“The feminism I endorse no longer sees fashion as the enemy but as a glorious panorama of sex and art” Camille Paglia in US Harpers (obviously just bought her first Manolos).
“I love sluts They’re the nicest people in the world” Manolo Blahnik (after selloing some to Camille).
“Beauty is a powerful thing. It can add enormously to the quality of life.” Tom Ford words engraved on Rodeo Drive (Camille took notes)
“You have a much better life if you wear impressive clothes.” Vivienne Westwood (of sex and art!).
“The best thing about Westwood’s clothes? Breasts and bums.” Sam Taylor Ward has a better life.
“These clothes are strong and extreme. They don’t hide you — they help you.” Vivienne Westwood (not the enemy,just glorious).
“He hasn’t got a clue what culture is and his dress sense is appalling.” Vivienne Westwood on Tony Blair (an enemy of the state).
“I think he should take time to live well and to help other people live well. But I’m the last person who should be giving Tom Ford advice.” Ashton Kutcher on why he should just start reading.
“Not only is he Madrid’s favourite metrosexual, he’s probably Madrid’s only metrosexual”. GQ on David Beckham (doesn’t read. Doesn’t have to)
“When you’re seeking to find yourself you should shut up. Right now I’m seeking to find my next life, and I should shut up…. I think there’s nothing sillier than listening to someone publicly dribble on and discover themselves in front of the world. That sort of thing should be done in private. When you have something to say, say it. Then I’ll talk about it.” Tom Ford (No don’t stop. just keep on talking about nothing.We love it!)
“There have been no high-diva demands, there will be no more absurd requests for white lilies in her rooms, 600-thread-count sheets in her hotel rooms or anything like that. She really is just a normal girl.” J.Lo’s publicist (white lilies and sheets are such ABSURD demands!)
“I always get out of it. The cop always ends up giving me his business card and saying, ‘Let’s go to dinner tonight.’ But I never call them” Paris Hilton on absurd demands like speeding fines.
“I mean, I have to say, there is dirt on the runway,” he mock whispered, as organizers in the audience winced. “It sounds ridiculous, but you would never see dirt on the runway in any other place in the world. When I can see the price tags on the bottom of shoes it’s not good. If I can see it, Anna Wintour can see it. Scrape the damn label off the shoe. ” Stylist Philip Bloch on Toronto fashion week (Absurd demands: Get the dirt off the shoes!)
“Who’s she?” Jewel mouthed to her cowboy boyfriend Ty Murray about Gloria Gaynor (she won’t survive).

Nothing like a winter designer sample sale before it even gets cold. Now you’re talking! If you love all groovy designers like Zimmerman, Kate Sylvester, and her diffusion line Sylvester plus Saba -who have done a great season- for men and women rush into Marie Claude Mallat PR this afternoon to pick up some bargains at their end of season sample sale.
Level 2, 2-12 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills 9211 2644
Today from 9:00am – 6:00pm and don’t forget to nick into the seconds outlet store there as well.

Can someone please tell me: why do chocolate Easter eggs always taste so much better than normal chocolate? Maybe it’s to do with the air inside? You think you’re eating less. Or maybe it’s the calories you expend straightening out the foil makes you happier. Whatever. All I know is Easter means getting the green light to eat alot of chocolate and we love a green light. Of course everyone knows that you can get all those supermarket Easter eggs at supermarkets but for something little more gourmet, a little more sophisticated (than that the Mars Bars you’ve been melting down since your stomach been stapled) try the fabulous little Cafferel chocolate Eggs from Simon Johnson. They are so cute but delicious: $3.30. Or indulge in the chocolate ‘nest’ with eggs $30. Sure you might have to exercise your credit card but at least you’ll be excising.
Cafferel Easter Eggs at Simon Johnson $3.30 each

Here is a question: What moisturizer or shall I say ‘age diminishing cream’ has been around for years, is not expensive, and makes your skin look plump and like you’re still 16? Nothing. I know sad isn’t it? Crème de La Mer could be in with a chance but it ain’t cheap. But if you try the Nivea anti wrinkle Q10 plus repair day cream (Yikes! they say the unmentionable word ‘wrinkle’ on the pot) it does seem to make your skin look great (if you squint at a distance miles from the mirror). Seriously it is one of the best (and cheapest) ones I have used and my skin feels so soft and smooth so it works. I know it does. It’s got to.

Nivea Anti Wrinkle Q10 Plus Repair Day Cream $14 at most chemists.

The annual Pavilion des Antiquaries et des Beaux Arts is on in Paris till April 4 (hurry and get a flight you might just make it)
Grooviest new hotel in Paris is the Hotel le a. So cool check out the website then stay there for the antiques fair http://www.hotel-le-a.com
And Check out this groovy hotel too (previously mentioned in the FiFi Report) the chic Hotel convent de la Missio http://www.conventdelamissio.com/ in Mallorca (I want to live there!).
The Gagosian Gallery in New York is having a Jean Prouve furniture exhibition.
“London is having a Vivienne Westwood moment. The Victoria and Albert Museum has an exhibition of 150 designs by the designer famous for her punk creations, baroque touches and kooky — but well-tailored — looks. The show spans more than 30 years and is the largest the V&A has ever dedicated to a British designer. It will cover everything from Westwood’s ample use of historical forms — including the corset, the crinoline and the bustle — to her punk past and parodies of royalty. Tailoring, tartan and accessories will all be on display, including the shoes that Naomi Campbell wore — and fell down in — on the Westwood runway in 1993” from wwd.
FCUK FM will go live in the U.K., from the window of French Connection’s Regent Street store. The station will be broadcast on digital radio in their stores and on the company Web site.
Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece and Princess Marie-Chantal are having another little prince or princess. * See their house and interview in the March US Harpers (my guess? she had a facelift).
Martha Stewart is seeking a new trial.
The Museum of Modern Art awarded Sofia Coppola a lifetime achievement award for her decade of work in film. (A decade of work? Lifetime? that was only 2 movies)
“After they put iPods in the first class lounges, Virgin Airlines is installing inflight hypnotherapists on the planes themselves. According to their press release hypnosis can make you believe the flight is taking five minutes, or that you’re sitting next to Nigella Lawson or Brad Pitt” Gawker
Burberry opened their first Russian store in Moscow.
Bottega Veneta is doing a line of home wares
Christy Turlington is behind another new label Mahanuala which “addresses the more technical needs of a true yoga practice and created specially for Asanas, the physical limb of yoga.”

Need some help using Google? Here are a few tricks from the New York Times circuit’s page, which are very handy:
• Download and install the Google toolbar. Not only does it put the Google search box into your browser full-time, but it also blocks pop-up ads and fills in forms for you (fantastic) For Windows http://toolbar.google.com.
• Phrase your question in the form of an answer.
• Put quotes around words searched together. I.e. “electric curtains,” Google won’t waste time finding “electric” then “curtains.”
• Similarly put a hyphen right before any word you want screened out.
• Google is a global White Pages and Yellow Pages. • Google is a calculator.
• Google is a units-of-measurement converter. Type “teaspoons in a gallon.
• Google is an atlas. Type in an area code, like 212, to see a Mapquest map of the area (works for USA) • Follow a flight plan i.e. type in “United 22″ for a link to a map of that flight’s progress in the air. ( a bloke thing).
.
http://www.visionaireworld.com
If you are very groovy (the reason you’ve subscribed to FiFi obviously) you will probably know about Visionaire, the amazing multi format album of fashion and art which is produced 3 times a year in limited editions. Each one features all kinds of groovex to the max famous and nearly famous artists, image-makers and fashion designers who contribute to a different theme each issue. The latest issue is devoted to scent (Karl Lagerfeld did bread baking) so go to the website, you click on the big white book, watch it open then choose a scent like ‘softness’ …you can hear breathing…(not smelly!). Very cool.

“Caroline Bessette Kennedy was planning to leave John F Kennedy Jnr for former boyfriend Michael Bergin, the male model and Baywatch star has sensationally claimed. In a new autobiography theatrically entitled The Other Man, the hotel doorman-turned-Calvin Klein model reveals how he met Bessette in New York in 1992 and embarked on a relationship five days later that was to last six years. “The truth is that Carolyn and I continued our love affair, and continued to sleep together, long after she tied the knot with John Jnr,” Bergin writes. “I wasn’t proud to be seeing another man’s wife, but the fact is we needed each other. Indeed the affair culminated in Carolyn begging me to help her leave her husband so she could start a new life at my side.” UK Vogue.com (Not proud No. How could he do this to her? Better buy it).
Demi Moore is to wed her toy boy Ashton in June. But wait there’s more: Bruce Willis will be the best man. (A glorious panorama of sex and art!)
Kate Moss and Jefferson Hack are history.
Rachel Hunter is dating the 26 yr old Anthony de Rothschild.
Sophie Dahl is filming her first movie “The King of Bollywood”.
Penelope Cruz is on with her co-star Matthew McConaughey after splitting with Tom Cruise.
Shirley MacLaine is turning 70 and in the middle of filming “In Her Shoes,” in which she plays the grandmother of sisters Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette who have absolutely nothing in common with their family (lucky). Shirley’s chums are planning a big surprise birthday party at a secret location. It’s somewhere on planet Earth. (From wwd).
Elle Macpherson, who turned 40 on Monday.
Madonna is said to have Karl Lagerfeld doing her wardrobe for her world tour.
George Clooney is single again after being dumped by Krista Allen
David Beckham will star opposite Beyoncé Knowles in a new movie.
Plum Sykes, the fashion writer from US Vogue has already landed a deal for a second book. Miramax Books, which bought Sykes’ “Bergdorf Blondes” for a reported $625,000, has snapped up “The $10 Million Divorcee”.
“Dirty little Britney Spears pulls off the impossible: Gets wilder and trashier” From to gawp.com
Valentino visited an exclusive Harley St clinic and later looked expressionless.
A spy at Sydney’s premier escort agency Stilettoes say Australian Idol Shannon Noll has become the latest celebrity to discover the joys of their service. (What a spy)

Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table by Ruth Reichl
This book came out years ago (‘98) but it is a fabulous and very funny read by The New York Times restaurant critic Ruth Reichl about her childhood and her life with food. Tender at the Bone “ begins with Reichl’s mother, the notorious food-poisoner known for-evermore as the Queen of Mold, and moves on to the fabled Mrs. Peavey, onetime Baltimore socialite millionaress, who, for a brief but poignant moment, was the Reichls’ maid. Then we are introduced to Monsieur du Croix, the gourmand, who understood and was awed by this prodigious child at his dinner table. Then, fast-forward to the politically Berkeley in the 1970s, and the organic food revolution. Her story is defined in equal measure by unforgettable people, the love of tales well told, and a passion for food. In other words, the stuff of the best literature.” (From Amazon) Read it then start Comfort Me with Apples her next one…..
NB. The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters has now been released and get it at Lesley McKay Book stores.

The Christmas List:
Annabel: An Unconventional Life by Annabel Goldsmith
Lady Annabel Goldsmith, Jemima Khan’s mother and the wife of the late James Goldsmith has written her memoir and it sounds fascinating and a totally enthralling story of sex, infidelities, drama and glamour. Just we what we want to hear! It follows her life as the daughter of the 8th Marquess of Londonderry, her aristocratic upbringing with an increasingly eccentric father and then her marriage at 20 to Mark Birley who created and named the famous Annabel’s Club in Berkeley Square after her (it’s has just been revamped), She then had an affair and married entrepreneur Sir James Goldsmith who famously said she had created a job opportunity when she married him: mistress and he immediately found one…and wait there’s more: She had 6 children, sadly one of who died in Africa, she was in the plane that nearly crashed in Kenya and she claims she rarely wore undies..Yes an unconventional life.

Economy;
Sportsgirl: have some cute soft green or pink leather leather gloves and some funky black and white ones (God knows where you can wear them except maybe Melbourne for Easter) $39.95. Animal print is having a moment again so check out the chiffon ruffle leopard top $79.95, but be scared of the faux fur animal coat (cheap). You may want the black faux fur Astrakhan coat $299, a cute tweed skirt $89 and black and grey check wrap skirt $89 and check out the cool tweed hat $39. Jeremyville has a new lot of Teenage Millionaire T-shirts “Jesus is my homeboy’ and tons of figurines which are the collectors item du jour according to UK Vogue. Nine West have some cool black or brown suede boots with studs up the side $269 (same as the ones in Gary Castles) and check out the cool T bar (Prada style) heels in gold and silver or black patent $129. FCUK: have some classic soft knits with hood in oatmeal and black $89, the “its hard being beautiful” T-shirts $39, some great classic black pants with a cool cut $180, and black or oatmeal zip cardigan $89 and they have cool faded camel cord $120. Lush have opened in Oxford next to the Paddington Inn. General Pants: have yet more Emily The Strange T-shirts - I love them and now Trucker caps to match $29.In April (yes now but not seen) you can buy limited edition DC/Frost high-tops from New York artist Phil Frost, the latest visionary to collaborate with DC’s Artist Projects.
The Family Jewels in Oxford has the best selection of chandelier earrings at great prices, too many to mention but the selection is amazing. Witchery: Have lots of casual pieces but we want more fashion pieces please! Check out the tweed wrap brown skirt $159, THE best black pencil skirt which has no horrid, horrid splits in the back and is just sleek $119, the black zip jersey biker jacket $249, fitted shrunken cord jacket $129, and the cute flat pointy shoes in dark denim $99, the Mui Mui style pony skin moccasins in brown, white or black $129 and the best fashion piece? The black and knit back belted jacket/coat $399.Dotti: have some really cool retro print 50’s skirts for $49 (a bit Marimekko) and a good black and white tweed belted coat at $145 (cheap but chic) and some motocross/sporty zip nylon jackets in red and white or black with green stripes cool at $55.

Business Class
Paul & Joe: Lots of great pieces here from the s/s collection. I had a drooling fit over the white leather belted jacket $2495 (also in black), the pretty chiffon dress in layers available lots of colours $1385, and I love the Lanvin inspired flesh pink satin and chiffon edged tops with jewels and beads $725 (in other colours too). Yes there is a trench and it’s fab in grey cotton $775, the cashmere hooded and rib waisted tops are gorgeous $895 and so are the lace trim camisoles $395.If you want black lace there is lots to choose from and you must buy the chiffon tops with a rope style halter neck $560.Of course the suede and patent bags are great $720 and you want all the shoes which are made at the same factory as Manolos so they must be good from $725 especially the T bar stilettos (Nine west did a rip off).
NB: The Missoni and a collection of Luella bags should be arriving at Christensen Copenhagen today as we speak. Go on get down there!
Tim O’Connor: He has a really great collection in for winter. Classic but with an edge and you want everything. O.k. just because he did the best trench has got nothing to do with it. But lets start with that. A great cut; belted with epaulettes you must have the black silk one which (gasp!) is actually water resistant! So chic you’ll wear it forever any time everywhere $590.It also comes in burnt orange, brown and Khaki. If you’re feeling groovy you want the Florence Broadhurst orange and blue swirl print boots $580 and the matching print dresses, very 20’s with a V-neck in jersey in lots of colours $320.His black jacket is perfect-the shrunken cut just right - $495 and its comes in black leather $890 and also in white. You will adore the leather top with elastic bottom $580 and the leather mini $510.And if you are off to Aspen you will want to invest in the brown suede shearling coat $2500 and vest $1500. Also there are pretty strapless 50’s style dresses in satin or print $355.Marvelous!
Orson & Blake: Have a lot of their winter collections in. Check out the Kate Sylvester pretty 50’s print skirt $ 380,the Karen Walker, the Sambag cute flat perforated shoes, the Marco Polo knits -very good price at $90 - and the very chic Hugo by Hugo Boss leather coat $3165 and leather blazer $1695.My pick is the Zambesi dark green tartan wrap skirt with sequins stripes $519. Also don’t forget they have a great selection of earrings around $80.
NB: A new Orson & Blake shop alert. Opening up opposite in Queen St after Easter, their new store will be very pretty, very glamorous, very 50’s Paris with home wares and fashion like Tocca, DVF, and Lacroix sweetie.! Can’t wait!

First Class
Parlour X: Have a lot of new fabulous Spring Summer Cacherel and it’s all gorgeous. You want the knit stripe shoe string top with ruffle in hot colours $390, the fabulous scarves in paisley and fringed $360,or with a Sonia Delaunay circle print in red $125.Or just buy the cute cotton one scarves $90.There is a beautiful jersey Cacherel print top $490, an amazing batwing swirly print top $520, a floral bag with leather trim $210 (cheap) and Yes I have to say it: a trench coat in a tiny floral red and blue print $980.Also check out the Vivienne Westwood: I love the tweed skirt with crooked buttons $460 and the Red Label black satin trench $890. Check out her bags in a kind of bowling bag shape and in lots of different fabrics like the tartan with leather trim $795 and the fab white or orange big slouch bags $1390. Also check out the lurex pieces by Future Classics and the peasant tops by Antik Batik $385 the fab butterfly necklaces $165 and diamante necklaces by Venezia $280 Roland Mouret has a black and white big check coat with green straps $2655 and I love the House of Jazz silk print tank with raw edges $350.
Easton Pearson: New shop alert! Just opened on Saturday at 80 Elizabeth St Paddington (near the Grand National). It is full of lots of their gorgeous clothes all apparently inspired by Peggy Guggenheim in Venice: Check out the postcard print 50’s skirt, the delicious grey flannel trousers and skirt, the black chiffon shredded 20’s dress $1098, the funky stripe singlets $100. And so much more.
Gucci: have some divine new pieces in: the stripe sporty trousers, tiny stud trim satin shirt sling back stud shoes $800, gorgeous logo and suede bags $1600 and gorgeous logo totes with patent orange or pink trim $1000 plus check out all the jewellery rings and the leather key rings $200. Go in and drool or just to see what everyone is copying!

Chermoula: A spicy tangy lemon marinade
What can you say about a recipe that is does everything? Chermoula is an amazing marinade that is multi task orientated, goes with everything: Summer, autumn, winter, and spring. Dress it up or down, day into night it’s so versatile! Easy to whip up after work and a crowd pleaser for any dinner party …

In a food processor whiz up:
Bunch of parsley
Bunch of coriander
6 garlic cloves
½ preserved lemon from your very own windowsill
Juice of 2 lemons
Olive oil
Sel et Poivre
1 Teasp of cumin, coriander and paprika each and if you have them please I insist you add 1 teasp or 2 of coriander seeds mortar and pestelled and pummeled, it will add a real zing a ling.

·Whizz them up and then stick your finger in and do a Nigella taste test (No not when the whizzer is running. Messy. Blood. Bad look.) Superb? Need more lemon or oil? Add till it has the consistency of mayonnaise or a bit runnier.
·Cut up some white fish or chicken into smallish pieces.
·Pour the Chermoula over and marinate for about an hour but remember to leave some extra Chermoula to drizzle on later.
·Throw some capsicums in the oven to roast while the marination takes place.
·Throw on your fabourite Gucci top and heels and redo the eye makeup.
·Pop on your Gucci apron!
·Whip up some cousous.
·Heat some oil in a fry pan and cook up the chicken till its um cooked…
·Serve on Coucous, toss on the roasted capsicum then drizzle the extra fresh Chermoula on top and some coriander for a bit of je ne sais pas garnish.
·Spectacular and quite simply the recipe du jour.

Capturing The Friedmans: A documentary.
The Romantic Comedy movie club is having a conniption: it’s suffering from post Sept 11 movie maker’s self-searching belly gazing analysis overkill. Let me explain. I will list the latest movies to see this week: Thirteen (traumatic teenagers), 21 grams (death and drugs), Fog of War (nuf said), Monster (murder and mayhem), and Mystic River (murder AND monsters). So how right it seemed to keep in this theme of the not-romantic-comedy and see a movie on child abuse ‘Capturing The Friedmans”. Yes it is a fascinating, riveting and poignant documentary about a father and son who are charged with child abuse but the subject matter is not happy Jan. What is incredible about the movie is how the Friedman’s filmed their family during the 70’s and 80’s and unbeknownst to them literally became the first reality TV show. Verdict? Hard to sit through but fascinating seeing the court case and hysteria unfold. A psychologists dream, a mother’s nightmare.
Next week it could be ‘50 First Dates’ otherwise we’re on strike…

US Harpers Bazaar March: has Sarah Jessica Parker on the cover and a story inside shot by Peter Lindbergh. Which should be flattering but I’m not so sure. This is a good issue though rumours are that Glenda Bailey the editor will get the chop. Read the funny piece on who would give Edina or Samantha from SATC a job now they’re out of one.
US Elle Décor April: This is a fab issue full of great places in Europe: Ungaro’s creative directors pad in Roma, the house of the groovy Rug Company owners in London, a white washed house in Greece and the dream Englsh country house.
Vogue Entertaining & Travel April/May: This is the first issue edited by Margaret Merten and well done I say. Check out model Gail Elliott and Joe Coffey’s entertaining in Tamarama (why is Wayne Cooper everywhere?), the Alistair Hendy Tagines, and you want to cook the linguine with fried chestnuts and macadamia and then go to Lizard Island.

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“Gossip city i love it! Can’t wait for my Fifi every Friday and I go straight to quotes”.
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