Lately.

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Gen Y Not?

I both loathe and pity this girl.

I refuse to name her for a couple of reasons:
a) I'm sick of the amount of attention her story is getting - people making money from teenage angst (that's you, Channel 9)
b) If she is genuine with wanting to move on with her life, everyone knowing her name and associating her with previous "scandal" is not going to help
c) This entry is not about her

The 7PM Project ran a story tonight about Generation Y that used her story as the spring-board for the following question: is Generation Y obsessed with fame without doing anything to deserve it?

This, on top of recent articles about Generation Y being "infected" with narcissism, made me incensed. Can a whole generation of people truly be encapsulated with one word, one feeling, one identity? And if you can - is it fair?

My answer lies in history.

The term "adolescent" is relatively new. While there are a myriad of different explanations for what it means, one thing that everyone can agree on is that it is a turbulent time, when you are at the whim of your hormones and trying to carve out an identity amidst the pressure of family, friends and sworn enemies. It's a rite of passage where boundaries are tested - a time all must go through to reach the goal of maturity.

One may ask however (I know I sure as hell do), how mature it could possibly be to lump a group of people together as soon as a chosen "representative" gets it wrong? We've all been taught that we should never generalise - it's wrong to assume that all black men have large penises, that women aren't capable of doing the same things as men, that all Muslims are not terrorists... yet as soon as a naive and shortsighted teenage girl plays with power and flirts with fame and victimises an entire football (none of which I endorse, in case you're wondering), the integrity of ALL Gen Y is questioned?

When the Baby Boomers started their waves of change in the 1960s and 1970s, they were branded troublemakers and shit-stirrers by older generations - those that had achieved "maturity". Yet the legacy that they have left - equal rights for women, the dismantling of the White Australia Policy and the formation of normative frameworks that would condemn discrimination and embrace difference and diversity - is one that we have all appreciated and should never be underestimated. Amidst the moral panic they produced amongst their elders, the Baby Boomers proved themselves to be revolutionaries achieving feats we are still celebrating.

I guess I'm trying to say is that before you condemn us to being stupid or apathetic, please remember that those that had been accused of the same (or worse) were still able to produce something inspiring and core-shaking.

We are the generation who (similarly to the Baby Boomers) have witnessed wars that needn't be fought, watched regimes that prey on fear and capitalise on hate develop without a finger lifted by leaders that have the power to save millions of lives and do nothing. We are the generation who said "no" to the shortsightedness of the representatives that approved such idleness. We are the generation that have planted the seed for change, have seen Australia's first female Prime Minister take office and helped a black president write a new chapter in history books.

We are not the disengaged youth that buy into every flashy fad that YOU sell to us. We are not our mistakes, nor should our mistakes decide what you think we are.

I leave you with a request from Pulp that has been granted to those before us but is one that we need to yell and demand instead of suggest. It should represent not only the thoughts of Generation Y but the generations of rebellious youth to come.

We don't want no trouble, we just want the right to be different. That is all.

We are rebels. We are rebels with a cause. Many causes. The first may be to piss you off. The rest? You just have to wait and see.

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Must have!

...but of course it's sold out in my size.

From ModCloth.

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Love-all.

I seem to get more and more distracted by what tennis players wear on court the older I get. I don't know if it's because I'm not nearly as obsessed with tennis as I used to be or because players' ostentatious outfits seem to be part of the competition as well.

The Williams Sisters always come to mind. Though Serena is injured for this year's Australian Open, Venus seems to be doing well at raising enough eyebrows for the both of them...

Though considerably more modest, Maria Sharapova proudly modelled the dress she was to wear for this year's tournament. It's not as bad as others I've seen her wear (she has creative input in them all) but I've still yet to see one I've liked. Werd.

I'm always less (pointlessly) offended when I watch Wimbledon. Probably because the rule is that you must wear white, like the days of old. This from Roger Federer's appearance is of my favourite tennis outfit...ever.

I want me a cardigan like that.

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Dear Hollywood...

When you've hired someone to host an awards ceremony who has built his career by writing comedy that makes people cringe, what more do you expect?

It's ok Ricky, I still love you.

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Welcome, Zara!

2011 promises to be an exciting year not just for myself personally. Melbourne's shopping pull will be more enticing with a Zara store to open on Bourke Street Mall later this year. Naturally, I decided to hold off from my abstinence from the Zara website for, uh, research's sake to whet my appetite.

Starting with my Zara favourites (looked at their sale section only - had to keep my head in check!).

Straight Coat.

Double Breasted Tailored Jacket with Leather Applique.

Boat Neck Dress with Pockets.

Tulip-skirt Dress.

Pleated Twill Trousers.

Sweater with Epaulets and a chest pocket.

Two-tone Shoulder Bag.

...I could (and will) be here all day.

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Favourites #5

ASOS Madge Loafers.

I've been wearing these on days I haven't been working (which in the past month has not been very often). I was unsure of these at first - they looked big and bulky on my feet - but after wearing them a few times, I've fallen in love. I could (and have) walk in these all day.

BeneFit Eye Bright pencil.

Starting a new job has stressed me out a bit, so much so that I've lost quite a bit of sleep. On days when my dark circles are looking particularly nasty, BeneFit saves the day with this baby! I use my normal liquid under eye concealer to blend it in and the pink cancels out the blue from under my eyes so that a bad night's sleep isn't literally all over my face. As I work in bright store lighting, this has been a lifesaver!

BeneFit High Brow pencil.

I've always liked the idea of using white pencils to add a matte highlight to areas like the brow bone, cupid's bow, the corners of the inner eye and to brighten up the waterline. When I see people sue white pencils, however, I find them really distracting. They look really unofficial as no one really has pure white pigment in their skin. I've been using this pencil instead of a white pencil for all those things. The linen-pink colour would be great for a lot of skin tones but doesn't look as artificial as white. Blends really well and is great for finishing off smokey eye looks or for everyday!

EOS Smooth Sphere Lip Balm in Sweet Mint.

I got this on eBay as EOS is not available in Australia as I was intrigued by recommendations from various YouTube gurus. I freaking love this. I got the Smooth Mint flavour as I wasn't particularly enthused by the sound of the other flavours - I'm not really into any flavours other than vanilla. The mint however is really cooling and the balm goes on really smooth. It's been great as the air conditioning in the store I work in has really dried my lips out and made them feel swollen and this has addressed both problems I didn't realise I had when I purchased it. 

E.L.F Studio Blush in Candid Coral.

I also bought this on eBay as I've been dying to try this blush for months! I have not been disappointed so far! The colour is beautiful and (according to some of the comparisons I've seen) a good dupe for NARS' Orgasm. It has a shimmery finish but it does not last long. The pigment does, however, and to be honest that's all I care about. 

I might also add that pretty much all of my purchases from my recent Nonpareil Boutique Haul are also on this list. They all last all day and are beautiful. 

BDG Hi-Rise Cigarette Jean in Navy.

I've been wearing these heaps over the past few weeks, so much so that when I pulled on my hipster skinnies over the weekend they seemed to sit criminally low. These are so stretchy and comfortable and I am getting more in other colours. I am ordering another pair as we speak!

Stephen Fry.

The coolest nerd on the planet. That is all.