contributors
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THIS ISSUE REVEAL THEIR HOT LISTS
PANDORA SYKES @pandorasykes
The London-based journalist, consultant and broadcaster (and contributing editor at
Man Repeller), is also the co-host of current affairs podcast The High Low. For the most part, however, she can be found sniffing her new baby’s head. Peek in her wardrobe in “Social Conscience” on p54.
On my playlist: The Week Unwrapped, Call Your Girlfriend and Breasts Unbound podcasts.
On my reading list: I’m currently reading The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer and This Is Just My Face:
Try Not To Stare by Gabourey Sidibe.
On my to-do list: Pilates. I literally crunch when I walk. And not in a good way.
On my wish list: A painted tray by Luke Edward Hall x The Lacquer Company, a velvet dress from The Vampire’s Wife and a hot tub for my roof terrace.
On my bucket list: A road trip through Texas.
On my blacklist: The obsession with critique. Pejorative comments about women on their own social media platforms is uncool.
KRISTINA SOLJO @ksoljo
The photographer started snapping for a hobby as a 15-year-old, developing her shots in a laundry darkroom. Fast-forward to a love affair with a fashion photographer and her career fate was sealed. She shot our interiors story, “Fine Art”, on p154.
On my playlist: In my car, I choose mellow picks like Fleetwood Mac or Mazzy Star. At work, everything from Drake to Xavier Rudd. I love the podcast Conversations.
On my reading list: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman.
On my to-do list: I recently bought a sewing machine. All my friends will be getting market bags as presents.
On my wish list: I’m always on the hunt for great boots I can shoot in. They tend to get hammered with use.
On my bucket list: To have a cabin in the mountains.
On my blacklist: The focus on money and power, rather than on looking after people and the environment.
MICHELLE JACKSON @shelljax
ELLE’S art editor – whose inspired layouts and dreamy picture edits grace these pages – is also a music nerd, NRL fan, budding permaculturalist and wannabe beekeeper.
On my playlist: Nick Drake, Neil Young, Kendrick Lamar, Gang of Youths, The Smith Street Band, Dune Rats… I could go on. I’m music obsessed.
On my reading list: The Hidden Life Of Trees by Peter Wohlleben. I love learning about the natural world – it’s my deepest love.
On my to-do list: Eat at Fleet in Brunswick Heads. Or become a beekeeper… you know, the usual things.
On my wish list: A third-drop adidas Originals by Alexander Wang track jacket and pants in maroon.
On my bucket list: If I could run away to Topanga Canyon, California, and drop off the grid, I would.
On my blacklist: Australian politics! Get it together, people.
GILLES BENSIMON @gilles_bensimon
Summer weather, swimming and a shoot for Seafolly... Sydney put on a show for the New York-based, French photographer (and former international creative director of ELLE magazine), who hit Bondi Beach in the wee hours to snap “Before Sunrise” on p90 before jetting home.
On my playlist: My daughter makes me listen to rap music but I enjoy listening to Erik Satie. I also love British singer Kathleen Ferrier. On my reading list: Every year I read Ulysses by James Joyce. I find myself enjoying it more every time. I also love Moby Dick – this is like the bible to me.
On my to-do list: Meeting new people. I like to find people I can talk to about anything.
On my wish list: Aside from wanting to live in Japan for a year, I’d love to make movies; it is just finding the time to prepare!
On my bucket list: I’d love to learn to fly [an aeroplane] but I don’t think it will happen. Swimming across the Atlantic is another I’d like to tick off.
On my blacklist: That I lost my camera today. The last photo I took was of an amazing lady at the airport wearing a mushroom hat.