“There’s a lack of smell-good in the men’s arena.” P. Diddy( And that’s not the only place).
“Sean Jean won an award, you know what that means, Sean. That means you’re gay. I’ll meet you in the bathroom in about 20 minutes” Isaac Mizrahi at the CFDA (Angels in America?).
“I’m going to miss you, boy. I hope one day I’ll grow up and be just like you.” P. Diddy to Tom Ford.
“Men are still animals and we need to make them happy, I want my man to feel like he is the man” Kate Hudson (Mizrahi feels like a man every night).
“It’s like invasion of the Butt-heads. They all go to D.C. and then another Butt-head, me, comes to try and save the day. And there’s a tender love story somewhere in the midst of that.” Mike Moore on Fahrenheit 9/11.
“Everyone thinks blushing bride Jennifer Lopez is preggers, presumably by another human” Gawker ( invasion of a butt head?)
“I have nothing to say about anything. My life is my life. It’s the only thing I have, it’s the only thing I understand.” No, not butt head Dubya but Marc Antony on J.Lo.( True. nothing to say)
“It’s not whether you win or lose it’s what you wear to the after-party.” P Diddy (nothing?).
“ It was disappointing stuff, old clothes stored in a warehouse and a bunch of moldy old shoes.” NYDN on Katherine Hepburn’s auction (who obviously never made it to after-parties)
“What are your predictions on the next big gossip stories for the rest of 2004? Ronald Reagan’s autopsy reveals he was a woman” Ben Widdicombe digging dirt for The Daily News.( and Maggie Thatcher was a Dyke?)
“In the wildly nostalgic 2003–4 season on the Great White Way, African Americans were represented by a maid, a slave, street urchins, a downtrodden ghetto family, and an ape. You’ve come a long way, baby!” Village voice on the Tony awards.( the great white way)
“I always say how Russell and I are the dumbest people in the company,” Kimora Lee Simmons, wife of mogul Russell Simmons (So dumb to say that)
“So people will like me? It’s dumb, I’m in a world where I get paid for my name and likeness. A million bucks is not a lot of money for name and likeness.” CZJ in W (alot for dumb,not for Like Ness).

I have an addiction: books. So how happy was I when I wandered dazed around the Mall in Bondi Junction (it was a shock. I know) and saw that Angus & Robertson now have sale shop full of sorts of books. But what caught my eye was one of my favourite books: THEN: Alexander Liberman’s photographs 1925 to 1995. For all of those uncultured types out there you should know that he was the late great Conde Nast/Vogue editorial director who was style incorporated. And he knew everyone who was anyone in the 20th century and this book is a just full of amazing black and white shots of his life. Originally about $100 this book is for you, special price $24! Also on sale are cook books like Marie Claire Food & Drink $19, Ainsley Harriott Cook books $12 and ‘My Tuscany’ by Lorenzo Di Medici for $12.99.Cheap but chic!

$24 Alexander Liberman’s photographs 1925 to 1995. Angus & Robertson Oxford St Bondi Junction

The winter has really started. How do I know? Because the winter sales are on so it must be cold and rainy. Well that’s what we were taught at school. June means cold and rain. June means I must wear winter clothes. I must wear a coat. I must wear a scarf. It’s winter item du jour. But stripe scarves are everywhere so instead throw on one of the fabulous River Weaver hand woven mohair scarves I spied in Arte Flowers. In gorgeous, soft autumn colours they will look too chic tossed nonchalantly around your neck. Who cares if you expire with heat exhaustion. Vanity feels no pain.
$190 Scarf from Arte Flowers, Queen St Woollahra 9328 0402

Wearing makeup is all about looking like you’re not. Yes, red lipstick is on the way back but at the moment all we want is a little smudge of Kohl around the eyes and a pale lip. But not too pale because you may look like Princess Fiona in Shrek. Which is why you have to have the M.A.C. Lustre “Freckletone” lipstick. It adds a bit of pale peachey pink neutral skin colour to your luscious lips without looking too much like anything at all. Perfect. You might even wear it running (running to the sales).

$33 M.A.C. Freckletone Lipstick from M.A.C. stores.

Accessories company Longchamp is collaborating with Tracey Emin, the British artist known for her 1998 installation “My Bed.” The two are commemorating the 10th anniversary of Longchamp’s “Pliage” foldable nylon tote. The Emin-designed bag will be sold first at Colette in Paris.WWD
Wenner Media will produce a Russian-language edition of Rolling Stone.
Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have teamed up with Citroën to oversee two D&G-logoed cars. Only available in Italy the D&G C3 come in onyx black or aluminum gray and feature chrome trim, leather interiors and Swarovski-studded D&G logos on the rear. wwd.
Pierre Bergé (partner of YSL) is among the investors in a new gay-themed cable station in France, called Pink TV.
‘The Bride Stripped Bare’ was the biggest selling adult fiction title in Australia last year and Andrew Bovell, writer of Lantana, is in negotiations for the screenplay. SMH
Photographer Melanie Pullen’s exhibition, “High Fashion Crime Scenes,” opens in LA and consists of her large-format photos of the “dead,” who are impeccably accessorized! ” If you look at suicide photos from the coroner’s files, the people usually put on their best clothes to do it.” WWD (fashion victims).
Cameron Crowe is set to start shooting “Elizabethtown,” the follow-up to “Vanilla Sky.” With Orlando Bloom, Kirsten Dunst, and Susan Sarandon.
Cate Blanchett is set to play Queen of England again in a sequel to Elizabeth.
Watch out for “Exorcist: The Beginning,” a prequel to the 1973 classic.
Andre Leon Talley the editor-at-large of US Vogue carried a camera around with him for just over a year and has put the results together in a book. The enormous 11” by 15” publication is due out in November teaturing celeb-filled shots of a holiday in Aspen, backstage shots from the Milan shows and Talley’s own friends (UK Vogue).
Alexander McQueen had a fashion show in London to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Black American Express Centurion card ( that’s something to celebrate!)

http://www.johngalliano.com
Wow. Check out this website of the amazing John Galliano. I ain’t seen anything like it! It has a clever subway map-style navigation that takes you from the “airport” to lots of crazy destinations. Check out the video of his latest prêt a porter collection, and the fabulous little stories of Miss Galliano: A cartoon mini story about the shopping adventures of the model Galliano girl.Obviously catering to the Japanese market she “goes on shopping sprees and fights Chinese mobsters in a bikini and knee-high boots. Counterfeiters, beware!”

http://www.fetchmemovies.com.au
Here’s the scoop: fetch me movies does just that. You rent DVDs and have them delivered to your door, then just post them back when you’re finished “The ‘fetchmemovies’ service works just like a normal library. You enter, browse through our range and select the DVDs you want to borrow. We then send them to you as they become available, you watch them and, when you’re finished, you return them to us. You can keep your borrowed DVDs as long as you want. There are no due dates and no late fees. And we won’t charge postage for delivery or return. DVDs are delivered straight to your mailing address and come in an envelope that fits most standard mailboxes” No more standing in the video shop browsing for hours on end…..

Gwyneth Paltrow went to a London restaurant for the first time since the birth of Apple. “I don’t want to be recognised at all. I’m feeling fat and ugly at the moment.” Doorman “I don’t think you’ll have a problem. I have no idea who you are” (fat and ugly)from Popbitch.
Matthew Broderick says Nicole Kidman will need some extra padding to play the buxom Swedish secretary in the movie of The Producers (fat and ugly)
Gwyneth Paltrow is spending more than $7,000 to have invisible braces.( ugly)
Heidi Klum and Seal French-kissed all through US fashion Design awards.WWD
Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake flew to Australia together “As soon as they got into the air they changed into their free first-class pyjamas and ordered a bottle of Champagne. They even invited other fliers to play Mah Jong with them and Cameron produced a travel version and invited other first class passengers to join in,” Glamour
Mini-Me the vertically challenged Verne Troyer is seeking an annulment of his marriage to 5-foot-6-inch model wife (funny about that)
Sadie Frost was hospitalized with blood poisoning last week
When Alfonso Cuaron signed up to direct Harry Potter 3 he signed a contract not to swear in front of the child actors. So he resorted to swearing in Spanish. Hogwarts pupils are all fluent in Spanish curses (Popbitch).
Calvin Klein’s house in the Hamptons is still very 70’s-licious with a strange sort of basement/SM cave that has yet to be redone (Gawker)
Princess Di-shagger James Hewitt has a tattoo on his knob which says DD (Pop bitch)
Eminem flashed a brown eye at the MTV awards (wardrobe malfunction)
Cliff Richard has created his own fragrance called ”Miss You Nights” and includes perfumes, shower gels, soaps and body lotions ( Miss it every night)
Which grumpy Hollywood comedian disrupted a magazine shoot in NYC when he phoned his West Coast publicist and barked at her to call the guy standing 6 feet away from him to turn down the air conditioning? NYDN (Who who?)
Paris Hilton almost set her Airstream on fire after trying to microwave a can of soup.( she eats?)

The Book Of Joe by Jonathon Tropper
This looks like a fantastic read .After all it has a “must read Nick Hornby fans’ sticker on the cover so it must be good,plus this quote from Augustin Burroughs (who wrote “Running with Scissors) “The book of Joe is utterly magnificent. I wish I had written it myself” High praise indeed .It’s about Joe Goffman, “a young writer whose sizzling first novel savaged everyone in his hometown, then went on to become a blockbuster movie. Of course Joe never planned on going home again until his estranged father is in a coma and the people of the town Bush Falls (a hint at the outcome of US election?) are in no mood to welcome him home. Tropper’s evocation of both the allure and hypocrisy of smalltown American life, particularly in drug- and alcohol-fueled episodes involving Joe’s 19-year-old nephew and the frequent pop culture references help move things along briskly. A wickedly observant look at a small town and it’s secrets” Amazon…….Can’t resist wicked….

The Christmas List:
Diane Von Furstenburg;The Wrap by Andre Leon Talley, Amy Spindler
Yes, we all want a DVF wrap dress so why not read about the woman herself Diane von Furstenberg and the history of the wrap dress? Quite interesting when you think half the models wearing them now were born in 1986 and she arrived in the fashion world in 1972 .She sold more than 5 million of the signature simple knit jersey wrap dress and it came to symbolize female power and liberation to an entire generation.But I’d like to know if she still employs her ex-daughter in law, Alexandra Miller who has run off with Tim Jeffries…now that’s the book we want to read…

Economy:
Looks like everyone is on sale now. Invest in anything floral or tweed and remember to mix them together and you will get through next season too.Then buy fabulous quality black basics for half price like pencil skirts and tank tops some serious shoes and anything with embellishment and…
Midas Shoes: Have a sale on and they are some great bargains but still full price are some wacky Raspini 40’s style silver heels $248 and some round toe zebra flats with a silver buckle for $248.There are the faux snakeskin kitten heels which are cool in mustard, orange, hot pink or good old classic black $228 and don’t forget the cool Tods/Prada style loafers in great colours with a silver ring $228.Buy the leopard print sling backs $228, the copy of the Dior red patent square heel flats with a big buckle $228 and the good basic black sling backs for $248. So groovyare the gold and silver twenties T bar heels $228. General Pants: are on sale too with heaps of jeans reduced and check out the Nixon watches with the big wide leather watch bands a la 70’s. Dotti; have some cute chiffon ruffle shoe string dresses in mint pink or black $55 and did I mention the pleather Dior esque bag with white stitching for an outrageous $19!! Esprit edc: are on sale Yes but new is the multi stripe Cacheral esque style wide neck singlet $59 and a nice sheer silky knit black top with shoulder button $59.95 and seriously cropped black pants with a satin belt $99. Witchery: Have a chic black wool singlet with a lace trim $49 and don’t forget the long cotton singlet to cover up fat tummies in winter $19, and there is a nice wrap knit rib top in light blue, black and grey $99. Sportsgirl:Sale Sale! but it’s all a bit scary but you might like the glamour puss fake mink zip through coat now $199 or the canvas soft pink bag embroidered with leaves, funky at $49.95 and the fake snakeskin Prada-esque coat $99 ( OK it IS plastic!). What’s new is a chunky tweed peacoat $249, the black sheer 20’s drop waist top with blue beading $49, and a chic black chiffon dress with handkerchief hem $199. Zomp Shoez have heaps of boots and lots of flat shoes on sale at great prices. Check out the Robert Robert Gucci copy sling backs $99 or the Urban Soul YSL copy satin T bar heels now $35!
Business:
Myer has 30% off Ck Jeans,50% off Jaclin Chouchana Tim O’Connor and more.
Marcs; On sale you will find 50% off Catherine Maladrino pieces like a black jersey tank now $299, a black sweater $290 and lurex, grey knit now $400, gorgeous black sheer slit sleeve top with sequin detail now $334 and button through knit tops $99.There’s a Diesel black nylon bomber $135 and there are lots of little tops and T shirts for $19.95.
Gary Castle shoes are on sale you might like the red suede heels $170, some flats for under $100 and check out the new Tods style loafers just in $274.A/X Armani Exchange: Yes I love this store and why not? It’s got great prices and the quality is a thousand time better than any Australia labels for the price,(sorry to say). Check out the red ruched T shirt with tiny sequin detail $119, the all in one black sporty cat suit with white stripes a la nike $249 and the fur trim hoodie knit $329, the black or red shoes string top with tiny stud detail $99, the black halter top with a chic silver mesh detail at neck $89,and there is a classic handy little cotton camel zip through bomber $239. Contry Road are on sale Check out their suits good for work and there are the Prada copy pointy tor flats $99 but I do love the black leather zip jacket still $800 and check out the new white long sleeve T with slash V neck $89 and the great black panelled pencil skirt $179 and why not buy a Scanlan-esque sheer shell top $39!Bally: Love this shop too. Looks like they are not on sale yet but yes they have a new bag (bucket style) with a big brass buckle $1300, a fab choc suede slouch bag with big stitching $850, and smaller blck version $850 and blue and black strip handle $800 and check out the fab new summer heels with the signature stipe canvas around $600 (flat or heels)
First Class:
Myer: is on sale if you didn’t realise with 50% off lots of winter imports: Get in there and buy up the Cacheral, so right for next season. You want the heart print purple and pink skirt $229, the beaded sequin top unbelievable at $299 and a fab print shirt and other cool pieces. Check out the DKNY black sequin and wool singlet now $279, a long evening chiffon skirt now $829 (crickey, could be a strapless dress?) and lots of classic black pieces:good for work. Anteprima have lots of black too, like black wool jersey tanks $220. Chloe have a soft pink and black floral chiffon shirt very cool $649, and fab black classic pants now $449 and we Love the Kors by Micheal Kors now at great prices : you must have the black wool cami $189!, black and white tweed shift dress $300, gorgeous cashmere grey and black strip sweater $335.There is Red by Valentino pieces on sale like a pink cami with black lace $300 and classic black jackets, very good price $300.Also Valentino has a chic beaded jewel tank $460 and lots of Donna Karan black pieces are on sale like pants $535 or jackets. The new summer collections are in Myer too: check out the Philosophy by Alberta Feretti blue chiffon top with red satin trim $499, and gorgeous chiffon dresses $599.
David Jones on Seven: ooh la la there are racks of beautiful designer pieces here on sale with 60% off.Too many racks, too many things so just get in there please. But you must see the new Alberta Ferretti summer collection: THE MOST gorgeous things I’ve seen ever (well since going to Gucci last week) and the prices are out of this world. Drool over the pink paisley silk chiffon dresses $4550!!,Breathtaking pink chiffon dress and too too divine black chiffon dresses,a green dress with crochet inserts $3000, the paisley pleated dress $4550, pink beaded tops $3000, a blue satin top with beaded necklines $2000, (all prices approx) etc etc. Also check out the Jil Sander collection: a pink crinkle top $800, a gorgeous green empire dress $2000,a black knit T $895 or a black chiffon dress $2995. Ralph Lauren purple label here on seven is not so interesting: there is a blue satin dress for $4000! And some chic cashmere V neck sweater pink or blue $599 and a classic red cotton peacoat $1000. Ditto not so interesting the Donna Karan. Sorry to say. The Rykiel knits are really cool and look so right at $1400 or $400 NB: There new Sergio Rossi are in at David Jones too

Chicken with Rice, Basil and Olive oil

In winter anything that you can just throw in a pot and walk away are what dreams are made up. The delicious smells waft from the kitchen and while things simmer away you can spend time hours lying around with your feet up in front of the fire reading outrageous gossip…

This little gem is from Nigella’s column in UK Vogue years and years ago ….
You need for 4:

8 pieces of chicken breast or leg or whatever
2 finely chopped onions
2 to 4 garlics finely chopped ( the more the merrier)
500ml or so of dry white wine
100ml glamorous designer extra virgin olive oil
220g Arborio rice
2 tabs of boring old plain olive oil
3 bunches of basil

·Heat the boring old olive oil in a heavy based pan ( it loses it’s taste when you cook it so why waste those extra virgins?)
·Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper and brown those little buggers so they glow like they’ve had a holiday on St Barts.
·Do not over crowd the pan (“you’re in my sun”)
·Whip them out when they’re done and tanned.
· And add the onions and then gently sweat them like they‘ve spent the night dancing at Les Bains Douches.
·When they are translucent ( like a wet white bikini) add the garlic.
·And toss those brown chicken pieces back in there too please.
·Pour over the wine, the snazzy designer olive oil, the rice and half the basil leaves.
·Pour your self a wine too and then
·Whack the lid on (the pan not the wine) and let it simmer way for ½ hour or so until the chicken and rice are cooked.
·How can you tell it’s done? Stick your fork in and try it, then lick your fingers ( it’s a Nigella recipe after all).
·Sorry I know.1/2 an hour is hardly long enough to get through any gossip at all.
·Serve with the rest of the basil tossed nonchalantly through and lots of salt and pepper….
·And perhaps a chic little green leaf salad and some crusty bread
·Finger licking good!

Raising Helen by Garry Marshall with Kate Hudson
Oh why, Oh why did I do this to myself? What planet was I on? Am I insane? It must have been the delusion that this movie had something to do with the fashion industry and seeing Kate Hudson on the cover of US Vogue must have subliminally channeled me to see it. She plays Helen, a carefree model agent who sleeps with male models and has a glamorous life in Manhattan ( so good so far!) until her sister dies and leaves her as the guardian of her 3 children. And then she falls in love with Carrie’s old boyfriend Aiden who is now a Pasteur. So bad it would have been more fun to stay home and read the reviews on rottentomatoes.com:
“Like tumbling into chick-flick hell.” Peter Travers ROLLING STONE
“You are likely to encounter more surprises on the way to the bathroom each morning than you do in this film.”– Stephen Hunter WASHINGTON POST
“It’s shallow and obvious, so totally dishonest you keep reaching back in your seat to make sure it didn’t lift your wallet. Robert Wilonsky DALLAS OBSERVER
“This goopy dramedy is unfunny, mentally bankrupt and makes parenthood look like a terrifying death sentence.”M.E. Russell OREGONIAN
“Hudson is as cute as lace pants and has approximately as much acting skill.”PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
“Lifetime botox ban to the Hollywood honcho who allowed Garry Marshall to direct a movie about fatal car crashes and orphans.– PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS
“Raising Helen should be rated by one of those toxic materials symbols.”– FILM FREAK CENTRAL
“You know those scenes in Shrek 2 n which Puss in Boots stops and makes cutesy, goo-goo kitty eyes at people? Well, this movie is like that look.” AISLE SEAT

US Harpers Bazaar June: Check out Beyonce on the cover and read about the hit looks of the next winter: (Fur, menswear embellishment, velvet, and bows), There is a piece on Roberto Cavalli and an interesting story on the designers to watch like Gilles Deacon, Derek lam, and Peter Som. Thin but good.
W June: There’s Gwyneth looking spectacular with her big fat bump on the cover. A great issue (as usual) read about an unemployed Tom Ford, ( “when you are seeking to find yourself you should shut up”:) Please don’t. Read about John Kerry’s daughter and Rem Koolhaas. Kool
Town & Country May: It’s a bit touch and go this magazine but I love it because it unapologetically writes about being filthy rich. And why not read about it if not live it? This issue has the lowdown on the best 150 beauty products with all the usual suspects and a fab story on the luxurious’ Les Crayere’ hotel in Champagne in France….