Garance Doré Is Interviewed for Jay-Z’s New Website, Life +Times

Life + Times: What’s your go-to item of clothing?
Garance Doré: Repetto ballerinas

L+T: What designer made you fall in love with fashion?
GD: Yves Saint Laurent

L+T: What’s something you regret buying?
GD: Ice cream last night.

L+T: What’s the most fashionable place you’ve ever been?
GD: Anna Della Russo’s closet.

L+T: Less or more?
GD: Less.

L+T: What makes a good photo?
GD: Light and emotion.

L+T: What fashion trends should we be looking forward to in 2011?
GD: I love hats and I would like to see more women and men adopting them into their wardrobe.

(”Cape” by Garance Doré commissioned exclusively for Life + Times.)
Via nymag.com

Reasons to love a Lovisa chunky chain Pendant:

• Because it’s $3100 (!) cheaper than the original from Lanvin.
• Because it’s the season for big statement jewellery.
• Because everyone will be staring at this and not notice your daggy dress from last season.
• Because your stripe T shirt and skinny jeans will love and adore a little bling.
• Because your simple grey knit and leather skirt will love and adore a little jooshing.
• Because you can shorten it make it a choker ( for another look).
• Because it also comes in a fabulous silver which you want (but there is no photo).
• Because it’s um, $39.99. Shut. Up….from Lovisa.com.au (Lanvin from Net a Porter)

Sometimes when you peer in the mirror and really look at yourself you know it’s time to bring out the big guns.
Yes, it’s time to start the war on wrinkles. It’s time for an attack on ( cough, cough) aging.
Which is why I am in love with La Mer: The Radiant Serum. It’s a seriously ultra-light gel serum that, they say, boosts skin’s ability to reflect light. Whatever it does I think it’s working. They say the “skin tone correctors dissolve the look of discolouration.” I wonder if I rubbed it on my thighs it will dissolve my cellulite? Anyway the exclusive marine extracts “firm and plump skin’s appearance, breathing life into the complexion.”  Yes, my skin seems clearer and glowing But that might be from my new Celine wedges . The best result? This morning George Clooney actually called me radiant. And my best friend can’t stop raving about the skin. Now that is proof!
It’s a miracle!

P.S yes, it’s expensive but more people look at your face than your Prada bag.

$500 La Mer: The Radiant Serum from David Jones cremedelamer.com.au

American Fashion Travel

This book looks fabulous! A must buy: A stylish scrapbook with “personal anecdotes, memorabilia, photos, and an original travel questionnaire.”
WWD says “Those who ever wondered about Tommy Hilfiger’s favorite eatery in the world (Bukhara in New Delhi), Diane von Furstenberg’s airline of choice (Air France) or Simon Spurr’s go-to hotel (The Dylan in Amsterdam) should look no further than the latest Council of Fashion Designers of America’s book by Assouline. “American Fashion Travel: Designers of the Go” gives readers an insider view into the travel preferences of CFDA members, and from Donna Karan to Elie Tahari and Francisco Costa, the designers have supplied travel photos and other mementos to illustrate their lists.” Love it!
$45.Available May. Pre-order now  Shopassouline.com

The royal wedding count down is just beginning! UK Bazaar’s May 2011 issue stars Kate Moss in a special White issue celebrating fashion royalty. Harpersbazaar.co.uk

British Vogue’s 3 different May covers are also tribute to the royal wedding. Lara Stone, Natalia Vodianova, and Freja Beha wear wedding gowns and stare at the camera with that signature stoned insane bride look…reports Nymag.com

Six months after it took over Style.com, Condé Nast’s Fairchild Fashion Group is talking  a print spinoff of the website: fantastic! Adweek.com

Aerin Lauder, granddaughter of Estee Lauder and the SVP, creative director, and third largest shareholder in the cosmetics brand, is reportedly prepping the launch of a fashion and lifestyle brand. “Aerin wants to be the next Tory Burch,” a source told Page Six. Fashionologie.com

‘Carine Roitfeld, a guest editor and stylist at Barneys New York this fall, has also been tapped by none other than Karl Lagerfeld. The designer just wrapped up shooting Chanel’s fall-winter campaign in Paris with Danish model Freja Beha Erichsen, a Chanel regular, the sole model, and Roitfeld, the former Vogue Paris editor in chief, as stylist. “The mix with Freja was genius,” Lagerfeld assured. WWD.com

Rachel Zoe and husband Rodger Berman are literally over the moon and have released a picture of their newborn son Skyler. People.com

Steven Meisel shot Kristina Salinovic in bright retro makeup for the April cover of Italian Vogue.

Karl Lagerfeld is again creating limited-edition bottles of Diet Coke.  The designer used as his inspiration for the three bottles the three models who appear in the Diet Coke commercials: Coco Rocha, Heidi Mount and Jeneil Williams. Vogue.it

Adventures in Copyright: Zara’s Sweet on Prada’s Entire Spring Collection It seems like Prada’s spring 2011 collection is everywhere. Fashionista.com

Lady Gaga is joining V magazine wither first column in the summer issue, out May 12. WWD

Balmain is ending its five-year collaboration with Christophe Decarnin, the designer who heated up the French brand to the boiling point, but was missing in action during Paris Fashion Week last month, WWD .

The tale of Kate and Prince William’s love has been turned into a comic book. It’s a great way to hide a little balding without a conspicuous comb-over. Hilarious ! says Nymag.com

‘Marks and Spencer has today announced that it will be returning to the French capital in style, opening a giant, three-storey floor on the fashionable Champs Elysées in the centre of the French capital towards the end of the year.” Merveileux ! Businessoffashion.com

Grace Coddington’s memoir is no longer being authored by Jay Fielden; in his new role as Town & Country’s editor he apparently won’t have time… Damn! WWD

Telegraph fashion director Hilary Alexander announced her semi-retirement in February. Writer Lisa Armstrong, who regularly contributes to British Vogue, will run the section with Luke Leitch, currently deputy fashion editor of the Sunday Times. Fashionista.com

Anna wear jeans! Nymag.com

Plum & almond tart...adulterated from Growharvestcook

It’s the season for plums so I whipped up an amazing plum and Almond tart. This pastry is fabulous- and easy to make- because it has polenta which gives it a crunchy texture.  Divine!
As always I whiz/blitz fresh almonds instead of using almond meal: it makes a huge difference in the taste.

You need for 30 models or 10 fashionista:
½ cup plain flour
½ cup polenta
¼ cup caster sugar
75g unsalted butter, chopped
2 tabsp iced water
thick cream, to serve
almond filling
75g butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup caster sugar
1 egg
¾ cup fresh almonds that have been whizzed or you can use almond meal
1 tabsp plain flour
6 plums, halved, stone removed

• Slip into your new cashmere Hermes knit dress.
• Throw on your new Prada lace up platform brogues.
• Go on pour a huge glass of wine. It’s impossible to cook without it don’t you think?
• Now throw flour, polenta, sugar and ( softened) butter in a food processor.
• Process it until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. or the cellulite on your thighs.
• Add water and pulse, until dough forms a ball around blade. Amazing but it does actually do that .
• Toss it onto a lightly floured surface and bring dough together in a blob that looks like your stomach will (after you’ve eaten this).
• Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30mins.
• Preheat oven to 190C or 170C fan.
• Lightly moisterise loose based, fluted, flan pan.
• Now get the dough out of fridge and just start to press it evenly over base and sides of pan. You will think it won’t make it but keep spreading with your fingers until it’s even and it should do the trick.
• Tip: You want the pastry to go up the sides so press it in as firmly as you can : this is to keep the filling in place so it doesn’t ooze out when cooking. Like a muffin top.
• Chill for 5 mins. That’s the pastry not you.
• Get out the whizzer and blitz the almonds so they are like powder with a little crunch.
• Chop the plums into chunky slices. Not too small or they will go gooey.
• Next get out the electric mixer, and beat the butter and sugar together until pale and creamy as a new Gucci bag.
• Toss in the egg and beat it, baby, beat it. .
• Stir through almond and flour until it’s all mixed and combined.
• Taste it and you will see how delicious this is.
• It might seem dry but it’s actually means this filling will hold the fruit.
• Spread and dollop the over tart pastry.
• Top the plums with aplomb, dotting them chicly over the filling.
• Now throw in the oven and bake for 35-40 mins, until crisp and golden as Donatella.
• Serve warm accessorised with thick cream and sprinkle with icing sugar.
• Superb!

It’s backstage at another FiFi’s style session !

This is another one of the fashion shows I was presenting on stage last week at Westfield Burwood ! The theme of this show is ‘casual weekend looks’.

As with last week’s FiFi Report you can check out all cute backstage shots of each outfit we snapped doing the fitting on the gorgeous model Angela.  Yes, even without hair and makeup Angela looks fabulous!
(But please excuse the bad lighting and some of the fuzzy shots ) .

As in the last week’s workshop you can see that in each show one item is always worn twice: so we start with jeans and a biker jacket and then those jeans are worn again in the next outfit in a different way and so on.

The idea is to build a wardrobe and make those pieces work many ways: who wears one piece just once and just one way? We have to get mileage out of our wardrobe!

My point is that if you had a million dollars and a stylist you can wear a different bright color every day: who cares if you ever see it again?! But if you are on a budget you have to build a wardrobe so it’s important to stick to the colors that go together.  Colours that look expensive such as black, grey , brown, camel and cream. You can’t go wrong !

This is cheap but chic heaven…
Hint: prices and where to buy below each shot!

Again do let me know which ones are your favouites!

0utfit 0ne: above left
Mid-rise straight jean - JAG $139.95
Charcoal long sleeve knit top - BLUE ILLUSION $59.95
Beige pleather biker jacket fur collar - PORTMANS $149.95
Grey natural multi-print  scarf - SUSSAN $39.95
Mocha lace-up heels by Windsor Smith - WANTED $139.95
Brown studded tote - COLETTE $59.95
Eco-Drive Ultra Slim Silver Dress Watch AR3010-65A by Citizen Watches - ANGUS & COOTE $599.00
Brown tortoise shell sunglasses - GLASSON $24.95

FASHION TIP:
Denim is perfect for winter weekends: add a biker jacket and heels to update it for this season.
Go for a leather biker jacket in a softer colour like taupe r caramel.

OUTFIT TWO above right
Mid denim wide leg jean - SUSSAN $89.95
Olive long sleeve pocket  shirt - COUNTRY ROAD $89.95
White/grey Faux fur vest - DOTTI $99.95
Olive print scarf - SPORTSCRAFT
Black zip cuff - JAY JAY $15
Black Alana shoulder bag - COUNTRY ROAD $299.00
Khaki “Salute” strappy heel - PAYLESS $59.95
Black oversized sunglasses by Prada - SUNGLASS HUT $350

FASHION TIP:
The khaki military shirt is a must buy this season worn hanging out over jeans
The faux fur vest is a pivotal piece for winter (tossed over a military shirt.)

OUTFIT THREE above left
Olive long sleeve pocket  shirt - COUNTRY ROAD $89.95
Black pleather shorts - SHEIKE $109.95
Navy and green Tartan blazer - DOTTI $89.95
Mocha brown woolen scarf - COUNTRY ROAD $59.95
Black suede gloves - BARDOT $39.95
Brown Thigh-high “Kara” boot wedges - BETTS $99.99
Grey “Artisan” Bag - OROTON $695.00
Brown frame sunglasses by Stella McCartney - SUNGLASS HUT $270

FASHION TIP:
If you’re feeling groovy and got the legs try leather shorts with heels and a shrunken blazer.
push up the sleeves on your blazer to give it a fashion edge.

OUTFIT FOUR above  right
Black pleather short - SHEIKE $109.95
Black and camel striped knit top - WITCHERY $129.95
New camel hazel pea coat - FOREVER NEW $129.99
Charcoal tube scarf - WITCHERY $59.95
Leopard print fedora hat - LEESA $39.95
Brown tortoise shell sunglasses - GLASSON $24.95
Cobble Lace-up Heel by Therapy - WANTED $89.95
Black “Alba” mesh bag - OROTON $795.00

FASHION TIP:
Black, camel and brown are classic colours but add an eclectic touch with an animal print hat.
The caramel peacoat is all you need for winter: It will lighten up black and work with brown too.

OUTFIT FIVE above left
black and caramel stripe knit - WITCHERY $129.95
Red skinny jeans - JAY JAYS $39.95
WITCHERY black pea coat 249.95
Black “Grease Baby” T-bar pointy toe heels - WITTNER $149.95
COUNTRY ROAD loop knit scarf $99.00
Red rose enamel ring - LOVISA $19.95
White square frame sunglasses - DOTTI $19.95
Grey Big Pocket Weekender - COLETTE $59.95

FASHION TIP:
Red skinny jeans are all over the runways and are the hot buy of the season.
Pointy toe stilettos are coming back (did you know they ever went away?). Love !

OUTFIT SIX above right
Red skinny jeans - JAY JAYS $39.95
Multicoloured striped sweater - SUPRE $40
Black blazer by Blue Juice - SEDUCE $129
Silver and black metallic razor necklace - LOVISA $29.99
Grey All-Star lo-top converse shoes - GENERAL PANTS $89.95
Purple cat’s eyes by Chloe - SUNGLASS HUT $540.00
Black studded “Winston” shoulder bag - WITCHERY $199.95

FASHION TIP:
It’s all about contrast; throw a dressed up tailored jacket back with converse.
Make a statement and layer a chunky necklace back with a stripe Tee and flats.

Top photo from Style.com