Lust-Haves: Vogue's Fashion Night Out Edition.

Can you believe how fast this year has flown by? But this is one of the few weeks where I say that with happiness and a 'spring' in my step (deal with it, my puns are only going to get worse). Why? Duh, it's Vogue's annual Fashion Night Out (VFNO) this Thursday! So I hereby present to you a list of my extra excite-worthy events happening on the night. 

ASOS

Powerhouse online shopping site ASOS is hosting a pop-up store at Martin Place. There will be special offers, treats, competitions, and copies of the latest issue of ASOS Magazine on hand!

Benefit Cosmetics

The Benefit counter at Myer George Street is offering us ladies a free Havana Face Powder when we buy 2 products or more in one transaction (one of those has to be the It's Real Mascara).

Burberry
Want to win a classic Burberry Nude Trench? What a silly question, Wendy. Be in-store at their Flagship Store between 6.30 and 8.30 for your chance to win! 10% of all the purchases made on the night will also go to the Burberry Foundation.

Chanel
Chanel has created a new makeup collection exclusively for VFNO! Visit the Chanel Makeup Studio in Myer George St to check out Les Twin-Sets de Chanel, a collection of 3 matching lip and nail duos available exclusively on the night.

Clinique
Clinique is getting into the VFNO spirit and holding a pop-up event in Westfield Sydney! They're giving away a free travel size sample of a customised 3 Step regime and an eye mask with every Even Better Eye consultation. Better yet, have a picture with the Chubby Stick Mascots and you could win all 16 shades of Chubby Sticks!

Fleur Wood
Visit the Fleur Wood store in Westfield Sydney for an exclusive viewing of their Summer '12 collection. They are also holding a lucky dip - win anything from 50% off your total purchase, to a free styling session, or a signed copy of Food Fashion Friends. If you can't make it to the store, be sure to keep a lookout for a limited number of goodie bags making their way throughout Westfield.

Kookai
Kookai (Sydney Central store) are not doing anything flash, but who needs flash when you have 20% off full priced merchandise? Excludes sunglasses and leather apparel.

Mimco
Mimco is joining the 20% storewide party, but they are really getting into the VFNO spirit. 1960s-themed wait staff will be in-store with vintage cameras, but they will have me at "candy buffet". Also join Mimco's Facebook treasure hunt for some fun!

What VFNO event are you most looking forward to? You know where I'll be ;)

Lust.

Kiehl's New Chatswood Chase Digs!

For some reason, I hadn't ventured into the Kiehl's forest of skincare goodness bar the godly Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. But when a brand spanking new Kiehl's boutique opened up in Chatswood Chase, I couldn't resist at having a peek and coming out with one more product to try - the Deep Pore Daily Cleanser from their Rare Earth collection. A full review will be coming up soon!

In the meantime, I will leave you with some snippets of the new boutique. When the store had its 'opening ceremony' a few weeks ago (that was a very lame Olympics pun), my body was running to some delayed internal clock and I completely missed seeing Sarah De Bono cut the ribbon. Fail Wendy. But the store itself is gorgeous and the staff are super friendly and helpful.

Before I go, I also want give a little plug to the Kiehl's Australia website - in case you can't make it to Chatswood Chase. Not only do they offer free shipping to orders over $70 and whack in some samples with every order, but they have an ingenious idea to help you find the perfect product. Behold the "Shop By Concern" tab:

Whether you have dry skin, fine and damaged hair, or want to whiten your skin - a Kiehl's solution is just one click away. Kudos to the web design team!

MBFWA: Backstage at Bowie.

Oh Bowie. You're so cute, stylish and personable. And you design achingly beautiful clothes to boot. I resumed my "photographer help" role for Through Beauty Eyes last night backstage at Bowie, and boy was I glad to be of assistance.

Kevin Murphy created feminine, wavy hairstyles to complement the elegant and intricate designs of Bowie's AURA collection. Napoleon Perdis continues the aura theme on the make-up front, incorporating the four natural elements - wind, fire, earth, and ice. Key products used were the Light Patrol Luminizer Palette to add an ethereal shimmer to the skin, China Doll Gel Eyeliner in Silver and Loose Eye Dust in Ice Storm to create a frosty lid, and the DeVine Goddess Lipstick in Nymphe mixed with Lip Lacquer in Clearly Glam for a rosy yet icy lip.

The collection itself was otherworldly, with sublime intricate details and a beautiful mix of soft and structured forms. I felt so lucky to be able to see (but didn't dare touch!) the creations up close.

Enjoy the visual feast.

All images © Wendy Ko

MBFWA: Backstage at Ginger & Smart.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia (MBFWA) is here! I was lucky enough to get a peek of the backstage action at the Ginger & Smart 10th Anniversary show last night, courtesy of Through Beauty Eyes - who I was helping out with some (amateur) photography - and the Napoleon Perdis team. Napoleon Perdis was at the helm make-up wise, while ghd was in charge of the very funky hairstyles that the models sported. 

The clothes were a celebration of everything Ginger & Smart is revered for: PRINTS and COLOUR. And the hair definitely matched the bright and fun vibe of the collection. To counterbalance all this, the make-up focused on dewy skin, shimmery eyes, and voluminous natural lashes. Products used include: Off Duty Tinted Mosturizer, Mesmer-Eyes Mascara, Colour Disc in Orange Sherbet, and Loose Eye Dust in Copper Element to add a metallic shimmer to the eyebrows. Beautiful!

Sadly we didn't get to see the actual show, but the clothes already looked good on the hanger!

All images © Wendy Ko

Image via Oyster Magazine

A huge thank you to Through Beauty Eyes and the Napoleon Perdis team for letting me experience a little bit of the fashion week excitement! xx.

Marni Marni Marni!

Guess who's back, back again? Wendy's back, tell a friend. 

I am still jetlagged, and just survived a full day of work - please excuse me if I sound non-sensical. I have so many goodies from my trip that I want to show you, and this will come when I unpack (my least favourite part of any trip!) But I couldn't wait to show you my Marni for H&M spoils, so I'm sneaking in this post before I fall into a sleep coma. 

It seems like this collection didn't cause as much of a madhouse situation as previous H&M collaborations (namely Versace), but I am so happy that I got to tick off "camping out for fashion" off my bucket list. Despite the rain, cold concrete and 2AM wake-up call, I had a lot of fun lining up with fellow fashion enthusiasts. 

3AM McDonald's is heaven

Ducking for shelter from the rain

Beautiful window display

Eager shoppers

5th batch in!

A happy Wendy

Enough with the generic photos, you say; show us the clothes! 

Can you see how much self-control I exercised? I could've easily picked up everything.. but my bank account must have implanted something in my brain saying "no don't empty me!"

If you got your hands on this collection as well, share your spoils with me! And I promise haul posts will be up soon, but for now, good night sweets xx. 

Merry holiday!

I hope you are all rested comfortably, with several food babies after the Christmas/holiday festivities. I know I am! 

Hosting a faboosh Christmas dinner with a few of my closest girl friends was definitely one of the best days I had in 2011. We cooked a mean turkey with a pancetta, sage and onion stuffing (recipe here), gorged ourselves with smoked salmon and avocado, had a delicious mango cheesecake for dessert, and kept thirstiness at bay with fruit punch. 

I hope you all had a great day and got spoilt!

Handmade bows!

(from L-R): Miss N, Miss S, yours truly, Miss A.

Images courtesy of Food is our Religion

Lust-Haves: Frockaholic.

When the lovely Miss Adeline asked if I wanted to go to the Sydney Blogger's Christmas Drinks last Thursday with her, I really had no reason to say no. The chance to meet other fantastic bloggers? Tick. A too cool for school venue? Tick. Lust-worthy door prizes up for grabs? Tick tick tick. 

Some of the attendees: Kimmi, Myself, Adeline, Jaime

The food was scrumptious, the company was great, and I even won a $100 voucher from FROCAHOLICS.COM! 

Me with the lovely event organisers: Jamie and Steph

Images courtesy of Lipstick and Cake

So yes, dear readers, I have a legitimate reason to go online shopping. What should I pick?

L-R: Maurie and Eve Lace Mesh Elsa Maxi Dress

LIFEwithBIRD Requiem Print In-Between Dress

Dion Lee Forest Construction Dress

Willow Natural Box Layer Shirt

Sambag Stone Woven Tina Ballet Flats 

LIFEwithBIRD Raven Armadillo Heel

C & M Swim by Camilla and Marc Multi Ipenema One Piece

Lilya Petite Fleur Natalia Dress

Lust. Help! I don't know what to choose...