GWAS Playlist

This week's pick of pop culture, magazines & pretty things...

1. Seems like two seconds ago we were admiring Rachel Bilson's glossy mane on the cover of Nylon, and now she's gone and got herself a set of Kate Moss-style bangs. The girls at GoFugYourself are polling readers about Bilson's updated 'do. I have always been pro-bang (my sister got them and I swear they changed her life), particularly on not-too-round heads (Mischa perhaps being the exception). But when your head is the size of a pin, is all that top-heavy hair action doing your pretty, pretty face any favours? Someone whose bangs I've always quite liked are Elle's. She's rocking the bangs-and-bra look at the Institute of Contemporary Arts Annual Fundraising Gala in London. Source: JustJared.

2. Meanwhile, fashion editor Liz Jones writes in The Daily Mail that she of the bouffant, Amy Winehouse, is planning to launch a range of cosmetics and clothes for teenage girls. Jones is none too happy about it, taking magazine editors and marketers to task over their exploitation of young women and the manipulation of images in advertising and glossy mags. "Parents face an unenviable challenge in trying to counteract the influence of clever marketing people who are vying to make young women feel unhappy about themselves... the industry feeds on the disposable, the young, the tragic and the new. It craftily alters photographs of troubled and imperfect young women (I wonder what Winehouse's skin looks like up close; I imagine it resembles cold porridge) to perpetuate the myth that, however sordid your private life, you can still look beautiful on the outside, which is all that matters... just because this industry is seen as frivolous doesn't mean it is immune from responsibility." Touché.

3. A more positive teen role model is Amanda Bynes, who graces the cover of this month's Girlfriend magazine. This month's issue contains some absolute gems, from writer Rebecca Whish's hilarious (I was laughing out loud) 'Life Is Awkward', to the feel-good '15 Times You're Gorgeous And You Don't Know It', inspiring '7 Wonders of Women' and Love 2 Shop supplement featuring the Gossip Girl gang and some of the cutest (and affordable) fashion around. Oh, to be a teen again. Girlfriend is one of the funnest reads on the mag-stand (the writing is pitch-perfect, the fashion and beauty doesn't take itself too seriously and there's a strong girl-power vibe) and is equally as relevant to the trend-conscious 20-something as teens (all bias aside, of course).

4. Camilla Belle, 21, is Teen Vogue's April cover girl. The 10,000 B.C actress and face of Vera Wang Princess is very TV friendly (her mother is a fashion designer in Brazil) and a favourite muse of Style Blogger Kimball Hastings. She's multilingual, plays the piano, went to Catholic school in West LA and is an international spokesperson for Kids With A Cause, which assists children suffering from poverty (thanks, Wikipedia!)

5. Meanwhile, Mary-Kate and Ashley, who cornered the tween and teen market with their range of books, movies, CDs, DVDs and clothes, before launching fashion labels The Row and Elizabeth & James, have a new project – upcoming coffee table tome, Influence (Penguin Young Readers Group). The book, 'edited' by fashion and arts writer Derek Blasberg, will feature the likes of Lauren Hutton, Christian Louboutin, Terry Richardson and Robert Lee Morris, with exclusive pictures of MK&A. Ashley says: “Mary-Kate and I have filled Influence with the most interesting, challenging, creative people we know—the ones who helped pave the way for us and our generation.” Release is scheduled for September. As everything the girls touch seemingly turns to gold, this one's sure to be a strong seller.

6. I adored What I Know Now: Letters to My Younger Self the first time and can't wait to get my hands on the new edition scheduled for release in May. Edited by New York Times 'Love and Money' columnist Ellyn Spragins, the new book's stellar contributor list includes Plum Sykes, Jessica Alba, Natasha Bedingfield, former Seventeen magazine editor Atoosa Rubenstein and Dylan Lauren. As the book's title would suggest, each woman has written a letter to her younger self, dishing out comforting advice and worldly wisdom: "It's chic to be shy," writes Sykes. Read my thoughts on the first edition here.

7. The Witchery Contrast Jodphur Jacket, $149.95, would look tres chic with a white Tab Sleeve Cotton Shirt, $89.95, skinny jeans (or the Button Detail Slouch Jean, $89.95) and a pair of Lindsy Stitch Detail Ballet Flats, $129.95. Go to witchery.com.au.

8. Got no plans for tomorrow? Then hit tomorrowsdate.com and sign up for the free newsletter. The girls are planning to widen the sites scope to include Brisbane and Melbourne soon, as well as adding a restaurant booking facility, though it's Sydney-centric right now. If you haven't already done so, you must also sign up for Drop Dead Gorgeous Daily, a daily email to whet your shopping appetite produced by industry insiders (Aussie fashion and beauty journos). The writing's witty and concise and the items never too pricey – it's like Daily Candy for shopaholics with less long-winded prose. And if you're still online, drop by Celebrity Entourage, where for a fee you can track the footsteps of the famous. The Aussie site, edited by a Sydney-based journo, lists contact details for agents, managers and publicists for Aussie celebs. A great resource for those working on glossy mags. Sign up for the free trial!

9. One celebrity who's getting a real workout is Agyness Deyn, who's currently doing Time.

10. And Kate Hudson is looking cute on the cover of UK Elle's April issue (the mag honoured the actress with a Style Icon award at the recent Style Awards). Popsugar reports that Kate talks style ("I like to mismatch"), keeping in shape (dance and Pilates) and her ex-husband ("I'll always love Chris"). I can't wait to get my hands on a copy!

Sponsor shout-out time! Thanks to MyLookBook, SwapMyStyle, NoteCouture and Beloved. Show them the love and click, click, click!

Yours truly,
Girl With a Satchel