The Age Melbourne Magazine has KeepCup as number 1 pick!

The Age Melbourne Magazine April 2010

Need I say more?!...

(thanks Andrea for the heads up!)

Green Chic explained in a photo

I absolutely adore this photo. It is the divine manifestation of Green Chic.

1. Sustainable transport - check
   
2. Sustainable shoes - check
3. Sustainable attitude - check

* credit to The Sartorialist for the image taken at Paris Fashion Week 09

Can Recycle Fashion be Chic? Part 2

Recap: To find a Gorman inspired outfit at the Sunday market

I love going to markets, Camberwell in particular. Predominantly a trash and treasure market but you'll also find vintage, emerging designers and other cool bits and bobs.

So what did I find? An awesome grey leather skirt with pockets (what a bonus!), a never used so so so soft scarf, a spotted tank plus a gorgeous off white lace-detailed top. Ok, the lace detailed top was not Gorman inspired but it was soo pretty and teamed with my new leather mini, so so me! Now obviously it's not an exact replica (did you really think it would be??) but i didn't do so bad. I like it and I'll definitely be wearing my new buys!

* All up cost me only $10 *
($7 for the clothes, $3 for the coffee! LUV IT!)

Spotted - Simon & his significant other of Australian label Extinct scouring at the same market. Guess when they say "... Extinct doesn't deal in dinosaur bones. It does however take influence from the best of bygone fashion eras and makes them wearable today", we now know where that influence comes from! Not taking anything away from these guys, all their garments are made in Melbourne using Australian, NZ and Italian natural fabrics.

Cocoinc Northcote - high 5

Coco Inc
308 High Street Northcote

I, my friends have been having way too much coffee. After a huge breakfast at Coco Inc and a long catch up with my mate Ang, half the day was nearly over and we really had to make a move. But I wanted another drink, a juice? Did I have time? Hmmm... could i? will i? ask for juice in my KeepCup? Of course I did!

Boost Juice Bourke Street - high 5

Boost Juice
Shop 2601 Bourke Street Melbourne

It was a warm morning and I didn’t feel like a coffee rather I had juice on my mind, Boost juice to be exact! So for my morning break I rushed off to Boost to collect my free birthday boost juice. Now my bday isn’t until next week but for some reason I had it in my head that I could redeem my freebie today since I had the email and all. Obviously I couldn’t. Obviously. Another blonde moment for moi. Oh well, I still wanted my smoothie and I wanted it in my KeepCup.

“No problem and I’ll charge you for a kids size as your cup is much smaller than our medium” said the boost juice dude

WOW so accommodating. Tho I must have given him some conversation ammunition, you know, coming across a crazy girl wanting a free boost on a day not her birthday, how she wanted her smoothie in a KeepCup and how she had to photograph it.

Thankfully this was all taken in good humor and with a grin on his face! But boy, TGIF.. no more blonde moments please.

Hugo's Expresso - high 5

Hugo’s Expresso
Shop 3 601 Little Collins Street Melbourne

This arvo I needed a coffee fix. With only shrapnel in my purse I managed to muster up $2 to take advantage of the $2 small coffee opening special at Hugo’s Expresso. Now I know my KeepCup ain’t a small size, some may even consider it a large tho really it’s a medium, nonetheless I decided to try my luck. Firstly, to see if Hugo's would accept my KeepCup and secondly, if they would accommodate a medium size KeepCup even tho i was purchasing a small.

Given that I needed a caffeine fix, it's no surprise then that I trotted off to the wrong Hugo Expresso. Instead of a quick pop down stairs and across the road, I went to the original Hugo’s Expresso, a whole block away. The walk was lovely but yes I am blonde at times. But you know what, I’m glad I took the walk as the peeps at this Hugo Expresso are the loveliness of lovely not only did I get my coffee fix, they farewelled me with another $2 card. Such a quaint hole in the wall kinda place, I can’t wait for my next coffee fix at the “other” Hugo’s Expresso!

Missing: KeepCup 1... Introducing KeepCup 2

Last night was a very good night. So good that in between dinner@Crown and the journey home to East Malvern station, I lost my beloved KeepCup. Now I too wonder what adventures are instored for my lost KeepCup…

So I introduce you to KeepCup number 2. Same same but different. KC2 consists of different shades of green. Deliberate? No, but it did make choosing a new KeepCup simplier!

Kartel Express McCracken Ln – high 5

Kartel Express

Crner Little Collins Street & McCracken Lane

My KeepCup has a friend!

Drawn in by the music pumping out of Kartel Express, I pop in for my morning coffee fix and low and behold another KeepCup is already in line waiting (it's the one with the blue band & grey lid). It´s of no surprise then that the barista being experienced with KeepCup knew the right amount to fill my KeepCup for the perfect lid closure.


Barista dude however, did find it bizarre that I took a photo of my coffee. I explained to him that I blog about the adventures of my KeepCup and more specifically how it gets picked up or rejected by baristas! This leads him to ask if I work for KeepCup? I tell him I hope so!

As for the coffee, only you can be the real judge of that...!

Green & Free

Although I´ve been green for some time now but since starting Green Chic (only 5 days ago), I have already seen monetary benefits. First it was 10% discount off my new Ultragirl Crinkle flatties and now it´s free shows at the Art House. GREEN TIX FOR NIX... yes please! So all you have to do is leave your car at home and choose a planet friendly mode of transport, bike/walk/public transport and the show´s free! But before you take advantage of this freebie, best to check the website for the fine print.

https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/ArtsHouse/Bookings/Pages/GreenTix.aspx

Hudsons Little Collins Street - high 5

Hudsons

530 Little Collins Street Melbourne

High 5 Hudsons on Lil’ Collins! Not only did they accept my KeepCup with open arms, they only charged me for a small size as I brought my own cup. And to top this off, they too filled my KeepCup to the brim! (my KeepCup ain’t a small size) Woohoo… bargain coffee! You guys rock! No more stubbing commercial coffee places, well at least not this one!

Melissa shoes

I heart Melissa shoes and it´s all thanks to Chez of http://www.businesschic.com.au/. Not only am I indebted to her for introducing me to Melissa shoes, I also am high 5-ing her for the 10% discount we all get from any full price purchase, that´s right folks I did say WE. So don't forget to mention you were sent by businesschic.com.au when you make your purchase at http://www.melissaaustralia.com/.

Why I heart Melissa shoes? It’s not just because these beauties are a piece of art in their on right but because they take on a fair and conscious view of design. Melissa understands that we need to protect our natural resources for future generations, which is why sustainable development is the cornerstone of their work and is key to their economic development. I love the fact that Melissa believes they have an obligation to produce without damaging the environment.

i am so in love...

Can Recycle Fashion be Chic? Part 1

For the past 2 weeks, it has been fashion fashion fashion in Melbourne town with the Loreal Melbourne Fashion Festival (LMFF). So you can imagine spread across all media, that was pretty much the news for the fortnight just passed. Not that it was a problem as I love all things creative and easy on the eye! Designers are inspirational leaders. They inspire people to achieve a look that defines who they are. Obviously, designers want you to buy their pieces but reality is not everyone can. This doesn't mean we then lose our identity, rather we seek alternatives to achieve the look from designers we hold in high regard. This leads me to the question, can recycle fashion be chic?

From way back, my mother use to say "one man's trash is another man's treasure". So right she was. Second-hand, vintage, pre-loved fashion, call it what you like, are items that have evolved into unique pieces with life still left in them in the eye of the beholder. Not only does it add an edge, a touch of interest and originallity to an outfit, it also encourages sustainable consumption. With this thought, I set myself another mission. At a recent LMFF parade, Australian label "Gorman" had their model strut down the catwalk in a leather mini, a loose sleeveless sequined circle patterned tank and a chunky red knitted neckwarmer/scarf. So channeling Gorman's latest collection, I set myself the mission to find a Gorman inspired outfit from a day at the Sunday market.

Stay tuned to what I find...

Choclatte Camberwell - high 5

Choclatte
The Rear 827 Burke Road Camberwell

The barista at Choclatte is one quick cookie. Before I even finished my brief conversation with a fellow local, my cappuccino was sitting right before me on it's lonesome all ready to go! I didn't even get the chance to see it in action much less take a snap shot. Oh well, I guess that's not really the point. The point is that my KeepCup was accepted and filled to the brim with no hestitation. Noice.

Mission: GET A BIKE

Apart from the very fact that cycling is one of the most sustainable and environmental form of transport available, cycling is also very chic. Before you stop reading and ponder how lycra can be chic, I direct you to http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/ - Streetstyle and Bike advocacy in Heel Highs. The Guardian refers to it as “The Satorialist on Two Wheels”.

So naturally, I too want to join the crew that rides. And so I decide to get myself a bike. I'm not looking for a brand new spanky one. I'll be happy to adopt an unloved/neglected bike that's crying out for some TLC. And so my search begins.

And what do you know, all I had to do was look in my own backyard… well my folk’s garage but you get my drift…!

Introducing... the BIKE

I’m a little KeepCup short and stout…

I luv my keep cup and so do many others out there! But do baristas and cafés luv KeepCup? That my friends is the question…. Follow me as I begin my KeepCup jaunt starting in my home town Melbourne but who knows where my KeepCup will end up!

Prelude

Ever since entering the “late” twenties status, I have dreaded the path leading me to the big 3-0. With just under 2 weeks left til I hit THAT number, I decided it was time to view the 30s in a positive light, and rather than live a life of denial, I would instead celebrate and embrace the start of my 30s. And so marks the beginning of Green Chic. Given that I hold a major in philosophy, I am philosophical when I reflect about how I have evolved as a person and how the world has evolved as whole. From all this reflection lingers the question, if we are brought up in a wasteful culture then can’t we also be brought up in a non-wasteful culture? Pretty simple right? Well I like to think so!