Wooed by Wu

I love everything about this Jason Wu dress, with the necklace, and those heels. (Image from Grazia.com).

On The Palette: Teal

"That's not a knife..."

I don't think Australians are meant to like the film Crocodile Dundee - well, sure, it broke all sorts of box office records as a hugely successful Australian flick, but we're at least meant to view it with a sense of irony. No one actually believes there are Aussie blokes out there like Mick 'Crocodile' Dundee, right? Anyway, it seemed an unlikely source of style inspiration when I came across it on television a couple of months ago. Yet, somehow, Linda Kozlowski's character - a New York journalist named Sue - really rocked walkabout chic in the Australian outback!

She arrives in Australia's Top End with a flourish, decked in a safari hat and long white scarf like Katharine Hepburn in The African Queen. Then she unrolls with her sleeping bag the coolest casual clothes - high-waisted khaki culottes and bodysuits, headscarves, the cute athletic NYCG singlet and cut-offs, and that bathing costume. Back in NYC, the costuming gets a bit too 80s. But in the Australian outback, Sue certainly outshines all those crocs...

Oh, Stella...

Stella McCartney revealed a capsule collection exclusively for Net-A-Porter this week, including this cloud print designed by Sir Peter Blake. I love these very summery espadrilles! (Images from Net-A-Porter.)

The Lace-Up Weigh-Up

In one corner, Office's dainty Victoriana black lace-up with Annie Oakley shoot-em-up pizazz... and in the other, trusty Dr Martens with a pointy toe twist to celebrate the '90s grunge revival.

Both £85. Who to choose? Who will outlast my obsession? Who will transcend a trend? Will there only be one winner?

A Gladiatorial Stance

Her name is Antonela - isn't she pretty? Patent, plum-red, a platform sole. And she's feisty, too, with that gladiator heel. I can't resist...

Grandma Ariel...?

Grandma’s heirlooms – think lace doilies, pearls, crochet tea-cosies, housecoats, and pompoms – draped off the Romance Was Born SS 09/10 collection at RAFW. The other inspiration was a mermaid’s garden under the sea – so just try to imagine granny chic crossed with The Little Mermaid’s shell bikinis and shimmery fishscales!

Apparently, Romance Was Born designers Luke Sales and Anna Plunkett made the entire collection in just six (!) weeks. Models showcased the designs at the Sydney Theatre Company’s Wharf Theatre - the company's artistic director, global movie star, and all-round style icon Cate Blanchett has asked RWB to create costumes for a theatre production later this year. Seems like a great fit, given the theatricality of this collection! (Pics from Grazia online.)