Summer Essentials 2007
[ 18 September 2007 ]
Tennis lessons
So you can cultivate your tennis chic look, of course! Remember, tennis lessons mean nothing unless you have a super-wealthy friend with an enormous tennis court & a butler, so if you don’t already know someone like this, perhaps you could place an ad on Craigslist… If you want to maintain the look without the physical exertion, just start carrying a tennis racket & tying a sweater over your shoulders. Fabuleux!
Sunblock
Wrinkles & creases are for “it” bags & old love letters, not faces! Keep that in mind!
Minx heels
Every girl needs a pair of shoes that make them feel like they’re having palpitations. I am currently lusting over the shoes pictured — Christian Louboutin knotted open-toe sandals. I tried them on last weekend & didn’t want to take them off. They are the ideal shoe for drinking cocktails outdoors in the warm night air, surrounded by stars (in the sky & around you, darling) & cameras. Oh, yes.
Postcards & a fabulous pen
For writing sonnets to your lovers & admirers while you’re on holiday, of course! Be sure to extol the virtues of wherever you are — even if you’re plagued by flies & food poisoning — & sign them off with a sticky kiss & a flourish!
Duwop lip venom
For perfectly plump, sexily swollen kisses & a bit of colour! (This gloss also gets the Gala seal of approval for postcard-smooching.)
Photobooth strips
Taken with your nearest & dearest (even if you can’t remember their names the next day) & stashed in your handbag for entertainment purposes.
A plantYou may not be home to care for it too often, but if you buy cleverly, it won’t need a lot of work anyway. Plus, they make every living space look about a million times better. Go for something which looks alien but delicate. My favourite is the moth orchid (the one I owned when I lived in Auckland is pictured above). Remember to name it something exotic, like Beauregarde, & stick a name-tag on the front of the pot.
A masquerade mask
Not a nasty cheap one, an incredibly decadent one (you might want to make your own). & if no one will throw a masquerade party this summer, then you will just have to throw your own, won’t you?!
An exercise plan
So you look your absolute best for summer. Sleeveless dresses & short skirts are the enemy of the unprepared, I am feeling the fear myself! If you don’t know where to begin, try this — I am!
Something to put on your head
I like turbans & big sunhats. What you choose is up to you but you simply MUST have something on your noggin this summer!
Other honourable mentions:
A Moleskine diary or notebook, a passport, a driver, a big armchair for long phone conversations, contraception, crisp white sheets, a sweet but light fragrance, lanterns for your balcony, regular mani/pedicures, magazine subscriptions, a list of summer goals & a devotion to having fun!
Super-love & cupcakes,
Gala
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I am a total devotee of the Lip Venom. I was introduced to the cult at new years by my friend, Sass. I have fallen head over heels for this product and guard my stash fiercely as it’s very hard to come by in New Zealand (unless I’m looking in all the wrong places?). I have definitely drunk the cool aid.
On the masquerade mask front, I recently decorated a sleep mask with feathers, rhinestones and some leather so when I’m on a plane (or a train) and too exhausted to a) be even remotely interested in interacting with my fellow passengers and/or b) keep my eyes open, I can slip it on and nap mysteriously and glamourously behind the mask!
NB: One must be careful not to miss one’s stop, so as not to look very silly. Also, don’t take it too seriously or, again, you run the risk of looking very silly and finally, this is not particualrly low-key practice. You can expect many inquiring looks when you finally take it off.
Junk-food for thought for thought.
Ahhh Gala. It’s like you have a magical gift and can read girls’ minds! Hehe. My bff and I have been discussing our summer plans only this morning… but your list is much more inspirational than the paltry few items we’d listed :)
I can see this being my sassiest summer ever!
Kx
Lip Venom! I’ve always wondered if that worked…the $40^ price tag has always made me shy away from it a little bit.
I have the cheaper Sally Hansen version which makes a little difference, but the Duwop one always looks so enticing. :)
Aaah, lucky that it’s summer for you! It’s well and truly autumn here now. Maybe I’ll make a winter essentials list :)
In other news, I recently bought my very own plant (a cactus!) and I still haven’t killed it. I am so proud! x
Now I am too excited about summer to concentrate on work…
As always I like your style!
Love the list! I can’t use Lip Venom (I already have big ol’ ScarJo lips and they just start looking silly, also does anyone else find it painful? like an allergic reaction?) but I love the photo booth shots! I will have to do my own winter essentials list now that it is getting cold up here, I wish I could find a photo booth! And I have to say, I am a plant addict, they make your home feel so stylish but lived-in. I think I have at least two per room throughout my whole house. If you don’t want to invest in an orchid there are tons of low-priced foliage plants that make everything more lush.
This article makes me miss summer so much!
Maddy — Mmmm, I love it too! They have a new formula called Sin 2 or something, which is supposed to be a bit less painful & more effective! (I am going to buy some on Ebay.) & omg, your eye-mask sounds AMAZING! I bet if I saw you wearing it somewhere I would slip you a note like, “Plz b my bff!!” That is truly fabulous.
Kristy J — Oh, if you only knew the souls I’ve sold to have that gift… ;D Three cheers for the sassiest summer ever, I hope it is super-sassy-riffic for all of us!
Steph — It is pretty pricey but it’s great. You can buy it on Ebay for about half the retail price though, which is worth doing! I’ve never used the Sally Hansen one so I’m not sure what the comparison is like! Duwop’s product really works :>
Kris — I’d love to see what you came up with! I am going to do a winter one too, because I don’t like the idea of excluding half my readership! Coming soon to a screen near yooooou!
Bridey — Yay! Make lists of things to do! I found out that there is a hedge maze near Melbourne & I am DYINGGG to go! It is definitely on my list.
Anne (in Reno) — Lip venom can be a little painful, because it’s cinnamon & spices, so I guess if your lips are sensitive or you have tiny cuts, it would hurt. It’s really a pretty antiquated method of getting plump smoochers, just rub something into it that it doesn’t like to stimulate the blood flow & swell them up! But, well, it works, so… ! You should definitely go on a photobooth hunt though, in fact, if you google for photobooth + Reno there is a site which lists where they are all over the world… http://www.dingos.net/cgis/boothlist.html !!
Leah — Aww! It’ll roll back around soon enough! & I will make a winter list soon, never fear! xx
gala- can you advise the whereabouts of any cool [esp black n white!] photobooths in melb? the only one i’ve found so far is those sticker-booths! i hate them!
also, i’m scared of buying [expensive, gorgeous] heels because i don’t want them to break! am i being totally stupid!? should i stick to wedges!?
xx
Tasj — There are b/w booths outside Flinders Street Station, opposite Lord of the Fries (Elizabeth Street)! Two of them, I think. There’s also one in Melbourne Central (same floor as Hoyts ticket booth) & one at the Jam Factory (or whatever?!) on Chapel Street… & don’t be afraid of buying good shoes! If they snap or break or something, take them back. Just make sure you keep your receipt! I have only ever had cheap shoes break, so never fear. You should go to David Jones for a Louboutin-fest… drooooool! They have some which are entirely covered in glitter! RUN, don’t walk! :D
Megan — Awesome, good for you! Today was the first day of my program, I am so happy to have a plan & know what I’m doing. I want amazing arms too, I’m hoping to do some progress pics in a couple of months!
Gala – unfortunately for us in the UK – summer is no longer. In fact, I think it missed us out completely.
When does winter begin in Australia?
today it is my birthday, and i had my friends round for lunch, and we sat on the deck and had us some lols. it’s a gorgeous day – i think i just got a preview of summer!
Photobooth outside Flinders St Station is the BEST and most flattering photobooth in Australia (big call, but one I’m willing to make).
My husband and I make a point to go and take some goofy pics every time we’re in Melbourne. I think it may also be the cheapest photobooth I’ve seen too.
I don’t enjoy Summer, unfortunately but I may just try and change that this year provided Perth doesn’t do what it normally does and turn the heat up to 11…
P
x
thanks guys! i will be out exploring Melb this wknd so YAY say hi if you see me (lol) and we can go get photobooth pics!
i wish i could afford Louboutin – will go and drool, & maybe if i layby for the rest of my life?! hehe
x
could you recommend any really good shoe brands that are closer to the $200 max range (poor!)? i have a long, wide foot and find most heels so uncomfortable!
AND somewhere to get crazy coloured tights that will fit! Dangerfield/myer Basement only have purple & only in tiny size 8 :(
I’m size 10/12 and sick of feeling like the ‘fashion’ industry only cater for plastic mannequins and if you want anything to fit well you must spend more for tailoring/‘bigger’ girls shops – it’s stupid!
Well I went op shopping the other day and got an armload of silk scarves, so my head gear is sorted. Plus I just looked at my strawberry plants and one of them is working on the first strawberry of the season! Oh Yeah! My last exams are tomorrow and then a friend and I are going bra shopping. I’m making a summer diary too… so exciting.
In the UK, we are just beginning to enjoy autumn, after a very wet and rather unsummery summer. However, my summer perfume has kept me in a sunshiny mood even when the clouds have rolled in. I bought a bottle of L’Occitane’s Cherry Blossom perfume when I was in Provence back in June, and I’ve worn it every day since. Such a lovely scent!! Oh, and I too am an orchid lover! When it blooms it makes me indescribably happy. Great list, Gala. I hope you have a fabulous summer in Melbourne!
Hey, you put your lip ring back in!
(unless it’s an old picture.)
It looks great! :)
Oh, I can’t wait for summer. Long summer afternoons, balmy nights… I miss them so much. Winter is nasty!
I know some kids who are making masquerade masks at school – they papier-mache’d balloons, cut out mask shapes, then covered them with coloured foil and added feathers, glitter, sequins etc – they look really amazing!
Exercise – if you want the weight to ‘fall off you’, running is the go. For toning and strengthening, I love ballet and Pilates (very similar benefits to each other).
Something on your head: What kind of SPF do turbans have, really? No brim . . .
hello again! i had mentioned the turbans in your previous marvelous post. . .well
cheap turbans can be found @
www.luxurydivas.com
here’s the direct link:
http://www.marketworks.com/StoreFrontProfiles/deluxeSFshop.aspx?Turbans&sfid=15500&c=744775
i bought a basic cotton one (in black to try it out)
and
i’m hooked.
xoxo
Hmm…the homesense here has some amazing stationery, I should go get some postcards! As for the lippy, tennis, and sunblock…that is all covered!
Ahh..and moth orchids my absolutly favourite flower of all time. I own three white and purple ones that I have called the Baudelaires (after my three all time favourite orphans).
Though the weather here in Canada is unseasonably HOT, I’m sure it’ll cool up in a bit. Then Gala dearest, you might have to write an article for us poor folks up ‘ere, on how to suit up against the harsh winters!
Catherine Lawson — Ummm, usually in about April. Our Christmas is stinking hot, which is something people from the northern hemisphere find bizarre for the most part!
bluebird — Sounds like a fantastic day! Good for you ;>
Pants — Oooh, thanks for the endorsement! I am about to go & check it out soon, I hope it lives up to the hype! (I will let you know.)
Tasj — I hope your photobooth pictures turn out brilliantly! & you know what, if you put $100 on your Louboutins every week, you’d own them in a little over two months… not so shabby! Other shoe brands, I don’t really know. Most heels are uncomfortable because they’re badly made & don’t support your foot. Read this! http://galadarling.com/article/how-to-buy-a-good-pair-of-shoes & for crazy coloured tights, try Ebay…
Raquel — Lovely! I hope the scarves bring you lots of joy, I’m sure they will! Sounds like your summer is going to be great, too!
amypalko — I LOVE Cherry Blossom by L’Occitane! I was going to buy it myself a while ago. It smells incredible.
adele — It’s a very old picture, from last year! (At least it feels like it was ages ago…)
Nadine — I like running but it’s pretty bad for the knees! Eep. I used to go running all the time though. & turbans don’t have a brim, ‘tis true, but they do LOOK good! It’s more about the look than sun protection, & if you’re wearing sunblock it’s not so much of a problem…
xtina — Oh wow, those turbans are fabulous! I might buy a few myself! Thank you for the link, I’m so excited!
Zainab — Ahhh, the Baudelaires! Great books! & I will definitely be writing something on winter essentials soon…
i have a curious question :]
what made you become to be so creative?
-loveloveloveyou, taylor
FABULOUS!
gala – I would love to see some fall and spring essential lists!
They are so inspiring.