New Yorker writer Judith Thurman moderated a discussion between the fabulously chic 90 year old Iris Apfel and the 16 years old blogging sensation Tavi Gevinson called “Good Taste/Bad Taste: The Evolution of Contemporary Chic at at the Metropolitan Museum of Art .  Thanks to Fashionista.com

On Comme des Garçons’ bump collection:
Iris Apfel: “I see no sense in paying a fortune to look like a freak. I can look ugly on
my own and it won’t cost me a penny.”

Tavi Gevinson: “Sometimes, I don’t care about being attractive,”

On women feeling a pressure to get dressed:
Iris Apfel: “When the fun goes out of it, you might as well be dead. You need to
pursue your own fancy.”

On putting things together in the morning:
Iris Apfel: “If you put something on and it doesn’t look good, the fashion police aren’t
going to come and take you away. And if they do, you might have some fun in jail.”

On personal taste:
Tavi Gevinson: “I wish people thought of taste and style similarly to what people
think of what it means to have a sense of humor.”

On developing a personal sense of style:
Iris Apfel: “It’s important not to give a damn about what anyone else thinks. Personal style is something you have to evolve for yourself, and trying to find out who you are is like putting yourself on a psychiatric couch.”

“On Miuccia Prada:
Tavi Gevinson: “Prada’s clothes exist in a vacuum that lives outside of cultural influences.”

On relaxing at home:
Iris Apfel: “There’s nothing like a good old bathrobe.”
On the cosmetics industry:

Iris Apfel: “I was the oldest living broad to be given a cosmetics contract; and my
collaboration with MAC was hideously successful.”

Foal’s Bread by Gillian Mears

“The long-awaited new novel from the award-winning author of The Grass Sister tells the story of two generations of the Nancarrow family and the high-jumping horse circuit prior to the Second World War. A love story of impossible beauty and sadness, it is also a chronicle of dreams ‘turned inside out’, and miracles that never last, framed against a world both tender and unspeakably hard.
Set in hardscrabble farming country and around the country show high-jumping circuit that prevailed in rural New South Wales prior to the Second World War, Foal’s Bread tells the story of two generations of the Nancarrow family and their fortunes as dictated by the vicissitudes of the land.
It is a love story of impossible beauty and sadness, a chronicle of dreams ‘turned inside out’, and miracles that never last, framed against a world both tender and unspeakably hard. Written in luminous prose and with an aching affinity for the landscape the book describes, Foal’s Bread is the work of a born writer at the height of her considerable powers. It is a stunning work of remarkable originality and power, one that confirms Gillian Mears’ reputation as one of our most exciting and acclaimed writers.’

$32.99 Australian Pub.ALLEN & UNWIN  November 2011 from Allenandunwin.com

Grace: A Memoir [Hardcover] by Grace Coddington (Author)

It won’t be out in time until November but you must must must put add Grace Coddington’s upcoming memoir on your wish list. At least we now know what the cover looks like.
‘Grace Coddington, is now 70, and “has been the Creative Director of American Vogue magazine for the past 20 years. Her candour, her irascibility, her commitment to her work, and her always fresh and original take on fashion has made her, after Anna Wintour, the most powerful person in fashion. Acquired after an intense auction among every major publisher, this woman who became an unwilling celebrity captured the hearts of everyone when she was revealed in “The September issue” as the creative force behind the throne at Vogue. Having grown up on a backwater island in Wales, she came to London just in time to be discovered as a dazzling model by the famous Norman Parkinson, then went on to shape the pages at Vogue for 19 years where she worked as Creative Director with many luminaries including the young Wintour. Lured by Calvin Klein to run his New York operation she then jumped back to American Vogue when Wintour returned to America in 2003. She has been there ever since.’
‘The book, reported the Observer, was sold to Random House for a cool (and rumored) $1.2 million. “I’m not telling secret stories,” Grace tells the New York Post’s Cindy Adams. “Not writing ugly bad things to get back at anyone. This book’s not gossipy. It’s more a record. I’ve kept a diary since I was a tiny kid trying to find my way, and going through all my written records reminds me of shoots and jogs my memory.” says Huffingtonpost.com

The book is out in November : Just in time for Christmas: Can’t wait !

Pre order $18 Publisher: Random House (November 20, 2012) Amazon.com

It’s that time of year where we have a weird disease called fashion jet leg. Is it summer or winter? Who knows! Winter clothes are on sale and the resort/ summer pieces are dribbling into store. The northern hemiphere stores are full of summer on sale - thank you- but their next winter is just about to arrive instore. Perhaps you are freezing here in Australia ( and loving wearing ALL your winter clothes) or you are about to hop on a plane and lounge around your Villa in Como. What to do? Buy it ALL! Who cares what season it is! Mix it up. Summer and winter. Hot and cold. Budget and expensive. Isn’t that the modern way to dress?…..
Voila my picks this week. They will take you from Sydney to Wellington and over to Paris and Tuscany. If you buy everything on this page you will be ready for ANYTHING. The little leather dress works with the black sandals for day. Add the fabulous coach bag. Check. For evening go for the orange heels. For a more wintery look throw the peacoat and gumboots back with the leather dress. Add the fur scarf. Try the print pants with either heels, toss on the JCrew tee and then pull the peacoat over your shoulders. The Aran chunky short sleeve knit will work with the silk pants or jeans. The Coach bag works with almost everything because it’s a neutral. The orange heels rock all the black and navy into an edgier look. Oh, it’s all gorgeous and totally Chic. Start shopping now…

Jimmy Choo Agnes patent-leather pumps
The Net a porter sale has also started on their UK site. I do love the Jimmy Choo orange neon patent pointy toe heels. They will add joosh to anything you wear. ANYTHING. They are not for running around shopping all day unless you have a limo. But they are coolest day to evening shoe. Love especially with rolled up pants, jeans, chinos, or peg leg pants. Rather than a skirt. A bright shoe will add that all important POP of colour. Keep it looking sexy and edgy on your feet and you can’t go wrong. If these shoes have already let the building (They are on sale after all )  just keep an eye out for anything similar at your price point. Delicious non? Was £279.17 Now £195.42 30% OFF.

Country Road print pants
Have I gone mad? Have I been blinded by the Jimmy Choo neon heels? Maybe gone into shock seeing that woman with Mr. Clooney in Como?  My philosophy? All can be solved with shopping. When I choose crazy print pants in The FiFi Report you know that something is going on. What happened to that rule about table top dressing? What happened to the please ignore prints line? Put down paper bag and calmez vous ! Those rules still apply. But it’s fashion and we love it ! So I have to admit the print pant just won’t go away and you know suddenly you get used to it and it’s a cool look. I like these very Celine inspired ( aren’t they all?) print pants. I think you need to wear with heels , you really do. Ok, I hear you groan “I hate my legs ( and drawing attention to them )” then yes, keep tottering along in your Jimmy Choos to next piece on the rack to buy. Hard to resist, though, when they are just $129. Perfect for hanging out in St Tropez. Buy them, love them, thrash them and say goodbye. How to wear them ? I like the way Country Rad has styled them on thier site with a black blazer. You can tone it down with simple navy or black or an orange Tee.$129.

VIA SPIGA Ankle strap sandal from Shoes.com
The shoe of the season for a year or so has been the divine Celine style one strap across the toe, ankle strap sandal. It has a lower heel. It’s the antithesis of those stomp-a-licious wedges and platforms we have been wearing for years. There are all sorts of variations available now to buy but my favourite has to be seen here exhibit A above. Found these fabulous shoes on the website SHOES.com ( who’d da thunk?) and love them. The heel height might actually be OK for shopping all day. Love in black but you could go for caramel or even red. Now on sale plus shipping for $173. Wear with rolled up pants, skirts and dresses. And yes they will look great in summer with shorts too. That’s if you stopped eating those fried mars bars by then.

J crew Orange Cashemere Tee
I love and adore the J Crew cashmere store. It’s just a joy to visit. All those gorgeous colours. You want it all. But I stopped and clicked at the divine short sleeve cashmere Tee. It’s a must buy in every colour. The orange is fabulous - a huge trend as you know for next summer- but please don’t cry because you can get it in black and grey. Phew. The neckline sits so well and it’s a neat fit. Perfect. All you need when you hop on that plane to Paris. For you $207. There is also a plain sleeveless tank which I rather love as well. see Here

Gorman Aran Knit Top
The knit is the new jacket. It’s what I repeat every week. So I’m loving the Gorman cute little short sleeve Arun cable knit. Why so? Because it’s chunky but not too chunky /oversized that you look like you’ve stashed the jimmy choo shoes under your top . I like the way it’s shorter so it will sit neatly at the waist with a leather skirt or high waist pants. Not bulk up the almond croissants already sitting on the hips. You could always layer it over a shirt and roll up the sleeves to just longer than the knit. If you know what I mean. It’s a chic cream colour and tres trans-seasonal. It’s very Louis Vuitton I think : You know it’s that 50s skirt and the shorter sweater look from last winter. I say toss on with grey chinos, add scarf, ankle boots and voila! Chic de Chic! Oh did I mention it’s on sale now for $150?

Payless Quilted rain boot.
What fabulous cheap but chic gumboots ! I love how stores like Payless are now doing cool pieces. You get very Jimmy Choo/Burberry style gumboots for just $39.95. Shut up. There is absolutely no reason to be a dag any longer. Budget has got nothing to do with it. No excuses. You shall go to the fashion Ball - even in gumboots. Love with skinny jeans (Yes, you can tuck those into gumboots) and with your peacoat or oversized boyfriend jacket. These boots are even earthquake proof for all Melbourne readers. Bless. Beanie optional. $39.95.

Jeanswest ‘Misha’ Peacoat
I am always on the look for a peacoat. Regular FiFi readers know that a peacoat will appear (Along with a trench) every month.  Of course you would have been a good girl and obeyed FiFi and already have a fabulous peacoat in your wardrobe. Then again, maybe you have thrashed it. Maybe it’s looking sad and tired. Maybe YOU are feeling sad and tired. Maybe you are new to the FiFi Report. Bless. Which is why you need to head toute suite to JeansWest and try on the chicest black Peacoat. Really it’s all you need for winter weekends with jeans and ankle boots. So chic! Darling, eet eez zo French non? Love it over a neat knit Tee or tossed over a dress. Adore with it with a flirty leather skirt poking out underneath. This number works left undone and sits very flatteringly on da hips. We love that. $119.

Witchery Leather Tee Dress
Leather is such a huge trend. Yes, you may remember there was a FiFi Report totally devoted just to leather. I won’t go on about Celine starting the trend because you know that. I say just start shopping! Of course, you bought the leather Tee last year in Country Road and Witchery as instructed didn’t you ? Good girl.(HINT: Any age can wear a leather tee so no excuses.) Now it’s time to get used to the idea of a leather dress. Why not? You can and you will. This Witchery dress is a flattering cut ( not too tight) and has a fabric back ( just don’t take off your coat). Love with ankle boots and black tights. $269.

Witchery brown Faux Fur Wrap
Fake fur is just as fabulous as leather in the groove department. You can’t go past the chic Witchery faux furry scarf. (It’s nicer in the shop than in the picture). I am sure I have put this in The FiFi Report a couple of months ago but now it’s on sale for $79 so you must have it. You can also buy the French Connection brown faux fur scarf for $29. It’s just all you need to joosh up any old daggy coat from last season that is looking at you longingly in your wardrobe. (Begging you to wear it ). Add scarf to anything and suddenly you will look chic. Your double chin will disappear and you will be glamour puss . Hint : This is a good thing. Oh and it might even keep you warm.

coach Stewardess Classic bag
I love the Coach bags for every day. Why not? The outrageous designer $$ bag doesn’t need to go to the countryside/beach with you. Your divine new YSL /Lanvin /Givenchy can get a bad thrashing when travelling ( even though you want to give it it’s own seat on the plane). I love the Coach classic collection. I have mentioned this collection before and I keep going back. The quality is great for the price and the style of the retro classics are just so cool. The  Stewardess Bag is fabulous ( first introduced in 1977). Wear it hanging off the shoulder or across the body. Love the pockets and the size. You can go for brown. You can. $398

Chicken, broccoli and cashew stir-fry ….adulterated from Taste.com.au

It’s healthy, it’s easy, it’s perfect to whip on a school night.

You need for 4 fashionsita, 2 teenage boys or 35 models:

1 tabs peanut oil
750g chicken fillet excess fat trimmed, thinly sliced
2 tabs sweet sherry or Chinese cooking wine. Even Mirin is good.
1 1/2 tabs salt-reduced soy sauce
1 1/2 tabs kecap manis ( sweet soy)
1 teasp cornflour
350g broccoli, trimmed, cut into florets
6 shallots, ends trimmed, cut into 4cm lengths
55g (1/3 cup) unsalted roasted cashews
Coriander for accessorising.
Steamed rice, to serve

• Throw on Burberry goose down jumpsuit.
• Climb into Gucci long sheepskin boots.
• Ask Mr.George Clooney to light that damn fire !
• Pour a huge wine.
• Breathe ! You made it through the week.
• Ask George to boil the rice. He can do that.
• Chop up the chicken the size of a Bulgari ring.
• Chop up the broccoli the size of a Miu Miu clasp.
• Chop up the spring onion into chic little strips.
• Combine the sherry, soy sauce, kecap manis and cornflour in a small bowl.
• Pour another wine. Stat.
• Heat half the oil in a wok over high heat.
• Add half the chicken.
• Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes or until as golden as a Chloe bag.
• Transfer to a plate. That’s the chicken not the bag.
• Repeat with remaining chicken, reheating the pan between batches.
• Heat remaining oil in wok over high heat.
• Throw in the broccoli and stir-fry for 2 minutes.
• Add spring onion/shallot. Stir-fry for 1 minute or until broccoli is bright green as a Prada knit and tender crisp as a new Black Amex.
• Toss in chicken, cornflour mixture and cashews.
• Stir-fry until it’s all combined and the chicken is heated through.
• HINT:Don’t overcook or the chicken will be like a Chloe bag. To eat.
• Serve on a bed of rice and accessorise with chic leaves of coriander.
• Lovely.