Pretty Pretty Pretty is obviously a beauty blog, but it’s also a site on which we can write about the awesome women who inspire us, and our friends who are doing great work. One such family who exemplify all that we find fascinating are the ladies behind Durvillea Wines.
You might have met Meg at one of our Pretty Pretty Parties, and tried the Durvillea Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio she so generously brought along for us. I decided it was time to have a chat to her to find out all about her family. Doing that involved drinking more of the sav, which is of course a difficult thing to do on a sunny afternoon with tasty snacks and good company, but for the sake of you dear reader, I suffered through that horror… » Read more: Pretty pretty people: Meg from Durvillea Wines
I reckon that we’ve all got different ideas about what’s pretty but we also have a lot in common and we all have ideas about what’s nice. How would you all like to play Secret Santa to each other? I’m thinking it would be swell to receive a lovely gift in the mail and to send one out to someone you haven’t met before. The way it would work is that you’d leave a comment here saying you’re committed to playing nicely and to buying something lovely for around $10-$15 for another lovely reader and that you promise to send them the gift before Xmas. In return, your name would be secretly assigned to someone else who would send you something lovely. I love gift-buying and while I’m financially in big doo doo right now, I could still stretch to that amount of money – or make something homemade and charming. Who’s with me? I’ll take names until Dec 1 when I’ll email you all for addresses and assign you someone else to play with. This is only open to NZers, sorry because of postage costs and shipping delays and all that stuff.
Words cannot do justice to the amount of love that I have for Amy Poehler, but if you get your hands on the newest issue of BUST, you will find her on the cover and inside talking about feminism and comedy and babies and tarantulas and you will love love love her too. Also get your hands on her TV show Parks and Recreation. Season two is my favourite thing in the world right now. Oh, and it looks like I’m not alone in my love for all things Amy…
The cosmetics website, Gracie Lou, caused quite a stir here at PPP when it started selling super pretty make-up like this at amazing prices. Turns out the mastermind behind Gracie Lou is a local lass with a love for pretty things. Here’s what I asked Debbie…
1. What made you open you shop?
I have always loved nice skincare and cosmetics and after finishing work to have my family, I dabbled in importing skincare and cosmetics for my own use and sold the remainder to friends. Numerous friends, family and my gorgeous husband made the suggestion to set up a business and extend my ‘hobby’. Gracie Lou was born…..Grace is my 2 year old daughters middle name and Louie is my 1 year old son’s name. Gracie Lou has been in business since May this year and my on-line shop is growing month on month.
2. How do you decide what to stock?
Initially I found suppliers that had my favourite products and stocked them first and foremost! My stock list has been (and will continue to) evolve as my customers make requests for certain brands and products. Price is also a consideration as my business is all about providing great skincare, cosmetics and fragrance at fabulous prices. It is important to me to have well known brands and I focus on key lines – ie: Clinique 3 Step System.`
3. What are your best sellers?
My best sellers are Trilogy skincare and Bare Escentuals foundations and kits. My fragrance specials are also proving very popular. I am delighted to have Trilogy skincare on board – it is a company set up by 2 Wellington sisters who I have had the pleasure to have worked with in the past. If you haven’t tried Trilogy yet, you really must!
4. What do you do or wear to make yourself feel good?
A good glass of wine is a very good start! I am a huge fan of napping in the sun or relaxing with a good trashy chick lit book. Other times, nice clothes, makeup and fragrance, good friends and good food and wine can be just the tonic. And always, the smile on my children’s face when I walk in the room, what can be better than that?
5. How would you define ‘pretty’?
Pretty to me conjures up numerous thoughts and meanings…..pretty can be floral, girly, flirty, fun and feminine…I immediately think of summer, sun, warmth, dresses, flowers, skincare, cosmetics and fragrance….that must be Gracie Lou…..pretty..pretty..pretty..
You can join Gracie Lou’s mailing list or ask Debbie if she can source your favourite brands by visiting the website. Check out the super specials too!
Just a reminder that we have another Pretty Pretty Pretty party coming up, at my house at 3pm on Saturday October 17 (add yourself to it on Facebook here). We hope you’re cleaning out your closet in anticipation, because a big part of that party, as well as of course sharing and enjoying sugary & boozey treats and favourite products, is the clothing swap. Because there were so many girls last time, it got pretty chaotic, so here are a couple of guidelines to make things run a little smoother.
Clothes will be sorted in Small, Medium, Large and Plus piles. There will be girls in your size coming along. Check out photos from last time if you want more evidence of the range of PPP readers.
There will also be a Special Good pile, in which you can put any designer items or clothes you’re really attached to, that we can all go through together instead of having a big free-for-all on, because I know last time some girls got into the clothes before anyone else had a chance, and people didn’t see who ended up loving the things that they’d previously loved before. The first time we had a clothing swap we went through all the clothes together and it was really lovely. I’m thinking there may be too many people and too many clothes to do that for all items, but if something has been really precious to you, then you deserve to see where it ends up, yes? Yes.
All leftover clothes that aren’t claimed will be donated to charity.
Bring accessories and beauty products that you don’t want anymore as well, and we’ll find them a good home.
Any questions? Comments? Testimonials from people who’ve come before as to how much fun it is and what awesome stuff you’ll end up with? I’d also just like to state again that I have met some lovely awesome new friends through the PPP parties, and I think you will too!
Thanks to the lovely Thigh Voltage, we have a double pass to give away to Civil Offence Roller Derby which is happening this Saturday from 6pm at the TSB Arena. We’ll draw it Friday morning so that in case you don’t win, you’ll still have plenty of time to get your tickets before the event.
In order to win, just leave us a comment telling us what you’ll wear to the event. You’ve seen our suggestions, now we wanna see yours! Leopardskin for Smash Malice? Or pink & red for Brutal Pageant?
I’ve written before about how much I love the doodles in Frankie mag, and also how much I love the people who post to the Fatshionista Livejournal communtiy. So imagine my joy when I found someone who combined the two, and who has a lot of things to say – and owns the dress of my dreams. Meet Natalie, and please feel free to buy me some of her prints!
1. Can you tell us about how you became a freelance designer? And what does your average day consist of?
I had been an in-house graphic designer for a couple of years, and a number of things (including stress and work related RSI) brought me to the conclusion that I’d probably be happier having a break and doing my own thing. I’m very lucky to have a supportive husband who thinks I’m incredible, and he’s been so awesome and understanding! I started out doing very typical graphic design for print, but this year I decided that I’d like to fully integrate my own illustrative style with graphic design. It was a pretty risky decision, because it’s easy to get work doing business cards and annual reports, but it just wasn’t fulfilling anything in me. Now I get to do lettering and doodly layout work for magazines, films and websites!
2. Where do you find your inspirations?
I’m very inspired by things I remember from my childhood, like my Nana’s furniture, frames, and art. I also love fashion and typography, and like to interpret things through my own hand. I also find myself very stimulated by academic things like feminism, physics and biology.
3. You have another blog, the Axis of Fat. Can you give us a beginner’s guide to what Fat Acceptance is?
The Fat Acceptance movement is about challenging people’s conception of fat people as lazy, incompetent and slobby (or any other number of really negative connotations). Societal shaming of fat people (to lose weight, to make themselves invisible) is a horrible and dehumanising thing, and it’s one of the reasons why I am so passionate about Fat Acceptance (or, FA). On an individual level, I like to think of FA as accepting yourself as a valid human being with the same human rights as other people, because so many fat people intuitively negate and deny themselves just because they are “bad” (according to society, the government and the media) and that often leads to problems that extend well beyond the “issue” of fatness (because mental health is health too!)
Many people accuse me of being “pro fat” when that is completely incorrect. I’m actually pro-human being, whatever one’s natural body shape. I don’t believe a fat woman should be shamed, nor do I believe a slim woman should be shamed. Bodies will find their own natural weight – there are many fat people who exercise regularly and eat healthfully, just as there are many slim people who do not exercise regularly or eat healthfully. I believe all human beings should exercise their self awareness and listen to their bodies!
4. What do you wear/do to make yourself feel good?
I love to dress up, and I have worn any number of ridiculous outfits to social engagements! This is part of my whole “fancy lady” ethos. I have observed that society wants to make fat people invisible, and when I become “fancy” I become incredibly visible! Clothes, shoes, hair, makeup and accessories all form part of my dressing up, and I honestly can’t say I’ve ever received flack for it. For me, it’s empowering and fun to be ridiculous!
5. How would you define pretty?
I think prettiness is about integrity, self awareness and self expression, and it doesn’t have to be an obvious thing. Some people have a slow, bubbling prettiness and their shyness or introversion add to their beauty. Other people have a massive, ball-busting aura of fabulosity, and it’s just as attractive!
I first came across Cupcakes & Mace when I saw the most amazing necklace ever that one fatshionista had commissioned from her. “Fatty” with the hole in the ‘A’ being a cupcake? Oh hell yes! And then I got into reading Kim’s site. I am inspired by her ‘101 things in 1001 days‘ page, I adore her dress sense, and I am lusting for many things in her etsy store. So obviously, we needed to ask her some questions.
1. How did you get your start making jewelery?
I love accesorising but I always have trouble finding things I love. A necklace might be perfect, except for the colour. Great earrings, except for the size. Gorgeous bracelet, except for the price. So I started ordering in some supplies of my own. A month or so later we had the good fortune to get our hands on a laser cutter and my wildest dreams came true! Haha. Now we can offer custom jewellery to everyone and I can design things exactly as I like them.
2. Give us some advice about quitting your day job to make the leap into doing something you love full time.
There is no perfect way to do it, don’t wait until everything is just so to get started on your business, you can learn as you go (just make sure to keep track of your expenses and income from day one). The sooner you get started the sooner you can get noticed.
Make sure you have a safety net or a supportive partner that earns enough to pay the bills (or both) if you decide to quit your day job in the early stages. Do something you love because it will become your life!
3. What kind of person buys the word ‘Fuck’ to hang around their neck and what are your constant best sellers? This necklace is one of my favourites, I always get compliments when I wear it. The ‘fuck’ necklace wearer is the type of person that doesn’t take life or themselves too seriously, and they like to provoke a response. It’s written in a very pretty font, the contrast suggests that you need to look beyond the surface to see what’s really there.
Nameplates are the number one best seller. Our customers love to be able to customise every part of it. (It’s true, I’ve just ordered a ‘Hubris’ necklace – Jo) They can do this with all of our necklaces, but the nameplates make it easy. Other best sellers are cupcakes and unicorns.
4. What do you wear/do to make yourself feel good? I love to be comfortable and I love the way sneakers looks with dresses. I wear a lot of dresses and skirts with leggings and pair them with either brightly coloured sneakers or chucks.
If I want to pamper myself I always do it with food. I LOVE food, especially sushi, and cupcakes, and candy, and cookies, and gravy on fries, and cheese…
5. How would you define pretty?
I’m an absolute sucker for bright pink and eggshell blue. Pretty is swirly frosting, tulle petticoats, glitter in your hair, ribbons everywhere, fluffy duvets, pink lipstick, tattooed princesses, and pierced fairies.
This site is about the things that we like that make us look good, smell good and feel good. We will never tell you what you have to wear, or try to make you feel bad about yourself or inadequate. We have no problems buying supermarket-level products, but do have a preference for brands that have ethical considerations.
Pretty Pretty Pretty is obviously a beauty blog, but it’s also a site on which we can write about the awesome women who inspire us, and our friends who are doing great work. One such family who exemplify all that we find fascinating are the ladies behind Durvillea Wines.
The cosmetics website, Gracie Lou,
Thanks to the lovely 
I first came across 
