In the September issue of Australian marie claire, the magazine features an exclusive with Keira Knightley, styled by editor/publisher Jackie Frank.
The actress gives writer Carole Radziwill her take on love, life, and lust, as well as her latest project with director Joe Wright - the Tolstoy classic, Anna Karenina.
Natalie Imbruglia also features in the issue; these days, she calls the City of Angels home, and she gives an insider’s guide on Los Angeles’s must-see spots.
And my fave story of all, marie claire pairs the designers behind some of Australia’s best brands with St Vincent de Paul Society op shops. Using everything from wetsuits to curtains, the designers (who include Camilla & Marc, Romance was Born and Sass & Bide) make six gorgeous, one-off creations - which are being auctioned by marie claire to raise money for the Australian charity. Love that.
The September 2011 issue of marie claire is on sale now.
Westfield Bondi Junction and Westfield Doncaster are launching the Giveability Store Designer Charity Store this July to help children with cerebral palsy.
The giveability store concept is a fashion charity store stocked with second hand designer items donated by celebrities and designers to raise much needed funds for children with cerebral palsy.
And some notable fashion brands and celebrities have pledged to join the program to support children and their families: confirmed participating designer brands and celebrities include Kylie Minogue, Rose Byrne, Anthony La Paglia, Melissa George, Naomi Watts, Liev Schrieber, Bambi Northwood-Blythe, Harry Kewell, Sami Lukis, Tom Williams, Erin McNaught, Mitchell Johnson, Rachel Taylor, Alex Perry, Fernando Frisoni, Marnie Skillings, Ada Nicodemou, Garance Dore, Charlotte Dawson, Samantha Wills, Sass & Bide, Ksubi, Bettina Liano, Wayne Cooper and Cheyenne Tozzi - and more.
Funds raised will go towards therapy and equipment, respite, early intervention and education programs for children with cerebral palsy and their families.
The store will be open for two weeks leading into National Cerebral palsy Awareness Week. 100% of the proceeds from all sales will go to Cerebral Palsy Alliance in NSW and Scope in VIC, which provide vital services to people living with cerebral palsy and their families.
“This giveability program is one of Westfield’s important commitments to raise awareness and help children with disabilities in our local communities,” said John Batistich, General Manager Marketing, Westfield.
“By having Australia’s leading fashion designers and celebrities participating in the giveability store, we feel it sends a strong message that the fashion community is prepared to mobilise and raise awareness and funds to support an often overlooked cause.”
The initiative will also see designers and celebrities working at the store, and exclusive pieces will be sold on online at http://www.westfield.com.au/ making it available those who can't get to the store, taking the initiative national.
Expect to see Australia’s top fashion collectors, celebrities, philanthropists, and designers convene at Westfield Bondi Junction on Tuesday 19 July (until Sunday 24 July) and Westfield Doncaster on Tuesday 26 July (until Sunday 31 July) for a pre-loved luxury shopping extravaganza.
Notable beauties have donned stunning red dresses for the marie claire Australia's 'Red Dress campaign', which raises awareness for heart disease - which kills more women than breast cancer and lung cancer combined.
Photographed by renowned fashion photographers Harold David and David Gubers, the celebrities - including Megan Gale (also this month's covergirl), Jennifer Hawkins, Miranda Otto, Sonia Kruger, Stephanie Rice, and Sophie Vallejo - showed their support for the cause by wearing gorgeous red dresses designed exclusively by Australia’s leading fashion designers, including Alex Perry, Dion Lee, Collette Dinnigan, Ellery, Willow, Lisa Ho and Ginger & Smart.
Model and Project Runway Australia host Megan Gale, who graces marie claire’s cover for the first time, says “It’s critical that we do whatever possible to bring heart disease – and the things we can do to prevent it - to the forefront of women’s minds. Our lives depend on it.”
In celebration of the 2011 ‘Red Dress’ July issue, and the marie claire Red Dress campaign, marie claire’s editor and publisher, Jackie Frank will also open the doors to her home for a star-studded red themed soirée.
"marie claire is very proud of our long-term association with the Heart Foundation and this important cause. We will continue to champion the cause, which takes the lives of so many women we love - our mothers, sisters and friends. Despite the fact it is the number one killer of women in Australia, it is also one of the most preventable diseases, so raising awareness and education is paramount," Jackie Frank says.
To really get the message across, Ms Frank has asked all marie claire readers to wear a splash of red on the magazine’s designated Red Dress day of June 9.
And, the one-off red dresses will be auctioned off with all proceeds going to the Heart Foundation - they can be viewed and purchased online at www.marieclaire.com.au from June 1.
Especially if it's fun. And easy. And involves undies.
Charities these days seem to ask an awful lot of you. Grow it, shave it, paint it, put a ribbon on it… But this one asks you to put on some duds. I like it.
Kidney Health Australia is set to launch a fantastic new campaign in order to raise awareness of kidney disease.
A nation-wide epidemic, kidney disease is under-funded and under-exposed with more people suffering from kidney-related illness than breast cancer, prostate cancer and road fatalities.
Red Undies Week is kicking off week commencing May 22 and has some star power behind it: Tyler Atkins (who in fact suffers from a kidney disease), Scott McGregor, Sophie Falkiner, Laura Dundovic, Mike Goldman, Conrad Coleby, Bianca Dye, Jessica Moloney, Nacho Pop even ex-politician Kerry Chikarovski, with celebrity photographer Benn Jae (Lindsay Lohan/M.I.A).
Getting involved in Red Undies Week is really simple. From May 22 - 28, Aussies can get 'cheeky' by:
• Getting into the nearest LOWES store and buying specially marked 'Red Undies' - $5 from every sale will go towards Kidney Health Australia.
• Download the free iPhone App from the website http://www.redundiesweek.org.au/ get in your red knickers and submit your own ‘Red Undies’ photo online. Share your pic with your friends via Facebook, join the Red Undies Week FB group http://www.facebook.com/pages/Red-Undies-Week/129126663810649 or Twitter and be eligible to win some fab prizes – as well as giving your red undies (and kidney health) some decent exposure!
And look out for the fun new TVC – airing during 'kidney week'….
Kidney Health Australia is a non-profit organisation with a mission to advance the public health agenda through awareness, detection, prevention and management of kidney disease in Australia. http://www.kidney.org.au/
Kidney disease claims an astonishing 53 Australian lives a day – surprised? I was.
The woman behind the initiative is Juliet Potter, director of Girl PR. She explains why she got involved:
"As my son Ashley suffers from a degenerative kidney disease, I created Red Undies Week primarily due to the concerning lack of coverage in main-stream media in regards to kidney health.
"From a personal perspective, not even my own family and friends had a clue as to our situation and what exactly was wrong with Ashley, what were the preventions and/or cures. To think kidney disease is an epidemic in this country yet no one seems to know that a simple urine test can alert you to possible kidney failure is outrageous.
"This disease is known the silent killer as you can have 90% of your renal function fail before you even see a single symptom.
From a professional perspective; owning a PR agency, I was more than aware of the media's disinterest in the subject (Kim Kadashian gets more coverage - go figure!) so I approached Kidney Health Australia with a concept to make kidneys sexy and hopefully get some 'decent exposure' for this tragic disease within the community.
"We are hoping Red Undies Week will follow along the same lines as Movember and Pink Ribbon Day campaigns in raising awareness of this disease and to let the sufferers know they are supported.
"At the same time, we didn't want it to be overtly sexy or crude or too depressing given charity fatigue - just something light-hearted and fun enough to make people talk and hopefully get talking. Most people are surprised to hear the facts and staggering statistics. The ultimate aim here is to encourage a regular urine test at the same time as you may have your breasts/prostate/whatever checked regularly.
"Kidney disease affects people of all ages - babies, children, middle-aged and the elderly - and it can happen to YOU. We have to get the message out and I dearly hope this campaign will enable us to do so!"
Well done, Juliet. So what are you waiting for? Get involved!
Red Cross is selling celebrity and designer clothes - at up to 75% off!
It’s only through one Red Cross store - the new Red Threads store opening in Paddington tomorrow Tuesday April 19 - with bargains dying to be snapped up.
A slinky black Giorgio Armani number worn by Cate Blanchett?
A Sass and Bide stunner?
Alice McCall and Romance was Born pieces... all here!
My fave number is the purple and fuchsia number, donated by The 7pm Project's Carrie Bickmore.
Plus, there is a link to the Red Cross Facebook page where people can download a coupon for a 30% discount! (Um, hello... fashion and discount in the same sentence? I am so there!)
The Joy Jewellery brand has launched a new charity bracelet in support of cervical and ovarian cancer.
Many women in Indonesia are faced with poverty, illness and hardship. A foundation has been established to support women who can not afford basic medical treatments, such as pap tests.
This foundation sets up clinics throughout remote villages and offer local women the opportunity to be checked and provided with adequate medical care if they present with dangerous cells.
Joy Jewellery has created this gorgeous wooden bead, pearl and sterling silver charm bracelet in support.
Profits of all sales of this bracelet go directly to this worthy cause - a stylish piece and you're aiding something seriously important. Love shopping with conscience...
Four of Australia’s most highly regarded indigenous artists, whose works can fetch up to $70,000 each, have painted on unusual canvasses (see some gorgeous examples here).
Inspired artworks have been painted on eight Wii consoles and will be sold at a auction with all proceeds going to fund the indigenous education programme, Shalom Gamarada.
With 2 million consoles in Aussie homes, Shalom Gamarada has collaborated with Nintendo to spread the message of indigenous education to a much wider audience. Now that, I love.
This scholarship programme has succeeded in making a significant impact in lowering the university drop-out rate within the indigenous community. This, I love even more.
The exhibition launches tonight, Thursday evening, in Sydney.
There will also be many other art works on display that have helped fund the charity.
“Some of the artists involved can boast selling individual pieces upwards of $70,000 and what they have created for Wii are exceptional, one-off originals that I am sure will draw national attention for the eBay auction,” says Jenny Hillman, director of Waterhole Art and co-curator of the exhibition.
Highly acclaimed artists involved in this exciting project include Gloria Petyarre, Barbara Weir, Emily Pwerle and sister Gayla Pwerle.
Australian women’s activewear brand Lorna Jane has just launched an initiative offering its customers the opportunity to give to charity and get Lorna Jane store credit in return.
Lorna Jane is offering women $5 store credit at all Lorna Jane locations for every piece of pre-loved activewear they donate.
Lorna Jane Clarkson, the company's founder and head designer, said Swap Shop has been established in an effort to get women active and support The Salvation Army with the supply of pre-loved exercise wear.
Since Swap Shop debuted on 21 January, Lorna Jane customers have donated over 5500 items of pre-loved exercise wear in exchange for pieces from Lorna Jane’s on-trend active collections.
"It is fantastic to see so many Australians digging deep in their wardrobes and donating their workout gear to our fellow Australians in need," said Ms Clarkson.
"Swap Shop will continue in Lorna Jane stores nationwide, with every thoughtfully exchanged piece of pre-loved exercise wear donated in view to changing someone's life."
Customers are encouraged to donate their washed exercise gear of any brand to a Lorna Jane store in exchange for a five dollar store credit per item (maximum of 3 items exchanged per customer, per transaction). All donated items will continue to be sent to the Salvation Army.
Dan Murray - the 20 year old dynamo behind burgeoning Australian undie brand Sly Underwear - is donating $37,000 worth of his fab duds (or 1500 pieces) to the Queensland flood victims.
Okay, so the poor QLD folk definitely need funds to rebuild their lives ASAP, but this supreme act of generosity is a damn good start to getting them sorted with some basics to start rebuilding their lives.
Says Dan: “Like all of us, I have seen the devastation on the news and I have good friends who have been affected greatly by these devastating floods. These people have lost everything, so the least we can do is give them some clean underwear.”
Dan has also put the call out to neighbouring businesses, encouraging them to do the same, sparing whatever stock they can - especially basics such as clothing - to fellow Australians in this urgent time of need.
And so far, one local business has answered Dan’s call to action. Deeply moved by footage on the news and first-hand reports from friends, neighbouring business Mad Keen Fishing is to donate $5000 worth of apparel to the victims.
The generosity of Aussies in times of need is legendary. Let's follow Dan's lead and give however we can.
There's not much I can post here about the QLD floods that you haven't already read.
My take: absolutely devastated for the flood victims. I know of some people who have been confirmed dead as the flood swept through Toowoomba a few days ago.
If you want to donate (um... you have a beating heart and are made of flesh and blood... so why wouldn't you?), go here: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/
A good friend of mine works for the Red Cross and shared some info yesterday: he says that the Red Cross produced a 3000-bed evacuation centre in a single day. These people are gods, in my opinion.
Businesses too are trying to help in whatever way they can.
I just got an email advising that jewellery designer Samantha Wills will donate $20 from every selected piece sold on the SAMANTHA WILLS website to the flood appeal over the next four days, with hopes to raise a minimum of $10,000.
“Since hearing the breaking news of communities being destroyed and lives being lost, I knew I had to do something to help. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this horrifying disaster,” says Samantha.
Selected products for the appeal will also be discounted by 30% to encourage customers to shop for the worthy cause.
Gideon sneakers are the world's first 100% Australian made, sweatshop-free, completely sustainable sneaker. The cool shoes are a venture of Rupert and Matt Noffs (of the Noffs Foundation), who have taken a proactive stance against the exploitation of factory employees by manufacturing Gideon in Sydney.
Made from kangaroo leather and cane toad hide, the hand stitched premium sneaker is street-cred with a conscience. It's highly likely sneaker-freakers are drooling over the images right now - lucky for them the uber cool shoes come in a variety of colours and styles. We know they love collecting... but these are deffo worth actually wearing, not just for safe keeping in a box.
With all profits going directly to the Noffs Foundation Street University, Gideon shoes are available now through http://www.gideon.com.au/ and select retail outlets across Australia within weeks, with a launch in the US to follow. RRP from $189-$320.
Four limited edition Dora the Explorer backpacks have been designed by Salma Hayek, Shakira, Heidi Klum, and Slash and will be auctioned off online by Nick Jr. from Friday December 3 – Sunday December 12, with 100% of proceeds to be donated to the Future Kids Program run by Variety - the children’s charity.
To round off this year’s Dora the Explorer 10th anniversary celebrations, Nick Jr. Australia will launch a campaign called ‘Dora: Beyond the Backpack’ this November, teaming with local charity Variety to raise proceeds for Variety’s ‘Future Kids Program’ – a very worthy program which enables kids from all walks of life and abilities to realise their ambitions and dreams in education, sports, music or the arts.
‘Dora: Beyond the Backpack’ is a global initiative which launched in the US earlier this year with Salma Hayak Pinault as ambassador, with a focus on raising money for early childhood education. The winning bidders of these four backpacks allocated to Australia will be auctioned online on the dates above. The auction is accessible through the Nick. Jr. website right now at www.nickjr.com.au/dorabackpack or directly through eBay.
The four celebrity Dora backpacks will be on display at Westfield Doncaster in Victoria during the auction period, so Melbourne shoppers can check out the adorable designs in person before bidding. Each backpack was personally designed and signed for authenticity by each respective celebrity. Hand-made in the United States, the backpacks are all so different: design elements–range from punk-rock, to preppy, to goth-chic, to bohemian, to glam. Vivid and colourful soft metallic leather, ultra-suede, rubber, nylon, textured leather and canvas materials are highlighted with statement-making patterns featuring various graphic styles of Dora and her best pal Boots, plus Swarovski crystal embellishments, embroidery, appliqués and dangling Dora-themed charms.
I cannot even tell you how Dora-obsessed my almost three year old Estella is. We are talking Dora dresses, socks, singlets, shoes, underpants, dolls, bags, and more.
On working with Variety as the local charity to benefit from the Dora: Beyond the Backpack campaign, Katrina Southon, General Manager of Nickelodeon Australia said, “Variety’s Future Kids Program does excellent work, and is a great fit for what Dora and Beyond the Backpack represents. Auctioning the celebrity designed Dora backpacks is a fun way for Nick Jr. and Variety to throw a spotlight on the importance of assisting kids early on in their education and encouraging them to explore the world around them like Dora does, through various activities.”
David Small, General Manager of Variety, said “Variety’s Future Kids Program is the gift of education and achievement by helping disadvantaged and children who have special needs fulfill their academic, sport or art potential by supporting individual children or schools with special equipment, advanced tuition and practical support. Variety is extremely grateful to Nickelodeon Australia and Dora the Explorer for helping us to provide solutions for these children.”
The 1 Million Women campaign, which launched in May 2009, aims to engage, empower and mobilise women to take practical action on climate change. Every woman who joins has a personal goal to cut 1 tonne of CO2 from their daily lives within a year of joining the campaign.
Their goal is to stop 1 million tonnes of CO2 pollution - the main greenhouse pollutant causing global warming - from entering the atmosphere, which is the equivalent to taking 250,000 cars off the road for 12 months and enough pollution to fill 2.1 billion wheelie bins or 20 billion balloons.
Based on scientific evidence, we are on a course for a climate disaster and there is a great urgency to take action now.
Women are powerful natural networks (ain't that the truth!) have enormous influence in the consumer market place, make over 70% of consumer purchasing decisions affecting the household carbon footprint, and are 51% of the Australian Electorate. The folks at 1 Million Women believe 1MW will have a real and significant impact through the changes made by the women of Australia which will influence women globally. Hear, hear!
1 Million Women is all about creating long-term behaviour change by starting with achievable things women can do in their everyday lives to cut carbon emissions.
Women can join the campaign at www.1millionwomen.com.au and commit to start cutting carbon. The website also features an ‘Activity Centre’ that will show you how to cut 1 tonne of CO2 pollution – in your home, on food, on transport, flights, when shopping and with renewable energy. Here's some steps to get us started:
o Say no to plastic bags, over-packaged products & non-recyclable packaging o Choose fresh, local fruit & vegetables + cut down on excessive waste o Wash clothes in cold water & dry on the clothesline o Think green when buying fabrics, fashion & accessories o Set up a ‘walking school’ bus with local friends/neighbours
And here, ambassador Katie Noonan answers some questions just for Josie's Juice. Love her; I had the pleasure of interviewing her for her album "Skin" and I blasted "Time To Begin" on my car CD player when I was pregnant with my twins. I am sure they recognise the song when I put it on now.
Thanks, Katie!
What spoke to you about the “1Million Women” campaign?
After years of beating around the bush I decided it was time to make some changes in my life and not wait for the government to fix this climate change problem! Being a busy working mum and the primary decision maker in the home, I was inspired to join other women in helping motivate some change in our homes. In the words of Kev Carmody: from little things big things grow!
What changed way of living will you be adopting for the cause? We live remote, so we are on tank water and we have a septic and grey water system in place. We have no garbage pick up so we recycle a lot and try to buy products with recyclable packaging. We take green bags to the shop or use boxes, we car pool when we can, we have a solar hot water system. Just little things like that around the house. I also carbon offset all my flights for my work.
What does climate change and its implications mean to you? I just want to try to help make this world stay beautiful for my children.
