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The monthly round-up for your browsing pleasure
One of the trends on social media you may have seen recently is of someone sharing a photo or video of themselves and overlaying that with all the names they’re known for - or have been known for. I jumped on the trend and shared my own.
I had thought I’d covered off my history of names and nicknames I’ve answered to over the years but a friend and someone I worked with for a very long time jumped on and reminded me of a crucial and the funniest one - Nikkers! Just a reminder of that took me back to that part of my life and put a smile on my face.
It’s very Australian to have so many nicknames, shortened or adapted versions of our names that we’ve either bestowed upon ourselves or had bestowed upon us. I started toying with my own name “change” as a teenager. As a kid growing up in a regional town I felt as far away from the French origins of “Nicole” as I possibly could. It was also at a time of a teenage girls’ life that you doodled and wrote your name a lot - or was that just my friends and I? I loved the the symmetry of how “Nikki” looked when written - the two “i”s and the two “k”s. That probably says more about the way my brain works more than anything else but I made it stick the year I moved to Brisbane to live on campus at the University of Queensland. As I met every new person, I simply introduced myself as Nikki. And that was that! Except when it came to academia … Nicole Parkinson won the 1987 Journalism Prize. HAH!
Scroll down to the comments and let me know what names you’re known as!
Nikki
x
PS. Thank you for reading. This monthly sponsors’ email helps to keep this newsletter free. Thank you for also supporting my sponsors. That these brands actually want to a have a woman in her late 50s promote their brand is a big tick from me. They get that we’re out here not only trying chase the protein every day but that want to continue to live our best lives.
Felt cute, didn’t delete!
I’m busily working behind the scenes to bring you this year’s jeans round-up (this was last year’s). These jeans below are in my top buys for this season. I originally bought them too big, passed them on to @stace_mcgregs and promptly bought a new pair. THEY’RE THAT GOOD.
Shop my outfit HERE. Blazer is Styling You The Label
“It’s like I’m newly engaged … to myself”
I always knew that starting this process to create a bespoke UbyKate piece was going to be something special but to say I was blown away with the end result is a bling-worth understatement.
In case you missed the full story, here’s the back story. I love putting this new gold opal and diamond ring on my finger every day. It reminds me of my mum and the women in her family who came before her. I know this piece will be loved in my family for generations to come.
If you have something you’d like redesigned or would just like to work with Kate to create something personalised to you from scratch, I highly recommend the Ubykate bespoke jewellery process. You can make an appointment to see her at her studio in Sydney, work with her online or book in for an appointment when she may be visiting a city near you. Appointments are currently open for Perth and Brisbane.
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Just when these pants couldn’t get any better, they do!
Believe the hype. lululemon’s Align pants just got even better. The Align No Line™ High-Rise Pant 25” has all the things I love about Align’s weightless buttery soft, four-way stretch fabric but WITHOUT a front seam.
I’ve shared exact products featured and sizing info HERE.
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Knit season is here!
I’ve been wearing and loving Zjoosh knitwear for years and this year’s cashmere, wool and cotton offering has me adding many more pieces to my wishlist.
All the knitwear pieces I’ve shared are “free size”. I’m a size 12-14 and 166cm so this gives you an idea of how they might sit on your body.
If this is a sign to add the Olivia leather pant to cart, do take it! She’s been a mainstay of my casual and evening winter wardrobe for four years. She is comfortable and makes any outfit look polished. Put simply, I love her! I’m in L.
As for the jeans, the Wanda pant is an incredible cut of jeans with awesome stretch. She not only can be dressed up or down, she works back with pretty much any winter footwear. I’m in size 14.
🚨Discount code: there is a spend and save happening at Zjoosh right now but if you’re looking to buy something below $150 or outside of the spend and save, my discount code is NIKKI15 (please note the discounts cannot be combined)
Shop HERE
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Let’s talk collagen …
I’m almost 58. I love my skin. I’m not trying to look anything but my age. What I do try to do is support my skin as I age. Collagen has been a part of my daily skincare routine for almost five years and I now understand that it also supports my menopausal bone health.
What I didn’t understand until discovering Calmerceuticals is that there are collagen formulas and there are collagen formulas. Calmerceuticals offers a liquid collagen crafted with the highest quality ingredients and made in Australian laboratories.
Yes, you’ll find cheaper collagen offerings in the market but Calmerceuticals makes no apologies for their higher price point with 100% money back guaranteed results. Results will vary according to the individual.
Shop HERE
PS. Because you might be curious … in the past I’ve had injectable face tweakments (and I may do again - never say never) but have not had any for more than 12 months.
PPS. My dress is new and selling fast at Styling You The Label. My boots are FRANKIE4 Footwear (my 20% site-wide code ends May 31 - NIKKI20_AW25 … and there will be more bargains to be had in their Storewide sale in store from May 30 and online from June 1)
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The weighted vest is back on!
I know personally how tricky it can be to get the lifestyle support you might be looking for at this stage of our lives. (If you missed my peri and menopause dedicated Substack post, click HERE for a full and thorough debrief.)
Not everyone is across how we can best exercise and eat to support our bodies in peri and menopause. Spoiler alert: it’s different from our younger years! If you’re looking for support all in one place, good news: 28 by Sam Wood now offers a menopause program.
✔️There’s a specialist menopause trainer - Tania Monk. I’m loving her strength workouts and love that she just gets it.
✔️And chasing the protein and fibre we need every day is made easier and more delicious thanks to the nutritionist-developed recipes.
Whether you’re looking to refine your nutrition and exercise midlife or you just don’t know where to start, this program is ideal. There’s also a Facebook group just for women in this program. If you’re already a 28 by Sam Wood member, this program is free.
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New at Styling You The Label
The final jigsaw pieces in our autumn-winter 2025 collection have dropped and they are every bit as luxe and lovely to wear as they look.
Shop HERE
Want more outfit inspiration?
Click the image below or HERE to follow me on LTK and find links to many of the beauty and fashion recommendations I feature.
