A COMPLETE GUIDE TO BEACHES, RESTAURANTS + THINGS TO SEE AND DO

I debated writing this story as I really didn't want any more people to go to the island I have been taking my annual summer vacation on for the last 14 years and yet all my squirrelling away was foiled with the release of Mamma Mia 2 

Even though the island portrayed in the movie pretends to be set in Greece, it is really the island of Vis, a place far away from mainland Croatia in the indigo of the Adriatic sea scented by pine and wild flowering herbs. So how could anyone have kept something so magical a secret for so long?

Exploring a monastery in Thomas Puttick

Even though it was under siege throughout history, the 20th century saw the Yugoslav army seal the island off to the public in order to expand the military bases so it sank into obscurity for decades. Yet even with the fall of Yugoslavia, tourist invasion never came due to distance, as people tend to seek immediate gratification or flashier, more famous islands.

Catching up on books at Srebrna beach in Zimmermann

Stay
There are two harbour towns on the island. Vis town is the main port but do stay a 20 minute walk away in Kut, a 16th century stone cobbled hamlet where flowering capers climb walls, grandmas sell wine out of their basement and kids run the streets unsupervised. It’s as Adriatic as it used to be yet trendy restaurants and bars now dot the streets too. On the other side of the island there is Komiza, an old fisherman town where men still repair their nets by hand, streets drop off into the ocean and sunset swims are a must. The rest of the island is dotted with tiny villages, vineyards and beautiful little coves. Choose to stay somewhere central for convenience or secluded for privacy but do book soon as accommodation on the island is scarce, often booking out a whole year in advance. Try Airbnb for some incredible holiday rentals or a boutique hotel like San Giorgio.

Village lunching in a Matin Studio dress

Do
Take a speedboat or sailboat around the island starting with a skip to the islet of Biševo to see the Blue Grotto, then continue on to the majestic beach of Stiniva, followed by a visit to the Green Cave and lunch on the islet of Budikovac. Alternatively, hire a scooter and head into the green inner belly for a vineyard hop and beach cove discovery. There is also a tour of the abandoned military complex tunnels available for the adventurous.

Swimming in a Massimo Dutti shirt, Matteau swim bikini and White Story shorts

Eat

In Vis, Pojoda serves old school specialties, Villa Kaliopa is set in a beautiful garden, Konoba Lola has cocktails, a pretty yard and modernised favourites, Buffet Vis is all about the freshest seafood in an simple setting and Karijola is a pizza night favourite.

In Komiza, Jastozeria had a famous scene in Mamma Mia and that said table now has a special plaque but the lobster dishes haven’t changed. Konoba Bako is perfect for date night, so make sure you book a seaside table in advance and visit just before sunset. Restaurant Hum has yummy favourites and Fabrika is great for a burger or breakfast.

If you are inland or at the coves visit Gušti Poja, Aerodrom Gostionica, Roki’s Tavern Peruka at Stiniva, Konoba Senko, the restaurant on Budikovac and Stončica for lunch. Make sure you order ahead and do try the peka, lamb or octopus slow cooked under an iron bell inside a fire oven.

 Dinner at the table featured in the movie wearing Zimmermann and Stuart Weitzman

Drink:

Vis isn’t much of a party island like it’s flashier cousins but it does have some fun. My favourite is Lambik bar for a relaxed evening drink, or head to the centuries old Fort George for a late night DJ boosted boogie. Komiza sometimes has parties at Kamenica beach but I prefer to sample the unique native plavac mali red from the many wine bars and konobas instead
This story appeared on Vogue.com.au here!

Go big or go home
For the ultimate date-night outfit, choose a backless rose strewn maxi dress then throw on an oversized cardigan and a sparkly low heel, because this season elegance is all about comfort.

(Gucci dress, shoes and cardigan, Begum Khan earrings and Dior Double Rouge lipstick in Poison Purple.)

Beauty note: Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish foundation, Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow, Shu Uemura Brow Sword and Gigi Hadid for Maybelline Fiber Mascara worn throughout. 

Photographed by Alice Wesley-Smith
Assisted by Eleni George
This post appeared on Vogue.com.au here!

What does a girl do when given the chance to attend New York Fashion Week? Well, pack a suitcase full of spring trends and jump on the plane of course!

The weather was beautifully temperate, Australian designers rocked NYC catwalks, many Manhattan cocktails were drunk and beautiful dinners with friends accompamied by quite a bit of dancing took place — to give you an idea.
Here, I've pulled together three trends I loved wearing while in New York.

( Zimmermann playsuit, Chloe x Net-a-porter sunglasses, Gucci Bag, Alice McCall jacket and JYJewels earrings)

Playsuits

Playsuits are a favourite come warm weather for their cute yet practical versatility. Floral prints are always in, come spring, but throw on a big fluffy coat and a pair of oversized sunglasses and you have a 70s redux outfit that is somewhere between rockstar and disco diva. Lay on the glitz this season.

( Trelise Cooper coat, Double Rainbuu sweater, vintage skirt and Balenziaga mules)

Colour blocking
Colour blocking is back in a big way for spring, so choose primary colours for maximum impact. Big, feathery coats, oversized sweaters and pencil skirts are also a current trend. Try a kitten heel mule for ultimate comfort.

(Tanja wears vest by Tome, Elley flares, YSL bag and sunglasses)

Suiting

Suiting is one of those trends that will never age, but this season it’s de rigueur, or required. Choose from oversized, slouchy to form fitting and feminine, long suits a lá dresses, or vests as tops.

Shot by: India Hartford in New York
read the original story up on the newly relaunched vogue.com.au here!

Layers may not be the sexiest clothing option in the world, yet winter is the most imaginative time in the style stakes because we finally get to play with investment coats, beautiful boots and cosy knits.

Each year I invest in a few pieces that will take me through the coldest months, yet I want to make sure that my purchases last me through another winter without looking dated whilst staying reasonable in the cost-per-wear equations. And oh boy, were there some trends across the autumn/winter '17/'18 runways! From silver to folklore and ostrich feather, individuality was celebrated, but here are the ones I think will stand the test of time — or until next year, at least.

Winter may be threatening with its icy fingers but it has nothing on blanketed padded jackets in high tech incarnations. Even if it did, the oversize knitwear trend would stop it dead in it’s tracks. Still not enough? Matrix style patent leather brings out our inner dominatrix, whilst the stunning combination of blue and black will make winter surrender through sheer fashion domination.

(Ellery pants and jacket, Jac&Jack sweater and cardigan, Dion Lee sunglasses, Ole Lynegaard pearl earring sold individually)

Choose high-shine accessories with a lot of high power attitude.(Stillettos and bag both Saint Laurent from Farfetch)

(Tome dress, Sarah and Sebastian choker, Jimmy Choo sandals, vintage bracelet)

Gilded saffron spice, mustard, 70s sunflower and all shades of yellow are my colour crush. Mix them in any and all combinations including lime, earthy tones, reds, plums, even turquoise for a colour explosion – or just wear on their own.

Read more on vogue.com.au here!
photographed by Alice Wesley-Smith

Wearing Equipment shirt from Edwards Imports, Holly Ryan earrings, Ellery jacket, Smooth Miracle Primer, Miracle Touch Foundation and Eyefinity Smokey Eye Pencil in Black charcoal and brushed copper.

Glam in under 10 minutes

Some days, I wake up in the morning and everything goes smoothly; alarm goes off on time, child doesn’t wake me up in the night and the cat doesn’t attempt to sit on my face at 4:30am. I savor my coffee in a dignified manner, do a 10 minute meditation and apply my make up in peace, smug in my utter personification of efficiency.

And then, there are the other mornings, where everything goes awry and I end up getting everyone ready in a hurry only to look at the mirror, sigh at my dark circles and the 1 minute left on the clock to make them disappear. The day is a blur of appointments and then I remember that post work event, the one I must rush to without going home. What’s a girl to do? Here are some of my tips of the trade as brought to you by the new Max Factor Miracle Collection

Start the day with The New Smooth Miracle Primer because this little helper provides a smooth and even application of foundation, sealing it for longer, lasting wear. Perfect for dry skin that gets even more dehydrated by make-up, this primer will care for your skin all day long. Follow this up with the New Miracle Touch Foundation for a seamless blending and shade matching that blurs imperfections and nourishes skin.

Next up, choose one of the 2 new Eyefinity Smokey Eye Pencils; the dual sided pencil features vibrant colours for intensity and deep metallic shade for highlighting. Bonus; the waterproof formula will stay on until you decide to take it off, not that accidental eye rub during the afternoon slump. I love how the dark shade frames the eyes, highlights and defines the brow bone and the inner corner of the eyes. For day I used the highlighting copper end as a liner, it gave me just the right amount of definition without being overly made up.

Read the rest of the story on vogue.com.au here!

Australian fashion continued to carve its own path on the world stage at this year’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia (MBFWA) with our designers covering everything from swim to denim, ready-to-wear and high-gloss evening wear.

Dion Lee opened the week with a spectacular show at the foreground of the Opera House, wowing with his unique mix of high tech craft, interesting tailoring and modern swim whilst simultaneously launching the kind of menswear any man would love.I was excited about Alice McCall’s foray into glam rock with a Hollywood starlet edge, Bec & Bridge’s return to rock 'n' roll party dresses, Akira’s soft yet modern collection, Double Rainbouu’s signature look, Michael Lo Sordo’s dramatic silks and hipbone detailing, Christopher Esber’s mix of irreverent cool and great tailoring, Vale denim’s pastels, the ever amazing Ellery fashion code…and the list goes on! Special kudos goes to this year’s casting which included older women, street kids and ordinary people, making shows diverse and fun to watch.

I was privileged to borrow clothes from five designers prior to fashion week to bring you this story. It is always difficult to pry items away from designers so close to their big event, but also incredibly exciting to shoot the pictures whilst getting a sneak peek into their collections.
Without further ado here is my review of five designers …

Wearing: Yousef Akbar dress, Gucci heels from Farfetch, Christian Louboutin bag

Yousef Akbar is a young designer making a name on the world scene designing daring clothes favoured by the likes of Chrissy Teigen, Kelly Osbourne and Jessica Mauboy. Yousef has his own way of mixing avant-garde with eveningwear and I’m excited to see what this fresh designer does next. I especially loved his foray into sequin and feather this season.

Wearing: MacGraw top, skirt and shoes

MacGraw is a label I have been following for a while for their vintage-brought-to-the-21st-century-sensibility. For this collection they seemed to veer far into the past, mixing Edwardian times with the 60s, 70s and 80s, with puffed sleeves, high collars, checks, prints and ruffled skirts that young Madonna would’ve adored.

Wearing 10 Pieces

Ten Pieces showed their collection at Icebergs's dining room and bar, with the pretty views juxtaposing the tough streetwear collection on show. A mainly black and white series of easy to wear pieces showed designer Maurice Terzini’s penchant for avant-garde yet relaxed clothes that are sure to be a hit with the cool kids. For this story we shot a different side to this label, influenced by Terzini’s partner Lucy Hinckfuss who is bringing in a soft and feminine hue as a polar opposite to the label’s aesthetic. Hinckfuss has said: “ Ten Pieces is an androgynous label so we decided that there should be more variations and the kind of clothes that appeal to women. These will be available alongside our other pieces online.”

Wearing: KitX, vintage Balenciaga heels, YSL sunglasses from Farfetch

KITX is one of my favourite brands showing at MBFWA. I am not sure if it is Kit Willow’s infectious enthusiasm at bringing top-notch quality to ecologically responsible manufacturing, or the fact that she always uses beautiful fabrics that she makeshifts into addictively interesting staples . This season, Kit continued her reign as the tailoring queen, mixing it with sensuous silks , sexy draping, colour blocking and grown up relaxed chic.

Wearing: Romance Was Born dress, Gianvitto Rossi boots, vintage hat

Romance Was Born closed MBFWA in a spectacle of a Studio 54 extravaganza. High drama and theatrics always make Romance Was Born’s shows eagerly anticipated and this year did not disappoint. The audience tapped their feet to the beat and swooned over amazing specifics (each girl had different hair and make up! There was a dance sequence! Nude models were body painted by artist Del Kathryn Barton!). Underneath all the glitz, however, certain things stand, such as the incredible attention to detail. The codes that Romance Was Born has built over the years have been re-invisioned through cool denim, oversized sleeves and beading. Lush ruffles have joined oversized feather jackets, along with rainbow fringing and colourful suiting.

Styled and Photographed by Tanja Gacic
Hair and Make up by Claire Thomson using Oribe hair products
Model: Nathalie Nyren from Chic Model Management
Assisting by Eleni George
This post originally appeared on vogue.com.au here!

There isn’t anything like healthy, even and smooth skin that makes me feel more self-confident in my day to day life. With so much time spent on the go, I can’t afford to spend hours on such fanciful pursuits as lengthy make up applications or time consuming beauty regimes so; I’ve had to find other ways to make my skin glow. Trust me, things weren’t always peachy keen in the complexion department and it took decades of trial and error, fads and failures, blemishes and unevenness to get to where I am now.

In collaboration with Max Factor’s Miracle Collection, I am dishing out all my skin care secrets so that you can take a shortcut to a heavenly glow.

Great skin is always a mirror of your internal health so the journey to smoothness starts in the gut. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables as they are rich in vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and prebiotics necessary to feed the good bacteria that keeps our body (and skin!) in tip-top shape. Increase your consumption of orange varieties as these contain carotenoids, which filter blue light, protect skin from environmental factors and add a visible healthy hue. Don’t forget to cut out any foods that your body is sensitive to as well as any preservatives, colours or artificial ingredients- all a sure fire way to a break out. Make sure your lifestyle isn’t depleting all your B vitamins which are necessary for blemish free skin, things like life stresses and nights out all run our reserves low. Forgo botox by adding plentiful collagen into your diet via long cooked bone broths or supplements and over time the skin will develop more bounce, moisture and resilience. Sugar is not the skin’s friend, leading to premature aging and oxidation so replace it with occasional natural sweets and supplement with probiotics which help our body to thrive.

Move that bod every day until you sweat so that toxins are cleared out in a timely manner. Support your body’s detoxification patterns by drinking at least 2 litres of pure water - all the hydration will plump up the skin from the inside. Try to meditate each day for at least 5-10 minutes as this develops a sense of calm that becomes an anchor point when life takes us on unpleasant journeys – I believe that hard emotions can lead to break outs. ( wearing Lonely Label swimwear)

read the rest on vogue.com.au here!

(Natalija silk top, Silk Slip eyemask and pillowcase )

Remember when you were a kid and people in their twenties looked so old? I laugh at this naivety now because the older I get the more I understand that aging is an inevitable bitch. It starts it’s creeping early, in fact, studies prove that the skin around the eye shows the first signs of aging somewhere in our twenties ,14 years faster than the rest of the face.The saying goes that the eyes are windows to a person’s soul, the feature we look to for first impressions, sadly, even to judge a person’s age and attractiveness.

Most women rely on make up to make their eyes more appealing, all the while disregarding the care of the delicate skin underneath and the deep moisturising this area so desperately needs. For this story, I wanted to draw your attention to Olay’s new range of products specifically formulated for the eyes only, along with sharing some of my own anti-aging tips of the trade. Let’s face it, I have amassed a few in my twenty, ahem!- ok, ok thirty something years.

-   When it comes to sleep, the saying goes that we need at least 7-8 hours sleep per night for   optimum cell renewal and it is true that when I get this, I wake up looking like a 12 year old. Ok, that’s not quite true, but I sure do feel like it! To help me gain optimum sleep time and prevent creasing and subsequent wrinkling of my face I use a pure silk eyemask and pillowcase- added bonus, no split ends

( Jac & Jack cashmere sweater, Christopher Esber linen pants )

Meditation, yoga, and long walks in nature work like a balm on my soul and now science has proven exactly why : people who've meditated daily for at least four years had longer telometres - the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes- than people that did not meditate. Since short telometres are believed to be markers of accelerated aging, this is an anti aging tip with multiple benefits. Just ask Richard Gere

read more on vogue.com!

photographed by Alice Wesley-Smith

On my days off, I’m not much of a make up girl, but catch me on a work day or on the way to an event and you’ll see someone who looks quite made up. Ok, to be fair, my make up skills are questionable at best as they are always put to practice between frantically feeding the cat, getting the child to school or navigating the car in traffic. Just don’t come too close and everything looks flawless. Come a little closer and you may see some patchy eyeshadow or unblended blush, however, the one thing you won’t see is clumpy or flaky mascara. Why? Because I am weirdly OCD about it, to the point that I spend half of my 5 minute routine expressly on applying it and making sure it’s perfect. Don’t ask me why this is a thing, it just is ; I cannot stand mascara that doesn’t perform well.

For this story, I reviewed the new Voluptuous False Lash Effect Mascara from Max Factor, in my eyes one of the best mascara companies on the market.

Max Factor Voluptuous False Lash Mascara, Sarina Suriano cuff, TDE passport holder, Thomas Sabo pinky rings and Ole Lynegaard diamond stars and pearl ring, Christian Louboutin bag, Josefinas ballerinas

The False Lash Effect Mascara features the redesigned Lash Lifting brush with a spiral shape and long bristles designed to provide a beautiful lift and separation. The bottom of the rounded spiky tip is best used on the outer and bottom lashes to add that extra va-voom. The biggest selling point of this mascara is not relying on curling lashes but allowing the lashes to maintain their natural shape by lifting them and thus opening the eye.

I loved how natural this mascara looked when incorporated in my usual day look with just one application. I like my day make up to be very subtle, and my eyelashes to only be slightly enhanced;  I don’t like to appear too overdone and only apply mascara to my upper lashes for day. I loved how the Wonder brush coated, coated and combed each lash for an instant pepped up look that we all love, without seeming done up

Max Factor Voluptuous False Lash Mascara, Thomas Sabo pinky rings and Ole Lynegaard diamond stars and pearl ring, Christian Louboutin bag, Kate Sylvester dress

For night, when going out, I really love piling on mascara on top and bottom lashes and emulating Brigitte Bardot’s bombshell eye make up. I used four coats of the new Voluptuous False Lash Mascara and even then I did not see any clumping or flaking. I danced the night away and my lashes came home perfectly done up, which is better than I can say for my lipstick!

Rebecca Vallance dress, Giuseppe Zanotti pumps, Sarina Suriano earrings
Full story on Vogue.com.au here!