• "I’m a huge fan of gays. They love me; I love them." -Tori Spelling, on being a gay icon.
• "I don’t care if people worship turtles or frogs. I think he (Tom Cruise) gets a raw deal, just as I think the orphans in Malawi get a raw deal." –Madonna. She loves gays too. And Tom Cruise loves her too.
• "I can’t wait for the story about how I’m really in a gay relationship and this is all just a cover."- Pete Wentz. With Tom Cruise? Prefers to kiss a Frog (or Ashlee Simpson).
• "I have always said that I would rather be a babysitter than a nursemaid." - Ivana Trump, 59, on marrying Rossano Rubicondi 24 years her junior. He got a raw deal.
• “I rely on nice photographers and a certain amount of retouching. I don’t mind if you want to make me a bit thinner and a bit younger." Liz Hurley worships herself.
• "There are no short cuts to being Madonna. It’s all about hard work. There is no easy way. If you want to know how I look like I do, it’s diet and exercise and constantly being careful." Madonna …And retouching…
• "Every time I download my holiday snaps I go over them," Liz Hurley… Worships herself.
• ”I am rich and famous. I have a talented and gorgeous husband and two beautiful children. I could go on” Please don’t. Madonna does not worship frogs.
• "Shooting bikinis is now my life, which as you can imagine is unmitigated hell," Liz Hurley. Raw deal.
• “I’m not going to slow down, get off this ride, stay home and get fat!” Tori Spelling did.

What : Long gloves (Burberry Fall 07/08).
Which: You want long gloves this season. Gloves that go right to the elbow. Gloves in red, black, brown or patent. Gloves with zips and hardware.
Why: Because it’s cold out there. because your 3/4 jacket ends at your elbow. Because you are wearing a short sleeve dress. becuase they look chic. Because you need a manicure. Badly. Because gloves are a great way to add Because when you wear gloves its very difficult to get your black Amex out of your wallet.
Wear: With your short sleeves hoody anorak, with your chic Burberry jacket with fluted puff sleeves. With a sleeveless sheeve dress. With a sweater pushed up. With jeans.
Where:
Economy: Sportsgirl red short leather gloves with blue trim $49, Target suede brown short gloves $19, Myer for Dents leather short gloves in all colours $79, Wittner long black gloves $99.
Business: Head to Country Road for black patent, taupe or orange long glove $129; to Cue for fabulous black gloves with a gold zip $149, Oroton for chocolate leather cashmere lined gloves $129, and Witchery or Saba have fabulous long gloves in black.
First: Go straight to the source: Burberry and Lanvin.

I was in Mecca Cosmetica when I got the emergency text message: “Help! Can you please get me some Velvet glove hand lotion? I am addicted to it and the divine smell of wild figs”. Now I am too. The Mecca Hand lotion is full of gorgeous things from Shea butter to Camomile and all sorts of delicious goodies. They say it “Delivers immediate moisture and nourishment and a lift-me-up-to-where-I-belong aroma, in a matt finish formula”. I say it is works wonders. And who cannot love a Mecca Must Have? “To step up to the hallowed ranks of Mecca Must Have this product has jumped hoops, sat exams, been trialed in the tropics, on the slopes, in the car, on the run and unequivocally demonstrated that it is a life improving wonder”. A must buy to wear under your gloves.

$35 Mecca Cosmetica Velvet Glove Hand Hydrator from Mecca Cosmetica.

• Love model Agyness Deyn? Check out the lates tissue of ID magazine totally devoted to her.
• It’s Agent Provocateur Video of Kate Moss
• The Bodyfrom Brazil Giselle Bundchen recently shot the Ebel jewellery latest adcampaign with Craig McDean at New York’s Pier 59 studio. Click here for Vogues exclusive behind the scenes.
• Karlie Kloss is Hot! see above. "Elite Model Management is suing fellow model agency Next for stealing away its young star Karlie Kloss by offering her "improper compensation" to sign. Nowadays it would seem that agencies have pale, lanky 15-year-old girls growing out of the floorboards, so what difference does it make if an agency loses one to a rival? The difference, in this case, is Kloss herself: A look back at her career’s mind-boggling blowup over such a short period of time explains why agents would fight tooth and nail over the girl’…reports nymag.
• "The religious fervor that surrounds Balenciaga each season is partially due to Sigrid de l’Epine’spious devotion (left). Although she has had a wide range of duties for theiconic label — even modeling, early on — these days de l’Epine servesas mother superior. "I am responsible for the patrimony of the house,”she explains. An invitation to her boss’s show is one of the mostcoveted in Paris. (Kanye West couldn’t get into the last one). But del’Epine can be downright secular when it comes to her own fashionchoices. "Style is more about who the person is inside,” she says. Herget-ups are "chic with a twist, somewhere between strong and relaxed.”Having worked at Balenciaga from the start of Nicolas Ghesquière’sreign, de l’Epine is a lifer. She even named her son Cristobal. Nowthat’s keeping the faith".reports fashionista.
• Nicolas Ghesquière is launching the first Balenciaga e-commerce site.Due to go live on May 15, the site is said to feature bags, scarves,shoes, sunglasses and jewellery. Plans are for the US only. WWD
• The Sex and The city Movie trailer on MySpace.
• Kate Moss on Spanish Vogue…left
• Fondazione Prada announced its most ambitious project to date, a new 18000 square-meter space set in an industrial complex on the outskirts of Milan that will take at least three years to complete. The area is set to be transformed into a site for multimedia events, installations for exhibitions, and to provide a series of secure vaults to house Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli’s overflowing art collections and archives. Style.com
• IT’S going to be one glittering affair at this year’s Cannes Film Festival when Chopard and Alberta Ferretti unveil their latest collaboration: a red carpet jewel encrusted gown in aid of the American Foundation for AIDS Research. To be worn at the amfAR gala on May 22 - though we don’t yet know by which very lucky lady - the dress will be revealed in all its glory at the Chopard gala dinner. Vogue.co.uk
• Star New York Ranger (ice hockey) and man-about-town Sean Avery isinterning at Vogue. Avery is a self-confessed clotheshorse who has hasexpressed a dream to become a fashion editor. He wrote a letter to AnnaWintour expressing his desire to work there. Avery will work with avariety of editors, including European editor at large Hamish Bowles.There’s also talk of him working at Men’s Vogue. WWD

• Juileanne Moore on the cover of French Vogue, Left. fabulous.
• Hello Kitty will appear in the June issue of Japanese Vogue wearing John Galliano for Dior. "Of course this is the first time the historic fashion house of Dior has had a cartoon character model their entire collection," said an official at Conde Nast Japan. WWD
• Having received an honorary degree from Heriot-Watt University in the Scottish Borders yesterday afternoon, Dame Vivienne Westwood has spoken out in praise of the institution. "I am very, very impressed by the facilities that they have here and I am sure there is no other college or university in the whole of the British Isles that can come anywhere near to this," she told the BBC. She has been made an honorary Doctor of Letters in recognition of her "outstanding achievements".Vogue.co.uk
• Checkout the site for the new York model agency ‘Women’ read about all the models. “Women Management was founded in New York in 1988. Over the past two decades Women has launched the careers of models such as Carmen Kass, Isabeli Fontana, Julia Stegner, Iselin Steiro, Natasha Poly, Kate Moss and Kylie Bax.
• When Anna Wintour says jump, JUMP! from Fashioista.. Caroline Trentini.
• Steven Meisel has just shot an entire issue of Vogue Italia with all black models, hoping that other issues of Vogue start to diversify their own portfolios. Apparently, all of the photo shoots have already happened, as model bookers at various agencies have been contacted and sourced for new, beautiful, not-white girls — and now they’re twittering about how cool the issue will be. No word on when the issue will hit stands or who’s on the cover (Jourdan Dunn? Chanel Iman?) from fashionista.
• Elle.com says Australians have style… www.elle.com

www.luxuryculture.com
An extravagant online magazine that tracks lavish lifestyles across the globe.

www.smashingtelly.com
"Smashing Telly is a hand edited collection of the best free, instantly available TV on the web. Not 30 second clips of a dog on a skateboard, or the millionth person to mime the Numa song, but classic clips and full length programs, with a focus on documentaries and non fiction. Smashing Television, not Gimmick Television."

• Ashlee Simpson is definitely pregnant!
• We love Gwyneth’s shoes…from Daily Mail.
• Kanye West and Alexis Phifer are dunzo.
• Kirsten Dunst is dating Ryan Gosling.
• Tamara Mellon and Christina Slater are dating (left).
• Vicky B celebrated her 34th Birthday.
• Jay Z and Beyonce are definitely married.
• Kate Hudson is back with Owen Wilson.
• Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes filled a rented Hollywood Hills home with$17,000 worth of fresh flowers and spent almost $5,000 on cakes fordaughter Suri’s second birthday bash on Saturday.
• Thealleged drunk driver who plowed her car into actress Sandra Bullock’scar has pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence..
• Olsens made the turban the "it" accessory of the season. Wittingly or unwittingly, Mary-Kate went for "it" headwear, round two, by wearing the attention-grabbing piece to the New Yorkers For Children Fool’s Fete gala. If it shows up on Ashley’s head then Turban status is cemented. Reports Nymag.

Playing With the Grown-ups: A Novel by Sophie Dahl (Author)
Reviews:
“In the beginning, this story is quirky and thoughtful, just what one would expect from the pen of a granddaughter of Roald Dahl, beloved author of startling children’s books. What’s more, it’s funny and moving, and worth devouring on its own as an Eccentric Mother Knows Best kind of tale.But this is no children’s story. Read far enough, and the pages darken with a kind of coming of age that is only slightly more palatable than, say, Augusten Burroughs’ in Running With Scissors.Playing With the Grown-ups grows beyond charming child’s play to a clear-eyed compassion for the world’s limitless store of tragic human comedy.” –Bookpage
“Sparkling, poignant, beautiful–I loved it” –Cecelia Ahern, author of PS, I Love You
$18 www.amazon.com Publisher: Nan A. Talese (April 8, 2008)

The Christmas List
Perfumes: The Guide by Luca Turin (Author), Tania Sanchez (Author)
The first book of its kind: a definitive guide to the world of perfume…
“While the authors embrace point systems and science, they also offer vivid, funny, evocative descriptions of the smells they write about…To enjoy Perfumes, you don’t need to know, or even to like, perfumes, such is the brio of Turin’s and Sanchez’s prose…This is fun to read – and a rare pleasure, too…The joy of Turin and Sanchez’s book, however, is their ability to write about smell in a way that manages to combine the science of the subject with the vocabulary of scent in witty, vivid descriptions of what these smells are like. Their work is, quite simply, ravishingly entertaining, and it passes the high test that their praise is even more compelling than their criticism…Its blend of technical knowledge and evocative writing is exemplary in the strict sense: people who write about smell and taste in any context should use it as an example.”
-The New Yorker
$19 www.amazon.com Publisher: Viking Adult (April 10, 2008)

FiFi’s Best Buy’s of the Week:

• Just Jeans vintage brown or black leather bomber jacket $199
• Wittner purple and black satin platforms with ankle strap $169
• Guess fabulous chocolate suede long pointy toe ruched boots $479
• Portmans long line V neck fine knit grey cardigan $89
• Portmans aviator sunglasses (Very Tom Ford) $29
• Portmans grey patent two handle tote $89
• Cue white taffeta shell top with a tulip hem and its own belt $219

Economy Fashion
Equip:
How clever are Equip this week? They win the cheap but chic award. Put on your sunglasses when you walk in. The bright light is scary. So are the bright colours and the odour of the, er, um quality pleather… But take pieces out of the store and into natural daylight surrounded by Prada and Marni and they look great. Start with the fabulous very Burberry style stud clutch bags $10 on sale. French Vogue is more expensive. So is lunch. So buy another one: the black clutch covered in clear jewels for $9 on sale. Excellent. Buy the black knit scarves with a few very subtle little silver studs on the end $19. Love the black floppy 70’s hat (think Carly Simon pictured left. Don’t know who she is? Ask your mum) $29 and the cute black jeweled elastic bracelets about $10. Check out the cute long rib socks and the hosiery. There are also some fab long pendants chains with black jet jewels dingling on the end about $29.
Esprit:
Its seems Esprit has also had a shot in the arm and also getting a little more fashion. Great news. If you want great basics and great prices this is the place. Best buys are: the grey tweed cuffed shorts $69; for those with skinny, long, sexy legs. That counts me out. Shorts are a big story for next summer and these will look great with black opaques and heels and a cute biker jacket. If you don’t have such legs wipe away the tears, put away that almond croissant and deep fried mars bar and buy the black and white tweed pants $119 (simular to the Proenza Schouler pant pictured). A good slouchy shape and a great alternative to boring black. There is also a chic crop double breasted peacoat style jacket in the same fabric. Chic $149. Throw that over everything. Wear to work. On weekends. Sitting in the car stalking your old boyfriend. (If you get caught at least you wil look chic.). Buy the cream cotton poloneck sweater $79. In black too. Love the chic brown stripe scoop neck sweater $89. Great under a blazer. I am not so keen on the scoop neck so turn it around and wear it back to front. I do that all the time. That scoop neck is so fugly. I am banning them. You want the trench coats in black or stone $169.. I have told you to buy them since 2002. and you will obey. And thank me. Remember it doesn’t have to be raining to wear a trench. Repeat after me…If you are after some casual stone chinos head here for pants with their very own scarf belt $79. The red stripe hoodie is a lovely number for weekends $89. You want the blck wool peacoat. A winter essential. I love it. A little military and so very French. Mais oui. Almost Balenciaga about $180. Love the bags. The oversized patent totes in red, Marni brown and black with black hardware means you can wear with silver or gold and you won’t fret. But who would fret when they pay $89 for a bag? You black Amex will jump out of the Birkin it will be so happy. .
Witchery:
Has Witchery got a new designer? It seems to have more of a fashion edge this season: And we love that. Best buys? We adore the fake fur chubby (Fendi pictured). A must buy. You want this. You will feel glamourous. You will feel chic. You can wear with jeans, with a skirt, over an evening dress. Over your PJ’s eating icecream on the couch watching a rom com. For $249 you can’t go past this little beauty. You want the cute silver shimmer tank with a few smattering of clear jewels across the front $149. Wear with a chic long, wrap cardigan to dress it down. Forget about wearing jewellery with this top. Or you will look cheap. That’s right cheap. Not chic. We can’t have that. Love the black pinstripe school boy blazer. It’s all about tailoring this season and for the next 3 years. So get into the trend right now. (Remember you said au revoir to the tunic top last week?). This is a great blazer and will work over a simple crisp white shirt with double cuffs or over a slogan tee. Or just do the whole Balenciaga thing and wear with chinos and a stripe belt. Oh and add serious punked up, tough platform shoes so you add a modern edge to the very preppy jacket. You don’t want to look preppy. Buy the purple and brass necklace on a ribbon $79. Very Lanvin; the dark denim jeans with no visible stitching about $99 and the brown art deco Marc Jacobs clutch $169. It’s fabulous and a FiFi Report item du jour. There is also a chic, black sequin lonbg tank with a black ribbon tie on the neckline. It’s a looser shape so it’s not a tight sequin, clingy look. That would be too Spice girls. Too Vegas. Keep sequins low key. This little top is very handy. Perfect for dinner when you want to look a little dressed but not over the top. Great with chinos, with jeans and heels. Throw a peacoat or a chic long cardigan over it.
Aldo:
Do you know about Aldo? They are a Canadian company just opening in Australia. Excellent fashion shoes inspired by all the designers straight from the runway at great prices. I am always using them for my FiFi Style sessions. You want the very Lanvin style platform pointy toe heels in red, in black or any other colour about $129. Buy the very Prada style ombre (shaded) brown and black patent sling back peep toe heels $129. Love the cute flats in bronze $119 and the bags. You will a lot of fab bags here in red patent, black patent and very Prada and Burberry inspired. www.aldoshoes.com
Business Class
Country Road:
So many great pieces here. They have nailed the season. Blacks, greys with a shots of colour and a little glitter in the tops. There are oversized chunky weekend knits galore. My picks? Start with purple silk sleeveless tunic top $99. Ideal for under jackets when you need colour. Buy the black wet look trench even if it is uncomfortable. Darling it’s about what you look like. Not about how you feel. Who cares if you can’t move your arms. Better to stop eating. $249 Love and adore and can’t live without the black military double breasted belted coat with epaulettes. It’s all you need. $399. Wear with everything you own. And everything you don’t. Buy the skirts there are two: an A line high waist black skirt that is a little shorter with side hidden pockets $149, a fabulous cut. You will look 5 kilos lighter just by putting it on. (cover legs in opaques). Or buy the short 4 button dobel breasted mini in black. It’s a little nmore interesting than just plain$149. In knits I love the cape/shrug in a chunky knit. You can belt it in or just luxuriate in the blanket like coverage. You can hide your shopping bags under there to sneak in when you get home. $129. Other picks? The short black shiny puffa jacket $199: wear with heels and a sxy sirt or over a dress. Not for bird watching weekends or bush walking. Unless you like those things. Bless. In accessories Buy the orange fingerless knit gloves (Burberry pictured), the cream oversized knit scarf $129; the flat black riding boots ( almost sold out,), the necklaces and the black patent clutch.
Veronika Maine:
There are many Marni inspired pieces here. My advice here? These clothes have no hanger appeal and you will look and then walk. But No! Stay. Try on. Be surprised. Best picks? Love, love the orange fine knit round neck sweater $129; it has a cute little gathering on the shoulder. Wear under the black, the grey or with red. Wear it with a print skirt. Buy the black shift dress, perfect in its simplicity. $199. For a bit of tweed check out the single breasted grey/black knee length coat $275 or the chic black wool princess coat. A Winter essential $375. Also I must have the black full 50’s style skirt with a very subtle shimmer. It’s fabulous. You will feel very SJP in SATC (that’s Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and The City …Dumb Dumb). Wear with tough platform heels, with a cinched blazer, with a biker jacket. Remember mix up fabrics. Mix masculine with feminine and all will be right with world. I am sure it will have an effect on climate change too. There are some great grey /black tweed pants too $169. Head here for fab belts: wide or skinny patent in great colours about $75.
David Lawrence:
I spy some good, classics pieces here this week. The best buys? Knits; they are always great here. I particularly like the black/grey /cream fine knit ombre round neck sweater $179. It’s almost like a Prada bag. You can wear it over a white shirt or back with all your basic black skirts and tops that are crying, sobbing, begging to go with something exciting. The rib black knit poncho is a must buy too. Love the single breasted stone or black trench coats. (Insert FiFi trench advice here. You know it off by heart now. If you don’t please keep reading The FiFi Report). The black cords are a great cut and a little high waisted $149. This is good news. They will suck in all that peanut butter toast from last week. You want the crew neck knits in lots of fabulous colours about $99 and the very Miu Miu esque ruched black shoulder bag $199 that is now on sale.
First Class
Evelyn Miles:
There is a new shipment of new labels just arrived. From Costume National to Anya Hindmarsh to Veronique Branquino’s new collection of shoes it’s all here to make you laugh, smile and pray and pay for more Botox. Let’s start with the new Marc Jacobs: Love the black patent sling back sandals with a chunky heel. Almost classic you can wear these with black opaques $698; and the black suede heels are cute with a cream kitten heel $898. Also check the flesh patent heels, the ballet flats and the heels with a black bobble detail on the toe. Snazzy.
In Veronique Branquino: Love the silver gladiator heels $898 and the silver and bronze snakeskin double strap wedges $698.
Anya Hindmarsh has now designed a shoe collection; if I didn’t know that then I know you surely didn’t. She is going from strength to strength. Check out the silver sling backs with a jewel toe in flat or heels from about $700.
In Miu Miu check out the outrageous hot pink bag. Not easy to wear but if you want to make a statement. There is also a cream two handle tote about $1800; and a fab cream patchwork tote with gold hardware about $2000.
In Costume National there are black patent cone heels $598; cross over straps with a chunky heel $748 and amazing heeled gladiator sandles $698. Yes please! The cream shoe boots with a cone heels , are very Chloe and very next season and you want them too $698.
Ralph Lauren:
I must say it’s so Princess Di 1985 here that you have to wonder who actually buys the argyle sweaters and frilly shirts. But if you keep searching you shall find a few good pieces here. Check out the brown velvet double breasted blazer $1600. Velvet is a big trend for next winter so this is a great buy. But you have to wear it with something a bit kooky and edgy to razz it up. The navy cable knit sweater is perfect for weekends $499; and so is the chunky cream knit sweater $799. I spy very Balenciaga style jodpurs in brown with buttons along the leg. The grey cable sweater is a meant for you $229. Best buys? The chic de la chic navy knit tee $229. Simple with cap sleeves and round neck it’s a wardrobe staple; and the grey flannel classic pants with a cuff are just gorgeous $499. Camilla eat your heart out.
Max Mara Weekend:
A great place for fabulous classics and great quality. Checkout the black cap sleeve dress; it has a sweet heart neckline and is waisted (not wasted. No partying in Max mara) $720. There is a divine black sequin knit tank $520. Also in cream. Chic and a little more interesting than a simple black top. Buy the Sportmax black belted wool coat $1100; and the grey boiled wool short jacket with hidden buttons $920. Love the stripe poloneck knit $510 and the dark grey vintage style leather blazer $1035. The black or stone trench coats are gorgeous and very Burberry with gold buttons: you will live in this coat $1255. The choc brown or grey cashmere weekend poloneck sweater is so soft you could curl up and sleep for hours $540. Buy the black wool melton peacoat with a scalloped almost ruffle hem; fabulous $890 and the beautiful simple and luxurious long black over sized cardigan $875. Wear over a sheath dress and with heels, wear with jeans, to work over a skirt, with a floral dress. The cable knit cream shrug is perfect for relaxing by the fire $380 and so is the oatmeal sweater $380. Buy the divine black puffa coat , very Burberry style with its own belt which has a big gold buckle that will cinch in your waist so you are not doing a Michelin man imitation $1465. Also don’t leave without drooling over the grey short puffa with a fur trim hood $2225.

Beetroot, lentil and spinach salad with fetta.

The perfect Autumn dish. All these ingredients are in season. It’s all you want to eat . Serve with lamb or chicken or just with crunchy bread…



You need for 4 hungry fashionista, 50 models, 3 metrosexuals:

4 to 6 small baby beetroots
1 or more tablespoons olive oil
400g lentils cooked and drained
1 bunch basil
1 bunch of rocket or baby spinach leaves
about 150g goat’s cheese,
about 1⁄2 cup walnuts

• Preheat oven to 200°C.
• Remove cream cashmere sweater.
• Remove cream Chloe skirt.
• If alone throw on old black track pants and top, Birkenstocks.
• If with George Clooney throw on chic little black dress and heels.
• Pour wine.
• Say goodbye to your manicure.
• Pop on gloves. Plastic washing up; not Burberry elbow length.
• Scrub beetroot and trim them too.
• Rub beetroot dye onto lips and cheeks when George not looking.
• Throw beetroot in a roasting pan and drizzle with oil. Season with sel et poivre.
• Roast for 1 hour, until tender and cooked. Cool. As in let it cool. Not as in groovy.
• Pour more wine and read about Madonna in Vanity Fair.
• You can also take off plastic gloves too.
• Cook lentils and then drain.
• Chop up beetroot.
• Tear basil.
• Roughly chop walnuts. They love it.
• Make a Vinaigrette.
• Find a chic white platter
• Throw on a bunch of rocket, basil, the lentils and walnuts and sprinkle on the goats cheese.
• Drizzle dressing over salad.
• Serve with lamb, chicken and George Clooney on toast (Delicious).