The Tenderness of Wolves (Paperback) by Stef Penney(Author)
Debut novelist Stef Penney won the Costa Book of the Year award - formerly the Whitbread Prize - despite being too scared to research the book on site. . Flying to Canada was out of the question for the agorophobic writer. On an isolated settlement of Canada’s Dove River in 1867, a man is murdered and a boy disappears.Searchers set out pursuing tracks across a desolate landscape variously seeking a murderer, a son, two missing sisters, a forgotten Native culture, and a fortune in stolen furs. In an astonishingly assured debut, Stef Penney weaves adventure, suspense, revelation, and humour into a gripping historical tale, an exhilarating thriller, a keen murder mystery, and ultimately, with the sheer scope and quality of her storytelling, one of the best books of the year.
£9.89 http://www.amazon.co.uk Publisher: Quercus; New Ed edition (8 Feb 2007)

•"This is the only naked man that will ever be in my bedroom." Melissa Etheridge looking at her Oscar
•"I had my eyes done. Can you tell? I think it’s important to look awake." George Clooney, joking to Julia Roberts about getting plastic surgery, on Oprah’s Oscar special. Asleep or awake … who cares? It’s George
•"People were snoozing across the country… It was boring! I’ve never seen such a pile of rubbish." Elton John wasn’t impressed by the hefty four-hour Oscars broadcast. Needs his eyes done
• "What, next year she is going to get the Nobel Prize? It’s enough. She has had enough attention."Alan Arkin, on Little Miss Sunshine costar Abigail Breslin
•“ It’s past her bedtime" Mother of Abigail Breslin, 10, as she clutched a Curious George doll and rubbing her eyes at the Oscars.
•"The only exercise I take is following the coffins of friends who took exercise." Peter O’Toole on his fitness regime.Past his bedtime too.
•" I like him so much that I never want to meet him." Jim Carrey on The White Stripes star Jack White.
•"I was shocked to hear there was someone out there pretending to be me, this girl doesn’t even look like me – there is only one Naomi and it’s a full-time job, let me tell you." Naomi Campbell works over time
• "The suit is Gucci. It’s made from material." Aaron Eckhart, on his red-carpet outfit ( needs his eyes done too)
•"It was all made for me so I didn’t have to have any underwear… It held me like two angels hands… Helen Mirren on her Christian Lacroix Oscars gown.
•"it’s a very auspicious thing that our embryo is going to be at the Oscars,’ " said Naomi Watts..Eyes wide shut
•"I just looked up at him and I was like, you know, ‘Can I just touch it?’ " Katherine Heigl, on her Grey’s Anatomy costar Patrick Dempsey’s most well-known feature, his hair.

There is one item this season that will fire your wardrobe catapulting it into winter; the white or cream belt. We spied it last season on the runways at Marni worn through grey trousers with a soft pink shirt. How perfect, we thought. A simple, light colour to contrast with all that black and grey. We raced into Portmans last year for the thin white belt in, gulp, plastic and looked everywhere since for something better. Now it’s arrived in Country Road in delectable leather and perfect ivory. Wear it with a black pencil skirt, grey trousers or to cinch in a dress. It’s simple, chic, modern and will instantly transform your wardrobe straight into this season. Plus it has a sewn in money saving device; it stops you eating if you buy it in a smaller size…

$69 Country Road Ivory Leather Belt

Everything in my life is black. Except of course my bank account. That’s always in red. So I am turning to accessories to keep the bank accountant in red and my wardrobe with touches of it. Dinosaur Designs have some divine, new Resin bracelets in fabulous stripes. They look like melted icecreams with all the colours spooling into each other. Delicious  Almost Missoni but with a very distinctive Dinosaur Designs signature. Buy all sorts of gorgeous sizes and pile them up your arm. The pretty colours will add a spark to your wardrobe, break up all the head to toe black, and they look so good you could eat them. Ice cream without the calories. Perfect.
From about $190 Dinosaur Designs Bracelets.

There is nothing worse than sitting in a wonderful romantic comedy and then coming out with great, big, black, raccoon eyes. Mascara streaking and dripping down your cheekbones from all that laughing (or crying). I am always on the hunt for waterproof mascara. Something that won’t run when I am in the movies, or when I am sobbing over the new Prada bags. My latest discovery? Lancôme’s Hypnose waterproof Custom Volume Mascara. It really stays on for hours, gives the lashes a longer look and will hang in there even during the worst of times. Music & Lyrics proved it. They say “Control the waterproof volume up to 6 times for ultra-resistant lashes with 16 hours wear. Soft, supple lashes with no smudging or clumping”. 16 hours wear means I will look fabulous asleep as well.

$40 Lancôme Hypnose Waterproof Mascara from major department stores.

"Monocle, the comeback title for Tyler Brûlé, has been launched on both sides of the Atlantic and is most likely the only magazine out there with a Japanese naval helicopter pilot on the front cover and a Gucci men’s wear ad on the back. In between — and on four types of paper stock — the magazine tackles the "semiotics" of Iranian president’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s wardrobe and sits down for a Q&A with Chile’s finance minister Andres Velasco, "the most handsome finance minister out there," joked Brûlé, editor in chief, chairman and founder. The magazine - has a cover price of $10 and looks more like a literary or foreign affairs review — also features stories ranging from second-generation Italian hip-hop to Düsseldorf’s vending machine trade fair and the quirky English bookshop Barter Books in Northumberland’ wwd http://www.monocle.com/
Off to New York? Check out the Marc Newsom and Damien Hirst exhibitions at The Gagosian gallery http://www.gagosian.com/
Track a flight…http://flightaware.com/
Thrill list is cool..http://www.thrillist.com
Former Chloé designer Phoebe Philo is investigating the eventual launch of a signature collection and is are expecting a second child.
In Paris? Head straight to the new Dries Van Noten boutique: “ Dries Van Noten’s new Paris "home" at 7 Quai Malaquais is an expression of the Belgian designer’s aesthetic that is a paradigm for our fashion times: an original, one-off store in which everything from a gleaming marble console to a stalwart 1970s desk appeals to the senses”WashingtonPost.
Model Daria Werbowy is the executive producer of a coming-of-age movie set in Whistler and Vancouver "It’s about the fascination of becoming a post-snowboarder. Model Gemma Ward played a supporting role in the forthcoming film "The Black Balloon" alongside Toni Collette.
Elle’s Gilles Bensimon was present in his girlfriend Diana Widmaier-Picasso’s apartment Monday night when thieves made off with two Pablo Picasso paintings that police valued at 50 million euros, or about $65 million. "I’m just glad I was there. It was so frightening," Bensimon related at Givenchy.
Movie News…
Liev Schreiber will star in the film adaptation of the book Love in the Time of Cholera.
The book The Kite Runner is being adapted into a movie directed by Marc Forster (Finding Neverland)
Need more George Clooney? It’s Oceans 13 http://oceans13.warnerbros.com/
George Clooney and Cate Blanchett star in http://thegoodgerman.warnerbros.com/
Even if you loved or hated the book see the trailer for the film Running with Scissors http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/runningwithscissors/
See the trailer for the new Capote movie ‘InFamous; with Gwyneth Paltrow, Sandra Bullock and Sigourney Weaver as Babe Paley http://wip.warnerbros.com/infamous/
Bobby, the movie everyone is talking about, is directed by Emilio Estevez about Bobby kennedy http://www.bobby-the-movie.com/
Here’s a funny fashion anecdote from Milan by Robin Ghivan at the Washington Post” I wandered into the women’s Prada store on Montenapoleone today to check out the new Prada phone. What a scene—apparently the phone doesn’t work in Japan, and, of course, the store is packed with Japanese press and store buyers in town for fashion week. If you stood in one spot long enough, you could watch as they almost cried when they found out that there was a hot new Prada accessory that they couldn’t buy. It is a little like watching a car accident that you know ahead of time is going to happen, but you still cannot look away"…

http://www.fametracker.com
A more sophisticated celebrity site….click on the Fame Audit

http://www.fashionista.com/
From the witty news blog Gawker comes a new fashion blog…
" First thoughts while camped out on the red carpet (our red carpet, in the living room, from Marimekko) watching The Oscars…
Metallics Rule (questionable results)
Jennifer Hudson = Disco Vampire.
Cate Blanchett Armani = Everyone Else Balenciaga
Emily Blunt. Beautiful. Skinny. Too.
GWYNETH WINS! THANK YOU ZAC!
Kirsten, Karl, no excuse.
Nicole looks like lipstick.
bigail Breslin, appropriate. Dakota, pissed.
Penelope Cruz in that dress.. Carrie Bradshaw on the bed in Paris falling asleep. Right?"

Foxy Brown called a press conference to discuss her latest arrest for assault, to proclaim her innocence and to reveal that it was she who was assaulted…. because of her bad dress sense?
A reporter handcuffed herself to Hugh Grant at the Dutch premiere of his new movie Music and Lyrics… to stop him ever acting again?
Kate Hudson and Owen Wilson continue not to be a couple…now in Hawaii. Where on earth will these two go if they actually do decide to date?
Kirsten Dunst is dating Drew’s ex Fabrizio Moretti.
Jay-Z and Beyonce are officially Over
Britney hired out the complete wing of Rehab then went to AA.
Paris Hilton threw another Birthday Party …because nobody went to the first one.
Angelina Jolie arrived in Africa in her role as United Nations Goodwill Ambassador to monitor and raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur. Bless.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have filed paperwork to adopt a boy from Vietnam.
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are over.
Elizabeth Hurley will wed Arun Nayar on Saturday at Sudeley Castle - home of Elizabeth’s pals Henry Dent-Brocklehurst and his Hawaiian model wife Lili Maltese.
Breaking News!! Victoria Beckham found the time to squeeze in a haircut and a dye job –“ I guess even emotionless robotic women made of plastic need a change every once in a while” says Pink. “ ( ‘If she’s serious about getting skinny she should consider getting her skeleton removed’ the superficial )
Victoria Beckham has secured a deal with NBC and American Idol producer Simon Fuller’s for a reality series about her move from London to L.A. The FemBot needs more money?
Paris Hilton is a little slow and didn’t understand that a "suspended license" means she cannot drive a car while she is on probation for pleading no contest to her DUI charge. So police impounded her Bentley.
.Heather Mills is fairly certain her prosthetic leg will not "fly off" on the upcoming season of Dancing with stars…( or she will need a leg up?)
Pete Doherty and Kate Moss paid a little visit to the local zoo in London to spend some time with some penguins … oh yes, and to feed them one of his unfinished joints ..Talk about your happy feet.

The Christmas List
Mario Testino, Let Me in (Hardcover) by Mario Testino
Mario Testino has unsurpassed access to the most magnetic stars of popular culture. He has been collecting a personal archive of off-screen moments, often snatched spontaneously before, during, and after more official sittings for “Vanity Fair”, “Vogue”, and Testino’s many clients in the world of fashion. The result is a portrait not just of a generation of the most wanted and talked-about, but an invitation to be part of the backstage parties and unstaged moments of Testino’s life. Sometimes offbeat, but always on the pulse, let me in!,is a must buy.
£250 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Publisher: Taschen; Har/DVD Lt edition (15 Mar 2007)

The Last King Of Scotland…directed by Kevin MacDonald, director of the acclaimed documentaries ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER and TOUCHING THE VOID.
Based on: The novel by Giles Foden
Genre: Drama
Who: James McAvoy, Forest Whitaker, Gillian Anderson, David Oyelowo, Kerry Washington
The Plot: 1970’s Uganda: Young, sweet , Scottish doctor heads to Uganda for adventure: Meets the kooky President Amin. Becomes his personal doctor. Gets a snazzy Mercedes convertible and meets pretty girls. Amin becomes a crazy man. Murders, assassination attempts, killings and wild crazy drug parties. Scottish Doctor sleeps with one of Presidents wives. Oops. Not good. Evil, mean and wicked things happen. Doctor tries to escape. Amin gets crazier. More evils things happen.Then Forest Whitacker wins the Academy Award so all it’s Ok . The end.
Acting: Forest Whitaker deserves all the awards – he is amazing- and so does James McAvoy as the Doctor.
Photography: Working with cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle MacDonald brings 1970s Uganda to pulsating life, perfectly recreating that tumultuous era. With hand held camera and groovy zoom it almost looks like Starsky and Hutch.
Design: It’s all so 70’s, some of it the bad 70’s….tacky brown carpets and daggy furniture. Bu there are a few lamps and groovy couches you will want to freeze when you watch the DVD.
Wardrobe: It’s seriously 70’s flares on the guys with wide ties and open neck shirts. I see safari suits and aviator sunglasses. The girls wear spring summer Prada 1998 with a dash of the latest marc Jacobs winter collection: high waisted flares print dresses, hot pants and fabulous head scarves.
Salon de Beaute: It’s afros and scarves for the girls and side burns and shags for the guys. Austin Powers eat your heart out.
Botox: You need to drink a dose to numb the face and stop the forehead screwing up in horror at brutality and violence. Just close your eyes and not listen to the screams as I did.
Waterproof Mascara: I recommend a few extra applications to get through the sad plight of the Ugandans. No laughing here will budge any mascara.
Blood’n’guts: Be prepared: Keep eyes firmly shut .
Mind drifted to shopping: When the violence got too much.
Smokin’ smooches: One sexy scene;this ain’t no Rom Com
Car chases: Yes…A blokes movie.
Rename It: Touching the Void
Best Reviews; “A smart, searing thriller with blistering performances from McAvoy and Whitaker. Like the best Graham Greene script Graham Greene never wrote.” Total Film.
Best Worst Reviews: Graham Greene it’s not….Whitaker’s striking work aside, The Last King of Scotland is insipid, obvious movieland history.” Groucho Reviews
See it or donate to the Prada Bag fund? If you cover your eyes in the bad bits (as you do in Prada when you see the price tags) you will be mesmerized by Forest Whitacker and all the beauty amid the turmoil of Africa in the 70’s.
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/lastkingofscotland

Economy class
New Shop Alert! ….Witchery has opened a store in Queen St, Woollhara. It’s a little, very chic boutique selling just accessories and lounging around at home wear. They told me they have a few pieces not found at any other Witchery stores. Best pieces include the Big Chloe Style Silverado style bags in a choc brown and the cute flat marc Jacobs style shoes ( Mary Janes) in patent and the simple flats for about $129. Not so sure about the Witchery accessories this season: we need big platform shoes and pieces with more of an edge please. Also check out the very pretty satin camisole tops, the trackpants and the tanks here as well. I like the very long V neck grey knit cardigans and the groovy glitter shoes in flats and heels. In the other stores look out for the fab grey long to the knee parka $199 as reported last week; a quilted sleeveless zip vest - very Sloane ranger but also perfect for weekends away- $99; the cute, little, scoop neck black short sleeve T $59 and also I like the the dark denim jeans $89. The red cotton straight denim skirts are cute $99 and so is the grey little tank top for $109.The trapeze grey mini dress with a poloneck is a great buy $109 and so are the poloneck sweater dresses to the knee with a good full sleeve $129. They don’t look too clinging or tight . Invest in a sweater dress it’s a must buy of the season.
Zomp Shoez;
A lot of boots here but stay away from those tragic short slouch boots…..no, no please don’t.! I have one word to say to you: tacky. You can buy the short boots that sit straight up and stop at the ankle. (Kate Moss is the only person who can get away with wearing short round toe slouch boots and that’s because they are Vivienne Westwood vintage). Then buy the Chloe style flat loafers style - seen everywhere but still chic - with a brass buckle about $180; and the cute little satin flats $85. The fabulous black round toe, flat, ong boots with an elastic side are a great buy? Why ? because they will stretch over my fat calves – boots can be tricky to buy for that very reason $585.The simple round toe boots with an average size heel are cool with a mini platform $230 ( not sure about that price sounds cheap). Also check out the Urban Soul black patent wedges with ankle strap $250 and the Robert black suede platforms $200
Just Jeans
Check out their cute ¾, cotton, DB, trench coats in stone, red or black $99; the white poets shirt $49; and the fab red or black leather, zip front, biker jacket or blouson: it’s very cool. This is a great buy; wear it over pretty dresses as well as with jeans and a T $149. Bargain. Also check out the very cute, little, sweater dresses which are sleeveless with wide shoulder straps, a bandeau bodice and an empire shape. Love them although a bit short so not for everyone. You may wear them over leggings though and it’s a great look. Go for the red, grey, choc brown, $49.The cute Cacherel candy stripe hoodies in a cotton knit are groovy in pinks, red, and oranges $58.
MNG:
Check out the cool Marni inspired resin chain necklaces for about $34 in red, gold and black. Also check out the outrageous Prada copy – it’s true - oversized ruched bag in black patent $249. Love the Miu Miu/Marni style tunic shift dress in a Marimekko 60’s style print in greys, cream and stone $159; also in a jacket but I am not so sure of that one. There is a cute little beige linen shift dress with a silver sheen over it $259; groovy rock /punk T ‘s with all sorts of writing on the front about $49 and a fab grey empire T shirt dress -as seen everywhere- $49. There is a groovy hoodie parka in a prince of Wales check $99. Check out the classic and perfectly easy to wear stone or black nylon trenches, $129 and the pretty chiffon green daisy print dress with a pussy bow and empire shape $259. The must buy is the Prada ish grey peacoat with black buttons $259 and the black chiffon drop waist dress with shoestring straps and a little belt $99.
Nine West:
Need a hat for the races? Head here for the fabulous little Trilbys in all sorts of chic colours (read grey , brown and black) $99. Also check out the suede platforms with a patent wedge heel in grey or black $149; the velvet green wedges with an ankle strap $139; the cute patent square toe sling backs with the major gold buckle as reported $149. The bags here are well are fabulous for the price.
Mollini:
I spy groovy dark green patent sandals with a moderate wooden stacked heel and ankle strap, rather fabulous and now just $55 on sale! It’s about the groovy coloured shoe next season so this is a must buy. Also buy the much reported Chloe style wedges with a wooden heel in black or cream $148; the round neck faux snakeskin pumps in red, grey or black $138 and the new suede sling backs in a dark beige with a crossover front and patent trim about $128. Also head here for bags that are very definition of cheap but chic.

Business class;
Tim O’Connor: I checked out the new collection for winter: best buys include the silvery grey shiny dress with an tie front and empire, tres snazzy $230; the blue satin wrap and tie dress with 3/4 sleeves $350 and a navy with black trim satin empire dress $330. His trench coats have been great over the years but I am not so sure this season although I do love his Prince of Wales check DB trench in a rainproof fabric ( what?: a trench in a rain proof fabric? How is that?) $850 plus there is navy trench as well which is chic. But I am not so sure on the Missoni print dresses.
RG Madden:
I must mention the best dark grey track pants and hoodies I’ve seen: A label called Edgar which I reported as a cheap but chic of the week here at FiFi HQ a couple years back. They are still the best! It’s in a fabulous dark, dark grey cotton and you will find the best drawstring track pants $89, hoodies $89, drawstring short shorts, long sleeve T ‘s $39 and the perfect little racer back tops $39. Head to RG Madden or go to the Edgar website….you want the charcoal … Cool http://www.edgarproduct.com/women_247classic.asp
Herringbone;Always great here for classic white shirts but also grab the black velvet or delicious choc brown velvet single breasted blazer, perfect for winter $395. Just the thing to wear with classic black pants or jeans and over a groovy T , the velvet will add a nice contrasting texture to all that black I know you have sitting in your wardrobe. Plus a velvet blazer will look chic over a pretty soft chiffon dress at night . Also check out here the black poloneck cashmere sweaters here too for about $395. http://www.herringbone.com.au/
Nicola Finetti: A sale continues here and there are a few things worth looking at such as a black mini dress strewn with tiny bubbles (or are they flowers?) About $250. The first new pieces of the new season collection has arrived but there is not alot that is ringing my bells. Let’s wait and see more later…
Orson and Blake: I see a lot of lovely pieces for winter upstairs here: Best Buys include the Kenzo stripe wool scarf in pinks and browns $410; the Kenzo beautiful red and white spot chiffon blouse $455; the Leonie navy trench $730 and the pink Prada esque Melanie Cutfield ruffle cami top in a slate blue $278. Check out the fabulous Kate Sylvester collection including a black empire satin top with short sleeves $385 and the black empire smock with ¾ sleeves. It falls straight from the neckline like a waterfall, gorgeous with elastic hem $425 . Buy the Boss Woman brown and cream print dress $910 and the TL Wood grey L/s T with a drape front $235. There is a fab Cohen and Sabine black wool peacoat with big gold buttons a la vintage YSL:…Gorgeous! The double breasted coat to the knee is about $800 and the short version in a trapeze ( see everywhere but this is one of the best) is about $500.Also check out the Mela Purdie collection for all sorts of simple basics in a jersey in a black or grey: it’s the kind of classic pieces you need for traveling. Other finds include Gerald Darel grey trousers -great quality for the price - $310 and a few chunky scarves, very homemade in a grey $90 plus cashmere scarves in a few gorgeous colours $325. Also buy the Hugo Boss black wedge suede boots $850. I love the Filippa K white with black stripe cotton drawstring stripe trapeze T $ 245 and the marc Cain classic black paneled skirts $340 and the tweed coats …. Plus then there are all the Diptique candles downstairs begging to come home with me….
Country Road;Best buys here: As reported in last week’s the item du jour the short black hood parka/anorak is a great buy for $200 especially if this rain persists. Also buy the dark grey puff sleeve knit T $99 also in red and cream I think; the long grey knit cardigan $99 and the caramel cord shorts with a cuff $129. Check out the red button through cardigans in a chunky knit with a volume peplum from the waist $119. Don’t worry it won’t exaggerate the hips; it will skim over them. Love it. There is a lot of navy such as the navy full sleeve blouse with an gathered hem $139 and knits are in navy as well. There is a dolman sleeve top and a cute big sleeve grey, puff sleeve knit with a V neck that skims, lovely too $99. The grey jersey cami that has a lot of volume comes in a royal blue and a groovy light grey $99. The black and white tweed princess coat is great if you want to invest in coat for winter $369; and I love the beautiful Rochas esque cream chiffon shell top $119. The grey and black thin stripe poloneck knit is great and judging from next seasons Balenciaga - just shown on the runway in Paris yesterday- its worth buying one now $99. The black DB trench is, of course, a fabulous buy if you can’t afford the Burberry one. Buy the long gloves in a tan $129…it’s not about keeping warm, it’s about the look. Think long skinny scarves worn in summer with a pretty dress. It’s not functional; it’s fashion! What joy!

First Class:
Attic:
There are a few great pieces on sale here with 40% off these prices: Check out the simple Rochas grey shift dress $4500; (no, not a typo), the beautiful grey cardigan $435; a divine Rochas black silk, A line, paneled skirt about $2000; a Rochas black silk top $1100 and Givenchy black cuffed straight trousers $1500. Buy the Proenza Schouler black satin tank with black chiffon slit inserts $1200; The See by Chloe jeans $560; the See By Chloe black cotton trousers $550; and the long oatmeal knit cardigan $1500. Also check out a rack of new seasons pieces…The marc by marc Jacobs is much better here than the collection from David Jones; it’s a bit more tasteful. Bless. So buy the black T $385; the grey princess coat, very sweet and the choc brown tweed dress $895. There are also camel cotton satine blazer $735 and marching shorts – not so sure about wearing together. Buy the Givenchy black drape front ruffle trim long coat $4300; the beautiful black dress $3200 and the cute jeans by Red engine dark denim $365. There are some fab jeweled Maria Calderera black jet brooches, very Prada, on sale for about $220. Attic will also be stocking McQ, the Alexander McQueen diffusion label, as well as Nina Ricci, Rick Owens and Lanvin.
Robbie Ingham:
Oohh such blisssss…it’s Chloe bag Heaven.They are all here: the Betty! The Edith! The Bay! And more in all sorts of colours and sizes all from about $2500. Also drool over the Chloe clothing: a divine rust mini dress with ruffle front and cuffs on sleeves $1900; a fabulous op art print mini dress with jewels along the collar $5700; a divine chiffon cream dress with ruffles and sweet cuffs $$ and the grey trousers $1000. Also buy the white pleated pretty blouse with a Peter Pan collar $4900. Check out all the divine and very pretty Temperley dresses about $4000. Also check out the groovy 3.1 Phillip Lim collection all rather divine.
Now to the most important Fashion show in Paris…
Balenciaga…”The designer thrilled his audience with a brash, flashy spectacular, an ode to streetwear for the girl with a major rock ’n’ roll attitude and five figures to drop on that perfect ensemble for sidewalk sauntering. In a sense, the show played like a terrific resolution of last season’s heavy-handed futurism. Here were the intricate constructions and contrasts of hard and soft that have become Ghesquière signatures. Only now the robot army has given way to real women, albeit ones done up with face paint in an indistinct reference to an earthy warrior spirit. While all of this catered to a faux-tough gamine type, Ghesquière also gave considerable attention to those whose preferred look is girly-with-edge, offering dresses wonderfully exotic in their mélanges of prints, veilings, coins, fringes and beads, some with the shimmy potential for the post-modern flapper. Mix in richly textured coats with corset belts and a range of knits from sleek to cozy, and it added up to the most complete and wearable collection Ghesquière has ever done. Talk about street smarts”WWD
“Balenciaga’s woman stepped down from her lofty pedestal and onto the streets of the wide world — and it made for an astounding collection, filled with color, pattern, national symbols as a pocket crest and global sports shoes, albeit high-heeled, at the feet.The designer Nicolas Ghesquière, while distancing himself from the classics of Cristobal Balenciaga, proved with his show Tuesday how he races ahead of the pack, which is still chasing his former retro-futurism."It’s about symbols, colors, emblems — it is probably the most multicultural collection I have done," the designer said backstage to explain the tribal vibes, from a Marrakech scarf embedded with dangling coins or the Chinese buttons that the Asian actress Maggie Cheung stared at in wonder. Those buttons came on a tiny, body-clutching blazer worn with narrow pants that were rounded at the thighs and might have an Asian emblem on the backside. Like all Ghesquière’s pants, they were ultra modern, original and objects of desire” IHT.

Chicken Mango Salad
A perfect little salad to whip on hot summer nights. If you are feeling exotic try it with roast duck and green mango but it’s just as delicious with poached chicken and ripe mangoes.

For 4 x size12 girls, ( = 8 models or 2 men.)

You need
3 chicken breasts or 1 Chinese roasted duck
1 large mango
4 spring onions
3 or 4 kaffir lime leaves
A couple of cups of lettuce or rocket or snazzy designer leaves
1 cup of beans sprouts
½ cup Thai basil leaves
½ cup coriander leaves
2 tabs sweet chilli sauce
1 teasp fish sauce
3 to 4 tabs of lime juice
½ cup unsalted peanuts crushed

•Poach the chicken breasts with a couple of lime leaves or ginger in the water.
•Leave the chicken to sit there quietly meditating while it cools down.
•Pour a wine so you can cool down
•Cut the mango into cubes
•Use scissors to cut up Lime leaves
•Slice up the spring onions into cute little Asian diagonal pieces
•Pull the leaves off the Basil and coriander. So boring. Delegate this task or pour another wine
•Ponder the new season’s Alaia silhouette seen at the Milan shows. Be happy that you are now going to eat salad for the rest of your life. It should be long when you eat all that green.
•Throw the salad leaves, lime leaves, coriander, Basil, spring onions and those bean sprouts in a chic white bowl.
•Grab the unsalted peanuts and crush them in a mortar and pestle. Think of ex boyfriend.
•Juice the limes
•Another wine perhaps? You can there are no calories in this salad. Thank the lord. •Now make the dressing by mixing the chilli sauce, lime juice and fish sauce.
•Dip that manicured finger in to taste it. Fish sauce can be overwhelming like Versace. •Now grab the chicken and pull it apart in shreds with your bare hands. Yes, French polish will take that.
•Toss chicken or duck on to salad
•Drizzle with the sauce
•And sprinkle over the accessory du jour; the smashed peanuts •Give the thing a good toss.
•Doesn’t it look divine? All that green against the orange of the mango is so Prada winter 08
•Make sure there is enough sauce. If not juice a few more limes. Dry salad is not good. Like dry skin.
•Serve, eat, drink, feel fabulously healthy.