“The fact that my very straight husband said this was the best movie he’s seen and the best I’ve ever been and the prettiest I’ve ever been is kind of staggering.” Low expectations are the secret to a happy marriage) Ellen Barkin on her new movie “Palindromes” . (Directed by Todd Solondz and it deals with Aviva, a 13-year-old girl from New Jersey who has an abortion, runs away from home and has a sexual relationship with a born-again truck driver)
“Ronald thinks of jewelry as art, which is kind of fabulous, He really appreciates it — we’ll be eating dinner and he’ll play with my ring.” Ellen Barkin on her very appreciative billionaire husband (The budget of “Palindromes” came in at under a million dollars, less than the cost of the jewelry Barkin wears every day)
“I just had a whole different image of what sex was, I guess. I was an actress back then and then I deteriorated as I came to LA. I think Canadian girls, they’re just a little bit more creative in bed. I’m sorry, it’s true.” Pamela Anderson (at least she is honest that she deteriorated)
“ I’ve never had much luck with romance. I seem to attract jerks.” Naomi Watts should move from LA
“I went into the office and there was a small lady sitting in a chair, so I asked her for a cup of tea” Author James Jackson reveals that he popped round to drop off a script to Guy Ritchie, when he came across Madge in her husband’s office. (Madonna go back to LA)
“You have to have a rule as a parent: “No Marc Jacobs. Just Marc.” Ellen Barkin ( please adopt me)
“Can I say Charlize Theron,? Yes. Charlize, Charlize, Charlize,” Cruz says co-star Charlize Theron is a better kisser than boyfriend Matthew McConaughey
“I’m having more fun than I’ve ever had in my entire life,” Uma Thurman on getting a second season with Louis Vuitton ( she lives in New York) and kissing Andre Balazs
”O.K., who’s got the bling?” asked the Rev. Joseph Simmons, a Pentecostal minister, who was looking for the wedding bands of hip couple in New York Times (so called Reverend Run, he is best known as a member of the pioneering rap group Run-DMC.)
“A journalist once said: ‘ Your breasts are tiny. Do you think you’d have won an Oscar if you’d had breast implants? Actually, I don’t think small breasts hinder a career - look at Nicole Kidman or Cameron Diaz.” Joely Richardson (are you listening Pamela?)
“I’ve got one-and-half hours until I have to get my breasts out again,” Stella McCartney lduring the launch of her T-shirt collaboration with cult American cartoonist Robert Crumb at her Bruton Street store.( Oscar winning)
“It’s the next leg of ‘Sex and the City, you can only do cosmos ( cocktails) and Manolo Blahniks for so long before you move onto something else.” Hayley Hill from US weekly on how motherhood is the next moment of chic. (Babies instead of manols and cocktails? are you kidding?)

You can never have too many shoes and bags but you can also never have too many books, especially pretty books on groovy homewares. So rush onto Borders for their fab books (hardover) series of books including one called “Naturally Modern” by Byam Shaw (a former features editor of World of Interiors) and find out “how to create modern interiors with wood, stone, leather and natural fabrics” all for the outrageous price of $14. (Cheaper than buying the magazine.)

Naturally Modern $14 from Borders Books

Is it fair to get annoyed with beautiful sunny weather? Yes, if it means you can’t yet wear all your fabulous winter clothes. It seems every time the temperature dips below 20C we all pile on the jackets and scarves pretending it’s really a lot colder. So the item du jour has to be a little T shirt from Sportsgirl to wear under these jackets so you don’t feel like you are in a sauna. It’s an update of the classic T shirt, a big baggier (perfect for hiding the muffin tops) with a deep V neck (makes the neck look longer) and with ¾ sleeves. All available in fabulous colours. Yes please.
$29 V neck T shirts from Sportsgirl

Why are laugh lines called laugh lines? As far as I am concerned they could be called cranky lines (because of the sneer I make every time I go to Prada without a black Amex). But I am not going to give up shopping, sneering or laughing because every day I am going to keep applying the very fabulous Elizabeth Arden ceramide plump perfect eye moisture cream. It is so soft, feels gorgeous and really sinks in. I love it. I think the plumping is really working. (If only it would work on the credit cards.) Trouble is, the cream is so fabulous, I’m laughing.

$80 Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect Eye Moisture Cream from major department stores.

Ewan McGregor is making his West end debut in Guys and Dolls at the Piccadilly theatre London.
Check out the nex exhibition “Neo-Impressionism: From Seurat to Paul Klee,” at the Musee d’Orsay in Paris.
An intense feud between maestro Riccardo Muti and musicians of Milan’s Teatro Alla Scala has ended with the music director’s resignation.
Marilynne Robinson received the Pulitzer Prizes in fiction for “Gilead,” her first novel in more than 20 years.
Denmark has kicked off a year-long celebration of fairy tale author Hans Christian Andersen with a television spectacular, helped by the magic charms of celebrities.The Danish Queen, Margrethe II, was joined by other European royals, plus film star Sir Roger Moore, Chilean writer Isabella Allende, Danish football star Peter Schmeichel, Irish politician John Hume and many others. Amid all the razzmatazz some critics asked what stars of the 1980s, such as Olivia Newton-John and Tina Turner, had to do with Denmark’s literary icon. “No good. Try again!” wrote Ekstra-Bladet daily ( olivia Newton John?) wwd
Sporting a cloud-like puff of organza at their throats, Air France’s flight attendants are ready for takeoff with curvaceous new uniforms designed by Christian Lacroix.
A seaside English Manor estate is not the first place most people would think of to find a treasure chest of exemplary 20th-century fashion, but Doris Duke’s summer home in Newport, R.I., is about to offer just that. “Jet Set to Jeans: The Wardrobe of Doris Duke,” which will be unveiled at her house Rough Point on April 14, traces the late tobacco heiress’ style decade-by-decade. By marching out the contents of her closets, the Newport Restoration Foundation aims to shed some light on Duke’s determinedly cloaked life.wwd
Nicole Kidman has also been studying photography in preparation for her role as Diane Arbus, the legendary photographer of the Fifties and Sixties, in the biographical film “Fur,” which she’ll shoot this summer in New York with Robert Downey Jr. Nicole may well take off her clothes as she has done before because part of “Fur” will be shot in nudist camps where the photographer took many of her pictures. Arbus’ original photographs can currently be seen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which has mounted a major exhibition of her work, featuring those nudes.WWD
A new hotel being built in MAdris is the Hotel Puerta de America. “This building has been designed by 18 famous architects and designers. Each floor, the gardens, the restaurant in the top of the bilding, the facade, the illumination… everything is from a different person. Here is the list of architects and desginers:Jean Nouvel, Javier Mariscal y Fernando Salas, Arata Isozaki, Richard Gluckman, Kathryn Findlay, Ron Arad, Vittorio&Luchino, Eva Castro y Hoger Kehlne, David Chipperfield, Norman Foster, Zaha Hadid, John Pawson, Christian Liaigre, Marc Newson, Harrieet Bourne y Jonanthan Bell, Arnold Chan, Jasón Bruges, Teresa Sapey, and Felipe Saes de Gordoa. This 5 stars hotel will be opened in May, will have 342 rooms.
Have I mentioned Phillippe Starck’s lastest creation? “There is life in the easternmost reaches of Argentina’s capital. Fashion impresario Alan Faena and design “bad boy” Philippe Starck have finally transformed an abandoned century-old grain depository into the 83-room Faena Hotel + Universe. The outside may be a prosaic brick box, but the inside is pure Starck: gold-leaf chairs, oversized chaise longues, and lots of claws, swans, and fleurs-de-lis. http://www.faenahotelanduniverse.com/web/homepage.php
Check out the Bigham Hotel in Richmond, Londom http://www.binghamhotel.co.uk .

http://target.com/isaac_group/index_film.jhtml
Check this out for the hilarious Isaac Mizrahi webisodes called ‘Supermodelhero’ . Mizrahi wrote and directed the online video streams, which “feature the trials and tribulations of Haqueensha, a supermodel-cum-action heroine who had been abandoned by her parents as a child and grew up with her grandmother”. Very clever.

http://www.gen-o.com/blog/
This is subtitled “The litter in littérateur’ and is a blog full of lots of gossip and reviews on the writers, books and where to find out the best reviews. Cool

Kirsten Dunst and Jake Gyllenhaal have said that, after two years of dating, they are making plans to marry on the Jersey shore where Kirsten grew up. They also confess they made up their well-publicized breakup last fall in order to avoid unwanted attention and they were really together the whole time.
The wedding of Jude Law and Sienna Miller has been put on hold because Sienna wants more time to decide if she wants to settle down at the ripe old age of 23. She may have spent three months of this year with Jude in New Orleans, but it should also be noted that Jude is still a long way from finalizing his divorce from Sadie Frost, who wants $20 million to set him free
Sienna Miller has furiously hit out at reports her romance with fiance Jude Law
Brooke Shields has confessed she was so low after giving birth to baby daughter Rowan in 2003, she contemplated suicide. The actress reveals all about her battle with the blues in new book Down Came The Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression.
Sarah Jessica Parker was joined by her previous cast mates at her 40th birthday celebrations in New York. The birthday girl was serenaded by Nixon, who reworked a version of the song, “I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face,” inserting new lyrics about becoming used to Parker’s beloved Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik stilettos, but added, “Now that I’ve become a lesbian, I don’t wear any of those again
Cameron Diaz is helping her boyfriend, Justin Timberlake, gather steam in his movie career. Justin has been approached by Bruce Willis to play the son of his character, John McCleane, in “Die Hard 4.0
In London, Mariah Carey can still claim the title of diva of divas. When she arrived there to promote her new album, “The Emancipation of Mimi,” she ordered the staff at her hotel to lay out a red carpet lined with lighted candles for her arrival at 1:30 in the morning with eight bodyguards plus her entourage.
Orlando Bloom, who is only 28, is just about ready to sign a contract to star in a new movie as the young 007. He will play the British spy as a teenager at Eton, the exclusive English school, in what is being called a prequel to the James Bond series
THE New York Post reports that Lauren Bush is dating Ralph Lauren’s son David. The 20-year-old model is apparently keen to keep her relationship with the 34-year-old marketing whiz, who works for his father’s company, out of the papers - presumably in a bid to prevent the press from having a field day with what her name would be if she married him.
Sadie Frost’s toyboy lover Jackson Scott has moved out from the £3 million London home he’s been sharing with her for the past year and into his own flat..
Princess Caroline’s husband, Prince Ernst-August of Hanover, was hospitalised in Monaco on Monday for a pancreatic infection.

Stuart: A Life Backwards by Alexander Masters
This had rave reviews in UK Vogue (’Stunningly original.’) and it sounds fascinating. ” In this remarkable book, a masterful act of biographical restoration, Alexander Masters retraces his friend Stuart’s troubled life. Stuart was a homeless, alcoholic, drug-addict and Masters gives us Stuart’s life in reverse, tracing his route backwards through the post-office heists and attempts at suicide and the spells inside many of this country’s prisons, on back to a troubled time at school and learning difficulties and a violent childhood that acted like a springboard into the trouble that was to follow him all his life.. Funny, despairing, uplifting, brilliantly-written, it is one of the most original biographies of recent years.
£9.09 http://www.amazon.co.uk Publisher: Perennial (April 4, 2005)

The Christmas List:
Andree Putman Style By Stephane Gerschel
Here is a fabulous new book on Andree Putman, the style guru who twenty years ago conceived the first boutique hotel, the Morgan. “ She was also the one to open new paths for modern designs, reinstating the importance of such major designers as Eileen Gray, Robert Mallet Stevens, and Jean Michel Frank among others. Andrée Putman Style is a journey into the world of an uncommon designer, one which acquaints the reader with the influences and taste that inspired this amazing woman” A must buy if you love modern design.
Publisher: Assouline (April 15, 2005) $26.40 http://www.amazon.com

Sales sales sales everywhere. Head to Myer for an amazing 75% off designers labels and David Jones too for 60% off
Economy:
Sportsgirl: Has quite a few cool pieces in this week. Yes, but is that more cord shrunken jackets I spy? In choc brown $119. Check out the funky stripe crochet scarves $39, the velvet top with empire waist is cool but take the cheap jewel off the front $89.There are heaps of jeans, some bashed up chinos $79 and bright Indian bangles 6 for $19 in lots of colours and purple suede marc jacobs style bag reduced to $29. check out the long paisley print caftan top is cool $79 and the slouchy tweed side pocket pants $79 that look more expensive, and the orange leather jacket $299.Puma: Check out the gorgeous new Nuala by Christy Turlington collection for the most perfect elastic waist wide leg track pants in white or grey $195, a cotton grey or white tops with a rolled neckline and frayed sleeves $170 , the short shorts $130, a must buy square neck top with fab little pleating down the front, wear it like a cami, its chic in a Helmut Lang kind of way $170. Also they have some cool running tops in great colours $80. And check out the Nuala tweed and tan leather sports shoulder bag $300.Esprit: Check out the Argyle chunky knit sweater $89, and the fab paisley print chiffon blouse $119. FCUK: Check out the black and white tweed shrunken jacket $179 and matching mini skirt (as big as a scarf) $99, the handy white singlets $79,And all the jeans and denim shrunken jackets.Nine West: have a fab suede square toe shoes with a chunky heel $149 in orange green and blue. David Lawrence: Checkout the black coat $415 with a high neck, a toggle oatmeal hoodie jacket $269 and black belted single breasted trench $269. There is a cute tweed A line skirt with a sequin hem and a red knit simple vest $69, the deep scoop neck knit with a self belt and the missoni copy orange and choc brown hippy top $149, don’t forget the grteen rin sweaters $89 and if you need a black flattering A line skirt head in here, there are lots of variations around $149. Witchery: Check out the fab racer back very long simple tank $29, (so handy for this weather and not too clinging) the flippy A line skirts $129 and the V neck simple white T $29. Don’t forget the choc brown suede belted coat $399, the Chloe copy bags with bras stud detail $189 in tan and the flat pointy shoes $129 and heaps of great belts.

Business:
Scanlan & Theodore have more winter pieces in and what can I say? , its all fabulous and they‘ve done it again. A bit Boho, a bit chic. You want it all; Best pieces include the hot pink wool melton jacket with leather buckles $800, a cute capelet $500,a donkey grey double breasted military jacket $700 ish and chiffon forties dress with buttons all down the front $800 and a simple tank cut to perfection $95. There is a green pleated silk skirt ( also in other fab colours) $350, a simple perfect round neck knit sweater $240,cami in chiffon floral $300 and choc brown leaf print empire waist dress $800 and a vintage print chiffon skirt $480. You want the graphic print choc brown skirt $480, the gorgeous big floral graphic print dress $900 with a little belt and please buy the red chiffon fitted shirt with a neck tie $350 and the military jacket $640 ( very Balenciaga) and the simple wide neck sweaters $500, and the cope mint leather jacket $1200 and the deep V neck sweaters are the best $149. And much more more.
CK Jeans: Not so much here and going on sale but check out the white round neck slinky sweaters $125, the original Calvin Klein simple white T shirts $59 and the same red Veck T shirts $69.There is a black cotton hoodie $129 and a red V neck sweater $199
David Jones shoes; Mui Mui, Prada, Helmut Lang shoes are now arrived here. Best buys are the Helmut Lang black heels $595, the silver 40’s open toe heels $750, the Mui Mui tan kitten heels with pointy toe with tortoiseshell ring $550, the grey patent with round toe and silver buckle $499, the patent boots $499, and the teal heels with bronze trim $599. The Prada choc brown heels with a big silver buckle and studs $825 are fab and check out the black square toe with silver buckle $675, the choc leather boots, with a round toe, medium heel $1295 ( yes, please) and the diamante velvet mule with a peacock feather $950. Also check out the new Jimmy Choos pink patent heels $799 also in black and the Sergio Rossi boots with swirls patchwork $1200.
Coach has closed in Castereagh st and gone down to the Rocks
(probably because they copied the Gucci and Prada so outrageously they had to move)
Jigsaw: Have a panelled A line dark denim skirt $149, a fab belted trench $349, a cute short peacoat or is it a double breasted jacket? $299, a side pocket pants and some fab white double cuff shirt $139 and a lot of pink. Nuf said

First Class:

Prada: More gorgeous clothes and bags have arrived from the summer collection and you want it all, no, really you do. Check out the T shirt with purple pleated skirt $1460, the T shirt $770, the knit polo shirt with red trim $790 and the gorgeous cotton silk skirt with brown trim in op art print $950.The chic brown suede coat with a tan belt is a must buy at $4800 and the peacock skirt $2600 is amazing. There is also heaps of the cheap but chic keyrings $270, plus also the robot dingle dangles are cool. Prada Sport has a fab simple black T $310, a simple chic nylon short sleeve top $350, a fab cardigan $670, chino scream pants $560 and the choc crop pants are cool $560. You want all the bags in canvas with leather trim and the gorgeous ling back flat shoes with a square toe $560. Also check out the feather print skirt $3530 and the tan suede jacket $3800. I love the black patent wedges are the shoes to buy $630.
Gucci: There are a few new bags and shoes in plus a few more clothes. Check out the blue canvas wedges $650, the logo classic pump with blue patent trim $580, the brown sandles with patent blue ankle strap $580, and don’t forget the orange or green suede mules with horsebit detail $600. There are the very photographed logo bags with serious hardware and studs and canvas strap, in all its variations $1800 ish. (Black logo canvas with green and blue canvas handles too). Also check out the halterneck jersey top with plaited trim $955 and matching skirt, a caramel knit top $1065, a stone cotton blazer $2235 and tapered pants $2000. Green v neck rib knit $925. And lots more. Plus the Jackie O bags are in all sorts of colours $995 and the new renovated store is opening next week.
David Jones: The new Jil sander is in store, the collection she came back to design before resigning again. It is perfect for next winter, very minimal and sums up all about the new sobriety: black with lots of amazing details. You want the V neck black cardigan $1395, a beautiful silver pleated lurex A line skirt in black $1495, (also in soft pink and silver) and V neck black sweater $1295, and a simple white double cuff shirt is all you want $889. Buy the paneled black shift dress $1795 with chiffon trim and the A line black skirt with satin stripes $995, a fab V neck beaded cardigan $995, and divine choc brown trousers.
Calvin Klein: In the new collection best pieces are a Mohair black vest with a chiffon trim $899, a perfect classic round neck black rib knit $599, a gorgeous bias rib black knit $599,( also all in oatmeal) a pink sweater $1795
Ralph Lauren: check out the simple grey crop argyle knit sweater $699 and the classic polo tops. Also check out the fabulous sale racks there is a up to 60% off the Valentino, Jil Sander, Calvin Klein and lot to choose from with fabulous pieces of Alberta Ferretti reduced to around $400. Check out the beautiful chiffon burgundy print dress now $1099, a halterneck chiffon dress $949, beautiful black patchwork chiffon dress now $2789 (was $6995), a peach pink knit T now $309. (the correct price) Amazing rainbow print dress in chiffon now $2395 and fab black rib cardigan with chiffon belt divine $895 ( was $1700) and the paneled chiffon dressed are all reduced too. Jil Sander has a sheer knit rib sheer knit sweater in divine red also in black $459, a gorgeous black poloneck sweater $569, a black wrap black skirt with a lurex tartan is fab $369 ( bargain) black coat now $1499. There is a divine Loewe leather fur trimmed coat now $7900 now $5000 ( bargain) and a Donna Karan black flippy skirt $1999 and Calvin Klein sweaters are now $409, plus Valentino knits and tops are all reduced and all gorgeous. Please check out some cool Sonia Rykiel stripe knits, and lots of Calvin Klein simple knits all fabulous.

Malay noodles with John Dory (from Gourmet Traveller feb 05)

Ever wanted to make a Pad Thai style noodles but were afraid to try? Never fear the quick FiFi recipe is here. This is quite delicious and so addictive so don’t be put off by the length of the ingredients, and make twice as much its so good

You need for 4 : ( or 2 hungry people)
3 galic cloves
2 red chillies
4 shallots
2cm chunk of ginger
100ml vegetable oil
2 eggs, beaten up
2 fillets of John Dory cut inot small pieces
150gm of bean sprouts
bunch of bok choy
2 tabs soy sauce
200 gm packet of rice vermicelli

To accessorize:a bunch of coriander, some big chilli, peeled cucumber, crispy friend shallots from Asian food store if you can be bothered.

·Whizz up garlic, chilli, shallots, ginger, ½ tab oil and a sprinkle of salt in the whizzer and give a good whiz till it’s a paste. (make extra to keep in the fridge for later)
·Heat wok and beat up the eggs to make an omelette. Swirl the oil around and let the eggs just cook . (It’s easy, I was shocked how easy that is)
·Remove and pop on a cutting board and roll it up and slice it into thin strips
·Heat the wok again with some oil and now stir fry over a high heat the fish – in batches if you like
·Remove from wok, give it a rest and pour a drink
·Soak and drain the noodles so they are ready to add
·Slice up the cucumber (julienned) and break off some coriander, slice up some not so hot chillie so they are all poised for the triumphant accessorizing at the finale
·Soak and drain the wine glass
·Heat remaining oil then stirfry that fabulous chilli paste until fragrant and smelling fabulous.
·Hear your tummy rumbling
·Add the bean sprouts bok choy, soy sauce and 175 ml of water and give a stir for a minute or 2, the add the drained noodles until they are heated through ( it will take 2 secs)
·Add the fish and half the omelette and give it a soft little stir
·Serve in bowls with the rest of the omelette, cucumber, coriander and chilli thrown on the top
·Sumptuous!

Enduring Love directed by Roger Michell based on the Ian McEwan novel.

One review of Enduring love said “ Enduring Love is one of those outrageous stalker thrillers in which so much trouble could have been avoided if the characters had only thought to call the police.” So true, this movie reminded me a bit of the road runner. So frustrating, it drives you nuts. But it was a fabulous book and it is a great movie.“ Based on the acclaimed novel by Ian McEwan, ENDURING LOVE is a psychological suspense thriller about how fate shapes our relationships, how accidents can change our lives and how meaning is unravelled from sheer chaos” Daniel Craig is fantastic playing one of those university types who wears lots of cord, knits and wears glasses ( but underneath you know he is the guy who dated kate Moss) Samantha Morton is great as his sculptor girlfriend “who in the way of the world and tragic romances, mostly seems to love herself” and Rhys Ifan who obviously loves a balloon movie ( Danny Deckchair) is perfect. If you thought he was scary in Notting Hill when he opened the door in his Y fronts watch him become creeper and creepier in this movie. The New York times says”. Enduring Love” is a serious movie about love, principally its petty cruelties and monstrous disguises. Soft, tender love, the kind that wraps you in comfort and warmth, is almost nonexistent in this curious, lachrymose story. The film takes it as an article of faith that the only answer to pain isn’t a gentle hand, but yet more pain, which they apply with much the same dedication Laurence Olivier brought to dentistry in “Marathon Man.” (Ouch!) Things move fast enough so that it takes a while to grasp that this is essentially “Fatal Attraction” with posh accents and no boiled bunny. But that doesn’t make the film or the work of its very fine ensemble any less enjoyable” And please stay till after the credits there is another scene at the very end…