“I was waking up and he brought it in. He said, ‘Do you want breakfast’? and I said ‘No’. And he said, ‘Have some fruit’, and he brought some in. “Strawberries and kiwis it was — a plate of freshly-cut fruit. I remember biting into a strawberry first thing and it was nice. I felt like the most special woman in the world.” Rebecca Loos was paid thousand of pounds for that fascinating bit of conversation with Becks (the Poms never get fresh fruit!).
“I didn’t even count until recently,” Naomi Campbell on being brainy and celebrating 18 years as a model (reading and writing is coming)
“Every day I keep myself in check by writing down five egotistical things that I do,” Ashton Kutcher on why he makes sure he thinks of himself first every day.
“She hasn’t been dieting or eating any less than usual but she has slimmed down partly from the stress. Obviously the place it will be noticeable will be her bottom.” J.Lo’s publicist on the only place she hasn’t had any PR lately.
“I have a great devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and had just looked up at the two million dollars and said a little prayer to her when I hit the jackpot. Our Lady really looks out for me.” J.Lo’s mother on when she hit the jackpot and won millions of dollars on a slot machine (start praying for J.Lo’s bottom to come back)
“We were all expecting Kylie to perform her usual energetic stage routine, but she barely moved around at all. It was her dancers who were doing all the movement; She stood there fairly stationary. She was really blooming and smiling from ear to ear and looked like the cat that had got the cream.” Proof on why Kylie is pregnant (very scientific).
“It is causing all sorts of problems because Webster was essentially Calista’s best friend. She can see why Harrison is really upset at the death of his mother but she doesn’t think that should detract from her own grief. She thinks he doesn’t care” on the death of Calista Flockart friend’s DOG (break up with him!)
“It was on Valentine’s Day. I was naked in the kitchen and burnt my penis. I really ruined my evening – and my night,” The naked chef Jamie Oliver .
“It’s different from anything I’ve ever done. It’s dark, and it shows me in a different light.” Britney on drowning after cutting herself with glass in her new video (Give up Doll and go and live in Spain. Please.)

Let’s face it just because minimalism is out doesn’t mean clean isn’t in. And just because prints and colour is big news doesn’t mean you have to live with it for god’s sake (those Marimekko print napkins are more than enough). So here’s a way to kill two birds with one stone and get clean and be groovy too: Nick into cheap but chic HQ, Ikea and grab the fabulous big, white, glossy metal rubbish bins (also in black) for $39. Clean, simple, big and ideal for purging all that awful eighties crap you bought last season. Bin it all with style.

Ikea white rubbish bin $39

With all things lady like in fashion it only seems to reason that the cardigan is back as the item du jour. Not seen for years and years it was Muiccia Prada who brought back the trend almost single handedly with her 03 winter collection and the latest summer collection. And now we all want one. And we all NEED one. And we are all going shopping for one. Wear it long and belted over a sweet beaded dress, or over a sexy camisole and 50’s skirt -it’s just the perfect piece (and dare we say practical) for chilly autumn nights or frisky autumn days. Best places? The House of Cashmere of course for luxe cashmere $440, Prada for the tie die $1110 and check out Morrissey for a sexy V neck one $279, Sonia Hopkins round neck at $242 or wait till the cashmere ones come in for $500. Keith Matheson has John Smedley ones for $340, Portmans have done a cute one with ¾ sleeves round neck $59, and Saba has one for $145.

Every magazine in the world goes on and on about the Maybelline Great Lash waterproof mascara so I lashed (!) out all of $13 and gave it a try. Sure it’s true that having something in such a horrid pink in your Prada makeup bag can be a bit disconcerting at first but there is a plus side: you actually can find it easily. And once you start using waterproof mascara there is no going back. If you’re sobbing over your credit card exploding, crying over your latest new Jimmy Choos or simply laughing at Tom Fords quotes you NEED mascara that never comes off. And you don’t want to take it off. Who wants to know what they look like without mascara? Scary. Though not particularly lash lengthening this one is quite fab, stays on 24/7 and it can withstand laughing at all jokes from queer eye so it must be good.

Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara $13 from supermarkets and chemists.

Sofia Coppola has optioned the movie rights to a book about Marie Antoinette and has checked out Versailles as a location.( can’t wait)
That bad book, The Devil Wears Prada about Anna Wintour is being made into a film.
The Isamu Noguchi museum will reopen in June In New York.
Jeremy Irons has just filmed Ridley Scott’s “Kingdom of Heaven” and “The Merchant of Venice” opposite Al Pacino.
Missy Elliott has a new fashion line produced with Adidas.
Armani did the costumes for the movie De-Lovely about Cole Porter starring Kevin Kline and Ashley Judd which will close the Cannes Film Festival.
Vanity Fair’s Amy Fine Collins fainted at the Plum Sykes’ book party of Bergdorf Blondes at Bergdorf Goodman (So fashion).
Alexander McQueen will celebrate five years of the Amex Centurion black card with a runway show, art auction and the unveiling of a limited edition Centurion card. Only a few thousand are in circulation around the world.wwd.
Kate Spade has released a series of books: One on manners, one on Style and one called Occasions.
“Bill Brandt: A Centenary Retrospective,” is on at the Victoria and Albert Museum London and showcases 155 mainly vintage, gelatin silver prints from the photographer’s archive. A complementary show at the National Portrait Gallery also celebrates the centennial of Brandt’s birth in Hamburg.
Viktor & Rolf are doing a perfume with L’Oréal and have also curated an exhibition for the Kyoto Costume Institute: Devoted to color and fashion, it showcases clothes from the institute’s permanent collection — along with select Viktor & Rolf looks from other museums. From WWD
Lydia Hearst-Shaw, the heiress and model, has landed on the April cover of Italian Vogue shot by Steven Meisel.

http://www.fashionfringe.co.uk
Wow! Get a load of this for a very creative website. It sounds like a sewing machine (don’t get a fright!) and you maneuver your way around the website by stitching….so cool. Fashion fringe “is a grassroots initiative aimed at jumpstarting the British fashion industry with the discovery of the next Westwood, McQueen or Galliano. Conceived by Colin McDowell the fashion writer for the Sunday Times, Fashion Fringe is scouring the UK for new talent and will hold a competition during the London spring collections in September. The winner will win £100,000 and business advice from the experts…
But more to the point you can send a message to a friend by clicking on ‘stitch a message’

http://www.transl8it.com/cgi-win/index.pl
nEd 2 undRstNd aL thOs txt msgz you’re getin frm aL thOs admirers? f U don’t knO how 2 respond thN DIS iz d website 4 U. cn transl8 yor sms txt 2 eng o vive verca! (Need to understand all those text messages you’re getting from all those admirers or if you don’t know how to respond then this is the website for you. It can translate your sms text to English or vive versa). So simple to use! Just type in your texting lingo and let transL8it! Convert it to plain English OR type in a phrase in English and convert it to TXT lingo.
Yes it takes time, which defeats the purpose of texting

Posh spice is getting a tanning machine installed in her home so she can top up her trademark bronzed George Hamilton tan whenever she feels like it
(Moving to Spain would be a better idea darl) and she is rumoured to be preggers with her third child.
The model Sarah Marbeck, who had an affair with Becks apparently has had butterfly affect plastic surgery to a place only Becks could know.
Janet Jackson wants to put out a duet with Micheal (for a complete life malfunction)
Victoria’s Secret has cancelled its famous sexy show becasue of Janet Jackson( please explain)
Kate Moss is rumoured to be dating actor Daniel Craig. (From Sylvia) and nicked off for weekend in New York with him.
Rapper Lil’ Kim was indicted on felony charges for allegedly lying to a federal grand jury probing a 2001 shootout in New York City (Spain is looking good for her too).
Heidi Klum faked her break-up with Flavio Briatore and they haven’t split up after all, and only told the media to give Heidi some peace during her pregnancy and it’s 100 per cent certain they’re going to marry (from Glamour)!(what alot of rubbish!)
Debra Messing has given birth to a little boy.
Prince Charles has invited Beyonce and Jay-Z to dinner at Buckingham Palace.
Jerry Hall has teamed up with Charnos to create a signature line of hosiery.
Tommy Lee and Pammie Anderson will be getting married again in a secret wedding ceremony (secrets out)
Madonna will change the lyrics to Vogue and instead of singing about Greta Garbo and Marilyn Monroe, she’ll now sing: “Britney Spears and Minogue, Aguilera and J-Lo, Jessica Simpson, Avril Lavigne, on the cover of a magazine. They have style, they have sass, Missy E kicks some ass!” (What a scoop!)
It is the 18th anniversary of Naomi Campbell’s career as a model. There will be the big party by Lenny Kravitz in the South of France, including a performance by Cirque du Soleil, “Eighteen years in the survival-of-the-fiercest modeling trade is an achievement in itself, if only because most models these days weren’t even alive in 1986 when Campbell was discovered! “ Yes but at least they can count ! (from wwd)

The Christmas List:
Hollywood Life: The Fabulous Homes of Vintage Hollywood by Eliot Elisofon
Just released in March this book looks like a faaabulous inside scoop on the kooky interiors of Hollywood houses over the years. In fact a review on Amazon says ” A fascinating compendium of bad taste with charm all it’s own. Just imagine yourself cruising over to Zsa Zsa’s to borrow a cup of gems or dropping by Steve McQueen’s for a dip in the pool–or maybe you fancy a sauna with Charlton Heston? In 1969, Life photographer Eliot Elisofon gained an insider’s access to the dream homes and private lives of Hollywood’s most intriguing legends, from Mary Pickford to Natalie Wood, George Cukor to Tony Curtis. As Hollywood Life reveals, the styles of a stars’ homes are as diverse as the personalities who dwell in them…together these houses create the hodgepodge that is Hollywood style.
At least they’re honest!

Economy:
Allannah Hill: has a fabulous cream leather belted trench $1200, a black ribbed cardigan $139, self stripe black sexy pencil skirt $289 ( I know black in Allannah Hill but all the prints look cheap)
Kookai: have done the black and white herringbone belted trench for a mere $229, patent stilettos in red, melon and light blue a bargain at $79,
Jigsaw: have done a cute black and white pleated mini with leather buckles $199, a grey and black stripe, tight fitting knit sweater $199. Veronika Maine: has a cool knit shell top with a squiggly stitch on the front $109.
Cue: have a marc Jacobs/Chanel 50’s coat in a fab cherry red or green tweed $429, a shrunken grey tailored jacket $247,and a red tweed shrunken jacket $289, and check out the black zip through blouson $249.
Events: have a cool black and white chunky tweed pants $135, grey cord fitted dare I say shrunken? blazer $135
FCUK: There is too much pink and brown and it’s all so very casual with nothing jumping out this week except the mini mini denim panelled skirt $99: cute.
Witchery: have some cool Gucci style moc croc stilettos $139, and some round toe stilettos in patent – cool- $139, some fab crystal/diamente pins $59, and lots of weekend wear but nothing new this week that’s talking to me.
Max & Co: Have some funky gumboots in grey and black with red edging so chic for those weekends in the country $145!

Business
Lisa Ho: has amazing black chiffon halter dress embroidered with silver beads $775, an over the top embroidered black top $323, a black top with diamante along the neckline $323, chiffon top with batwing sleeves and beading at neckline $393, and check out the black chiffon top covered with silver beading $497. There is a cool grey marle top with sequin shoulders $155, and a lovely stripe scarf $176 in pink, greens and greys.
David Lawrence: has a classic black knit caftan top with satin trim $119, tweed A line brown skirt $159, a black belted shirt waister dress $169 perfect to wear now on these Autumn days. Check out the chunky knit sweater in oatmeal or black for those weekends away $169, and why not buy as an investment for next season the 50’s pleated cotton satine skirts in black and brown and cream reduced to $99 from $129?
CK Jeans: not so exciting this year but check out the grey or soft peach velvet/cord blazer $499, grey chunky rib knit crop sweater $200,
Wayne Cooper: has gone crazy with mod but you want the fabulous black leather skirt with studs and panels down the front $695, a wrap print satin dress $495. and the black or red wrap jersey dress $275 and a chiffon baby doll dress with a tie at the back $395.Country Road have a fab brown leather zip through tight jacket $800 and one in black with covered buttons/zip $800.
Scanlan & Theodore: Have lots of amazing pieces .You want the groovy 40’s sling back shoes with bows also in brown metallic $395, the fab brown Chanel style coat with raw edges $950,the hot pink asymmetrical pleated goddess dress $850, floral printed 20’s chiffon dress $800, cap frill sleeve white T shirt $95, and thye still have their basic great singlets in lots of colours $95.Check out the cropped cotton trench (bolero short I’m talking) $550, racer back pleated singlets $180 in different colours, fitted V neck sexy mama heavy jersey dress with a fluted skirt $440.And you want the funky two tone suede bags with mini studs ( very Gucci and Prada) $450, and fabulous black skirt with buttons along the waist that then drapes down $550 – a great piece that is more interesting than the usual black skirt: It is an investment piece and would be perfect with boots, shoes singlets or sweaters. Buy it now.

First Class
Here’s a great big scoop on what’s fabulous in Robby Ingham
The groovy label Victor and Rolf is here for the first time and it is sooo cool. I can see why Tilda Swinton is their muse. You want their fabulously tailored jackets especially the one with the big cuff $1495 with the matching pencil ruched asymmetrical skirt $580. a really cropped denim jacket $865, black twisty top $430. You will love the Paul Smith collection: check out the really cropped striped cardigan $595, stripe long sleeve knit top $440,the cool feather print sleeveless T-shirt $195, 60’s print floral jersey skirt $795, the 60’s print cami $790, the fabulous sleeveless T with a button print $220 (cheap but chic). And what about all the Chloe? You will love the white coat (so practical) $2395 and the white dress with beading on the front $1450, the grooviest high waisted Chloe jeans with rope detail seen in all the magazines $735 (also in white) a black top with waist tie $795.Check out the chiffon tie back floral empire line top $1695.Then there’s the Junya Wantanabe for Comme des Garcons: check out the black and white spot top $425, the beautiful raw edged black and white tweed trench coat $1850, The comme des Garcons sleeveless T with a kind of a pink Hari Krishna print $315, and the amazing pink and black tweed dandy coat lined with the floral print.You want the lurex long sleeve T with pink lining $595, the same short $475, the fab cropped multi hot pink and red Singlet $495. Now pop upstairs to the mezzanine and drool over the accessories. The fab clogs in hot pink and orange from Paul Smith $319, the black pointy heels with stripe sole $830, the button print flats $380, the toe thong mules in stripe and the Paul Smith sling back patent pleated heels $895. Buy the Chloe silver pointy shoes $650, the sling back moccasins $730 and you want the amazing Chloe beaded bags (very Prada last summer with sixties plastic beads)
That should do for at least one season!
Belinda
Has so many great shoes and bags in. You want all the marc jacobs red patent kitten heels $495, the fab flat mouse shoe (still some available in black or silver) but check out the bags from the label Louison which are great prices: there is a big gold or silver tote $395 and a big creamy roomy bucket one for $395. Checkout the Duccio della Duca (spelling?) sequined bronze T bar shoes $700, And back again after selling out last season are the sexy lurex slouch bags with a canvas strap in bronze, gold or silver $195 (cheap but chic) and you want the gorgeous Zambesi black cropped trench coat.
Ralph Lauren: are a little too prairie for my liking which we know is his signature look but I’m not into the puff sleeve Victoriana jackets or shirts. Where is all the modern pieces from the runway? I do love the gorgeous dark brown suede roomy bucket/slouch bag $880, the black knit T $339, Velvet burgundy fitted jacket $1495,and shoe string cami with satin trim $289.

Rhubarb Tarte Tatin

There is a philosophy of cooking to which I adhere: If there is a cheat’s way to do it I love it! So how could I resist this quick Rhubarb Tarte Tatin? Basically it’s about whipping up some caramel, pouring it over raw rhubarb in a tray and whacking a bit of frozen pastry on top. Cook. Serve. Eat with lashings of cream Talk about easy. Talk about delicious.

You need 1 cup of sugar
1/3 cup of water
Bunch Rhubarb with leaves cut off and a length to fit in the baking tray.
A bit of extra sugar to sprinkle
Butter to grease dish
1 sheet of frozen butter puff pastry

Preheat oven to about 220
Grease baking dish the size of a sheet of pastry more or less.

·Now here’s the fun bit: make the caramel! So easy to do
·Combine sugar and water over a low heat until the sugar dissolves.
·Bring it to the boil and watch it get nasty and spit at you.
·Don’t stir it. That only encourages it.
·Pop on some sunglasses if you don’t to be hit in the eye.
·Watch it turn a brown caramel colour after about 10 mins.
·Remove from heat then pour into the baking dish and watch out!It is as hot as an SMS from Becks and you don’t want to get caught.
·Quickly, c’mon hurry and place the cut Rhubarb stalks on top in a row and sprinkle with more sugar to make sure you get the full fat calorie content of dessert.
·Whack the whole sheet of pastry – cut it up if it doesn’t fit- on top of the Rhubarb.
·Get baking and cook this for about 20 mins until the pastry looks golden and saying “eat me! eat me!”
·Remove from oven (makes it easier to eat) and let it cool for 5 secs.
·Drain off any extra juice because when you turn it upside down it will go all over that new Prada tie-dye apron. Not a good look. (You can use it later) (The juice and the cardigan!)
·Quickly (get a wringle on) and place a board on top of the dish and do the Tarte Tatin thing. That means invert it. Turn upside down.
·Voila! . I told you: isn’t that fabulous?
·Cut it into big generous slices and serve with lashings of cream
·The Tatin sisters would be so proud!

The Barbarian Invasions
This is the French Canadian film which won this year’s Oscar for best foreign film from the filmmaker Denys Arcand (who made the Jesus Of Montreal). It’s about “ Remy a chubby cheeked (read fat and bald) history teacher, a rumpled bohemian chatterbox who has devoted his life to wine, women and left wing causes” And now he’s dying in hospital and his family and friends turn up to say their good byes. I think they should have made it a quick goodbye. And got out of there. (Apparently they are the cast from another Denys Arcand film from 17 years ago. I’m thinking it was a bad idea for a reunion.) The problem? It’s just this movie is a bit wet and corny. It’s written like a play with lots of ‘witty’ repartee and dialogue but it’s like one of the old “Carry on” movies. My prents might think it was funny. Then again they might not. The critics say it has a refreshingly sophisticated humour. I say lost in translation (and that French Canadian accent is so hard to understand.) Plus it all seems fake- no one who is dying of cancer could be so fat - and all the characters are so cliché (the usual array of poofs, ex wife, mistresses, the wanker banker son, a heroin addict). OK it got a bit sad at the end because it’s all about life and death and you start to think about your mortality. But you leave the cinema thinking life is too short to watch non de la non movie like this one…

“I think I’m becoming an addict. Is there a cure?”
” Now I am truly content, once again. Sigh. Off to shut office door, sit in armchair (I work in publishing. We have armchairs) put up the Choos and have a wonderfully indulgent Fifi moment with my earl grey.Thank you so much. Heaven.”
“when the chips are down, and there’s sooo much to do , when there’s no tonic left in the house, not even diet tonic but……. there’s a new FIFI report to bring on a laugh again. Thank goodness.”
“The FiFi Report is hysterical and just full of all those things a girl just absolutely needs to know. Forget reading Woman’s Day at the checkout counter (and God forbid getting caught by someone you know!) and forget trailing around for days to find what’s in fashion, (the haze of baby puke and nappies for the last five years has left me out of touch!) – all we need is the Fifi Report to keep us on top of things.”
“Well I have just read my third edition of FiFi Report. It is marvellous, so quirky and informative at the same time. You are brilliant. No-one is doing anything like this I never have time to read every word at the office, so…..I print it off and read it in bed. It is great, unique and fills a void in the market.”( bless)