Cart Curator #33 - Who the f*** is Madelaine Brockway
How the "wedding of the year" really exposed a criminal, what to wear to your work Chrissy party and you guessed, another excellent dupe.
Hi CC friends,
The silly season is well and truly underway already and my god are we already feeling exhausted. The shops are packed, the Black Friday hangover is still lingering and the Christmas parties are beginning so who knows how we will feel by the end of December.
As we near 2024, we wanted to do something fun and reflective as we wrap our first-ever year of CC, so we’re working on a Year in Review style newsletter with some of our most-loved/used purchases and items for the year.
Before we get into it, this is a reminder (jump scare) that there are three weeks until Christmas. So far I (Nic) have consumed two Chrissy movies - The Holiday (duh) and The Family Stone. Jess on the other hand has already watched The Holiday three times already. Watch this space.
Enjoy,
You Asked For It
Ahhh it’s this time once again, Christmas party season. There is something about a work Christmas party that makes you want to pull out the stops and put on your most put-together and fashion-forward look like you don’t see these people every day and they know exactly how you dress.
If you’re like us, it always seems to feel like this time of year doesn’t always produce the best outfit options (when this is arguably the time we need it the most) so we have pulled together some styles we currently have our eyes on including some rental options which are always ideal when it comes to event dressing.
First up we have a fun mini option from Hansen and Gretel, the Ayla Dress. This is short, so if you work somewhere more corporate this may not be appropriate for your planned celebrations, so keep this suggestion in mind for Friendsmas. It has a strappy back and tortoise shell bead detailing on each shoulder, which is a summer spin on the classic LBD.
Next up is the Meshki Constance Cupped Midi Dress which is one of many great options from Meshki at the moment. It’s also currently on sale (you’re welcome). This balconette-style midi dress is super feminine and flattering on the body and the lightweight material is perfect for any sun-drenched lunch or afternoon drink. White is slightly risky for any occasion where drinks are involved, but thinking about how good this would look with a (fake) tan and gold accessories makes it worth it. Worth noting the size range of XXS - 3XL, which should be standard but isn’t sadly.
How could we share suggestions for a Christmas party and not throw in a Venroy number? When the print on the Jamaica Scene Linen Halter Midi Dress was released we were honestly not the biggest fans but I (Jess) have come to love this pattern and now own the mini skirt. The colours and the abstract painting are so extra and surprisingly versatile when it comes to what accessories you would wear with it. Venroy’s linen is always lightweight making it wearable for a daytime Christmas party as well as the countless other engagements you have throughout the festive season.
Alternatively, if you want to go something on the luxury side but on a budget, our recommendation is to look to dress hire websites like The Volte to find something super special like this Jacquemus La Robe Dress, this mini from Sir the Label or this relaxed set from Alémais.
Popshop
Our favourite pop culture or industry moment of the week.
We were going to talk about this last week as it unfolded on TikTok, but we’re so glad we held off because the story has only gotten juicer since. What originally started as TikTok users talking about an extravagant wedding, has quickly turned into something more sinister.
ICYMI, 26-year-old Texas native Madelaine Brockway catapulted to virality when she shared her OTT Bachelorette party and subsequent Parisian wedding late last month.
There is already so much content making the rounds on the internet about what is being dubbed the “wedding of the year” (we disagree, sorry, but no one can take that title from Sophia Ritchie this year), so we’re going to quickly summarise the event itself before we go any further.
The internet caught wind of the wedding when content from the bride’s week-long bachelorette party in Utah started appearing on For You Pages. Each day had a different theme, with matching costumes and styling to fit and they stayed at the famed Amangiri resort no less (IYKYK).
The wedding then took place over 5 days in France with several iconic Parisian venues and locations, including the Palais Garnier, the Eiffel Tower, Chanel’s Haute Couture studios, and an overnight stay at the Palace of Versailles.
Madelaine hired and flew over an Australian wedding content creator (it is worth noting this creator is somewhat of an influencer) to shoot, edit, and produce low-fi TikTok format video, which helped the content go even further
The bride wore custom Dior
Maroon 5 performed at the wedding (nothing says ever lasting love like Adam Levine)
The gift registry was just as extravagant and included an $18K butterfly cage
The wedding is estimated to cost AUD $89 million in total, including private guest air travel and hotel stays
Now, Jess and I originally wanted to use Popshop to talk about how Madelaine had seemingly schemed and planned this whole wedding affair as an attempt to essentially buy herself the status of an influencer. Madelaine appeared to be taking the Sophia Ritchie route to use an OTT wedding as a springboard for influencing (which is quite smart). Given that she didn’t even have a social media platform before the nuptials, people began curiously digging into who the bride and groom were, they quickly uncovered that there was a bit of drama surrounding the husband.
Madelaine’s 29-year-old husband, who has a name we should add - Jonathon LaGrone - is currently reportedly facing serious jail time (like up to 99 years serious) for an incident that occurred in their hometown North Texas earlier this year in March. Apparently (as the case is still very much in progress) LaGrone apparently (as the case is still very much in progress) assaulted a public worker, according to the Washington Post, after he allegedly opened fire on three police officers in North Texas in March. Aggravated assault is a first-degree felony in Texas and if he is convicted he could serve life in prison.
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Madelaine’s profile is now private, which honestly baffles us more than anything because all she has done is draw significant attention to her partner’s case. As she is yet to do any form of interview - not only about her husband’s potential jail time but about the whole wedding in general - we’re left wondering whether this was a strategic ploy to gain a social media following, or simply a last minute opportunity to spend time celebrating their love before he goes behind bars?
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What’s next for Madelaine? Did they not think this was going to come out? Discuss!
Add to Cart
What’s sitting in carts, or what’s been checked out.
Jess
Kmart 3 Pack Super Soft G-String Briefs
I am a dedicated wearer of the Skims Fits Everybody Thongs, but at $35 a piece, they have got to be the most expensive, basic underwear out there. Kmart being the gem it is recently released an exact dupe of the underwear for $12, and it gets better - that’s for a pack of three.
Having seen these in person I can tell you these are identical material, cut and even down to the shades. I have placed an order for a few sets because these have now done the rounds on TikTok so you know it won’t be long until these are sold out.
Wittner Farrah Black Box Leather Loafer
Slightly random selection given it’s now summer and Brisbane currently feels like the surface of the sun, but for me, there is no better time to snag a bargain than the opposite season. That leads me to these Wittner leather loafers I just picked up in-store for $100 which was half off the RRP (!!!). These are leather with leather lining and just feel beautiful. Loafers have been on my list for a while but I never pulled the trigger as there are so many different styles out there and I didn’t want anything with hardware, tassels, patent leather… the list goes on.
These are such a classic style and I can’t wait to wear these when it cools down slightly (love to see these styled with a mini skirt so no need to wait until winter), you can see some of my styling inspo below
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Nicole
Araminta James Sunseeker Dress
I’ve been eyeing off the classic Lucy Folk towelling pieces but have yet to make the jump over the last two summers. This dress from Araminta James is very similar to their cult towel mini dress, but has a much more fun and vibey-er version of the cult Lucy Folk towel dress. The blue colour is not one that I would usually, or ever really, go for, but I feel that it is such a fresh shade especially when combined with the retro inspired print that reminds me of old-school Billabong or Roxy. Given how much time I spend going in and out of the beach during summer in Sydney, I’m justifying this on my wishlist as being a practical item that will look just as chic regardless if it’s worn out of the ocean or not.
The whole time we were on holidays earlier this year we tried to track down an exact starfish pair of earrings like these ones with no luck. If I’m shopping on The Iconic, it’s usually only via brand, which is how I found these Mango earrings. These scream summer, and would be so fun worn dressed up, down or even to the beach for a little dip. At only $24.95 for the two pairs, these are such a fun accessory to add to your wardrobe this summer without breaking the bank before the silly season (hate myself for saying that).
My first thought when I saw these was that scene in the movie Aquamarine - iconic.
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Beauty Counter
Prod of the week.
Jess
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA for Scalp
I have had this product sitting in my beauty drawer for a few months now but never ventured to try it because, well, to be honest this sounds confusing. The directions say for use daily, it’s moisturising, but also shouldn’t be washed out which in my mind sounded like I would end up with an oily mess. Over the past few weeks my scalp has been freaking out over who knows what and has become incredibly dry (it’s usually dry this was just a whole different ball game) and that's when I finally pulled this out and well I am obsessed.
I use more than what is directed on the bottle and it still massages into nothing leaving 0 sign or greasy residue and this is apparently the only thing I needed to moisturise my scalp and solve all my problems.
Nicole
Tan Luxe The Gradual Body Moisturiser
This is like the chic older sister to the Dove Summer Glow gradual tan lotion that you probably used and abused in your early teen years. You can literally apply like you would any body lotion, with your hands, and it’s honestly foolproof.
The colour (which is subtle and gives a natural glow) develops over a couple of hours, which is perfect if you can’t be bothered to fake tan or you just want a little bit of colour for an event. You also don’t need to do any hectic removal, it washes off pretty easily with a good scrub, loofah or mitt in the shower (which you should be using anyway) and can be layered daily for a deeper shade.
One to Try
Recent openings and discoveries.
Every Insta girl’s favourite brand Realisation Par has opened its first ever Australian store (temporarily) with a one month pop-up in Paddington Sydney.
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Initial reports are sharing that there have been huge lines, with people now only waiting to get into the store but to try on the pieces inside. Now, I (Nic) own a lot of Realisation Par, and am glad to see the brand offering an opportunity to try on their range because through my experience their sizing varies significantly depending on the piece.
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I (Nic) also received an email today that they are offering VIP appointments on request with “shopping and wine”. Intriguing.
Lottery Win
A girl can dream.
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Bracelet
Honestly nothing screams WEALTHY more than a VC&A accessory. They are timeless, elegant and strike a perfect balance of luxury and simplicity. This would also be appropriate for an IYKYK with their iconic clover leaf motif, but at $6,950 this bracelets deserves its position in Lottery Win.
IYKYK
Super specific recs and niche hyper-fixations.
One for the FODMAP readers (Jess included), for those whose sensitive stomachs struggle with Garlic, then this is the ultimate substitute. With a subtle garlic flavour, garlic-infused olive oil is low FODMAP so you can still get that garlic hit without the uncomfortable side effects. Thank gosh, because garlic is a cooking necessity and you shouldn’t even be thinking about creating most meals without it.
We won’t go into the science about why the infusion is fine but the garlic alone isn’t because you can read about that yourself online. Also, it’s just a time saver all around because peeling/cutting garlic is a pest and your fingers smell so there’s that.
If you’re new to Cart Curator, take a read of some of our recent editions.
Cart Curator #32 - Bring Back Black Friday Stampedes
Cart Curator #31 - Our 2023 Holiday Gift Guide
Cart Curator #30 - Alice McCall's Fashion Faux Pas
Cart Curator #29 - Let's play catch up on the Kardashians