Patti Hansen

Patti Hansen was my favorite model when I was growing up in the 70's. I like the fact that she was discovered selling hot dogs on Coney Island. A true beauty...

Drug of Choice

I was down to my last bag of PG TIPS Tea. God, how I look forward to my cup of tea every afternoon while I write. It gives me that extra boost to work till the 18th hour. Just a little milk with a teaspoon of sugar. And this is the cheap stuff if you ask any proper Englishman. Don't serve me that tricked up Parisian Mariage Freres tea, just give me my PG TIPS!

Nastassja Kinski turns the big 5-0

Today, Nastassja Kinski turns the big 5-0. Wow, that went fast.

I remember seeing TESS for the first time with my sister in New York City, circa 1979. I had never seen such a feline face structured so delicately around lips made of heaven. Nastassja's beauty destabilized my conception of 'pretty'. Especially in San Mateo, CA. Her European natural allure was something that I had never witnessed before. And to see it on a 35 foot screen for 2.5 hours had such an impact on the 16 year old that I was at the time.

Fast forward to 2002, I finally meet Nastassja at the AMELIE screening. I told her how my friend, Lisa Pignati and I would take the train into San Francisco wearing clogs and Peruvian wool sweaters wearing Bonnie Bell lip Smackers hoping that we would be discovered as the next Nastassja Kinski. ( well, we were two dreamy 16 year olds)

Last week, we watched TESS on the big screen with all our neighbors. It still remains one of my favorite films even though it's most tragic end. Poor Tess d' Turberville.

P.S. I am still waiting for Natassja to write her biography........

Cocktail for Adam Kimmel's Menswear

It was a bitch to push my way though the mass of young bodies blocking the entrance of the Yvon Lambert Gallery presenting the latest collection from menswear guru, Adam Kimmel. Waving my arms, I cried, 'Help' in the direction of Adam's Communication Director, Lucien Pages. Suddenly, it was like the opening of the Red Sea and I was briskly pushed forward into the warm interior. Inside, the ambiance was more civilized with good looking men serving champagne to the chic crowd. Look book photos graced the walls as a 6 minute short directed by Adam and his actress wife, Leelee Sobieski played in another room. When the film ended a live action defile took place with a backdrop of the wild North Pacific. I always look forward to Adam Kimmel's twisted interpretation of the American classics.

A little ray of sunshine....

Grey, grey, and more grey. That pretty much sums up wintertime in the 'City of Light'. What's a California girl to do? I just happen to be walking down Rue St. Honore when I felt my body being pulled into the YSL boutique. I whizzed past their sale section and went directly to the Cruise Collection. Why rub elbows with fellow American tourists digging for bargains when I can go cruising? A little bit of sunshine in my closet goes a long way....

Blue Babies

I went out last night in spite of the nausea that was swirling around in my stomach. I watched the glamorous fashion set take their own pictures and faire les bises. I always feel like I have resorted back to high school in these soirees. Remember the popular group and all the babes in Chemin De Fer jeans? Last night was a bit of that then some, starring my gorgeous friends, Yaz Bukey and Cedric Rivrain ( AKA Sarah Jessica Parker)

"I am Woman, hear me roar"

I have heard much educated gossip about Daphne Guinness: Irish blue blood lassie, grand daughter of one of the Mitford sisters, pill popping uber fashion victim, loyal friend to Isabelle Blow, not-so-secret paramour to BHL. But no matter how many of my fashion friends dissed Mademoiselle Daphne, I became more and more fascinated by this strange and very unconventional woman. The other day, I read something that Daphne Guinness said while referring to her marriage to the Greek Shipping Heir, Spyros Niarchos. During her marriage, she was asked by her in-laws to remain 'small', petite, to disappear into her husband's shadow. Daphne went on to bear three sons to the Niarchos dynasty before finally divorcing Niarchos in 1999. Maybe this smallness explains why Daphne Guinness has exploded upon the fashion and social scene in such a big bang. There is nothing petite about her now. Whether one likes her theatrical style or not, Daphne Guinness is definitely here to stay.