Men in hats

</figure>

Who's saying what

I have found Hat Utopia! Having my first hat trimmed and cant wait to pick it up. Im scared I might become the Imelda Marcos of hats... but so what!

<footer>Flash</footer>

If you're going to the spring racing carnival gents you will most definitely need a hat. If you live in Australia and you plan on going outdoors at all between now and next winter you need a hat.

Michael Albert runs SMART Alec in Melbourne's Fitzroy mens hublot elegant power reserve replica watches and stocks everything from panamas to trilbys bowlers top hats replica zenith watch derby audemars piguet watch boaters & flat caps. Many of these are starring in this year's fashions on the fields in the dapper gents' section at Flemington.

The man has been retailing for 25 years so he knows a thing or two about how to fit you right. There's no "I'm not a hat person" in Albert's shop.  If you're getting married he'll sort you out. If you're punting your girl on the river he's got you covered. If you're sending your first born son down a coal mine he's got the flat cap for the job.

For interstate lads just measure around your noggin send Albert the details and he'll post you a perfect hat.

Straw boaters $40
Coloured boaters $50
Other hats between $20 to $300

SMART Alec 71 Smith Street in Fitzroy 03 9416 4664.

Its fashion war for Lily, Pixie and Florence

blancpain leman watches Pixie and Florence" src="http://secretsales.com/_images/blog/big/Pixie+Lott_1642_19605947_0_0_7048013_300.jpg" style="padding: 10px; margin-right: 5px;" />

Here at Secret Sales HQ we love nothing more than hearing a good piece of juicy gossip … especially when celebrities are getting their claws out.

Rumour has it that at next weeks Brit Awards certain British songstresses arent just going to be battling it out for music accolades because there is something much more worthwhile at stake.

You guessed it replica movado eliro fashionistas a clothing war has been launched.

Gossip lovers over at the Metro have reported that Lily Allen wyler geneve replica Pixie Lott and Florence Welch of the fabulous Florence and the Machine are all set to battle it out in the fashion stakes next Tuesday (February 16th).

Event spies say that the three British beauties have got their style teams on code red alert to find the perfect outfit for the highly-coveted awards ceremony.

The drama has allegedly unfolded following reports that Vogue is set to cover the 30th anniversary of the show for a special edition rock chick feature.

A backstage source told the Metro: "The fact Vogue is going to be backstage has upped the ante to an almost hysterical degree. These girls are competitive as artists but off the scale when it comes to their style."

But it would appear that the quirky Pixie Lott has decided to snub the designer clothing world and follow in the footsteps of celebrity fashionistas such as Kate Moss by designing her own dress.

The singer told the Sun that she is going to try her hand at creating her own show-stopping number but if all else fails she will have a trusty designer dress on hand.

Who do you think will win the battle?

Download the new Underbelly for free

</figure> Can it be true? A commercial network actually embracing the internet? For real?

Apparently it is with Channel 9 letting viewers not only download free episodes of the second series to last year's hit show Underbelly but also letting viewers distribute it online through file sharing portals like Bittorrent. If you don't believe me check out the text from NineMSN's CatchUp TV section:

" You can also copy and share each episode or even distribute the files via file-sharing applications such as Bit Torrent. Each file is available from the date the episode was broadcast on TV and remains active until the end of the series."

But don't confuse this approach from Channel 9 as a lovey-dovey open to everyone decision - to watch the show online for free you'll need to download their Hiro video player from NineMSN audemars piguet jules audemars watch and each episode is only available from when it airs until the end of the season.

At this stage we're unsure as to whether they'll stop letting you download the show at the end of the season or if the files are programmed to stop playing back harry winston watch but I guess we'll all find that out soon enough. And fans outside Australia - you'll need to look elsewhere - this is only available to people in Australia.

Alternatively replica audemars piguet royal oak watches of course the show is also available to download on iTunes for the usual $2.99 an episode or $32.99 for the full season.

This is a pretty big change from last year's story where the show was being pirated left right and centre. Here's hoping more TV shows head online...

- As posted by Nick Broughall for Gizmodo

Springtime can kill fashion

</figure> So apparently it’s spring. Not that you’d know it what with the rain and the cold and the grey. But the Firefighters Australia 2011 calendar on my kitchen wall tells me it’s spring so I’m forced to believe it is. Who am I to argue with hot shirtless emergency services workers? 

The (alleged) arrival of the warmer seasons means several things in fashion and beauty terms: layers will be shed flesh will be bared and Sydney will basically become a giant spray tan salon. Swimming costumes will be pulled out of mothballs and looked upon with a mixture of excitement and dread replica glashutte watches replica roger dubuis golden square watch and Havaianas will become our national footwear once more. 

For many springtime also means racing season. Now personally I am not one of those people. Of course I like frocking up and getting plastered as much as the next girl but I can do that at home. Standing around in uncomfortable shoes and weird headpieces watching horses run for their lives is just not my idea of a good time. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. 

I did go to the races once. I got really drunk complained a lot replica panerai luminor marina and then shouted at a poor defenceless bartender for implying I’d had enough champagne. Don’t you wish I was your girlfriend/bestie/daughter/crazy aunt? 

So having learned my lesson I now I stay well clear of the horse track instead spending my spring days eating Frosty Fruits by the pool and wishing Andy Samberg was my boyfriend.  

But for those of you who do enjoy a flutter in a fascinator please promise me a few things:

Promise me that you’ll strive for chic originality over trashy commonality. Experiment with sharp tailoring and bold accessories; wear a cute visor or pork pie instead of a fascinator; have a few glasses of champagne rather than a few bottles. Because if there’s one thing I dislike about the races it’s that every woman seems to look exactly the same. It’s like they all have a races day checklist that reads:

- Empire line/baby doll/satin dress 
- OTT head gear
- Uncomfortable shoes that are impossible to walk in (especially after 3 bottles of champers and a six pack of Bacardi Breezers)
- Too much make up

All of these things have their own times and places to shine (except perhaps the excessive face paint) but when all thrown together the result is generally a disaster. Exhibit A:
 
Promise me that your choice of headwear will not involve dead animals or sharp pointy things. Fascinators are difficult to pull off but when done well they can be incredible. I have never myself had the chutzpah to wear one but if I ever do you can bet your sweet patootie it will be an amalgam of the two greatest headpieces ever worn. Aretha Franklin’s inauguration hat:

Princess Beatrice’s royal wedding hat:

Imagine a mix of those two! It would be the most amazing hat in the history of hats. People would worship it as the second coming of whichever deity they are eagerly awaiting and I would be their sacred god-crown wearing Queen. 
 
And finally promise me that you will drink responsibly and keep your inner Lohan in your inner rehab clinic where she belongs. Do you need to see Exhibit A again? Ok here it is:

And just in case you’re not convinced take a gander at Exhibit B:

What to wear to Splendour

</figure>

Who's saying what

Mel... that list was supposed to be non-gender specific yet you included a bikini and mini-skirt... is that how you think of me? Also can I come with to Bestival?

<footer>Kinna</footer>

Hi! Are you off to Splendour in the Grass at Byron Bay this weekend? Most of TheVine is. I can't make it I have to wash my yacht.

If you are heading there I'd like to share some of festival clothing tips with you. What is this list based on? Mine and others' experiences at Falls Festival Offshore the Big Chill Big Days Out and what I'm packing for Bestival in September.

I won't go into the whole camping gear guff. I'm assuming you have delegated all that to someone else hublot replica watches swiss legend diamonds watches hence you're ready about festival clothes as a priority.

Locals tell me that Byron Bay hates tourists. It is something to do with the mountain gods ebel sport classic replica not the people. The people are happy to see you - you buy their pies grass and souvenirs injecting much cash into the local economy. So the skies will most likely open up on you at some point probably when you are lolling about in a bikini and mini skirt. So this list has a lot to do with preparing for diverse weather scenarios.

In brief here is a non gender-specific list of what to take with you:
Loads of underpants
Slashed light denim jeans for cool but dry weather
Many T-shirts
Fingerless gloves so you can stay warm and still eat felafel
A light scarf for day-time draping and night-time wrapping
A variety of footwear like boots thongs non-white sneakers
Additional long pants like floppy jersey or waxed black denim for muddy times and when your first pair get wet
Hoodies and jumpers for the afternoons
A warm jacket for the night. It gets cold
A raincoat. An actually waterproof raincoat that works
Gumboots Hunters if you can get them
Bikini mini skirt cut-off jeans in case the sun comes out
A fun dress because it is a PARTY silly
Something fun to wear on your head so that my photographer will notice you
An actual functional sun hat if you don't want skin cancer

I hope this helps your packing. Do consider the fact that your clothes may get destroyed. Note there will also be T-shirts and polar fleeces on sale if you forget to bring these.

Picture: Glade Festival UK 2007