Celebrating Spam. The Sunday Mail Twitter List.

I know as I write this article, that I’ll be attacked for it, but it just has to be done. Someone has to make the point about quality vs quantity.

If you’ve missed all the recent debate on Twitter, here’s the brief run down.

On Sunday March 18th, Adelaide’s Sunday Mail published a list of Adelaide’s top 100 Tweeters. When they say top 100, they don’t mean most followed, most interesting, most influential or anything else worth noting. They mean the 100 people in Adelaide who have tweeted the most.

This is the equivalent of giving a pat on the back to the person out there with the highest phone bill. Does it mean they’re successful? Popular? Interesting? Probably not. It just means they spend a significant amount of time on their chosen vice.

Now don’t get me wrong. Some of the people on that list are interesting, successful, popular AND avid tweeters. But a lot of them aren’t.

Most of these people put out so many tweets, the rest of us out there consider their feeds to be spam.

When I dared mention the ‘S’ word in relation to this list on Twitter, I was shot down by someone asking how it could be termed spam if they weren’t selling anything.

By definition Spam is the use of electronic messaging systems (including most broadcast media & digital delivery systems including Twitter) to send unsolicited bulk messages indiscriminately.

I don’t know about you, but seeing thousands of Bieber tweets in my news feed certainly falls in to that category.

There are also a large number of tweeps from that Top 100 list who spend all day on Twitter just chatting with their friends about every aspect of their lives. While that certainly racks up their number of tweets, the rest of us don’t necessarily need to witness their private conversations being held in a public forum. And I don’t think these people need to be celebrated in a double page spread in the local rag.

Again, I just want to clarify, that people have the right to use their twitter accounts as they wish – tweeting as many times as they want, about whatever subject they want, for whatever purpose. I just don’t think that prolific users should have been put on a pedestal.

Lists are generally interesting, but I really have struggled with this one as it’s pushed these users into mainstream media, and those who aren’t on Twitter and don’t know any better, are led to believe that these are Twitter’s elite.

I would have loved to see a list published which highlighted people who used Twitter well – either personally or professionally – and were actually worth following. Quality, influence and other ‘measures of success’ on Twitter are hard to put a finger on, and people will argue about the methods you use to categorise tweeps, but you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out good from bad.

Which of course, leads me to write up my own list.

While I don’t have the resources or time to put together a top 100 list of Adelaide’s best tweeters – here are some people that are worth following and make it in to MY ‘most notable’ list. This is not meant to be Twitter's best users. This is a subjective list. These are the people I personally think are worth checking out.

Oh, and for the record – yes I’ve included Glam Adelaide & our team and I have no problem with that. This is our list after all.

[UPDATE: No, I do not mean that you have to be interesting, successful and popular to avoid being a spammer]

Adelaide’s 50 Or So Most Notable Tweeters


(If we've forgotten anyone we apologise but we wanted to get this up sooner rather than later. Feel free to comment & let us know who you think should be included on the list!)

Pro-Adelaide, News, Events, Info, Media

@GlamAdelaide
100% Positive, South Australian News - Events, Launches, Lifestyle, Sport, Arts, Fashion & More
8,636 Tweets
4,975 Following
5,874 Followers

@AdelaideTweet
Retweeting the best #Adelaide tweets by hand, day after day
52,695 Tweets
11,162 Following
10,195 Followers

@Matt_Gilbertson
Gossip Bitch for Sunday Mail and sometimes Hotpant wearing and accordion playing German AKA @accordionhans
12,419 Tweets
1,321 Following
2,854 Followers

@TimVerrall
Exec Producer .... Maz, Dan and Shane @nova919 Adelaide My tweets are my own thoughts
9,824 Tweets
1,972 Following
1,229 Followers

@KevCorduroy
Humble public servant dedicated to serving the people. Favorite foods lime and black pepper chips and iced coffee. ABC broadcaster. Journalist.
11,382 Tweets
221 Following
2,468 Followers

@1395FiveAA
FIVEaa - Adelaide 1395 - Interactive Radio
9,021 Tweets
1,838 Following
3,600 Followers

@Nova919
We’re a radio station and we like to live life Nova. The home of Maz, Dan and Shane for breakfast and Meshel, Tim and Marty for the drive home.
7,751 Tweets
2,050 Following
3,630 Followers

@SAFMAdelaide (Similar tweets to Triple M)

The latest blogs from our shows and news from our entertainment team.
5,235 Tweets
4,523 Following
4,984 Followers

@TripleMAdelaide (Similar tweets to SAFM)

Rock out all day and night! We have Adelaide's widest variety of ROCK Music at 104.7FM. #TripleM #RockMusic Don't miss @thehotbreakfast from 6am to 9am.
2,078 Tweets
3,320 Following
3,548 Followers




@AdelaideNow (while they don't engage, it's a good source of news headlines)


Adelaide's leading news source with the latest in news, sport and entertainment from Adelaide, South Australia and the world.
47,664 Tweets
135 Following

8,182 Followers


@Katie_Spain
Writer - The Adelaide* Magazine  & Deluxe Adelaide Mag, digital lass, and glitter pusher
2,804 Tweets
1,038 Following
1,588 Followers


Food & Wine

@PaulWoodSA
My kitchen ruled in 2010. Travel, Design, Food & Wine are my words du jour. I write. I cook. I tweet.
4,836 Tweets
1,055 Following
1,532 Followers

@Grace_Est
Bar with food
1,163 Tweets
1,387 Following
1,330 Followers



@Richard_Gunner
Growing and selling great meat also stocking a range of other products from passionate small producers.
6,870 Tweets
1,816 Following
2,891 Followers

@Vinteloper
Master & Commander at The Vinteloper Urban Winery Project. Normally I'm just a guy making artisan wine from South Australia - David Bowley.
5,016 Tweets
1,786 Following
2,604 Followers

General

@StephenYarwood
The Right Honorable The Lord Mayor of Adelaide - Urban Planner - Futurist - Art/Culture lover - Dad & Husband - Student of life
4,694 Tweets
909 Following
3,589 Followers

@KristySlater
A female who has a passion for all things sport. Aspiring Sports Journalist. A daughter, a sister, a friend, a cousin, a niece. Lover of fine wine and shopping.
27,549 Tweets
457 Following
1,311 Followers

@GenWhaites
Editor of @glamadelaide. Social media nerd. I think I'm hilarious. http://www.glamadelaide.com.au.
1,316 Tweets
477 Following
593 Followers

@KellyNoble
Managing Director of Glam Adelaide, promoting the best of South Australian News. Glam Digital, Social Media Agency & Glam Baby Website.
12,331 Tweets
7,704 Following
7,391 Followers

@GianniBorrelli
21. University student. Writer for @glamadelaide. Intern at @sunmail. Media know it all. Music lover. Slave to the rhythm
5,117 Tweets
639 Following
1,078 Followers

@CaitlinJJohns
Marketing student at Adelaide Uni, proud intern at @glamadelaide & avid lover of cupcakes
4,161 Tweets
133 Following
335 Followers

@The_CheshireKat
23, left-handed, gamer, theatre/film nerd, journalism Masters student, intern at @GlamAdelaide & social media addict. My views are my own.
8,915 Tweets
448 Following
553 Followers

@SteveDavis
Marketing Director, Baker Marketing, Adelaide. Helping small businesses create marketing strategy and implement it, quickly and affordably. Lover of espresso
4,860 Tweets
668 Following
972 Followers

@LuluRan
Passionately working for the South Australian Hotel Industry. My tweets are purely me, myself and I.
9,158 Tweets
1,492 Following
987 Followers

@MalChia
Digital marketer, social media nerd and family guy. Music, movies, sci-fi, NBA, EPL and gaming are my vices.
10,508 Tweets
998 Following
1,619 Followers

@OliYoung
Head of Dev @ WineCru #rails, #aleague, #nba, music, #auspol, tv, #apple, but mostly tomfoolery. Assume sarcasm. +husband +dad
55,582 Tweets
1,631 following
2,631 Followers

@Prakky
Adelaide social media consultant. Public speaker, blogger, trainer. @891Adelaide 4.30pm Fridays. Caretaker of @socadl. Winner year 8 map competition.
47,103 Tweets
4,768 Following
4,562 Followers

@UniofAdelaide
Official Twitter profile of the University of Adelaide. Tweets about what's happening and answering your questions about uni.
5,983 Tweets
654 Following
7,047 Followers

@TynteFlowers
Get Well, Happy Birthday, Miss you, New Baby, thank you... flowers are the best way to show you care!
2,581 Tweets
1,971 Following
1,646 Followers

@Jaimie_Sortino
I Make Pretty Gowns Xjme
9,518 Tweets
345 Following
522 Followers

@LeeHopkins
Business communication and social media consultant based in the glorious Adelaide Hills. IABC Member. Co-founder, Social Media Club Adelaide
16,207 Tweets
7,444 Following
6,940Followers

@TashStoodley
I burn my candle at both ends, It will not last the night. But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends, It gives a lovely light.
14,518 Tweets
862 Following
1,113 Followers

@LeishForeman
Community radio volunteer | Higher ed marketer | Loves: kitties, cake, travel, meeting new people, trying new things and SOCIAL MEDIA | I tweet MY mind.
7,619 Tweets
1,392 Following
601 Followers

@Moirsey
Friend, colleague, enthusiast and connoisseur of frivolity . In the business of PR, Marketing, Comms and passion for living life; it’s not a spectator sport.
3,697 Tweets
466 Following
439 Followers

@HayleyConolly
Communications Consultant at @fullercom. My life in 10 words: Family. Friends. Barbie. Ken. Lego. Robots. Ironing. Smelly Cheese. Wine.
4,838 Tweets
1,735 Following
1,490 Followers

@KatePotter
Adelaide PR consultant, traveller, wine lover, wannabe photographer. I work at @Hughes_PR, and you might occasionally find me pouring tastings @coriole.
3,451 Tweets
544 Following
945 Followers

@SaraheThomas
PR & social media strategist, founder & blogger at @thesocialprco & voracious cook...book collector sarah@thesocialpr.co
3,469 Tweets
2,364 Following
2,521 Followers

@Kamtiger
Op Shop Addict. I blog on @opshopdiva and share PR/social media musings on @leapwords.Dreams of Europe, novel writing and yam basket.
3,384 Tweets
623 Following
701 Followers

@MikaelLiddy
Social Media Comms for @BendigoBank. 1/2 Danish, 1/2 Aussie. Food & wine lover, avid cyclist to compensate. My opinions here, not those of my employer.
6,368 Tweets
667 Following
520 Followers

@JessieMorris
New mum. Social web and food nerd. Enthusiastic snacker. Digital communications consultant with @fullercom.
5,452 Tweets
1,405 Following
1,469 Followers

@_AdrianKH
| Views are my own | #ynwa | #gov2au | #gov2 | #socadl | #sminoz | #wine | #INTP | #socialmedia | #web2 | #socialgov | #socialbiz
21,667 Tweets
2,226 Following
2,032 Followers

@SophieLiddy
Lover of music, fashion, food and all things bubbly. Consumer of Gin. Social Media addict. Owner of Lulu.
3,787 Tweets
1,039 following
801 Followers

@SarahTomlinson
Right on the money and off by a mile, ahead of my time and way out of style.
8,615 Tweets
446 Following
569 Followers

Ex-pats

@Twillyon
Social Strategist at @PPRtweets, @Soc_Syd organiser and serial Foursquare user. These views are my own and not that of my clients or company.
25,166 Tweets
3,512 Following
4,534 Followers

@LeahMcQueen
Photographer. Dreamer. World traveller. Lover of fashion and all the beautiful things in life... A girl inspired by love... I love what I do...
1,032 Tweets
454 Following
460 Followers

@ExportMogul
Head of Business Development @Quirky
392 Tweets
225 Following
139 Followers

@_TaniaDee
Publicist, blogger & freelance fashion writer. Lover of licorice & lipstick. Sometimes speaks with a British accent.
11,448 Tweets
546 Following
1,616 Followers



@DiariesofBella
Fashion-lover, champagne-drinker, cupcake-eater; have appreciation for all things fashion, culture and art. xx
3,645 Tweets
805 Following
447 Followers

Oh, and for the record – the Sunday Mail (@SunMail) hasn’t tweeted since February 18th.

My Adelaide Cup Day - Fashion , Fillies & Fun

Adelaide Cup Day. One of my favourites. And this year was no different.

Back before baby, I usually spent months carefully putting together the elements of my outfit - first the hat, then selecting a dress to match, and finally shoes, handbag and accessories.

These days there is a lot less time to dedicate to the cause, but knowing where to go for each element has put me in good stead for the future.

As I judged the Myer Fashions on the Field this year, I also wanted to showcase local designers wherever possible.

1. The hat/fascinator. Luckily for me, I know a very talented local milliner (Georgie Young) who creates a range of gorgeous, race-appropriate head pieces. Her label Georgie Lou is available at One Rundle, which is where I picked up one of her latest headband creations featuring black, leather flowers. Perfect for an Autumn racing carnival. 

2. The outfit. Although colour blocking was in this year, I chose traditional racewear. Black and white. Liza Emanuele always has fantastic classic pieces which are timeless, and I decided upon a white pleat skirt with black band along the bottom, and a striped halter neck top with ruffles down the front. I also added a black suede Morrison bolero to the outfit to bring the Autumn leathers together. Oh, and black patent stilettos.

3. Hair & make up. Thanks to my trusty GHDs, I have mastered the art of doing my own hair when the salons are shut on a Monday (why oh why do they shut on Adelaide Cup), but I did manage to get my make up professionally done. Aleisha Gannon is a brilliant make up artist and she got me 'race ready'. I'd readily recommend her any day. I chose red Mac lipstick to bring some colour to my black & white outfit.

Once all the preparations were done, it was off to the track to hang out with Rebecca Judd & Kris Smith in the Myer Marquee before judging the Fashions on the Field.

Although there were some bad outfits this year (we even saw butt cheek), the girls who made it through to the top ten were all amazing.

Casey Saint, the Face of the Adelaide Casino Adelaide Cup & I

I took a quick snap (above) of my 'thank you' gift from Myer - a fab gift pack with Marc Jacobs perfume & moisturiser.

After my duties were done for the day, it was off to the Adelaide Casino's Chandelier Lounge (Tapestry Pavillion) for some bubbles, some catching up with friends (including the gorgeous Face of the Adelaide Casino Adelaide Cup, Casey Saint - pictured right) & enjoying the trackside view of the races.  

I had yet another brilliant day at the track and would recommend it to anyone. If you are considering going next year, do try and get a marquee ticket - it's a far more comfortable way of experiencing the races!

See you trackside in a few months for the next installment - Irish Race Day.

Giggling Middle Aged Men

Today I had the unsavoury task of waking up at 4am, as I had to get to the airport bright & early for the redeye to Melbourne.

Although an interesting story might entail what I presented on at the CAMMS Performance Management Summit 2012 at the Hilton on the Park, it's the flight I'll tell you about.

I had the opportunity to make Single Serve Friends (thank Fight Club for that reference). You know, the people you sit next to during the flight, pretend you care about what they have to say, swap cards and then never speak to them again.

Unfortunately my 4am wake up call inhibited any useful conversation I might have attempted on the flight, so instead I chose to soak in all the interesting things going on around me.

More specifically, the couple sitting next to me. Well I thought they were a couple. He cracked ridiculous jokes for the entire flight, followed by nervous giggles (literally after everything he said) and she tried her best to turn that into conversation.

And just for the record, there is nothing great about middle aged men giggling.

I figured this might be their first dirty weekend away together, and the nervousness and awkward laughing was his way of coping.

Turns out I was wrong. They both work for the same company & were on their way to a conference for the day.

Awkward.

I wonder if there will be any office romance after this little jaunt? I hope so. It would have to lessen the tension and make things easier for the next in-flight seat neighbour to cope with.

Pretty Little Stealers

Yes, I took this photo myself.

I love a good photo as much as the next person, particularly when they are for my website or blog, but as I've learnt over the years, you can't just randomly google for a great image and stick it on your site. That's called stealing.

These days I take my own photos, or work with photographers and use theirs. For stories on Glam Adelaide, if those first two options don't work, we are generally supplied images by PR agencies or directly from the person/company (when we're writing about something they've done).

Enter the blog.

Every man and his dog has a blog these days (check this out for proof) and there are some incredible ones out there - but what frustrates me is when people make themselves look fabulous while ripping off someone else's hard work.

Are you allowed to use any photo you find on the web and publish it on your blog?

I was under the impression you couldn't do that, and we drill that message in to our interns at Glam.

But every day, I see example after example of people posting all sorts of great images on their own blog, without credit to the site where it was pinched from, or credit to the photographer.

Is this acceptable now? Have I missed the boat?

Photographers, what do you have to say about this? Am I being old school by only publishing images I know we're allowed to use? Is the internet a free-for-all now? Can we just take whatever we want?

Why do I feel like the only person who is playing by the rules? Are there others out there like me?

At least with the launch of Pinterest, photos are linked back to their website of origin - but again, what happens when the origin is someone's blog rather than the photographer or company that originally commissioned the shot.

Just some food for thought. 

Judging Myer Fashions On The Field

Casey Saint, Face of the Adelaide Casino Adelaide Cup

I'm not sure why I do this to myself. I've agreed to judge the Myer Fashions On The Field, South Australian Preliminary Finals and State Final of the Women’s Racewear competition. This is terrible news. It means I can't enter. It also means I'll be spending the day hanging out with super glamour Rebecca Judd, who is the Myer Ambassador. As someone who had a baby at the same time as me, there is the potential for us to sit there, swap baby photos and talk about nappies, but somehow I don't think that will be happening. Instead I'll be wondering how she managed to lose her baby weight so quickly.

Anyway, focus Kelly. Back to the point of today's blog. The Myer Fashions On The Field.

I'm actually quite excited about this, because in some small way, by judging again I'll be able to help give direction to the women of Adelaide as to what is and isn't acceptable at the races. One of my passions.

As someone who has previously won several Fashions on the Field, I feel somewhat qualified to be dishing out this advice, so here they are. My pearls of wisdom. Please note, these are specifically targeting those wanting to win fashions on the field - or just look fabulous on the day.

Race Day Fashion

1. Wear a hat or fascinator. This is the races. It is expected. It is tradition. It is a great way to accessorise your outfit. If you can afford it, go to a milliner and have something made to match your outfit. If hats scare you, there are lots of great little fascinators which work just as well, and make your outfit into a race day outfit. Without a head piece you may as well be going to a cocktail party. Come on, this is the RACES! Make the most of it.

2. Limit the amount of skin you are showing. This is not the beach. Nor is it a nightclub. Do not show too much cleavage or leg if you actually want to have a shot at winning the Fashions. This is a classy affair ladies. There are plenty of other places to wear your new sexy, figure hugging outfit, so leave it in the wardrobe and find an outfit that specifically works for Race Day fashion.

3. Wear appropriate shoes. The Fashions On The Field are held early in the day. Wear fabulous shoes that match your outfit. Then, if you can't bear to be in those shoes all day (on grass in particular) take a change of shoes for when you're not on the catwalk. DO NOT GO BAREFOOT. Ever. That rule goes for anyone at the races. If you can't wear them all day, either bring a change with you or don't wear them in the first place. There is nothing more unglamorous than girls without shoes on. We want you to look special on the catwalk, but we also value your integrity for the rest of the day.

4. Pay attention to the little details. As a judge we look at everything. It helps us choose between you and your competitor. Make sure your nails are neat and  clean and your nailpolish matches your outfit. Fingers and toes ladies. If your handbag doesn't go with your outfit, get one of your friends to hold it - don't bring it up on stage. Make sure your make up is touched up. Make sure you don't have red wine teeth. Make sure your hair has been looked at since the last time you went out in the wind. VPL - avoid it if possible. Shave your legs. Moisturise. Trim loose threads on your outfit. All these little things matter.

5. Wear something you're comfortable in. If you feel good and are confident in your outfit, you're more likely to look GREAT!

6. Last but not least, wear a versatile outfit. If you WIN the Adelaide Cup Myer Fashions On The Field this Autumn, you'll be sent over to Melbourne in SPRING to compete in the Melbourne Cup Fashions On The Field - in the SAME outfit! Unfortunately this is just part of how it all works, so try and wear something that looks good now, but will also work during Spring Racing Carnival too. You never know what the weather will do during either event anyway, so having something that works on a hot or cold day (ie think about jackets, umbrellas, shawls etc) can be useful regardless.

Good luck ladies!

Tonight's Ralph Lauren Event. Much Ado About Nothing?

I'm usually quite restrained about publishing my thoughts on things like this, but I couldn't resist this one.

Word on the street for the past couple of months has been that there is a Ralph Lauren store opening in Adelaide.

Of course, this led to a lot of excitement, as big brands committing to our State tends to do.

Rumours were running rife as to where the store would be located, and nobody could figure out what was actually happening.

Well, the air has been let our of balloon. There is no Ralph Lauren store opening.

Instead, it turns out that there is a Ralph Lauren Fall 2012 Menswear Launch being held tonight at the Art Gallery, showcasing new designs from the brand which have long been available at Myer and David Jones.

How bizarre. So much hype, so little follow through.

Ralph Lauren have never held a parade in Adelaide, so the reasons for this one happening are unclear, but it seems that their VIP customers have been left off the invite list.

I would have thought that in addition to fashion writers and journalists, the people that actually buy their clothing would have been a 'must have' at the parade. Apparently not. Which begs the question, who will actually be there?


As the event hasn't happened yet, I can't be too harsh. They could be announcing a new store in Adelaide to everyone at the parade. We can always hope.

3 Years Running with the Shorts Film Festival

For the third year running, I've been invited to be involved with the Shorts Film Festival.

What's that you might ask?

Well it's a fabulous event that I'd never heard of until I walked in to Garage bar many years ago, and saw rows of fold up chairs set out, facing the wall which had become a make-shift screening location for short films. A much more interesting way to enjoy a cocktail or two. I never would have set out to go and watch short films, as I don't see myself as an arts sort of person, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and the rest is history.

This year, I've just completed judging 16 short films (from non-SA film-makers) along with a panel of other SA judges, and our scores will now go in to the pool with other interstate judges to help decide which films will be screened at this year's Shorts Film Festival. Ultimately, those films will also be able to win a range of prizes and titles, on offer as part of the initiative.

The Festival is now far more sophisticated and far larger than when I first discovered it, but the same principles apply. I truely believe that there is something for everyone and it's exciting to glimpse into the creative minds of clever film makers out there.

I'll write more closer to the festival, but I just wanted to give you a heads up. This is a cool little event to watch out for. If you love having a glass of wine & some nibbles, while being entertained with your friends, the Shorts Film Festival promises a week of great nights out.

Shorts Film Festival 2012, 28 April-5 May @ Norwood Concert Hall.

Here's a photo from last year's Festival (when I was heavily pregnant with Ivy!)

Steve, David Lightfoot & I, Photo ©Alex Makeyev

Clipsal 500 Race Cage

Finally, the Clipsal 500 has an offering designed specifically for me. Well, I'm fairly sure it wasn't designed for me, but either way, I'm pretty happy about it. The Race Cage. Think Melbourne Cup birdcage but at the Clipsal, and with a view of the sport (as opposed to the birdcage when you'd be lucky to see a horse all day).

I've been to the Clipsal 500 a few times, and all but one of those times I was in a corporate hospitality box. The one time I went general admission I lasted all of an hour and then I left. Couldn't see a thing and hadn't gotten there early enough to camp out and secure a spot (I'm not a die hard fan, what can I say).

Your general corporate box is great, but fairly corporate. Usually a slightly older crew of attendees, definitely a boys club, and although it's a great day out, it's not exactly a glam affair.

I've also tried doing the ladies luncheon thing, and again, although it's a great day out, it's still not quite my scene. A tad old perhaps? And a distinct lack of motorsport. Although I'm not a big motorsport fan, I do believe that if you're going to the event, you should at least make the most of it for the day or days that you're there.

Enter the Race Cage.

This promises to be all my Christmases come at once.

The Race Cage is to be located in a brand new marquee - the only one of its kind - and the largest two story marquee in the Southern Hemisphere. The glass frontage promises a great view of the face track hairpin it's located on, and there is balcony for sipping bubbles on when you want to get amongst it. Oh, and it's fully air conditioned, so if we're cursed with 40 degree heat like we've suffered through in previous years, we'll be covered.

There will be a DJ all day, premium food & beverages and decent coffee.

The drivers and brolly dollys will be visiting the Race Cage over the 4 days of the event, and they throw in a program for good measure. I'm hoping I can use a Clipsal 500 app instead of the paper program, but it's good to know my bases are covered.

I've heard some rumours about some of the people who will be coming to the Cage (which I can't reveal just yet) but it's sure to be a pretty young, fun crowd. For the price tag, it should bring a mix of corporates looking for a more sexy Clipsal experience, Adelaide faces, the rich and those willing to save up for a great experience. I'm not sure where I fit in, but I defintely think that this is the way I was meant to be experiencing Clipsal 500.

Now the big question... what to wear? 

No doubt I'll be tweeting over the event, so if you're not there partying with me, just follow me on Twitter to check out all the action. @kellynoble.

Mad March has officially begun

Verity from Adelaide Casino, Liza Emanuele & I

Today marks the end of my free time for the next month. I love Valentine's Day (now that I officially have a Valentine to share it with) but it signaled the last personal night I'll have for a while, with official duties taking up my evenings from here on in.

Tonight is the Waugh in the West All Star Cricket Match at the new St Clair oval. Steve Waugh is my dad's second cousin or something like that, so it's my family duty to go along. We're also covering it for Glam so it's a good afternoon of work/play.

Tomorrow is the Scanlan&Theodore launch followed by the Garden of Unearthly Delights opening, and then BAM, the Fringe has begun.

Friday is the announcement of the Face Adelaide Casino Adelaide Cup, which I judged with Liza Emanuele & Verity from the Adelaide Casino today (see pic), and then the Fringe event opening nights start on Saturday.

I'm tired just thinking about it.

That being said, I love it. It's brilliant being part of Adelaide at its most vibrant.

The Face of the Adelaide Casino Adelaide Cup

Another judging gig is upon me. This time it's to help decide on the Face of Adelaide Casino Adelaide Cup.

I've always been a fan of the races so it's great to be involved. Perhaps I've seen My Fair Lady one too many times, but there is nothing like dressing up and going to the track. In the past I've spent months in the lead up to each major race day (Adelaide Cup, Melbourne Cup, Oakbank, Irish Race Day etc) planning my outfit down to the smallest detail, deciding on which marquee to attend, who to go along with, and how I'll be spending my day. And I always have a brilliant time.

This year, the Adelaide Casino have taken things to another level, with a new position being created - the highly anticipated inaugural Face of Adelaide Casino Adelaide Cup (gosh that's a mouthful).

David Christian (MD of Adelaide Casino), Liza Emanuele (fashion designer) and myself will be sitting down tomorrow to go through the potential 'Face' video entries and will spend 2-3 hours deciding on who is the best candidate for the esteemed role. Where was this ten years ago when I would have been the perfect candidate? Oh well, at least I'm part of the process.

Whoever is chosen after tomorrow's judging panel will transform into the glamorous go-to-girl for up-to-the-minute accounts of what’s happening and who’s hot around Adelaide, as well as trackside at Adelaide’s premier race day.

The actual announcement of the winner will happen this Friday (17 Feb) when the Adelaide Casino Adelaide Cup trophy arrives via horse back at Adelaide Casino.








Then, once my role as judge has come to an end, I can focus on the important things ahead of me. Like deciding what to wear to this year's Cup.

Fashion Parade Fashion Etiquette

Tonight I'm heading to the Carnevale Italian Festival Fashion Parade as one of their guests. This always fills me with dread and excitement, as I love a good fashion parade, but I hate knowing I'll be judged on what I wear. Luckily for me, I've built up quite a wardrobe over the years, so it's probably easier for me than some, but still, it is something I approach with caution.

Should you ever wear designs which may appear on the catwalk? I often see this happen at parades, and I always get caught when I'm MCing a parade and I'm dressed by the designer. Although I love wearing the latest fashion garment from the designer being featured, there is nothing worse than seeing the same dress on a size 8 catwalk model half my age.  I always make sure I accessorise creatively to make the outfit look as different as possible. I'm not sure what the etiquette is for wearing say, a Liza Emanuele dress to a Liza Emanuele parade, but if you can get past the models wearing the same clothes, there is often someone else in the audience wearing the same thing. Wearer beware. I guess it's kind of like wearing a band t-shirt to their gig.

Then there are the people who try to look as cutting edge and fashion forward as possible. In a small city like Adelaide, these people tend to stick out, and more often than not, they are silently approved of by the crowd. Although we wouldn't wear what they've been brave enough to don, we respect them for being different. That being said, there are always a few failures, and it takes all my will power not to start a 'what not to wear' column on Glam Adelaide.

Finally, there seems to be the black crowd. Those who wear black, hope to blend in but still look somewhat fashionable at the same time. Black is safe. Black hides a multitude of sins. Black is my friend.

I did say at the start of today's blog though, that I'm going to an Italian Festival. Here's hoping I see some flamboyant European outfits both on and off the catwalk!

Photo: couture + love + madness
The Spirit of the Black Dress
Photographer: Simon Cecere
Model: Rebecca from Fox
Hair: Ashley McCormack
MUA: Ana Mikulić

Going To The Opening Of An Envelope

Back in the the very early days of Glam Adelaide, I would go to the opening of an envelope. There. I've said it. I was broke (all my cash was tied up in property which left me with no disposable income) so going to a snazzy event with free bubbles seemed like a great way to supplement my social life. I was working, don't get me wrong, but I definitely managed to kill two birds with one stone there.

Now, several years later, I'm a little more picky about which events to attend. With a small baby and a lovely home which I enjoy spending time at, going out all the time isn't quite as appealing as it once was.

Now I only go to the great events.

Which brings me to the point of today's blog. Invitations. I get a lot of them through work. And there are definitely ones which grab my attention and those which get forgotten about.

Today I received an invitation in the mail in a petrie dish. It's fantastic.

It's for the Bone Foundation, and it definitely got our attention. I'll be attending this event (which I probably wouldn't have if I just received a regular paper invite) so whoever organised this little novely should be congratulated. 

It got me thinking about other great invitations I've received in the past, so I pulled one out which I've been saving. Looked great but the info was confusing (it advertised the price of tickets, so I wasn't sure if it was an ad for the event or an invitation) so I didn't go to the event.

On a final note, I also received an invitation today for an arts event, which didn't have the date of the event on it, just the RSVP date. You'd be surprised how often this happens. Looks like I won't be going to that one either. There is just too much going on to be following up events (which aren't personally connected to me) for more info. I'm sure someone else will enjoy going though and it just means more family time for me!

Hanging With The Cool Kids at Longview

When you're somewhat limited by the amount of events you can attend (ie when you have a baby), it's important to make sure that those you DO attend are worth your while.

This is why it wasn't a difficult choice to sign up for a day at Longview Winery for their Krush Klinic during the 2012 Crush Festival. We went along last year and had a great time, so we guessed (correctly) that it would be a safe bet this year.

In a nutshell, Longview have pulled together all the best elements of a food and wine festival, and then tweaked them to appeal to the 'cool kids'.

By attending this event, I was cool for a day, by default.

Seriously, it was like someone had grabbed some issues of Rip It Up, Attitude Magazine and Vice Magazine and brought them to life. There were fashion designers, street artists, writers, hippies, glamours, and an abundance of good looking, young people.

To entertain us during the day, we had 4 nationally acclaimed graffiti artists creating spectacular works of art on massive canvases, for us to vote on and for Longview to use as a wine label.

There were some party inducing DJs on the decks, and the odd spell of breakdancing to keep the mood light.

There was plenty of shade (or shelter if the pending storm hit, which it didn't... phew), a good selection of food (including something for the vegos) and lots of Longview's best wines.

One thing I didn't know about & wish I did, was the fact that Longview now have a B&B set up. I'll definitely be booking in to stay for a night/weekend sometime soon but missed out on that opportunity over Crush. Not to worry, I had a beautiful baby I had to take back from my lovely parents who had babysat for the day. There's always a silver lining!

A 10 For The Ten Tenors

Always a fan of food, wine and music events, my parents, Steve and I made the trek Tomich Wines (in the Adelaide Hills) on Saturday night for The Ten Tenors.

What a great event.

The food and wine and the fact that it was held amongst vineyards was enough to get me to go along, but the fact that The Ten Tenors are a world class act, made the night a memorable one.

As the first big vineyard event that Tomich Wines have held (given that most of their events happen at the cellar door on King William Road), I think they need a big round of applause.

The food offerings were first rate. The wine was spectacular. The toilets remained clean and toilet paper stocked throughout the evening. The staging was first rate - something I would have expected to see at a major concert, rather than at a winery event. The location was beautiful - nestled next to some vines and magnificent gumtrees, on a nice flat piece of paddock with room for future events to grow. There was plenty of room for parking and you didn't have to walk for miles to get to the venue. The only thing that could have been improved upon was the signage - a few of us stopped at the winery gates, only to realise the actual concert was being held further down the road in a back paddock. It was easy enough to figure out though.

As for the entertainment. Well. Let me tell you. It was entertaining. The Ten Tenors are an incredibly talented bunch of guys. Mostly young, dashing, suited up fellows with a sense of humour, their show kept the audience riveted throughout the night, despite the threatening rainclouds which threatened to spoil the evening.

The guys started with some traditional opera numbers, of which I don't know any of the names, and then moved on to an 80s medley which the crowd adored. We heard a wide range of songs and genres, which ensured that there was something for everyone. And those voices. Wow.

I have to say though, the masses of middle aged women, swooning over men their son's ages, was a little amusing. The line for autographs at the end didn't move, as each woman tried her charms on the Tenors while they politely tolerated the slightly wine-fuelled adoration.

If Tomich Wines put on another event at their vineyards, do yourself a favour and go.

Aussie Aussie Aussie!

The Australia Day Long Weekend. It didn't quite happen (thanks to the holiday bizarrely falling on the actual day this year rather than a Monday) but thanks to the power of being my own boss, Glam Adelaide and Glam Digital closed on Friday as well, giving us four days of R&R. So what better way to relax than jam packing as many events as possible into the four days.

Thursday we had a Triple J Hottest 100 Party (what's more Aussie than that!) followed by the free Australia Day concert in Elder Park. With record crowds and a great vibe, I'm happy to say that the Adelaide City Council is really coming in to its own when it comes to putting on fantastic events for the community.

We were lucky enough to have media passes into the Lyrics Lounge at the Festival Theatre, so we were able to watch the concert from a great vantage point.

Adam Gilchrist, Francis Wong, Mayor Stephen Yarwood, Rikki-Lee, Stan Walker, Cat Southern, Houssam Abiad and a host of Adelaide faces attended the event and got in to the spirit, although I think I was the only one wearing the Australian flag (on my t-shirt).

The best part of the day though? Being able to spend it with my friends and family. Ivy even got into the swing of things and had a chew on the Aussie flag which was draped over her pram.

The fireworks show at the end of the night was spectacular. Not the short show I expected - rather a full blown major event style display. Everyone loved it, and I'm pretty sure the guests at the InterContinental Adelaide would have had the best view!

If you get the chance next year, definitely check out the concert & festivities in Elder Park.

What a great city and country we live in. I'm proud to call myself Australian.

A Chorus Line

Last night I was lucky enough to go along to the red carpet opening night of A Chorus Line in Adelaide. I'd heard quite a few good things about this show, but hadn't been to a musical in Australia since attending the Pirates of Penzance when I was 12 (after finding out that the lead, Simon Gallagher, was gay, my childhood heart was broken & I never returned to the theatre).

The show started at 6:30pm and we only just arrived in time to take our seats. Our amazing, fourth row from the stage, seats.

Photo: Tony Lewis

We were next to Sean Craig Murphy and his lovely wife, and were surrounded by a host of Adelaide faces including Fashion Designer Liza Emanuele and her husband Chris, Adelaide City Councillor Houssam Abiad, Hilton Adelaide's GM Michael Shmidt, Francis Wong & Jane Doyle to name a few.

The show itself was great. I wasn't sure how captivating a performance would be that essentially captured a moment in time, rather than playing out a full storyline (such as Wicked or Phantom), but the creativity with the scripting, the amazing dancers and the classic one liners from Sheila (played by gorgeous Adelaide girl Debora Krizak) kept me entertained throughout.

The show depicted how difficult the lives of professional dancers were - the uncertainty of work, the lack of security, the possibility of physical injury ending their careers - and yet it also showed each dancer's passion for their profession and why they persisted with it. One couldn't help but wonder how aligned these story lines were with the actual cast members in the show - who could almost have been playing versions of themselves.

You don't have to be a lover of the arts to get something out of this performance. And anyone who had 'fitness' or 'losing weight' on their New Year's Resolution list, could certainly get some inspiration from the hard bodies of these singing, dancing sensations up on stage. I'm certainly heading back to the gym in a hurry!

The strictly limited season of A Chorus Line will run until 28 January.
For more information check out http://www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au

New Year's Resolutions. Bah Humbug.

Does anyone actually do that whole 'new year's resolution' thing? I certainly don't. Never have. I think it's because I tend to do things as the urge takes me, rather than waiting for a whole year to roll around before I start a new mission to be healthier/happier/fitter etc. I quit smoking one night at a club about ten years ago, after my third packet of cigarettes for the night, and that was the end of that. Any time I want to lose weight, I just sign up for another round of Hypoxi in North Adelaide. Drinking? Well pregnancy gave me a well-needed detox from that. This year I think I'm going to try and take more holiday time. Give myself a break from being a workaholic & try to be more family oriented. But that doesn't count as a resolution though, or does it?

Henley Beach, Adelaide - A Place Where I Need To Spend More Time

My Summer must haves from Liza Emanuele's Boutique

I'm not sure if it's cheating or not to own my 'must have' fashion pieces for this season, but rather than talking about aspirational items, I'm lucky enough to have these in my wardrobe at the moment.

Here is what I love right now from the Liza Emanuele Boutique on King William Road.

Ignore the Winter clothing - this was taken in London. Pay attention to the bag.

My favourite handbag is from After The Apple (see above). This demon of a bag holds EVERYTHING and has both a shoulder strap, which is sensational for travelling, as well as shorter woven handles for toting around. Leather (of course), the After The Apple bags are designed in Australia by a woman who used to design for Mimco. I love her style and how unique each bag is. They are currently stocked at Liza Emanuele Boutique and retail for around $600.

Here's a more detailed photo (and the colours are more true to form).

My next must have for this season, is a versatile black dress.

Look at the dress, not the sensible ballet flat for walking.

This dress is also from Liza Emanuele Boutique (yes I stocked up before I toured Europe) and is extremely comfortable to wear, while standing out from the crowd. People in Europe and back home in Australia, all assumed I bought this in Paris. No. I just wore it there. This is a great dress for work, dressing up for a cocktail/NYE/Christmas party, or dressing down with flats and spending the day shopping on the Champs Elysees.

No, you can't have my best accessory. He's not for sale.

Next up - a great, lightweight Summer frock from Liza. This gorgeous design was the perfect dress to wear to the Church for one of my best friend's weddings. The neckline is stunning and luckily for us, Liza designed several different versions of this dress with different fabrics. I thought this was a one-off wear dress when I picked it out of the rack, but since the wedding I've worn it a dozen times. It's my new favourite, particularly on hot days.

Lady in Red

For my finale piece - who can resist a great gown. This beautiful Liza dress had to be taken up as I'm pretty short (5'3") but now that the length is right, this dress will always fit me. As it's a wrap dress, it can shrink & grow as my culinary trends vary over the coming months/years. The fabric is soft and billowy, and the dress truly feels like it was made for me. This gorgeous number comes in a variety of colours and is guaranteed to turn heads. Definitely a must have if you have a more formal event coming up.

Check out what's in store at Liza Emanuele Boutique at 147 King William Road, Hyde Park or visit the website at http://www.lizaemanuele.com/

Press* and The Marquis, bringing Christmas joy to me

This time of year is frightening. Let me clarify. It's frightening to the waistline. Despite this, I've taken it upon myself to accept pretty much ever Christmas lunch invitation going. I'm playing a little catch up with existing associates, networking with potential clients, and doing as much business as possible, over food and wine. You see, since I had by baby 6 months ago, I've dropped out of the scene a little, so I have relationships to strengthen. Well that's my excuse anyway. Oh, and did I mention the Christmas parties and drinks after work?

Now that I've justified myself, let me tell you about my recent indulgences.

Yesterday I experienced Press* on Waymouth Street. Cleverly named to reflect the giant Advertiser building across the road (well that's my assumption anyway), I can certainly imagine many business lunches and drinks happening between journalists here. After walking through the low key entrance, you are met with long wooden tables with matching tables, which I'm guessing are there to encourage strangers to eat together and find their new BFF IRL. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you need to spend more time online. Or not. Hang on, I'm getting distracted. I didn't eat at these tables. I went straight upstairs to a more intimate area, where you sat with those you arrived with. Much more traditional. And comfortable. Now to the important part. The food. Yes, it was incredible. We had 14 people at our table and the waiters brought out an array of tapas dishes which proved to be hit after hit. The order of the food was slightly unusual though, with the heavy meat & fish dishes being brought out hours after we arrived, when, quite frankly, we were ready for coffee and dessert. I suppose this is a positive thing in a way, as it meant that we filled up long before they anticipated. Generally I find that someone goes hungry when shared tapas are chosen for a meal. Some of my favourite dishes included a carpaccio topped with a creamy salad, various sashimi dishes, a great beetroot salad and the desserts were to die for. As we went to leave, the waiter opened some doors (we hadn't noticed) and a great little outdoor area was revealed to us. More of a terrace garden space than a balcony, complete with a few little tables. I can't wait to go back there and enjoy some wine in that space. 

The wine wall at The Marquis

Next up, The Marquis on Gouger Street. This was today's treat, and I was lucky enough to eat there over a business lunch meeting. After yesterday's culinary delights, I didn't expect to be wowed again, but it seems that Adelaide's venues are on fire at the moment. This is a sensational venue. The Marquis brings a contemporary Parisian experience to the centre of Adelaide - offering a diverse venue which reflects a more French way of utilizing a space. Go there for a coffee and read the paper, take the ladies for a bottle of bubbles (so many different ones to choose from!), or sit down to enjoy some incredible food - The Marquis caters for the lot. The highlight of the venue however, has to be its wine list. It's epic. With over 700 wines, this certainly caters for everyone - from those with lower budgets to wine lovers who are looking for something unique and delightful. And guess what... you can purchase wine to take away. Yes, you read that correctly. This venue is essentially a hotel, so you can pick up a bottle of wine while you're waiting for your Chinese food from down the road. Yes, this place has it all. Because of the 'bottle shop' mentality of The Marquis, this is the perfect place to drink wine though, as you'll only pay a tiny corkage fee on top of the purchase price - making this SO much cheaper than the average restaurant or bar, which substantially marks up bottle prices. Wait, I'm distracted again. Wasn't I talking about food? Why don't you just go in and find out for yourself. You won't be disappointed. The chef is just brilliant.

The Moon Fish (far) and the King George Whiting (close)

It's Black & White

Let me start by saying that the Women's & Children's Hospital Foundation Night of Lights Gala Ball was spectacular. Bravo to their events team. The food at the Adelaide Convention Centre was great. We had a brilliant waitress called Rebecca who did a sensational job looking after our table. The decorations were beautiful. The entertainment, entertaining (and with Kate Ceberano headlining how could it not be!). All in all, it was worth going along. I'd highly recommend it for anyone thinking of booking a table in 2012.

The reason for this post however, is to focus on the dress code for the evening. If you saw my last post, you will have seen a sneak peak at what I was planning on wearing. The invitation said Black Tie With A Hint Of Sparkle. The perfect opportunity to dress up. My dashing partner wore a black Armani tuxedo and I wore a full length Sherri Hill gown from After Dark Boutique on Fullarton Road, accompanied by stunning statement jewellery from Liza Emanuele Boutique on King William Road. The lovely Andrew Elsegood from Andrew Elsegood Hairdressers on Goodwood Road did my hair, and I completed the outfit with silver stilettos from Gary Castles (Sydney).

Here's a photo to show you how the look turned out.

Now back to the reason for my post. It seems I was under the false impression that black tie meant tuxedos for men and long gowns for women. I went so far as to Facebook and Tweet about this (& the lack of long dresses I was seeing at the ball), and was absolutely slammed by my friends & followers for misunderstanding the dress code. I wasn't far off it, so luckily I wasn't inappropriately dressed, but I thought I'd share my findings so that if you're faced with anything similar, you know what is or isn't appropriate. What I was thinking of, was White Tie (which I'd never heard of). The less formal evening counterpart of white tie is black tie, which allows women to wear cocktail dresses.

Here's a quick run down.

Black tie for women: Women's dress for black tie occasions can vary, ranging from a cocktail dress that is at or below the knee to a long evening gown, determined by current fashion, local custom, and the occasion's time.

Black tie for men: For a man, the main component is a black jacket with contrasting lapels, known as a dinner jacket (in the Commonwealth) or tuxedo (mainly in the United States), and a black tie. 

White tie for women: Evening dresses, full length gowns. 

White tie for men: White tie for men means tops & tails. The chief components for men are the black dress coat commonly known as an evening tailcoat, white bow tie, white waistcoat and starched wing collar shirt. I can't say I've ever seen this done, not properly...

Now what I'd like to know is what you'd call an event where you'd like men to wear tuxedos (which is as formal as I've seen in Australia) and women in floor length gowns. This is what I'd expect to see at any ball, but apparently this is a mix of the two dress codes. Perhaps invites could state white tie for women and black tie for men? This is getting more difficult than it should be.

At the end of the day, all I really want is the odd occasion where us girls can glam up and wear long, beautiful dresses. Formality is all but gone these days, so it's nice to feel like a princess once in a while.