“We should have come together-then we would have been on time ” karl interviews himself . It’s a very funny interview : see it here on Net a Porter

“There is no secret to success, the secret is work, get your act together. And also perhaps a decent life: Don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t take drugs, all that helps.” Karl Lagerfeld. ( It obviously works .He must nearly 80.)

“Not until I’m like 105: Because you can’t get a good book unless you’re going to spill the beans, and I can’t spill the beans…not for a long time. It’s got to be a good book if you’re going to do it.” Kate Moss on writing a biography

“Six amazing years and you haven’t killed me yet. I’ll love you forever.” Carey Hart, to wife Pink  (who quipped, “Give it time darling”).

“I do the Golden Globes like some people play golf on a Saturday.” Ricky Gervais.

“I say to my daughter, ‘That outfit is a little bit too risqué or revealing’ and she looks at me and says, ‘That’s rich coming from you.’” Madonna

“God makes the judgment, not me, it just comes through my mouth.” Isaac Mizrahi discusses his role on Project Runway

“Barack Obama has a natural elegance. It would be so easy to put him in to a great cotton khaki suit with flat front pants and aviators. He would look amazing, but he would lose all his credibility as a politician: The only stylish politicians are dictators. ” Barneys Simon Doonan

Can We Still be Friends….by Alexandra Shulman

The first novel from the editor of British Vogue. ( It will be published in April.)
It traces the lives of three 
female friends who graduate from university in 1983:’Three very different girls with very different paths ahead: Sal, the aspiring journalist whose personal demons threaten to destroy everything she has achieved; Annie, the capable domestic beauty, convinced that marriage will give her everything she wants; and, Kendra, the daughter of chic, liberal parents who, searching for her own identity, encounters a life she never expected. As they navigate the decade of ra-ra skirts and shoulder pads, Duran Duran and Margaret Thatcher, they discover that the future is what happens to you, not what you plan. Their interwoven tale captures brilliantly what it is to learn the exhilarating and painful truths about love, work, family and the ties of friendship.’
£12.99 Publisher: PENGUIN GROUP Publication Date: 12-Apr-2012 Waterstones.com

Home Sweet Home: Sumptuous and Bohemian Interiors.. by Oberto Gili , Susanna Salk

If you love looking at divine houses owned by stylish, Boho, international cosmopolitans then this book is for you: Glorious, sumptous photos on beautiful paper!
Read more ( with lots of lovely photos) here fifi.com.au/blog!

I see that a few stores are getting new winter stock in. It’s tricky trying to think about cold weather clothes ( rain or no rain here in Sydney it’s still humid). But I love and adore winter clothes. So this week is a mix between summer sale and new pieces to invest in.

It’s FiFi’s top ten buys of the week:

Let’s start with my hot online of the week: the Marc By marc Jacobs mini cross body  bag . As you may have guessed a cute little bag that’s worn across the body is a hot, hot look. It’s like wearing your wallet on a strap or “a leash” as ShopBop call it ( who needs a dog when you’ve got a bag?) How clever. It’s actually quite sensible for travelling and for dancing in discos. Both at the same time. Not that I do either (often enough. ) But who doesn’t love the idea of being handsfree. Ok, you can tote around a big bag as well. J’insiste. Anyway I absolutely love the grey, love the silver hardware, and love and adore the sale price of $148 . Whaaat?! That’s including free shipping thank you shop bop. NB: It may have left the building already. I’m sharing it with you so at least it will give you an idea of what’s actually hot right now. Being a dag an’ all , you need all the help you can get. Just sayin.

Ck Calvin Klein
I love this store: If you didn’t know. Love. The cut, the prices and the quality are all fabulous. It’s clean and minimal which can only mean one thing: chic de la chic. The sale is about to end:  Don’t come crying on my shoulder just because you missed out on the amazing sale which I told you about weeks ago. You will be sobbing if you didn’t grab a black T dress for $36 ( Perfect for my Bali trip thank you very much), a fabulous black blazer for about $200, and a divine black leather shoulder bag about $150. Anyway dry your eyes with your Gucci tissue and head into store right now to check out the fabulous new summer collection. ( They work in the European seasons: Mais oui). There is color ( and black, white and grey) and I love the orange pants. About $300. Love the dresses. Love the accessories. You can check out it all out here: finally photos to share with you from CK. Thank you.

Max and Co
Another of my fav stores: Ditto on price, quality and cut. How can you go wrong? With the exchange rate as it is the prices are incredible for the quality. The new pieces are in store and it’s winter season. (It has to be because Max Mara coats are all you need for cold weather). There is a fabulous selection of jackets and knits but my pick are the divine heels below. So flattering on the leg: they remind me of the heels Carine Roitfled lives in. You see a more delicate shoe is coming back. I’m welcoming it with open puffed sleeves after seasons of stomp-a-licious platforms. Note the heel is not so high that you need an oxuygen mask to breath. J”adore. About $300.

Country Road
It’s so nice to see the new season collections arriving instore don’t you think?  I am sick of rifling through racks of ,yawn, sale stuff. Over it dude.  Country Road have quite a few new pieces instore : My pick to buy now and wear now?  The chic grey marle Tee with black leather sleeves.  Yes, the Celine leather trend is taking over for winter and you’ll find all sorts of great pieces with trims or just totally in leather. Don’t be afraid. It’s tres chic. Love this number with peg leg pants or with a pencil skirt. I wouldn’t wear it with a leather skirt or pants: Unless you’re going to Mardi Gras. Love it with grey or black denim. Tip: don’t wear pulled down but hike it up a little so it jooshes over the muffins or -goodness gracious me - you could tuck it into your high waist skirt. Oh yes, you could. See below.

Zimmerman
There are still a few bargains to hunt out in the sale racks. To wear now. To wear next summer. To wear in zee zouth of France in July. A long maxi dress is still going to be right for next summer and so I stopped in my tracks when I spied the lovely long swing black racer dress from Zimmerman.  Notice it has all the words we’ve grown to love: Black. Swing. Long.Racer Back. Tick Tick, Tick. Love the swing shape to cover all almond magnums on thighs, love cutaway shoulders for a slimming look on the shoulders, love black and long. It’s perfect for beach, BBQ at home, daggy around by the pool  ..or water hole or creek:  whatever.  Now on sale $115.

Coach
I nicked into Coach to see what’s new and, of course, I went straight to drooling over the shoes. Love these grey heels. The heel is not so high ( You could shop at least for an hour in them) and I love the grey. Why? It’s not black but works just as well. The shape is hot for this coming season. I tried them on. Oh god. I think I have to have them. My occupational health hazard. Anyway they’re called the SANDRA HEEL and are on sale for $200 in store. But here’s a hint: they are US$159 on their US site. Coach don’t ship to Australia but please don’t cry: you can buy them through Price USA who will ship them to Australia for 5% handling fee plus postage. Shut up. How can you go wrong? (I’ve used them with no probs whatsoever). Oh and if you need another handbag I suggest you check out the cutest little square leather shoulder bag ( the hot shape) in black, tan or blush pink with a  brass or silver chain strap on sale for about $360. Yes, please.

Supre
I had a little trip into Supre. Why not? Who cares if I’m twice ( cough , cough) the age of all the shoppers. It is cheap and sometimes chic central. My pick is the fab gold metallic tee. Love a little gold metallic but it’s best back with white. Keep it simple and de-glitz the glitz. We can’t have FiFi Report readers looking too Los Vegas.  On that note: best not to rock the gold back with leather either unless you’re under 25. Bless. I say wear this back with pants. It has a bit a wide scoop neckline (which as you know, can be unflattering.) So toss it over a white tank. Somehow it dresses it right down. Perfect for going out for a low key dinner with George Clooney. Sorry no photo but you will find it : tres snazzy. ( the top not George). ( but he is snazzy too ).

Seed
As I have mentioned before on The FiFi Report: the skirt is baaack big time. ( and you didn’t even know it went away). You see it’s a huge trend on and off the runway. It’s all part of the new lady like look and anyway we are so over dresses. Over. Je repete. Over ( just a little). There is something very 70’s about the new skirt. It’s longer and it’s a little full. Love this grey seersucker chiffon. The photo doesn’t do it justice: it’s a lovely fabric in real life. How often does that happen? Real life is better? Anyway you need to wear this skirt with a cute little knit and some heels.( ballet flats make it a little too sweet and calorific).  It should sit on your waist so again you should tuck it your shirt/top/knit. You could add a belt. It wil work now with a tank and then into winter with a leather jacket and opaque hosiery. True.  $129. ( also in black)

Witchery
Speaking of skirts I also swooped on this lovely Witchery black silk button through skirt . So chic. So right. It’s longer,  thank the lord. It sits on the waist ( now you know that’s the look) and it’s another “buy now and wear now” number. It will work with short tees or a shirt tucked in. Perhaps a little knit Tee would work when it gets chilly. Or try it back with a black leather tee. Love it with a neon Tee, or a grey marle top or just add a mad bad burst of colour like Cobalt blue. Adorable non? Please add heels to get the right silhouette. I think a little silver pointy toe pump works a treat like this chic show goer below. Note : how she has a tucked in top. leather skirt. New length. Silver shoes. Clutch bag. $129. By the way I see I have chosen alot of grey and black. Love it. You know my philosophy : If you have a million bucks you can wear a different colour every day. Got to build a wardrobe on a budget? Stick with chic expensive tones that go to together and love each other. Black grey, white with a touch of orange. Easy.

A lovely little something to serve as an entrée or just an appetizer with drinks. You can serve as a dip with baguette….adulterated from jamieoliver.com.

Jamie says “Don’t use frozen peas and broad beans for this because it sort of misses the point. Made with raw peas and sweet fresh broad beans, the whole thing will taste alive and just like summer. Think mown lawns and warm sunny evenings” ….and Prada T bar sandals.

You need for 4 fashionista or 20 models:

500g peas in their pods (about 150g shelled weight)
700g broad beans in their pods (about 250g shelled weight)
a small bunch of fresh mint, leaves picked
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
extra virgin olive oil
50g finely grated fresh pecorino cheese, plus extra for serving
juice of 1 lemon
4 slices of sourdough bread
1 clove of garlic, unpeeled, cut in half
2 large balls of buffalo mozzarella cheese, torn in half
a handful of pea shoots or rocket or parsely

• Pour a big flute of French champagne.
• Drink it up.
• Slip into your new Marni summer dress.
• Tie up hair and ignore the rain and the frizz.
• Ask George Clooney to pod the peas and broad beans, keeping them separate. They’re not talking to each other.
• This next bit is best done in a pestle and mortar, in batches if necessary. (Jamie says :You can pulse it in a food processor instead, but you won’t end up with the lovely bashed and bruised flavour that makes this dish incredible.)
• Pour another glass of champagne and get bashing.
• So bash up half the mint leaves with the peas and a pinch of salt. Tip: think of ex-boyfriend/ George’s girlfriend and you will be done in no time.
• Add the broad beans a few at a time and crush to a thick green paste.
• Mash in a few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to make the paste really gorgeous and spreadable.
• Stir in the pecorino.
• If the mixture is a bit stiff - think George on a good night- then add a little more oil to loosen it.
• Now pour in about three-quarters of the lemon juice - this will bring the whole story together. A love story.
• Have a taste and see what you think. You want the richness of the pecorino - think Chanel- and the oil to balance nicely with the freshness of the peas, beans and mint.- Think Micheal Kors.
• Season with more salt and some pepper if you need to.
• Ok time for another champers
• Toast the bread on both sides.
• Rub each slice twice only (very important) with the cut side of the garlic and top with some smashed peas and half a ball of mozzarella. So chic!
• Accessorise with the pea shoots/rocket, the remaining mint leaves and the reserved small peas and beans with the rest of the lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper and scatter this over the crostini.
• Moisterise with a little more olive oil and another grating of pecorino.
• Very delicious!