Overheard

"You can call me a shit-kicker if you want, because it all falls back on me."

Talk about multi-tasking. A Merredin boutique secretary draws the unusual parallels between independent retailing, sports and er, the smelly stuff.

"Enough about me!" 
 
Making headlines for all the right reasons is exhausting work isn't it Bowie Wong? The Australian designer plays coy when asked for details on the success of his eponymous label.

:"The shop wouldn't have happened without mate's rates."

Graduate Store co-founder Andrea Cainero admits she owes a lot of people free tees and tutus after they helped her (and her buddies) set up shop.

"A mess."

Who needs a far-reaching industry review? Sharp Dummies founder Daisy Veitch manages to sum up Australia's sizing crisis in two words.

"Very disappointing."

Jo Kellock, the president of project founder the Fashion Technicians' Association of Australia, follows suit. 

"Basically I'm just a schmuck who got lucky. And yet here I am, sleeping in more beds than Paris Hilton."

Sleepwear designer Peter Alexander proves you don't need to be blonde, busty and brainless to notch up a few scores on the bedpost.

"It just didn't feel right."

Uh-oh, not everyone thinks pop star Justin Timberlake is bringing sexy back. Fashion giant Bruno Schiavi said bye, bye, bye when asked to collaborate with the American crooner. 

:"I actually don't necessarily think of [dancing] as a competitive sport but something that comes from the soul."

UK based designer Stella McCartney clearly hasn't witnessed the fierce competitiveness, passion and discipline that is Dancing With the Stars.

"To-die-for lacey secrets."

Perth Fashion Festival director Mariella Harvey-Hanrahan on lingerie brand La Perla's spring/summer collection. Not so secret now, ey Mariella?