Vote #1 Aussie GRLs 4 the shiny, pointy doorstop :: Powerful chicks all over the ARIAs

Any chick who’s had a go at becoming a ‘somebody’ in the music biz will appreciate the hard work and dedication required to make it there. It’s a really, really hard slog for anybody but it can be harder for a girl to break into this male-centric world. Echoes of ‘boys’ club’ would be heard amidst any group of female musos discussing the industry.

Perhaps the times are a-changin’. As although the majority of ARIA nominations are still given to guys and guy bands, 2009 has seen a wave of women come onto the list. And we’re not talking pop fluff here. These chicks are strong songwriters and performers, confident musicians and savvy business women.

Sarah Blasko, who has admitted to using her ARIA as a doorstop, is nominated for the big one, Album of the Year for As Day Follows Night. She’s also been nominated for Best Female Artist, alongside Kate Miller-Heidke (yay!), Jessica Mauboy, Ladyhawke and Lisa Mitchell. A little more underground, SIA, Little Birdy and Bertie Blackman are also nominated for Best Breakthrough Artist, Best Adult Contemporary and Best Independent New Release respectively.

These chicks are full of substance, offering us powerful lyrics and stuck-in-your-head melodies. It’s refreshing to see these genuinely brilliant songwriters and vibrant performers up for the honours. Good luck to all these beautiful chicks for the awards tomorrow night!

CHICKS IN TUNE :: ARIA 2009 NOMINATIONS

Sarah Blasko (Album of the year, Best pop release and Best female artist for As Day Follows Night)

Kate Miller-Heidke (Single of the year for The Last Day on Earth and Best pop release and Best female artist for Curiouser)

Jessica Mauboy (Highest-selling single for Burn, Highest-selling single and Best breakthrough artist – single for Running Back, Highest-selling album, Best pop release,Best breakthrough artist – album and Best female artist for Been Waiting,)

Ladyhawke (Single of the year and Best breakthrough artist – single for Delirium and Best pop release, Best breakthrough artist – album and Best female artist for Ladyhawke)

Lisa Mitchell (Best breakthrough artist – single for Coin Laundry, Best breakthrough artist – album and Best female artist for Wonder,)

SIA (Best breakthrough artist – album for Some People Have Real Problems, Best music DVD for TV is My Parent)

Little Birdy (Best adult contemporary album for Confetti)

Bertie Blackman (Best independent new release for Secrets and Lies)

Bindi Irwin (Best children’s album for Bindi Kidfitness 2)

Georgie Parker (Best children’s album for Here Comes The Sun)

Zoe Badwi (Best dance release for Release Me)

Felicity Urquhart (Best country album for Landing Lights)

Jasmine Rae (Best country album for Look It Up)

The ARIAs are broadcast at 8:30pm tomorrow night, Thursday 26 November on the Nine Network.

Are you a Fauxgan, Nogan or flat-out Boganista? Celebrating your inner bogan (or not)

Slide into your Havvies, pull on your trackies and tie that tangled hair up in a saggy bun. It’s time to pick up a DVD from the local vid store and maybe grab a choc top too.

Most Aussie chicks have headed down to Bogan Town at least once. So are you a proud Boganista or a secret Fauxgan who appears normal, but secretly indulges in bogan delights? Or are you a Nogan who would rather lock yourself in a cupboard than leave the house in sneakers? Take our easy quiz to find out!

1. Your favourite lunch is:

a. Sushi

b. Chiko Roll

c. Chicken and Vegie traveller’s pie

2. For a haircut and colour, you normally pay:

a. $150 - $300

b. $15 at Just Cuts

c. Your hairdresser friend does it for you for $50

3. You are currently reading:

a. Bringing Home the Birkin

b. Instructions on the Easy Mac packet

c. MX magazine

4. The song that best describes you is:

a. Marci X’s Power in My Purse

b. Men At Work’s I Come From a Land Down Under

c. Vanessa Amarossi’s This is Who I am

5. Your drink:

a. Vodka martini

b. Rum and Coke

c. Pure Blonde

Mostly As: NOGAN

Trackies – are you kidding? You’re in the latest Ksubi’s with a Chanel over your shoulder. The closest you’ll ever come to being a bogan is catching the train when you’re on the way to Flemington.

Mostly Bs: BOGANISTA

Babe, you are SO BO, and fully proud of it. You like drivin’ fast and muckin’ about with the boys. You’ll stick up for what you believe, and you believe that boganism is the ultimate girl-power. WHOOO!!

Mostly Cs: FAUXGAN

It’s not that you’re living in denial, you just like to select your style according to your environment. Sure, you’d potentially melt in shame if a colleague spotted you at the supermarket with no make-up, but then again, whatever. You’d rather be comfy.

Letter to the blogger, in response to our last post, txting: the gr8 db8

Dear blogger

I read your piece on texting, which drew from the work of the renowned grammarian David Crystal. But he is not the only older person who supports texting. I am 68, and my job has included copyediting school examination papers and government reports.

People have always used abbreviations, acronyms and initialisms when they needed to save space or time in communications. Our elders in World War One coined “anzac” from “Australian and New Zealand Army Corps” and “ack-ack” from “anti-aircraft” — and “awol” for “absent without leave” dates back to the 1800s. The mothers and fathers of World War Two invented and constantly used “UXB” for “unexploded bomb” and “ARP” for “air-raid precautions” — and don’t forget that “TTFN” (“ta-ta for now”) first appeared in a British radio show in the late forties. Oh, yes, and what about our current leaders who, among other things, find “24/7” and 9/11” quite acceptable?

If your elders complain again, ask them to read this txt and T+ B4 they condemn SMS txting as a CWOT.

txting: the gr8 db8... Studies from renowned linguist, David Crystal

David Crystal, Honorary Professor of Linguistics at the University of Wales, Bangor, is fascinated by the debate on whether using text slang is leading to the degradation of the English language and stunting young people’s literacy skills. He’s written a book tackling the subject, with the aim of opening the minds of txting-naysayers.

So next time your mum / dad / teacher / colleague tries to diss txtspeak, hit ‘em with some of this info taken from Crystal’s book, txting: the gr8 db8…

Y ‘Texting actually improves your literacy, as it gives you more practice in reading and writing.’ David Crystal.

Y Crystal’s research shows that 90% of SMSs are written in normal, standard English.

Y Crystal and other linguists believe textspeak adds dimension and new dynamics to the English language, and suggest that it encourages creativity and wordplay.

Y Crystal also reminds us that abbreviating words has been around for centuries, and that poor literacy has been reported throughout the ages, and pre-dates texting.

Y ‘Emoticons allow another layer of expression, making the message more conversation-like.’ Dr Jean Mulder, linguist and senior lecturer at Melbourne University.

Y In studies from 2006-7 by Coventry University, pre-teenage children who were better at spelling and writing were found to use the most texting abbreviations.

Y The study also found that the younger the children received their first phone, the higher their literacy scores.

Wh@ r yr thoughts? WeRex txtspeak is c%L, coz it’s phun 2 play w/ words!

From Crystal, D. txting: the gr8 db8 New York, Oxford University Press 2008

Coco Cocoon + Lily Allen... Bring on the billboards.

We are jumping with joy about Lily Allen being the new face of Chanel.

Lily has wowed us since releasing her explosive debut album Alright, Still in 2006. A perfect mixture of glamour, humour and street-smarts, Lily has enamoured us with her cheekiness and I’m-just-a-normal-girl insecurities about body-image. She’s rejected the plastic pop world, instead focussing on developing as a strong songwriter and unassuming fashion icon.

‘I love Lily Allen’, said Karl Lagerfeld on his shoot for the new Chanel Coco Cocoon range, comparing her to Gabrielle Chanel. ‘She is a self-made woman. She is cool, young and extremely witty.’ She’s been an unofficial advocate for the brand forever, always toting around the latest quilted must-have, but now it’s official and we couldn’t think of anyone better suited.

The Coco Cocoon range was developed by Lagerfeld for Fall/Winter 2010. The bags are designed to transition seamlessly from city to weekend getaway, with some styles being reversible. Made from nylon or washed lambskin, the puffy style defines quintessentially-relaxed chic.

Check out Lily, the range and photo shoot at ChanelCocoCocoon.com.

Mwah mwah,

MissGRLmo

Xx

Alex Box :: Fashion + Nature + Illustration = This is 2010

The international fashion circle has been resonating with one name since Paris Fashion Week. Alex Box. She is the new make-up artist of choice for a range of designers including Gareth Pugh, Collette Dinnigan, Karl Lagerfeld, Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney and has been named the new Pat McGrath.

Alex uses pens, brushes, pigment, paint and pencils to create precise sculptures and designs on the face. Her signature style is a mash of fantasy, gothic, vintage and magic – a far cry from the naked and natural look of many recent shows.

She liberates the viewer from reality with her fantastical and surreal make-up, which often challenges conventional concepts of beauty. She believes in magnifying the essence of each model, stating ‘the minute you obliterate somebody’s spirit, you’re abusive’. Her creations are vivacious, sometimes disturbing and absolutely arresting.

Check out some of her work at the Collette Dinnigan Printemps/Ete 2010 Paris Fashion Week show and check out the GRLtv video, featuring Alex and her spunky-famous skeleton hairclip.

Mwah mwah

From MissGRLmo

Xx

Real Life of a Fashionista Part 3... Words We Heard

There were a bunch of buzz words, phrases and trends that have come out of Paris Fashion Week’s Spring / Summer 2010 shows. Here are a few of the faves that we heard:

1. Ruffles, feathers and frills (think Collette Dinnigan)

2. The super shoulder

3. The new shoe (think Alexander McQueen, Vuitton, Givenchy)

4. Post-recession ostentation

5. Cyber-gothic (think Gareth Pugh, Rick Owens)

6. Ladylike leather

7. Rustic Fantastic (think Chanel, Prada)

The Real Life of a Fashionista Part Two... Top 5 Things To Do With Your Mobile Phone At Fashion Week

1. Put the show details in your phone’s organiser to make sure you get to the right hall at the right time!

2. MMS your BFF for outfit approval before you leave the house

3. Snap the models with your phone’s camera as they arrive for the show to steal their street style

4. Tweet your favourite outfits as you watch the show

5. Call your besties to gush about the unbelievably good-looking male models

Madeleine Vionnet, puriste de la mode

In 1952, French couturier Madeleine Vionnet donated 125 dresses, 750 patterns and 13,000 photographs from 1912 to 1939 to Les Arts Decoratifs museum in Paris, to educate future generations about her work. The museum is currently exhibiting this legacy and proving the enduring influence this pioneering designer has had on the world of couture.


The House of Vionnet opened on the Rue de Rivoli in 1912. Inspired by the draping cloth of Greek art and the fluid, modern movement of dancer Isadora Duncan, Madeleine Vionnet was dedicated to the liberation of the female body through design. She turned her back on buttons, zips and corsetry, instead designing garments to float around a woman’s body, exuding a femininity that was strong and unconfined.


Her designs were a rigorous study of circles, squares and triangles. She was fascinated by the Grecian formation of clothes, knotting square fabric at the shoulder or tying the waist with cord and has been credited as the creator of the modern Grecian dress, the bias-cut, handkerchief dress, single-seam dress and the cowl neck. She did not use sketches to design, but would drape live models or a 2ft wooden mannequin with luxurious and sensual materials, which she twisted, knotted, pleated gathered and slashed to explore ways to best accentuate the natural beauty of the female form. These stylistic principles have become an intrinsic staple in fashion as we turn into the new generation, post millennium and post GFC.


At the approach of World War Two, she chose to close her fashion house and held her final showing in August 1939. But her influence is as long-lasting as the architecture of her designs. ‘Like it or not, everyone is under the influence’, admitted Karl Lagerfeld on the effect Vionnet has had on generations of modern couturiers. High-end names such as Gaultier, Galliano, Chanel, Valentino and Balenciaga are all recognisably influenced by Vionnet’s timeless designs. And the dresses in the collection at Les Arts Decoratifs could easily be walked down a 2010 runway without a flutter of an eyelash.


As she clearly stated herself, "what I do is not fashion - it was designed to last forever".