“What happened was older men, 50-70 year olds, used to spend the evening with younger men and impart their knowledge to them and then they’d go to bed together. It’s not a gay film, it’s not a straight film – it’s just a f***ing story.” Colin Farrell on being bisexual Alexander the great
“My personal life, my love life, my problems. I just tell him, and then the old bastard always goes blabbing to Page Six.” Naomi on Nelson Mandela!( what a bastard Mandela is!)
“I’m German, I’m brave. I can take pimple squeezing” Heidi Klum on being a model.( so brave.)
“We want it to be authentic… I hope that people will feel good that she’s okay and that she’s loved and is loving.”SJP on the end of SATC (that is so beautiful)
“He must have had the Scientology Brain-Wash-O-Tron turned up to 11 during that whole mess.”About Tom Cruise watching Nicole on the Golden Globes.
“Buttocks so hard you could bounce tennis balls off them “ UK Vogue on Galliano
“They’re the paparazzi of Jamaica” Naomi on big hairy bugs ( fly on the wall?)
“This is a sad film ill advised for the tad premenstrual” Lee Tulloch on Oz Vogue on Sylvia ( and anyone near an oven!)
“An it bag is an it bag only if you are unlikely to possess it” US Vogue
“There are no it bags this spring. There are its. Plural. ” US Vogue.
“Just fucking fabulous” No not Tom Ford but Paul Bettany on Nicole Kidman.
“I’d like to do a TV show one day. Maybe a drama, since that’s what my life has been.” Yes you guessed it from Fergie the media slut ( if only her life was interesting!)

Sorry times up guys! It’s time to ditch those flared jeans. Time to get into narrow skinny leg jeans (check out any groovy Japanese tourists and you’ll see what I mean). But are you fretting that you can’t find any skinny jeans that still make you look bootylicious, your thighs smaller than your ankle and are not $500? Mm tricky. So here’s the cheap but chic scoop: nick into Just Jeans grab my favourite jeans: Lee dark denim Bumster Superflares. Not bumsters or super flares, in dark denim, and stretch they’re perfect. Better still they’re $89! I bought 3 pairs. One for heels, one for flats and now a new pair with a new narrow leg. How did I do that? Easy! I took them to Just Jeans who altered them and gave me a new skinny leg (on jeans not person) in an hour for a cheap but cheap $10! Perfect. Same jeans same fit new groovex look.

P.S does everyone know that Borders Books have the latest hot off the plane air freight US magazines like US Vogue for ½ price? $10 instead of $21.

There I was struggling along with an over flowing handbag trying to look the dernier chic when low and behold what did I stumble across in David Jones? This weeks (and forever) item du jour screaming out to me “Je t’aime, Je t’aime!” Yes finally some bright spark decided to bring in Herve Chapelier bags! Yes you do know them! They’re those nylon 2 tone tote bags that are so French! So handy! So throwaway chic ! In lots of different colours and sizes you must have one. J’insiste! Perfect for those casual weekend away or for tossing junk into from the office. Great prices: $179 for a brown one or $219 for pink and camel and there’s lots of other colours too.
Check them out http://www.herve-chapelier.com.

Flicking through racks of clothes all day and trying on shoes for hours on end can do terrible things to your nails. And there is nothing worse than showing a chipped nail when you pull out your credit card (to squeeze something else on it). So if you have soft nails that are always breaking you must have heard about Herome the nail hardener! It’s the best! It is a slight white colour so your nails look ‘done’ and it really works! I’ve been using it for years: god knows what it has in it but my nails haven’t fallen off yet. No in fact they are long, hard and perfect for tapping on the counter when you need attention! Around $20 from most chemists.

Roy Lichtenstein exhibition is on in London from Feb 26
The Royal Academy in London is showing the first retrospective of the painter Vuillard
The National Portrait Gallery in London is showing Cecil Beaton: Portraits
Jean Michel Jarre and Charlotte Rampling’s son David is the magician of the moment.
Cate Blanchett is filming the new Wes Anderson movie The Life Aquatic.
The Met in New York has a Chocolate, Coffee, Tea exhibition .
Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill 2 is premiering in February.
Hip new Paris restaurant is ‘Kong’ on top of the Kenzo building over the Pont Neuf.
Mathew Williamson is opening his first store in London.
Nuala has designed a shoe with a magnet in the sole to focus your energy flow (or make money stick to your shoe which will give lots of energy!)
Jean Paul Gaultier did a warrior/samurai tribal Haute Couture collection
Isabella Rossillini will make her stage debut in New York.
Gucci’s Domenico de Sole cashed in $20 mill of Gucci stock options
Julien Macdonald is leaving Givenchy in April.
Missoni has launched a tableware collection
Alexander McQueen is the favourite for the top job at YSL
From FiFi’s New York correspondent comes this hot fashion news “Now that Ugh boots have completely sold out here, some smart cookie has invented Emu boots. Awful name, much cheaper and otherwise the same” Cool!

http://www.net-a-porter.com
This is a fantastic site that I have been trawling since it first went online a couple of years ago. It is “the worlds first online fashion magazine” and is fantastic. Basically you can buy all the most fabulous and expensive pieces of the season online, (looks like they ship to Australia) but it’s worth just having a drool at all the best clothes in the world. Check out the shop by trend section and all the runway reports!
http://www.mulletwigs.com
This is so silly: a website dedicated to the mullet and where you can order mullet wigs! “To those of you who may not know, the mullet is a hairstyle and a bad one at that. A typical mullet hairstyle is short on the top, short on the side and long in the back. Mullets range in a variety of sizes, colors, shapes and textures. Mullets are everywhere. They have been known to exist in places as far away as China and as close as your neighbors BBQ. The guy that mows your lawn may even have a mullet.” True..

If you have been in a coma for the last week let FiFi fill you in:
Helmut Newton died in a car crash at the Chateau Marmont in LA aged 83
Ben and Jen has finally called it quits “there’s some law of physics that says two insanely good looking people cannot be together.” (Yes and thats my excuse about Geoge Clooney and me!)
Beyonce is the new face of Tommy Hilfiger’s perfume
Nick Carter and Paris Hilton are planning a Valentines Day wedding
Penelope Cruz is becoming a Scientologist (thought she had a brain)
Britney, Beyonce and Pink all have a fight while making a pepsi commercial (no brainers unite!)
Madonna may be in the Friends spin off ‘Joey’ (wow sounds like great TV)
The last episode of Friends was filmed and Mathew Perry took home the fridge (for booze?)
Kylie Dolls are now on sale in UK wearing mini Dolce Gabbana.
Jordan has been banned from bringing her vibrator on location to I’m a celebrity get me out of here” being filmed outside of the gold coast.”There were fears the buzzing in the night wouldn’t be just mosquitoes.Producers weren’t happy – it was purple with spots on. Jordan eventually agreed to take a pink fluffy hot water bottle instead.” The UK sun
Model Karolina Kurkova is dating rapper Pharell Williams
Ali McBeal’s Jane Krakowski will play Halstons longtime muse, Liza Minnelli in the film Simply Halston directed by Daniel Minahan (of Six Foot Under), and you know that Alec Baldwin is playing Halston because I told you issues ago.

Girl with A Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
Time to read this book because the movie is coming out very soon with Scarlett Johansson (Lost in Translation) and Colin Firth. Set in the 17th century it is historical fiction, a story about the painter Vermeer and his famous painting, the anonymous ‘girl with a pearl earring’. It tells the story of sixteen-year-old Griet, Vermeer’s servant girl whose life is changed when she starts to assist in him in his studio and finally sits for him. An interesting book you can almost see the film in front of your eyes. Very painterly! A very haunting and slow moving novel and as one review says it’s like an Eric Rohmer film. Can’t wait to see it!

Christmas List:
Big Up by Ben Watts
Ben Watts the Aussie photographer known for his high energy work in magazines here and OS has released this fabulous book and it is like a very personal visual scrapbook. A photographic documentation of youth culture, Big up is apparently a Jamaican expression meaning Respect. “Often with short notes from scribbled on the photos, or with bits and pieces (an airplane boarding pass, an entry ticket), he has put it all together in amazing collages” This is a really cool book (and he is also the brother of Naomi so he must be OK!)

Economy
Sportsgirl: have nothing (shock of shocks!) it’s all a bit mod and looks really cheap. (Sorry) Except for the things I mentioned last week or a red wool single breasted long military peacoat coat $299 (to wear in 3 months time) and some red patent sling back shoes on sale for $39
Just Jeans have a cute Felix the cat T shirt $39
Mimco: have some fab gunmetal chain mail jewellery (very Elsa Perretti) cute earrings $49,bracelets $99 and a chocker $99. Also check out their funky silver letter brooches $69 and fabulous chandelier diamante earrings $ 99
Esprit has a cool white leather biker jacket $499,
Supre: Have done simple long white singlets as in mini dress style $20 and lots of great Slogan T-shirts like: Jogging is for people who aren’t intelligent enough to watch TV or and all sorts of funny things like Who’s your daddy, or Get Lost $15. And if you are 2 inches wide with no cellulite and 12 you might like the short short drawstring jogging shorts with stripes along the side in lots of colours $10.
Witchery:has a Diagonal stripe grey and black or red and grey T shirt with a hip band $39.95, and silk scarf in soft pink or black $89.95.
General Pants: have a cute off the shoulder white T-shirt with ruching across the front $39.
Portmans: have done a patent leather or should I say pleather? Black belted trench $159 and a cute hand knitted red burgundy and pink scarf you can wear in the snow or maybe Melbourne! $19.95.
Midas: have red, black or white (yikes) patent stiletto with a smaller kitten heel $228 (Yes $200 more than the Target ones) and cute flat sling back ones in lime green, black and orange $278 but everyone should have the animal print stilettos for $228, perfect to razz up your black or brown wardrobe with a shoe that’s says something! Grrrr!
Diesel: sorry to say it’s all too casual in here and nothing ’stand out’ though the skinny leg side pocket jeans are cool if you were born in 1990, $300 and the classic white or grey long sleeve T’s are good $109 and there’s a fabulous puffa nylon zip jacket for your trip to New York next week $550, or get the caramel utility trench $600

Business
Armani Exchange: will be opening in the Junga (Translation: Bondi Junction) in about a month. Check out the cute V neck black silky knit T shirt with shirring up to the waist $169, black zip sport top with Armani written across the hood (but it’s OK) $159, pretty flesh chiffon top with handkerchief sleeves $169 also in black,pink or white, and a knit long sleeve top with criss cross along the sleeves $185.
Orson and Blake: Have lots of new winter pieces in; The best pieces are the Et Vous black satin bomber $420 and a wool peacoat bomber $1110, the Kenzo is very next season with lots of floral and print and there’s a gorgeous red and multi colour full silk skirt $605, Print T shirts $289, a multi stripe print ‘riot of colour’ T $279 and a cool US label called Stanley has gorgeous silk camis in lime green or black $210. Check the fab Akira hand embroidered cream leather big slouch bag $550 and the cute black and white Dolce & Gabbana print headscarf $140.They have nearly sold out of their Jelly Kelly bags but there is a white one $165, a lime green one $145 and a cute small bronze one $65.
Tim O’Connor: is having a 30% to 50% off sale. Check out my favourite summer belted jacket in white or brown now $255, a chic shirt dress in khaki or brown $190, a satin trench $520 and cute 50’s spot sundress $155 in brown or black. Also lots of sexy numbers in soft pink or silver jersey dresses $155 and a very wearable into winter black satin drape tops $200.
Nicola Finetti: There is 40% off in here but keep away from the very 80s funky denim and Batwing creations and check his fabulous beaded tops and dresses at the back. I like the satin halter top $179 and the panelled satin black dress with amazing beading now $600.
Zimmerman and Bettina Liano both having about 75% off.

First
Bally: Are on sale and if you can get past all the tourists you will find some great things like the burgundy, lime green, or white T bar sandals $165, or groovy buckle black sandals $195. Also check out the fabulous Patent red or brown leather bags tote now $695 or smaller version $550 (was $1200) black leather jacket reduced to $850 (was $1950) and the cutest ‘silver ring’ Gucci/ Prada style kitten mule in white or black now $250.And check out their new winter collection gorgeous brass ring hardware on all the bags in choc brown suede. Very YSL.
Robbie Ingham: is on sale with great things at great prices.Lots of Comme des Garcons which is a distinctive look but check out the T shirts which do all sorts of things )wrap and tie and very asymmetrical) but cool now $253, grey asymmetrical zip L/sleeve T $174, a black knit and chiffon shirt $279, also check out the Paul Smith slingbacks ½ price now $600, great ! Cool Costume Nationale beaded white top $195 and black trouser suit $1033 and a Faaabulous Chloe leather jacket now $2250 (was $4500) and lots more.
Belinda: check out the marc Jacobs, the marc , and the Pierre Hardy shoes and all the fabulous bags. It’s all new winter stock, it’s all great!
Colette Dinnigan: has some new next Spring Summer which is very pretty. There is a gorgeous black and white small floral print silk petticoat dress $460, matching cami $260 and a halter neck tiewaist dress in the same pretty floral $780 (also in a pink and black colour way). Also smell the gorgeous new Collette Dinnigan rose soap $39 and buy the cute pink silk embroidered lingerie bag $49 both in a petty pink box.There’s also a sale rack with 30 to 50% off : Buy 40’s pink chiffon dress $360 and a pretty floral chiffon dress $532
Riada: I love all their new Tods. There is cute little suede lady-like flat one in brown or blue $ 595, choc suede trainers $ 695, some cute square toe flats with white stitching $595, and flat black leather 60’s boots $ 1150. Also there is some new Jean Paul Gaultier ‘Fuzzi’ pieces such as the mesh print dress $1035 and some fabulous Lawrence Steele pieces including a fabulously sexy black cut out dress $ 1470. Bring it on!

Baked Peaches with Sour cream
This delicious summer dessert is as quick to whip up as a Britney divorce! It’s as easy as throwing the peaches in the oven and mixing up some sour cream with coconut…

A juicy ripe peach per person
1 carton of Sour cream
1 cup of Dried coconut
2 tabs Maple syrup or treacle
Limejuice

Throw the peaches on a tray in the oven on a low heat 160 for 20 mins or so (till they are warm)
·In a bowl mix up the sour cream, coconut, lime juice and treacle
·Do a taste test a la Nigella and lick the spoon till it tastes great.
·Serve the warm peach whole on plate with the sour cream dolloped on the side and a jaunty bit of mint tossed on as a garnish

Too too chic! Too Too quick and absolutely delicious.

Along came Polly
The best part about this movie was the air conditioning at the cinema. Oh why did I waste a night at the movies when I could have been home reading about Gwynie in Vanity Fair? I read the reviews. I should have known better. Not funny except to teenage boys of about 12.
So instead go and see The Leopard (at the Chauvel) the recoloured version of the Visconti classic from the sixties with Alain Delon, Burt Lancaster and Claudia Cardinale set in Sicily about the slow disintergration of the Italian nobility. What an amazing movie. If you can’t be bothered reading the subtitles just sit there and soak up the gorgeous sets! The colours, the interiors, the costumes even the peeling paint in the old palazzos are beautiful. Alain Delon is handsome, Claudia has very sixties hair and makeup and Burt’s dubbing is a little obvious but it’s all worth it when you sit there mesmerised by the fabulous scenery (the Ball and picnic in particular) A bit long so make sure you have dinner and a wine to get through the night!

UK Elle Jan is not very exciting but is worth buying if you want the spring summer runway trends but don’t bother with the interview with Heidi Klum: Boring!
Donna Hay Summer is always worth buying but I have noticed it is suffering a little in the layout after the creative director left! But the ice-cream shots and recipes are cool so to speak.
UK Vogue Feb: has lots of great reading: there’s a fab interview on Cate Blanchett, Galliano, Mathew Williamson and Paul Bettany (the imaginary friend) also check out their spring summer runway report.
Vanity Fair Feb has the Gwyneth interview and a great shoot on Palm Beach of all the social bocial types. Also fab shots from The Aviator the new movie about Howard Hughes with Cate Blanchett, Leo and Jude.

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LOVE #22! Where is the Island of Misfit toys playing?( touring The States)
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