“There were about 50 people carrying placards that said things like ‘Paris, Your Book is only good for hamster bedding,”,then “E! [the entertainment network] started filming them, and they began chanting, ‘Paris can’t spell ‘E!’” on the protest against Paris Hilton’s book (can’t spell it, but she knows how to take it).
“I mean, the girls at the shows go to bed and have a swim, I was shocked. I was like, ‘What’s going on tonight then?’ and they’re all going to bed! Where are the cocktails, girls?” Kate Moss on the new young models (Spell ‘E’ Kate)Vogue.
“Once an alcoholic addict, always an alcoholic addict, I took my first drug when I was 24 years old. I did a speedy drug. (she can spell it? ). No one forced me to do it. I did it because I wanted to. I don’t have any blame for any one but myself.” Naomi Campbell (and your bashed up maid).
“If I was getting married, I’d know about it,” Giselle Bunchen (who says models aren’t brainy?).
“He knows everything, he knows all about Jennifer and her faith healer [Merle Gonzalez]. After Ben Affleck left Jennifer, Merle went in to expel bad auras and cleanse her house. Merle also blessed the ‘Shall We Dance’ set and some people say Jennifer has had Merle put hexes on people she feels have done her wrong.” says a friend of Scott Barnes the former makeup artist to J.Lo. who is threatening to write a tell-all book about his time working with the diva ( a hex and bad auras on her movie career).
“I wear Glow most of the time,” J.Lo. on her perfume.
“Even I wear Glow,” Marc Antony (You need it ).
“Enough,” Nicky Hilton when asked how many carats in her engagement ring.
“It’s like the hair of five people all on one head.” A fashionista on Paris Hilton’s hair extensions ( not enough)( she can’t count either).
“I’m a big Shakespeare fan. You can learn everything by reading Shakespeare.” Anna Wintour ( Lady Macbeth)
“We’re not cranks. It’s just that you can’t feel depressed when you chant.” Jerry Hall disillusioned with Kabbalah has taken up Mongolian overtone chanting. (chanting. cranks. but no hex).
“I was thrilled that she dismissed the legend stuff. To put me into a category I don’t belong burdens me with responsibility I don’t want. Nicole Kidman( a burden being a legend)

If you are a fabulous cook, you probably already have your favourite knives but, just like shoes, you can never have enough. And who can not go past 5 very stylish stainless steel knives in a wooden block for the ridiculous price of $9.95? I had to do a double take to check this price was right. And it is. Incredible. Simple, stylish (without a wooden handle) and sitting in a very OK wooden block. They are a steal!

$9.95 Coles Supermarket

If there is one thing worse than being recognized, it’s being not recognized. Which explains why sunglasses are the best way to look mysteriously but undeniably famous. If you’ve missed the shots of Kate Moss everywhere, you should know that big oversized sunglasses are the look. As reported last week, Prada have those gorgeous almost wraparound sunglasses from the latest collection,$250 and Gucci have a fantastic huge ones, just arrived $350. Sunglasses Hut have some Mui Mui ones, as well as the ‘must have’ Rayban Aviators in a classic style and a bigger over sized version too. Witchery has some fab Jackie O style in black and tortoiseshell, some cool big ones with a white frame on the inside $39.95 and finally have copied the Gucci aviators from last season $39. Check out Sportsgirl for some very funky coloured frames ones too $29. And don’t forget Morrissey has done some great Aviators as well.
$39 Over sized Sunglasses from Witchery.

If you cry every time you watch the news, when you look in the mirror or when Prada sells out of those jewelled brooches, then this is for you. The world’s best waterproof mascara. No more raccoon eyes for you. No more streaks. After trying the Maybelline waterproof mascara in the horrid pink bottle, I have gone back to my old favourite. The Max Factor calories 2000 waterproof mascara. It stays on through swimming, crying, laughing and sleeping. But god knows why it’s called ‘calories 2000′. It would make you cry just thinking about having so many calories.

$19 Max Factor 2000 Calorie Aqua Lash Waterproof Mascara

The exotic Greek isle of Mykonos might just as well have had its own fashion week. Valentino pulled his glamorous yacht right into the island’s picturesque Ornos Bay and practically right into the bedroom of Jean Paul Gaultier’s suite at the Kivotos, the island’s hottest boutique hotel that perches on the cliff over the bay. But, va-va-voom. Also dropping anchor in the bay was Bill Gates’ seemingly endless boat, Goygpus, as well as yachts belonging to such golden Greek clans as the Niarchoses and Goulandrises. Thierry Mugler, while in Mykonos, was seen night after night at Piero’s, the island’s answer to why nobody goes to bed until morning. Other fashionable figures on the whitewashed isle this summer were Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford, who rented not only one villa but the four surrounding ones to ensure that whatever they are doing together these days, they can do in private. from wwd
Kate Moss is currently being wooed by music mogul Damon Dash to be the new face for his Rocawear clothing line, a role previously played by Victoria Beckham. Kate wants $3 million
Dominick Dunne is writing a new book, set in New York called “A Solo Act,” “I never tell what it’s about. It’s bad luck.” WWD.
Rumor is that Nicole Kidman will be in the front row at the Chanel show next month in Paris and Karl Lagerfeld will throw a private dinner party for her (pencil it in please).
In Venice check out the new groovy Centrale restaurant and Lounge, 100 ft from La Fenice Opera House http://www.centrale-lounge.com pop in for a drink after the film festival.
Travel & Leisure says head to the village of Ludlow in Shropshire, Uk which has 3 restaurants with Michelin stars. The Merchant House, Mr Underhilss, and The Hibiscus Restaurant.
And Check out these new hotels in Italy: In Florence the Una Hotel Vittoria is very groovy. Get a virtual tour on http://www.unahotels.it.
Or stay at the sleek JK Place hotel in Florence http://www.jkplace.com.
In Rome you have to check out the grooviest place, the ES Hotel and the cool website http://www.eshotel.it…WOW. And how about the Tuscan 12th century Castello di Vicarello? Per Favore! http://www.castellodivicarello.it/ Divine.
And for some fun stay at the Aleph Hotel inRome; some rooms have a tiny plama TV in the floor in front of the Loo!! This place is COOL. Go to http://www.designhotels.com and click your way to Rome.
Christian Liagre has opened his first store in the Americas, in St Barts.

http://www.edible-paris.com
Eating my way around Paris has always been a dream and now it can happen. Go to this website for the ‘food minded travellers’ and you can book your own custom designed gourmet itinerary in the food capital of the world. Yum. One of the contributors to Gourmet Traveller, Rosa Jackson has edited the ‘Time Out Paris Eating and Drinking Guide’ and written the ‘Food Shopping’ chapter in it as well. An expert ! “Get a taste of Paris as you never have before. Whether your passion is finding the best French bread, pastry, cheese, chocolate or intimate bistro, I will craft a Paris perfectly matches your tastes and delivers you to the best suppliers and restaurants in the city”. Parfait!

http://www.sydmob.com
Flashmobbing. No, it’s not a new Olympic sport but a new, zany craze sweeping the world. Zany. Crazy. Let me explain: Flashmobbing is ‘A large group of people who gather in a predetermined location, perform some brief action, and then quickly disperse’. Kooky. And hilarious. It started in New York when a crowd, organized via e mail, all gathered in the carpet section of Macys to discuss carpets, then suddenly disappeared. “If the thought of being involved with a group of absolute strangers suddenly breaking out into an extremely silly act on a public street or a public place in front of hundreds of people sounds appealing, then SYDMOB is the place to begin….” Kooky

US Vogue’s Anna Wintour has three burly ex-Navy SEALs bodyguarding her during Fashion Week, and some speculate it’s to protect against animal-rights PETA .WWD
Organizers of the party for Vanity Fair’s Amy Fine Collins’ new book, “The God of Driving,” have required that all attendees submit their birth dates. This didn’t sit well with some aging society dames, who will skip the party rather than reveal how old they are. NYDN.
“Can someone please just put a gimp mask on Donald Trump and lock him away in a rusty cage? The media mogul is now marketing Trump World, a glossy magazine devoted to ‘the best of the best.” Gawker
Kirsten Dunst has been spotted canoodling with Josh Hartnett in LA.
“Naomi Campbell showed up at the very last second for the Heatherette show in New York. They’d already put Paris Hilton in Naomi’s frock for the big finish. When Naomi came screaming in, they tore it off Paris, threw it on Naomi and she stalked out. Brilliant. I think it was the same day she beat her maid for not helping her pack.” POPbitch
Paris Hilton and Lenny Kravitz arrived, sat in the corner, and left together from Zac Posen’s party at the Maritime Hotel in NYC.
Kevin Spacey tried to hide his bald spot with spray-on hair at the premiere of his new movie Beyond The Sea on Saturday. Onlookers at the Toronto International Film Festival were amazed to see a dyed black scalp.IMDb
J.Lo sat alone at the Hilfiger show, next to an empty chair with a “Marc Anthony” sign. OVER?
Renée Zellweger has invited a group of friends to a special event this December, prompting speculation she is about to marry boyfriend Jack White.
Avril Lavigne will marry her rock star boyfriend Deryck Whibley.
Although the new line by McCartney for Adidas is designed for hard-core athletic activity, models sporting the collection smoked and drank as they “worked out” on bikes and treadmills set up on the roof. Wwd (and held a spelling bee).
Donna Karan’s has been seen with a younger man, an ex model J.J. Biasucci.
Hugh Grant has supposedly proposed to Jemima Khan.
British actor Dougray Scott has reportedly beaten off competition from actors, Eric Bana and Clive Owen to replace Pierce Brosnan as James Bond.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell: A Novel by Susanna Clarke
This is a first novel, it took ten years to write and research, and is the book every one is talking about. The reviews are amazing (‘Dazzling and original’) and it is already # 2 on Amazon best sellers list. Billed as a Harry Potter for grownups it is about 2 magicians “In nineteenth-century England, the rich reclusive Mr Norell, of Hurtfew Abbey has regained some of the power of England’s magicians from the past, and seems to make the statues of York Cathedral to speak and move. News spreads of the return of magic to England and Mr Norrell goes to London. There he meets a brilliant young magician, Jonathan Strange; charming, rich and arrogant, and together, they dazzle the country with their feats.” Now read the reviews:
“Sophisticated, witty, and ingeniously convincing, Susanna Clarke’s magisterial novel weaves magic into a flawlessly detailed vision of historical England.”.
The most sparkling literary debut of the year” ” is unquestionably the finest English novel written in the last seventy years.” “Exquisite in her choice of words, Susanna Clarke is part Jane Austen, part J.R.R. Tolkien. This is one of those rare, once in a generation works, which harmonizes serious writing with wildly entertaining storytelling”. So there.
http://www.amazon.com.

The Christmas List:
Helmut Newton, Sex and Landscapes by Philippe Garner
Here is another fabulous book of the photos of the late great Helmut Newton. But this is one with a difference. “Sex & Landscapes” brings together ‘a rich selection from Helmut Newton’s little-known landscape and travel photographs, (as well as unseen “tougher” sex pictures). You will find shots of dark, brooding seas, baroque statuary, crashing waves, a long desert highway under threatening skies, and the Rhine seen from the air, all this interwoven with hard and voyeuristic sexual imagery, plus a touch of his high style and glamour.” The book’s publication coincided with the exhibition of “Sex and Landscapes,” which will opened in June at the inauguration of the Helmut Newton Foundation in Berlin and is available from Sept 24. Magic!
From http://www.amazon.co.uk

Economy:
I am smelling a new trend: coloured straight jeans. Yes, very eighties. Beware. And Marc Jacobs showed baggy eighties trousers just days ago at Fashion Week in New York. They are coming.
Speedo: have some good things in; A nice candy stripe (in pink and blue) bikini and boy leg pants $59 each and a very sexy ‘Versace’ style white one piece with cut out back $99. Myer: CK Jeans: have some new jeans with a straight leg $149, low rise boot cut, there are some new ‘seven for all mankind’ jeans $399 and cute, small, stripe T shirts $95 and plain shell tops $110.Tommy Hilfiger has a lot of very pink young things but there is a funky pink floral skirt $129. Bracewell have done some good cap sleeve T-shirts in lots of colours $40. Blazer: have done a good cropped roll up dark jean with a crease down the front $129. Basque: have done a good green belted trench for $199 and there is a belted cotton, ribbed cardigan without buttons. F line Feathers: have done a camel, belted V neck cardigan $179. Sportscraft: looking good thanks to Jodie Boffa; there are lots of good classic basics; check out the black V neck, cap sleeve, tiny black sequin top $139, a stripe pink preppy shirt with a white roll up cuffs $149, a fishermans stripe long sleeve T with the buttons on the shoulders $149 and the really nice dark denim pencil skirt with no awful split at the back $89, and the cotton peacoat in soft pink is charming $149. Liz Claibourne Bags in MYER are very clever; really a rip off of Coach’s copy of Prada ( 3rd time lucky?) and very good prices. Must not be leather but check out the big red one with white stitching $109, a buckle square or slouchey ones, very Prada esque $99, also a green suede structured one for $99. Also check out the Martinelli bags, there is a small with a cool silver chain strap $109 and the ‘Basque’ label, too have been inspired (shall we say?) by Coach’s Prada bags too. Exactly. With a big silver buckle, and structured, great in leather for $189. Also check out the green patent leather trim bag $199. Country Road have done a great, casual faded cotton canvas messenger bag in green with a leather trim. $139. And now for shoes in MYER; There is 20% off some shoes so check out the Cheap but chic Jane Debster fab flat T bar with square leather T bar $129, and the black open toe 40’s heels $149 but not too high. And also check out the Urban Sole fake snakeskin heels a la Sergio Rossi $149 and the Basque kitten heels, $139 in silver watermelon or black, and the fab round toe ballets flats $129 in many colours. Target have copied the Coach tote bag in dark blue with bright aqua trim and a buckle for $24 and in orange and pink too. Last but not least Nine West just keeps ‘em coming! And this week have a fab version of a Chanel quilted bag, with a black chain strap and in dark red satin and overstitching. $59. Outrageous.

Business:
MYER: There are some good straight leg Levis $99. Armani Jeans: have some cool ribbed cotton singlet racer back tops $229,and a lovely V neck sweater $249 which you should wear with a belt and your floral skirt. Check out the white cropped jeans $329 and the dark denim straight skirt with a zip down the side $230. Kate Sylvester: she has done a fab cabbage rose print in blues/greens or pinks/reds and you want the 50’s style skirt $425, a gorgeous red dress, very 50’s with a thin silver pinstripe $455 and a skirt same fabric $395. And you want the beautiful bronze chiffon tank with a drawstring neck and bottom with a tiny scattering of sequins, with a frayed edge, love it $489. And the most perfect basic satin cami, without any lace, $199. Check out the Sarah Jarmon cute, dare I say, pink cardigan with an orange trim $349, and the really, very nice chiffon and cotton cream tank, fab $149. Nicole Farhi: Check out the very full simple, black cotton skirt $749, gorgeous linen chinos $549, and the pink and orange ruffle edge chiffon top $449 and a pretty summer frock $999. See By Chloe: have I seen these before? Think there are new T shirts with See by Chloe across the front, quite cool $139 in white. There is a cream T-shirt with glitter ‘Chloe’ $299, and a black one too. You can have the white one with big red lips and See by Chloe painted inside $429. Oh yes, and there are some red jeans for you, miss groovy, for $329. Jaclin Chouchana: has a long, long cotton knit singlet in Khaki or black $179 and you want the divine cotton burgundy full skirt with appliqués sequins across it $1265. Wayne Cooper: has done a nice cream cotton shirtwaister dress with a belt and ¾ sleeves, look good with a tan $399 and a good very classic but handy black satin blazer $299. Myer: have some Desmo bags, check out the big black one for $999. And there is 20% off Gucci sunglasses too. And now for shoes in MYER: Check out the Kors by Micheal Kors divine red leather slides with white stitching $250,and the beautiful black sling back with elastic $300 plus others. There are some divine Alessandro Dell”Aqua orange patent flats with silver buckles $680 and don’t forget the very eighties marc by marc Jacobs red 40’s ankle strap heels $500 and the jeweled open toe ones for $500.

First:
Ferragamo: Have some gorgeous new things in here. They have grooved up their advertising and styles and why not? The Ferragamo look is so right for now and so Lady Like. The bags are divine. You want the brown suede one seen in all the ads with cut leather straps all over it $1400, also in black and also in a smaller look. There are some gorgeous tan goatskin structured bags $2000 and some cute little T bar sandles and mules in tans around $600. Louis Vuitton: The clothes in here are exquisitely cut with such beautiful fabrics. You want the thick cotton canvas peacoat in dark choc brown/Khaki $2300, the camel cashmere vest $640, the pink cashmere twin set top $850, the denim skirt $$, the cute baby doll dress in jersey in navy $850 and the ruffle cap sleeve T shirt $640. Or how about the sling backs with VL in diamantes $1200? Or the cute little pink patent mules $850 and the suede camel flats with round toe and tortoiseshell flower $800.There are some new leather cuffs; small thin ones with a gold flower are $320 and the wider LV ones, about $450. Don’t forget the amazing blue structured bags with all the gold hardware are here for $$$,plus the famous Theda bag has arrived too The price? You don’t want to know. Christensen Copenhagen: Lots of new Fillippa K just arrived. You want the short skirt with side pockets in black, very chic $320, the very gorgeous black classic pants $325,the pink round neck knits $225 and the fitted, very sixties jacket, like a bomber but chicer in green ,red and black $795.There is a coat in the same shape, very Jackie O $999.There is a handy little thin patent red belt $85 ( also in white). Also by Fillippa K are some just-the-right-grey -maille T shirts $95 also in white. Check out the swirley print DVF skirt $465 and dress. Don’t forget the must have petit bateau singlets and T-shirts and shell tops all about $40. Also some more DVF is about to arrive and the Paul & Joe is coming next week. Thank God

Moroccan Swordfish

This is just the thing to cook going into summer, lovely grilled swordfish drizzled with capsicum and tomatoes with a touch of saffron and herbs. Easy, delicious and perfect for all those carbophobes out there..

For 4 you need:
·4 swordfish fillets
·1 teasp saffron threads
·2 tomatoes (canned ones are Ok because they have to be peeled, seeded and thinly sliced. (I’m not doing that on a week night )
·1 red and 1 yellow capsicum: roasted, peeled, seeded and thinly sliced
·1 tsp of ground coriander
·½ tsp ground cumin
·1 small red chilli, thinly sliced
·2 to 4 large garlics crushed, upset and sad (but tasty)
·about 150ml designer Olive oil
·1 tabs lemon juice
·1 tabs chopped mint
1 Tabs chopped coriander

If you haven’t already done it, about 2 hours before you want to eat, you should throw the capsicums in the oven to roast.
Pour a drink or two and perhaps rearrange your undies drawer.

OK, now after you’ve roasted and peeled, seeded and sliced the capsicum and tomatoes you can start cooking. This will lead to eating, which is a very exciting part of the day. One of highlights after shopping and sleeping.
·This is also very nice with couscous. So pop it on to cook, because the swordfish takes no time to whip up.
·Pop the saffron threads in a bowl of 2 tabs of warm water to have a little marination and get together for about 5 mins.
·Now whack the tomatoes, capsicum, coriander, cumin, chilli, garlic, oil, lemon saffron and it’s juices and water all in a frypan and heat through.
·Smells good!
·Have another wine.
·Then grill the swordfish to your liking (always a good idea)
·Add the fresh herbs to the capsicum sauce
·Toss the swordfish onto serving plates and drizzle it with capsicum mix and the jus
·Voila! The swordfish is almost floating in the juice and how gorgeous do all those reds and yellows look? Lovley
Serve with a bowl of cousous and start thinking about your next trip to Morocco

Suddenly 30
Yes, we all wish we could wake up and suddenly be 30. This silly movie works because Jennifer Garner is very good at being a 13 year old who suddenly wakes up to find she is trapped in her 30 year old body. In fact she’s not trapped, she really loves it! Boobs, clothes, makeup and men: what is there not to love? Plus, she works at a fashion magazine. But why are magazine fashion editors always mean bitches in the movies? And always have average clothes and daggy hair and makeup? I was cringing watching it. But there are some funny laugh out loud moments; it’s really quite charming and as light as the slip dress she wears in the opening scenes. And Mark Ruffalo as her best friend is spunky even though he looks like he’s having a little nap instead of acting. I’m not so sure about the moral to the story: all women who work (especially at fashion magazines) are cold, hard and ruthless. Only the fat, ugly, daggy ones are nice. But if you look like a sexy babe and act like a sweet, innocent 13 year old, you can get the guys! Brilliant! It’s all about turning back time and getting second chances; if you had your time again, would you keep repeating the same mistakes? Well, I would never have eaten all those donuts. Or said no to George Clooney. And I’d make sure I’d see Big again. No, not from Sex and The City but the original Tom Hanks movie that ‘Suddenly 30′ ripped off …now that was hilarious.