The reviews are in for the Gucci 2011show and it’s a winner! From tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com

• “A virtuoso display of equestrian style, vivid color and tribal-inspired beading which combined Berber and Aztec influences.” (The Daily Telegraph)
• “Struck the perfect balance between super-sexy and sophisticated - the perfect embodiment of the Gucci girl.” (ELLEuk.com)
• “The fierce designer powerhouse - at the creative direction of Frida Giannini - delivers vibrant hues and sexy cuts for spring ‘11.” (FabSugar)
• “A slick, snazzy and sensational show.” (Fashion Wire Daily)
• “Fringing, tassels, sequins, tuxedos, macrame and halternecks ripped up the catwalk at Gucci, and it felt fabulous.” (Grazia Daily)
• “Aside from the ethnic gimmicks, it was a mature collection.” (Heard on the Runway)
• “Who would have thought raunchy Gucci and Ms. Giannini’s rock-chic interpretations could have melded so perfectly with the elegant, couture 1970s vibe.” (International Herald Tribune)
• “Oh, it was fine in the main.” (On The Runway)
• “Glamour is back at Gucci, and it looked right at home.” (Style.com)
• “[An] unabashedly and unapologetically idea of vibrant sensuality.” (Vogue.com)
• “High-voltage Italian fashion action.” (Vogue.com UK)
• “A bold and appealing show.” (Women’s Wear Daily)

The good news: The Australian dollar is at an all time high which means non stop shopping online at all the fabulous stores in the US .
The bad news: I want to buy from Barneys New York and other fabulous US stores but they won’t send to Australia.
Solution: Head to Hopshopgo.com. They will set an account for you and ship it for you.
Prada, Givenchy and Lanvin now awaits you…

What :A White or neutral blazer
Which : You know the blazer is the hot item du jour but for summer go for white, cream or neutral. It should be tailored and have some kind of shoulder pads and a narrow cut. You want a blazer with pushed up sleeves (but don’t worry a lot of designers have already stitched the sleeves up for you(. Go for a silky floppy fabric or cotton and it should be single breasted.
Why: because white next to the face takes ten years off. Because lighter colours are right for summer. Because white or beige is so versatile it will work with everything in your wardrobe. Because white was THE colour for next spring 2011 shows in New York ; which means get into the trend right now and you will seasons of wear. Because Gwyneth , kate and Carine always get it right ( and look fabulous!).
Wear: with skinny cargoes over a grey tee and heels. Of course. Wear a white blazer tossed over a lace dress or back with skinny jeans and heels. Layer it over a stripe Tee and back with black peg leg pants. Wear back with sexy shorts and stomp-a- licious heels. Or toss a white blazer over a pretty floral or digital print dress.
Where: head to Sportsgirl, Marcs, Oxford, Witchery, Satch or try Miu Miu at Net a porter

I have found a fabulous new product from Benefit and I can not live without it. It’s a “dual-action power primer that works 360° around the eyes to make concealers AND eyeshadows STAY PUT.” My problem is that I have greasy eyelids and I love black eyeliner. Which means quite often I end up with black panda eyes and eyeliner down there with my blush. Ewww. One swipe of Stay Don’t Stray, let it set and voila! You can apply your eyeliner and it should stay put for hours. It’s botox for your eyeshadow.
$45 Benefit Stay Don’t Stray From Myer , Adorebeauty.com.au or call 02 8353 5000

Sarah: The Life of Sarah Bernhardt by Robert Gottlieb

“A fascinating look at Bernhardt’’s mythology and the stagecraft behind it. . . . What Sarah understood–as Gottlieb, a storied editor and publisher makes clear–was how the heightened drama of performance might be extended to her own life.”–Vogue
Everything about Sarah Bernhardt is fascinating, from her obscure birth to her glorious career-redefining the very nature of her art-to her amazing (and highly public) romantic life to her indomitable spirit. Well into her seventies, after the amputation of her leg, she was performing under bombardment for soldiers during World War I, as well as crisscrossing America on her ninth American tour.
Though the Bernhardt literature is vast, Gottlieb’s Sarah is the first English-language biography to appear in decades. Brilliantly, it tracks the trajectory through which an illegitimate-and scandalous-daughter of a courtesan transformed herself into the most famous actress who ever lived, and into a national icon, a symbol of France
$16.50 Publisher: Yale University Press; First Printing edition (September 21, 2010) Amazon.com

Vogue Model….by Robin Derrick, Robin Muir

‘A stunning photographic history of the world’s most beautiful and iconic women-the Vogue cover girls and supermodels-from past to present. Shining a light on the lives of Vogue’s fashion models, this collection uses photographs and illustrations from more than 90 years of history to tell the fascinating story of the real faces of fashion.
The models of the 1950s are represented, such as Lisa Fonssagrives and Dorian Leigh, and of course there are plenty of stunning images of the supermodels of the 1990s who turned the profession into a billion-dollar industry.
Robin Derrick is the former art director of the Face, Italian Elle, Glamour France, and Arena magazines. He now spends his time between his role as creative director at Vogue and his photography commissions. Robin Muir is a writer, curator, and former picture editor of Vogue. They are the coeditors of Vogue Covers, People in Vogue, and Unseen Vogue.” Fabulous!

$40.95  Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group (November 15, 2010) Amazon.com

It’s a FiFi style session !
This is the show I presented last week at Westfield Burwood and the cute backstage shots we snapped as we were doing the fitting on our gorgeous model Angela. Even without hair and makeup Angela looks fabulous! (But please excuse the bad lighting).

In each style session one item is always worn twice: so we start with a little grey Tee from Sportsgirl and then it’s worn again in the next outfit a different way. ( In fact you can see the grey marle Tee is indispensable and is actually worn 3 different ways).
The idea is to build a wardrobe and make those pieces work many ways: who wears one piece just one way? We have to get mileage out of our wardrobe!
This is cheap but chic heaven…

Outfit 1 (From left to right)
Sportsgirl grey V neck Tee $24.95
Sportsgirl white jacket $129.95
Country Road Grey slouch pants $129
Cue black leather strap $45
Betts grey slouch bag $99.99
Diavolina from Seduce Black suede heels $159.95
Sportsgirl aviator sunglasses $29

Fashion tip:
The white blazer is a key piece for summer: a must buy!
Always wear something tailored and sharp with loose pants.

Outfit 2.
Sportsgirl grey V neck Tee $24.95
Country Road grey slouch pants $129.95
Sportsgirl feather shoulder cape $79.95
Wanted shoes Grey Jewelled heels $149.95
Colette Silver necklace $9.95
Agent 99 from General Pants Black small chain bag $49.95

Fashion tip:
The grey V neck Tee will work from day to evening.
Add feathers and jewelled heels to basics for a glamorous night time look.

Outfit 3
Sportsgirl V neck grey Tee $24.95
Witchery Black silk shorts $99.95
Sussan stone crop trench $119.95
Betts taupe canvas high cut heels $109.99
Witchery  Road brown tote $289.95
Neutral Cotton ON Sunglasses $12.95

Fashion Tip:
Keep to neutral tones when building a wardrobe ( so it works together!)
Shorts are a big trend for summer : choose a length to suit your shape.

Outfit 4 (From left to right above..)
Witchery Black silk shorts  $99.95
Diana Ferrari white tank $29.95
Cue sequin gold black sheer top $139
Zoe Wittner Black platform pumps $189.95
Collette Gold and black clutch $44.95
Gold cuff from Collette $9.95

Fashion Tip:
Shorts are perfect for evening as well ( just add serious stomp- a-licious heels!)
Layer a white tank under a glitter top to dress it down.

Outfit 5
Diana Ferrari white tank $29.95
Cue sequin gold black sheer top $139
Witchery Gunmetal skinny cargoes $99.95
Country Road black blazer $279.
Wittner Black lace up cut out heels $169.95
Seduce Black gold stud bag $59.95
Collette gold stud cuff $9.95
Witchery aviators $69.95

Fashion tip:
Skinny cargoes are THE trousers for summer (And into next winter).
Don’t be afraid to mix up fabrics: a glitter top works for day with hardworking khaki.

Outfit 6.
Diana Ferrari white tank $29.95
Sportsgirl Black lace Tee $69.95
Witchery Gunmetal skinny cargoes $99.95
Sportsgirl jewel necklace $29.95
Oroton mesh clutch $245
Tony Bianco (from Wanted shoes) black suede wedge heels $159.95

Fashion tip:
A black lace Tee is another key piece for the season: it’s an instant wardrobe updater !
Mix it up: lace and khaki all look fabulous in chic dark colours.

Outfit 7.( from left to right above)
Diana Ferrari white tank $29.95
Sportsgirl Black lace Tee $69.95
Cue red floral skirt $155
Betts Black lace up wedges $99.99
Country Road blue shoulder bag $229
Collette Red bracelet $9.95
Collette Pink jewelled cuff  $14.95
Stella McCartney from Sunglass Hut $270

Fashion Tip:
Outrageous wedges add the neccessary tough edge to a pretty floral skirt.
Don’t be afraid to mix up colours and textures !

Outfit 8.
Esprit navy and white stripe Tee $39.95
Cue floral skirt $155
Collette tan lady like bag $59.95
Betts Tan flat lace up gladiators $89.99
Cue white wrist strap $45
Chloe Sunglasses from Sunglass Hut $510

Fashion tip:
Mix up stripes and florals for an eclectic touch!
Tan gladiators are the new neutrals: A must have shoe for summer.

Outfit 9.
Esprit stripe Long sleeve Tee $39.99
Country Road navy silky parachute pants $179
Esprit stone trench $129
Siren from Wanted shoes Tan and canvas heels $139.95
Collette caramel zip utility bag $69.99
Collette Jewel necklace $14.95
D&G Sunglasses from sunglass Hut $360

Fashion Tip:
Jewels for day with a stripe Tee? Yes please!
A trench , a Tee , navy pants: all classics but now look new in an updated cut.

Outfit 10 ( from left to right)
Country Road navy silky parachute pants $179
Supre white shirt $50
Sussan white blazer $119.95
Collette Jewel pendant $14.95
Collette Bronze gold and black glitter bag $29.95
Collette gold cuff $9.95
New Look from Payless Blush patent platform heels $59.95

Fashion tip:
A white floppy 70’s style shirt is back : You need this blouse!
Add a 70’s pendant and an oversized clutch for laid back evening chic.

Outfit 11.
Blue Illusion pink graphic print dress $169.96
Forever New pink suede biker jacket $179.99
RMK from Wanted shoes Tan wedges $159.95
Oroton Tan Bag  $695.00
Cotton On Sunglasses $12.95

Fashion Tip:
A soft pink biker jacket adds a touch edge to a pretty dress.
Don’t worry about matching shoes and bags. Oh please…

Outfit 12.
Diana Ferrari grey fitted sheath dress $139.95
Forever New necklaces from $20
Sportsgirl Red Chanel style quilted bag $49.95
Wanted shoes Grey Jewelled heels $149.95

Fashion Tip:
Take a simple grey sheath dress into evening by layering up the bling !
A red bag lifts the grey and adds a sexy punch of colour.

(P.S: Shot of Celine bag from Style.com).

Italian Almond and Carrot Cake …..adulterated from Cuisine.com.au and  Stephanie Alexander’s Kitchen Garden Companion, published by Lantern.

Healthy, moist and quite delicious this cake is perfect if you need to use up the leftover carrots lying in the bottom of the fridge ( which you bought on Monday to start your diet.)

It can also be baked in 10 greased and baking-paper-lined holes of a 12-hole muffin tin. In this case, fill each hole two-thirds full with batter, then scatter a few pine nuts over each one. Little cakes will take about 20 minutes to cook until firm and golden on top.
Watch out: the mixture wants to stick to the tin so baking paper is essential.

You need for 10 shoppers, 5 teenage boys or 40 models:

20g butter, for greasing
3/4 cup raw almonds
125g (1 or 2 depending on their size) carrots, peeled
2 tbsp self-raising flour
Finely grated zest of 1/2 lemon ( or a quarter of preserved lemon rind)
2 free-range eggs, separated
125g Castor sugar
2 tbsp pine nuts

• Slip out Burberry puffa jacket.
• Pull on Calvin Klein slip dress.
• Pour a glass of wine or ten.
• Preheat oven to 180C.
• Melt butter in a frying pan over low heat.
• Using a pastry brush, grease a 22cm x 10cm loaf tin with melted butter, then line with baking paper and grease again. Think SKII face mask.
• It’s essential not to think of wearing bikini at this stage.
• Find the whizzer and whiz almonds to form a fine powder. Tip: pull out a handful so you have a few chunky pieces.
• Throw almonds into a mixing bowl.
• Now grate carrots with the whizzer or ask George Clooney to get grating.
• He can now zest the lemons as well.
• Toss in carrots with the almonds and then throw in the flour and lemon zest.
• Mix well, using your fingers to make sure there are no lumps. Same as you would to your thighs.
• Beat egg yolks and sugar until thick as Paris Hilton and as pale as Karen Elson
• Stir in carrot mixture using a slotted spoon if you have one.
• Scrape the mixture into a large mixing bowl.
• Then ask George to quickly wash and dry electric beaters and bowl.
• So you can whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form. George loves a stiff peak.
• Gently fold the egg whites into carrot batter gently. Think folding a Prada silk blouse.
• Spoon the gooey batter into loaf tin.
• Accessorise it with a scattering pine nuts over the batter.
• Bake cake for 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
• Leave cake to cool in tin for a few minutes before running a knife around edges and turning out on to a cooling rack to cool completely.
• Quite fabulous and so healthy!