Vanity Fair July:
This issue could be called Sex, Lies and videotape. Nicole Kidman is on the cover looking all prim and proper but in the interview ‘ the wounds from her broken marriage are still visceral and when talking to other people about her the conversation keeps turning to the subject as if at a scene of a crime” (Save Katie). The biggest news is, of course, the interview and exposure of ‘Deep throat’ from Watergate. Read the excerpt from the new book on Hillary Clinton by Edward Klein; “The Truth about Hillary” ( full of lies?), then the “absurd and painful spectacle of the Michael Jackson trial” ( no thanks). Ditto the story on Kate Moss and Pete Doherty ( ‘his friends want him to give up drugs, her friends want her to give him up). Read Dominick Dunne and the opening of the Mirage Resort in Las Vegas ( it cost $2.7 billion); Barry Diller got stuck in the shower, and Hugh Jackman sat on Liz Taylor’s lap in her wheelchair and sang to her. Oh and then read about the murder of Edouard Stern who body was found in a latex suit “like a life size condom” (the dominatrix girlfriend did it). What a read!
US Elle July:
Lindsay Lohan is on the cover and the story inside is full of great quotes: ““I wish I wasn’t in the tabloids so much, because I might want to work with directors who don’t want to work with someone who has such a known name. They want mystery.” Huh? OR “ I’m not skinny for the wrong reasons. It’s not because I’m bulimic or anorexic or doing drugs. I don’t smoke pot. I still am only 18, my body can only handle so much. And I’m very emotional.” Huh? Best to turn the page and read the story on ‘the hottest movies to come out of Sundance this year, Craig Brewer’s comic drama Hustle & Flow and David LaChapelle’s documentary Rize, two white directors’ very different visions of black underclass life.” Get the low down on next winter ‘Gone is brash sexiness and granny’s closet now it’s all about ultra feminine dressing. You’ll find Marc Jacobs clothes were dark, brooding and daringly disproportionate – as if he had drunk kool aid with the Addams family”. Hint: buy black, dresses, wedge boots, square toes heels, and suits…
US CN Traveler June:
Read about driving through India ( crazy) from Punjab to Delhi, or head to the ‘real southern California’: Baja in Mexico, the coolest coast with gorgeous beaches and hip hotels. There is a interesting piece on New York; the groovy now cross the bridge and head to Brooklyn for chic shops, and great restaurants ( like my friends Sacha and Edmund..hello!). You might be interested to read what an American says about the Outback ( “here I can empty my brain out”) and someone might want to read about the top 100 golf resorts but it ‘aint me. Get the lowdown on the best spas in Europe (Blue Palace in Crete looks nice: http://www.lux-hotels.com/gr/blue_palace. But the story about cabin fever and the new huge airbus 787 jets is fascinating: duty free boutiques on board anyone?

“ Actors look normal, sometimes better than normal. But deep down, there is no deep down” Shirley Maclaine in ‘Bewtiched’
“The smell, the look in her eyes right now… just everything about her is what I met and I’m hoping that everything about me is what she met, and we’re working hard at keeping our relationship maintained - and clean and sober.” Bobby Brown (a deep down smell?)
“ Of course I believe in aliens. There are many things out there that we do not know about.” Tom Cruise is in Deep Space
“I cannot lie and putrefy in the sun, I love to work, I love nature, I love even mowing the lawn. I am safe: I can learn everything. Life is a miracle bag”. Tom Cruise ( deep down is an Alien)
“You don’t know the history of psychiatry. I do.” Tom Cruise
.” If you start talking about chemical imbalance, you have to evaluate and read the research papers on how they came up with these theories… That’s what I’ve done.” Tom Cruise
“It was irresponsible for Mr. Cruise to use his movie publicity tour to promote his own ideological views… (and) deter people with mental illness from getting the help they need. Rigorous, published, peer-reviewed research clearly demonstrates that treatment (of mental illness) works” the American Psychiatric Association ( Nuf said)
“ Like a moth she left a sort of chrysalis behind of one life and re entered the world transformed” Baz Lurhman to Vanity Fair about Nicole (deep down she is a moth)
“Shame on you people. Why are you doing this? People are dying in Botswana!” Protesters at the De Beers LV store opening party in New York (In Botswana De Beers have apparently removed people to camps so they can mine diamonds)
“I feel like I should bring them lemonade or something,” said Alyce Alston, the new chief executive officer of De Beers USA. (thoughtful)
“ So, if I could say anything to people right now that’s be to pray for us to be better.” Bobby brown (yes we are down on our knees…)

Maybe the cold snap that has made me hungry or maybe it’s because I am covered up from head to toe in coats (and not cavorting in a bikini), whatever it is, every day I find myself being drawn towards more cookbooks… So I was thrilled to find Christine Manfield’s book Stir at Angus & Robertson’s fabulous book sale for the outrageous price of $19. We all know reading is not as fattening as eating.

$19 Stir by Christine Manfield from Angus & Robertson

If you are wandering around wearing the same, old, boring black you are either:
a) Way ahead of your time,
b) Way behind the time (same thing)
c) Or a dingbat who lives in a Batcave.
So please invest in a chic bright striped Missoni scarf and then rush out and get the home wares to match. Head to Spence & Lyda and you’ll feel like jumping on the marvelous Missoni fringed bed and then snuggling up with all the divine stripe wool throws for $450 and gorgeous wool cushions for $260. The Eames may have left the building but you won’t wrapped up in all this colour.
Missoni Home www.spenceandlyda.com.au/

I love champagne and dream on having it on lips at all times, but being in AA can have its limitations. So how happy was I when I discovered the fabulous Becca Glossy Lip Tint in Champagne? Very. It’s an almost neutral translucent skin colour but it doesn’t look too natural (god forbid), plus it actually lingers longer on the lips than most lip gloss so you don’t have to reapply every 5 minutes. which means you can drink your champagne and have it too.

$39 Becca Glossy Lip Tint from Becca Cosmetics.

At the Guggenheim Bilbao in Spain check out the Richard Serra exhibition. The current work — The Matter of Time — is the artist’s most complete rumination on the physicality of space and the nature of sculpture. http://www.guggenheim-bilbao.es/ingles/home.htmIn Palma Majorca please go and stay at the http://www.purohotel.com/ Groovy baby!
This site looks fabulous http://www.travelintelligence.com “Our team of hotel specialists, based in London and Amsterdam, can advise on, find and book hotels for clients anywhere in the world” .
From 6 July to 23 October 2005 at the National Portrait Gallery in London see “ The World’s Most Photographed’; an exhibition of around 100 photographs accompanying the BBC Two series exploring the lives and legends of ten well-known figures from history - Muhammad Ali, James Dean, Mahatma Gandhi, Greta Garbo, Audrey Hepburn, Adolf Hitler, John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and Queen Victoria. http://www.npg.org.uk/live/wowmp.asp
For US Condé Nast Traveler’s global guide to the world’s hottest properties. 116 Hot Hotels, 80 Hot Tables, and 35 Hot Nights go to http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/lists/hotlist05/?mbid=house.
Roberto Cavalli has co produced a film “The Decameron,” starring Mischa Barton and Heath Ledger.
In Paris go and see “D.Day: Design of Today,” an exhibit Centre Pompidou Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, showcasing design and highlighting some of its under appreciated trends.
Art collector Charles Saatchi has bought a painting of the place in LA where Hugh Grant was arrested for lewd conduct and a painting of the spot where Winona Ryder was arrested for shoplifting four years ago. ( Art)
Any Parisian woman worth her Hermes scarf is familiar with the simple, modern staples of French designer Agnes Trouble, better known as agnes b. Now her latest project is “Heart of the Festival,” a documentary about Cannes that was assembled from “millions of hours” of archive material by Gilles Jacobs, the festival’s long-standing president.
In New York head to The Roosevelt Hotel’s new poolside Tropicana Bar for modernist furnishings and sky-high palm trees. On one recent night, Lindsay Lohan chatted with pals at one end of the amber-lit bar while Jake Gyllenhaal and Kirsten Dunst giggled away in a corner..

http://chocolateandzucchini.com
If you are a foodie fashionista you will love this foodie blog by a young Parisian, Clotilde Dusoulier. This week, ironically, she is in New York but go to the recipe archives and you’ll find all sorts of delicious things from jams to salads to Tarte Chocolat Poire Chocolat, then read her musing on life and eating in Paris. Delicieux

http://ndm.si.edu/GAMES/SWF/design/index.html
A frustrated interior designer? Go and play Design-A-Room on this site from The Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. You can (literally) rearrange furniture in the museum’s collection. “ Choose “Arts & Crafts (1865-1920)” and you could paper your room with a William Morris print, pick the perfect Stickley chair and accessorize with Tiffany stained-glass lamps. Or go to “Modern (1945-1970)” and hang a George Nelson clock over a Noguchi table. Unfortunately, you can’t mix movements, which is too bad because that Danish Artichoke lamp would look so right with the William Morris wallpaper”

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have confirmed they are pregnant and were married on June 29 in the Caribbean islands.
Michael Jackson has turned up in the Gulf Arab country of Bahrain on a private visit to “relax,”.
Prince William and his brother are ’sickened and disgusted’ over allegations that their mother was forced to initiate DNA tests to prove Harry’s paternity.
Avril Lavigne is engaged To Sum 41’s Deryck Whibley.
Kate Moss and Pete Doherty sealed their romance with a joke wedding at Glastonbury (Joke).
If you were asleep last week let me tell you that Elle Macpherson has split from Arpad Busson.
Will Britney Spears do a Demi Moore and pose naked for the cover of Vanity Fair while pregnant? TeenToday.co.uk says Britney has been offered a £3 million to pose for the magazine.
At Elton John’s ‘White Tie and Tiara Ball’ Liz Hurley apparently grabbed Hugh Grant’s hand and started sucking his finger, Jemima then stormed off in a huff. Hugh raced after her, but she wouldn’t speak to him. ( they call that news?)
Charlize Theron and her boyfriend Stuart Townsend, are rumored to be very over and out. Charlize has been spending time with Woody Harrelson, her co-star in the yet-to-be-titled film.
The bounty hunter played by Keira Knightley in her forthcoming movie, Domino, has died of a suspected drug overdose. Former British model Domino Harvey was found drowned in the bath at her home in Hollywood yesterday.
George Clooney was celebrated at the LA Film Festival with a career retrospective (celebrate!).
Russell Crowe is facing a lawsuit from the hotel porter he injured at New York City’s Mercer Hotel during a telephone rage assault.
Donatella Versace gave a party for her daughter Allegra Beck’s 19th birthday and her son, 14-year-old Daniel Beck, and his band, Nucleus played..
Katie Holmes would love to have Carolina Herrera design her wedding dress. Tom wants to invite Nicole Kidman and their two adopted children to the ceremony.
Roberto Cavalli will redesign the iconic bunny costume for Playboy.It will be the first update of the outfit in more than 25 years “I’ll keep the tail, but it might be animalier or spotted,” he said (Animalier?)

The Language of Baklava : A Memoir by Diana Abu-Jaber
Yes, I admit, it’s another foodie memoir but this one has a difference: it’s not in Italy or France. Mon Dieu! This one is set in Jordan which means it’s ‘as rich and full-bodied as the pungent recipes that are peppered throughout the book, both sweet and spicy. A peek into bi-cultural life that is amusing and heartwarming. Abu-Jaber infuses her memoir with the joy of family and the love of food, meals shared with many because “you never know who’s just come over from the old country” In this flavorful book, she tells of growing up in two cultures, and the aromatic dishes prepared by her father.’ Yum
$16 http://www.amazon.com Publisher: Pantheon (March 15, 2005)

The Christmas List:
African Art Now: Masterpieces from the Jean Pigozzi Collection by Andre Magnin
If you love Contemporary African art then this is the book to buy. ‘The Contemporary African Art Collection by Italian collector Jean Pigozzi and French curator André Magnin has managed to make some people very angry. Is it not the worst sort of cultural colonialism, detractors ask, for two white Westerners to define what contemporary African art is, especially when their collection consists almost exclusively of self-taught artists? A major, lavishly illustrated study of contemporary art being produced by the leading artists working in sub-Saharan Africa, this book is a must read for those seeking a glimpse of the future of Africa’.
US$32 http://www.amazon.com Publisher: Merrell Holberton (January 31, 2005)

Economy:
Kookai: A few new pieces are in store; you want the red jersey wrap dress $119, the groovy cheap but chic bags, and the gathered neck drape Long sleeve T $59. Get the ‘Wonder Woman’ and the Batgirl tanks $39 and check out the faux snakeskin ankle strap heels $119. Plus as reported last week the leaf print chiffon pieces are cool in blues. Alannah Hill : has 30% off so check out the cute chiffon, floral skirts now about $260 and the dresses too. A rummage is required here. David Lawrence: Sale continues best pieces are the camel wool S/B coat with a high collar and concealed buttons, very Jil sander or was it Gucci? Now $289, the belted wool melton short, camel jacket , a bit safari now $299, and the nice belts with white stitching now $49. And if you want the faux Missoni buy the orange, aqua, brown, white and gold knit lurex caftan top now $99. Veronika Maine: sale continues. Buy the grey or black fine knits now $69, the Chloe skirt in black $94, the jersey black ruched tops now $49 and the black shell knit tops, handy classic and cheap now $39.or the fab side baggy pocket cuffed pants now $114.Speedos: is having a huge 50% off everything.K Mart: sneak into the shoe department, block your nose because of the lovely smell of plastic and be amazed by the black leather loafers with white stitching for $20 ( same price as Italian Vogue). Also check out the cotton cord peacoats in camel $20 (same price as French Vogue), the Bonds windcheaters $22, the hoodies $22 and the Bonds white simple L/S T $19.Witchery: sale continues: buy the simple singlets in grey maille or camel $19, the good crop black or brown pants now $59, and if you have not yet bought a cotton shrunken blazer you may now here for $99. Plus the jewel satin heels are now $119 and there are a few cool bags on sale too : check out the choc brown barrel bag with brown tortoiseshell perpex buckles $149. FCUK; A rummage is a must here….

Business:
Jigsaw: have a few new arrivals on the floor: a lot of non de la non green and lilac and that horrid dirty pink yet again. Best pieces are the basics and the black…A black flippy skirt $189, a simple cream car coat $299 and the cream wool peacoat $319 and the rib belted scoop neck knit $199. There is tweed pencil skirt in browns $199, and for those weekends away horse riding in the country buy the puffa nylon vest $199 and the short stone trench $349.
Scanlan & Theodore: must be the only place in town not on sale. Oh my gawd. Smart move there is a lot in here you want. Best pieces are the cute crop chunky cardigan $280, the grey wool crop pants $300, the grey wool crop jacket with brown leather straps $500 and the print chiffon dresses $600. Also check out the handy white or black top/cami with a v-neck and straps wide enough to cover bra straps. wow. $180.There is the 40’s chiffon print tie back dress, very trans seasonal and so right under a tweed coat with boots or perfect in summer with heels, $800.There is a gorgeous camel pocket bag $500, pretty raw edged blouses $350, camel ankle strap heels $720 and cool round toe boots. Lisa Ho: on sale, check out the very Chloe drop waist satin skirts now $155 in stone, and the cami to match now $115 with a drawstring bottom; Perfect for the chloe flowing look for next summer. Buy the cream or black leather coat now $1600 and the fur chubby now $500.CK jeans: I repeat best buys here are the sheer black chiffon blouses $129, the jeans and the zip hoodies. Morrissey: there is 60% off. I repeat the best buys here are the fabulous paisley print chiffon caftan tops and dresses in pale colours $129, the brown cuffed pants $149 and the simple cami ( no lace) now $49.Country Road: everything is 50% off now. A few pieces from the new collection has arrived but it’s looking a bit bright green and very hippy, (I can see it’s going to be a hippy summer every where and I am over it already; except for caftans). Check out the crop brown/grey pants $229, the choc brown simple T $39 and a red crop chunky cardigan very similar to the one in Scanlan $129. Plus the Missoni esque stripe silky scarves are here but at $69 you should buy the real deal in Belinda or Christensen for about $150.
Saba: now has up to 75% off. Buy the floral chiffon dresses for next summer now $400, the classic trousers and the gorgeous tan leather jacket $499.Max & co: Lots here as reported last week, but check out the cheap but cheap red puffa nylon jackets now $177.

First
Ralph Lauren: best buy here are the black and white T-shirts $129, the cashmere cable knits $499, and the cashmere V neck sweater with bell sleeves $499. DFS Galleria: Check out the Celine store and the divine bags: a square bag with white stitching $2000, also in green and others in choc brown plus the very chic T-shirts are on sale for $360. Other wise it’s all too logo a go go here. Leowe is on sale: check out the round toe pumps with a Gucci style horsebit detail for you now $400, the bags are gorgeous too.Burberry is huge here for the Japanese tourists and it’s all tartan everywhere. Coach has now moved here from Castlereagh st but it’s now all very logo a gogo too. Best buys are the black slouch buckle bags 30% off, now $500 and a few camel leather bags otherwise you’ll see scary hot pink satin.. ewww…Gucci in the rocks: a few more bags on sale here: Check out the red leather square bag with ring details now $800, the black logo canvas with brass detail now $700, the red slouch bag now $900, and the green leather lady-like bags with bamboo handles now $800.In the shoe department there are black patent round toe horsebit heels now $400 and some logo mules.. Checkout the red silk scarf now $320. But cast your eyes on the new collection and you want the new stamped leather with a subtle GG logo $1500, and the huge leather tan tote $2000. Plus for a casual bag check out the black logo nylon totes with signature red and green strip handles around $400. Belinda: The Mui Mui has arrived…full report next week

Beef fillet with wild mushrooms vinaigrette…..from Delicious

This can be just perfect for a dinner party or it’s easy to whip up for two with a backstrap of lamb. It’s all about sautéing the mushrooms and then drizzling them with vinaigrette over roast beef ….perfect winter food…

You need for 6
½ cup non designer olive oil
2 crushed and defeated garlics
2 tabs chopped thyme
1.5 kg of beef fillet
2 tabs red wine vinegar
2 teasp Dijon mustard
30g unsalted butter
250 g mixed mushrooms, such as oyster, button, enoki, shimeji and chanterelles (don’t panic you can get these at Coles)
100ml beef stock
2 tabs chives for accessorising
Watercress

·Mix the 2 tabs of oil with the garlic and thyme
·Then toss that moisturiser over the beef fillet and let it marinate for a couple of hours to plump out its wrinkles
·Throw remaining oil, vinegar and mustard in a bowl and whisk to make a good old fashioned French vinaigrette
·Preheat the oven for the beef to 180
·Now melt the butter and toss in the mushrooms and give them a little swoosh around and cook till they are just wilted and look a tiny bit tired and emotional.
·Add the stock to them and heat through for a minute or two
·Then toss the mushroom mixture in with the vinaigrette which was looking bored and twiddling its thumbs on the bench.
·And if you’re feeling wilted, tired and emotional too now is a good time to pour a drink
·Now you can brown the meat and then pop in the oven for about 20 mins for medium to rare. Or cook to your liking. (which is a great idea since you are the one who is eating it) .
·Don’t forget to rest the meat, you need to rest and so does this fillet
·To serve; slice up the beef into chic little slices, add any roasting juices to the mushrooms. if you can be bothered heat up the mushrooms a little but if you are TT ( too tired) then just drizzle them straight over the beef.
·Snazzily accessorise with chic little snippets of chives and gorgeous green watercress
·lovely with potatoes, red wine, crusty bread and an open fire.

‘A Good Woman’ (based on Lady Windermere’s Fan by Oscar Wilde)
The Plot: It’s the 1930’s on the Amalfi coast and a sexy, 40 something glamourpussy divorcee arrives for a holiday, indulges in lots of witty repartee with the English social set and starts seducing the husband of Scarlett Johanssen.
Who: Helen Hunt, scarlet Johanssen and Tom Wilkinson.
Acting: Helen hunt has about as much charisma as a dishcloth ( that’s a dry dish cloth), and is completely unconvincing as a alluring, flirty, sexpot of a certain age. Scarlett is sweet and bland but Tom Wilkinson is charming
Interiors:lots of huge, sumptuous rich 1930’s villas with views over the Amalfi coast: what more do you want?
Designer inspiration: very Prada 2003, lots of granny dressing
Blood’n’ guts: Of the verbal kind with Oscar Wilde’s sensational cutting dialogue
Salon de Beaute: Hair and makeup obviously had the day off or gave the job to the work experience. The makeup is outrageously bad and so is the lighting. So I forgive Helen Hunt because she obviously knew she was looking awful and forgot to act
Car chases: In the 30’s they just don’t go fast enough.
Smokin’ smooches; The smooches are there but Helen is as dry as a chip so there’s no fire.
Botox:Helen Hunt needs it and a lift too ( in the personality department )
Best line: “ There are two tragedies in life; one is not getting what you want, the other is getting what you want”
Best review: “ I’m giving it three and a half stars”. Margaret Pomeranz, “Two and a half.” David Stratton
When Harry met Sally romance Richter scale: The scenery is as romantic than the story
See it or donate to the Prada bag fund: See it for the intelligent dialogue and the witty Oscar Wilde quotes (just what the doctor ordered after seeing DingBat last week) The Amalfi coast looks so gorgeous I insist you hop on the first plane and buy your Prada there.