There is nothing that makes me happier than having a bottle of French bubbly on the table. But ever since I came back from drying out in rehab I have been thrilled just to look at the divine Christian Lacroix bottle of Evian water on the table. So pretty! So chic! So charmant.
TIP: Drink up the water and when no one is looking fill it up with Gin.

$14.95 Lacroix for Evian from David Jones.

An ode to Valentino!

• “I never was a person who showed off my private life very much, and all of a sudden they were there filming. Sometimes I didn’t even know they were behind my shoulders.” Valentino about being filmed for the documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor.
• “He’s very used to being on camera actually. Valentino is kind of a movie star. He plays himself all the time, he’s never not on. So I don’t think he was playing to the camera, because, for Valentino, walking out the door is performing” Director Matt Tyrnauer .
• ” I am extremely happy to have quit from fashion. All of the designers are doing the eighties. I hate the eighties. I did it, and I hate it. When I go to see my dresses of the eighties, I vomit.” Valentino.
• “Compared to us, the rest are making rags.” Karl Lagerfeld tells Valentino after his show. And Vomiting.
• “I’m calling it the greatest pug movie of all time,” jokes the Film maker of Valentino’s dogs
• “There’s a scene in the movie where they’re making a $100,000 dress, and the pug walks out from underneath the dress, so yeah, they kind of got in the way” Director Matt Tyrnauer
• “They’re really not nice to everybody.” Model Karolina Kurkova about the pugs.
• “kind of mean,” agrees Gwyneth Paltrow. Dogs
• “It’s one explosion after the other.He loves the drama. There are divo moments and there are tantrums, and a lot of them are directed at the camera” Matt Tyrnauer in style.com
• ‘‘I cannot judge the movie. But we are not worried that sometimes we look a bit ridiculous or a bit extravagant. We are what we are.’’ Valentino
• “He pulled a Valentino. it’s sort of like a cross between a hurricane and a cyclone.” Matt Tyrnauer to WWD

What: A Sequin tank
Which: Sparkles, shine and sequins were all over the runways at the recent Fall Winter shows. From Balmain and Nina Ricci in Paris to Derek Lam in New York it was one of hottest trends of the new season. Why wait til next winter when you can pick up on the trend right now? You want a tank or a tee that has sequins or shine. It should be white, metallic, bronze or black. You might want to do a jewel colour like purple. It should have a casual shape to give a low key edge to the extravagant fabric.
Why:Because a little sparkle will update all your old basics. Because it’s a great way to interpret the rock chic 80’s look without looking like Boy George.Because all those blazers need a little shine to sex up the look. Because we love investing in anything trans-seasonal. Wear it in summer and winter: talk about dollar per wear ! Because this piece is not ageist. If 50 year old Carine Roitfeld can rock the look so can you.
Wear: I like a sequin top best with trousers : it dresses down the glitz and gives it a little insouciance. This is not about evening wear. This is about wearing sparkle in the day. Wear with your skinny leg pants and power shoulder jackets. With your baggy boyfriend jeans over a simple white Tee. Wear with short denim shorts or with your new peg leg pants. And ditch the jewels. You are not Dolly Parton.
Where: Head to Witchery, Sportsgirl, Portmans, Scanlan and Theodore, Donna Karan in Myer or Lanvin in David Jones.

You are running late…

• You forgot to get up an hour earlier so you could buckle up your new Rodarte Gladiator heels.
• Your new baggy boyfriend jeans are too tight.
• You get stuck in the doorway in your new peak shoulder Balmain jacket.
• Your legs are so hairy you could plait them.
• Your hair is looking frankly skanky.
• You need the KMS California dry shampoo. It’s a spray that seems to absorb excess oil. They say “it increases hair volume and builds bulk. It enhances the overall texture of hair leaving it refreshed and clean”. I say it is a miracle worker and leaves my hair refreshed (but I wouldn’t say Clean?!). I say it’s best to go outside to spray it on otherwise your lungs maybe refreshed too. When you have sprayed it on brush it out. Your hair will look like it can make another day. Then run out the door. You can put your makeup on in the car.
  Tip: Do not apply to the plaits on your legs.

$33 KMS California Hairplay Makeover Spray from Salons, Price Attack, 1800 506 060.

• Claudia Schiffer is on the cover of April UK Vogue: Watch the Editor Video Here
• Beyonce is on the cover of April US Vogue: Read the story here at style.com
• Scarlett Johansson is on the cover of April French Vogue
• Drew Barrymore is on the cover of W magazine and talks about her new movie ‘Grey Gardens’
• It’s a great idea: Ask blogger/street photographer Tommy Ton (from JakandJil) to shoot the campaign for luxury retailer Lane Crawford . See the shots here. He is also blogging on the Lane Crawford website and posting more of his fabulous shots from all the Fashion week capitals. Love it.
• It was predicted and now it’s official Olivier Theyskens has left Nina Ricci.
• “In a rare interview, Mick Jagger’s leading lady L’Wren Scott talks to The Daily Beast about how she went from towering fashion model to top celebrity stylist to one of Hollywood’s favorite designers. Love it !
• Marc Jacobs-Lorenzo is engaged to his boyfriend..
• Time magazine’s Style and Design issue is out and the black model Arlenis is on the cover. And we love the fashion week blog from editor Kate Betts
• “I don’t believe in looking back — I don’t want to revisit the 1980s,” said designer Azzedine Alaïa, whose private show in Paris was a delight..Reports Suzy Menkes for The International Tribune. Divine.
• “A person’s use of counterfeit merchandise may influence other moral behavior in his or her life, according to an article in the New York Times. Read about The Psychology of Dishonesty and Counterfeits.
• Zac Efron is on the cover of Interview magazine? Kissing a girl.What the? The photos look very Herb Ritts.
• “Matt Tyrnauer’s Valentino: The Last Emperor, the documentary featuring the aforementioned regal designer, screened at MoMA. But the deities—Madonna, Martha Stewart, Blythe Danne and Gwyneth Paltrow, Ann Hathaway and Claire Danes—descended afterwards on the Plaza for a private dinner “.Check out all the glam celeb photos from Interview here
• We love the new ad for YSL’s Elle perfume…

CNN Revealed: Carine Roitfeld
It’s a must see! Watch 3 fascinating episodes of CNN’s Revealed following French Vogue editor in chief Carine Roitfeld. She says she is not going to American Vogue “I’m very happy at French Vogue to be able to do everything — almost everything — I want in the magazine. It would be too political at American Vogue for me. And I’m not sure I’m talking enough good English to work there.”. While you are there check out the lovely slide show from her personal album as well.

Prettygreen.com
‘Pretty Green is an up-front, straight talking, classic clothing range owned, founded and designed by Liam Gallagher. “Clothes and music are my passion. I’m not here to rip anyone off and I’m not doing it for the money either. I’m not into the skinny look — these skinny things. That’s what I’m here for — to f**king get rid of that shit.” Charming.

• “Posh Spice Swallows Pea in Dinner Drama! Anyone who knows Victoria Beckham, knows that she never eats solids. We’re still trying to find out what happened. Maybe it was a suicide attempt because she hasn’t eaten solid food for twenty years now and she must have known what would happen after eating the pea,” a close friend of the ‘talented’ pop star told MTV news. “Says thedailysquib
• Is Bruce Willis ready to walk down the aisle again? the actor and his girlfriend, model Emma Heming, are planning an intimate wedding in Turks & Caicos. So intimate we already know about it.
• Joaquin Phoenix’s new career in hip-hop is still not happening. For a reason.
• Rihanna and Chris Brown are taking time apart. While she puts her face back together.
• “Lindsay Lohan’s warrant has been dismissed after her lawyer provided a judge with proof the actress is enrolled in alcohol education classes. Well, now that that’s out of the way; Hollywood, you’re free to pursue Lindsay Lohan for acting work again. Let the offers begin! - - Don’t hold back. Just fire away.Anyone? ” says the superficial.
• Lady GaGa is an inspiration to young girls everywhere…
• “Here’s a shocking bit of news that I’m surprised you didn’t read on Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Turns out Michael Jackson has alot of sculpted statues of little boys in his Neverland Mansion. They were discovered in a list of items currently being auctioned off Whoops”..says thesuperficial
• “A Coma Man demands to go back to Sleep! He says” I just woke up from a long term coma to see that the president is black, Michael Jackson is white and Arnold Schwarzenegger is the governor of California. I even read that Hillary Clinton is Secretary of State?” the agitated man told the LA Times” Reports dailysquib.
• Are Reese and Jake engaged?
• Kanye West got busted by the police after he smashed a camera belonging to a paparazzo who was trying to film him. Does he want to be famous or not ?
• Guy Ritchie is dating Elle Macpherson. Is he tall enough?
• Natasha Richardson has died after suffering head injuries from a fall on a Canadian ski slope Monday. She was 45. Bless

The Thoughtful Dresser…By Linda Grant

‘A good handbag makes the outfit. Only the rich can afford cheap shoes. The only thing worse than being skint is looking as if you’re skint.’ For centuries, an interest in clothes has been dismissed as the trivial pursuit of vain empty-headed women. Yet, clothes matter, whether you are interested in fashion or not because what we choose to dress ourselves in defines our identity. For the immigrant arriving in a new country to the teenager who needs to be part of the fashion pack or the woman turning forty who must reassess her wardrobe, the truth is that how we look and what we wear, tells a story. And what a story. THE THOUGHTFUL DRESSER tells us how a woman’s hat saved her life in Nazi Germany, looks at the role of department stores in giving women a public place outside the home, savours the sheer joy of finding the right dress. Here is the thinking woman’s guide to our relationship with what we wear: why we want to look our best and why it matters.’.

$16 Amazon Publisher: Virago Press Ltd (March 5, 2009)

Economy:
Nine West:
There are always some great buys here : Nine West work with the northern Hemisphere trends and seem to get the latest looks first:
Best buys include:
• The rather fabulous black or stone soft leather long, flat boots with a round toe. They have 3 silver buckles at the top which add a bit of Je ne sais quoi. For those that don’t speak French don’t worry: All you need to know is that they should be comfortable. Long flat boots look best with a flippy skirt or a sweater dress. You have to be a model to get away with anything narrow like a pencil skirt with flat shoes. Keep up the volume with a skirt. You can tuck your jeans into these boots. That is allowed. Wearing boots under jeans is a felony and you should be deported. $349
• Love the black suede short ankle, lace up, shoe boots with a round toe. These are a great buy for winter. You will love them with sexy flirty skirts, a vintage dress, shorts, and cropped harem pants. You will. I just know it. $179
• Buy the grey suede, short ankle boots with a round toe and subtle zip at the side $209. They are also in plain black leather and look expensive. You know the short ankle boot is the look of the season? You do because I told you about 2 years ago so you should have a wardrobe full of them.
• Check out the very groovy lace up, round toe flat boots in caramel leather with fringing. I know. Very Pocahontas but I like them.,. Very Fashion too. Plus if you are going to wear flat boots you need something going on like fringing. Just don’t wear with feathers or a headband. $349
• There are some seriously sexy purple suede, peep toe, lace up, almost shoe boots with a stiletto heel. Yum. They have a patent mini platform in black. Snazzy. Wear with the black opaques to cover any Mars Bars on the knees. You probably need to wear these sitting down. If you get my point $159
• Love the very high, black suede heels with a double ankle strap and a round toe. In fact two round toes. On separate shoes of course. $159. You don’t have to wear these you could buy them and look at them. Wear with everything. I can’t think what they wouldn’t work with. You should hire them on the spot and give them dictation.
• Check out the black peep toe shoe boots with a cone heel Now on sale $139

French Connection:
Love this store: there are so many great pieces that are cool. That are not too young and impossible to wear.
Best buys include:
• The black sleeveless silk tank that has an interesting edge like squished and squashed flowers which give it a ruffle around the neckline and sleeves. $89. Wear now with your favourite boyfriend jeans. This means your favourite jeans not boyfriend. Love this top as well with grey peg leg pants. Then later in the cold weather toss it under a blazer or a long line cardigan. Or leather jacket. Go for anything trans seasonal. Who has a summer or winter wardrobe anymore? (answer: Princess Mary Of Denmark)
• Buy the very chic peacoat in a light grey wool. $259. It has black buttons and is short and fitted. Love this with a flirty circle skirt or voluminous pants. If you have a voluminous bottom and not so big top then you need this. And to put down that cream puff. Sorry.
• Love the navy twill military style jacket with brass buttons: We saw the military look everywhere at the shows. Rule: don’t wear this with any jewellery. The buttons are enough. Eye Eye captain. $349
• Check out the silver gunmetal denim mini skirt $129. So cool. Boo Hoo I would LOVE to wear this. If you have the legs then this will be fabulous with a short shrunken blazer and a sequin tank.
• Buy the textured black shiny leggings $89. French Connection are showing them back with an oversized grey knit to cover the saggy baggy bottom bits. Very 80’s. Or wear with a sharp shouldered jacket then find a step ladder and climb into your new Nina Ricci boots.
• You want the tight crop faded denim jackets. Yes, so eighties too. $129. If you can remember the 80’s then the tip is to wear this with something very ladylike and chic. Or you might look like Cyndi Lauper. Now.
• You could wear the denim jacket with the classic light grey crop wool flannel pants with a cuff. $199. And those monster heels or short ankle boots.

Veronica Maine:
Always very chic and very Marni inspired …perfect for the office.
Best buys include:
• The long, light grey knit, sleeveless vest which has its own knit belt. We love a vest to take us through to the cooler months. Wear this over a tee and with a flirty skirt to sex it up. $119
• The grey sheath dress, narrow and very fitted, it has a higher neckline and belted. it’s very Roland Mouret or Vicky B( that’s POSH to you ). The narrow slim fitted shape is the new silhouette. Sorry. Put down that almond croissant.$215
• You will love the dark blue denim jeans with a wide leg. Think of them as your new black pants. They have black stitching so they are understated and awfully chic. I bet they are stretchy too. $129
• Check out the very inspired Marni navy silk print top with white square splats. It’s sleeveless with a frill along the neckline. Keep the print on the top of the body I say. Ditch the print skirt. Who wants to draw attention to anything below your waist? And if you do (want to show your legs ) you won’t be wearing a knee length print skirt. $149
• Love the black silk twill ( ?) blazer with soft puff shoulders ( with long sleeves): it’s very tailored, single breasted and the fabric is divine $315.
• There is chic little silk sleeveless tank top with pleats along the collar in a green print $239. Nice.
• You want the blush nude silk multi pleat grosgrain ribbon top. Why? Because you can wear that right now while it’s warm and sunny. And don’t you just love to get home and wear what you bought straight away? $199.

Business Class
Scanlan and Theodore:
Love, love, love. Whatever your look, whether it’s minimalist black or haute hippy florals it’s here and all divine : what to choose?
Best buys include:
• Love the burgundy patent short belted trench. This is pretty cool but so nice to see it in a great colour. Do a YSL and wear with red and pink and orange. $500
• Love the simple black lace guipure, sleeveless shift dress. it’s a narrow cut and entirely lace and quite fabulous. Wear now with your heels.Then when it gets cool later under a trench or a leather bomber. You could even layer this over a sheer black Tee. $900
• You want the grey wool twill double breasted fitted blazer $$….Oh so French. This sharp look was all over the runways for next winter. Wear with your skinny black pants.
• Buy the prettiest chiffon poets sleeve blouse in white or blush with pleat detailing. We all need a blouse. They love going out with jeans and heels. They love going out with shorts. They love going out for a little Gin and Tonic. No ice.$450
• You want the navy high neck simple long sleeve knit . It’s fine knit so just perfect to wear under all those Balmain jackets $350
• Love the sheer chiffon dress with a printed blossom print on a white background. The Haute hippy look still rocks but remember to toughen it up with the right shoes and lots of jewels or you will look like a wimp. Sorry. $700
• Adore the very Alaia inspired heavy knit jersey collection: You want the very tailored cardigan jacket: it’s fitted to the waist with brass buttons and almost a peplum at the back $$. Also buy the skirt and the sleek dress if you don’t have a muffin bottom. If you do then put down the Donut.
• How could I resist the beige/stone double breasted trench with tortoiseshell buttons? $$. I can’t. I am FiFi and I am addicted to trench coats. Maybe I was a spy in another life?
• In the more classic styles you want the black asymmetrical bias twist cut sweater knit. It has a slashed across neckline and simple long sleeves $300. So beautiful.
• Also buy the poloneck sweaters…and much more…

AG Arthur Galan:
Gorgeous. Always fabulous quality and quirky cuts: You want it all.
Best picks include:
• The fabulous dark grey fur sleeveless vest; ooh la la I am in love. It’s worth flying to Tasmania just so you can wear this now. Love it. Fur is still a big trend, in fact it’s about to hit the high note. Or the tipping point. All I know is that it’s hit my tipping point. You can belt this in or wear it over jeans, a pretty skirt or your new YSL harem pants. The Fur vest was the cheap but chic of the week in The FiFi Report 2 weeks ago so go back and read up on why and how to wear it. About $399
• Love the black and grey paisley printed wool ¾ coat. Yes, it’s printed wool. Quite amazing fabric. It has a round collarless neckline. Very Tailored and fitted to the waist it does up with an hook and eye and almost has a peplum $799
• Love the black Lanvin inspired dress with a V neck and a silver zip all the down the front and short capped, batwing sleeves. Also in a beige caramel colour $499. Love a dress to keep wearing from now to next summer.
• Adore the divine black wool twill military princess coat : it’s very narrow and neat and a strict cut with black buttons off to one side. Most importantly it has gorgeous pleating all along the front and the back. Fabulous $699
• You want the pretty floral 40’s dress in a cream/green/orange/blue print. It has a drawstring waist which can be good for eating hamburgers with the Lot. And we love that it has big poets sleeves and fabric covered buttons $399. Good for the poetry reading.
• Love and adore the very Alaia inspired tweed tiered circle, flirty skirt in grey wool $$
• If you want serious office dressing this is the place to go for chic trousers and jackets…

Armani Jeans:
Love this collection: Understated, casual weekend wear and so chic. In Myer and David Jones
You want:
• The dark blue denim, single breasted, tailored blazer with 3 single breasted buttons $350. Also in white. Wear with peg legs. ( that means Pants not Rolf Harris.) or try back with a pencil skirt or a full skirt. This is a handy jacket. The denim means it will dress down all the serious boring black or brown in your wardrobe. And give it a new life. With mouth to mouth resuscitation.
• Love the Navy cotton peacoat with silver buttons also in black. It’s a bit longer so it should cover those bits that stick out. This is not too tailored and is the perfect weekend jacket $410.
• Buy the black and white cotton V neck cardigan: it’s short and neat so would work with flirty skirts or volume at the bottom. Or on your bottom.$229
• Buy the chic nylon anorak parka jacket with a silver zip, it’s a chic version to wear on weekends. Of course you can still wear that Prada look with pencil skirts and anoraks and heels. I think it’s still cool. I think we used to call it sporty Luxe. $410
• There is a fabulous choc brown suede jacket: it’s belted with a fur trim and it’s for cold weather weekends. Or if you go to the country. I’ve heard it’s very nice. $679
• You want the navy oversized chunky argyle polo neck knit with huge big sleeves  roll collar, so interesting. This is so big and over the top and delicious. And it’s not fattening either. $469.
• Buy the choc brown leather bomber jacket : so fabulous. Toss it over a black pencil skirt and you are Carine Roitfeld. Bonjour Ca va? $929

First Class:
Myer: In the international collections there is always something fabulous….
My picks are:
• In DKNY: You want the chic, very fitted black jacket with a Peter Pan collar, gold buttons and a peplum. It’s lovely $600. Also check out the very cool hippy paisley print dress with a shirred neckline $500.
• In Narciso Rodriquez there is fabulous black and white tweed dress with shoes string straps. Perfect $1900
• In Moschino Cheap but Chic there is the amazing painterly print coat with (it seems like) splotches of paint on it: pretty out there but a statement. $3000
• In Cacherel check out the blue navy cotton through coat with a monastic round neck, so simple and chic. $900
• In Victor and Rolf you must have the white cotton pleat front shirt with amazing cuffs with Victor and Rolf embroidered on the cuffs $1200.
• In Theory: Love the black leather fitted blazer $1400. A must buy. You will wear this all winter. And they are known for the cut of their pants so get in here and try them on.
• Love all the Tsesay Knits…gorgeous and great prices…
• There is also up to 75% off in the international designer’s summer collection….

Weekend Max Mara
Always great for beautiful quality and classic cuts: It’s Italian luxury at its best.
My best picks are:
• The pretty Tees and the most gorgeous easy knits in the such divine colours: Taupe, cream, blush from about $300
• Love the caramel wool melton coat that is belted and has chic pleat detailing. How can you live without a Max Mara coat? $1800
• Of course there is a stone trench and it’s fabulous. About $1200.
• Love the sexy and sheer black chiffon short sleeve drape blouse $$
• The chic de la chic A-line leather skirt is hot! It has 4 buttons at the top with wide pleats so it’s not too over the top sexy mama. $565
• Adore the black wool melton sleeveless straight and narrow shift dress, $935. Love the round neck and a sleek seriously fitted shape.So chic. Mais oui!

Tofu and Prawn Pad Thai
I found this recipe in the drawer cut out from the newspaper. Perfect for a warm Autumn night. You might want to add chilli or garlic to add more heat ….

You need for 2 starving men, 4 dieting girls or 33 models:

350g uncooked green prawns deviened and peeled
200g rice stick noodles
2 tabs fish sauce
3 tabs lime juice
1 tabs brown sugar
2 tabs peanut or olive oil
300g firm tofu
3 cups garlic chives (yes, it’s a lot but you need it)
1 red capsicum
1 red onion
1 cup bean sprouts
Serve with fresh coriander leaves, Lebanese cucumber cut into matchsticks
Sprinkled with chopped peanuts and lime wedges

• Toss on your favourite India Hick’s Caftan
• Climb off your Nina Ricci stilts
• Open the wine. Turn on Sex and City.
• Place the noodles in a large heatproof bowl.
• Cover with boiling water. Stand for 5-10 minutes.
• Loosen the noodles with a fork.
• Drain and rinse with cold water.
• Pour a big glass of wine. Drink.
• Chop up tofu into thick slices so it won’t fall apart when you fry it:don’t recoil in horror: it does look like cellulite.
• Chop up the capsicum into chic little thin sticks: think models leg
• Chop up the garlic chives into about 3 cm lengths. Think your legs will never be like that.
• Chop the onion into thin wedges. Give them a wedgie.
• Chop the peanuts for chic accessorizing later. On the food not your jacket.
• Squeeze the limes and save the juice (Otherwise what is the point?)
• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a wok and turn it up to medium-high heat.
• Gently lower in the tofu.
• Cook for about 5 minutes, turning it so that it’s golden as Valentino’s tan
• Transfer the tofu to a plate lined with paper towel to soak all the naughty oil.
• Now find a bowl and make the drizzle sauce by mixing the brown sugar with the fish sauce and lime juice.
• Throw down another wine and quickly turn off Sex and the City when George Clooney gets home.
• Heat the remaining oil and toss in the onion and stir fry for a minute or two.
• Then throw in the prawns and cook for about 2 minutes until you see they are cooked.
• Add the capsicum, garlic chives and bean sprouts and stir-fry for 60 seconds. You can time it.
• Then add the noodles, tofu and the sauces and toss .
• Accessorize with chic green coriander , sticks of cucumber and the crushed peanuts
• A little lime wedgie and chilli should be nice too.