefully this little sneak peek at what we’ll be wearing will help you come to terms with the impending cooler weather.

Thanks to fabulous fashion and style website, http://www.fashionising.com/ we now have a much clearer picture of the 2009 Trends, and oh the future looks bright!

Bohemian Luxury or Foho (Folk/Boho) is a key look for the cooler months. Think peasant-style influences of billowy sleeves and folk-style embroidery and traditional fabric prints. Fur and fringe-trimmed pieces complete the look as does a mop of sexy bed hair and smoky, smudged eye makeup.

Following on from Spring 08’s Genie pant comes the ‘Peg-Leg’ pant. These cropped pants are full at the hip and fitted through the calf and the ankle. Work them with a pair of killer heels (is there any other kind?) and a blazer for ultra chic city style.

The Military Trend shows its face once more, but this time it sports sleek lines and luxurious embellishments that are worthy of a cavalcade. Channel The Beatles and have some fun with this Sergeant Pepper revival!

Another dominant trend will be the return of Plaid & Tartan prints – think looks inspired by an afternoon at the country club or Sherlock Holmes trench-style coats with a fashionable twist. Adopt subtle variations of this trend to avoid looking too stuffy.

An SP favourite this winter is the continuing Feathers and Plumage Trend. Nothing says luxury like a stunning feather gilet and one of our SP designers has a stunning taste of what’s to come … Check out Aurelio Costarella’s amazing dip-dyed Ostrich feather gilet. It’s an investment piece but we guarantee it will stay in your wardrobe until this hot trend comes around for the next time.

Despite our uncertainty, the Boyfriend jeans trend is here for 2009. We all saw Katie Holmes’ attempt to work this look recently and quite frankly it wasn’t anything inspirational, but we’re not even sure how this look can be improved on either! Prove us wrong - borrow your boyfriend’s jeans, belt them in tight so they don’t fall down and roll up the hems. It’s baggy, it’s saggy ... but it does give us extra street cred on what would usually be deemed ‘bad style days’.

High-heels continue to double as artwork for our soles with 2009 seeing our tootsies adorned with jewels, feathers, beads and baubles. Streamlined stilettos make their return, taking over from the chunkier statement heels of last season and bringing an air of elegance to winter dressing. We’re actually spoilt for choice this season as you can feel free to choose from squared-off toes, sharp pointed toes, lace-up shoes and boots, croc skin, fringe trims, tapered heels, over-the-knee boots, and even open-toe shoes with stockings! Yes, that’s right, it’s no longer a crime punishable by the fashion police, open-toe shoes with stockings – even ripped ones – are completely on-trend this winter! I never thought we’d see the day …

Stay tuned for the Spring Summer 09/10 Trend report … It’s set to be a sizzling summer of style!

Until then, Happy Shopping!

SP
xx

The Golden Globes – Red Carpet Rundown

The red carpet at the Golden Globes was awash with celebrities yesterday as many stepped out in elegant glamour, while some boarded the negative publicity bandwagon after committing some serious crimes against fashion and left us all thinking … where on earth are their stylists?

One-shouldered dresses featured prominently and seemed to be the safe and on-trend style for the majority. The colour palette was quite subdued on the whole with muted pinks, nude beige and subtle gold dominating the carpet.

Maggie Gyllenhaal oozed understated glamour in this one-shoulder Lanvin creation, while Australia’s own Melissa George looked stunning in this Art Deco-inspired Armani Prive gown. Isla Fisher did the Aussie contingent proud in this salmon pink number while Cameron Diaz played her cards right in the simply stunning lolly-pink Chanel number.

Drew Barrymore looked tragic in (believe it or not) a pale blue Dior gown and over-the-top hair, while Eva Longoria-Parker disappeared into the background in a redder-than-red dress by Reem Acra. Even Angelina Jolie looked a little ho-hum in pale grey Atelier Versace.

While most looked lovely, it did seem there was a serious lack of effort put into outfit choice for the big day and many looked, well, just bland. Perhaps the recession has hit these stars hard and they’ve had to resort to bargain bin shopping??

Our next question … where are all the fabulous Australian labels?

xx
SP

Cherry Noire ... Lingerie to Live For!

“The funkiest lingerie shop in the southern hemisphere” is how one of Cherry Noire’s first customers described their experience of stepping through the door of Perth’s newest boutique. Without a rack or hanger in site and using antique furniture combined with vibrant colourful displays, Cherry Noire is quite an experience.

Owners Sally and Serge wanted to reflect their passion for life and lingerie in creating Cherry Noire. "We both love design and with so many exquisite pieces made from different fabrics in constantly evolving designs, there’s always something new that takes your breath away”. Serge is also French, which has made it possible for Cherry Noire to import from some of the smaller more exclusive French designers.

Cherry Noire carries lingerie from over 20 of the world’s greatest lingerie designers. They are exclusive Australian retailers for over 80% of their range, which comes predominately from Europe. Cherry Noire is the only Australian company selling the UK’s Fleur T as well as Le Bourget, Nuits de Satin and Rosy from France. Australia’s top designers, Sally Jones and Elegantly Scant, are included in the range. There’s also an extensive bridal collection and luxurious hosiery from Trasparenze.

Cherry Noire have also launched a website, http://www.cherrynoire.com/. Whether you love classic cuts, a romantic look, trying cutting edge designs or revealing the dark temptress within – you can choose from the four ranges of Romantic, Trendsetter, The Sophisticate and Wilder Exotic. In addition to gorgeous bra and knicker sets, Cherry Noire also stock a huge range of corsets, bustiers, suspender belts and lingerie accessories.

Visit Cherry Noire at 388 Hay Street, Subiaco, Western Australia or call (08) 9381 3979.
Shop online at http://www.cherrynoire.com/