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Date with Kate

Date with Kate, Fashion

Date with Kate: Trinny Woodall

27th October, 2019

From styling other students at boarding school to becoming one half of the iconic fashion duo that is Trinny and Susannah, Trinny Woodall knows what makes a woman feel confident and look her best. So it was only natural that she venture into the beauty world, starting her own eponymous cosmetics line, Trinny London. During her visit to Sydney, I caught up with the woman herself, where we talked about everything from the how she got her start to her beauty philosophy and the most memorable makeover she’s ever done…

Trinny, thank you so much for joining me today. So exciting to actually finally meet you because I’ve always been a huge fan.

Trinny: Oh, I feel like you’re 12, and I think, when did you have time….

No, no, no. I’ve always admired you and loved your shows and followed your career, so it’s a thrill to be here today. How did this all start for you? Now you have a makeup empire, you’re a fashion expert. Where did it all begin?

It probably began when I was at boarding school at about six and a half.

My parents travelled a lot, so I went to boarding school. I would always make-over my girlfriends at the weekend because the ones who didn’t go away to see their parents, who might have had their parents abroad, were stuck in this really old-fashioned rather terrible school. So there’d be 20 of us, and I’d do makeovers. So I think I loved it then because it was a joyous thing and I think I was trying to find my feet and learn to make friends and it was a way to communicate.

And I think that even though I then went off on a tangent in my twenties to think I need to find a career where I went very far away from what I had loved then, I came around in a full circle by my thirties.

What did you do during that full circle?

My father used to run a bank, so I thought I should, I was the youngest of six kids and I thought I need to get them to notice me. I was never very good at school. And then I kind of thought, I want to try and do something that my dad would acknowledge. I went straight to work as a secretary to a commodities trader. And then I learned about commodities. And then I did a series seven, which is an exam you do to trade funds. So I started on a tangent and it was me and 60 men on a trading floor. I hated it so much. I hated every day of it.

They would have a tailor who would come on the trading floor and do their suits. So I thought, okay, I’ve got to fit in. So he would come in the ladies loo with me and measure me up, get me a suit.

I was the only woman there who wasn’t a secretary. So it was very interesting, but I realised after on and off doing it and then doing financial PR for a bit and a few other things that by my late twenties I woke up like, look, I don’t like any of these things.

How did you get back into fashion?

I had at that stage, I’d always had an interest in, I’ve always want to have girlfriends who would, you know, be at my house for supper and they’d end up in the bathroom discussing cosmetics or skincare or they’d be in my wardrobe looking at clothes and I just then woke up one day and I said I’d love to know what’s in the stores now so I can actually buy it. That didn’t exist in press. So I then, you know, had the idea for a newspaper column and then I met Susannah [Constantine].

How did you meet her?

She was going out at the time with [aristocrat and furniture maker] David Linley and we met through him. We were sort of like cats in an alley, you know, when you’re not sure what you think of each other.

How did you move into your show, Trinny and Susannah, which became such a beloved program?

We started with the column [in The Daily Telegraph] and it got a bit of a following. Then BBC called up so that we have this pilot you did and we want to do it, it was a copy of our column. So we did it on BBC two and the first season did quite well. And then it got a big traction and got a lot followers.

What was the biggest highlight during your time on air?

I think looking back now, it’s the fact that I got to know and understand so many women and through the medium of TV. But all the women who came on it really had a shift and we dealt with some really vulnerable women. We never dealt with women who just wanted to be on TV cause that wasn’t life then. So they were still excited or nervous or belligerent or I don’t want to change, you know, all different things. But by the end of it, something had happened and that metamorphosis was incredibly appealing. And I just loved how even if they went back to their old clothes, they had had a shift in how they felt about themselves.

What was the biggest make-over you ever did?

There were two, one of them was in Australia. It was a woman who had come from Kenya, and she had come to Canberra via Geneva and she been sold as a teenage bride to this diplomat in Geneva. And he had been an unbelievably abusive man. She then escaped and her sister worked in politics in Canberra. So I remember we met her at the Botanical Gardens in Canberra.

So I went up to her and she was gentle and charming and she just said, you know, I’ve had quite a difficult time in my life and I’m ready now to find out who I am. She also escaped with a child. And so we had this scene in the show where she would undress …  And we chatted about the fact she’d been in this abusive relationship and as she took her clothes off on her back, there were these marks all the way up and down her body and he’d done that.

She was such an incredible woman. And then this is a really tricky thing because we did the after show at a Westfield and we had this big catwalk. Since she left Geneva, she has only worn black cause she wanted to hide and she said to me, you know, I’m ready to work on it. So we had like three outfits for choice and one of those was an amazing orange dress. We’d spent a few days together she said, I’m ready to wear that orange dress.

There were like 3,000 people watching, she walked out and, and they were so there for her. You just saw the blossoming of this woman. And so that for me was such an amazing moment because sometimes you catch women where they’re going through so much emotionally.

If you had one fashion tip, what would it be?

When we look in the mirror we have a tendency to look at what we don’t like. So I think it’s really important that any woman to when you’re in the mirror take a step back. If you find yourself doing that just go back and then take a picture of yourself in something. Not in the selfie nation way, but just so that when you look at a picture, we tend not to zone in so much as when we look in the mirror. Just give yourself a break and just try and see what’s good.

So let’s talk about this amazing product, Trinny London. I love how you’ve made everything stackable. How did it come about?

I had this idea for a long time because I used to use these pots and I travel around people say, what’s that? I’ll say that’s my makeup bag and they’ll go, where can I buy it?

I know a woman who our daughters are friends at school and she ran Beauty Intel, which is a research company. So I told her about the idea and she said Trinny, it’s everything that you know. The next five years it’s about personalisation. It’s about portability, it’s about cream-based product. It’s about a natural look.

Okay I’m going to do it now where do I start? You know, how do I get my packaging made? All of that then took three years. We now have 89 products.

So did you start with one particular product and then grow?

I started with the BFF. That was the first product I did. I think we’d probably sell one every minute. It has three skin care ingredients, retinol, vitamin C and SPF and everything else you don’t need. And then rubbing it in it releases pigment that turns to the colour of your skin. It would just give you the tiniest coverage cause I don’t think women need much all over their face and then it will give you a tiny glow.

What’s your whole makeup philosophy?

I would say that I always want to see a woman’s face before I see her makeup. And I’d say that if you’ve been doing the same base for years, really kind of re-evaluate. Is that the right thing for you to do?

Where do you think that you’ve got your love of beauty from?

From having very bad acne. When I was 13 to 30, and it just made me so self aware, and it made me very uncomfortable around my skin. So I just wanted to slather myself in fake tan and make up. And then in the end I just thought there’s actually a better way.

What’s the number one product that you would suggest for people?

I would say BFF is your kind of intro to Trinny London, and then it comes with the little tin pot which is empty. So you then put that on, and then you move up, and then you get to, I would then probably buy a Lip to Cheek. And then I would buy it an Eye to Eye, and then I would buy a Lip Glow. So and then that can be your whole face. And then as you expand, you might then say, “I want a highlighter, and then I want an under eye concealer.” And on you go. And then people’s stacks become towers.

How do you juggle working along with being a mum to your daughter, Lyla?

It is a permanent juggle. I would say that there’s times when Lyla was really small where I had to travel a lot, and when I was no longer with her father, so I was kind of more a single parent. And so with that, you kind of need to be the mum and the dad. And when Lyla was really little, she had a maternity nurse called Jenny. And Jenny is still there. Jenny is like her grandmother. My mother is not so present as a grandmother anymore. So in a way, kind of between Jenny and I, we’re the mum and the dad. So I’m probably more dad than the mom. And Jenny is that consistent, sews on the name tags, always makes her favourite supper. And I was kind of tough and spoiling. And I think, as a result, she’s got two figures in her life that with the combination together, she gets everything she needs.

Date with Kate, Fashion, Fashion & Beauty

Date with Kate: Edwina McCann

25th August, 2019
Enjoying lunch with Vogue Australia editor-in-chief Edwina McCann

Travelling to Paris and Milan for the shows and being surrounded by beautiful clothes day in and day out sounds like a dream for those who love fashion, but for Edwina McCann it’s just a day in the life of being Vogue Australia’s editor-in-chief. Ahead of one the masthead’s biggest signature events, Vogue American Express Fashion’s Night Out, I caught up with Edwina to chat about going from newspapers to glossy magazines, why she wasn’t a very good stylist and her plan to live her life in reverse… 

You have the most coveted position in fashion in Australia, as Vogue editor-in-chief. How did your career journey in fashion begin?

Edwina: My first full time job was at Vogue. I was in the fashion cupboard for seven years as a stylist. I wasn’t a very good stylist at all.

I don’t believe you because you look very stylish always! 

No I was not. We’re celebrating 60 years this year, so I’ve had cause to look back at some of my work and I can guarantee you I don’t think I was a great stylist. But I loved Vogue and I loved fashion and I loved the brand. So I had seven years there. Then a little bit later I had seven years on The Australian as their fashion editor, which was at News Corp which is now the publisher of Vogue. When I came back to Vogue as editor almost eight years ago now, I really understood the power of News Corp as a company. And I had a really clear idea, I felt, on how we could use the power of Vogue and the brilliance of the Vogue brand within that bigger family of News Corp. And, to be honest, I think that’s been part of this successful transformation of the brand.

How do you think social media has impacted the magazine world?

Every platform and the development of it has impacted the business. Fortunately for Vogue, in a very positive way. Social media I see as almost like a huge billboard for the Vogue brand. It’s a way that we can communicate with our audience to invite them to, Vogue American Express Fashion’s Night Out, for example. It’s a way that we can tell them about what we’re doing at Vogue Codes. Social media to us has been a really useful tool. We tend to use many platforms. Clearly Instagram, and Stories in particular, is a good medium for fashion because it’s so visual. But Twitter and Facebook and Snapchat are all platforms we use. I think the other thing is social media, ironically, has driven the experiential market and the growth of that. So people in a digital age want something to share on their social media platforms and want to go attend events together and share that experience. So ironically, it’s grown realtime content opportunities for us and an opportunity, again, to engage directly with our customers in real life. So yeah, social media’s really transformed everything.

You mentioned Vogue Fashion’s Night Out. It’s coming up soon. What can we expect? 

Yes, we’re celebrating 10 years this year, so a decade of this event. Which is extraordinary. It’s almost 200,000 people coming to the city of Sydney. We usually get around 180,000 in Melbourne. I’m hoping this year it’ll grow even further. This year, David Jones [in Sydney has] transformed their store and so we’ll be experiencing that. But I don’t think anything beats the Amex Lounge—

Yes, I’m excited to go to the Amex Lounge!

It’s the best!… It’s hugely popular, and that is for good reason. Because they put on fantastic champagne and food and there’s always really fascinating people and celebrities in the enclosure. There’s always great DJs. It’s just such a fun vibe and I think even better by the fact that they have this offer of $20 off on every purchase over $50 three times on the evening. You can get some really great deals on fabulous fashion.

Yes, it’s so exciting. What is the Vogue and American Express partnership with Vogue Fashion’s Night Out?

We work with Amex to work with the retailers to promote the particular items and offers that they will have in store. Obviously, Amex works very hard to work with their card members, but also the retailers who support Amex to really make sure that the card members can find those offers. And that’s our role, is to help them communicate all of that.

And in terms of the partnership, I think it’s worked because it’s authentic. Both of us really want to drive great retail sales and have people, Amex cardholders and the public shopping like Vogue VIPs for the night and make it a really fun night out. And to remind people that bricks and mortar shopping is still a great experience.

What is it about Vogue that you love so much?

I think it’s the power and influence of the brand I’m constantly amazed at. But really, the beauty of it. The fact that we can shine a light on all walks of life. We made studying esteemed subjects, and women in science fashionable. We can really leverage the brand, I think, to have a positive impact on society in general. And supporting and heroing the incredible Australian women, in particular, across all fields. Directly in the arts and politics and sport, but particularly passionate about women in male-dominated codes. Sustainability, we had Emma Watson guest edit an issue… We’re still the only Vogue in the world that has a sustainability editor. I feel that editing Vogue comes with great responsibility because we do have a really broad audience and we are very influential. I know when we put Billie Eilish on the cover recently, we really saw an upbeat in the teen market.

What sets Vogue Australia apart from the other Vogues around the world?

I guess this is something we’ve been looking at with our 60th year. And I feel that perhaps there’s a spirited nature to what we do. So, I would say almost 80 per cent of our content now is original. We don’t syndicate much from our sister publications.

We shoot all of our own covers. Which I really think people don’t realise sometimes. So all of our covers are original and shot exclusively for Vogue Australia. So I would say that we are held in reasonably high esteem if we’re accessing the level of talent we are. But, I guess, we do try to tell our stories in a uniquely Australian way and think about, for example we have Margot Robbie on our cover this month. Quentin Tarantino interviewed Margot for our issue, but we also interviewed her mother. Tarantino was really interested in her history and how she was the girl on the Gold Coast to Neighbours to Hollywood in such a short space of time. And then, through her mother, you can really see how she’s kept her feet on the ground.

Do you have a favourite Australian Vogue cover?

I really loved the Billie Eilish one we did recently. I love the series of the Margot Robbie covers… Just feels so modern and exciting. It would be really hard to pick actually, a favourite. I’d have to say Nicole Kidman when we took her to Uluru. It was gorgeous. And that was very much about celebrating Uluru being handed back to the traditional owners. It wasn’t done to promote a film or for any other purpose.

So for Nicole to place that trust in us and then for us to be able to take her and her mother and her daughters to that wonderful Australian environment. And for everything that she and all of our crew learnt by celebrating Uluru in that way was really, really special. I’ve got a deep respect for Nicole. And I think she really does represent what’s so great about this country.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

I’ve kind of come to the conclusion that there really isn’t one. And sometimes you’re doing one thing well, and sometimes you’re doing another well. And you just have to forgive yourself and move on. I think sometimes I’m being a really dedicated, great mum, and then sometimes work is really busy. And I feel like I’m perhaps failing more on the home front. But I’ve kind of learnt to forgive that and to stop striving for perfection, because it can never be achieved and in fact, the brilliance often comes from the mistakes. 

What is it like to be the mother of twin girls?

Yes, I’ve got twin girls who are 13 and I have a step-son who’s almost 13. In a minute, actually. And a step-daughter who’s 10. And a gorgeous nephew who’s about to turn 16, from New York, who lives with me on the weekends. He’s boarding (at school) during the week. So it’s a very, very busy household. I love being a mum. And they keep me on my feet, I knew who Billie Eilish was before most 46 year-olds. So pretty good.

Will any of your children follow in your footsteps?

I really don’t know. They’re definitely interested in it, but not overwhelmingly so. They’ve been to Paris a lot and they’ve been to Milan a lot. I took them with me when they were little because it was just too much time away. They go through phases. Sometimes thinking it’s super cool, like when Billie Eilish was on the cover and sometimes less so.

They must have an amazing wardrobe to raid!

They’re really not into it yet. I’ve kept all these great ALAÏA dresses… I’ve got this amazing Missoni skirt that I’ve deliberately kept because I was like, “This is going to be heaven to a teenager.” And they’re like, “Oh, no Mum. It’s not really me.” I’m like, “Oh!” They’ve got their own style… 

What do you like to do during your time off? 

Pretty much spend it with family. I try to do some exercise in the morning with my husband… We run and walk a lot and spend time with the kids. I think I travel so much anyway, that it’s best to not move around too much. Having said that, my husband and I just got married two or three weeks ago at Kokomo in Fiji.

How was your wedding day?

It was heaven. Everything I wanted, everything I could have wished for. Absolutely private. All the kids spoke and made beautiful speeches on a beach. I wore Valentino, which I love… it was just all really perfect and great. So I’d love to say in my spare time I love to go to Kokomo. The whole family does because we all cried when we left.

Oh, do you have a favourite moment from the day?

Straight after the ceremony, these wonderful guys on the beach played touch football with all the kids. And that was pretty special. Just to watch them all be so happy. It was really lovely.

Can you describe your dress?

Yes, it’s really simple, actually. It’s just round-necked, white to the knee and it’s got little laser cutout on these beautiful flounce sleeves. Really simple.

Do you have a favourite travel destination, besides Kokomo?

I love skiing, so I’ve been going to Colorado, to Aspen in particular. For years and years and years. And because that’s my favourite thing to do I keep saying I’m going to live my life in reverse. And one day I’m going to become a ski instructor. Or just a ski bum!.. Going to go and do what I should have done straight after uni.

If you weren’t editor-in-chief of Vogue, what would you be doing?

Not sure. I think the strategy part and brand development is what interests me most, now. So I guess, I would go into that area. I like working for a brand. I like working within big companies, as well. I like working with a lot of people, collaborating across departments and I love learning… Every year I learn and changes in the media environment means we have to. We have to re-look at our strategy, re-look at our business plan, challenge ourselves, try new things. And I think that’s a really exciting workplace.

What would be your biggest advice to someone starting out in the fashion industry?

I guess, it depends which area they’re going into. I think people are probably unaware of all of the opportunities. It’s not just about necessarily becoming a fashion designer. But I would say that fashion is one of the most exciting industries to work in… So it would be to go with it. And to embrace change… and not to fight it, when it comes along. And to keep learning, definitely. And to see opportunity where others see challenge. Yes, there are challenges, no matter what level you’re at but if you turn the challenge into an opportunity, that’s where the magic is.

What are your go-to fashion brands?

I’m obsessed with Fendi at the moment… And Valentino. And I mean, obviously I love all my Australians as well. But I’m particularly obsessed with Ilona Hamer’s brand Matteau which is just really great playsuits and beautiful swimwear. And she’s doing a really fabulous job.

BITE SIZE

WE WENT TO: Catalina, Rose Bay

WE ATE: Freshly shucked Sydney rock oysters, snapper, Burrata salad and Glacier 51 Toothfish. 

WE DRANK: Sparkling water

KATE WORE: Dion Lee dress, from David Jones

EDWINA WORE: Fendi and Martin Grant

Date with Kate, Fashion, Lifestyle & Social

Date with Kate: Megan Hess

4th August, 2019

With a background in graphic design, it wasn’t until Megan Hess began doing small illustrations as art director of Liberty department store that she began to pursue a career as an illustrator. Her big break came when author Candace Bushnell’s publisher called and asked her to illustrate Candace’s new book, One Fifth Avenue. After this, Megan’s work fell on the radar of luxury brands such as Chanel, Dior and Tiffany & Co and the commissions haven’t stopped coming since. The ever talented Megan then decided to add ‘author’ to her resume and has penned and illustrated the hugely successful Claris the Mouse picture books. I recently caught up with Megan at the launch of the Claris the Mouse High Tea at the Sofitel Hotel in Sydney where we chatted about drawing Michelle Obama, her biggest pinch-me moment and she answered my daughter, Sophia’s questions about the loveable Claris…

Congratulations on the success of your books, Claris The Chicest Mouse in Paris and Claris: Fashion Show Fiasco… Did you ever envisage being the author and illustrator of best-selling picture books?

Thank you so much. I did always dream of creating a children’s character that could have wonderful adventures, but it took many years to really develop her and really bring her to life.

Your background is fashion illustrating, what led you do become an author?

I certainly never planned to become an author but I’m so happy that I did. My fashion books have always been a labour of love and the writing has always been based on subjects that I’m very passionate about. Creating the children’s books has been a completely different speed! Firstly, they are much harder to create. The rhyming of each story is quite epic. They seem basic when you read it but literally every single word is written and re-written over and over! Then the illustrating of each story is intensive but in saying all that, I couldn’t’t love it more. Creating Claris books is probably the most fun I have in the studio.

Did you grow up in an artistic household and at what age did you realise your talent for illustration and design?

I’ve just always loved drawing and it’s the one and only thing I think I’ve been good at! My parents worked in pharmacy and more medical fields, but they always encouraged me to follow my heart and do what I loved. I also had very inspiring art teachers growing up. As a child I attended art class every Saturday and it was literally my favourite time of the week. Then in high school I had an amazing teacher who really pushed me to explore the possibilities of making art my career. I’m so glad she did!

What career path did you take to get into fashion illustration?
I studied graphic design because it felt like a ‘real’ job in the art world, but always wanted to be an illustrator – I just never knew back then that it was a possible career choice! After working as an art director in ad agencies for several years I packed everything up and moved to London. It was in London that I worked in a million different creative jobs and in my final job there realised that I had a burning desire to be an artist. At this time, I’d became the art director for Liberty department store. Whist I loved art-directing fashion I loved illustrating it more. I started to do very small illustrations for Liberty and from this art directors saw my work and little commissions began to follow. After about a year I found myself with non-stop work. I wasn’t earning a fortune, but I’d never been happier, and I knew I was going to do this forever.

You have worked with some of the most influential fashion icons and designers in the world – how did you get your break?

As my clients got bigger and better, I was able to be a little more selective and just work on briefs that I knew had a great creative opportunity. Then in 2006 I got a call in the middle of the night from Candace Bushnell’s publisher asking if I would illustrate her next novel ‘One Fifth Avenue’. This was when things took off at rapid speed for me. Her book became a New York Times bestseller and I met with Candace and she asked me to illustrate all her previous books including the cover of ‘Sex and The City’.

Once ‘Sex and the City’ was released I was contacted by TIME magazine in New York to create portraits for them. Following this, I began illustrating for Tiffany & Co, Chanel, Dior, Cartier, Vanity Fair, Italian Vogue, Bergdorf Goodman, Laduree…. Ironically, at the same time as my work finally took off, I had my first baby! It’s funny, I always tell people that I haven’t really slept since 2006!

You’ve worked with the likes of Dior, Balenciaga, Tiffany & Co., Prada… and the list goes on. Which designer was the most interesting to collaborate with and why?

I would say Fendi. The entire brand is built on creativity and being brave. For them I created an imaginary Fendi Palace with almost ‘Alice in Wonderland’ rooms with Fendi girls. It was a mix of pretty and eerie in terms of mood. I had so much creative freedom, it was a joy to collaborate with them and create without restriction. At the time of creation, all my illustrations were for Karl Lagerfeld (as co-creator of Fendi) which was such an honour.

What was it like to work with the likes of Michelle Obama and Candace Bushnell?

Daunting but exciting! Creating 10 portraits for Michelle Obama was my most challenging. It was an incredible project to work on but also quite daunting purely because I really wanted to make sure they were perfect. I really respect her as a woman, so it was an amazing project to work on.

Working with Candace was literally my first BIG break! I thank my lucky stars that she chose me to illustrate the cover of Sex in The City— It was the project that really started my career with Luxury fashion. She is still a mentor to me today.

If you could work or collaborate with anyone/ any designer who would it be and why?

Vivienne Westwood or Tom Ford—I always joke that I would love Tom Ford to call me—that would be fun! But, honestly, if I keep getting to work on the types of commissions that I’m working on now, I’ll be very happy.

What has been your biggest challenge in your career?

Managing it all! In the very beginning the struggle was to find great projects to work on. I had no clients and I wasn’t yet a mother, so the initial challenge was to get things moving. THEN once my work took off after Sex and The City, I had the opposite problem—I had lots of great projects and brands coming to me to collaborate and I also had just had a baby, so it was quite overwhelming. Today I still find the biggest challenge juggling it all. I can now only take on about 20 per cent of the jobs that come to me each year so I have to be very careful about what projects are the best fit. I’ve learnt that it’s better to do a smaller amount of jobs at 100 per cent than lots of jobs at 50 per cent. At the end of the day I try to base this decision on what projects will have the best creative outcome—some projects have huge budgets and others are tiny, but I always choose to work on projects that will fulfil me creatively.

What has been your biggest pinch-me moment during your career?

I am continuously in ‘pinch me’ mode! I think my biggest ‘pinch me’ moment though was earlier this year – I was commissioned by Chopard to illustrate for them at the Cannes Film Festival. I saw more diamonds and Hollywood’s finest in 24 hours to last me a lifetime. It was such an incredible project to work on. I designed and illustrated their Cannes 2019 Red Carpet book and then we launched it on opening night at Cannes. I kept asking myself… ‘Is this real?’

Working in the fashion arena can be cutthroat – what has been the most valuable advice you’ve received? 

To enjoy the process as much as the outcome. As creatives we are often striving to get to the completed piece, whether it’s a final sketch or a finished piece of writing. I’ve learnt that the time spent dreaming, exploring, creating, and re-writing is just as magical as seeing the completed works.

How did you come to create Claris and what was the inspiration behind your compassionate and stylish mouse?

It was during my time in Paris, researching for my last book, that I had a wonderful idea. I was sitting on my little balcony at Le Bristol Hotel (as I am their Artist in Residence) and I thought I saw a little mouse on a neighbouring rooftop scurrying across the building. I remember thinking how wonderfully chic it would be to live in Paris, even if you were only a tiny little mouse!

Is there an individual who inspires Claris’s stylish wardrobe?

I think Claris could give Carrie Bradshaw a run for her money! Claris’s wardrobe is every dreamy dress and couture design I wish I owned. I loved the thought of this little mouse dressed in couture and still going on wild adventures! I wanted little girls to know that its ok to love fashion—you can still take on the world!

What has been the most interesting opportunity that has risen from the success of your books?

With the Claris books it’s been the amazing experience of connecting with kids all around the world! I first launched her in Paris, and I was brought to tears when I arrived at Galleries Lafayette and saw hundreds of the cutest little French kids dressed up in their finest to attend the book signing! When you create a children’s book in the studio, you wonder how it will be received and most importantly, will kids like this?? So, to get a great response has been wonderful. Since then we’ve launched Claris all over the world, in Australia (of course), London, South Africa, Dubai, Korea etc.  Last year’s ‘Book Week’ I was inundated with the cutest pics of little girls all over the world dressing as Claris for their favourite book character. It made my heart melt.

Congratulations on the launch of Claris the Mouse ‘The Chicest High Tea in Sydney’. How did this collaboration with the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour come about?

When Sofitel Darling Harbour reached out about a possible Claris Book signing I had the idea to do something I’d always dreamt of… A chic Claris High Tea! Thankfully the Sofitel loved the idea and we have had SO MUCH fun planning it! Their incredible pastry chef went straight to work on the most creative and delicious menu. We’ve created beautiful accommodation packages that have some ’secret treats’ in each hotel room! I love a beautiful high tea and think this will such a fun experience to share as mothers and daughters or even as a group of girlfriends.

What can guests expect from attending a high tea at the Sofitel?

The Claris High Tea at the Sofitel Darling Harbour is the perfect day out for young and young at heart! You can enjoy all of Claris’ favourite foods, like macarons and madeleines, served on Claris the Mouse plates and cutlery. My favourite part of the high tea is, of course, the chocolate fountain! And naturally there is French Champagne for the grown-ups to enjoy.

Can we expect to see any more adventures from Claris?

I have so many plans for my little mouse! I’m planning her next adventure right now! Book three is on its way…

For young illustrators out there, wanting to continue developing their craft and artistry, what tips would you suggest?

I think if it’s what you really want to do then do it and don’t let anything put you off course. The more you do something the better you’ll get. Students often ask me how to find their style and I always say that if you just keep drawing, your style will find you. And my ultimate advice is to enjoy the journey as much as the outcome.

Sophia in journalist mode interviewing Megan Hess

5 quick questions from my 5-year-old Sophia:

Will Claris & Monsieur ever come to Australia?

Absolutely!!

Which outfit is Claris’ all-time favourite?

Her favourite is the Giambattista Valli inspired gold dress on the cover of Fashion Week Fiasco.

Does Claris own any pants and t-shirts, or does she just wear dresses?

Claris does like to mix it up. She loves everything from elegant Chanel Couture dresses to tough leather looks from Balmain or Prada.

Does Claris go to school and what is her favourite subject?

Claris is home schooled in her little apartment. Monsieur gives her all the schoolbooks. Her favourite subject is art.

What is Claris’ Favourite book?

Eloise at the Plaza (Claris thinks that living in a fancy hotel would be very fun!)

Date with Kate, Fashion

Date with Kate: Bec & Bridge

13th May, 2019

As a longtime fan of Bec and Bridge, theirs is one show at Fashion Week that I always look forward to. I find that I always spot something on the runway that I can immediately see myself wearing whether it be to work or to an event. This year was no exception. I caught up with Bridget Yorston and Becky Cooper after their show to chat what inspired the collection, their standout pieces and that fur runway…

Hi guys, congratulation on the show it was amazing.

Bec: Thanks Kate.

To be finished, how does it feel?

Bridget: It’s a big relief but we are so happy how it went today, it was pretty smooth backstage. No major hiccups, it was a really good energy.

The collection was beautiful. Can you tell me a bit about the inspiration behind it?

Bec: we were inspired by the iconic surf culture of the 6os and 70s and that’s where we started with the collection. And then we had a lot of fun with the collection and miss matched prints.

There were so many things I loved on the runway but what were some of your standouts?

Bridget: I love some of the shirting pieces and there was one particular dress in the khaki colour. It’s a long dress with a buckle in the middle and it feels so resort [wear] and fresh and I’m really excited to wear that.

I am loving all the flared looks in the show! I also love all the hair and makeup trends… what was your brief to the hair and makeup artists and the stylist prior to show?

Bridget: I think for the hair we wanted something quiet undone, obviously its quiet hard to get that perfect undone look so there is still a lot of work in that but we wanted her to look like she had been in the water all day and she stepped out and it dried naturally and she’s off to a gig – that was the hair brief and for the makeup, we just wanted not too much, we just wanted a dash of colour on the eye. We wanted that puberty blues feel – quiet fresh faced.

You design the collection but then a stylist styles the show. Can you explain a bit about that process?

Bec: It’s an organic process for us. We work with our stylist really closely and for the past two weeks, we have been re-evaluating and changing things. Bridge and I were on the phone until 10 o’clock last night…

Bridge:… still designing things and changing things, you use every minute.

Bec: This morning we were still changing things.

Bridge: We work with [stylist] Kelly Hume and we love working with her. We have worked with her for so many years now and we work really well together. She is really good at bouncing ideas off.

What was the inspiration behind the fur runway?

Bridge: We wanted something a little bit 70s, a little bit rock n roll. Not too serious and that is what sprung to mind and we were able to make it happen which was great.

Fashion

Date with Kate: Edwina Forest and Adrian Norris, founders of Aje

12th May, 2019

Opening Fashion Week is a big honour for any brand and this year, Edwina Forest and Adrian Norris saw their label Aje kick off the big event that is Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia. Ahead of their show I caught up with the Edwina and Adrian to talk about their latest collection, how asking for directions led to the start of their brand and why they ultimately just want to make women feel great in their clothes.

Thanks guys for joining me today. So exciting! Congratulations on opening Fashion Week.

Edwina: Thank you.

It’s a truly an exciting thing. How does it feel to open?

Edwina: It feels very exciting, but definitely a bit of pressure comes with that.

Adrian: Yes, I think at the moment, we’re just a bit tired. I’m kind of dead … but no, it’s a huge honour, it’s exciting.

Why is it so important, why is it such an accomplishment to open Fashion Week?

Edwina: I think obviously to be synonymous with a brand like Mercedes Benz, which is so globally respected and held in such high prestige is obviously one element, for our brands to sit beside each other, is wonderful. But obviously Fashion Week Australia in terms of Australian fashion it’s where all eyes are on Australia, so it’s hugely important.

Yes, but to open it is even more exciting?

Adrian: Definitely, I think in the past we’ve always sort of, “Oh, no, I’ve never really considered opening.” So, it’s definitely a huge honour.

Why didn’t you consider it?

Adrian: I don’t know, I think when you’re work is in Europe, you think it’s something that’s going to happen one day, but it is, it’s crazy. To think we’re the one that does all of it and yeah, it’s a bit stressful.

And there is a lot of hype around the first show as well.

Adrian: Definitely more than every other one. Almost with the pressures being internalised, the other… within the business and we’re sort of being aware of Fashion Week, but this year it seems like everyone is paying more attention.

Can you tell me a little bit about the inspiration behind the collection and what can we expect to see?

Edwina: I think for us, we feel really proud to be Australian designers and to be an Australian brand. I think some brands kind of shy away from the Australian heritage. We’re fiercely proud of it. So, we felt it was the perfect moment this year to celebrate Australia and the beautiful landscape in which we live and all the inspiration it’s given us. So, we really have taken a lot of inspiration from the iconic emblems of Australia and all the diversity of the natural landscape, and also the diversity of all the cultures we have within the land.

How were you inspired by this collection?

Adrian: I think that we’re always looking toward nature and art as our two main references and I think this year, we just specifically focused on the natural forms and a lot of the natural flora. It’s definitely an ode to Australia… in a non-kitsch, weird way.

Do you have a favourite piece that I should be looking out for on the runway?

Adrian: It sounds strange, but we were really inspired by the shape of gumnuts. I know it sounds really weird and kitsch, but there’s a few dresses that are really beautiful.

Do you guys always agree on everything? How does the whole relationship work…

Adrian: I would say they’re two different forms of agreement. I think we’re always wanting to get to the same end point, but we have really different ways of getting there.

Edwina: People laugh a lot about that internally. We say the same thing, but in totally different ways-

Adrian: Totally different ways.

Edwina: We think we’re arguing but actually…

Adrian: They said that, “Do you know that both of you are saying the same thing?”

Who wins in a fight?

Adrian: Edwina.

Do you have quite separate style aesthetics or would you say that you’re quite like minded?

Edwina: I think it’s always been the differences that made the magic within the brand. And as the brand has evolved, its become something we really believe in, there’s this concept of duality. Because there’s duality inside in all of us. You know, like one day you can kind of feel strong, but at the same time you want to be gentle, and you’re kind of a bit wild, but at the same time you need to be a bit tame and I think it’s that kind of play on duality that’s always worked between us as humans.

Adrian: Yeah. There’s always differences. But I think our difference, we know what we want to look like. It’s probably more in the details and it’s not about someone disagreeing with someone, it’s about having two sets of eyes on something and knowing that somebody else’s point of view always has merit and you can see it that way. So, you do see things differently from another person’s perspective.

Could you describe each other’s style aesthetic?

Adrian: Edwina’s got the best style in the world, I think.

Edwina: That’s not true, but thank you.

Adrian: But no, I think we’ve actually got very similar aesthetics. We love all the natural fabrics, we love the same colours.

Edwina: We love the same techniques.

Adrian: Yes, it always comes out … it’s just having two different sets of perspective coming and that kind of forms … I don’t think we’d be able to create what we create singularly.

How did you first meet?

Edwina: So, I was about to move to Sydney to work at Russh Magazine. I was working in a high-end boutique in Brisbane. This poor, lost Norwegian tourist walked in, aka Adrian and asked for directions. And I just remember his style, because it was very different to Brisbane.

Adrian: I was a lot more out there then.

Edwina: Had this long blonde mop of hair, you know, this undone white shirt, really skinny jeans, this big Dolce & Gabanna belt and I just thought, “Oh my, this guy is just not from here.” And it was just funny, because the directions he got given were so bad and-

Edwina: And then it was just a serendipitous moment, that evening we ended up being at the same party together and there was the Norwegian tourist who was Adrian and yeah, we kind of became best friends.

How did you start the brand?

Adrian: So, we started it in Noosa and so I opened a store. Edi and I started working in the store together and Edi actually came down to work for Russh and we sort of had this idea of creating a line for the store. So, I went and created a collection. I came back and it was shocking…. and I was like “Edi, you’ve got to help me style this collection,” and she came back. She said, “I can’t style that.”

Edwina: I wanted to add things and then I said, “These are things I want to add.” So, Adrian quickly, we drew them.

Adrian: We remade it and we came back and so it was more of … that was really where the fusion happened and so we came and we kind of really brought them together and then the first collection, it was amazing, it was so beautiful.

Did you know instantly then that you needed to start the label together?

Adrian: Yeah.

Edwina: Yes.

Adrian: I was magical. It was really beautiful. And we were so young and so inexperienced.

Edwina: So naïve.

Adrian: And we’ve never made clothes before. So, I mean, it’s been an amazing journey to go on. Yeah.

What have been some of the biggest challenges throughout your career as designers?

Edwina: Business, right?

Adrian: Yeah, I think the balance between business and creative is always, it’s a really difficult, and then you start out being … we obviously had the business from the start. So, we had the first store and we had that balance between, I’d say… you’re young and you don’t have any stress on you and then it goes through that period of, “Oh, God, I’ve got [to] actually pay people and I’ve got to actually feed myself.” And then you get staff and you’ve got to think of them. So, you just kind of lose some of the creativity, but then it’s really beautiful I think, in our case, the creativity, it’s waves and I think that now, where we’re sitting, we’ve just opened our 17th store yesterday.

Congratulations.

Adrian: Thank you. So, it’s kind of at the stage now, where our business is in such a strong position that it’s allowing us to be completely creative again.

What would you say has been your biggest pinch -me moment within your career?

Edwina: This is about to be one [opening Fashion Week], I think.

Adrian: Oh, yeah, definitely. This is a big one.

You’ve dressed some pretty amazing people. What is the one that stands out in your mind?

Adrian: I think it’s great when people wear your clothes, but I also think it’s just as great like when somebody comes into one of your stores and feels like a million dollars and walks out. When people, like some of the messages you get, they’re pretty amazing. Just as amazing as when a big celebrity wears them.

Adrian: Someone? Oh, we got Kate Moss did.

Edwina: Oh, yeah Kate Moss. Just recently Katy Perry has been big. Linda Toll, I love her.

Is there someone, alive or dead that you wish that you could dress one day?

Adrian: Everyone. Everyone should be wearing Aje once in their life.

Edwina: Everyone. The whole world.

What’s the plan after Fashion Week?

Adrian: There’s a little break. We’ve got a few more stores that we’re rolling out by the end of the year.

Oh, exciting. Where about?

Adrian: Oh, gosh, we’ve got New Zealand opening, that’s our first international store. We kind of feel like it’s one of our states, but it’s definitely international…. So, that will be kind of the first in the international expansion.

Will you expand further internationally?

Adrian: Yeah, definitely. We’re looking into it, we’re just going to do it carefully. You just have to make sure that all your ducks are in a row when you do it.

When you’re not working, you guys hang out together as well?

Adrian: Yeah, we still see each other so much.

Edwina: But we’ve become more anti-social.

Adrian: It takes a lot to get us out these days, but luckily we still all hang out together.

Date with Kate, Fashion, Lifestyle

Date with Kate: Kris Smith

25th November, 2018

A model and former professional athlete Kris Smith is these days busy juggling his longtime ambassadorship with Myer, working with Vitamix and the imminent arrival of a baby with girlfriend, personal trainer Sarah Boulazeris. I recently caught up with Kris in the kitchen as he whipped up a meal for me whilst we chatted about becoming a dad for the second time, the unconventional way he and Sarah got together and why he’s about to embark on a new career in the fitness industry.

Kris, what is a day in the life of you at the moment?

At the moment it’s all preparation for baby coming…I generally wake up, take the dog out for a big, long walk, hit the gym, and then I’m doing my personal training course.

Congratulations on the pregnancy! I remember you, when you had little Ethan, and I remember thinking “Oh, he’s such a good dad.”

Yeah, I’m definitely a good dad, but I turned around to [Kris’ partner] Sarah, and I said, “How often do they feed? Is it every two hours?” and what do you do? And I understand that there’s three cries, like the hungry, the nappy changes, or the tired, and you quickly learn those three. Then I’m going, “How often do they eat?” and “How often do they do this?” and “How often do they do that?” And they’re so small and frail and dainty, and when can I take them to the pub? And that one didn’t go down too well, but no, it’s a real exciting time, and Sarah’s been absolutely incredible.

Is Ethan [Kris’ son with ex-partner Dannii Minogue] excited?

Very, very. I said to him, “Okay, would you like a brother or a sister?” He said, “Well, I’d like a brother. Oh, but I’d love a sister, too,” so he’s got that perfect answer. It’s like he’s been told what to say, but he generally feels that way, so he’s very excited.

Kris takes the Vitamix A3500i Ascent Series High Performance Blender through its paces

Is that a bit daunting to be new dad again?

Well, I don’t like sleep anyway, and that’s the thing. I bumped into some friends this morning, and they’ve got their baby there. The baby was 24 weeks old. Said, “How’s it going?” They said, “He sleeps right through,” and Ethan did the same thing, but you’ve got to be really careful who you say that to because parents hate it. So I’m thinking if the first one slept right the way through, this one has to have all the attributes of the complete opposite because my mum told me that I never slept until I was five. My mum would be in bed, she’d feel a slap on the face, and it would be me, and I would say, “Come on, let’s play. Let’s play,” until I was five years old, so I’m hoping that isn’t replicated in our house.

What does being a Myer ambassador mean to you?

It means everything. I came to Australia on a six-week holiday with Danni just seeing if I like the place, and I never left, and within the first four weeks of me being here, Myer wanted to meet with me, and then they met with me, and then they liked me, so they offered me a six-month contract after four weeks of being in Australia. They offered me six months, and I was over the moon because I’d never done anything like this. I’ve been there nine and a half years now. It’s the longest job I’ve ever had.

What do you love most about it?

I love being around people, so any event, dinner, charity organisation, race day, that they have that I can meet new people and my job is to make sure people are having a good time, which is what I want to do throughout my whole life, so it seems like a perfect fit, and I like everything it’s done. And I’ve met some incredible people doing it.

You and Sarah are very focussed on fitness. Is healthy lifestyle important to you guys?

Definitely. It’s great that she’s so engulfed in health and fitness, and she does all the cooking at home pretty much. Yeah, she’s that incredible. She’ll wake up at 4:45am. She’ll make breakfast for herself, and then she’ll make breakfast for me for when I wake up.

Can she move in with me please? So is your Vitamix an important part of your kitchen?

It is. We never had one before or never had anything that resembles a Vitamix because I’ve lived by myself for so long, and once we got one in, I’m kicking myself, saying, “Why did I not know about this 10 years ago?” Now I got all the fruit that goes in there, the smoothies, the vegetables that come out great. We throw pumpkin in there and make pumpkin soup and just about everything literally goes in there. Protein shakes after the gym. It gets used pretty much once, if not twice a day, it’s at least every day.

What’s the best aspect of it?

I just think the ability that it has. It just simplifies absolutely everything because I do get dragged into the kitchen. Sarah doesn’t like touching chicken, so if I’ve got to shred the chicken, I’ll go chuck it in the Vitamix.

What’s your go-to recipe when you’re cooking?

My go-to. See, my go-to recipe has always been, it was always chicken pasta, I believe. Yeah, like a carbonara one.

Do you make that with the Vitamix?

No, I’ve not made that for about 15 years. It used to be my-impress the girls signature dish. And it’s the only thing I could do other than beans on toast, and that’s not as impressive, but in the Vitamix, I’d reckon the pumpkin soup. Sarah taught me how to make pumpkin soup. So what I do now, I mush everything up in that, and it purees it. It saves me an incredible job of mashing it up and then draining it. And it does absolutely everything. And then what I do, I pan fry some light chicken breasts with a curry sauce, and then that goes in the pumpkin soup. We love spice. I would just chop that and let it sit on the top.

Having a laugh in the kitchen

What’s next for you? What’s on the horizon?

Well, the thing is yeah, the baby’s going to engulf a lot of the time, but I’ve got some stuff that I want to do in and around fitness. I just want to get a couple of places open because when you’re waiting in between jobs in an environment, industry like this, it can be quite frustrating and you’ve got to have a lot of patience, which I don’t, so I think it’s time for me to finally invest my time and effort into some form of fitness, whether it be a gym or a female studio or an online application, wellness centres, and things like that.

So what do you love most about Sarah?

Everything. This is going to sound really awful, but I’ve never had a partner that I’ve laughed so much with every day. There’s always something stupid that one of us does that just sets you out in fits and giggles. And for me, I don’t take life too seriously anyways, so it’s an important fact for me. And we laugh a lot, and she’s caring, considerate, and she’s just wonderful, really.

So any wedding bells any time soon?

Maybe. Yeah, we have spoken about it. Would you believe, we’ve only been together a year?

I know, I was trying to work that out because I remember when we were in Bali together last year you guys had just met.

Yeah, we saw you in Bali, and that was pretty much our third date… She hates me telling this story, but it came through the opportunity to go to Bali and it was for two people and we did.

And then when did you know that she was the one?

It wasn’t long after that [Bali]. We came back and I thought, “The holiday romance potentially, that’s all gone. Let’s see what real life is.” And then I’d find myself, I’d go to bed at night, and then she’d be at her place, and I’d just go, “Why is she not here?” And without being needy and wanty, I’d just go to bed and think. I’d text her and go, “Well, why are you not here?” She goes, “I don’t know,” and then very quickly she moved into my place, and then very quickly after that fell pregnant, and now we have the dog, the big house, and the baby on the way. The nursery’s set up.

Cooking up a storm

What’s your number one fitness tip?

Just keep going. Times when you don’t want to go is usually the time the best time you do a session. The biggest mistake for me is picking your phone up first. So you pick your phone up first, and then you scroll at the weather. Before you know it you’re on Instagram and Facebook, and there’s an hour of your life, wasted. And then you’re tired again. You just roll back over, so my first thing is, don’t think about it, just go. Absolutely. Yeah, because like I say, there are times when I don’t want to be there, and they’ve been the hardest sessions I’ve trained for.

What’s in store for 2019?

Well again, there’s hopefully a big announcement coming in which I’m going to start doing early next year. Potentially got some more TV filming, which I can never speak too much about them because they keep them under wraps, but I want to pursue the fitness. I want to ensure we get a happy, healthy baby into the world. And yeah, just knuckle down and just chase dreams that I want to do in and around fitness and all of that.

How good. Congratulations again on the baby news.

 

Try Kris’ Vitamix recipes at home for yourself

Enjoying a refreshing Nojito

Nojito Mocktail

Ingredients

To blend:

  • 1 whole lime peeled
  • 1/2 cup lime juice
  • 6 tablespoons honey
  • 8 to 10 mint leaves
  • 1 teaspoon ginger freshly minced

To place in individual glasses:

  • 6 wedges lime peeled
  • 36 mint leaves
  • 2 bottles of plain sparkling water
  • Ice cubes

Method

  1. Place 1 whole peeled lime, lime juice, honey, ginger and 8-10 mint leaves in your blender container.
  2. For Vitamix Start on speed 1, turn machine on and slowly increase to SPEED 10 for a few seconds until smooth and creamy.
  3. In six individual glasses – place 1 wedge of peeled lime and 6 mint leaves.
  4. Muddle (gently press down with a wooden implement) to extract the juices just a little bit.
  5. Add 4 to 6 tablespoons of the blended mix to this and top with sparkling water and desired amount of ice cubes.
  6. You may want to garnish with more mint and ginger.

This recipe can be made in the NEW Vitamix Blending Cup, simply use 1/3 of ingredients.

Thai ginger soup with cashews

Thai Ginger Soup with Cashews

Ingredients

  • 480 ml (2 cups) water
  • 1 carrot, halved
  • 1 slice cabbage
  • 1 stalk celery, diced
  • 1 slice red capsicum
  • 1 slice zucchini
  • 1 spring onion, diced
  • 1 slice lemon, peeled, seeded
  • ½ garlic clove, peeled
  • 3 cm (1 inch) fresh ginger root
  • 1 slice chilli pepper
  • 125 g (1 cup) raw cashews
  • 1 tablespoon fresh coriander leaves, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 vegetable bouillon cube

Method

  1. Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
  2. Select Soup automatic setting
  3. Blend for 5 minutes or until heavy steam escapes from the vented lid.
  4. Serve immediately.

Salted caramel banana ice cream

Salted Caramel Banana Ice Cream

Ingredients

  • 1/2 banana
  • 1/2 cup dates
  • 1/4 cup macadamia nuts
  • 1 Tbsp honey
  • pinch himalayan rock salt
  • 2-3 cups ice

Method

  1. Put all the ingredients into the Vitamix 2L container in the order listed and secure the lid.
  2. Select Variable 1. Turn the machine on and quickly increase the speed to 10, then override to High.
  3. Use the tamper to effectively press the ingredients into the blades whilst processing.
  4. Blend for 30-45 seconds or until desired consistency is reached.
  5. Stop the machine and serve.
  6. Serve with Lindt 70% dark chocolate grinded in bowl.

This post was made in collaboration with Vitamix

Photography/Videography: Ash Larden

Date with Kate

Date with Kate: Miranda Kerr

28th October, 2018

From killing it as a supermodel to founding the hugely successful skincare company KORA Organics, Miranda Kerr certainly knows how to succeed at whatever she puts her mind to. During a recent trip to Sydney, I caught up with the mother of two to chat about how she built KORA from the ground up, what she wishes everyone knew about organic products and her number one beauty tip.

What’s a day in the life of you?

It’s a juggle… being a mum and running a business, no two days are ever really the same, but I do my best to try and keep to a schedule and navigate through the day as calmly as possible.

I usually wake up around 5:30am when Evan gets up. This gives me a chance to do my meditation while he is in the shower and the kids are still asleep. Hart generally wakes up around 6am and Flynn at 6:30am.

We then have breakfast together and get Flynn’s bag and lunch packed for school. I try as best I can to schedule in work and meetings during the day while Flynn is in school so that I can I drop him off and pick him up in the afternoons.

At the moment I’m working mostly from home because Hart is only five months old and I’m still breastfeeding. I feel it’s so important to be present with him when he’s awake, and try to get work calls done while he’s napping.

Welcome home. What is the first thing you do when you arrive home in Australia?

Thank you! It’s so lovely to be back. The first thing I do when I come home is see my family. This recent trip was to bring Hart over to meet my grandparents, it was really special.

Your organic skincare line, KORA organics, has had amazing success. Did you ever imagine your brand would become so popular and successful?

Well, I initially got into the organic skincare space because I was looking for products that were certified organic and natural, but I couldn’t find anything on the market that delivered results, so I decided to create my own range as a passion project. KORA was my first baby!

I don’t think I could have ever imagined how much we were going to grow back then, because I was just focused on creating products that were safe, non-toxic and that delivered results rather than the bigger picture of expanding the business globally.

Since we launched in Australia in 2009 with David Jones, our customer base has grown rapidly year-on-year as people are starting to be much more informed and educated about organic and cruelty free products, and generally adopting a more sustainable and natural way of life. In the last financial year our online sales alone grew 900%. We don’t advertise, so it’s all word of mouth and recommendations. That’s the greatest compliment to know it’s all about the integrity and efficacy of the products.

What has been your biggest pinch me moment with your KORA business?

One of my biggest ‘pinch me’ moments would be launching into the US market last May in over 360 Sephora stores, and the incredible growth we’ve had in the past 18 months. KORA Organics has expanded from being in 300 retailers across Australia just 18 months ago, and by the end of 2018 we’ll be stocked and in more than 2,500 stores, across 25 countries. It’s a WOW moment for sure!

Tell me a bit about the new products launched in 2018? 

In 2018 we launched the Noni Radiant Eye Oil. I love this product! It contains kahai oil, which is a natural retinol that helps improve elasticity and smooth fine lines. Coffee seed oil to revitalise and reduce puffiness, tomato fruit extract to brighten the eye area and of course my hero ingredient of noni fruit extract which contains over 100 vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. My favourite part of the eye oil is the special rose quartz ball applicator, it’s super soothing and uplifting.

I’m really proud of the results… when we did consumer testing over a 4-week period, 90% noticed fine lines around the eye area appeared visibly softened and 93% noticed visible improvement in the eye area looking healthier and smoother.

We also recently launched a 2 in 1 Turmeric Mask. I’m obsessed with exfoliating and also face masks, so I wanted to create a product that could be used as both a physical exfoliator and a revitalising mask. I essentially wanted a product that delivered a post-spa facial glow, that can be done at home or when traveling, in one simple step and in under 10 minutes. It contains natural AHA’s from papaya enzymes and aspen bark to stimulate cell renewal, as well as rosehip seeds and quartz to polish and peppermint to control sebum production and for an invigorating tingle. You can really feel it working while it’s on! It’s honestly the best exfoliating experience I’ve ever had; I am so proud of this product!

Selfies with a supermodel

What product could you not live without?

Agh, all of them! But the Noni Glow Face Oil is one of my must have products, I use it religiously every morning and night… so does my husband! He loves it too! I also love the balms, both the Noni Glow Face Oil and Body Balm have won beauty awards recently in the US (Allure Best of Beauty), and here in Australia (David Jones Best of Beauty), which I’m really proud of.

KORA organics only utilises certified organic and natural ingredients. Can you explain why this is so important? 

It’s something I feel very passionate about because what you put on your skin soaks directly into your bloodstream.  People are now so aware of eating organic and non-processed / non-GMO foods for example, but they don’t think about all the chemicals in the everyday products they are using and putting on their skin. The thought of unnecessary chemicals in my bloodstream is one of the driving factors of why I created KORA in the first place.

But it’s important for consumers to know that there is a BIG difference between products that are Certified Organic, like we are through COSMOS-Ecocert, and products that claim to be Natural or Organic or have those words on their packaging… many products claim to be organic, but actually only use one or two organic ingredients.  Unless products are certified by an independent body they come with no guarantees, because using the terms Natural and  or Organic on packaging or in marketing is currently unregulated.

Due to the lack of regulation within the beauty industry, manufacturers can misleadingly label their products as ‘organic’ or ‘natural’ even though they contain processed, toxic and chemically enhanced ingredients – it’s just false marketing!

Certified Organic is the most heavily regulated ingredient system and only Certified Organic guarantees no toxic synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or chemicals are used in production of ingredients. Organic producers and manufacturers also are subject to rigorous certification inspections by third-party inspectors such to ensure that they are producing and processing organic products in a manner you and your family can trust.

Our products are officially certified by the world’s leading international certification body COSMOS-standard AISBL/Ecocert.

Where do you foresee KORA organics to be in five years time? 

My dream is for KORA Organics to become a household name that provides, safe, clean, Certified Organic products that deliver effective results and uplift our customers. My focus will also be on continuing to cement our position as the leader in the clean beauty industry. I also want to continue to focus on growing our range.

What is your number one beauty and skincare tip? 

Less is best! Don’t camouflage your natural beauty with layers of make up, instead focus on achieving healthy, radiant skin. Healthy skin is the most beautiful skin! Our skin is our largest organ and it supports the life of all our other body parts. It plays a vital role in maintaining our immune system and works 24/7 to take care of us, protect us and keep us healthy. It makes sense to look after our skin with products that replenish it and fill it with the nutrients it needs to function at its best.

I believe that the health of our skin is also connected to our mind and body – for example when we are stressed or tired, or eating unhealthily it shows on our skin. We try to encourage our customers to look after and nurture their mind and body, as well as their skin for best results. Our brand philosophy is to “feed your mind, with positive affirmations and self-love”; “feed your body with the nutrients it needs to function at its best”; and “feed your skin with products to help detoxify, nourish and revitalise”.

With Miranda during her recent trip Sydney

Congratulations on the birth of your baby boy, Hart. How have you been juggling your career with a newborn baby? 

Thank you! He’s gorgeous and we’re all in love and doing really well. I find it really important to prioritise and organise my schedule around both Hart and Flynn so things run as smoothly as possible and thankfully I have a wonderful support team around me.

What is it like to be a mum a second time around?

I absolutely love being a mum and having a newborn, although it is very different this time around as I have to balance my time with both of my children. It’s really important to me to be able to make sure I am spending enough quality time with both of them, as a newborn is so dependent on you I am so conscious of meeting Flynn’s needs too.

Have you taken time out from work since having Hart?

Although I have remained actively involved in my business, KORA Organics, I did take some time off right after Hart was born to really enjoy this special time and bond as a family as I believe it is so important.

Good vibes with crystals and healthy snacks

You keep your personal life pretty private, why is this important to you?

I have chosen a career in the public eye, but I believe my children deserve the right to choose whether they would like that or not. It is important to me to respect their privacy and freedom of choice until they are old enough to make these decisions themselves.

What’s something that people don’t know about you and would be surprised to find out?

I’m obsessed with cleaning and organising!

What is the biggest misconception people have about you?

People often think that I am just the face of KORA Organics, they don’t realise that it’s my own company that I built from the ground up.

There are so many brands out there these days that are fronted and promoted by celebrities.  It’s important to know that KORA Organics isn’t fronted by me, it’s owned by me.  I self-fund it, invested all my savings into it and I’m across the day-to-day operations from product development, marketing, packaging and customer service. Actually, I even see every online sale because I get an alert on my phone, I see the full transaction – what they’re buying, if they’re return customers and where they’re shipping to!

What has been the best advice that you’ve ever been given?

It came from my husband! When I was first approached by Sephora in the US for them to stock KORA Organics, I sat with my team and did the numbers…. and it was going to be a substantial upfront investment for the raw ingredients, packaging and additional staff. I had already invested a considerable amount of money and my savings into the business (still to this day haven’t taken a cent out – I just keep reinvesting), and I was worried if I should self-fund the expansion or look for an investor, but he gave me the confidence to take the risk. It’s the best decision in business I have made as it’s also provided a platform for me to expand globally into stores and my vision isn’t diluted by having outside investors.

Bite-sized morsels of goodness

 What are your go-tos for being a stylish mum?

I like to keep it simple; a great pair of jeans that flatter the figure (I prefer a high waist and slim leg), white t-shirt, tailored blazer and white sneakers… but to update this look from school drop off to a lunch I’d swap out the sneakers for a great embellished pump to dress it up. I like to be classic and comfortable.

For a busy, tired mum what is your go-to pick-me-up?

I add my KORA Organics Noni Glow Skinfood Supplement to water and shake for a delicious and nutritious drink. It contains noni extract and also many of my other favourite plant foods for healthy skin and general wellbeing such as: acai, blueberry, mangosteen, pomegranate, matcha green tea, rosehip, chlorella and elderberry flower.  It comes in convenient single serve sachets that are easy to use on the go, providing me with beauty and wellness benefits from the inside out!

Do you have a personal trainer?

I like to mix up my exercise routine so I do have a few different trainers that I do yoga, reformer pilates and ballet workouts with. But to be honest, I’ve been taking it easy after having Hart so that my body can heal which means and just doing light workouts and a lot of walking these past few months. It’s important to be kind to yourself and your body and give it the time to it needs to rest and recover after birth. I’m ready to get back to the grind though so I’ve just started scheduling some more intense exercise regimes for the coming weeks! Cardio on the bike, swimming and reformer pilates will be my go-to.

What’s the number one thing you wish someone had told you about parenthood?

Be kind to yourself and try not to put any pressure or expectations on yourself. Each pregnancy, birth and baby is different. It’s exhausting, but the most rewarding experience of your life.

Photography: Blask Design

Date with Kate

Date with Kate: Sabrina Carpenter

9th September, 2018

She’s a modern day slashie— singer, songwriter and actress Sabrina Carpenter already has three albums to her name and has opened for singer Ariana Grande. She has appeared in shows like Orange is the New Black, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and was the lead in Disney show Girl Meets World. Here I sit down with Sabrina to chat about her new single, having Beyonce as a fan and how she gets through a crazy touring schedule.

What are you doing in Australia?

I’m here promoting my new single, “Almost Love,” but honestly, just being able to come and do some things before I hopefully get to tour here next year. I’m just such a fan of Australia. Whenever they ask me to come, I’m like, “Sure!”

You’ve been to Australia before. What are some of your favourite things to do while you’re here?

Eat Tim Tams. Eat more kinds of Tim Tams…No honestly, I’ve been able to do a lot of the things that I wanted to do over time of coming here, like going to the zoo and going to the beaches. We went to Bondi Beach. It’s just beautiful. The people are my favourite part. Everyone’s got such a nice energy.

Tell me about your single, “Almost Love.”

I wrote the song with Stargate, and, honestly, it was kind of inspired by these events where you feel like you’re on the cusp of something really great, a new possible, whether it’s a relationship or not, it’s that really exciting feeling, where you just want it to speed up and happen quicker. I actually had the words to the song in my phone for a couple of years. And it was one of those things that when I got into the studio, it was the right day to write the song, and now it’s the first single off the album.

What is the writing process for you?

It depends, it’s different every time. Sometimes it’s very quick and very easy, and other times, I will break down the song and write it over the course of three months. So, it’s never quite the same. I’d like to believe that every song that I write ties into my life somehow, because that’s the best way that I can write, where I feel like I’m getting something out of it, you know? I don’t think I ever to write to just write.

Tell me a little bit about the album.

It’s called “Singular,” and I really just wanted to embody the feeling and sound of this confident, empowered version of myself, that I feel like I’ve always sort of been since I was little, but I think that I had to learn to really be that way as a young woman in this industry. There’s so many doors slammed in your face, and there’s also so many fears that you have to overcome in order to have people listen to you, and understand what you’re saying and where you’re coming from. So, it’s been such a journey, and I think that was one of the reasons why I called it “Singular,” but now, at this point, sonically, it’s such a departure from everything I’ve done before. So, I’m really excited for my fans to hear it.

What would you tell your younger self, considering you would have learned so much over the years?

I would tell my younger self, like, stop with the pink and sparkles! Like, I wore way too much pink, it was a problem, when I was like, 10. But, I would say trust your instincts, because I think that that’s a huge thing that I’m still learning. I’m still learning how to put my own opinions before other people’s, because it’s so easy to be, “Oh, well, maybe they know what’s best.” But then, at the end of the day, it wouldn’t be your choice.

You’re immersed in singing and film. Out of the two genres, what do you gravitate more to?

I put it this way, music is my own voice, music is my stories and I have complete control. And with acting, I get to tell other people’s stories, and I get to put myself in someone else’s shoes, and I really, really get to feel what they’re feeling, and hopefully contribute something else to this world in a way that I can’t do with my music. So I love both.

What were you like as a child? 

Always singing. Like, literally never shut up. Acting, I didn’t really know what it was, but I loved to play with Barbies and give them their own lives, and I loved to do different plays with my friends, and just pretend. I lived in an area where there wasn’t a whole lot around. It was like in the middle of the woods, so I had to build a world around me in my imagination, and I think that that really, really helped me now.

What was your first big break?

I think in acting it was obviously a television show that I did when I was 13 years old called “Girl Meets World.” I think that was a big moment, just because that show reached a lot of people. And I think in my music, I’d like to believe I haven’t had it yet. Because I think that I’m still at the beginning of everything, I’ve accomplished so many insane things so far in such a short period of time with music, that I didn’t think I would get to such as being able to travel to places all over the world and write three albums by the time I was 19. And that in itself, I think, is a big thing. But, I don’t think there’s one specific thing.

What about your biggest pinch-me moment?

Biggest pinch me moment? Mm, when Beyonce knew who I was!

No! What happened?

She stopped me, we happened to be at the same place at the same time, which I like to believe is just the good Lord looking out for me. She stopped me, and she was like, “I think you’re so incredible, and so talented, and me and my daughter love watching you.” And I was like, what? I knew who she was, obviously, as I passed her, but she stopped my friend, and she was like, “Is that who I think it is?” And I was like, “Come again? Is there someone else in this hallway?”

Who do you look up to in the industry?

I look up, obviously, to Beyonce. I love Rihanna. I love her sense of ‘I don’t care’ attitude, but in a great way. You know I think we need more of that. I think those are two really, really strong female musicians that have always made me feel like I can do anything on a stage, and I think that that’s a great inspiration to have in this industry. It can be scary. But I have so many. I grew up loving Christina Aguilera. She was one of my first.

What’s the best thing and the worst thing about being in the spotlight?

I think the best thing is that you have an opportunity to speak to a really large audience and hopefully contribute to some of the growth in the world in a positive way, however you choose to.

The worst thing is probably that your little mistakes are magnified so much, and especially as a teenager, I mess up every five minutes, and you know, back in the day without social media or anything like that, you didn’t know. So you just have to handle it different, and you also have to, I guess, learn how to not care, but just not take it to heart so much.

What’s your number one beauty tip?

Wash your face. It’s very simple, but it works every time. No, I constantly have to work with my skin, because I’m always on the road. I mean, it’s easy to say drink water, but at the same time, I think it really is just listening to your skin, because your skin is different from everybody else’s, so it’s just doing what works best for you.

Favourite travel destination?

Sydney, Australia. Duh.

What’s next for you?

I’m releasing the album later this year, and I’m a part of a movie coming out, I think for you guys on New Year’s Day, but it’s called “The Hate You Give.” Then I filmed another movie that will be coming out next year, and touring.

Do you like touring?

I do. I think you have to be twisted to like touring, so I think I’m really weird. It’s very challenging, and I think that I’ve probably developed most of my anxiety from being on the road, but I think that when you come out of it, you’re just a lot stronger. And it sounds like it’s not that big of a deal, but when you’re constantly waking up in a new city every day you’re not really like stationary for too long at all.

How do you get through it?

You need to sleep whenever you can. I’m always taking juice shots on the road, like, lemon and ginger and cayenne, because it’ll keep me healthy as long as I possibly can be. And then I like to explore if I have time. I like to see the cities that I’m in because I’m there, you know?

If you could collaborate with someone, who would it be?

Wow. I would love to either write a song or do a song with Paul McCartney, because he’s amazing. And I’ve also always wanted to do a musical.

Have you? That’d be great.

Yeah, because I’ve never really gotten to blend the worlds together, and I think that that would be really hard, and I want to do it.

Any particular one?

No. Actually, I’d love to do an original. I love so many different musicals. So I would, I’m sure, if one came along that had a role for me. There’s not a lot for girls my age. But, if there was like an original one, I think that would be really cool.

BITESIZE

WE WENT TO: Hacienda Bar Sydney at the Pullman Quay

WE DRANK: Champagne!

WE ATE: Fruit plate & Pastries with confiture

Kate is wearing a Camilla & Marc dress

Photography and videography: Ash Larden

Date with Kate, Fashion

Date with Kate: Jessica Sepel

1st September, 2018

We’re all so health conscious these days that it’s often hard to differentiate what’s fact and what’s fad. Nutritionist Jessica Sepel is one person who is aiming to make being healthy easier, more sustainable and most of all, enjoyable. Jessica, through her popular blog, books and new app is trying to ensure that looking after our health becomes a lifestyle rather than a chore. We caught up recently to chat about the one question she gets asked the most, why she’s packing up and moving to LA and why she wants me to cook kalettes for dinner…

Hi lovely. Good to see you. Thank you so much for joining me today.

Thank you for having me what a gorgeous morning.

What have you been up to lately?

So I have just launched my app and vitamins so it’s been a really busy 2018 for me. A lot going on but also moving to LA next week. Very exciting.

What’s a day in the life of you?

Day in the life of me is wake up probably seven, 7.30 and I practice yoga normally, either yoga or a walk in nature and I have a JS Health [Jessica’s health program] breakfast. I actually don’t check social media or my emails or any of that until after a really beautiful morning routine, then I hit the office just like everyone else about 9 o’clock and full of meetings, recipe creation, technical meetings now because of the app and then finish work six, seven o’clock, make dinner for my husband and I, and I go into bed early.

You’ve had such an incredible journey did you always want to be a nutritionist?

I always wanted to be a nutritionist, but I absolutely didn’t have a dream bigger than that. I’ve studied health and nutrition for five years. After school, I went up to study nutrition, and then in my fourth year of study I started a blog just very casually, but I’ve always just wanted to be in private practice, that was my end goal. But then the blog took off and that’s how it kind of turn into a brand which is JS Health and JS Health turned into the books. And the books turned into a program and the program turned into an app and vitamins.

Did you have any idea that you’d be doing books, vitamins… apps?

No, no way. I always say if I can do it anyone can because I have zero business skills, zero business training…but I guess I’m really passionate about the healthy life and that as you know, when you’re passionate about something you can make it work. The best part of JS Health is that it’s this community, this really strong loyal community who have supported me and I’m supporting them on this journey to live a healthier life.

What would be some of your top tips for living a healthy lifestyle?

I actually think removing the pressure to do it all right. JS Health really is all about balance, of course making the best choices that you can most of the time, but then also allowing for flexibility, balance, moderation.

My tip is making one to two small changes a week that creates profound physical change in the body. Also, developing or fostering a wholesome relationship with your body is probably the first step when it comes to living a healthy life. Because when you love yourself and you want to take care of yourself, you automatically make healthy choices. We have to start to change our mentality around a healthy life and see it as this long term journey and make small changes week by week.

What are some of the biggest mistakes you see people make?

Definitely the attachment to extreme and fat diets that is the biggest mistake, because unfortunately the minute we restrict and deprive our foods it always leads to overeating, binging, emotional eating and having this really complicated relationship with food. We’re not meant to be so complicated with food. Food is here to nourish us, to energise us.

Social media, especially in your world, must have such great benefits but also such negatives as well.

Yeah, definitely and I feel like I’m in the middle of both of those worlds because I’m trying to encourage people to live a healthier life, but I don’t want them to feel like that is the perfect life. I always say the healthy life does not mean the perfect life, but obviously it’s my role to inspire my community with healthy food all the time. I also always encourage people to only follow people who inspire you and unfollow the people that you are comparing yourself to. You know when you’re following an account do you feel good when you look at it? Does is it inspire you, does it excite you, does it motivate you or you’re like, “oh gosh, I wish I had that, I should be looking like that.” If you’re feeling pressure and anxiety in any small way, it’s a good idea to unfollow.

Tell me about your app. Congratulations, it’s very exciting.

Thank you, so with the app I feel like it’s been like 10 years in the making to get to this point because I had a very complicated relationship with food as a young teenage girl as a  chronic fad dieter. I was like 13 when I just got into dieting, which is very weird at that time because there was no social media. So I think I was actually reading those trashy celebrity magazines and following what they were doing.

It’s amazing how young that all starts.

Really young. And then I have had this complicated relationship with food until after school and then that’s when I went to study health and nutrition and then that’s when I started documenting my transition from being this fad dieter to becoming more of a balanced eater. And then I started documenting it into a blog and then I start writing about the recipes that I was creating and developing into the blog and so the app is really just a manifestation of my philosophy, of my principles, the recipes that people have loved all these years, and really it teaches you how to give up dieting for life. It is giving you access to a nutritionist 24/7. I have a whole team someone can just ask at any time.

That’s amazing!

It’s kind of a game changer, there’re 53 health guides, so kind of a virtual online nutrition clinic. So if you suffer with your sleep you’ll go into the sleep room and you’ll capture the JS Health sleep guide, nutrition guide, lifestyle guide for sleep, and then if you need further support there’s a nutritionist there guiding you through that whole journey or whatever you might be struggling with. I guess everyone wants a nutritionist in their pocket. We’re all on our phones all the time, so the app is really just this way for people to have access to my philosophy and my recipe with absolute ease.

You gave me these amazing kalettes for my dinner tonight, what am I cooking tonight with these?

I’m inspiring you to cook tonight, well firstly because you have kids and kids love chips, and kalettes are basically a very nutritious chip. You can bake them in the oven with some olive oil and sea salt, pop them into the oven for like 20 to 30 minutes and they turn into crispy chips and then you can use Hummus or Tahini to dip them or I chop them up and I sauté them with leeks and mushrooms and then I add goat’s cheese. So it’s like a kale stir fry topped with goat’s cheese and leeks and it’s just so delicious. I bought you some mushrooms and leeks to go with the kalettes, which you can get from Coles!

So you must be a good cook?

I wouldn’t say like I’m an amazing cook, but I’m really good at discovering healthy alternatives to our favourite foods and cooking simply but tasty, like I think you can still be a foodie even if you’re health conscious. We have this perception that healthy food is bland and boring and tasteless, I’m really trying to break that conception and show people that healthy food can be really delicious and satisfying and rich and decadent.

What’s your go-to recipe?

Probably the JS Health Japanese salmon, which is basically like a healthy teriyaki sauce over salmon with probably cauliflower mash.

What’s the number one question that people ask you?

Definitely energy, how do I get more energy? I think energy is such a big issue, right now for women especially so that’s one of them. Sugar cravings, how do I combat sugar cravings and gut health? I think those three are the most commonly asked questions in the JS Health community.

What do you say when it comes to energy?

So when it comes to energy, you really want to make sure that your gut is in good shape. So with gut health I will really give them a gut treatment protocol to get their gut back in shape. Really starting with food and not being too worried about it but cutting out those foods that will probably make you feel tired, and the two most common triggers are gluten and wheat and refined sugar. So if you just take a four week break from those two and see if your energy improves, which 90 percent of the time it does, then those are the two culprits to kind of reduce. When I say give up gluten, I mean you can still go out on the weekends and have your piece of salad and have your toast it’s just I have found from clinical experience, gluten does make people feel tired. A lot more sleep and also going to bed by 10.30, 11 anything after that can, people wake up feeling really tired.

Australians drink a lot of coffee. I love coffee I’m never giving up my one a day, but I normally say one a day before 10:00 AM because having caffeine from midday onwards can really interfere with your cortisol and adrenal glands, which can really affect your sleep and can make you feel really tired the next day. So I say try and stop at 10 or maybe the latest midday and you should notice the energy started to pick up.

Is going out to restaurants ever tricky?

I mean restaurants are also catering to the health conscious so you can always find a healthy option wherever you are. I think it really is just about making sure you have the macro nutrients to keep you full and satisfied at meals. So making sure you have your protein, your veggies and making sure you have your fibre from your veggies, making sure you have a bit of a complex or releasing carb, lots of good fats.

Do you ever indulge?

Yes, definitely.

What is your biggest indulgence?

I love gelato. I love going out on a Saturday night and having wine and definitely trying the dessert. I’m a foodie so I want to go to these beautiful restaurants and experience the food. So actually because my life is so healthy and every day is based around the healthy life, I actually got out of my way to break that and be flexible with food and travel and go to new restaurants and try the food because I think that is the healthy life.

What do you do for fun when you’re not working, what do you do with your husband?

That’s a good question. I definitely need to improve on getting the fun back into my life because my husband is the CEO of JS Health so we work together, it’s really challenging. For me, honestly like fun is taking Saturday off going for a massage, practicing yoga, really not checking my emails and my phone and having a really beautiful dinner somewhere. And travel is what brings me so much joy and fun. Seeing the world, seeing different cultures, seeing more different food, experiencing different food I guess that to me is what I really look forward to in life.

What is it like working with your husband?

Interesting. We work really well together because we have so much respect for each other. And when you respect someone, it’s very rare that we break each other’s boundaries or speak to each other in a negative way. But it’s challenging in the fact that our life is work now, but there’s this amazing holly bow underneath, this is like my dream. We work together, we spend every waking moment together.

Tell me about moving to LA are you excited/ nervous?

Yeah, there’s a lot of fear. It’s a big move. I guess I have such a beautiful loyal community here and I will never leave that and I’ll always continue to nourish an Australian community, but this app, the app and the vitamins really does need to be in the American market and I think, I hope to build a JS Health community over there. The JS Health message is really unique because it’s really helping women around the world give up the diets, give up the fads, give up on the extremes around food and finally find balance and peace with food and their bodies, and so I really think America needs that. Hollywood needs that.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Well, my mum always has said hard work never goes unnoticed, and so every time you know, we all have those days and those moments where you’re like, is all of this work actually worth it? But then I remember she says, you’ll see, you’ll see the hard work will get acknowledged and noticed. I think people don’t have a really true perception of what it takes to build something. It’s really not easy, it’s really not glamorous, it’s gruelling and you actually have to be relentless. My dad has always said, keep going, keep going, keep pushing it’s the only way I guess to do what you want to do and create what you want to create.

Amazing. I wish you the best of luck over in LA!

Thanks Kate, thank you so much.

Try Jessica’s recipe for this one pan dukkah crusted salmon dish below.

Serves: 2

This easy one-pan dinner shows how to make a meal that’s nutritious, quick and easy.

Ingredients

  • 2 x salmon fillets
  • 1 x packet kalettes, stem removed
  • ½ cauliflower head, cut into florets
  • 2 tbsp olive oil or olive oil spray
  • Himalayan salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • 2 tbsp dukkah spice

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C if fan-forced). Line a baking tray with baking paper.
  2. Place two salmon fillets in the middle of the baking tray, surrounded by the kalettes and cauliflower florets.
  3. Spray olive oil over the veggies and salmon. Season with the salt and pepper, to taste.
  4. Top each salmon fillet with 1 tbsp of the dukkah spice. Pat it down.
  5. Place the prepared baking tray in the oven for 12–15 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through and the vegetables are lovely and roasted. Serve warm and enjoy. Pro tip: make extra veggies for lunch!

BITE SIZE

WE WENT TO: Butcher and the Farmer

WE ATE: Fried Brussel sprouts; Honey glazed carrots; Baby cos; Crispy skin salmon; & Char-grilled chicken breast

WE DRANK: Sparkling water

Jessica is wearing Zara; Kate is wearing a Hansen & Gretel blazer & skirt

Photography/Videography: Ash Larden

Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: Date with Kate with Poppy Delevingne

30th June, 2018

For my recent Date with Kate with Poppy Delevingne I honed in on a look that was light and airy and a fun colour palette of green and white. It was a refreshing change from a lot of the heavier looks I’ve been wearing during winter and what better excuse to embrace a little colour than lunch with one of my favourite models/actresses.

I am always easily won over by a long sleeved dress—there’s just something about the silhouette and the way it always looks chic and polished that I love. However I also couldn’t look past all the design finishes on this particular Maggie Marilyn dress (who by the way is quickly becoming one of my favourite designers). The cutout neckline, the sweet oversized bow and the ruching all work together to achieve a look that’s sweet without being too saccharine.

I wanted to have fun with my accessories so it seemed the perfect time for my embellished Gucci Dionysus bag to come out to play. My floral Gucci slides added a statement element to the rest of my look and pink sunglasses made for a vibrant finishing touch.

Credits: Dress (not in store yet), Maggie Marilyn; Shoes, Gucci; Bag (similar), Gucci; Sunglasses (similar), Gucci

Photography: Ash Larden