10 Places You Can't Go

Here's a list of places that most of us can't get to. The point of such a list, is, of course, to incite one's curiousity even more; though I'm not 100% confident that North Korea's Department of Tourism had a hand in this one. Or even exists.

At number 9 is the Vatican Secret Archives - you can't go into the archives but you can view any document over 75 years old. With 84km of shelving, it makes Robert Langdon's ability to find centuries-old texts in the space of a few tense seconds seem even more remarkable. Or is that, "ridiculous"?

Number 8 is Club 33 at Disneyland, the only place within the whole joyous park with a full liquor licence. And if you have a spare $10,000 - $30,000, you too can join. After being on the waiting list for 14 years. Leave all strollers at the door.

White's Gentleman's Club is at number 6. Founded in 1693 to sell hot chocolate, it became an exclusive gentlemen's club - not of the stripper variety, but of the Eccentric British Variety which involves bizarre betting. 3000pounds on a raindrop race, anyone? Needless to say, if you have that much change in your back pocket, are male, well connected and slightly inbred you too can possibly join the club. Maybe.

Room 39 comes in at number 4 (gosh I feel like Bert Newton on 20-to-1. B-grade celebrity comment, anyone?). All sorts of lovely goings-on apparently occur here, deep in the heart of North Korea's capital, Pyongyang. Money laundering, drug smuggling, counterfeiting...all in a day's work for Kim Jong-il's regime. Charming.

The not-really-inconspicuous RAF Menwith Hill British Military Base ranks at number 1. Apparently, not only does the communications intercept and missile warnings site search for terrorist plots, political intelligence, drug schemes through the Echelon system (allegedly, mind you); but can also get a hold of your telephone and radio communications. They won't, however, do anything about telemarketing.

You can view the whole list here, and impress your friends with your newfound knowledge.

Monday Street Style

This week's edition of Street Style encompasses one shiny gold bag, one gorgeous hooded cape, Megan Fox in a purple coat, um - heeled hiking boots that look ridiculously fabulous, a sweet lacey frock with a sharp shoulder, and a man with an umbrella.

Pics from StillinBerlin; Chictopia; Stylesightings; Streetstyle London; Lookbook.nu; JustJared

YouAreBeautiful.

You know how sometimes the most random, unexpected things can startle, amuse, annoy or perhaps even spread a smile across your face?  Check out these installations by a group called YouAreBeautiful. If you came across that in a tram stop after a shitty day at work, surely the world would suddenly become a whole lot brighter? Aw!

pics from You-Are-Beautiful.com

Spotted at insideout

Marie Claire's Cover Isn't Perfect

Seriously, we are a big ol' bunch of whingers aren't we? One thing I've learnt in running my own business is that you can't please all the people all the time, though of course you can give it a darned good try. It seems Marie Claire editor Jackie Frank is copping both high praise and a heck of alot of flak for publishing an 'untouched' nude pic of Jennifer Hawkins on the front cover of the Feb issue, out Jan 6th.  

It's simultaneously a "PR stunt", "positive step forward", "unfair example"....and everybody has an opinion. Do you look at the picture of Ms Hawkins and feel a little thrill at noticing some thigh dimples? Or do you think it's an unfair example because she was Miss Universe and therefore, genetically blessed and completely unrelatable?

According to the article, Jennifer works hard to look as great as she does, photoshop or not, by exercising and maintaining a healthy diet. Surely we can all realise that we're not ever really going to look like her, but we can at least try to follow her example of healthy living?

Body image is, of course, an important social issue that needs to be highlighted. Marie Claire have at least brought the issue back into the spotlight once again. We shouldn't be demeaning the article and images because "of course she looks good untouched, she's naturally stunning"; nor should we assume it's a radical development in the way magazines will continue to portray women - publicists and A-List celebs will see to that.

Frank states that the Government needs to "get more serious" about addressing the body image issue, saying it's Proposed National Strategy on Body Image had no impact on the images, and better public health funding for the treatment of eating disorders and obesity is what's really needed. True - but magazines and the media do have an awful lot of power when it comes to the images women see everyday. We are so used to seeing blemish- and wrinkle-free, impossibly thin, toned and tanned bodies that our collective consciousness assumes that is what we are meant to look like. If we begin to see more 'real' women (and heck, they don't even have to be nude) on the pages of our magazines, slowly but surely the tide will begin to turn. It's not up to just the media or just the Government to address the issue - imagine if the government could adequately provide help, advice and treatment for those with eating and body image disorders, which was reinforced by a media who didn't bombard us with ridiculously unnattainable images.

Marie Claire's cover isn't a giant leap forward, but it is a small step. One small step for women...

AW10 Sneak Peek!

To be honest, most of the FrockYou stockroom is full of empty hangers after our mega Christmas sale and huge post-Christmas reductions. This however leaves me a bit tingly - it means tehre is lots of room for the fabulous Autumn/Winter '10 ranges due instore from the end of Jan. I think every season every salesperson/magazine/PR gal pushes the whole 'best season ever' even if it's pretty average (they have to, it's their jobs). But this season is actually, genuinely, truly, one of my favourites. Lots of embellishments, lots of black (yes, Melbourne, I hear your joy) lots of draping, lots of very chic looks that are very easy to wear. Here's a few looks you can expect to see instore very shortly!

Motel Sabine Dress $115

Honey & Beau Precini Coat $229

Blue Juice Lovin LA Stud Tee $49.95

Nude Rosalie Button Shootie $189.95

ediT Cameron Crop Tux $149

Mimosa Showgirl Dress $179.95

Blue Juice Baroque Rock Coat $139.95

Monday Street Style

So all the cool kids in the northern hemisphere are freezing their bollocks off while we're sweltering away in plus-30 degree heat, dreaming of cooler weather and awesome coats. (Ok, maybe we're thoroughly enjoying the sunshine, but still, next season's wardrobe is never far from one's mind, right?)

Sources: StillinBerlin, Stylesightings.com, Lookbook.nu, Streetpeeper,  Streetstylelondon

Deep Breath - New Buys for a New Decade

We might look back on the noughties as a fast paced, consumer-driven, bling-encrusted decade with fond memories and maybe a cultural cringe or two. In theory, that means we can look forward to a decade (what are they called? Teens?) where we learn to slow down, appreciate quality over quantity, and focus on the whole (I'm talking friends and family, community, planet) rather than looking inwards.

With that in mind, I want to borrow that wonderfully understated British WWII slogan and gently suggest we all bare it in mind:

In order to do this, let's borrow some of that noughties spirit and buy a few little things to get us on our way. Good things though; useful things. I promise.

An inspirational notebook to jot down your thoughts. And get this: you could even use a pen to do so! A PEN! Notebook, $24.95; 'Bow' pen $6.95; both from Notemaker.

A book which not only looks pretty, but teaches you how to grow your own vegies and how to cook them. That's right, rants about Coles will soon be (mostly) a thing of the past! Delia's Kitchen Garden, $36.45 from Book Depository.

Some cute fabric to create your very own Sound of Music curtain-dress moment. $12.95 per 1/2m from FunkyFabrix.

Bling doesn't have to disappear altogether - in fact, give it a new lease on life by supporting independent artists who use recycled or reclaimed materials. Brooch, US$34.99 from ecobling at Etsy.

Tread softly on the earth - but make sure it's in a jazz style shoe in organic leather. Dorothy, $219 from tHeHorse.

And float about like a cloud in a supersoft organic cotton tee. $120 by Bassike.

Deep breath.....now, doesn't that feel better already?

Monday Street Style

Welcome to a new section at FrockOff - you know how Mondays can leave you a little blah? Particularly when, like today, it's a public holiday which means you're in full-on holiday mode and thelast thing you want to do is head back to work in the morning? Like how it's a whole 5 days until Friday when you can bust out those awesome new heels? Or how you're staring into your wardrobe wishing the office was an appropriate place for your new sequinned jacket? Or how you just can't find anything in there you like, despite it bulging and heaving and groaning uder it's own weight?

Well here's a snippet of street style to get you inspired - you might even realise that old cardigan you're sick to death of can suddenly be worn in a totally different, and thus new, way. There's also some celebs thrown in for good measure - but only on the street, in their natural habitat.

Think about Mondays as a blank canvas for a whole new week of outfits!

Sources: The Sartorialist, Lookook.nu, JustJared, ImNotObssessed, Face Hunter

Amazing Christmas Lights - Probably Not Seen In A Suburb Near You

Here's a video that, er, the business manager at Aus Post emailed me. Well, they are striking so I guess she didn't have a heck of alot else to do. Anyway, this is a ridiculously fantastic example of OTT Christmas lights (fast forward to about 45 seconds if you want to see it really get going!):


Merry Frocking Christmas!

Featherhead: Handmade feather hair accessories

If you're a regular visitor to our What's New page you may have noticed our latest label, Featherhead. If you're an avid magazine reader/streetstylewatcher/glamvintage kindalady, you'll probably have noticed that these kinds of accessories are HOT right now. And not in a Melbourne Cup kinda way either.

Handmade in Sydney (by a lovely Frock You customer, no less!) each piece is as unique - no two feathers are the same! If you're not game (pardon the pun) for a full-on plume, go for the absolutely gorgeous thin headbands ($39.95 - $49.95) to trial the look. The clips are a massive hit with bridal parties, and you can contact Featherhead through their website for customised pieces. From jewelled tones to full on sequins, they make a blah outfit beautiful. A party piece for yourself would make a fab last minute stocking filler, no?