SalesSalesSalesSalesSalesSalesSalesSalesSalesSales

Hermes
Sydney:
Thursday 18 June - Thursday 25 June 2009
135 Elizabeth Street , Sydney 02 9287 3200
Melbourne:
Wednesday 22 July - Thursday 30 July 2009
(Excluding Sunday 26 July boutique closed)
115-119 Collins Street, Melbourne 03 9654 5571

Bally
Up to 50% off at Bally stores nationally
1800 78 1851 or experience.bally.com.

Burberry
Get 30 per cent off selected items.
129 King St, Sydney
Crown Entertainment Complex, Melbourne

Paul & Joe
Up to 75% off current season stock and one-off samples.
Wednesday 17th June, 2009 until Saturday 20th June, 2009.
212 Oxford Street, Paddington

Frockaholics.com is now on sale. Up to 50% off current season stock from labels including Alex Perry, Willow, Trelise Cooper, Thurley, Bettina Liano and lots lots lots more.

What: Track Pants

Which: You want dressed up track pants now. They are hot-de-la hot. All over the runways in next season’s Resort collections. You want them in a dark grey or in a soft grey marle. Keep away from colours. Of course. Black is an option but grey is best because otherwise they will look a little like harem pants. They should taper down to a narrowness at the ankle. They are not the same as wide leg track pants. (They are for wearing tonight eating Tuna Basil pasta.)

Why: Because the sporty luxe look is making a comeback. Because sporty always looks modern. Because harem pants have now morphed into the track pants. Because they are cool. Because I first saw the look on Garance Doré’s blog and I Ioved it. Because there is something about French laid back chic that always looks right. Because they are as comfortable as trackie daks.

Wear: With your monster killer heels. Of course. Or you will look like you are about to do jogging. Wear with a blazer to pull the look together. To give it an edge. Wear with short jackets or a blouson. A black leather bomber is cool too. Do not wear with a dressing gown or with ugg boots.

Where: Head to Cotton On, Kmart, Target, Sportsgirl, Witchery.

Reasons to flutter fabulously long eyelashes:

• The lovely man in Prada is about to pull out the scissors and cut up your black Amex.
• The lovely man at Qantas check-in doesn’t understand that your Hermes blanket refuses to sit in cattle class.
• You spilled red wine on your best friend’s pale cream Chanel 2.55 bag.
• You fell off your Balenciaga ankle boots and the ambulance driver is threatening to take them away.
• You have applied the fabulous ModelCo Fiber Lash mascara. It’s amazing. You get the look of false eyelashes but with mascara. They say “the unique, new technology nylon fibers give high-impact length, whilst Bees Wax and Carnauba Wax help keep lashes soft and nourished.” I say it’s fabulous and your lashes are long, long, long. You will have amazing eyelashes that are “smudge and tear proof” which can only mean one thing: when you start crying in Prada you will still look fabulous.

$48.00 ModelCo Fiber Lash Mascara.

• Emma Watson is the new face of Burberry: she looks gorgeous and the trench coats are divine.
• “Fashion has been waiting for some good news, and Phoebe Philo is here to deliver it. One look at the designer’s confident, spot-on debut collection for Celine and it’s clear how much we’ve missed her.” Reports Style.com.
• Then checkout all the resort collections including Prada and YSL.
• “French billionaire Francois Pinault has dramatically extended his Venetian empire of contemporary art this week, and given the city a new museum. Pinault’s foundation has taken over one of the most prominent buildings in Venice: the old customs house, or Punta della Dogana.  An inaugural exhibition entitled “Mapping the Studio: Artists from the Francois Pinault Collection” is currently on, both at the huge Palazzo Grassi on the Grand Canal and at the new space in the Punta della Dogana. There, architect Tadao Ando has transformed the 17th-century customs building, long derelict and inaccessible, into a cool 21st-century gallery space of the kind seen in New York’s SoHo or London’s Hoxton areas.” Reports Bloomberg.
• To mark six years of collaboration and the release of the Multicolor Spring Palette, Louis Vuitton and Takashi Murakami have just released a colorful animated short film, “Superflat First Love,” as a sequel to Murakami’s “Superflat Monogram” short from 2003. Reports Fashionologie, see it here.
• “The nightlife scene of early 80s New York was a playground for club kids and jet setters alike and this month Steven Meisel recreates the fun for Vogue Italia.” Reports Models.com.
• “The turmoil for Peter Brant continues, in both his personal and professional lives. While Brant was in Europe last week, one of his bodyguards was arrested for shoving Brant’s wife, Stephanie Seymour, into a door. Brant and Seymour are in the midst of a messy divorce, and police have reportedly been called a number of times for disturbances on their property, ranging from a car windshield being smashed with a bat to a complaint from Seymour about a GPS unit placed on her car. Brant’s magazine Interview has also seen a lot of upset recently; editorial director Fabien Baron and creative director Karl Templer left after a few short months, (Fabien Baron is now back).” Reports Fashionologie.
• Daphne Guinness’ first fragrance, Daphne, will be released in September. Reports WWD.
• “Dolce & Gabbana are hoping their fall ad campaign will be a knockout inside and outside the boxing ring — while the summer one for their underwear is headed to the pool. Taking inspiration from Italian film director Luchino Visconti , the campaign, shot by Steven Klein, features Madonna’s beau Jesus Luz, and Eva Herzigova,” Reports WWD.
• Gwen Stefani is on the cover of US Elle and see the video here.
• Björk is on the cover of the latest Interview magazine and read the interview here.
• “The dueling July covers of Harper’s Bazaar, which feature a pick-up shot of Angelina Jolie (for the newsstand) and a splendid Terry Richardson photograph of mega-model Doutzen Kroes (for subscribers). Glenda Bailey’s answer to the old fashion guard that constantly laments the tabloid mentality is to give them a bona-fide model on the cover of the magazine for the first time in recent memory.” …Oh dear, reports Fashion Week Daily.

Reasons to vote for FiFi in The Cosmopolitan Fun Fearless Female Women of the Year award (in the Blogger of the year section).

• Because you love shopping.
• Because you love shoes.
• Because you love eating.
• Because you love reading about shopping, shoes and eating.
• Because this award is much more prestigious than the Nobel Purchase Prize.
• Because it’s the only way to keep FiFi out of Rehab.
• Because the competition is tough and my fellow nominees are all fabulous. Bless.

• “Karl has taken a new nubile young fellow under his wing. His name is Baptiste Giabiconi and Karl shot Baptiste for this month’s French Vogue”. Says New York Magazine.
• Leonardo DiCaprio allegedly dumped his girlfriend Bar Refaeli because she wanted to settle down and have kids. Buck up young Leo! You know what they say: Third supermodel’s the charm! Vanity Fair.
• It’s official! Grazia can reveal that sources close to Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom are whispering that the loved-up pair are now officially engaged.
• Paris Hilton is single again. Then goes back to flashing her Britney. The Superficial.
• Britney Spears is not single and is now dating Her Agent. He is making sure she doesn’t flash her Paris. People.
• Kanye West and Amber Rose are dunzo.
• Chastity Bono — the only child of entertainers Cher and the late Sonny Bono — began undergoing a sex change shortly after her 40th birthday on March 4. Of course she is. Her name is chastity and her mother is Cher. Us Magazine.
• Chelsea Handler: “I’m Going to Stop Making Fun of Tori Spelling. It’s not her fault that she looks like that,” she tells Us Magazine.
• Heidi Pratt wasn’t tortured on I’m a Celebrity (That’s a pity she tortures us all the time on The Hills). Us Magazine.
• Judges to show Madge Mercy… Madonna has persuaded three appeal judges to allow her to adopt Malawian orphan Mercy James. Reports The Sun.
• Stephanie Seymour is in the middle of a divorce from husband of 16 years Peter Brant, billionaire owner of Brant Publications and Interview. Fashionologie.
• Phil Spector’s Latest Hair Shocker! No hair…! People.
• Sophie Dahl is still dating a hobbit. Bless. The Daily Mail.

In the Kitchen: A Novel… by Monica Ali

“Monica Ali, author of the Booker-shortlisted Brick Lane, has a growing reputation to uphold, and she does it with style to spare in her stunning follow-up.
In The Kitchen takes the onion of London life, and peels back the layers to reveal the pungent, peppery melting pot at its core. It hinges on a mysterious death in the cellars of an upmarket hotel. As the story progresses and more ingredients are added, it exposes the various characters and quirks of those working in the hotel kitchen, from misfits to culinary artists, exiles to psychos.With Monica one of the major drawcards at the 2009 Sydney Writers’ Festival, In The Kitchen is destined to be one of the must-read novels of the year.” Love it !

$32.95 Doubleday. Publisher: Doubleday 24 April, 2009.

The Christmas List: Luxury Stores Top of the World…
by teNeues

“Since the first hunter-gatherers, humans have sought out things of beauty and excellence — a quest epitomized by the elegant stores displayed in this sumptuous volume. Each can be considered a pinnacle of the shopping experience. With a carefully chosen selection of goods and services located all over the world, these shops do indeed cater to every whim. Combining the aesthetics of high art with service worthy of royalty, every one is an experience to treasure…” Divine ! A must buy to drool over.

US $59.85 Amazon. Publisher: teNeues (April 15, 2009).

Economy Class:

French Connection
On sale but also a few news season pieces instore that are (gasp!) looking very summery. My picks are:

• Love the deep slate grey washed shiny, skinny jeans: rather fabulous and understated they seem to have a shine but not too glitzy. You want to wear these with a tailored jacket or blazer. Ditch the leather jacket because you want to soften the look up. Make sure you don’t look too tough or you may look like Chastity Bono before her sex change. Bless. $179
• If you want colour you should buy the fabulous very summery cotton jersey singlet dress in a royal blue with an print. So very Lanvin it has a racer back and is outrageously summery. Buy this if you are off to zee zouth of France for a petit vacance. $79
• If you are peace loving Boho chick who can’t give up on the haute hippy look then you will love and kiss the very Russian multi print hippy dress with a ruffle hem. It’s in a red print paisley patchwork… Not very next season which is tailored and black and strong but hey if it’s your style then you shall wear. And you shall go to the ball (in the paddock). $119
• In accessories I do rather like the navy and raffia platform 40’s ankle strap heels with a square heel and stud… cool. More summer than winter. This could be a good thing. $149
• On sale I see a cotton pale cream/concrete ruffle tunic blouse with buttons down the front $59. It’s also very floaty and Boho but in a way you could wear this on holiday. It’s also in white muslin cotton.
• On sale is also the fabulous grey wool melton peaocat with black buttons. Now that will keep you warm and happy. It’s a great buy (also in black) now $199. Wear this with a sexy flirty skirt or with skinny jeans. So French.
• You also should try on the navy military tailored jacket with brass buttons now on sale for $299. The cut is very marching band with a fitted double breasted top half and then it cuts away and splits at the front. You can put down the trumpet and the white marching boots. This will look great with simple black skinny jeans and boots.
• You should buy the multi tweed jacket with pvc panels and a zip $149. cool
• You want the fab sleeveless cotton poplin tank: it has a squished ruffle flower trim around the neckline: it must be a big seller because I have seen it here for months but it keeps reappearing: Like magic. $89. Love it.

Just Jeans
You will find great jeans here and a few casual weekend leather jackets. My picks are:

• The cool and tres casual tan brown leather jacket. It’s in a crinkle crushed vintage leather and has a zip front. In fact I would call this a bomber jacket. You want to wear this with creams and browns and oatmeal. Oatmeal as in the colour not as in your breakfast. Ok. You can also wear this over black or navy too. Love a leather jacket with a flirty skirt. It softens it up. It will be sexy with a pencil skirt too. $189
• You want the Calvin Klein jeans in black: the cut is always great in Calvin Klein jeans. There are black skinny low rise for $140 but also you can get the dark denim skinny low rise stretch for $140. I like the mid rise classic boot cut leg in a faded black denim. $140
• There are also jeans in great cuts and colours for $49.
• Buy the grey velvet single breasted blazer with silver military buttons $89. It is very Balenciaga style if you squint your eyes. This is a great buy. Which you will see when you take it out of the store and go home and put it back with your expensive stomp-a-licious heels and black drape harem peg leg pants.
• Check out the faded blue denim, classic Levi’s denim jacket $129. The denim jacket is back as is everything 80’s so you may as well invest in one now and get a few seasons wear. I think you should wear this with a sexy black pencil skirt or with your favourite harem pants. You need to shoosh it up and keep away from frills or lace or anything frou frou or you will look a little too Madonna 1980. This is not a good thing.
• You want the black wool melton peacoat. It’s a shorter and more fitted version than the longer peacoats around. It’s almost a blazer style with the same silver military buttons as the velvet blazer. $149. If you still haven’t bought a peacoat then get this one.

Cotton On
On sale but you also want a few pieces not on sale but are cheap but chic. My picks are:

• The fabulous short black fake fur Mongolian vest with a knit back now $40. You can toss this over all the most simple black Tees and it renovate your daggy jeans and your old black pants. You can wear a fake fur vest over a pretty floral dress too. But you knew that. It’s not the most amazing fur but hey what do you want for $40?
• Sequins, as I have repeatedly informed you here at The FiFi Report, are back. So invest now in the cheap black sequin singlet top $34. It has a scattering of sequins on the front and a plain back which is fine. It is a very casual style. Remember with sequins you should stick to classic colours like white or black. You are not Lady GAGA. Wear layered over a white tank or white Tee. Wear with jeans and a blazer. You can also toss on with classic grey pants or your harem pants. A sequin top with a skirt is a little too dressed up. You want to tone down the glitz with pants or denim.
• On sale are 2 T-shirts for $20. Buy the fabulous long sleeve dark grey tees with a V neck. The grey tee is a classic but it’s hot. If you haven’t noticed a grey marle tee is a crucial part of the off duty supermodel uniform.
• You want the black fake fur (short hair) zip through bomber with some kind of pleather trim $60. Take it out of bright tacky lights of the store and I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised at the look of this jacket. Toss back with all your favorites from jeans to a floral dress. Love a fake fur.
• Love the boyfriend jeans here: they are a great price: around $50. True. Ripped and baggy and in pale denim. Cool.

Sportsgirl
There is a sale but there are always new pieces coming in store. How thoughtful. My picks are:

• The chic and very Marni black and white print silky dress: it has Batwing sleeves, a V neck and a tulip shaped skirt. It’s in very Marni abstract style almost check print $149. Love this with black opaques and your monster heels. Toss a blazer over the top and voila! You might even look cool.
• Check out the black silky long boyfriend blazer: it has rolled up the sleeves. The jacket is also in an oatmeal colour. All the pale cream and caramels are big for summer so it’s a great to invest in those colours now. The boyfriend jacket is different from the blazer. It’s longer (depending on the size of the your boyfriend!) and looser and has a casual shape. A blazer is very tailored and sharp. Wear this jacket with narrow pants so you don’t look like a fatty Arbuckle.
• You want the black wool crepe almost harem pants. Almost harem pants because they don’t have the low crutch nappy look. What?! I know you are disappointed because you love that look. These trousers are in the best shape with front pleats and skimming bits that go over the donuts on your hips. Then they narrow into a skinny leg. They are flattering and also nice and long in the length so that you can wear them with short boots and not get worried about cold ankles. $99
• Love the grey suede floppy jacket with no lining: it’s very unstructured. It has 2 press studs buttons at the front that cross over to do up and a grey rib knit insert under the arms. Not sure why, I think so you can be comfortable if you want to stretch and try to bend over and do up all the buckles on your Balenciaga heels. So chic! This will look great with creams and pale blues or with black. Mais oui $249
• You want the black t-shirt with the silver skull a la Damien Hirst on the front $89. The punk tee is still hot.
• Buy the black sequin Minty Meets Munt zip up bomber jacket $150. Sequins are cool and so is the sequin bomber. Just remember to dumb down the sequins and you will look chic.
• Love the faded ripped boyfriend jeans $119.
• On sale you want the black leather sleeveless vest with military buttons now on sale $99, the silver and gold sequin patchwork loose tank top $99 and the very cool grey leather jacket: it’s got a V neck and no collar and just does up with a clasp at the front now on sale $99
• OMG I see a very scary red tartan blazer. Keep walking.

Business Class:

Acne Jeans
We love Acne Studio. Yes, the store was the item du jour two weeks ago. Now here’s the rundown of what’s in store. All divine. You want:

• The amazing black fitted very Balenciaga-style dress in satin twill. It’s sleeveless with hidden shoulder pads, so so cool. I am in love. It’s very tailored and zooms into a serious tight waist which has corsets or bones on the hips so you look like Beyonce wearing Mugler. $999. My problem is that it’s too short. Oh and I already have my own inbuilt corsets on my hips. This is one hot dress.
• You will adore the black sleeveless silky dress with hidden shoulder pads. Why? Because it’s gorgeous! It’s sexy and has drape back so that it’s almost backless. Love the hidden or not so hidden shoulder pads. They make you looks skinny. There. I have said it. Skinny. You could wear a bra under it if you had to and then let it show which is very Dolce Gabbana. About $500. I think.
• Love, love the chic divine black leather drape skirt: so soft and quite the most fabulous Carine Roitfeld style item you could buy. $999. Do I have to tell you how to wear that? I hope not.
• Adore the purple drape short silky dress with a V neck about $339. It will fabulous under a black leather bomber jacket and your Alien vs Monster heels.
• You want the black (or cream) crushed nylon silk sleeveless drape top $329. Again it’s sleeveless but a great piece to layer under all your jackets. The drape front is good at hiding any muffin tops.
• Love the jeans: they are all fabulous and just try them all on till you are happy. After all that’s what Acne are known for.
• Also check out the fabulous peep toe shoe boots lace up, the belts, and the clutch bag with a cute little mirror hidden inside for quick makeup reapplication. Plus more… simple grey tanks, knits and parkas. Yes please.

Armani Exchange
On sale and there are always some great buys: New collection coming in store as well. My picks are:

• The chic faded denim jacket with a zip front like a blouson now $160; tres cool. Denim is having a bit of resurgence. It’s called recession dressing. Which is a good thing. We love denim because it’s trans seasonal. And its almost ageless.
• Also in denim is a dark blue washed denim, very cropped military jacket with denim buttons and epaulettes. It’s a bit faded with short sleeves now on sale $167. This will be great with high waist pants or skirts because it’s so short.
• Love the navy and white tiny print dress. It’s in a flowing loose, chiffon. Ok it’s very BOHO but this one works. (not a hippy on the dole) It has an elastic waist with a long V neck and big poets sleeves. Great with short boots and black opaques. It has a ruffle along the hem. I am not a huge fan of florals but I think this is cool. I mean it’s in navy and white so it’s not too out there in the colour department. $174
• Love the belted peacoat in a grey and black flecked style tweed: there is a whole rack on sale for $349. The quality is great. Wear this to up the oomph factor to daggy old black pieces. Not that I am presuming that you would anything daggy in your wardrobe.
• Checkout the fab short navy wool twill bomber jacket with black buttons now on sale $209. Fabulous buy. Love navy and black together. So French. Eeet eez mon look plus favourite. Mais oui!
• So you are feeling cold and need an at home knit cover up? Then you must have big chunky cross over cardigan with military buttons in navy or cream now on sale $125. It’s about as chic as a chunky cardigan can get. They can be tricky to pull off and you don’t want to look like Susan Boyle. Bless. But you don’t.
• Also so, so, so much more on sale. If you can fight the crowds you should check out the leather jackets, the fabulous classic zip tops and the knits tops.

First Class:

Belinda Paddington
I see shoes and bags still on sale! A few new season have arrived in store as well. Best buys include:

• The chic Miu Miu vintage burgundy double handle tote bag now on sale $1300. The classic two handle tote is still right even though I am obsessed about shoulder bags. Remember you don’t have to match shoes and bags so a brown bag will look great with most colours.
• The lovely Miu Miu brown bag that seems to be covered in square strips of leather is now on $1400. It’s a bit out there but hey it’s a signature piece.
• You want the Miu Miu pewter metallic slouchy 2 handle tote $1100. Metallics are a big story for next season so get into the trend now.
• There are quite a few Marni sandals in multi colours with a wide strap across the front and big buckles; they have a chunky heel and obviously from a few seasons ago but they still look cool $555. Why not?
• Also I spy a few pairs of Pierre Hardy heels on sale …love the black classic pumps about $445. Classic is good.
  Love the black wool melton (Miu Miu?) zip through coat: very loose and unstructured $1200.
• In the new season you want the Marc Jacobs black leather ankle boots with about 4 straps with silver buckles going up the side $1400. Oh yes they are hot but not so sexy. More biker boots. Sex them up with a short mini dress super model style and you will look the bomb.

Paul and Joe
Gorgeous clothes here and the prices are great. My picks are:

• Adore the black wool melton double breasted coat. Quite the most chic and French thing: it’s double breasted with silver buttons. Understated luxurious. And you would look so great walking the streets of Paris with flats and a handsome man. $1475
• The bright and rather fabulous black floral dress. It has orange/pink over the top flowers print all over it: on sale for $1400.
• Check out the silky soft blue kimono sleeve dress with a drawstring and a few buttons up the front. The kimono sleeves are still happening for next season and we love the drama of them all. Plus they don’t seem to dip into the Sushi. $895
• Buy the navy sheer chiffon round neck blouse. It’s very secretary but that can be good. It’s called ironic fashion. There are tiny pleats down the front but I know you can make this look sexy. Toss back with jeans and outrageous heels. On sale $499
• You want the chic and fabulous one shoulder dark blue dress: it has an obi style waist wrap and tie waist. It has a big wide sleeve. Love it with tailored blazer. $999

Spaghetti with Raw Tomatoes, Basil and Tuna …adulterated from e-rcps and the New Mediterranean Diet Cookbook.

Starving after a hard day shopping? Need to throw something together quickly for dinner? This will take 5 mins. The best news? No need to cook the tuna, tomatoes, garlic or onion… it’s just tossed through cooked spaghetti. Healthy and fabulous.

You need for 4 handsome men, 6 fashion editors, 20 models

6 medium ripe, red tomatoes
3 garlic clove, minced
2 small red onions, halved and thinly slice
1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
1 teaspoon salt or more to taste
2 small cans of Tuna (in oil or water)
Extra-virgin olive oil (a couple of glugs)
Balsamic vinegar (a couple of glugs)
Lots of salt and pepper
Spaghetti for 4.

• Slip into new chic grey track pants.
• Put heating on full blast.
• Climb into Balenciaga ugg boots.
• Put on scarf.
• Take off gloves.
• Pour a wine.
• Find a big bowl.
• Chop up the tomatoes roughly into small chunks (they like it like that).
• Chop up the garlic roughly into small chunks.
• Make sure you are not kissing anyone after dinner.
• Chop the onion in as small slices as possible.
• Rip up the basil leaves into small bits. They say you should never cut basil leaves.
• Throw basil, tomatoes, onion and garlic in a chic bowl.
• Toss and season with lots of salt and pepper and let all the ingredients sleep together to get the flavours rocking.
• Pour another wine.
• Call AA tomorrow.
• Put the pasta on to cook.
• While that is cooking toss the tuna into the bowl with the tomatoes and garlic etc.
• Give it a mix. You might like to add more salt.
• When the pasta is cooked just pour the tomatoes garlic tuna mix through the warm pasta and give it a good toss.
• Serve immediately!
• And no, Please put away the parmesan cheese. Not with tuna.
• Delicious.