The reviews for Kanye West’s show at Paris week are in ….

“Harder, faster, stronger, maybe just a little bit better. After a debut collection that was a critical flop last fall, Kanye West resumed his fashion career in Paris, picking up right where he left off, with a spectacle of slinky dresses, leather pants that didn’t quite fit, furry peplums, broadtail stretch pants, some souped-up go-karts and Kim Kardashian. Well, at least that was an improvement.” The New York Times’ Eric Wilson.

“The problem was, Kim Kardashian was sat front row, draped in a fur stole. If anything is going to make fur seem cheap, nasty, trashy and  unnecessary, it is the pres of the reality TV star.” The dailymail.co.uk

“Kanye West: a little Givenchy, a little Costume National. Will the real Kanye please stand up?” The Daily Beast’s Robin Givhan on twitter

“Good Thing Kanye West Has a Day Job” Wall St Journal blog.

” A model pitched down the runway in shoes so ill-fitting that her spike heels were bending at angles. “I feel sorry. Why not take that look out?” asked one cringing magazine editor.

“[Kanye's] shoes are sexy as f**k but you can’t walk in them!”@JourdanDunn

“When Joan Smalls closed the show, wearing an adhesive black gauze dress with a strip of alligator running up the front, it seemed as if Mr. West’s approach to making a dress was like a cook wrapping leftover turkey.” The New York Times.

” Kanye West’s quickly built relationship with fashion is unprecedented and weird.  While we’re not head-over-heels for (or even compelled to buy) any of the pieces, we wouldn’t object to putting them on - which, considering his first show, is a compliment. The shoes, that peach dress, and the abundance of Givenchy rip-offs, on the other hand, we could do without.” Refinery29

“there was no live show, and there were no new ideas. There were some go carts that whizzed around the catwalk at the end making a big whizzy noise, there were supermodels who looked lovely in Kanye’s clothes - but when don’t they? - there was Champagne and paparazzi. All the trimmings but without the substance - yet - like a boy playing at being a big fashion designer” Vogue Uk

“He wants us to think his collection is luxurious, elitist and covetable, so he falls back on the thing that all designers with no imagination or morals fall back on: electrocuting small animals and often skinning them alive.” Ewww.The DailyMailUK

The Orphan Master’s Son: A Novel by Adam Johnson

The hot new book everyone is talking about:
“A great novel can take implausible fact and turn it into entirely believable fiction. That’s the genius of The Orphan Master’s Son.  Adam Johnson has taken the papier-mâché creation that is North Korea and turned it into a real and riveting place that readers will find unforgettable. This is a novel worth getting excited about, one which more than delivers on its pre-publication buzz… I haven’t liked a new novel this much in years, and I want to share the simple pleasure of reading the book. When English readers want to understand what it was about - how people lived and died inside a cult of personality that committed unspeakable crimes against its citizens - I hope they will turn to this carefully documented story. The happy surprise is that they will find it such a page turner.” -The Washington Post

“Mr. Johnson has written a daring and remarkable novel, a novel that not only opens a frightening window on the mysterious kingdom of North Korea, but one that also excavates the very meaning of love and sacrifice.” - Michiko Kakutani, The New York Time

“We don’t know what’s really going on in that strange place, but a disquieting glimpse suggesting what it must be like can be found in this brilliant and timely novel.” - Wall Street Journal

“Magnificently accomplished…Part thriller, part coming-of-age novel, part romance, The Orphan Master’s Son is made sturdy by research…but what makes it so absorbing isn’t its documentary realism but the dark flight of the author’s imagination…rich with a sense of discovery…The year is young, but The Orphan Master’s Son has an early lead on novel of 2012″ -The Daily Beast

“An incredibly vivid page-turner of a novel…Romance, coming-of-age tale, adventure and thriller all in one, this book is singular and not to be missed.” - The Huffington Post, 10 Best January Must-Reads

$16 Publisher: Random House (January 10, 2012) Amazon.com

Domestic Art….BY Holly Moore, Robert Brinkley, and Laurann Claridge

This looks fabulous! ‘What does a modernist have in common with an obsessive collector? The gallery owner with the artist? A metal warehouse with a chalet-style bungalow? Domestic Art: Curated Interiors leads you on a tour through inspiring and individualistic interiors, from a 500-square-foot bedsit to a Philip Johnson architectural wonder.
Thirty-five projects in all document nearly a decade of deftly designed and smartly styled interiors from the pages of PaperCity magazine.
In this book, a designer builds her dream home-cantilevered over an earthquake fault. A gallery owner brings a circa-1880s house back from the brink of decay and generations of nesting squirrels. The designs range from follies to disciplined mansions, from John and Dominique de Menil’s iconic International Style house outfitted by couturier Charles James to a Philippe Starck-laden love nest by Mikyung Chun that channels the Flintstones and the Jetsons. Call it what you will-lavish, loopy, eccentric assemblages, moody modernism. Whether you browse for inspiration, curiosity, or envy, Domestic Art reveals fascinating snapshots of today’s best, and most intriguing, interior design.’

$65.00 available for Pre-Order Assouline.com

It’s great to see so many fabulous new pieces instore: it’s going to be a lovely season to get dressed !

FiFi ALERT!!
SO you love clothes but don’t have the time to hit the shops scouring racks?
You can’t get rid of the screaming children and husband?
Don’t know where to start?
Never fear FiFi Is here !
It’s time to book a style session with FiFi!
I will take you shopping. You will have a fabulous wardrobe in 3 hours. A wonderful winter wardrobe that works from morning to noon to night.
But wait there’s more !  Life will be easier. You will look younger. You will look slimmer. George Clooney will propose. You will be able to get dressed with your eyes closed. in 5 minutes flat. Every morning.
That’s a promise.
Make a booking and email FiFi@FiFi.com.au or click here to find out more !

Now onto what’s hot in the shops and the top ten of the week !

Witchery
Get ready for a leather love-in this season. As I have been mentioning leather is hot this winter and it’s fascinating to see the trend slowly move into the more mainstream. Remember it was way baaaack in June 2009 when we all drooled over Phobe Philo’s first collection for Celine ( which was Resort). Have a look here. All divine. You would still wear it all right now. The woman is a genius. Proof of why you pay for quality. She did a leather Tee the next season for spring ‘10 and I’ve been talking about it ever since. You might like to know that it’s not a fad: Phoebe included leather in her latest winter show. All fabulous here. I die! I must say Witchery was quick originally to get on the trend and each season since. My pick is the black leather Front Tank. It’s perfect to wear right now while it’s warm ( freezing actually!) and then under a jacket into winter. Love with high waist pants a la Celine and add a snazzy leather foulard tied around the neck as she did in the show. $99

Country Road
Another must have for the season is the fitted jacket. You gotta love this one here from Country Road: very inspired by Stella MCCartney. You see the folded over lapel? That’s how you wear it. So chic. The fit of this jacket is very tailored and flattering. Great with chinos/peg leg pants /skinny jeans as well as with a flippy flirty skirt. Add a touch of colour with a stripe top or simple tee. Love this with jeans and a white shirt. Very Garance Dore non? $349

Jac and jack
As I was saying last week the sweater is the new jacket. Suddenly it looks so right with a flirty vintage dress or skirt ( see here the street style star Natalie Loos in a chunky knit with a pretty dress in this divine video! .) Start investing now in chic sweaters. chunky or fine knit. Love this grey 100% cashmere knit here . It’s also in beautiful tones of blues as well. As I mentioned last week it’s chic worn over a white shirt and back with skinny jeans. But perfect under jacket or your fav faux fur vest.  Yes, please!$299

Sportsgirl
Sometimes all we need is a jolt of colour. How can you go past this cute suede / leather “Elle” clutch bag in red? It’s $39. You can’t. Shut up. It’s also in a fabulous cobalt blue. Love the detachable strap. It’s great to wear out to dinner or just grab it to wear as a tres cool day bag. Yes, you can down size. You can. The envelope clutch is all anyone is wearing at the shows. ( probably because they all have a car and a driver who carries all the stuff they need). While you’re at Sportsgirl grab the orange stud leather cuff for an outrageous $12….

Bassike
Stripes how I do love thee : let me count the ways I’m obviously having a red moment so I couldn’t go past this lovely red and white stripe crew neck sweat Tee. Add to your new leather skirt, toss on with your grey chinos, throw back with your short denim shorts. You could even throw it on with your new print floppy PJ pants if you are very groovy. Mad print clash is the look of the day…But I say try this top with the snazzy red patent heels and then pull on faded old slouchy boyfriend jeans. Love ! $160.

Portmans
More leather! Why not snatch up this cute Azzedine style Pintuck Leather Flippy Skirt? It’s a little short for those with muffin knees but I suggest you buy a bigger size and have it hang a bit lower on your hips so you get the length. This is great for the price. After all most of us can’t afford Celine ( Boo Hoo). You can dress it up with the right short ankle boots and a grey marle sweat top. Or just add a lovely burgundy knit. Cute. $149

It’s the bag of the week!
I love this fabulous 3.1 Phillip Lim bag. It first caught my eye because it has the same kind of shape as a Celine bag. Adorable. I love the silver hardware : it looks fresh  ( and so sick of gold.) Plus it’s big enough for every day but not too oversized. It has that lovely structured look which makes it oh so chic. I think you can tuck in those bits on the side so that makes it neat. And excuse me: but what a fabulous price? $860. Also comes in a cobalt blue which is pretty special too. Fabulous. 3.1 Phillip Lim from  Shopbop.

Trenery
You want this grey panelled dress. You do. It doesn’t matter what age you are. ( Ok, anyone under 25 skip this bit) . The thing is that the cut is quite fabulous. It has the perfect neckline where it goes in at the base of the neck: This is where the scoop goes so wrong giving you a big fat short neck! ewww. This gives good neck. It gives the illusion of long. Plus it skims over the muffin hips and still gives you a great shape. It’s a winner. Oh and you can wear it right now with wedges and bare arms and then later on in winter under a coat. It has a hidden zip on the front which means you can also wear it unzipped over a tee and jeans ( and belt it if you so desire). $149

Nordtrum shoes
I’m on the hunt for classic pointy toe heels. I am. I am. They are the hot shoe du jour and it’s time to start wearing them again. Not a lot to be found as I snoop around the stores ( for a good price). Not alot around that are not too high. You need a platform or wedge to really be comfortable in heels. Life is too short to wear shoes that hurt. I am very happy to have tracked down these fabulous Charles David ‘Sway’ Pump at Nordstrums . They come in black .Phew. So put down the paper bag and breathe again. But hey after seeing Natalie Joos declaring she has worn patent red pointy heels all fashion week I’m a convert. Man, she is so cool as you can see here $185.

Jigsaw
We all need a bit of camel in our life this winter. It softens the black and grey. It loves red, brown and navy. Yes, I can hear you saying “didn’t camel have it’s day last winter?”  Yes, it came back and was trending on twitter I’m sure : But really it’s a classic and you can’t go wrong. I do like this fabulous fitted jacket here at Jigsaw with very Burberry style buttons. Oh, ok it does come in black as well. I think the fur collar is detachable because it’s not so chic. This number looks great undone. Love it with a pencil skirt for work but it will look fab with high waist pants too. In fact everything on this page works together. They should all move in together. And then get married. $399.

lemon and broccoli soup…. adulterated from Donnahay.

I’m thinking something quick. I’m thinking something healthy. I’m thinking summer is over and it’s time for soup.

You need for 4 fashionista or 30 models:

50g butter
1 leek, rinsed and sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 head broccoli, chopped
4 cups (1 litre) vegetable stock
100g baby spinach leaves
1 cup (250ml) single (pouring) cream
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Zest one lemon
sea salt and cracked black pepper
80g fresh ricotta

• Shake yourself out of your wet Burberry trench. Again.
• Pull off your red Hunter wellingtons. Again.
• Ignore the frizzy hair and the mascara running down your face.
• Ask George Clooney to light the fire.
• Pour a humongous wine. Gulp.
• Go through the photos of your trip to Bali and Borneo. Dream of summer.
• Chop up the leek (or onions ), the garlic as small as the credit left on your credit card.
• Chop up the broccoli as small as Angelina’s arms.
• Zest and juice the lemon.
• Heat a deep, medium saucepan over high heat.
• Add the butter, leek and garlic and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until the leek is tender as a Chloe Bag.
• Add the broccoli and stock, bring to the boil and cook for 8-10 minutes or until the broccoli is tender as as George on a good night.
• Add the spinach and cook for about 1-2 minutes or until it’s as floppy as George on a bad night.
• Then either find the hand-held blender or toss in the whizzer and blend until you have soup as smooth as George’s voice…
• Stir in the cream, lemon juice and zest, salt and pepper.
• Then just ladle into bowls
• Accessorise with ricotta and a few strands of lemon zest and parsley.
• Yum.