FFF Guide to Life: Gail Elliott, Little Joe Woman

Back in the 80s and 90s when models really were Super, Gail Elliott was one of our absolute favourites. Known for her dancer’s walk, Gail shared catwalks and covers with contemporaries and friends like Cindy Crawford and Yasmin Le Bon. In 2002, Gail launched her equally super label, Little Joe Woman, re-establishing herself in Sydney. Like its designer the label is chic, relaxed, luxurious and effortlessly stylish.

Want a slice of the Super-life? Be inspired and read on as Gail serves up her FFF Guide to Life. 

Shop: Dean & Deluca, New York. This magnificent gourmet food store on West Broadway and the corner of Prince Street in Soho has just about every ingredient you could ever need and after 34 years in business has earned a reputation as an icon of New York culture and lifestyle. They carry everything from caviar and foie gras to candy and confectionary and to shop here is such a wonderful shopping experience.

Eat: Indochine, New York. I attended the opening party of this restaurant and they recently celebrated their 25th Anniversary. This timeless classic New York restaurant has gone from trendsetting pioneer in the mid 1980s, to established scene maker of the 1990s, to the iconic status it is today. Opened originally by Brian McNally and now owned by Jean-Marc Houmard, it will always be one of my most favourite restaurants in the world.

Shop: Strand Books, New York. I’ve been collecting black & white photography books for years and one of my favourite book stores is in downtown Manhattan. I’ve spent hours in this store and absolutely love coming across their rare and out-of-print treasures.

Stay: I recently visited Broome in Western Australia for the first time and found it to be absolutely spectacular. The beaches are flat and wide and one can drive a four wheel drive car along them endlessly for miles, and to swim in the Indian Ocean was an absolute dream. We stayed at the Cable Beach Hotel which is very simple and relaxed. We’re trying to plot our next trip back and we only just returned home recently!

Book: Maison by Christian Liagre. I love Christian Liagre’s luxurious dark-wood minimalistic furniture and his use of a masculine palette of grey’s, creams and browns and the way he incorporates these into modern but comfortable living. Whether designing a fisherman’s cottage or an industrial heritage building in downtown Manhattan, his work is individual and distinctive and most of all, such a pleasure to be able to experience.

Shop: I love to shop at any of our Little Joe Woman boutiques across Australia — every time I go into one it feels as though I’m walking into my very own walk-in wardrobe because I’d wear every piece from our own collections as well as from all my other favourite brands we carry like Winter Kate by Nicole Richie, the softest t-shirts from Fluxus Los Angeles, Citizen of Humanity jeans, House of Harlow jewellery, Love
Chloe perfume by Chloe, and so much more.

Building: I love the Chrysler Building in New York. Having lived in New York City for over 24 years this 1930s Art Deco skyscraper has become one of the city’s most admired buildings… I find it so regal and elegant.

Gallery: The Butterfly Conservatory at the American Museum of Natural History on Central Park West in New York City. It’s always such a treat to walk through Central Park and end up at the conservatory filled with delicate, perfectly formed butterflies in an array of beautiful colours. I could spend hours there.

Shop: The Autore jewellery store on King Street in Sydney is one of my favourite stores. They are known for using the finest South Sea pearls and precious gems to create contemporary, highly detailed and unique pieces. Their attention to detail is incredible and they truly create the most amazing pieces.

Stay: Qualia Resort, Hamilton Island. This is a place where Joe Coffey, my husband and business partner, and I visit often and love. We also do a Little Joe Woman fashion show at Audi Race Week in August which is a very exciting time of year for us. Qualia is a very special place. Very exclusive, yes, but not at all pretentious.

For more information on Gail Elliott visit www.LittleJoeNY.com

FFF Guide to Life: Louise Bell, Table Tonic

Part of FFF’s daily routine is to check in with Louise Bell via her Table Tonic blog to see what’s what in the interior world, amongst other things. Louise also runs a fabulous online store, filled with exotic and eclectic pieces from around the world. With her great eye for style and witty outlook on life, we asked Louise for her top FFF tips. Enjoy Louise’s tonic for the good life!

READ: Take Control of Your Health and Escape the Sickness Industry by Elaine Hollingsworth. I discovered this book through Miranda Kerr’s Kora blog and started making lifestyle changes the next day. It’s the greatest weapon in improving your health, naturally – but a shocking and eye-opening read.

STAY: at Crabapple Cottage in Leura. We rented out this cozy three bedroom house in The Blue Mountains a few weeks ago. It ticked all the boxes (central heating, beautifully decoarted, well equipped kitchen) and was only a hop, skip and jump from the always-good-for-a-stroll Leura Mall.

DINE: at Leura Garage (82 Railway Parade, Leura). A new-ish wine/tapas bar which appears to be straight out of Sydney’s hippest suburbs. Outstanding Tapas and the Chocolate Calzone for desert should be mandatory.

VISIT: Bali and cycle down the side of a volcano. It’s one of the best daytrips I’ve ever done — they drive you to the peak and you cycle your way down over the course of a few hours. The scenery is breathtaking.

VISIT: Sydney’s Northern Beaches — laidback, unspoiled and guaranteed to stir up your sweetest summer memories. Girls wear Bassike, boys wear wetsuits and a giant chicken sandwich at The Healthy Chef in Avalon is always on the menu.

STAY: at The Four Seasons at Kuda Huraa (Maldives). It’s the ultimate tropical destination, and lives up to its picture-perfect-postcard reputation in every way. We were lucky enough to spend our Honeymoon at The Four Seasons.

USE: Dr Hauschka, Sukin, Burt’s Bees, Aesop – anything organic and without chemical “nasties”. Your skin is the biggest organ – it’s time to start reading labels!

SHOP: at Bassike.

GIVE: to The Starlight Children’s Foundation, who brighten the lives of seriously ill children, and their families, throughout Australia.

HOLIDAY: in New York. If you have yet to experience “The Big Apple”,  make it your next holiday destination. The sights, sounds, food and people (and shopping) will excite and amaze you! It has an energy unlike any other city.

SHOP: at Cartier. I simply cannot stop thinking about their yellow gold Love Bracelet.

READ: Magazines, magazines, magazines! Vogue Living, House and Garden, Real Living, Inside Out, House Beautiful (USA), Elle Décor (USA). I also really love Aussie InStyle.

For more information on Louise vist her blog and shop online at tabletonic.com.au

FFF Guide to Life: Stefano Canturi

For the discerning FFF seeking a diamond life, we asked jewellery designer Stefano Canturi to share his top tips for making every day a sparkling one…

1. READ art decorative design books, they display an artistic style, which had its origins in Paris in the early 20^th century, and has always been a passion and source of inspiration for me. Next time you’re in New York visit the Empire State Building, one of the largest examples of art deocorative architectural design in the world.
2. STAY at Hotel Costes in Paris, a den of opulence and a great source of inspiration for my new scent, Canturi eau de parfum.
3. VISIT The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, one of the world’s largest art galleries on the edge of Central Park. I always make time to visit when I’m in NY and its close to my New York jewelry salon.
4. VISIT Sydney, glistening and driven, it’s where I call home. I love to take my kids to Centennial Park to cycle or feed the ducks.
5. STAY at The Palazzo, Las Vegas. When I visit my salon in The Shoppes at The Palazzo, I like to sleep here. It has the largest suites on the strip (720 square feet to be exact!)
6. DINE at Icebergs, Bondi Beach for formal lunch when the heavenly view can be best appreciated.
7. USE Aesop cosmetics, an Australian innovation.
8. SHOP at Hermes.
9. GIVE to New Yorkers for Children Charity.
10. HOLIDAY at Bilgola, Northern Beaches Sydney. The perfect place to spend your end-of-year summer holidays with friends and family (shh… it really is a secret place!).
11. SHOP at Prada.
12. READ Fashion for Jewels: 100 years of Styles and Icons by the jewellery editor of British Vogue, showcasing classic jewellers as well as today’s cutting edge designers.

For more information on Canturi visit www.canturi.com