“Going for a prayer break” heard in London members’ clubs this week. i.e. going to the toilets to take cocaine. This refers to Destiny’s Child’s insistence on taking ‘prayer breaks’ during interviews on their recent promo tour in England ( bless)
“ Spending time at home over the past few months, I have felt richer than I ever did working all the time.” Britney Spears on being filthy rich AND on holidays for months and months..( A prayer break)
“ Cooking is kind of like motherhood. To be really good at it, you don’t need instructions.” ..Britney has obviously never cooked a thing in her life
“ We cannot come out and say that President John F. Kennedy was a shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team and so Warner cannot come out and say Alexander was gay,” A group of furious Greek lawyers who say Alexander the great wasn’t bisexual ( according to the new movie) Yes, but Dubya is as dumb as Paris Hilton.
“ It was a Harry Potter towel and she had a sign saying, ‘Nothing comes between me and Harry Potter’. Harry Potter’ star Daniel Radcliffe was shocked when a woman, who was wearing just towel and a suggestive message, stopped him in New York. (All his prayers were answered)
F*** all the s**t and fame. Hailie is far too important. She keeps me from being too extreme.” Eminem being extreme about not being extreme for his daughter’s sake.
“ George Clooney and I have started a class as former sexiest men alive. Jude was at the top of his class immediately. It was obvious to us that he was a natural. But we have great hopes for Mattie (Damon) Brad Pitt …I am praying to take a class
“He didn’t say anything, nor did I. I just looked at him, he was heavy - all I could see were his wild red eyes, I thought for a mad split second, ‘I could snap your neck like a straw, snap it and let you fall and say it was an accident.’ But then I just let him drop. I couldn’t kill him, I couldn’t live with that on my conscience.” Ozzy Osbourne on attacking the burglars in his house in London (mad for just a split second?) say a a big prayer for him
“I was on Prozac for a long time. I’m not sure, it may have helped me out for a little bit. It felt like a low level of despair.. You’re not getting any answers, but you’re living okay and you can smile at the office.” Jim Carey (the box office? )
“When in Rome, you do as the Romans do, You drink a little more. You eat a little more. You kiss more. You love more. You dig?” Usher (You on prayer break?)
“Imagine finishing the night in bed with a man, but later wanting to slip away without waking him up, The zip really isn’t the best idea.” Diane Von Furstenburg on why her wrap dress is a winner ( sshh )

Here is a fabulous travel guide idea. “Bored with of out of date recommendations for second rate dumps? Tired of trying to select the best place from a slew of mediocrity?” Fed up by travel guides edited by people who are daggy, who have no idea on what’s groovy? Well clap your hands! Time to get the Luxe City guides: full of all things cool in cities around Asia, written in a very witty kind of way and printed on small, cute foldaway card that you can toss in the Birkin. The Sydney one has just been released which is just the thing to give your OS friends just arrived here for their summer holiday. Also choose from Bali, Bangkok, Hanoi, Hong Kong to Shanghai and Tokyo. Wow.

Luxe City Guides $11 or US$7.50 each or from Dymocks, Arida or go online.

Sales: The SCOOP International warehouse SALE! Handbags, accessories and jewelry…25th November 10am -5pm and 26th November 10am -5pm at 5/442 New South Head Rd Double Bay.

The Lee Mathews Annual frock sale: Seconds, samples and end of season styles priced from $20.. Saturday 27th November 10am- 6pm 5/349 Barrenjoey rd, Newport 99973787

Yes, it’s that time of year when you look into your wardrobe, see all that black and gasp, (then swear). But remember in (the dark empty) space, no one can hear you scream “I have nothing to wear to a party” So relax. You shall go to the ball. First thing to remember is that The LBD never goes out of fashion and if you are feeling weight challenged, just keep wearing what you’ve got and throw on some diamante brooches, some jeweled shoes and grab a coloured clutch bag. Next solution? Time to go shopping for party dresses. Hot tip: anything floral and beaded will still look great next season particularly under your tweed 3/4 coat or under a trench in winter. Yes, imagine that, you can buy one now and wear it another season. What a concept. Best stores for great party dresses? Lisa Ho and Scanlan & Theodore are both fabulous. Then try Tim O’Connor, and Collette Dinnigan or go to Leona who does have some gorgeous long print ones (perfect for the pool with flat toe thongs). Of course if you have a black Amex get the Lanvin from Belinda or please go to Como for the Allessandro Dell’Aqua.

If you say to yourself every morning when you run out door and glance in the mirror “Go the fro” then either you don’t realise that Casey is the new Australian idol, or you have nominated Kath Day Knight as your own personal idol. A worry. May I suggest instead that it’s time you got Fudge De-Frizz? They say “De-Frizz is a great repairing and conditioning treatment. A serum that repairs the hair by sealing the cuticle to prevent any moisture loss, and flyaway hair, a common cause of frizz.”. I say, yes! It really does the trick and gives hair some great texture and sleekness but don’t use too much or you might look like Kimmy.

$19.95 Fudge De-Frizz from major department stores or 1300 764 437.

The exhibition, “Missoni and Titian: Color and Light from the Venetian Renaissance to 20th-Century Fashion,” opened at the Ciliverghe di Mazzano, an hour’s drive from Milan.Curators of the fashion museum have juxtaposed a selection of Missoni’s designs with 16th-century portraits from Tiziano, Tintoretto and Paris Bordon, all of whom based their works on color contrasts and limited use of contours. Some of the paintings are being shown in public for the first time and are themselves a crash course in 16th-century fashion, with models posing in period costumes of elaborate embroidered velvet dresses, wearing their best jewels, strings of pearls and family rings.WWD
New York is all atwitter about Dame Edna Everage’s, aka Barry Humphries, return to Broadway in “Back With a Vengeance!” which opens Sunday night at the Music Box Theatre. At the very first preview were such worthies as Nan and Tommy Kempner; Bing Crosby’s widow, Kathryn; Mario Buatta, and Anne Slater. The Dame called Anne on stage to play the part of her mother. She put Anne in a wheelchair, dressed her in a lavender housecoat and a purple head scarf, but did allow her to keep her own signature blue glasses. WWD
The founder of Yo Sushi is opening up ‘Yotel’ , a new hotel concept based on the Japanese capsule hotels which will open at 2 London airports in 2006 for about 10 pounds a night.
Bistroteque is the new cool restaurant and bar in London
Going skiing or hiking in Chamonix? I suggest you stay at the groovy Concept One chalet http://www.conceptchalets.com or go to the gorgeous Ferme de Moudon in Lets Gets in France http://www.descent.co.uk
Nooch in New York is a hot new noodle bar designed by Karim Rashid.
The recently revamped 900 room Cumberland Hotel in London is looking very groovy http://www.guoman.co.uk/cumberland/hotels/
Also in London check out the Peter Beard Living Sculpture exhibit at The Michael Hoppen Gallery.
The groovex to the max French store Colette has opened another store in JFK airport New York.
Join the Setai club for $300,000 initial fee then $8000 a year to stay at any Setai property around the world …but it is invitation only so ask founding member Alex Von Furstenburg to join you up!
See Holly Hunter on stage in London at The Wyndham Theatre in a play called ‘By the Bog of Cats (no typo! )
And Toby Young perform in his own play based on his book ‘How to lose friends and Alienate People’ ( based in his time working for Vanity Fair) at The Arts Theatre in London
“Let me start by telling you this is one of the sexiest parties I’ve been too,” said Usher as he snuggled with a baby tiger during an intimate fete Fendi threw for him here last week. Held at La Maison, off the fabled Piazza Navona, Fendi whipped the event together in less than 48 hours at the request of Usher’s rumored paramour, Naomi Campbell. wwd
Chloé opened its first boutique in Russia on Friday at the Crocus City Mall on the outskirts of the capital.

http://www.wishlist.com.au
So you’ve spent literally weeks, hours, and days shopping for your summer wardrobe and now you have to buy for other people. Somehow it’s not so exciting going shopping any more. (I know that’s not the Christmas spirit but your secret’s with me) Time to log onto Wishlist. Go past the few daggy things and find lots of cool things and everything you want: Buy kids books and toys, groovy home wares like a Georg Jensen CD rack $90, and then log onto “experiences” and by an ‘adrenalin pack”.That’s right: Give someone an adventure trip while you sit on your fat bum online choosing it for them…Ha! Anything can be gift wrapped and delivered so get in now before the Christmas rush…

http://www.anoint.com.au
Here is a great gift idea. Go here and buy the gorgeous Anoint Range of Chakratherapy products and oil blends inspired by the principals of Aromatherapy. And even if you don’t believe in Chakras, they smell so divine that you will feel great (and that’s got to be good karma)!

Jennifer Lopez’s outfit for the forthcoming Pepsi advert has had to be enlarged because her bottom is too big. J-Lo co-stars with Beyoncé and David Beckham in the £11 million commercial (UK Glamour).
Sigourney Weaver is planning to take a trip into space and has signed up for a place on Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic spacecraft. “We’d be delighted to take Sigourney back to visit the aliens.” The company said.. Star Trek actor William Shatner and Carmen Electra’s husband Dave Navarro have both booked a seat as well… Beam me up.
Sharon Stone is turning her hand at being a mail-order minister after performing her first official wedding for restaurateur Michael Bourseau and sometime stylist Brenda Swanson at her Coldwater Canyon home ( bless).
Hustler publisher Larry Flynt will print photos of Paris Hilton kissing another woman. He said they are “quite erotic, even artistic, certainly compared to her videotape”. (Anything is artistic compared to her video).
Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep and Ben Stiller were in attendance when Robert De Niro and his wife Grace Hightower renewed their wedding vows.
Uma Thurman and Andre Balazs have purchased a New York state mansion.
Salma Hayek is dating her ex-boyfriend Edward Norton once again.
Nicole Kidman says she’ll take six months off when she has finished filming “The Producers” alongside Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick.
Victoria Beckham will launch her own line of jeans, which she calls “Wonderbras for bottoms” in London next week at Harvey Nichols.
Naomi Campbell appears in Pirelli’s 2005 calendar. In this go-around, she is the unofficial Miss December and was shot by Patrick Demarchelier.
The fashion world is buzzing with the rumour that notorious modeliser Tim Jeffries was caught in bed last week… with clothes designer Valentino! (credits: Seen here In valentino ) Popbitch
David Lee Roth is training to be a paramedic in New York. Recently Diamond Dave saved the life of a heart attack victim in the Bronx with a defibrillator. Bless ( had a heart attack when he saw that hair)
Renee Zellweger had her armpits botoxed ready for the the Bridget Jones premiere and press junkets as it stops you sweating.
George Michael says he is quitting showbiz amid claims he has suffered a torrent of email abuse from a deranged stalker. ( not because his last album didn’t sell) ….on a wing and a prayer

Zara’s Tales: Perilous Escapades in Equatorial Africa by PETER BEARD
Publisher: Knopf (November 23, 2004)
Just because Peter Beard is incredibly handsome and dashing shouldn’t mean that he isn’t brainy. And adventurous. If you haven’t heard about Peter Beard you must be really daggy. But never fear, FiFi is here to change all of this .Peter Beard is an international cosmopolitan (who reputedly discovered Iman in the jungle: not true she was at Uni) who has lived in Africa for years and has spent his life devoted to photographing wildlife and assisting in conservation efforts. “ It’s been a long time since Beard last produced a book, and this is a gem. Here he recounts the true-life adventure tales he often told his daughter, Zara. Illustrated with Beard’s photographs, these captivating and hair-raising escapades date back decades to the days when lions strolled through Nairobi, and Beard and his dashing intrepid cohorts risked life and limb to capture mighty rhinos and gigantic Nile crocodiles. He has survived a near drowning, the charge of a lion, and, most traumatically, an elephant attack, brushes with death that have made life all the more precious to him”.
A fantastic read $17 http://www.amazon.com

The Christmas List:
A Notebook at Random By Irving Penn Publisher: Bulfinch; (November 10, 2004)
This is the latest book from this amazing 87 year old photgrapher and was excerpted in the November issue of US Vogue . It looks incredible. “This is unusual because it has virtually no written text and is a collection of random works which together form a map of Penn’s artistic mind. It contains sketches and photographs presented un-pretentiously, one on a page. Each one is a key or entry point into Penn’s work and a hinge between him and the world of art and culture of his time. “ Photographing a cake can be art,” he says ( and eating one is too) $40 from http://www.amazon.com

The shops are full of Christmas decorations so this week it’s a mix of homewares and fashion and what ever I see that take the FiFi fancy…..
Economy:
K Mart: has got lots of cheapo denim skirts $34 and cropped chinos for $14 on sale (wear them to the beach or hiking in the mountains of Africa). There are some basic singlets in all colours $9, and some good hibiscus print cotton strapless 50’s style dresses for $34 (no one will ever know they are form K Mart) , and lots of good Bonds T shirts in great colours $14. Also buy the very small Foldup umbrella for $8.99 to throw in your bag, the good basic beach hats for $14.99 and some cool canvas pullon ones for about $10. Copeland and De Soos: Have some fantastic vintage bangles that are just thing for around $150 from (the sixties and twenties). Esprit: There is a cami with overstitching Balenciaga style $69, a nice plain tie dye mini skirts $59. good floaty white singlets $24, and some denim straight skirts $69 but if you haven’t got one already I am worried about you. Check out the EDC pink backless singlet $29, and the quite good moc croc clutch with big gold buckle $99. Marcs: have a black with white stripe knit tank $99, a stripe round neck ribT $29 Nine West: have some cool round toe ballet shoes but with a little kitten heel $139 in blue, black and white. David Lawrence: Have good dark denim crop jeans $119, some very nice watermelon pink knit Tie dye cardigans $99 and a great tank top $99 ( tasteful) and a Gucci copy slouch bag in cream suede $169. Witchery: Still have their Balenciaga bags in creams and pinks $169, some cotton caftans (long) in lots of colours $79, and I do like the white sheer tank with silver sequins $109,and the caramel knit cardigan with serious jewel trim a la Prada $129.Check out the white racer back singlet with white beads in the shape of tassles down the front $59,very Christmassy. Zomp Shoez: Have copied the Chloe bag with serious silver big chain $245. Country Road : have 20% off everything at least in Oxford St including homewares and I like the homewares. Also check the double layer white singlets ( hide the fat stomach because they are loose) $59, the Christmas decorations $4.95 and I do love the square neck black dress, very Prada/chanel with a ribbon belt and chiffon inserts $299. Sportsgirl : You’ve got to love the pink print short caftan with beading $100,the T bar sandles with diamantes $49 and the Indian leather toe thongs are here $49 ( $2 in India).There is a watermelon ( enough already) drape singlet $59 and a gold/flesh sheer tank with gold lace and diamante swirls $119. Cue: have some cute black ruffle dress $179. Sportscraft: have a long mu mu style Mexican dress with ruffles and layers, perfect for beach holiday style $199 and I think it is also in a fab paisley print too. Clever Jodie Boffa.

Business Class:
Herringbone: Have some great canvas two handle square bags in choc brown with orange stripe and hot pink $279 ,very chic, some perfect double cuff shirts $159, and stripe cotton ones too. They also have some cute kids clothes down the back of their shop in Queen st. Arte Flowers: Have chic designer candles and soaps by Renee and check out the Megan Salmon clothes down the back, a bit patchwork and bright. You should buy the Prince Le Jardinier canvas pull on hats $40 and there are have lots of fab Christmas decorations: crystal twigs for $2, snow flakes for $4 and great packs of Christmas cards $29 with cute illustrations by Roger La Borde. Orson & Blake: There are some cute crystal drops (could be an earrings) for the tree $6, clever mini chandelier ornaments $12, clear Perspex candle sticks in a tree shape $95, the Japanese wrap soaps are gorgeous $16, and so are the red velvet flocked cushions $265,and the small serviette rings or crystal twig wreaths are cool too $12. Up stairs check out the Sophia Swire gorgeous caftans, the gorgeous Indian drop earrings, especially the diamante circle ones $285, and the drop ones for about $110. There is a cool red floral chiffon dress $289, a Mint stripe cotton shirt $189, black Mint skirts with serious colour embroidery $313, and the Bensimon bags are very funky in canvas $209. The Sophia Swire red T shirt is great $89, and the Eccletica bags are so gorgeous you want them in all sorts of colours. They are cream with a tan leather trim, very square, open with 2 handles and lined in lots of chic colours $345. A must buy. Nicola Finetti: Has some cool Kerry Grima leather capelets in bronze and silver and with snazzy silver chains on it. $$$. Check out the red satin patch work singlet/cami $350,and the groovy silver mesh tank with orange beading on one corner $320 and lots of party dresses too many to mention around $900. Lisa Ho: She has great caftans here… check out the cotton watermelon one with ribbon detail $242. Also her dresses are all very pretty. There is a green print garden party dress ( Ho) $286, a butterfly print jersey dress $341, a paisley print ruffle top in greens and mints $264 and cute black satin top $323.Check out the satin, lace and chiffon embroidered top $335, the gorgeous purple tie dye chiffon goddess dress $1280, and the pink one is great too. The halter dress with a tiny bit of square beading is great $832 and I like the black chiffon halter top too. Don’t forget the venetain print dress, very 50’s G Gina Lollobrigida $1140, and the green print jersey dress with a thin belts and tiny beading and last but not least the chinos with the jewelled waist are cool $531. Orson & Blake Salon: There are some bangles in here too, which I forgot to mention last week in the item du jour..( outrageous) yes, lovely beaded coloured ones $110.There are some cool DVF dresses in here $795, an Arabella Ramsay chanel style jacket $429, and fabulous short caftan tops with fabulous silver embroidery in lots of colours for $69 ( silver, gold, pink and white) , check out the Tasha soft pink embroidered top $305, the candy stripe Camilla and Marc poncho/caftan $350 with a drawstring waist in chiffon is divine, the apple blossom print 50’s skirt is cool too by Helen Muriel $369. Tim O’Connor : The Jersey watermelon ( enough) drape dress is sexy $390, the black satin shirtwaister is chic $390 and the short black satin trench is handy handy handy $520.You want the black jersey baby doll dress $390 ,the watermelon butterfly print wrap dress with belt $490 and the short white ‘twiggy’ smock dress $265. Robert Burton: Has some cool, kooky African bags which are tapestry stitched and have an African face on the front. (Mandela on holidays). They have an amazing stripe lining and each one is individual with a denim back $180. Also check out his fab Columbian doublefaced ( bitch) T shirts $150 ,the Henry Deane glassware and the divine linen sheets by 120% : you get 2 sheets and 2 pillow slips for $960 and will sleep like a baby. And the Robert Burton own polo shirts are a great cut ( nice and snug ) with cap sleeves $60 in pink, orange, white and navy.

First Class
Myer: There is stil some DKNY left; a beautiful light jersey soft divine trench coat in camel or black $999, someone please buy it, and a black drape jersey dress $899. There are still a few Alberta Ferretti Philosophy dresses $1499 in animal print and also a rainbow print one too. Como: So many lovely clothes in here. I love the Martine Sitbon cashmere purple cape $1396, the cream halter sweater $1095, the Allessandro Dell’Aqua is too too divine: Buy the black strapless dress $695, the burgundy pleat dress $1800, the satin jeweled belts $295 ( a must buy), and the jewel caramel chiffon dress $2200, or the butterfly print dress $925. There is a fab GHOST silver lurex cardi $385,a Martine Sitbon cream and black chiffon pleat dress $2400, the GOST black straight leg jeans are cool $295 and I love the costume National black jet T shirt $695. Prada: I know, I just can’t keep away. But it is The Mothership after all from whence all fashionkind was first conceived so it is important to always go in and pay respects. Then you get everything in perspective and realize that there is such a lot of crap out there. Ooh la la but not in here. And some new pieces have just arrived from the pre summer collection ( and don’t call it Cruise). You want the amazing sheath dress in gold brocade $3410 ( buy 2) , the chiffon peach dress with a bow front detail $7190, ( buy 4) , the burgundy pleated and draped chiffon dress $5850 and the fabulous silk chiffon ruffle dress with pleated bodice $3410. But keep calm there are some new brooches in black jet $240 (buy 10) and the fab robot dingle dangles are there for $250, the robot T shirts are $1020, and the amazing black ribbon necklace with jet beads is $430, plus the ribbon belt with jewels is $590. Also a few new bags have arrived too: A cute little nylon salmon one with patent leather trim $770 and the robot tote bags are cool $650. Plus the divine sunglasses (tear drop) seen in all the ads are here too $400. Yum

Little goats cheese tarts with Gremolata
Need a little something to impress your party guests but will takes 2 secs to make? Go way back to The FiFi Report # 17 for the basil, chicken and parmesan wafers and party food will never taste the same again Then make these ( the cheats way to making tarts ) ….

You need :
½ cup flat leaf parsley finely chopped
4 cloves of garlic, chopped finely
finely grated zest of about 2 or 3 lemons
280g pack of tortillas
1 cup of naughty melted unsalted butter
about 300g of soft goats cheese
virgin olive oil
salt and pepper

·Preheat the oven please
·Mix up the lemon zest, garlic, and parsley to make the snazzy gremolata
·Pull out a muffin or tartlets tray because you are going to cut the tortillas up so that they fit into the trays. Clever and Quick …what a fab idea
·Melt the butter…love that smell
·Put the tortillas on a bench and with a biscuit cutter or something sharp cut them up into cute little round tarts about 5cm
·Brush both sides with the butter… go on lash it on so they are seriously moisterised
·Press them down into the tart tin and throw them in the oven
·Cook for about 10 mins or until they are golden as Paris Hilton
·Time to have a drink, just don’t smudge the lipgloss
·Now fill the little tarts with a dollop of goats cheese then toss a dollop of gremolata on top
·Mmm perhaps a drizzle of olive oil on top (hate to see them dry out like Donatella)
·Toss on a bit of salt and pepper and
·Then pop them back in the oven for about 2 secs just to warm them up a bit
·Well look at that! How chic and professional
·Get them out of the tart tray while they are still hot so they don’t get stuck
·Serve them on a chic tray with spunky waiters in black tie
I’ll drink to that!

Garden State by Zac Braff
I will say one thing: George Clooney might be out of a job. Zac Braff, we adore you! OK, so you are only 29 and not very tall (but then neither is George) but you are so funny and romantic and clever. How do I know such things? Because after the screening of Garden State we were lucky to sit in on the Q&A with Zac and you could literally hear every girl in the audience swooning. Probably too because the movie is a Rom Com of the highest order. But relax, I mean an arty left of field Rom Com which is much more appealing than a Julia Roberts film. Funny thing, we thought it was going to be a bit of a teen/Gen X angst movie but the unabashedly romantic story sneaks up on you and before you know it, it’s a full on love story that is really touching . So why is Zac so adorable? Because he wrote, directed and acted in it. It’s about Andrew Largeman ( Zac) who “ shuffled through life in a lithium-induced coma ( a vegetative state?) until his mother’s death forces him to go home for the first time in nine years. Stunned to find himself in his hometown after such a long absence, Large finds old friends who are all a bit kooky: grave diggers, fast food knights, the panderers of pyramid schemes and masturbating dogs. True. But in a twist of fate, he meets a girl (Natalie Portman), who is a lying epileptic and everything he isn’t. Noisy, full of life and hope. Sweet. And since I am a great friends of Natalie Portman ( Well , I did do a Vogue shoot with her once in New York ), I can tell you she is a great actress and seems thrilled to get out of her star wars outfits. Yes, We laughed, we cried, we laughed all over again. A lovely movie, I might even see again (wonder if George is free that night?).