A tribute to Paris Hilton and her jail sentence

Being groovy can be tricky. This season on Net-a-Porter you will see a Luella Bartley t-shirt has sold out. It has GEEK written across the front. How clever. This is how it works. You wear a t-shirt with Geek on the front. It says you are a dag. This means you are groovy. You want this t-shirt. So here’s the scoop. Make it yourself. Buy a simple dark grey t-shirt. Head to Spotlight. Buy the black iron on letters. Take them home. Find the iron. Stick them on. Now you are a Geek. How cool is that? Net-a-Porter

The hottest trend at the moment? Going green. There is alot you can do to stop global warming. Relax. You don’t have to go back to wearing last season’s Boho. You can shave your legs. You can still shop. But you can stop using plastic bags. What you need to buy is the ‘I’m Not A Plastic Bag’ bag from Anya Hindmarch. It’s so hot it’s sold out. Anya Hindmarsh ‘will be launching’ I’m Not A Plastic Bag in the US in June (in a limited edition navy blue) and in Japan in July (in a limited edition bottle green). These limited edition bags will be available to pre order on the website towards the end of May.’ It’s the only bag to carry home from the supermarket. Hint: Toss your Jimmy Choo clutch inside it before you enter Coles.
http://www.anyahindmarch.com/division/environmental_bags.asp

Ways to scrub up before you go out:

• Take the gin bottle out of the Birkin.
• Take parking fines off car.
• Take off pristine white Chloe dress before eating spaghetti.
• Pick off eyelash extentions from collar of Lanvin dress.
• Take underwear out of yesterday’s jeans lying on floor. Before you put them on again. The jeans not the undies. This stops the undies later from accidentally sliding down leg of jeans suddenly onto street.
• Grab the Nivea Visage Gentle Exfoliating Scrub. It has just the right amount of scrub to completely cleanse your skin without complexly stressing it out. I love it. Your skin will feel clean, soft and lovely. Which keeps it in perfect condition for the Botox and the fillers.

$6.90 Nivea Visage Gentle Exfoliating Scrub from major department stores and chemists.

• In Rio stay here at this boutique hotel http://www.marinaallsuites.com.br/allsuites/
• Or here http://www.copacabanapalace.com.br/web/orio/orio_a2a_home.jsp
• This is a fabulous Auction house for serious collectors of 20th century furniture ( based in Chicago http://www.wright20.com/)
• Off to New York? Check out this cute site http://www.newyorkology.com/ and the Frank Stella on the Roof exhibition at The Met.
• In London? Check out this cool new bar http://artesian-bar.co.uk/
• The world’s largest free access panoramic image library http://www.360travelguide.com/
• See the trailer for Atonement . Keira Knightley and James McAvoy star in this film based on the novel by Ian McEwan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATtSfe_DaJU
• Peter Jackson is teaming up with DreamWorks SKG to film his adaptation of the bestselling novel "The Lovely Bones."
• Gisele Bündchen is the face of the YSL fall-winter advertising campaign shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. They captured Bündchen cavorting in the streets of Paris at night WWD
• Marc Newson is to pose at his home and in his atelier for the YSL men’s Fall winter Vincent Gallo is featured in the current spring series
• The astonishing, high-resolution Sony Reader can store a library’s worth of books and documents in a device the size of a paperback, and is perfectly legible in bright daylight "The Sony Reader is going to save a lot of trees; it might even save the world, actually." Available at http://www.sonystyle.com; $350.
• Isabella Blow, stylist, designer muse and former fashion director of Tatler and London’s Sunday Times, died Sunday night. She was 48 and had been battling ovarian cancer at the age of 48 – Bless
• Bottega Veneta has opened its largest store in the world in Tokyo in a characteristically discreet manner, opting for a quiet, chestnut tree-lined street off Ginza’s main drag.
• Kate Moss had her French fashion followers lining up outside the uberhip Colette store, where her TopShop line is being sold exclusively in France.. "We only received one third of the collection," said Colette’s buyer, who allowed for only three items per shopper. Barneys New York launches the line this week .WWD

http://www.toptipsforgirls.com/
Want to know how to make sure you never get lipstick on your teeth? How to minimise the pain of eyebrow plucking? Or how how to best look after a potted orchid? It’s all here. Set up by Kate Reardon ( the former Fashion editor at Tatler magazine) “Tips For Girls is an exceedingly practical, speedy resource for girls. (This modern response to age-old questions is also the ultimate desk-top procrastination tool.)

https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx
Finally! Register here and stop those telemarketing people calling ever again. ‘The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home. Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days. If they do, you can file a complaint at this Website’. Brilliant!

The Perfect Summer: England 1911, Just Before the Storm by Juliet Nicolson
An excerpt of this book was in UK Vogue. ‘The granddaughter of Bloomsbury notables Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson chronicles the minutiae of the hot, sunny summer of 1911, when the rich crammed in a succession of parties as industrial strikes almost brought the country to a standstill, and WWI loomed on the horizon. Under Nicolson’s lavish attentions, “upstairs” and “downstairs,” the weighty and frivolous spring to vivid life. Drawing on a wide variety of primary sources—from Churchill’s memoirs to the tell-all What the Butler Winked At—journalist Nicolson’s debut, a British bestseller, serves up a delightfully gossipy yet substantial slice of social history’
$16 http://www.amazon.com/ Publisher: Grove Press (May 10, 2007)

The Christmas List
Poiret (Metropolitan Museum of Art Publications) (Hardcover) by Harold Koda
This is the book released in conjunction with the exhibition at The Met in New York. ‘In the annals of fashion history, French couturier Paul Poiret (1879–1944) is known for liberating women from corsets and introducing pantaloons into their wardrobes. However, it is Poiret’s remarkable innovations in the cut and construction of clothing, made all the more remarkable by the fact that he could not sew, that secures his legacy. This essential book is the first to explore Poiret’s radical modernity from a number of perspectives with stencils, personal photographs from the Poiret family archives, and newly commissioned photographs of Poiret’s masterworks.’
$40 http://www.amazon.com/ Publisher: Metropolitan Museum of Art (May 29, 2007)

Economy Class
French Connection
They have got it going here and you will find a lot of pieces ‘on trend’ for great prices. What more do you want? Go for the long line chic V neck fine knit cardigans with a little knit belt $129; and the white with navy stripe zip knit hoodie, fabulous also in red $89. Remember sporty Luxe is the word du jour for next season, very petit bateau. Check out the long cotton military style single breasted belted trench $199; it’s funky. Then buy the fabulous black beaded sequin mini dress $199, which I showed under the Country Road trench in the latest Westfield Whatswhat TV commercials. You can see the long extended version of the TV ads here http://whatswhat.com.au/fashion//whatshot/whatswhattv/ Now keep shopping! Check out the black short sleeved grey marle tunic knit $89 and the grey knit button front jumper with a little knit belt -oh so chic- it’s fitted and I am thinking very Marc Jacobs next winter 08 (see here , go to outfit 6 , it’s the sleek very 70’s look that’s hot for next season The wrap and tie jersey tunic dress with short full sleeves is a great buy in black and grey $99, and so is the black satin rosette trimmed mini dress $199. Buy the black simple satin sack dress with wide straps and a square neck line $119. Layer it over knits on cooler days and wear with leggings if you want cellulite coverage. Do it for your public. They don’t need to see your legs. The Marc Jacobs esque baggy front chinos are only for the very groovy but they are very cool now on sale $69 (too ahead of the game in the high waist department bless. Only for those serious fashionistas who know). Also check all the anoraks fur trimmed or not and the perfect little ruched white T $30.Mollini: On sale: best buys are the red with white stitching Helmut Lang style T bar heels now $75 also in camel . T bar heels are the look for next season. There are a few flats on sale and a few short boots that you don’t need. Believe me. Also check out the Marc Jacobs round toe Mary Janes with a wooden stack heel not on sale $128; the moc croc round toe platforms $148; and the very Chloe jeweled satin ballet flats with jeweled toe $138. Also check out the Jimmy Choo copy – Yes they are a copy - purple patent strappy heels $138 (http://www.jimmychoo.com/pws/Home.ice they are called ‘Kay’) and the black peep toe with white stitching and a chunky heel and hidden platform are cool $148.
Witchery:
Lots of great pieces here: Check out the chinos on sale in a silver or stone now $69 ( very big for next season see balenciaga and marc Jacobs); silky tunic in a bronze coin print $79 with a self belt and the short stone trench is cool $189 with black buttons. The trench that is longer is a better buy it’s $299 and also comes in a grey tiny prince of wales check. The khaki green chinos are also on sale for $69. The silver high waist chinos with their own brown belt are on sale for $69 as well. Also check out the V neck sweater dress $159; the cami tops with grosgrain straps a la Prada are chic $149 and so are parkas. Cool. Buy the short cuffed shorts if you want to show off the legs $149; and the silver mesh cami because it’s handy under everything. $149. The silk chiffon shoe string dress with a wrap and toe belt is very evening and very chic $159. The spot velvet and chiffon tunic top is great $150. I see the dark grey Prada ish staples dress is on sale now for $99; a fab buy. In accessories check out the quilted Stam bag a la marc Jacobs $229; the big oversized grey bags and the flats.. I see too many pointy toe shoes. Perhaps they are selling well but I don’t understand.

Business Class
Country Road
Great pieces for a classic but still groovy look. Check out the grey ruched waist jersey skirt $149 that will be flattering cut on people with, um, thighs) and the cute little blue, grey or black jersey short dresses with balloon sleeves and a round neck. Wear it as a dress if you have the legs, wear it as a tunic if you don’t; $69. There are chic cotton cami tops in red and cream check print a la Marni which will razz up any sad wardrobe. Wear it with a belt or loose if you have eaten a big lunch, or you are 6 months pregnant. Try the black silk trapeze dress with cute short sleeves, wear with a poloneck sweater underneath if it ever gets cold (get to it Melbourne and Adelaide readers!) and black opaque hosiery. The black wool melton peacoat is great $299 and buy the long big chunky knit cardigan $179. If you are looking for great pieces for those weekends away when you want to look chic (it’s stunning but casual) head here: Check out the white with black stripe fisherman tops, very Petit Bateau $49 and the grey, blue or black zip velour hoodies are so cool - $89 with matching pants $59 if you must. Try the grey marle T shirts $34, the perfect seamless tank are fabulous in every colour $29 and the classic white T shirts $34. Buy the red scoop neck loose drape top $59, it will cover all lumps and bumps and liven up your daggiest black jacket. The accessories (as reported each week if you have been concentrating) are great: you want the Chloe esque grey bag; the Marni esque cream belt, the long gloves, the patent wedges and the wooden beads. Right on the money. Head here for lovely sleepwear. George Clooney will thank you for it.

Zomp Shoes
If you are looking for short booties this is the place - there are boots galore. Check out the patent ones by Sachi $189. Beware there are some that are a bit scary. Keep away from those slouchy short boots. Kate Moss is the only person who can get away with wearing them. Why? Because she is Kate Moss. Check out the silver metallic peep toe sling backs by Enrico Antinone $400; and the Robert Robert patent sling backs have a small heel which you could actually walk around in all day. What ever will they think of next? In red or black $180. Also check out the Urban Soul silver metallic ankle strap heels with a peep toe $150. Silver metallic heels are fabulous. You need them to add a little of the unexpected and lift that grey and black wardrobe. There are quite a few ballet flats here too for all sorts of prices and colours too.

David Lawrence
Head here for 20% off everything in store for Mother’s Day. it seems to be a bit groovier here this season. Check out the beautiful grey poloneck sweater dress $259 (wear it with leggings), the brown poloneck jersey tunic top $99 also in black and the round neck jersey dress $169. I see yellow. This is not good. Yellow will make an appearance for next season but please beware - it’s awful. Don’t ever go near it. Unless you are, of course, Kate Moss. Buy instead the cute brown tweed pinafore dress $259, the fabulous black sexy mama dress with huge black silk bell sleeves $299 and the belted jersey top with bell sleeves in brown or black $159. The black V neck dress with a V neckline and Kimono sleeves is fabulous; it has a slightly flared skirt and a belt so it skims over the lumps and its’ not too short $199. A winner. The marni inspired Opera coat is chic in a rose satin or a grey $299.

Sonya Hopkins
There are the most divine knits here. You want them all. Go for the cashmere (i think!). Zip hoodies in every colour, so chic $440 and the simple cardigans are the same price. Buy the round neck long sleeve sweaters in divine colours but go for choc brown and camel $440. Also here are the fabulous Ecletica bags, I love the open top totes with white stitching about $330.Gary Castles on Oxford Stt’s closing down and everything is on sale: Check out the Tods style flat loafers/ballet flats in creams and taupes about $150, the mesh heels with a peep toe now $179 and the peep toe heels with a wooden stacked heel are cool $159. There are a few other heels here so it’s worth heading here for a sneak.

Scanlan and Theodore
So much to choose from and so little time! (and space left on the credit card). Buy the dark grey heavy knit short short crop jacket (right under the boobs) $480, also in black or brown; the sensational rabbit fur cape $700 and the brown knit scoop neck top with big sleeves $380. Check out the chic little bell sleeve tops $320 in jersey, the beautiful navy leather sleeveless belted jacket with white piping - amazing $1200 and the satin trapeze scoop neck mini dress with big bell knit sleeves - divine $350.  Try the navy chiffon dress with a scoop neck, a bit 40’s with a self belt $400, and buy the perfect black pencil skirt . Why is it perfect? I has no tacky back split and it is just over the knee which is very next season Prada $350. Also there are divine skinny high waisted pants in a a pinstripe wool $400 and a fabulous Balenciaga style black satin short trapeze trench or is it a peacoat? I don’t know but who cares? It’s gorgeous. It also comes in plain black twill. How chic. The tunic mini dress with big ballon sleeves $400 in a knit are fabulous and so is the heavy jersey stapless mini dresses $500. There is a lot of navy here which looks fabulous with black .it’s very this season colour trend darlink. Go for the long fine knit tops about $140 in every colour and the capes in wool melton $450.

First Class
Belinda in William St
Sale! Head here for fabulous shoes but it looks like the bags are all gone. Sad but true. It’s all from 30% off. Check out the Sigerson Morrison fabulous silver beaded peep toe wedges now $555, the silver pumps now $315 and the groovy Marc by marc Jacobs black velvet lace up 20’s platform closed in shoes with a high heel now $455. The Miu Miu black patent sling backs heels are here and looking very groovy with a wooden platform and brass studs on the toe now $435 and buy the Miu Miu bronze glitter flats with jewel toe now $390. The short patent black boots are great. I see a lot of long boots but this season the look is not really about long boots any more. You can still wear them with a dress but I think we are over the tucked into jeans look, are we not? If you have to do boots do them with a short dress. Never under jeans or trousers. Ever. Thank you. Love the green velvet T bar platforms now $270 and there are some cute Abro bags on sale in choc, green, brown or black with lots of buckles. The Corner Shop is on sale too. I see a lot of Sass and Bide jeans. There is a lot of new season’s stock in as well such as Lover.

Belinda Double Bay Accessories Salon
Sale! There is up to 50% off here. Again a lot of the bags have gone but there are some fabulous shoes: Check out the Marni beige patent classic heels now $485, the Rochas bronze heels now $555 and the beautiful Marni patent purple crossover sandals now $450. A must buy. Also buy the Marni platform peep toe in a camel $455 and the Brunoi Frisoni black patent strappy heels $535. There are fabulous Pierre Hardy silver satin peep toe platforms with a green heel now $475 and amazing but very hard to wear Prada wooden black velvet jeweled platforms $555. Please buy the most gorgeous Marc Jacobs red cross over sandles with a cone heel now $590. There are alot of long boots here to choose from….

Attic
The new seasons stock has arrived. Check out the amazing Givenchy black patent open top slouch bag $3000, the Givenchy black simple pencil skirt $2100, the beautiful Givenchy black chiffon puff sleeve blouse $1700 and the amazing short sleeve silk pleat front dress $3900. Buy the Givenchy blue sleevelees knit wioth a drape front $995 and the gorgeous green chiffon batwing top $1700. Check out the Givenchy square neck top about $1800 and the gorgeous white shirt dress with a satin pleat cuff $2400. You want the Nina Ricci cream oversized voluminous jacket $4800 with rosettes and the Nina Ricci cream puff sleeve blouse $ 2100. The Marc Jacobs navy cardigan with bronze sequins is very groovy $965 and so is MCQ by Alexander McQueen silver leather bomber jacket $2400. MCQ jeans look cool $425 and so do the Missoni sport floral print T $700. Also check out the amazing beaded grey knit tops and cardigans by Sacal. Gorgeous. Also here are the groovy ballets. Lovely.

Belinda Double Bay
Sale! There is up to 50% off here too. Too much to write about but check out half a rack of Lanvin. Divine sheer tops, full skirts, and a fabulous dress. Also there is Missoni on sale, a lot of fabulous marni coats plus marni wallets and beads. Gorgeous. And much more…Have fun..

Braised Eggplant…from Gourmet Traveller
This is quite simply sensational. And Easy. Throw it all in a saucepan, cover and simmer for 40 minutes. Voila! Serve with salt and pepper Tofu, any chicken or lamb and stir fried bok choy. Keeps for days in the fridge.

For 4 people, 15 models, 8 fashionistas, 2 football players

You need:
½ cup vegetable or peanut oil
3 large eggplants
1 tab fresh ginger
5 large garlic cloves
1/3 cup light soy or any soy
2 tablespoons mirin or Shaoxing wine or a mix of both
2 tabs brown sugar or any sugar
1 cup water
1/2 tsp sesame oil
1 small red chillies for accessorizing

• Find a big saucepan with a lid
• Grab eggplants. Halve crossways then cut length ways into chunky pieces. Hint: don’t peel or try to cut into cubes because the eggplant almost melts.If the chunks are too small it will turn into mush. We don’t want mush.
• Chop the garlic into big chunks. Think the size of a Balenciaga wedge.
• Grate the ginger. Watch those nails and fingers. No blood please.
• Pour a wine.
• Heat oil in a saucepan.
• Toss in the eggplants and watch it soak up the oil as fast as your thighs do.
• Don’t worry but try and brown it before the oil disappears. Think a nice caramel Hermes bag colour.
• Now toss in the garlic and ginger and give it a good stir.
• Pour in the water, the mirin, the sugar, the soy and sesame oil.
• Smells divine.
• Let it come to a boil. Think Alec Baldwin.
• Then turn it down, pop on the lid and let it simmer for about 40 minutes. Think Paris Hilton.
• Don’t touch it or stir it. Just leave it to slowly melt and soften into deliciousness. Think George Clooney.
• Now pour another wine.
• Mark up all the clothes in The FiFi Report you have to buy.
• Whip up the salt and pepper tofu, lamb or chicken and stir fry bok choy.
• Chop up a few red chillies for chic red hot accessorizing.
• Divine

Half Nelson… Directed by Ryan Fleck
Based on: A sad story
Genre: Dramas, Drug Dealers, Friendships, Teachers, Students. Losers.
Who: Ryan Gosling, Shareeka Epps, Anthony Mackie, Tina Holmes
The Plot: America 2006. Young white guy is teacher at black school. Is depressed. Takes drugs. Cat dies. Takes drugs. Girlfriend marries someone else. Takes drugs. Parents get pissed. Takes drugs. Is paranoid. Takes drugs. Is lonely. Sniffs drugs. Befriends young black student. Gets discovered taking drugs. He gets more depressed. You get depressed. He takes more drugs. You need them after sitting through this. The end. Thank God.
Acting: Ryan Gosling was up for an Oscar for this performance. ‘An opportunity to marvel, once again, at the dazzling talent of Ryan Gosling ”Entertainment Weekly
Photography: Swaying hand held camera make you feel slightly sea sick.
Design: Grubby Suburban America. There is nothing pretty here. At all.
Wardrobe: Ditto
Salon de Beaute: They need it.
Botox: You want to drink it
Smokin’ smooches: You will insist on them when you get home
Waterproof Mascara: You will be crying over the waste of 1½ hours
Blood ’n’ Guts: Unfortunately blood n guts would improve the film
Mind drifted to shopping: In every scene. Why? To overcome the depression
Car chases: Yes. You racing home escaping the cinema
Rename It: Half cooked.
Movie Mistake #1: That the film was ever made.
Best Reviews:” the scalding talents of the moody, introspective young actor Ryan Gosling are sharply focused in Half Nelson, elevating an otherwise slight and depressingly offbeat film high above the realm of the ordinary with blast-furnace force.”New York Observer
Best Worst Reviews: “Mostly, we just watch the teacher get high, and his classroom talks about civil rights are nothing but filler." New York Post
“Looks to me like a self conscious film that thrives on its own negativity. Studied, anti-establishment, arthouse cinema that gloats over its moral superiority which is rather ironic” Urban Cinefile
“This is the usual waste of celluloid ” Greenwich Village Gazette
See it or donate to the Prada Bag fund? Buy the bag. In fact buy 2.
http://www.halfnelsonthefilm.com