Gwyneth Paltrow: Myth vs. Reality…from an interview in Harpersbazaar.com.

“When you’re having dinner with your kids and your husband and someone says something funny or you’re dying laughing because your three-year-old made a fart joke, it doesn’t matter what else is going on. That’s real happiness.”

“I don’t know how people do it. I was just at a photo shoot with Kate Winslet, and I was like, ‘How the f**k do you do this? I don’t understand.’ Kate said, ‘I know, it doesn’t work. Everyone falls apart. I haven’t worked in 20 months.” . (oh like kate’s marriage? bless)

“Some days I feel like everyone in my world has plugged themselves into my kidneys. I’m so tired”.

“The thing about the paparazzi, I realized, is it’s probably made me look like a really grumpy person”.

“But when you’re the person they’re taking the picture of, it’s like, ‘You just followed me and made my kid cry and you’re going to make money off it? You want me to look at you and smile? Are you out of your mind?’”.

“I really lucked out with him. He’s deeply lovely and special.” talking about her husband.

“The hotel concierge is not telling me where to get a facial, Christy Turlington is. Doesn’t everyone want to know that? I would want to know if you went to Mario Batali’s house what he made you for dinner and could I have the recipe. So why not?” On doing her GOOP website.

“If you saw me naked compared to what I looked like when I did Iron Man 2, when I was exercising every day - I’ll get it back together, but I’ve never eaten so much fried food and white flour in my life, ever. Oh, God”.

Fashion Quiz:

• Which new fashion accessory has got you suddenly reaching for valerium and then breathing very, very slowly into a paper bag?
• Which new fashion accessory means that you can now look Tom Cruise in the eye? ….(instead of patting him on the head).
• Which new fashion accessory means you are now closer to earth? (sorry: not in a green way)
• Which new fashion accessory is so OUT… it’s now back IN lurking on the fashion horizon like UFO?
• Which new fashion accessory makes you skip as you shop all day (without any medication)?
• Which new fashion accessory was rocking the runways of Prada, Vuitton, Chloe, and Marni?
• Which new fashion accessory will you learn to love and adore and want to smother in comfortable kisses?
• Which new fashion accessory will soon have you purring like a pussy cat?

Answer: A kitten heel or these fabulous gladiators from Aldo for $129.

What: A Celine bag.
Why: Because this small, simple, structured shape looks new and modern. It has a touch of 70’s without looking too retro. Because we love the new clean, minimalism trend that Celine is leading into next season. Because it is devoid of logos and hardware and all that glitzy stuff. Because this bag will happily go from day to evening without a touchup. Because everything gets lost in a big oversized bag including your boyfriend.
Wear: With everything: Go for the chic brown to go with all the camel. Wear as a simple day bag or with the long strap across your body.
Where: OK, so not everyone can afford the price tag ( gulp!) so the idea is take this shape and style as an inspiration. If you are looking to invest in a new bag this season then this is the look you want. It’s the hot bag and it’s just beginning its ascent on the groove richter scale. Or you can skip into David Jones with your black Amex : apparently the bags will be instore in a couple of weeks.
$2600. Celine Bag from Davidjones or Celine.com.

Things you need for an extreme party.

• Sky high Louboutins for non stop flirting.
• An Azzedine Alaia black bandage mini dress.
• French Champagne.
• Lip gloss that won’t smooch off after too many air kisses.
• Glow in the dark clutch bag.
• More French Champagne.
• Aspro Clear every 4 hours (For Louboutins)
• George Clooney ( of course!)
• A smile.
• Oh, another glass of French Champagne.
• and Bobbi Brown Extreme Party mascara: This mascara knows how to party with the best of them. It loves to flutter and flirt without even saying a word. They say it’s “our boldest mascara ever. Unbelievable volume. Endless build. Exceptional separation. Zero dragging, clumping or flaking.” I say: I am addicted and I love this mascara. (With my squidgy eyes I need all the help I can get). It doesn’t clump or flake. And it will last all night. Which is more you can say about your last boyfriend!

$48 Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara from David Jones and Bobbibrowncosmetics.com

Parker Power! SJP on the cover of US Vogue May issue.” How the little girl from Ohio turned her career into a juggernaut, learned about fashion, launched perfumes, became president of a design house-and grew her family along the way.” see the video here and Read the interview here at vogue.com

Garance Doré Talks Blogging, High Heels & Being The Sartorialist’s Girlfriend to huffingtonpost.com

And Elle UK asked Garance Dore to do the cover of the magazine with a portrait of Demi Moore : so chic! No retouching Demi?? Garancedore.

The One Thing Kate Moss Can’t Sell-Herself: Ooopsies!  Les Arts Décoratifs has canceled their Kate Moss exhibition. The “Kate Moss Myth” was supposed to go up this year, then it was postponed until next March, and now they’re doing away with it altogether. Fashionista.com

Australia’s Zimmermann Opens Up Shop On Greene Street (New York if you didn’t know) ..You go girls.
Fashionista.com.

Love this behind the scenes video of the Steven Miesel shoot in Italian Vogue: all the clothes are shrunken and the proportions are out…..cool Vogue.it

A Three-Part 1987 Karl Lagerfeld TV Special Is Coming Out on DVD: ‘In 1987 A&E aired a three-part series called The Story of Fashion, narrated by Karl Lagerfeld. Cathy Horyn writes, “Of course, the designers look astonishingly young. Mr. Lagerfeld, without his many rings, discusses everything from French court clothes to Mary Quant.” Young Karl was a ringless Karl.’says Nymag.com

INDIAN Vogue’s latest issue is tackling colour prejudice with a cover promoting darker skinned models  aiming to dispel the prevailing belief in the sub-continent that pale skin equals beauty..but is it me or don’t they all look a little pale?  Vogue.co.uk

Julianna Margulies is on the cover of W Magazine wmagazine.com

Stefano Tonchi, the new editor of W may be taking W the In Style route - he himself suggested that the magazine will be “less . . . fashion-obsessed” - and now, he’s made his first hire, notably outside the fashion realm. Tonchi confirmed that Lawrence Karol, who most recently served as Gourmet managing editor, will top the W masthead as executive managing editor.’ OH NO!  Says fashionologie.com

Karl Lagerfeld, who is photographing the 2011 Pirelli calendar, said he envisioned the images set in studio rather than against the usual beach scenery. He’s reportedly shooting the calendar in Paris this week. Maybe he just doesn’t want his ponytail windswept?  Fashionologie.com

“I don’t think we can call it a store. This is beyond a store,” Ralph Lauren mused, seated in the sun-dappled, leafy courtyard of Europe’s largest retail statement for the American designer - a 23,000-square-foot flagship in a 17th-century town house on the Left Bank.  It will have a 128-seat restaurant and four floors of fashion set in a series of transporting rooms:Oh la la.. Reports WWD and Ralphlauren.com/

YVES SAINT LAURENT has refuted rumours that a replacement is being sought for creative director Stefano Pilati. Whispers circulating since Paris Fashion Week - which claimed that Pilati’s poor sales in ready-to-wear had made his position uncertain, despite his success in accessories - intensified last night when Pilati failed to appear at the Metropolitan Opera Gala, YSL’s biggest event of the year in America. OH NO! We love him.Vogue.co.uk

The Milan Furniture Fair has started this week and Italian Vogue is there .. Vogue.it

The-fake-sartorialist.blogspot.com

This is clever, creative and quite hilarious and I love it.

“I’m fake I’m hip and I know it. Hotter than a glued on Fendi badge. Hotter than a fake Louis V bag. I travel the fashion capitals of the world to take hip photographs of people and then photoshop them out of recognition just because I can, I am the fake sartorialist after all ‘”

But Scott Schuman from The Sartorialist is not happy. Imitation is the best form of flattery .  Watch the fabulous spoof video here and read the story here in The New York Times.

Of course there are other very funny sites inspired by the Sartorialist which I have already included in The FiFi Report:

It’s about cats on the street, so cute!Thecatorialist

It’s about chicer people of a certain age, fabulous! Advancedstyle

It’s about very un-stylish people ( nothing has been posted since 2008)…funny! Thesortorialist

Jake Is Huge…and on the cover of GQ magazine and so cute in these shots…. GQ.com

Angelina Jolie’s Dad: All the Kids Are “Spectacular”. Even without Botox. usmagazine.com

Demi Moore and Susan Sarandon lend star power to Haiti’s kids: Even without food. bless. Hellomagazine.com

Jennifer Aniston hiked up her jeans on the set of her movie in LA today. Apparently this is called news. Popsugar.com

Hollywood: Remakes of Remakes the New Movie Remake Trend. Let me repeat that. Dailysquib

The tabloids may still be dubbing Guy Ritchie’s new girlfriend a ‘mystery woman’ this weekend, but Grazia recognised her straight away…surprise! She is a model .Graziadaily.co.uk

Mel Gibson splits from his Russian girlfriend just five months after daughter was born:Oopsies Dailymail

Iman’s Daughter Does Not Have Her Mother’s Metabolism: Tells Glamour she’s pretty much been on a diet since she was 8. What?! a supermodel daughter FAT?? Nymag.com

Paris Hilton and Doug Reinhardt only pretended to break up which is why I’m only mentioning it here: says Thesuperficial.com

Furious Elin Nordegren ’set to divorce Tiger Woods after ‘cheesy’ Nike advert. Dailymail

Gisele Bundchen, Tom Brady, and Baby Ben Kissing and Exploring Paris! Popsugar.com

Oops! Angelina, Knox Watch Toy Bunny Fall Into Canal:… USmagazine.com

Lady Gaga took a marker to a pristine white Hermes Birkin handbag in Tokyo and wrote: “I love little monster, Tokyo love” in Japanese.  Racked.com

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand ….by Helen Simonson
It’s the book everyone is reading and loving !
‘Major Ernest Pettigrew (retired) leads a quiet life in the small rural English village of Edgecombe St Mary where he values the proper things that Englishmen have treasured for generations - honour, duty, decorum and a properly brewed cup of tea. The Major takes pleasure in his well-organised and rational life until he finds out that his patronising son, and the kind yet interfering ladies of the village, seem to have their own, rather special plans for him.
It takes news of his brother’s death, though, to open the Major’s eyes to Mrs Jasmina Ali, the village shopkeeper. Drawn together by their shared love of literature and the loss of their respective spouses, the Major and Mrs Ali soon find their friendship blossoming into something more.
Written with warmth, feeling and a delightfully dry sense of humour, this very modern love story will have you cheering wildly for the Major and Mrs Ali and believing that sometimes life does give you a second chance.
$32 , Published March 2010 from Allenandunwin.com

Alexander McQueen: Genius of a Generation …..by Kristin Knox

‘A lavishly illustrated tribute to Alexander McQueen, showcasing his dramatic and spectacular fashion designs. Packed with breathtaking photographs, this tribute to Alexander McQueen (1969-2010) celebrates the incredible creations of an iconic, imaginative and inspirational fashion designer whose work turned heads and hearts everywhere.
McQueen was a major fashion figure famous throughout the world, especially the US and Japan. He worked as the head designer at Givenchy for five years before founding the Alexander McQueen and McQ labels. His dramatic designs, worn by a glittering array of celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Bjork, Lady Gaga and Rihanna, met with critical acclaim and earned him British Designer of the Year four times. This book includes photographs from his final collection Fall/Winter 2010 which went on show in Paris on March 9, 2010. ‘…Bless.

$45 Publisher: A&C BLACK May 2010 from Allen and Unwin and Amazon.com/

Economy Class
Witchery

• Love the camel coat here. Camel, camel, camel: repeat after me. That’s all you need to know about next season. Get into right now and get years of wear. Well, at least 2 seasons. You want the coat here: it’s double breasted, with wide sleeves in a wool melton $299. So cute seen here with shorts don’t you think?
• Buy the fabulous grey wool, short double breasted bomber jacket: Love this because it will work with all those high waisted skirts and trousers you have in your wardrobe. It might even work with all the jeans too. (well, of course it will). Love a grey jacket : it will joosh up all the daggy black basics you have.
• Love the grey marle one button blazer. It’s a smaller cut than the previous grey marle jacket I saw here. Which means that it has a nice snug look and is a flattering tailored shape. $149. A must buy to toss over a Tee with your cargo/utility pants also here for about $99 ( in black or caramel). Or over a floral dress. Or anything really. I love jackets as well as trench coats if you didn’t notice. Tip: always roll up sleeves.
• Check out the very Balenciaga style bag in a soft mocca: $229. If you don’t want such an obvious bag buy the Givenchy style black tote for about $299.

Nine West:

• There are a few jackets here - yes in a shoe shop!- and I love the fitted zip up puffa jacket: I have mentioned it before but I think you need a reminder now that is a little chilly non? It’s not a heavy puffa jacket and because it’s got serious stitching and cinching in the waist it actually doesn’t look bulky. You want to wear this with a short flirty skirt $289 and some boots.
• So check out the fabulous boots on sale : they are in punched leather with holes through it so you have air-conditioning on your ankles though it’s probably not water proof. Who cares? It never rains. On sale now $299.
• Buy the grey and black animal print peep toe heels $159. They will add a little something eclectic to the wardrobe without going too over the top. No animals or models were killed in the making of this fashion.
• My pick? The black suede peep toe shoe boot : called ‘Phantom’ they are simple, chic with an elastic side cut out and the all important platform(  which is hardly worth mentioning any more). Anyway they are right on the money. You will absolutely live in these all winter especially if you have a job sitting down all day. $159.

Cue:

• What’s new this week? Well, I see that they have been inspired, shall we say, by the famous Balenciaga bag $$ . Not bad for a copy I must say. I have twittered a shot here http://twitpic.com/1fx3pz.
• Love the grey wool melton fitted double breasted princess coat: gorgeous with serious shoulder pads ( but too scary): it’s very fitted and tailored to the waist with a belt and then flares out a little. It will be so right with over the knee boots. This is a coat that you actually wear done up. Also in black $440.
• I want the fabulous navy T shirt with cute little grosgrain detailing on the front; so chic with jeans and harem pants or even a pencil skirt. Love it under a blazer. A fabulous price $49.
• I spy a very Burberry style concrete grey cotton trench coat : it has gunmetal double breasted buttons and has a belt.. on sale for you $262. You know I have a trench addiction and so this is not good for the detox.

Aldo:
Always worth heading here for some cheap but chic shoes and boots: As you can see from my cheap but chic of the week.

• You also should check out the fabulous long boots in grey : they have that drape around the ankle : Love these with a few short skirts or with a pencil skirt. I think I am over that tucked in look with jeans . I like the round toe and the little platform. $249. You can see a shot of these on my twit pics here …http://twitpic.com/1fwxso
• Buy the black Givenchy style shoe boots with an open toe and then a covered up ankle; how can they be in fashion? Who knows, who cares; It’s fashion and we love it. $109
• You want the fabulous peep toe lace up shoes boots in grey: just change the laces. These are hot and THE shoe of the season. Limo shoes. Meaning you need to sit in these. $129
• So you know wedges are back big time thanks to Chloe and Celine. And Wedges in caramel are the ones you want. Get into next summer’s trends toute-suite. You can wear them with bare legs but I am not sure with black opaques. Might work. $129
• How cute are the huge black drop lace earrings? Very. $39. Take them out of the shop: throw on the Lanvin and no- one will ever know they cost $39.

Business Class:
Country Road
Always something new to add to your wardrobe: My picks are:

• You want the fabulous blac, woven textured asymmetrical top with a grosgrain strap; so much more interesting than a boring old black top; this has the great texture detail and will work right into winter under jackets $179. A flattering neckline too
• Love the green Khaki racer back, silk top with a patch pocket: it’s right on the military trend . Love a little khaki to spice up the wardrobe. Again it’s a perfect top for now and into winter. Layer over a black or a white tank and wear with your fav harem pants. Keep everything else non military : you don’t want to look like you are an extra in M*A*S*H OK, buy this top in black if you must.
• Oh, and while we are on the military trend you may as well buy the khaki utility cargo jacket while you are here: remember it’s about wearing it with heels and sexy sequins and short skirts. Not with hiking boots unless you are heading to Haiti to do good works. $199
• Love the print dress with ¾ sleeves in a modern digital print of dark blues and cream and white: the Digital long sleeve 40’s style dress is very cool right now. It has a V neck and is soft and pretty so will work with all your tough heels and leather jackets. Men will love this dress don’t you think? $249
• You need some fabulous pants/trousers this season and I am absolutely mad ( but not in a bad way) about the navy narrow pleat front pants with a zip detail at the ankle. You NEED these. $199. Fabulous fabric. Wear with your fav heels and crop jacket.

Scanlan and Theodore
Always something fabulous here. My picks are:

• Adore the divine beige/brown leather drape skirt. Oh la la! In the most divine leather ; so soft. It’s a cool contrast: the hard leather and the soft shape of the skirt. Buy this and love it. Wear with short jacket; why hide it? $500 ( I think). Gorgeous with a camel jacket . Please don’t do the leather with leather look unless you are having an affair with Jesse James ( Sandra Bullock’s ex husband).
• You want the gorgeous wool melton, sleeveless double breasted vest/coat dress. It has small shoulder pads hiding under the sleeveless shoulders. Wear now with nothing but skinny leggings and heels and in winter layer over a long sleeve knit with over the knee boots. Oh, and a short skirt peeking out .$650
• Love navy and black small digital print dress with 4/3 sleeves and a wrap front : about $600. Wear with boots and opaques. Wear with a blazer or a leather: Oh, I just had a terrible thought. Please no cardigans over floral dresses. A No, No if you were born anytime before 1995. So aging. Nuf said. That should put you off.
• Check out the fabulous grey/silver brocade dress: it has cap sleeves with a drape at the neckline and a loose shape: the fabric is pretty over the top and very luxurious. You need to wear for a dinner. If during the day dress then dress the whole thing down with shoe boots and a trench coat. It’s not your every day dress but rather fabulous. And that’s what we want every now and then non? $850
• Buy the draped jodhpurs ( or are they really just harem pants?) in a linen style fabric in a grey colour. $320.. Sorry no photos!

CK Calvin Klein:
I adore this store: I love modern, minimalist and clean looks. Now that look is back and is THE big trend. So shut up and put away all those glitzy accessories and prints and get your booty over her. what a pity there are no photos…I am taking the camera next time.
My picks are:

• The rather divine poncho cape in black wool melton. Yes, it’s got that tea cosy shape with slits for arms but oh, how I love it. It’s the best type of coat for milder Sydney winters. You know I am always looking for pieces to work with everything and this is one of them: watch it work its magic with jeans and stomp-a lcious heels. Watch your cape work wonders with a sexy pencil skirt or go for chinos and heels (as seen here from seasons ago on Taylor Tomasi) $739. Also check out the DKNY and Vanessa bruno capes on net a porter.
• I want to live and die in the round neck ( note : Not scoop necks) grey soft long sleeve T shirts $79. Fabulous qaulity and what a great price. ideal to wear under everything.
• You will adore the short,crop simple, simple, simple bolero that’s in a textured kind of fabric: it looks like short feathers. Maybe. Or just faux fur. $700. This is a gorgeous jacket. Boo. Hoo : I want it…
• There are dresses galore here. I think I tried them all on. It’s hard work but someone has to do it. Alot are too short for moi and my lovely legs but some are just perfect. Draped, layered and in interesting fabrics. Alot of the dresses have architectural details or something interesting to add the simplicity. From about $300.
• Also check out the fabulous bags, shoes and silver chunky jewellery. Great prices.

Brown Sugar Walnut and Almond Biscuits ……adulterated from Mathew Evans ( A recipe out of the  Good Weekend ).

This lovely, cooler weather calls for a lazy afternoon tea and some delicious nutty biscuits. Delicious, flour-less, nutty biscuits which are basically nuts stuck together with butter and sugar. Divine.

You need for about 16.
Feeds 2 teenage boys, 20 models, 8 fashionista.

75g hazelnuts or walnuts ( ½ cup)
75g almonds ( ½ cup)
150g brown sugar (just under 1 cup)
20g butter unsalted
1 egg white..lightly beaten
About 2 tabs icing sugar for accessorizing

• Stay in your favourite Dolce Gabbana Jim Jams.
• Pull on Prada socks.
• Tie up hair in your Vuitton elastic.
• Preheat oven at 160.
• Throw all the nuts in a whizzer and whiz until the mix has a few chunky bits but not totally blitzed. It can be crumbly and a little fine but with some pieces chunkier.
• Lightly whisk the white of an egg.
• Toss the egg white in a saucepan along with the butter, sugar, and the whizzed nuts.
• Keep the heat on low so you just melt the butter and get the sugar a little gooey.
• Then let it cool a little so you can handle it with your fingers.
• Toss 2 tabs of icing sugar in a bowl for rolling in. Not you , the biscuits.
• Then scoop out about 2 teaspoons of gooey nutty mix and roll into small balls.
• Watch the manicure.
• Then roll the biscuits in the icing sugar.
• Lie well spaced out on a baking tray. Not you , the biscuits. ( you should not be spaced out unless you are making other types of cookies).
• These biscuits will spread out as they cook. Just as your hips will after eating.
• Throw in the oven and cook for about 15 to 20 mins or until they start to change to a little darker caramel colour. Think Celine bag.
• Take out of the oven and let them cool and then sprinkle with more icing sugar for more accessorizing before eating them all.
• If there are any left you can store in a chic glass jar.
• Go for a jog tomorrow.