This Wednesday just gone marked the final day of the Adelaide Corporate Cup.

Please note bum bag. Totes owning.

Don't let the cheery pose fool you.

For reasons still unknown, I signed up again this year, despite my general feelings about running being made strongly in this post from last year. 

I decided to cut myself a break and do the "mini" challenge this year, which was a 2.2km loop around a part of the River Torrens, rather than the marathon-like 4.5kms. I thought maybe this would relieve the tedium and ongoing resentment at losing a lunch hour to forced exercise.

Guess what?

I still hate running.

I really really wish I didn't. It's free, it's "easy", you don't need to go anywhere specific or have special machines. Why can't I be one of these people I read about who use the time to really clear their minds and get all pumped and energised and fit and stuff.

Not me.

As far as I'm concerned, the best bit about running is shopping for active wear (active wear) and new running shoes.

All I'm ever thinking when I'm running is how far I have to go until I can stop. Bits and pieces of me twinge and ache and twang, as I huff along, sucking air and battling stitches, side-eyeing everyone who runs past with ponytails swinging. In their active wear. 

Early this year, I tried to get some sort of evening run event happening as part of a vague New Year's commitment to better health and I was going alright until . . . life got in the way and stopped me from running at my allotted time.

Okay, it was a TV show.

ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, it was "I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here". Look, I'm not proud, it is what it is. And Freddy Flintoff was, quite frankly, hilaire.

Anyway, the results being that I am still not as fit as I'd like to be and with summer looming on the horizon, it's going to become much more of a Situation. After the money wasted on a gym membership earlier this year, I'm not keen to sign up to anything so commitment-heavy so it looks like I may have keep pulling the lairy kicks on.

Time to start shopping.

********************************
This post is sponsored by The Iconic. For more information, please read my PR and Media policy.

The 2015 Adelaide Fashion Festival has wrapped after a stunning assortment of events that have brought incredible colour, movement and life into the city.


Last week, I attended the Ready to Wear lunch and runway shows by Sally Phillips and Liza Emanuele. Unfortunately, I couldn't attend any of Friday's functions due to work and family commitments. On Saturday, I headed into town with Miss L to check out the AFF Designer Market that was set up alongside the runway in Hindmarsh Square, showcasing some of Adelaide's emerging fashion, jewellery and homewares designers.


Now, I need to be real here. I approached a particular designer's stall whose items I had admired on friends and Instagram with a view to buying some earrings. As I browsed with intent, the two people manning the stall did not break their conversation to greet, give eye contact or in any way acknowledge my existence. When their mate behind me got a big old enthusiastic greeting, I decided it was time to bounce, sans purchase. Was it the pram? Not cool enough? Was I taking it too personally? Who knows, but it annoyed me deeply and so they lost a sale.

I wasn't upset for long though, because I headed over to Cheesefest, another awesome festival happening in Adelaide over the weekend, where Miss L and I enjoyed cheese and wine with friends on a joint hens/bucks event. Well, I enjoyed the wine. It's not her thing.


We had such a good time that I completely missed heading to my planned event, the Couture Culture runway. By all accounts, it was amazing. I was super thrilled to wear Greta Kate and Calèche Bridal pieces during the Style Blogger challenge so I was a bit disappointed to miss it!

Yesterday was the final day of the festival and I headed back into town for the Paulo Sebastian runway show.

Oh Em Actual Gee.

I have a Pinterest board called Highly Aspirational Dreamworld Style and I can tell you, each one of these amazing gowns belongs on it. Vintage shapes with contemporary twists; dusted with sparkles, furs and mesh, exquisite embroidery, lace and fine detail. 

AH. MAYZE.

I'll let (quite a few) pictures do the talking . . . sorry if you're on dial-up.

(No really, who is still on dial-up?? You're the one that should be sorry.)


















































I know, right?

Designer Paul Vasileff received a well-deserved standing ovation from the crowd who were thrilled with the collection.

It was a real pleasure to attend such professional, polished events of a high standard; nothing broke-down or budget as can unfortunately sometimes happen in Adelaide. The purpose built runway was spectacular and it was good to see events happening outside of the CBD as well. All of the staff and crew that I interacted with were pleasant and friendly. 

Thanks to Be Young PR and Little Lion Communications for the media accreditation and doing an amazing job on the PR side.

I was tremendously excited to receive media accreditation for the Adelaide Fashion Festival (#2015AFF) which is happening as we speak right here in, as you might have guessed from the title, Adelaide.



I even went to the trouble of borrowing a proper camera to try and bring a little professionalism into my game. Thanks, Mum!

This year, the festival is being run by the events department of Tourism SA, and with the support of the state government, is set to elevate onto the international stage where it so rightly belongs. October is getting set to rival "Mad March" here in Rads, as the festival is strutting alongside other big events like the Adelaide Film Festival, Cheesefest (YASSSS), the Festival of Architecture and Design and the World Solar Challenge. As a proud South Australian, it's so exciting to see these events and activities in our city and I totally encourage everyone to support everything they can so we can keep that activated, vibrant vibe going!    



With a heap of fabulous events to attend - 18 official ones over the four days, not to mention lead-up activities and media calls - the only trouble was picking the ones I could feasibly get to while still upholding my commitments to actual paid employment and family.

The first event was the sold-out Ready To Wear lunch on Thursday 22 October, featuring an amazing array of young talent, held at Published Arthouse. 












After a shift change and handover at home, I was heading back into town for the Sally Phillips runway show at the Fashion Festival hub in Hindmarsh Square.

Still coming to terms with the camera at this stage but you can see a strong tribal influence as well as plenty of white.







Then it was time for Liza Emanuele. I was lucky enough to wear one of Liza's super pretty dresses as part of the AFF Blogger Style Challenge and now it was the proper model's turn. Who wore it better? (Don't answer that)

Eagle-eyed readers will spot Ms Sonia Styling livestreaming the show on Periscope (on a rose-gold iPhone 6s no less, #goals), Glam Adelaide's Kelly Noble and Adelaide fashion royalty George Gross and Harry Watt in the front row.

Liza's collection featured her signature stripes as well as plenty of pretty florals, lace and the odd sparkle.












Many thanks to Be Young PR and Little Lion for the hook-up. Join me on Monday to see more!