“Oh, again? She’s in good shape. We’re doing a photo shoot with her next week. She might travel for her birthday, on the 17th. Quite lively for a corpse, don’t you think?” Liz Taylor’s rep on Liz Taylor apparently being on her death bed
“It is cool rather than chic, I hate chic. It’s such an outdated concept.” Donatella Versace on why she was never chic (Quite lively for a corpse)
“I can’t think young Hollywood right now because I’m too absorbed with ‘Desperate Housewives.’” Donatella Versace ( Nuf said)
“ No one recognizes me. One person on a bike did shout at me the week after the nominations were announced, but that has been it.” Imelda Staunton on not being famous for 15 minutes ( did he shout ‘get out of the way’?)
“It’s about time for a transgendered doll, since gay marriage is in question and there is the controversy about SpongeBob,” said Jason Wu of Integrity Toys’ creative director on the RuPaul Doll, a transgendered miniature version of himself ( Chic or cool?)
“It’s not anatomically correct, the body is sculpted in RuPaul’s proportions. It’s got super-long legs and arms. But it has a beautiful womanly figure underneath.” (Quite lively for a transgender).
“Somebody said, ‘You can’t wear Prada at 15,’ and I was like, ‘What do you want me to do? Show up with bows in my hair?’ I was 16, I was nominated for best actress and I wore Prada” Evan Rachel Wood (so there)
“I think what is very scary about cocaine is that you start to feel too confident and you start to feel indispensable, although none of us are indispensable, You become short-tempered. Your little charm goes. The little glow in your face goes.” Naomi Campbell on blaming the drugs ( indispensable !)
“What is considered young? Twenty-five and under? Look, with age, you gain wisdom. So I’m very happy being 26. I wear a ring on my right hand that says ‘1978’ in diamonds — and I wear it proudly. (She’ll take it off when she hits 30) actress-singer-fashion designer Taryn Manning
“Penguins live in very cold climates, so the heat was probably unbearable for them. They’re very sensitive to temperatures, so if it was as hot as we’ve heard, it’s a wonder they didn’t collapse. In any case, they were likely terrified.” PETA campaigners were horrified to discover six penguins floating on platforms in a swimming pool at a party given by P.Diddy to mark the opening of the Hotel Victor in South Beach ( terrified at seeing P.Diddy) Quite lively for dead penguins)
“We had a parade at Armani headquarters, dinner with him last night and partied at his nightclub last night.” Eddie McGuire (David Jones has a parade, Armani has a show) Not chic or cool

I must admit I still have an addiction to Slogan and Rock n Roll t-shirts. Talk about a handy way to groove up your Chanel tweed jacket or Burberry trench. For those born before 1978 you might even recognize the faces on the fabulous collection of t-shirts in Dangerfield. There is David Bowie from AlladinSane, or an hilarious ‘Nanoo Nanoo’ t-shirt with Mork and Mindy on the front. You’ll also find Kiss (just the word in diamantes,) T Rex, and a Rolling Stones big mouth t-shirt too. Or grab the ‘Stay Single’ t-shirt and play hard to get. (Perhaps mothers with screaming, bratty, young children should wear it). Hint: if born before 1975 never wear these without a chic Jacket (too mutton).

From $44 Revival Rock and Roll T-shirts from Dangerfield

Can a beauty product be an item du jour? Yes, if it’s something from Marc Jacobs. The groove guru has now released a snazzy little makeup kit with the latest tricks from his fragrance/makeup range. In a groovy little silver clutch you’ll find a chic silver compact with a sparkling cream blush, a Nude compact cream lipgloss, clear mascara and his perfume in a roller ball wand. Even better buy his solid perfume and it comes in acute white leather zip pouch, which you can recycle later for a coin purse.
$90 Marc Jacobs makeup clutch from David Jones

Don’t you just love a concealer that is called an ’illusion wand’? Makes you sound like David Copperfield. If only it worked and you ended up looking like Claudia Schiffer. But alas! the Revlon skinlights illusion wand (read concealer) only covers up those areas on your face that look potentially Camilla-esque. Vogue Australia has included this as one of their beauty icons and the affordable version of the YSL Touche éclat. It has the same little brush applicator which is great and though it is supposed to “Reflect light away from dark under eye circles, and cover fine lines and imperfections, all while making your skin glow” I did not seeing any glow under the eyes, though I didn’t see any dark circles either. It works! But it’s cheeky; the actual liquid concealer only fills a third of the container.

$24 Revlon Skinlights Illusion Wand from major department stores.

Patrick Maber who wrote the screen play for ‘Closer’ is now working on adapting the novel ‘Notes from a scandal’
Watch out for an hilarious new Brit movie, a mockumentary, called ‘Rabbit Fever’ : about a vibrator and how an epidemic of nubile women the world over become addicted to it, starting 12 step rabbit anonymous groups ( never work with animals or children)!
CondeNast Traveller recommends http://www.ultimateears.com for the best noise canceling earplugs ( on a plane) $900!!
Feeling naughty? Stay at the College hotel in Lyon, France that was a school in a previous life and has kept alot of the old interiors (but all the hotel rooms are the chic and white) http://www.college-hotel.com/
Want Larry King to show you around Washington? Sigourney Weaver to show you around Lower Manhattan? Then go to http://www.talkingstreet.com/ And connect a recorded tour of the cities to your mobile phone for your own personal celebrity travel guide.
Check out http://www.islandoutpost.com for the best resorts in Jamaica: Wow! ( there’s a special package for Bob Marley’s 60th Birthday! )
In Paris check out the groovy new store of Worldstyle Design, now on Blvd St Germain , set up by the grandsons of Lanvin.
In London go to the Matisse Textiles collection exhibition at The Royal Academy, March to May.
Browns Hotel in London is being updated and is reopening in March.
To get right into the Bling backlash go to the Intenational Arts and Crafts exhibit at the V& A in London March to July.
WWD says that Milan fashion week got off to a sluggish — and grumpy — start on Monday. Strikes by Alitalia workers delayed the arrival of top editors from Elle, l’Officiel and other French magazines and otherwise wreaked havoc with a city already prone to gridlock. Adding to the woes was a steady snowfall slowing the advance of Town Cars and staining new suede shoes. Tempers flared outside of Prada Monday night as editors arriving for the second show were asked to wait outside under a damp snowfall. “Just let us in,” pleaded Vanity Fair’s fashion director Anne McNally (rain hail or shine)
A handsome, six-foot-three hunk in the front rows has created more buzz during the Milan collections than what’s on the runway. But James Cracknell is a star — from the world of sport. The Olympic champion rower, who won two gold medals for the U.K., is on special assignment for London’s Telegraph Magazine. “I’m writing about what I would like to see women wear,” Cracknell explained. “What normal guys think looks sexy.” (Let me guess…)
In Paris check out the new store of designer Karine O’Hana Berrebi at 62 Rue des Saints-Pères.
Or go to the new restaurant ‘Auguste’, 54 Rue de Bourgogne.

http://www.vanityfair.com/oscars/
It’s a must see for Oscar night (next Monday Australian time). Sit back, relax, and click on here to watch the Vanity Fair live web cam at the Vanity Fair Party! Watch the stars! See the glamour and the glitz! But remember it will be during the day which means you will be at work. A perfect time waster for the first day of the working week.

http://www.japander.com/japander/index.htm
Here’s a funny website, full of all the ads that movie stars have made in Japan. See Brad Pitt, Madonna, Natalie Portman and the very handsome Mr. Clooney himself doing all sorts of things just for the money…..
* You need to download and install the Quicktime plug-in available at http://www.apple.com/quicktime.

Scarlett Johansson and Jared Leto have recently been spotted canoodling at Real Food Daily, the vegan hot spot near the Beverly Center that moves some stars in other ways. The vegan brownie is a favorite of Selma Blair, but it’s been known to send some stars running for the bathroom. Jokes Donovan Leitch, “We all call it Real Poop Daily.”
Camilla Parker Bowles has picked Antonia Robinson and Anna Valentine to design her wedding outfit and Philip Treacy to make her hat for the big day. And Buckingham Palace sources claim the Queen and Camilla - who have reportedly endured a troubled relationship - are at loggerheads over wedding plans, and are refusing to meet in person to discuss proceedings.
Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston are well on their way to divorce.
Brad Pitt enjoyed a romantic meal with his estranged wife Jennifer Aniston on Valentine’s Day - fuelling speculation the couple’s split is only temporary (Glad to hear he enjoyed it )
SCULPTORS at London’s Madame Tussaud’s museum had to break up a waxwork figure of superstars Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston embracing only seven months after it was unveiled following their separation last month. “It involved quite a lot of work, because they were entwined and had their arms around each other, Jen had one of her hands on Brad’s chest and her other hand was resting on his bottom. ”A museum spokeswoman said.
Jude Law has signed up to star in a new film shot in London Anthony Minghella’s new film Breaking And Entering. - so he can keep an eye on his party-going fiancee Sienna Miller. The pair were rumored to have rowed last week after the Layer Cake beauty was snapped partying into the early hours of the morning in the British capital while Law was shooting new movie All The King’s Men in America.
Christian Slater is divorcing Ryan Haddon.
Beyonce Knowles has replaced Minnie Driver at the Oscar ceremony next Sunday and she is devastated. Driver is said to be “inconsolable” after finding out she will no longer be singing Andrew Lloyd Webber s “Learn To Be Lonely” (Minnie, learn to be lonely)
Elizabeth Hurley is to play a wicked witch, the evil Bellatrix Lestrange, a member of Potter nemesis Voldemort’s gang in the forthcoming Harry Potter .
The Aga Khan is in the middle of the most expensive divorce in history from his 41-year old German wife, the Begum Inaara Aga Khan, (the former pop singer Gabriele Homey) The breakup was the result of the 68-year-old Aga Khan’s close relationship with Helene Michaut, described as 20, French and gorgeous and conveniently, one of the stewardesses on his three private planes. Convenient.
“More Hilton than anyone can handle: her emails and voicemails are reportedly on the internets, and by tomorrow you just might be able to examine her urine samples! Hurrah for modern technology!” Not only was her entire address book from her T-Mobile Sidekick II posted on several Web sites, the hackers also accessed naughty photos of Hilton, including a topless shot of her making out with MTV Latin America veejay Eglantina Zingg, Us reports. “We were joking around,” ( so were the hackers) Gawker
Penélope Cruz and Matthew McConaughey will marry in July
Dolce and Gabbana have confirmed that they are no longer romantically involved.( first reported years ago here at Squawkbox Central)
Hunter S. Thompson’s ashes will be fired across his Colorado estate by a cannon, in keeping with his final wishes (a blast!)
Stella Tennant was seated in the front row at the Burberry show and looking slim enough for the runway less than six months after giving birth to her fourth child, Iris.
Kate and Andy Spade had a baby girl Frances Bea.
Tom Cruise is secretly dating actress Sofia Vergara. Nicknamed Sofia Viagra because of her sexy curves ( he probably needs it)

East Side Story by Louis Auchincloss
This is Carolina Herrera’s favourite book, according to Vanity Fair and if it’s good enough for Carolina, it’s good enough for me. Anyway it sounds fabulous.
”After a lifetime of observing and chronicling the customs and habits of New York City’s upper crust, Auchincloss never fails to entertain and enlighten with his often searing yet unfailingly affectionate portraits of a breed apart. For his sixtieth book, ( 60!) he has chosen to recount the history of the fictional Carnochans in 19th century New York. Another illuminating historical glimpse into the rarified world of Manhattan’s high society from an author who has spent his entire life and career immersed in it.”
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company (December 2, 2004) $16 from http:www.amazon.com

The Christmas List:
The Whole Equation : A History of Hollywood by DAVID THOMSON
Just what we need to read at Oscar time! “ Reading David Thomson’s new book, is like listening to a favorite older uncle reminisce about his Hollywood career; it’s full of interesting stories of yesteryear, lots of valuable insights. Thomson is an accomplished critic who has written for The New York Times and Salon. In The Whole Equation (a reference to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel about Hollywood, The Last Tycoon), he brings in finance, film theory, and just plain gossip. (For those who haven’t heard how Jean Harlow died, prepare to watch the facade of glamour crumble as never before.)
Publisher: Knopf (November 30, 2004) $18 from http:www.amazon.com

Everyone keep calm! The bling backlash has started ! Prada showed a nearly totally black collection in Milan “ To go back to something structured, strong, and womanly, to strip back on stupid frills, print, and decoration”. But,” she added, “even though we are talking about minimalism again, it cannot be sad and depressing.” Prada sad or depressing? Never! check it out at http://www.style.com/fashionshows/collections/F2005RTW/review/PRADA

Economy:
Sportscraft: have done some good shopper bags in choc brown suede with white leather trim but why write ‘sportscraft’ on it? $189
Witchery: don’t forget they have cool cotton shrunken jackets $129 and some great chinos. Target:In homewares: they have all those leather boxes in with white stitching in red and choc brown, for about $100. FCUK; Don’t forget they have the cool DVF style wrap print dress $158. Mimco: still have lots of fabulous brooches and some fab red beads and lots of great bangles. And I do love the extra big slouch nylon bag $120.
Kookai: have too much pink, and pastel but there is a cool ruffle chiffon top $149, and a cool cream cotton blazer $199 and also the jewels here are cheap but chic, check out the wide diamante cuff. Dangerfield: are having a huge sale of their cheapo bags, worth a rummage. MNG: Check out the stone shrunken blazer $189, the leather caramel jacket $289, and the nice stone belted peacock/trench $159 and the Missoni copy reds and orange kimino top $88. Nine West: Have some chic velvet open toe heels $159 with big jewel front in lots of colours and very YSL ‘lips’ ankle strap heels in moc croc in burgundy and green $129. Cue: Have a cool brown velvet shrunken jacket $279, and a black brocade skirt with a flip hem $129, a green cotton peacoat $289 and the grey rib tops are handy $89.Esprit: have a cool cream chunky knot zip cardigan $89, a belted trench $129 and black jersey flippy skirt $89, plus checkout the suede Tods loafers in great colours $99. David Jones; Are selling Trelise Cooper sequin slouch bags for $199 seen in Supre for about $30 oops!

Business:
Wayne Cooper: has done a fab velvet blazer $395 and pants $220
David Jones: Have some cool /tote/shopper bags by Pedder in leather $325 in light blue, orange and green. Big and handy. Furla has done a red moc croc handbag, very structured $760 and I like the tan slouch one with a black metal buckle $670. Armani Exchange: have some cool V neck ribbed/paneled knits (flattering) $169, some black high waisted narrow pants (oh dear, with braces) $199, a white cord jacket $133, but there is too much hot pink and black ,very ‘like a virgin” Madonna (read: scary and so 2 seasons ago).There are some nice white singlets with silver beading $129 and a really cool stone peacoat with a belt $200 ish, and a black wrap chiffon shirt $159. Check out the fab distressed leather messenger style bags in red or choc $189 and the black V neck shirt with short crochet sleeves $199 and the dull flat red leather blazer cool for $800,and the black and white tweed mini for you with the good legs $149.Myer: have a fab Karen Walker trench $999, and a cool Camilla and marc stone velvet blazer $540, a chic Mad Cortes black wrap cardigan with a ribbon belt $488, and some more Agnes B. Also don’t forget the new season’s Cacherel and DKNY in here and the See By Chloe. And I love the Wayne Cooper leopard print trench coat $598. Country Road: have great side pocket chinos, very Helmut Lang $149 and fab brown pleated print skirt $159, plus check out the rib choc knits cardigans $149 and the black classic pants in a slight pinstripe $229. Max & CoHave lots of new things on and it looks great, you want the black tweed skirt coat $595 , the red and black tweed skirt $270, the black flippy paneled jersey skirt, very handy $240 and the red classic sweater $215. Check out the black pinstripe side pocket pants $$, a camel cashmere coat $950, very tailored, and the canvas belted trench $545, and the V neck Knit in orange and red $215, Plus find a fab black 50’s skirt pleated with a stone belt $290. Karen Millen: She is huge in Engand but it doesn’t seem to work here, maybe a bit too Versace? And with all the BohoChic and the lady like looks around it doesn’t work. The best pieces are in black: a jacket $535 and the paneled Polo neck knits with a horsebit silver detail $315. David Jones: Have some juicy couture orange velvet track pants and zip tops if you must. And an Armani Jeans fab tweed zip jacket with a hideous pink detachable fur collar $850. ( thank god) And check out the trench coat by Endless Spirit for $150 ish and Table Eight have done a good cheap fake fur shrug with velvet collar $159.

First.
Evelyn Miles:Love the Sergio Rossi bags in green $1200, and choc suede, plus the round heel tan boots $1000 and the amazing Rossi blue and green suede boots with a swirl patchwork $$$ Escada Sport: have a clever leather croissant shape bag in great colours ( red, orange,mint, choc,blue) with a detachable strap so the different colour straps are interchangeable $1200. Also there are some tweed jackets in browns $1120, and cashmere knit mint sweaters $560, and a black canvas bag with white stitching $595. Christensen Copenhagen : Are on sale and you want the Fillipa K knits now half price $148,very classic.Ralph Lauren: I like the Khaki rib knits with a buttons along the shoulder $199, and the navy and white stripe T with a cute red lining and trim $129 (by Ralph Lauren Golf).Weekend MaxMara has some lovely classic things; The lime rib sweater $380, the black velvet jacket $710 and the black cord skirt , the green puffa jacket for those weekends away $490, the rust T shirt knit with a pink trim $470 and the ruffle grey knit top $470.You want the grey tweed shrunken jacket $650, the grey arglyle knit sweater $295, the divine cashmere grey ( or red) peacoat $1140, and the short belted cream trench $1175.
Prada: Heaven in here: lots of new seasons spring summer. You’ll find the much photographed peacock skirt, the divine stripe knits $850, the tweed black and cream skirt $1990, and the burgundy chunky knit polo top with a red collar $890. Buy the green pleat skirt $1330, the stone pleat skirt $990 and the tweed crochet navy dress $$$. In accessories you want the patent red and orange sandals $770, the classic square toe suede and patent two tone sling backs in lots of colours $700 and the ‘seahorse’ T bar sandals $500. The ‘flower’ bags are all here in canvas with amazing crafty seascape patchwork embroidery $1200, and I love the tote shoppers with different colour leather trim $1150. And then there are the gorgeous leather bags with huge eyelets that everyone has copied $1800. Also the stripe crochet shawl is here for $510. In Prada Sport the T-shirts are very good $240 and so are the black crop cargoes $540. Why go anywhere else? Check out all the seahorse, fisherman leather brooches $250 and there are a lot more jeweled brooches if you missed out first time around $290.
Belinda: the Stella McCartney has arrived, will report next week

Lime ice cream (frozen into lime skins) adulterated from Donna Hay

Perfect for hot humid summer nights, these lime ice creams are perfect for dinner parties because you can whip it up hours before hand. It takes 5 minutes and you don’t need an icecream maker either. Just beat the ingredients, pour into the limes cut in half and freeze. If that’s too hard you shouldn’t be cooking…

For 6 to 8 you need:
3 cups of fresh cream or vanilla Yogurt
200 ml of condensed milk
2 ½ teasp of vanilla essense
½ cup sugar
pinch salt
juice of 3 limes
Zest of 3 limes
Limes halves for each person
A handful of Shredded coconut

·Zest the limes first
·Then squeeze the juice out
·Then get a knife to remove the flesh, or just scrape it out a bit with a spoon
·Don’t fret, it’s not worth it if you can’t do it properly, it will still taste sensational
·Place the lime halves in a muffin tray so they sit up right and whack them in the freezer while you mix up all that naughty fat and cream.
·Now pop everything else in bowl. Yes, that means the cream, milk, lime juice, sugar, salt, vanilla essense, coconut and zest
·Give it a good old beating until its thick and creamy
·Pour a little bit in each lime half ( lick fingers)
·If you have more icecream left over just pour it in the muffin tray itself
·Pop into the freezer for about 5 hours
·Lick the bowl (the calories don’t count)
·Go and exercise all afternoon to work off all that fat
·Serve with some fresh fruit such as mango or papaya drizzled in lime juice and perhaps a lime leaf for an arty affect.
·Sensational

Vera Drake directed by Mike Leigh

Don’t die of shock: this movie is about a loving, functional, supportive family who are there for each other. Oh my god, can this be true? Not a Hollywood satire, not a cynical look at messed up families but story of a normal family in tough times. Too much of an outrageous and surreal subject for Hollywood, it took English man to take on this taboo subject. Of course if the Englishman is Mike Leigh you might be loathe to see it, his films are known for their raw, gritty, realistic look at English life. And as the President of the romantic comedy movie club his movies have been banned. So I must admit I was a bit scared about seeing this one especially because Vera Drake is a backyard abortionist in 1950’s England. Oh dear. But don’t get put off, it is an amazing movie. So incredibly real, it’s as if they‘re not actors but real life people. ( A mockumentary?). Imelda Staunton (as Vera) make herself look old, fat and ugly. Oh someone give the woman some moisturizer! Give her an illusion wand! Give her an extreme makeover! Give her a fake nose to act behind! Oh, she is so so brave. She deserves an Oscar for that very reason: she doesn’t hide behind a fake nose or any prosthetics. She is just herself….without makeup. Which is as shocking as a normal, happy, functional family in Hollywood. Bless her. Bring a hanky or ten

Vanity Fair March:
As reported 2 weeks ago (see the Guardian article) this is the Hollywood issue with the lovely Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslet and Uma on the cover. It is 400 pages of star laden pages! Read Dominick Dunne’s column about the guy who impersonated Howard Hughes for 17 years but never met him, about visiting Liz Taylor , who never appeared. (She was impersonating Micheal Jackson?). Read about the real Micheal Moore (Dubya called him a slimeball) and then wade through the stories on Brando, James Dean, and the crazy inventions of Howard Hughes ( the self making bed! Yes, a man invented it. Funny about that)
Elle Dec UK March:
I think that they must have an editor in Australia because every issue there’s a story on someone groovy living in Sydney. This issue has 2 stories: the jewellery designer from Love and Hatred and his Byron Bay house, (sorry the shots looked better years ago in Marie Claire Lifestyle) and Linda Gregoriou’s warehouse that we have seen everywhere. So check out the 17th century apartment in Paris of set designer Herve Sauvage, very chic and the fab converted farm house in Ibiza. Not so great an issue.
Conde Nast Traveller US Feb:
This issue is all about ‘The Americas’: north, south, east and west. You want to go to the Caribbean and do a magical mystery tour of the Islands
Or be a cowboy and ride at a dude ranch. If you prefer the beach go to Panama and surf or check out what’s hip in Mexico City ( The W Hotel ).Great issue if you are heading off to South America.