Psyched in Stilettos

Cosmic Cuppa

WOULD YOU EAT YOUR MAKEUP?

Short-cut to Enlightenment

Celebrity Soul Bling

Lindsay Lohan, Nicky Hilton and Ashlee Simpson are all fans of Hollywood's latest holistic jewellery craze: Orka Mesica's organic hemp bracelets featuring a single 14kt gold circle symbolising success, rebirth and creation. With names like the 'Friendship' bracelet ($169) and 'Go Green' bracelet ($69), these are a super-stylish way to save the world! Buy them for yourself and your best friend, or for the ultimate celeb vibe, wear a stack of three. You'll find them at Miijo, where you'll also discover Buddha to Buddha -- handmade 9.25 sterling silver bracelets ($200-$800) that combine the spirit, materials and skills of the Far East with Western design. Whilst in India, designer Batul Loman joined a meditation centre. His first meeting was with a person who stayed in this centre for many years, it was a long and impressive conversation. A session such as this is known as ‘Buddha to Buddha’; a conversation from one human being to another. His inspiration for the beautiful cuffs came to him on a beach in Goa, India.

Green Luxury 

HALLUCINOGENIC VODKA

If you’re sick of swilling the same old generic bottled drinks when you’re out painting the town red, why not try some witches’ brew? Seriously. Babicka Original Wormwood Vodka ($65, +61 2 9369 3773) was created from a 500-year-old Czech peasant/witch recipe, and is entirely produced in the Czech Republic using six distilling methods that date back to 1518. Babicka contains the mildly hallucinatory properties of wormwood, a herb that was often used by medieval witches to create charms and love tonics. This elixir is an infused straight vodka made from corn, wormwood and other special herbs, plus water from ancient deep springs found in the mountain ranges behind the city of Prostejov. Even the bottle is reminiscent of original vessels used for herbal tonics. Straight up, mixed, or on ice, choose your potion! Bewitching ☺

TRANQUILITY IN A BOTTLE

“Our skin is our largest organ, protecting us from the outside world and reflecting our inner life. Therefore it is important to use natural products which nourish our skin and leave it feeling fresh and glowing,” says Sam Sample from holistic bath-body-home brand Be Genki. “Breathe in pure, plant-derived scents that can help to influence and bring about a positive state of mind. Set aside some ‘you’ time each day – it only needs to be a few minutes at the least – meditate; finish that book; have a bath; or simply take three deep breaths; whatever it is that brings you closer to your internal self will, in turn, be beneficial to your spirit. By listening to your body, you can bring about a positive change each day.” Be Genki natural skincare products come in four blends – Vitality, Tranquility, Serenity and Sensuality – and are designed to be used in the evening when you're unwinding from the day and preparing yourself for bedtime. You’ll love their sweet blend of Sweet Orange, Lavender, Roman Chamomile and Sandalwood essential oils! www.begenki.com.au

Homeopathic Fashion?

Now this is Psyched fashion if I ever saw it... these incredible fabrics are able to release a controlled dose of natural herbal remedies (complementary/homeopathic medicine) into your bloodstream through your skin while you wear them! "By taking alternative remedies through your skin, the ingredients don't get filtered through the digestive system," says Diana Irani, the UK-based designer behind the Re_Medi fashion label. "And unlike taking your medicine, you're not going to forget to put on your own clothes!" But forget pointing the finger and muttering 'Gimmick': "My first priority is that Re_medi should be a beautiful product," Irani insists. "I don't want to sell anything just because it's ‘good for you'. You have to fall in love with the product first." Hear hear.
The range is still being developed, so no more information available just yet... watch this space!

GREEN CHOCOLATE

Spiritual Jewellery For Boys

Magic charms might sound girly -- and chances are if you're flitting through Psyched In Stilettos, you're most definitely a chick -- but apparently blokes like them too. And according to the New York Times, they don't just like wearing them this season because they're a fashion statement; guys have been hip to cosmic neck bling for over 100,000 years. Anthropologists have unearthed ancient drilled-seashell beads in Israel and Algeria, suggesting that self-adornment occurred tens of thousands of years earlier than previously thought.

Fast-forward to the 21st century, and one of the world's sartorial leaders is a huge fan of the ol' magic necklace. CK designer Francisco Costa wears a collection of religious medals and good luck charms he has picked up over the years. "I don't even look at this as jewellery," he says. "It's more something spiritual that depicts periods of my growth, of growing up, of my life. I try not to look at it as jewellery. If I did, I would rip it right off my neck. I would never go into a store and buy a piece of jewellery. It's not a fashion thing for me at all."

Blokes who want to jump on the bandwagon can check out Miracle Icons, a line of vintage religious medals on silver chains and thin leather cords -- in other words, exactly what Mr. Costa wears. The company is inspired by a belief in "saints, guardian anges and spirits", and has recorded sales of more than $500,000 a year -- mainly to men.

Now come on. Are you going to let him look better than you? Nup.

YOUR OWN SPIRITUAL TOOLKIT

Simply Angelic

Clever Knickers  

Have you found Earth yet?

They were kinda daggy and clunky in the 1970s, and then they disappeared. Now Earth shoes are back, big time, and they're one of the fastest growing brands in the US. Earth is a super socially and environmentally responsible company - even their Chinese factories make sure their workers enjoy quality, 'above average' conditions - and their new Earth Vegan collections goes above and beyond. Certified by the US vegan society, no animal products (or by-products) are used in the shoes. Even the shoe boxes are glueless, made from recycled cardboard boxes with soy-based inks. Future collections could be made from bamboo and hemp. Most importantly, Earth shoes are loved for their Negative Heel Technology which align your spine naturally, originally designed by Danish yoga teacher Anne Kalso: 

"...whose studies took her to the Great Hindu school of Yesudian in Zurich and later to the Yoga monastery in Santos, Brazil. In the course of her studies and experiments, she observed that by flexing the foot, or by lowering the heel one could achieve a feeling similar to that attained in the Yoga Mountain pose. In 1957, this awareness inspired her to develop (with the aid of a Portuguese shoe maker) a primitive version of a sandal with the heel lower than the toes." A yoga class for your feet? Sounds cool to me.

www.earthfootwear.com.au

EARTH-LOVING SHOES

You’d never guess that these funky kicks from Simple are made from 100% organic cotton, recycled PET (plastic bottles) and recycled car tires – just check out soles for the original tire tread markings! Known as EcoSneaks, they’re sustainably-made footwear that’s helping build a greener planet. Jack Black and Jack Johnson are huge fans! Available in men’s and women’s styles from $AU129.95. www.simpleshoes.com

WISH SAINTS

CRYSTAL ELIXIR COCKTAILS

If you must drink alcohol, there’s no ‘healthier’, more magical way to do it than this. South Australia’s Moskva Vodka Bar is purportedly the only cocktail lounge in the country where you’ll find crystal elixirs. Following a recipe developed by naturopaths, rose quartz and quartz crystals are specially soaked in water, which absorbs their vibrations. This delicate fluid is then mixed with organic fruit into exotic cocktails. Sex And The City had nothing on this… (+61 8 8211 9007).

Happy Feet Magic

The internet is rife with people arguing in forums about whether these do or don't work, and my curiosity is piqued: I'm absolutely dying to try them. Detox Foot Patches are stuck to your feet and detoxify your body and lymph system overnight while you sleep. Our bodies absorb untold amounts of heavy metals, toxins, parasites, chemicals and pollutants in our air, food and water (everything from aluminium, arsenic, asbestos and chlorine to copper, formaldehyde, lead, mercury, radioactive materials and stainless steel - ew!) Detox Foot Patches claim to be the world's easiest - and safest - way to remove these and more. They contain wood vinegar essence, which has the ability to absorb toxins through the acupuncture points located on the soles of the feet. The best part? Like ear candles, you can actually see the results: when you first use the pads, they'll be stained in the mornings, but after 10-20 days of use, they'll ‘come clean'. Says one happy user: "The first few nights the patches ended up very black and sticky in the morning as they sucked all the accumulated toxins out of my feet. I also felt like I had a mild hangover upon waking for a few days, although once I was up I felt very clear and active." You can also apply the patches to various parts of your body. For products and more info, try Happy Feet Foot De-Tox Patches, Detox Foot Patches With Bamboo Juice, or Patch It.

Aluminium Stilettos?

Couture meets Coke cans in a range by upmarket British runway designer Georgina Goodman. Originally launched as part of Estethica, the showcase for environmentally friendly designers at London Fashion Week in 2006, Goodman's high heels are crafted from hundreds of stripped drinks cans she had collected for recycling at home and in her workshop, taking more than six years to make. Hand-crafted with a beautifully twisted metal heel, the shoes make an iconic statement illustrating how constantly evolving fashion and looking after the environment can work hand in hand.

"I think the interesting thing for me is that a drinks can is infinitely recyclable so you literally could unpick this metal, take it off the shoe, melt it down," says Goodman, whose eponymous label is admired by everyone from actress Thandie Newton to Mr Manolo Blahnik himself. "I mean a drinks can can be crushed down, put in a bin and six weeks later it ends up on the shelf again." www.georginagoodman.com

Embracing the combined wisdom of astrology and aromatherapy, US brand Soular Therapy links the twelve zodiac signs that govern our universe with their gorgeous beauty products. The launch of their Astrological Aromatherapy line gained an international following, with companies all around the world stocking their Heavenly Home Soy-based Candles and Celestial Shower Body Washes in luxe hand-finished white packaging. Each exclusive scent utilises ancient formulations of plant and flower extracts uniquely associated and beneficial to individual astrological signs, resulting in what they’ve dubbed ‘The Science of Scent’. 

RENEWABLE RESOURCE TSHIRTS

Keen to make some extra cash while he was at art college in 1989, Londoner Vince Frost began designing and printing his own range of t-shirts – from the floor of his studio flat, above Anita Roddick’s original Body Shop store. Some of Roddick’s holistic influence must have rubbed off, because these days, the Aussie-based graphic designer produces ‘clean, green, soft and pretty’ tshirts made from 100% bamboo (a renewable resource). Carbon neutral, naturally hypoallergenic, cooling and naturally antibacterial, Frost Design tees are soft as silk and strong as cotton. www.frostdesign.com.au

1001 ECO TRICKS

A truly modern lifestyle means that you consider the most environmentally-sound option before you clean, shop, cook, eat, relax, travel, and more. Did you know the average microwave uses more energy to power the digital clock on it than to actually heat food? 1001 Ways You Can Save the Planet: Practical Ideas to Heal and Change the World by Joanna Yarrow will wow you with similar eco facts, figures and everyday tips. Just reading a couple pages a day will make you realise how easy it is to make a difference in the conservation of our planet. Plus, this girl practices what she preaches: the book itself is printed with vegetable-based inks on paper from forests managed in a sustainable manner.

‘SAFE’ SKINCARE DOWN UNDER

Maybe one day, we’ll be able to walk into a supermarket or pharmacy and find that petroleum, chemicals, carcinogens and mutagens have been banned from products. Meanwhile, “Intelligence, not chemicals!” declares South Australian skincare brand Y natural, and I couldn’t agree more. Three important things distinguish them from other ‘natural skincare’ brands:

1) Their products are premium products made from the most luxurious natural ingredients, are the most beautiful to use, and the most beneficial to skin. Want proof? They offer fully explanatory ingredient lists to show that their products have nothing to hide.

2) They’re committed to educating – and thus empowering – consumers about skincare products, what goes into them, what doesn’t, and why. 

3) They aim to revolutionise the skincare industry by ending the widespread use of deceptive terminology and misleading statements. Says Y natural’s website, “We hope that you will help us.” Hell, I’m on board! www.ynatural.com.au

TELL YOUR OWN FORTUNE

UNICORN BOUDOIR MAGIC

If you use Doreen Virtue’s Magical Unicorn Oracle Cards and go nuts over anything unicorn, you won’t be able to go past this adorable make-up palette covered with the dancing magical creatures. Said to symbolise innocence, purity, love, gentleness, goodwill and wisdom – shown by their white and gold auras – unicorns bring us the gift of unconditional love and the power of healing through their energies. Their horns in particular possess magical powers consisting of pure divine energy. Why not call them to your side during meditation and befriend some yourself? ☺ Too Faced Romance Palette, $AU58

www.kitcosmetics.com.au

SAVE BABE FOR MOTHER'S DAY

They do such horrible, unspeakable things to piggies in the pig farming industry, so thank god the wonderful people at Animals Australia are trying to help. They've come up with the cutest Mum's Day present ever -- this all-natural geranium rose scented soy-wax candle gift package ($40) -- which includes a gift certificate outlining the significance of your gift and how it will help to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of mother pigs in Australia. Click click click!

HORN OF PLENTY

Known as ‘Cornucopia’ in Latin, the spiralling horn of plenty is a pagan symbol of abundance, fortune and harvest prosperity. Linked to ancient legend (the nymph Amalthea was given an enchanted goat's horn which provided whatever one wished for), the horn is also associated with Fortuna, the goddess of good fortune, and Ceres, goddess of agriculture. Want to wear one to usher more prosperity into your life? Check out Palas Jewellery’s gorgeous faith-luck-and-prosperity charms (horn of plenty, horseshoe, wishbone, star of david and crucifix)… they also make delightful children’s charm bracelets with hand-selected charms, ensuring no two pieces are alike.

ONE MONTH TO A NEW YOU

If you or a friend has recently suffered a terrible event, this little jar is designed to help. Available in different categories such as Marriage, Heartbreak, Friendship, Grief and Pregnancy, each jar contains 30 daily affirmations. Simply reach in and pull out one a day (“take one a day 'til the pain goes away”), until a month’s time when the jar is ‘finished’ – and your spirits are much higher. Sooo much better than a simple greeting card, because your sentiments last for 30 days! www.thehopejar.com

CERTIFIED ORGANIC MAKEUP!

BARBIE GOES TO WICCAN SCHOOL

I love this one, because it’s freaking out the orthodox Christian parents. What, our daughter is playing with Barbie-The-Neopagan?! Seriously, here’s an excerpt from some paranoid guy rambling elsewhere on the Internet: “Now your little daughter can learn the elementary facts about Witchcraft, and get enthused about practicing it, when she is only 3 years old!” I know! Fabulous, isn’t it?! When I was little I was desperate to be a witch. Twenty years later, I still can’t get enough of these limited edition Barbies, some of which are out of production and can only be found by scrounging around online… Glinda The Good Witch Barbie, the Enchantress Faityopia Doll (named Elina, sporting gawgeous golden wings), Casting Spells Barbie (comes with two outfits, spell book, case, edible potions and potion cups), and Barbie As Samantha From Bewitched (complete with hilarious disclaimer: “Doll cannot fly”).

EAT YOUR WAY TO WORLD PEACE

Wake up, kids: ‘spiritual veganism’ has arrived, and it’s all thanks to a bloke named Will Tuttle: “To meditate for world peace, to pray for a better world, and to work for social justice and environmental protection while continuing to purchase the flesh, milk, and eggs of horribly abused animals exposes a disconnect that is so fundamental that it renders our efforts absurd, hypocritical, and doomed to certain failure.” Hear hear. His book, The World Peace Diet: Eating for Spiritual Health and Social Harmony (Will Tuttle, PhD) provides background on the history of how humans first came to ‘enslave’ animals for their food and body parts, and how this has evolved into modern full-scale killing factories. For more, check out http://worldpeacediet.org

HEALING AMULETS FOR PETS

If you’re anything like me, you have crystals stashed in drawers, next to your computer, under your pillow, on necklaces, down your bra… they’re useful little things, known for all kinds of energy-amplifying and healing properties. Now there’s a way your pets can enjoy them, too – Healing Pet Jewelry! These pet collar amulets are handcrafted in Texas, and each gemstone and Swarovski crystal is carefully chosen for its metaphysical powers of healing physical and emotional ailments. Attach it to your furry friend’s collar, where it will rest against their fur or skin and immediately go to work. You can hang them off bird cages or inside fish bowls, too. Just remember to clean and ‘program’ your crystal with specific good intentions first, and if your animal doesn’t like the vibes, don’t persist. www.healing-pet-jewelry.com

ORGANIC LUXE

This range has been a looong time coming. One of the US’s pioneer prestige brands (heralding all-things-natural since 1990), Origins has finally released a collection carrying multiple organic certifications, including USDA certification. With everything from a certified organic Body Pampering Massage Oil ($AU70; contains nine essential oils) and Soothing Lip Balm ($AU35; think shea and cocoa butters, sunflower, safflower, palm, coconut and vanilla) to divine Conditioning Hair Oil ($AU40), this is organic couture if I ever saw it. Eat your heart out, Stella McCartney! Origins’ menu of key ingredients sounds mesmerising – everything from palm fruit wax and lavender alcohol to quillaja extract and white willow bark. Not sure what any of that stuff exactly is, but it sure sounds impressive. www.origins.com

FREE PERFUMED ‘HOLI FESTIVAL’ NECKLACE!

The Holi Festival of Colours takes place in India every year at the beginning of spring, and is linked to natural cycles. Just before the night of the full moon during March, across North India and Nepal are explosions of red, pink, purple, yellow, green and blue as people throw coloured powder and water at each other. These are traditionally made of Neem, Kumkum, Haldi, Bilva, and other medicinal herbs prescribed by Ayurvedic doctors. ‘Gulal’ and ‘Abeer’ are rubbed on peoples’ faces and blessings are sent to loved ones wrapped in special Holi gifts. In March last year, catwalk designer Kenzo travelled through India during Holi, taking snapshots of the powdered rainbows. The result? KENZOAMOUR Indian Holi, a limited edition fragrance blending exotic peony petals, musky floral, rice steam, wafts of incense, cherry blossoms natural rose essence, pink pepper, frangipani, sandalwood and infused vanilla pod. Buy one to wear during this year’s Holi (March 22) and you’ll receive a free perfumed necklace! From $99, www.kenzostore.com.au

Yoga For Womankind

I adore yoga, despite the fact I'm so slack I've been... oh... about twice in the last two months. (Eeek.) Maybe if I had some luxurious goddess yogawear, rather than threadbare tshirts and tights, I'd be diving for that yoga mat... Well, March 8 is International Women's Day and yogawear designer / instructor Marina Jacoby is aiming to help out women all around the Asia Pacific thru her quality yoga gear. Via her online shop, Marina is donating 10% of all the profits from her yoga wear sales up until March 15 to the International Women's Development Agency. There is officially no excuse left not to do Downward Dog...

Elmo Goes EnviroMENTAL

This month, retro cartoon characters are bringing us environmental messages on - where else? Tshirts. Elmo, Snoopy, Pebbles and Bam Bam, Tinkerbell and the Care Bears are declaring everything from 'Save Our Planet' to 'Global warming: SO not hot'. The slogan thirts are part of Jay Jays new range of ‘Tees for Trees', with $2 from the sale of each tee going to Landcare Australia to help purchase native plants, tree guards and stakes to help improve our environment.

To Buy a Tee, Plant a Tree, check out www.jayjays.com.au

THE DESTINY CUBE

Lancome’s international artistic director, Gucci Westman, named her Fall 2007 colour collection ‘Mystery Game’, with a nod to Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. Full of grandeur, romance and mystery, this luxuriously packaged collection features (are you ready?) a DESTINY CUBE! Inspired by an 18th century Chinese box given to Westman, this game piece will determine your destiny for the day while secretly holding eyeshadow, lipstick, mirror and gloss inside. Plus, each side of the ‘dice’ is labelled with different moods (coquette, mysterious, jealous...)
Limited edition, $AU89, at department stores.