‘If you’re having a fat day, a bag is not a problem,” Micheal Kors (why I have so many handbags)
“I wouldn’t want to put anyone off their breakfast. Imagine me nude — yuck.” Fergie who was poised to pose nude along with Kate Moss, Lara Flynn Boyle, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos and Rachel Hunter for the book “Four Inches,” has come to her senses.( Yuck) (buy another bag)
“If I look like you one day I will run naked down Fifth Avenue” Kate winslet to Susan Sarandon ( and buy another handbag?)
“I am definitely not an Atkins girl. This is the real me, this is my figure. I have a nutritionist to get fat but the minute I stop stuffing my face it drops off,” Renee Z (It just drops off. Just like that. )
“I would lie on my stomach in the kitchen and hand-feed him kosher chicken. We would go to Le Cirque and eat off of Limoges porcelain.” Gossip columnist Cindy Adams’ on her Dog who died of bloody diarrhea (or E. coli, depending on which details grab your attention) after spending a weekend at a kennel. ( at least someone is eating even if it a dog). Gawker
“The great thing about McDonald’s is that they have a lot of different things on the menu. I love their salads. I ate McDonald’s every day when we were recording. We get the chance to visit sick children at Ronald McDonald houses, To be part of that is beautiful.”( Beyonce on her beautiful multi million $$$ contract with Mcdonalds)
“I’ve got two but the butterfly is my favourite - it’s out of this world. I don’t bring them on tour with me though. It’s a home thing.” Missy Elliot on her vibrators that are keeping her happy and satisfied.( gasp!) “I blame my mother for making me a tomboy. When I was younger she’d dress me up really girly in lacy dresses, so I went wild when I discovered tracksuits.” Missy Elliot ( and wild when she discovered butterflies too )
“I am not in Britney’s womb.” Mother to Britney’s husband Kevin Federline’s two children (no, but but he is)
‘Good for them! They’re not go-go dancers or drug dealers.” David Patrick Columbia, the editor of newyorksocialdiary.com, on trust fund girls who work ( a go go dancer ? the worst )
“I wanted to kick my television” Editor in chief of GQ on Dubya winning
“All the pundits are saying it was this quote-unquote values vote, and I do mean quote-unquote values. We have an incumbent president and a wartime president, and more people were reluctant to vote against him than to vote for him” Editor in chief of Elle. (’quote unquote’)
“Maybe they didn’t want to see a guy that slept around. It could be the mood of the country right now. It seems to be the result of the election,” Wayne Llewellyn, at Paramount on Jude Law’s Alfie flopping at the US box office (Yes, Blame the movie on Bill Clinton)
“How can 59,054087 people be so dumb’? Cover of Uk Daily Mirror on Dubya getting another 4 years
“Vote Or Die spokesmodels Paris Hilton, 50 Cent and Ludacris were not even registered to vote.” Nuf said

If you are getting as worried as I am this season about all those florals, bright colours and outrageous prints out there, then here is a little styling tip. Walk on by! Then throw on your cropped jeans, a plain t-shirt, a fabulous bag, get into those heels, and then nick into Target for some very cool aviator sunglasses… for an outrageous $15. But I confess I have been sneaky, because they are in the men’s section, which means they are bigger. With a silver rim and dark glass they add instant cool to anything and you’ll look like an international, cosmopolitan jet set queen from the front row at Michel Kors. So cheap you can throw them in the beach bag. Even better you are incognito. Which is always a good idea in Target.

$15 Men’s Aviator Sunglasses from Target.

It is so scary! No, I am not talking about Bert Newton’s hair or your Amex bill (though both are scary). But are you sitting down? Here is the shock: Christmas is here in 6 weeks. Big sigh, gasp, swear. So if you are organized and well brought up, it’s time to send out Christmas cards and I have found some groovy ones by Marimekko. Except I don’t think they are Christmas cards. But who cares, at least it means you can use them any time of the year. In Maija Isola patterns, they are in all the signature Marimekko prints and you’ll find 12 different cards in box. See them at http://www.finnstyle.com/macaas.html
$32 Marimekko box of cards from kikki-K.

If something says ‘repair’ on it, you are talking my language. I’m just going through too much wear and tear and I desperately need repair. And that’s just from shopping. Imagine if you had to work, like my credit card (that’s when you really see what wear and tear can do). So I tried the Clinique Repairwear Day Cream and I’m really liking it. It is rich and creamy, it’s not called intensive cream for nothing, and it seems to really sink into the skin, plus it has a sunscreen in it. (But now if I could only work out how to get it off my black Amex.)

$80 Clinique Repairwear Day SPF 15 Intensive Cream from major department stores.

Off to the Greek Islands? Go to http://www.mykonostheoxenia.com/rooms.htm Groovy, must be the only swimming pool on the Island.
Klimpton Hotels are offering goldfish for companionship at selected hotels http://www.hotelmonaco.com/html/GuppyLove.html “ During the day or night, the goldfish happily provides you with the perfect kind of companionship, relaxed and quiet. Guests can enjoy the goldfish for the duration of their stay — and even name their temporary companion.” Missy Elliot take note.
Check out http://www.sixsenses.com for gorgeous resorts and spas
Who wouldn’t want to stay at this divine hotel in Phuket? Very similar to Aman resort http://www.trisara.com
In New York don’t forget to check out the ‘Wild: Fashion Untamed’ Exhibition at The Costume Institute, at the Met“ An extensive exploration of man’s ongoing obsession with animalism as expressed through clothing. Focusing on contemporary constructions of the fur-clad “Bourgeois Woman,” On view include Alexander McQueen’s “Amazon” dresses, Azzedine Alaïa’s “Tigress” bodysuits, and Thierry Mugler’s “Black Widow” architectonic constructions. The exhibition also features fantastic feathered costumes of Las Vegas showgirls and coquettish “Birds of Paradise” creations by milliners Philip Treacy and Stephen Jones. December 7, 2004–March 13, 2005.
Michael Moore plans to make a sequel to Fahrenheit 9/11.
American conservative groups are to protest over this week’s opening of Kinsey, the movie of post-war sexual behaviour researcher Alfred Kinsey.
Cherie Booth has co written a book called “The Goldfish Bowl: Married to the Prime Minister” Based on personal interviews, diaries and letters, and the accounts of surviving spouses, families, close friends and colleagues, the story begins with 3 women, Clarissa Eden, Dorothy Macmillan and Elizabeth Home.
The Parker Bowles family including Camilla, were out in force at the ultracool Kensington Place in London to celebrate the launch of “E Is for Eating: An Alphabet of Greed,” a collection of humorous essays by food writer Tom Parker Bowles. (Chapters include D for Deep South, G for Grouse and J for Jewish Food.) wwd
MakePovertyHistory campaign, involves wearing a white wristband that symbolises the fight to end Third World debt. It will be worn by Bono, Chris Martin and Robbie Williams when they record the updated version of Do They Know It’s Christmas on Sunday.Bless
Cartier, has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that Amazon.com knowingly profited from selling knockoffs of popular watches The lawsuit came as Tiffany & Co. announced on Thursday that it had been awarded a $600,000 judgment by a federal court in Philadelphia against a counterfeiter selling his wares via eBay.wwd
Olivier Widmaier Picasso, one of the artist’s grandsons has written a book “Picasso: The Real Family Story,” The son of Maya Picasso, the only child the artist had with his muse and lover Marie-Thérèse Walter.
Former Yale architecture student Thomas Shine has filed suit against FreedomTower architect David Childs for allegedly violating copyrights of designs Childs created while in school.

http://pages.ebay.com/personalstyle/
How clever is this? e bay now have their own fashion magazine online so you can read about the trends, then click and buy. So what is hot? Tweed jackets, pencil skirts,clutch bags, charm bracelets, Luella Bartley handbags. Click on Tom Ford’s last collection for Gucci to buy a bag. Or pick up a hobo bags or a brooch. Apparently e bay now sells 174 pairs of women’s jeans an hour, and the highest-priced item to date this year is a multicolored Louis Vuitton bag, which sold for US $59,000. If only I had that much personal style!

http://radiofreevirgin.com/channels/straightup.html
Last week it was all about the online radio stations to listen to from around the world, and this week I have zeroed in on this one. Radio Free Virgin. Click on ‘listen’ and you can hear non stop Jazz (sax in the city) or Soul City ADFREE. 24 hours a day. But there are lots to choose, pull down the scroll and find country ,80’s or rock.

Martha Stewart’s new prison roommate is a drug dealer Kimberly Bennett. (Once they sort out curtain colors, we’re sure they’ll get along just fine) gawker.
Just a week after Posh announced the family were moving to Hollywood, David Beckham has signed up for his first movie role in a $100 million movie trilogy called Goal!
Claudia Schiffer has given birth to a baby girl ( Goal!)
Mira Sorvino, 37, gave birth to her first child last week, ( a goal!)
Nicole Kidman has been seen with Liz Hurley’s ex- Steve Bing and had a series of dinner dates in New York, at the Il Cantinori restaurant ( bingo)
Mariah Carey is reportedly facing financial problems after spending most of the $28 million she was paid to end her contract with Virgin Records.
Heidi Fleiss is opening a Nevada brothel, the White House. Each room of the White House will be a reproduction of one on Pennsylvania Avenue, re-created using historical documents. Historical? ( from Bill Clinton’s term)
DAVID LaChapelle is furious at playboy hotelier Vikram Chatwal for using his name to promote a new hotel. He originally agreed to design some of the spaces in Chatwal’s new Dream Hotel in Midtown. They later had a falling out and LaChapelle pulled out of the project, which was then completely redesigned.
Sean (P. Diddy) Combs’ had a Royal Birthday Ball. Mariah Carey, who was followed the whole night by an assistant with Handi Wipes to dab her face, tried to get the attention of “King Diddy” as he stood on his gold throne issuing proclamations through a microphone. After a few pulls on his jacket, His Diddyness finally descended from his perch to plant a kiss on the singer.
Kerry insiders are blaming producer-mogul-narcissist P. Diddy for their candidate’s defeat. “He was just a nuisance…The whole thing was a joke. No one outside of New York or L.A. gives a hoot about this guy.” Wait, are they talking about Diddy or Kerry? Gawker
Sean Lennon is reportedly dating actress Milla Jovovich
Kate Bosworth is The Incredible Shrinking Woman and barely touched her food at a Louis Vuitton gala in L.A., a spy reports. Her diet does allow cigarettes.She and Kirsten Dunst kept sneaking out of the party for a smoke, Bosworth tried to hide her cancer stick when a photographer snapped the pair. That may have been because the dinner benefited Lilly Tartikoff’s United Cancer Front. NYDN (Smokey and the Bandit? )
Nicky Hilton s short-lived marriage is officially over, her publicist has confirmed
Liza Minnelli shocked revelers at the wrap party for Outkast’s upcoming movie, by performing an “incoherent and rambling” show. (outcast alright)
Liza Minnelli’s bodyguard has accused the star of forcing him to have sex with her in order to keep his job. M’Hammed Soumayah ( forced for sure)
Liza Minnelli has hit back at allegations she used to beat up her former chauffeur - by filing a $250,000 lawsuit against him. ( hit back!)

My Kind of Place : Travel Stories from a Woman Who’s Been Everywhere by Susan Orleans.

You must have read Susan Orlean’s fantastic book “The Orchid Thief or at least seen “Adaptation” the movie with Nicholas Cage based on the book (where she was portrayed by Meryl Streep.) Haven’t read it? Well, keep subscribing and soon you’ll be keeping up with all that is groovy and important. And you will rush and buy her next book “ In this collection of essay son travelling, she focuses not on cities but on singular locales and events. She zooms in on an African music shop in Paris, a grocery store in Queens and a fertility blessing ceremony in Bhutan. and a taxidermy convention where “no acknowledgment that having buckets of bear noses for sale was anything out of the ordinary.” A great read for the holidays!
$24 http://www.amazon.com

The Christmas List:
Camera Crazy By Arthur Elgort; published by Edition 7L
Arthur Elgort has been shooting for all the Vogue magazines for as long as I can remember and is known for his laid back, very real, uncontrived shots. The models are always jumping around the page and full of life which is far preferable to heroin chic. In ‘Camera Crazy’ he takes pictures of other camera-toting people, from children to supermodels, from strangers back to himself. There’s Cindy Crawford and Pierce Brosnan, cameras at the ready. There’s a crowd of paparazzi. It’s an endless and ever-growing sea of lenses, this camera crazy culture of ours” http://www.arthurelgort.com $22 http://www.amazon.com

Economy:
Target: Have some simple black crop cotton satine pants with a cuff $34, handy! Also look out for basic chino or camel crop pants $30, check out the 50’s print cotton skirts $24. There are some really nice stripe pink/red or blue stripe plastic beach bag totes with fake leather stitched handles $29 and if you want a sunvisor with a wide brim ( a bit flying saucer ish) they are here $9.99 in black and you don’t want the hot pink. OK? There are some white toe thongs with a diamante daisy that look better than they sound $19!! No, really a bargain.I might buy them myself. Also in the furniture department are some small chest of drawers in choc brown leather with white stitching, very chic looking for $149 ( 3 drawers), black leather big black bins $59 and some good cheap eyelet curtains $39. Kookai: have a cute caftan top with a swirl print on it in pink and yellow and black $109, also in light green and hot pink. There are handy little rib V neck cardigans $99 and lots of sexy mama jersey dresses $169 and how cute is the silver lurex kind of crochet little purse? Cute at $18. Might buy it myself. FCUK: have plain T shirts with ‘star’ in sequins on the front $39, some funky print ruched cream and red boob tubes $49, and best buy is the pretty red, orange and white ‘marimekko’ 50’ skirt $140 that has been thre for weeks but I might buy one myself. Plus how many times do I have to tell you the simple Tshirts with a tiny puff sleeves are great $39. You need one in white black or watermelon ( note: I do not call it pink). Esprit: The dark denim blazer is very handy if you haven’t got one yet. The look is peaking now on the groove richter scale so don’t spend a fortune on one (which is why you need this one) for $126. But talk about handy. A denim blazer makes your black pencil skirts and pants look boho chic. Also there are good, black twisted sleeveless tops $59, cropped pants or are they shorts? in black or taupe or cream $69, a cool black and white stripe singlet $39 and there are short shorts here for $49. Sexy. Nine West are having 305 off sale. Check out the ankle strap woven fabric shoe with a ribbon around the ankle a bit YSL, $129, and the satin evening bag in a cherry with a black chain strap, now $39. Veronika Maine: has a soft pink, very pretty chiffon,. cap sleeve dress $285 and some great YSL inspired bags around $200 plus some great knits . Cue: Like their frayed edged tank tops $59 and their knit shell tops are great for work and check out the floral red orange dress $279 and the good basic cotton satine black narrow side pocket pants please $169. TSUBI “has collaborated with cult 1970’s label Linda Farrow to create a unique range of sunglasses, now available at City Of The Dead.The Bondi store also stocks the highly sought after Linda Farrow Vintage range”.Witchery : have redone the ‘Balenciaga’ bag again in different sizes, and in black and mint and choc and oh, it is rather good, I must say….best of all it is big and roomy, to throw in all that makeup and shopping $169, also surprise surprise! Like everyone else they have some caftans, long ones with beading too $99. Myer: Have some gorgeous C design bikinis, Tigerlily bikinis and some cool Camilla and marc tops in orange and red stripe $295.
Business:
Coach: have some new things in. Best pieces are the black patent tote bags $550, the suede choc brown one which is very structured and the cute, multi stripe rainbow clutch. Check out the Gucci inspired purple, very small now, around $500.There is choc brown and light blue suede totes around $580 and I like the one with the big silver buckle slouchey ones are handy too. They are great quality, great prices, and have the best copies of all the designer bags. Leona Edmiston: Has a satin patch work dress with gold through $845, a short jersey one in a red and green print with short sleeves and tie front $435. Also in blues. Check out the really long red jersey one with plunging neckline $395. Comme Ci Comme ca: Don’t forget the long embroidered caftans here, in green with aqua stitching, and pink with orange $199 by Miss June. Also one with a drawstring neck. Also there are really simple satin shell tops $219, Karen Millen: Has the Mathew Williamson esque peacock print tops $280 and copies of Missoni knit cardigans in a zig zag lurex stripe $225 in reds or blues with a tie front. Also check her out for great jackets/suiting for work. Max & Co: Have a cute lurex orange, red and green multi stripe cardigan : I like it $240 and also comes in a round neck sweater $200 ish, best pieces are the peacoats and the T shirts.
Mimco; have lots of new beaded clutch bags and new are the sequin striped old regular checked plastic shopping bags $99 in red and white with white sequins, and other colour .Don’t forget their big hats .Zimmerman: They have a new floral print dress with a black background and lots of bright flowers in a dress, $310 a skirt and top too.Also a cool soft pink top with big orangey/red sequins $673, Love their cute kids cossies and there are some shorts in here if you dare. Go on. A/X Armani Exchange: have a few new things just arrived. I like the red, orange and white graphic print halter top $140, a black and white cotton caftan hood top $149, a gold or silver lurex top $149 , a black cotton top halter neck with pleats $219, a classic camel belt with a brass ring $99 and a silver snakeskin belt $59.The red and orange canvas bag on white background ( like the top) is cool, like a big clutch tote $60, and there is a print mini dress to match or is it a top? $219. There is also a cotton white shrunken blazer, if you can wear white and keep clean $229 (not). Midas: Have some great shoes for work: not too high heel with an open toe and sling back in choc brown or black $198, a bit 40’s. Country Road; I like the sheer chiffon double layer tank tops in watermelon $59 , the singlet tops are a great fit $39 ,the choc brown shell tops with a twisted neckline are great $130 and I love the caftan tops ( short) in linen in all sorts of colours $159, and the cool ¾ shorts in green chino cotton $95 and there is a very nice Prada inspired black 50’s dress with shoes string straps and pleats. Trelise Cooper has done an unashamed copy of the black Lanvin dress ( as everyone else has) with the net front embroidered in beads. Even another shopper stopped at it and said to her boyfriend “oh, look that’s a copy of the Lanvin dress’ mmm and its $769 in David Jones.

First:
Prada: Ok, so I love hot pink when it is in Prada! I want the pretty chiffon secretary blouse..why does this pink look different in here $? Don’t ask. Gucci: Don’t forget the gorgeous clothes here as wellas bags and shoes. You want the divine green jersey top $935, the knit green pleated and gathered top $1295 and the classic flat suede flat shoes are cool $600 ish. The new Cruise bags are in, which are all in a floral print, but I must say I am not so keen. But go check them out here: http://www.gucci.com/int/uk-english/int/cruise-05/flora/view.html Evelyn Miles: Already have some next winter’s L’autre Chose boots ,very eighties in suede $600 ish, some flat suede shoes with a patch work detail $478 and some an ankle strap heels. Don’t forget the YSL loafers $598, and on sale are the outrageous YSL, very 70’s (does 40’s) heels with cherries on top and a gold glitter heel, reduced to $798. Christensen Copenhagen: has some groovy Mathew Williamson pink print heels $ 250 and they are getting in more things next week. Ralph Lauren: have new things coming in a week, but have some great classic things on sale such as a ‘must have’ chunky cream knit sweater $599, a Gwyneth pink 50’s oscar dress, knee length $699, a fab navy and white singlet top and the dark navy trench is now $799.Plus there are some cool bikinis here in great colors $199. Bally: have a fab bag in camel with silver studs, very square and structured, very nice $1600, also in black and there is a huge one in pink too $2000. I love the stripe cotton belts in red and cream, or green and cream and other colours $150, the sandals with white stitching are great $425, the green suede slouch boho bag ( very Gucci) is new, just in for their winter collections and is quite gorgeous with the signature Bally stripe as a trim for $795. Also one is in choc brown suede with a lovely leather handle. You want all the gorgeous key rings, wallets and dinky things and the flat sandals in dark, dark brown leather $495. No, really you do. There is also a fab messenger bag in orange canvas with leather trim and with a stripe strap and zips $695, and some new suede mini platform mules in choc brown $495. David Jones: Now as well as a Prada store, there is a new Dior store open plus Burberry and Bulgari too. Very snazzy.

Herbed Mustard sauce
Suddenly got a dinner party or a cast of thousands descending on you? Need to whip something up with your eyes closed and your mouth open ? You can pull this together quickly to drizzle over poached fish, and it’s a winner that will have the crowds begging for more. The reason? It has butter and eggs in it and no one eats that any more….unless someone else cooks it.
This is from Stepanies,perfect for a Sunday lunch and you can make it in minutes but she suggests to use and gobble it down it within an hour or so (before the butter starts to set.)

You need for 1 cup enough for 4 to 6:
120 g unsalted butter
2 tabs Dijon mustard
4 egg yolks
3 teasp wine vinegar
salt et poivre
2 tabs freshly chopped parsley
2teasp of freshly chopped chives
2 teasp freshly chopped tarragon
Leave some herbs aside for a bit of accessorizing and garnishing at the end

·Get out the naughty but nice butter and melt it gently and adoringly
·Let it cool a little
·Get another bowl and toss in the egg yolks and work the Dijon mustard into it as if making mayonaisse,which means give it a good old beat so its all combined and getting thick
·Now add the vinegar salt and pepper and herbs to it
·That Taragon is strong so don’t go over board with it ..it says 2 teasp so stick to that measurement please!
·Now get the cool butter and pour it into the herb mix very gradually
·Yes, you have hundreds of people arriving in a minute but keep calm
·Ok have a drink, even if it is only 12 midday
·So you have mixed the butter into the herb mix very carefully and now
·That’s it! OK, do a Nigella and stick your finger in and taste it..
·Ooh La la tres tres bon!
·Now cook up a whole poached or baked fish
·This is quite lovely with a green salad and some perfectly simple asparagus and tiny sweet boiled potatos
·( to counteract the richness of the sauce)
·To make it all look terribly chic, serve the whole fish on a platter with the herb sauce drizzled over it and a scattering of the fresh herbs
·Mais oui eet ees so French! eet ees tres delicieux!

“Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason”

Weight: lost 10 kg from laughing
Alcohol units: Makes the movie even funnier ( hic)
cigarettes: replaced with self medication
calories: Yes! please ( scroll to FiFi Eats)

‘Are women really as shallow as [this film] would have us believe?” asks one reviewer. Is the Pope catholic? Of course! Shallow and so happy to laugh at ourselves. And laugh did we laugh. And that was just at Bridget’s bad hair and makeup and daggy clothes. Bless. But oh my god, they make her look terrible. That lanky skanky hair! That terrible skin! Those shoes! Those clothes! Trouble is you are so mesmerized by Renee putting on all that weight - Look at her fat arms, thighs! Stomach! double chin! - that, like Nicole’s Nose, you can’t take your eyes off it. And it does make you wonder why the two handsomest men fall for her. Which is the point of the story really. It’s a fairy tale; Mark Darcy is too perfect and Hugh Grant is too handsome. And the film is too funny. And I should know. So what if it doesn’t make sense, that it bears no resemblance to the book, that she ends up in a Thai Jail ( not funny Jan) that it’s corny and just a series of funny gags. So what if it is “Another small jewel in the crown of unabashedly commercial, cheerfully middlebrow, eminently exportable British fluff” .The audience was laughing, hooting, clapping and right into it. And so were we. At the end of the day, we can all relate to being a single, daggy, underconfident, clumsy, klutz who loves eating. ( I can, no really, I can)