“ From the time we’re born until we die, we’re kept busy with artificial stuff that isn’t important.” Tom Ford is excellent at being busy.
“I thought I was too fat to have sex. I’m not kidding There’s no way I would ever have had sex when I was really fat,I would have just died. I turned men down, saying, ‘Look I’m too fat. Don’t bother me now. I once spent three days in bed because I felt that I was so fat, old and ugly and thought I was never going to work again.” Kirstie Alley is very busy. She doesn’t know that it’s only in Hollywood fat, ugly, old people don’t have sex or work.
“I want a man who loves his wife desperately and she just died a couple of years ago. So he’s had enough time to get over her, but he’s got the kids.” Kirstie Alley is getting busier and busier. “Nothing people say really bothers me, but that bothers me because I wouldn’t want somebody younger than me, someone who looks up to me, to believe it,” Nicole Ritchie is bothered that people think she is anorexic. Being fat bothered her more.
“ if I don’t put food in my body, I’m going to die. I eat whatever there is to eat because I don’t want to faint on the runway.” Model Giselle. A great reason to eat; to stop fainting. She will DIE if she fainted on the runway.
“ No matter what a woman looks like, if she’s confident, she’s sexy” Paris Hilton is not fat, old or ugly.
“Just look at the Paris Hilton phenomenon and the way every other teenager looks like a prostitute.” Tom Ford
“ All the fat girls and old ladies are all walking around with their bellies out and butt cracks showing, The other day I went from mall to mall and I thought, ‘What’s left to put on the hookers?’”
Designer Bob Mackie Outrageous. Who goes from mall to mall?
‘I was bulimic and anorexic for a while, just hating my body. As an actress, I was never thin enough, never pretty enough. The self-loathing that goes along with bulimia or anorexia helped me understand my character Bree’s internal journey’ Felicity Huffman is thrilled that her self loathing was so handy for her acting. There should be a lot of great actors in Hollywood.
‘ Do you know if it’s is a boy or a girl?’ Barbara Walters to Tom Cruise
“No, I don’t, Barbara, I would tell you. I would say, ‘I know if it’s a boy or a girl and I’m not telling you.’” Tom Cruise is a great actor.
“So what do you see?” Walters to Tom Cruise on the ultrasound machine he bought for Katie
“A little baby.” Says Cruise (thanks, we were wondering what it was).

Everyone dreams of a better world. A world where the only people staving are models; where the only climate change is from jetlag, where your shoe bill is more than the third world debt. Or where Prada, Gucci and Marc Jacobs can be bought for less than $200. Your dreams can come true when you head to Perfume Empire. You’ll find all your favourite designer fragrances at discount prices: Marc Jacobs is $89 from $140 for 50 ml; Rush Gucci from $169 to $124 and Prada is $99 from $115. It’s a better world when all your fragrances match your shoes.

Perfume Empire and at Westfield Bondi Junction

What’s slimming, black, chic, looks good on everyone, and will go anywhere, anytime. A black Amex. And an LBD. The little black dress is all you need for all those Christmas parties. Please ignore all those tacky bright colours and horrid pastels. It’s all about black. For now and next season. Did you see Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s in a hot pink number? I rest my case. Dress it up with fabulous black jet beads, long pearls, diamantes, with boots, with heels, with a trench, with a waist-cinching belt and flat silver T bar sandals. The best little black dresses around? Head to David Lawrence for a cute black satin strapless dress $299, Collette Dinnigan for a black strapless dress $840; Zimmerman for the slinky black halter $520; Country Road for the drape front dress $199. and cue for a fabulous scoopneck dress with a tulip skirt. Try Orson and Blake for a black chiffon 50’s dress $295; Tim O’Connor for a jersey black dress $290; Orson and Blake salon for a DVF taffeta opera dress with lace underskirt $999 and Como for Narciso at $1200. There is only one place to go with your black Amex; the Mothership, Prada

I’ve worked out why pale lips are now big, big news in beauty right now. After all the lip pumping silicon it seems the last thing celebs want to do is smear on bright red lipstick and bring attention to those huge things under their noses. With pale lips it’s important to have dark, smoldering eye makeup. So grab the best (and cheap and chicest) kohl pencil around. It’s the Rimmel London soft Kohl Kajal eye pencil in jet black. It’s soft, easy to apply, easy to smudge in, looks great and stays on at least till lunchtime. And best thing about eye liner? It doesn’t come off when you eat.

$6.95 Rimmel London Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil from K Mart.

Get the lowdown on what’s hot in Paris in the November issue of US Travel and Leisure.
The hotel everyone is talking about (reported months ago here at FiFi HQ) www.hotelpuertaamericas.com
In Paris check out the flower shop Odorantes in the 6th which sends a poem with each bouquet of flowers.
Bergdorf Goodman has opened a new restaurant, BG, with the interior design by Kelly Wearstler.
Tom Ford is days away from securing a deal to direct a remake of “The Women,” the 1939 George Cukor film based on the play of the same name.
David Yurman has tapped Naomi Watts to star in its new advertising campaign. The spring campaign was shot in St. Barts by Peter Lindbergh.
Speculation is mounting in Paris that Phoebe Philo may exit as creative director of Chloé. Philo’s desire to spend time with family is said to be increasingly at odds with the leadership demands of the company.
Kathleen Turner isn’t about to let her recent foot surgery keep her away from the London run of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
Jimmy Choo has opened a new store in Paris. It is 1500-square-foot outpost boasting 14 feet of frontage on Avenue Montaigne. .
Mario Testino invited all his most esteemed friends to Kensington Palace for the private view of the exhibition of photographs of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Gant has found a new face of fashion: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The sportswear house is tapping into its New England roots and has photographed Kennedy, his wife and children on the water in Cape Cod for its spring-summer 2006 ad campaign. Proceeds will go to Waterkeepers, Kennedy’s environmental organization.
Net-a-Porter founder Natalie Massanet is set to launch a fashion magazine on the back of her London-based, online designer boutique. Massanet sees Net-a-Porter Notes, which will launch the first week in January, as the hard copy companion to her Web site — meaning it’s a shopping magazine with the sales infrastructure already built in.
TIFFANY & CO announced this week that it has signed a new partnership with architect Frank Gehry who will create an exclusive collection to go on sale in April next year.

http://www.secondart.com
If you are at all interested in collecting art check out this website. Secondart.com is an art collectors website based in the UK. “ We aim to provide a direct link between art collectors. A collector, big or small, may access a wide audience of buyers through Secondart for one reasonable fee of £30 per artwork listed”

http://www.zonicweb.net/badalbmcvrs/
It’s the museum of bad album covers! Zonicweb.net accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any nausea, vomiting and/ or retinal damage caused by viewing these album covers. Check out Number 42, (shoot the stylist!)

Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey officially split! it’s true this time.
‘You know what’s more entertaining than watching Kate Moss snort cocaine? Watching Kate Moss snort cocaine and then dance topless like a lunatic. And you know what’s even better than that? Watching Kate Moss lose her balance after dancing like an idiot and hit her head on a fan. I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation for all this crap’ The superficial.com says go here to watch it all http://www.showstudio.com//2005/11/16/kate_moss_400300.mov
Jimmy Choo has appointed Nicole Richie as its new face. “Nicole has such an incredibly sophisticated look and fabulous sense of style.” You mean her stylist Rachel Zoe has a fabulous sense of style.
Nicole Kidman was spotted wearing an engagement wing on her wedding finger, but Keith Urban’s publicist says “Right now it’s just a rumor.” Right now? What about later?
Russell Crowe has reportedly sealed a deal with New York’s District Attorney’s office so he will avoid jail for his assault on a hotel worker.
It’s kaput between Lindsay Lohan and Jared Leto.
TOMKAT are planning to wait until their baby is born before they wed in 2006.
Brad and Angelina stepped out together at The Muhammad Ali Center’s Grand Opening Gala in Louisville, KY, marking the couple’s first official public outing.
Angelina and Brad are traveling to Pakistan to visit the earthquake devastated region.
Sienna and Jude are on, and off and on and off and now they are arguing. The two went to dinner in New York and, “got into a heated argument in front of everyone. It was so bad that Sienna was brought to tears and stormed outside to catch her breath and have a ciggie.” Outrageous. Smoking.
Christina Aguilera’s new husband Jordan Bratman reportedly stood up at the wedding and asked guests to raise their glasses as he thanked his shocked parents for his “good looks and large p***s”. (He is not good looking.)
Courtney Love has been spotted sporting a baby bump - reviving rumours she is expecting Steve Coogan’s lovechild.
Is Uma Thurman planning a third trip down the aisle? Uma has accepted boyfriend Andre Balazs’ proposal.
Athina Onassis, plans to marry her beau, Brazilian equestrian Alvaro Afonso de Miranda Neto, wearing Valentino. The private ceremony will be held on Dec. 3 in São Paolo.
Christopher Plummer stands accused of snubbing The Sound Of Music’s 40th anniversary reunion because he is embarrassed of the hit musical. He used to refer to it as the ‘Sound of Mucus’. It wasn’t one of his favorite things.”

In Lucia’s Eyes (Hardcover) by Arthur Japin
Arthur Japin’s magnificently imagined second novel takes us into the most rarified and the most sordid realms of eighteenth-century Europe in the company of an extraordinary woman. She is a servant girl in an Italian manor house, educated by her lascivious lord, engaged to a young man by the name of Giacomo–and suddenly disfigured by the pox. Fleeing in shame and without warning, piercing the heart of her beloved, Lucia faces a bewildering new world alone. She will move across Europe for sixteen years–from Naples to Venice, Paris, and Amsterdam–working as a housekeeper, a lady’s companion, and finally, as a much-sought-after courtesan. In salons, opera boxes, and boudoirs, A rich and vibrant evocation of a time past, and an emotionally daring story of the individual spirit’s transformation by love.
$16.32 http://www.amazon.com/ Publisher: Knopf (November 22, 2005)

The Christmas list
Slim Aarons: A Place in the Sun by Christopher Sweet (Editor), Slim Aarons
Ah, the beautiful people! Their faces and circumstances change, individually and historically, but they seem always to be with us. Aarons’ images constitute the ultimate glamour photography. Presented by location, from Monaco to Europe, Africa, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Mexico, and the U.S., they show the rich and famous at play. Aarons never used a stylist, a makeup artist, or anything but natural light (if you were rich, famous, and ugly, you stayed away from the places Aarons photographed), and since the settings encouraged swimwear, it is astonishing how beautiful these people were. Astonishing, too, is the electric intensity of the colors, even when visual details are smudged by distance and softened focus. They don’t take pictures like this anymore.
$47.25 http://www.amazon.com/ Publisher: “Harry N. Abrams, Inc.” (December 1, 2005)

Does everyone know about AskFiFi @WBJ? It’s the free, email shopping service at Westfield Bondi Junction. Need to know where to find the perfect little black dress? The best skinny jeans or the coolest wedges? Just log onto http://www.westfield.com/bondijunction/news/askfifi.rdf and fill out the form! Let FiFi Find it For You!
Diary Note; The FiFi Style sessions for Christmas Party dressing is on 8th and 9th December go here to book a seat http://www.westfield.com/bondijunction/news/askfifi.rdf
Economy
Myer: Shoe department: Check out the Sandler Prada esque flat T bar sandals with brown shell disc detail $79; Sandler black T bar sandals with a leather chain $89; the Saachi black closed toe stacked heels $189; and check out the Vig Spiga copies of the choc brown Manolos with a tie front $280.
MNG: check out the bronze lurex singlet $69; the black wool melton military jacket $259; the fab oatmeal, long V neck cardigan with front pockets, so very Prada $79; the burnt orange wool melton peacoat $189; and the chic $59 silver lurex clutch with a big brooch .
Just Jeans: check out the cute white ¾ crop jeans $69; the skinny black denim jeans $79; the white cotton blazer outrageously reduced to $39; also in a daggy cream or faded café au lait. The white boot cut jeans are now $49.
Cue: Check out the gorgeous brown and cream retro print faded cotton shift dress in brown and cream and yellow, so Prada ’98 with a brown woven belt $189; the cap sleeve, purple chiffon shirt $259; a black V neck cap sleeve dress $259; a 40’s short sleeve sheer black chiffon dress with a belt $255. There is the best (as reported each week) red and brown stripe tank $85; and a little black dress with a white stripe waist and high neckline $245. The bags are cool here for about $269
Mollini: checkout the fab flat, roman sandals, the straps are in black jersey, very Helmut Lang ( RIP); go for the flats $99 or the heels $119; the silver T bar sandals $89; the silver or gold metallic heels (will razz up any black outfit) $128. Check out the fab navy and white cotton wedge espadrilles $89.
Veronika Maine: check out the fab dark grey cotton chinos with a wider leg $125; the black chiffon dress with a brown ribbon belt $299; a black halter jersey dress $275 and the fab classic straight leg pants in a expensive fabric $159.
FCUK: check out the stripe navy and white cloth belt $15; the silver sequin grey caplet $139; the skinny jeans (but no back pocket, a bit scary for anyone with a butt) $139; a Marimekko style print cotton loose top in white with a huge black swirl print $130.
David Jones shoes: love the Sportcraft flat T bar thongs, almost Birkenstock /Clergerie in choc brown, $139 with a square button front. Milana has done a Miu Miu or was it Marc Jacobs wedges with little patent flowers across the front in brown and blue $189.

Business class
David Lawrence: check out the black sheer black beaded capelet $159; and the black satin tulip skirt $189; there is a lot of watermelon and lilac.
Midas shoes: check out the mini platform ankle straps in tan $248; the black satin peep toe heels with a bow are THE best buy $198; the same but in matt silver or gold $198; the fab grey python round toe pumps $278 and the fab black satin simple round toe heels with a chunky square heel $278. Buy the round toe ballets flats $198 with a silver bow.
Country Road: check out the best pieces; a cotton jersey shoe string drop waist dress in coffee $79; the black knit chiffon corset tank top $99; the fab tan plaform wooden mules $179 are a must buy; and so are the T bar silver flat sandals $99. There is a fab distressed leather clutch in metallic silver, very Balenciaga with a dark, almost black silver chain $129; a floppy straw hat $79; and of course the silver dark grey cotton chinos $129 and the black drape dress are all great. $199.
Zimmerman: love the big oversized sunglasses here. Check out the new, pretty blue and cream cami top with a frayed edge $179; and the skinny, crop jeans $297.
Morrissey: check out the red large chunky necklace, very Miu Miu $79.
Max & Co: buy the black rib zip front top with silver button cuffs $300 and the classic little black shift dress with a frayed edge.$290.
Armani Exchange: not alot here, it’s very hot pink and lilac. Not as you would imagine the king of beige would like to have it. Check out the wide neck grey sweat shirt with a tie neck $149
Wayne Cooper: check out the white/raspberry/leaf print beaded long Kaftan top $350; the chic black pants $220; the must have black cotton belted pencil skirt with front patch pocket and buttons down the front as reported months ago $220 and the black satin tulip skirt $220. The black jersey dress with a full skirt and cross over top and tie is cool $295
Orson and Blake: have lots of divine clothes in. Check out the fabulous ‘Bulb’ caftans, great quality and fabrics. Choose the red or white cotton ones with a drawstring waist $145; the red long one with tiny embroidery on the shoulder $180 and the cream silk kaftan with sequin trim $189; Also check out the long ankle length white cotton hooded Kaftans $125. There is a divine Boss Woman shift dress in a very Miu Miu brown retro print $819; a red short trench $1080; or camel jacket $999; and classic pants in black $499. Check out the Mint crinkle choc brown T with a drawstring neck line $149; and the Kate Slyvestre cream almond cami $189. Check out the Fashion Spectrum beautiful, white embroidered Indian linen kaftan $125; and the Josh Goot silver collection is in : buy the cardigan jacket or the long tank dress $150. There are lots of fab belts here as well as great bangles and necklaces and of course the fab ecleticca canvas St Tropez tote bags with leather trim $310.
Tim O’ Connor: check out the white artist smock $198 in cotton and white pintuck Chloe style shirt $200; the perfect D/B trench coat with wooden buttons $550 and the choc brown buckle front shirt dress $310. Love the big Blinde sunglasses $300.

First:
Myer shoes : Check out the Givenchy gold flat roman sandals with a silver ring detail $720; the black Givenchy heels with a silver ring $700; the Alessandro dell’ Aqua tan snakeskin anklestrap heels $780 and in blue $720; the round toe black flat $750 with a bar across the front and the Calvin Klein gold ankle straps $650. There are DKNY platform corks in a teal $429; the Manolos in choc brown very gladiator heels $1200; gorgeous Chloe T Bar tan strappy heels $720 and check out the bright suede Kors platform sandals in pink, blue and orange $450.
Como: Winter has just arrived! Check out the fab Costume National red chiffon secretary tie front blouse $505; the grey jersey top $505; the simple white shirt $455; the black chiffon backless cami $1145 with lace trim and the brown velvet bustier with lace front $1000. There is a velvet blue Costume Nat trouser suit $2640; a cute black and white wool swirl skirt $730. Check out the fabulous new Narciso Rodriquez winter: buy the blue and black jersey dress with cut out front $1395; the crop wool melton bolero jacket $1450; the gold cream embroidered dress $2406. There is a beautiful D/B black peacoat jacket $2260 with 8 buttons; a black wool dress with cut out front dress $1960 and a simple backless shift dress $1980. Also check out the sale items up to 50% off.
Attic in Queen st: There are some divine pieces in here ; the Proenza Shouler is gorgeous www.proenzaschouler.com/ Buy the teal blue, pencil, button front houndstooth skirt $1275; also in purple ; the round neck bustier sweater $1225; the herringbone black and white blazer $1995 and baggy, side pocket matching pants $1375; the divine taupe and cream herringbone 50’s style fitted, tailored princess coat $3850. Love the high waisted, pinstripe burgundy/taupe cuffed pants $1395 and the matching jacket $1850; the Khaki and wool bomber $1930; and the black wool bomber/ peacoat with epaulettes $2600. Plus the black and white check tulip skirt . Check out the gorgeous multi frayed skirt in patchwork, very 50’s, the Fideli orange cashmere cardigan top $1015. Also love the Marc Jacobs black patent heels with quilting and the Stella Macartney bags. Plus lots more!

Dainty Chicken Finger Sandwiches with lemon thyme, pine nuts and celery

The perfect little, delicious sandwiches for a party for a picnic.

You need:
A loaf or 2 of soft gooey, white soft bread
2 chicken breasts
1 bunch of lemon thyme
About 100g of pine nuts
A couple sticks of celery
1 to tabs of mayonnaise.
Sel et poivre
Naughty but nice butter

·Throw some water on the boil and poach the chicken breasts with a couple of lemons slices in the water till poached.
·Let them cool .
·Chop up the pine nuts roughly into small bits.
·Chop up the lemon thyme.
·Slice up the celery into very small bits.
·When the chicken has cooled, use your fingers to shred it up. Yes watch the manicure.
·Toss the chicken into a bowl and throw in the lemon thyme, the pinenuts and the celery.
·Put one or 2 tabs on mayonnaise and mix it all up. You just want enough mayonnaise to hold the chicken and nuts together rather than make a creamy mess.
·Add more mayonnaise till its glued together
·Add some salt and pepper
·Now butter your bread and make the sandwiches
·Fill each slice with the chicken mix and throw on the lid!
·Cut off the crusts to make dainty fingers
·Then eat a few of the crusts with lashings of butter.
·Feel guilty.
·Repeat till all sandwiches are made.
Sensational little canapé and perfect for all parties.

Prime…a therapeutic rom com written and directed by Ben Younger
Who: Uma Thurman, Meryl Streep and the handsome Bryan Greenberg.
The Plot: Girl meets boy. Boy asks girl out. Girl is 14 years older than boy. But who cares about age. Boy is a hottie. Girl is Uma Thurman and her surgery and botox are fabulous. They fall in love. Her therapist is his mother. Oops. Watch them fall in love, and do romantic things in New York and the Hamptons.
Acting: Uma Thurman is fantastic (for a change) Meryl is sensational of course and Bryan is a spunk ( so who cares if he can act). .
Photography: It’s very Woody Allen New York.
Model moment: Mini Anden has a bit part. playing a model. So skinny you miss it when she turns side on. But finally there is a fashion shoot in a movie that looks like a real shoot.
Gaydar: There is the obligatory bitchy gay friend who has a house in The Hamptons.
Set design: It’s a Sex and The City Rerun: See Dean & Deluca, see groovy apartments, hip clubs, chic restaurants and cool galleries.
Wardrobe: Uma is cool. Very Chloe and Marni with a bit of Marc Jacobs thrown in. Flat shoes, turn up skinny jeans, Missoni tops, hoodies and frill shirts and cute jackets.
Salon de beaute: Finally! Perfect hair and makeup in a movie. Uma glows. Dammit.
Botox: Uma tries so hard to screw up her forehead. She achieves a tiny frown.
Smooches: Smokin! Call the Fire brigade!
Best line in the movie: “ You’re a child….Taxi! - I have T-shirts older than you”
Best review: Refreshingly bright, unpredictable and intelligent while still offering moments of giddy humor that take you totally by surprise.” CNN
Best worst review: Not quite a romance by numbers, Prime is a movie we need like a hole in the head.” VILLAGE VOICE
Car chases: They live in New York, they catch cabs
When Harry met Sally romance Richter scale: It’s a whopping 91/2 out of 10.
See it or donate to the Prada bag/save Katie fund: George Clooney is sacked. Bryan Geenberg is the new Prada bag.
http://www.primemovie.net/index.php