Fashion Fuzzyland

R.I.P Etta James..Queen of Soul...

2012-01-20T20:28:00.001+01:00

I had the chance to see Etta James sing two times. The first time was in 1986. I was taken on a first date to a small club in Watts, down in the hood. She was the opening act for Screaming Jay Hawkins. I was the only white girl in the whole club. She sang for her people. I could not believe what I heard nor saw. The experience was religious as much as music can warm the soul. My soul was boiling over so much that I could not even bear to hear Screaming Jay Hawkins sing. My date and I quickly left the club.
The second time I had taken the actress Diane Lane to hear Etta James play at the Roxy on Sunset Boulevard in 1988. I could not believe what I was hearing...Etta was singing with a different voice...one for the white audience. I realized how fortunate I was to hear her really sing that wonderful and haunting voice of hers in that small club in Watts.

You did good, Etta...Get some rest now.....

Men's Fashion Week Paris 2012

2012-01-20T19:50:00.002+01:00

I went to see Adam Kimmel's second fashion show yesterday in Paris. His inspiration was Nevada Air Force space, Area 51. No, there were not aliens walking down the runway but beautiful stiff models wearing the designers latest inspirations. It reminded me of a cross between CELINE and MAD MEN. The cut was a lot slimmer without losing the comfort or virility often associated with his previous collections. Adam Kimmel's heart belongs to America .

Monster Wife...

2012-01-16T23:12:00.003+01:00

One hot day in early September, I was strolling down Rue Grenelle, on my way to buy my husband a birthday gift when I saw a coat in the Prada boutique window. I had seen this coat a zillion times in the Fall preview fashion magazines for 2011. But here it was right in front of my nose. I went inside the boutique and normally, I have to admit, I am not a big Prada fan. I did not know the sales people and the clientele did not reflect my taste. Once I put the apricot faux fur jacket on..I was a bit perplexed....Did it look good on me or did I look like Big Foot, the monster that lives up in the Sierra Nevada? A folklore monster tale a bit like the Lochness monster for anyone that went camping as a kid in California.

The sales woman said that there were only two of these monster jackets in all of France...

I bought it right there. A very unusual piece that creates odd looks from the Parisian women.

Monster or not, I never bought my husband his birthday gift....Bad, bad monster wife....

Two more days!!!!!

2012-01-16T22:51:00.001+01:00

Two more days until the Paris movie premier of David Fincher's 'MILLENIUM: Men Who Don't Like Women'. By the way this is the original Swedish title....I am obsessed...I am already almost done with the second book. I let myself read only 25 pages per night... Going to Sweden to take the tour...Crazy, I know...

Black Diamond

2012-01-13T17:27:00.000+01:00

This was supposed to be a bad year for the truffle season in France. Mr Truffle man, a 30 minute drive north of our house, said that he has seen a 80% decline in truffles on his property within the past 30 years.
Nevertheless Mr Truffle man made us a surprise visit last week with two huge truffles found by his dog, Pomme. Pomme is 14 years young, practically deaf and blind but she still has the 'nose'.

Our neighbor recalls her grandmother saying,' there is nothing to eat in the house, go outside and find some truffles'

Smash it all up, Maurizio

2011-12-13T18:13:00.001+01:00

The best show to see in New York City....Now playing at the Guggenheim Museum; Maurizio Cattelan: ALL.

Carine is back!

2011-10-19T17:36:00.000+02:00

After being lost in London for a good hour looking for Dover Street Market, I finally found what I was looking for....

As I walked the stairs into Rose's Bakery, I saw the back side of a very elegant woman. I said to myself, 'Damn, those Londoners are chic'. But as the woman turned around, I realized it was Uber French Stylist and ex Vogue Editor, Carine Roitfeld. I decided to buy her book, IRREVERENT which is like a scrape book filled with personal and professional photos from her career in the fashion world. Ms Roitfeld was so generous and warm with every fan waiting to have their booked signed by her, moi included. And no, she did not remember meeting me at Fred Segal's cafe in Los Angeles in 2006. And did she remember introducing Sofia Coppola to my husband at Karl Lagerfeld's party for Baz Luhrman's Chanel 5 commercial? No, Ms Roitfeld could not recollect that either....Moi, je n'ai pas jamais oublie!

Frieze me baby...

2011-10-16T19:09:00.000+02:00

More beautiful and bizarre images of Frieze.

Frieze Art Fair 2011

2011-10-16T18:51:00.000+02:00

My friend scored two Preview tickets for the Frieze Art Fair in London. This was such a treat since during the preview days the fair is hardly full thus the 'art' experience is less claustaphobic. The 303 Gallery from NYC had special Karen Kilimnik images for me to drool over. I think they may be a bit out of our budget but at least I have something to dream about....

A day at the Doctor's

2011-10-12T11:25:00.001+02:00

Olympia Le Tan decided to show her latest collection of hand made embroidered bags, "Still Ill" at the Musee de la Histoire de la Medicine.

Hidden amongst skeleton frames and pre WW1 medicine paraphernalia, Le Tan's new 'It' bags were shining like jewels waiting to be discovered. Looking around the museum, all I could think was that we are all so lucky not to have to endure 18th Century medicine cures with all those scary tools.

Martine Sitbon's Floating Models

2011-10-03T11:11:00.003+02:00

I went to the RUE DU MAIL fashion show with my husband in tow. We were all wilting in the Parisian heatwave while watching the beautiful RDM creations float past us.

More Art and Opera

2011-09-29T15:13:00.000+02:00

I forgot to include several photos of the opera in my last post. Les voila....

Karen Kilimnik's World Inhabits the Ballet De L'Opera

2011-09-26T19:00:00.001+02:00

Due to the gracious invitation from 303 Gallery in NYC, I was invited to the cocktail for the artist Karen Kilimnik then a night at the Ballet De L'Opera, PHEDRE choregraphed by Serge Lifar and PSYCHE choregraphed by Alexei Ratmansky. Karen Kilimnik's artwork was used in the set design for the PSYCHE ballet.

I found Kilimnik's art romantic yet haunting. It is rare when I feel drawn to an artist's sensitivity. I am curious to learn more about her short films and installations. But it is her dark awkward paintings that pull me into her world.

Fashion Night out

2011-09-22T15:36:00.000+02:00

I know I am a little late with this. Here are a few photos of Avenue Montaigne for Fashion Night out. I was a bit disappointed with all the lines to get into the shops ( who needs that)

What if my life is one big Fashion Night Out with no lines!

"YAZFRICA" Yazbukey's Fall 2011 Collection

2011-07-11T14:02:00.000+02:00

Haute Couture Fashion week in Paris finally came to an end with the explosion of Yazbukey's YAZFRICA Collection. The collection was presented in a Sushi shop tucked away deep in the Marais section of Paris. Scores of fatigued fashionista sipped on Japanese beers and champagne. We will have to wait till next season to see what continent Yazbukey decides to celebrate...Ya man.

Claudia Schiffer presents...

2011-07-06T10:58:00.002+02:00

Last night, Claudia Schiffer, the German top model presented her first collection of knitwear at the Uber cool Colette's in Paris. Large cozy sweaters in cashmere that cry 'cocoon me' will serve well on damp Paris winter nights in front of the fire. Lucien Pages invited a whole crew of fashionistas to baptize the event. Carine Roitfeld, Suzy Menkes, Milla Jovovich with her family in tow all came together to support 'the Claudia'

Wine and chateaux "who knew?

2011-06-29T16:33:00.003+02:00

Our friend who resides in the Loire Valley asked how we would like to spend our day as tourists in the LV? Instantly, I thought of two of my favorite things: Loire Valley wine and lady like châteaux where I could imagine Catherine de Medici and Diane de Poiter having some sort of yelling match in the corridors over Francois the 1st. We walked around the very feminine Chateau du Chaumont de Loire then we tasted the very mineral white wine Vouvray. I like mine dry but even the sweet stuff was delicious. Off to the south of France now. Au revoir..

"Nina Santa" Exhibit

2011-04-30T18:12:00.006+02:00

Sofia and Maura Mongiello presented their photography last night during a rather chilly Parisian soiree. Their Argentinian roots bleed through their photos using intense colors paired with sharp feminine images. As always, Lucien Pages did an excellent job inviting the creative force behind the fashion world.

RIP Michael Sarrazin

2011-04-28T18:16:00.002+02:00

Michael Sarrazin was my favorite actor as a kid in CA circa 1970's

When I moved to LA in the 80's I was so excited to see Michael at the bar at Barney's Beanery. He always played the crazy fucked up characters in those seventies films....

Stanley Kubrick still rocks

2011-04-03T16:56:00.005+02:00

Last night,we went to the opening night of Stanley Kubrick's exposition at the Cinematheque. There were many pieces from his archives that sent chills down my back. I remember when my mom took me out of school to catch the" 2001" matinee at the Hillsdale mall. The film was a little bit too intense for a six year old since I fell asleep though most of the film. Kubrick continues to be the source for inspiration for my husband.

Blow you a kiss good bye, LIz

2011-03-23T17:12:00.004+01:00

The passing of one of our greatest actresses has ended an era of Tennessee Williams dialogue, dry martinis straight up, and seductive violet eyes. There is no one today that even comes close to Miss Taylor's talent and joie de vivre. Adieu Elizabeth Taylor....

Surf's up In Costa Rica

2011-03-15T22:15:00.002+01:00

This is what I did for two weeks. OK, it is foam but I did graduate to the real waves two times before having a smashing encounter with a set of waves that made me sit on the beach for a while.

Next year, real waves!

Gracias Del Mar surfing instructors!

Off to Costa Rica

2011-03-14T22:27:00.002+01:00

Just spent two amazing weeks in Nosara, Costa Rica taking surf lessons and body surfing in the warm Pacific....Will write soon...

Aging Gracefully..

2011-02-20T17:23:00.002+01:00

Some woman age gracefully but that is not the case for Janice Dickenson. All the nip and tucks she has endured has actually made her look older.

MY GIRL PJ

2011-02-10T20:34:00.003+01:00

PJ Harvey is coming to Paris!!!!!!!

1980's Loft days

2011-02-01T15:13:00.003+01:00

For some reason, I have been quite nostalgic for the old loft days circa 1985 Los Angeles. A few of my friends are no longer around due to AIDS and drugs. I worked my ass off in the editing rooms of Cannon Films working my way up the ladder while my friends stayed in our loft being artists and having a good time...

Patti Hansen

2011-01-30T19:29:00.003+01:00

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

2011-01-26T22:50:00.006+01:00

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

2011-01-24T19:57:00.010+01:00

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

2011-01-22T14:07:00.007+01:00

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....

2011-01-20T16:26:00.007+01:00

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

2011-01-18T15:35:00.005+01:00

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"

2011-01-05T16:55:00.006+01:00

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.

My Man SJP

2010-12-14T14:42:00.003+01:00

When my husband first met my friend Cedric Rivrain behind the scenes at one of Martine Sitbon fashion shows, he said, " you look just like the actress Sarah Jessica Parker. Years later, Cedric is finally strutting his stuff for DOUBLE Magazine. Enjoy...

Staying warm in Rome

2010-12-09T18:29:00.004+01:00

While Paris sits under a blanket of snow, I have been enjoying the last of the warm weather walking the streets of Rome. When in Italy, I resort to the simple pleasures of life. The most amazing cappuccino awaits my lips every morning (why is the the coffee so bad in France?) I buy a huge chunk of parmesan cheese from a man who wraps it up like a Christmas gift. I sit in the cafes and watch the parade of home dyed biscuit blonde women walk by (all with cigarettes hanging from their lips) and their faces glowing from too much bronze powder. I feel the stares of men of all ages which does more for my ego than a jar of Creme de la Mer. And finally, I end everynight eating pasta with white truffles while sipping a newly discovered red wine from Tuscany next to the man I love. If this ain't heaven, it is pretty darn close! Shalom.

Back in Paris

2010-11-23T17:37:00.003+01:00

Sorry for the wait. I was Outre Atlantic for a while. Now, I am back in beautiful Paris back again walking the streets and preparing for Thanksgiving dinner. Happy Holidays.

Printemps does New York, New York

2010-10-10T14:08:00.006+02:00

Last night, Printemps department store celebrated Fashion Week with a huge party honoring New York City.We all crammed into another taxi to arrive at the fete way up in its 19th century dome. Courtney Love sang and DJ Bunny mixed the dance music. I forgot how well Courtney Love moves up on stage. She played some good ol' rock and roll which seemed to go down well with the dancing, chic Parisians. Susan Tabak, the very social New York blogger, was there in some strappy number with her breasts perched up high. Susan had her camera crew in tow always ready for her photo op which made the French laugh. It was fun to let loose a bit before taking another taxi home. This ends Paris Fashion Week Spring 2011....Now, I can get some sleep!

"It's Not the End of the World"

2010-10-06T19:57:00.005+02:00

Last night, in the midst of our mini heat wave, I stopped by the Planetarium to check out Olympia Le-Tan's latest collection of handbags and minaudieres, "It's Not the End of the World". The cocktail party was in full swing when I arrived. Zac Posen, Christopher Niquet, Lucien Pages, Gaspar Noe, Yaz Bukey, Martine Sitbon, and the rest of the creme de la creme of the fashion world. Olympia did not disappoint in her beautiful and embroidered purses which seem to be from another heavenly world.

2010-10-06T19:05:00.001+02:00

Yaz Bukey's INCOGNITO Collection

2010-10-04T22:00:00.003+02:00

Woke up early (again) after another late night to spend some time with Yaz Bukey and her sister, Emel, to check out their latest INCOGNITO accessories collection. I always love to see what the sisters will pull out of their creative hat each season. This time there were Plexiglas renderings of thee Karl Lagerfeld plus Lady Gaga and a few lip motifs that are also on sale at the strip tease club, THE CRAZY HORSE.

Just say 'No"

2010-10-04T17:32:00.006+02:00

See, I am not kidding about the ever flowing fountain of French champagne being thrown in front of our faces at every turn during Fashion Week. I have learned my lesson. Just say, 'No'.

Off to the world of Sacai

2010-10-03T14:19:00.009+02:00

After the Zac Posen show, a few of us weary eyed travelers got enough energy together to cross Rue St Honore and Place Vendome in our high high heels to catch the latest from Sacai. The Spring 2011 Collection was presented like a cinematic production design with the high volume ceiling, clothes as sculptures arranged in parallel lines, and looming white smoke for a bit of Hollywood ambiance. Chitose Abe is a master of creating illusions. What appears to be a cardigan loosely fitting over a lacy skirt is really a one piece ensemble. There were silk slips underneath pleated skirts and beautiful chunky knits a few paces a head of the next trend. The years spent working at Comme des Garcons and Junya Watanabe has proven to be a valuable asset in transforming what seems a classic piece into a twisted and tucked work of art.

Sad Good bye to Sally Menke

2010-10-02T11:42:00.005+02:00

During this frantic Fashion Week, I was told of the sad death of one of my favorite film editors, Sally Menke. While working as an assistant film editor for over 12 years in Los Angeles, I really looked up to the few women editors that seemed to fuse their creativity with the perfect director. I had the chance to work with Claire Simpson on SABRINA with Sydney Pollack over at Paramount. Claire had won an Oscar for her work as editor on PLATOON. I was the only female on a editing crew made up of brothers with the patriarch as the head editor, Fritz Steinkemp. Let's just say that it was challenging. When Claire came on board, I was relieved to have a female collaborator. I also worked with Dede Allen on Abel Ferarra's BODY SNATCHERS. Dede started as a East coast editor who started with Robert Wise and edited such 1970's masterpieces like BONNIE AND CLYDE and NEEDLE IN THE PARK. She used to tell me,' You gotta make the film dance, Liza. Make it dance' Sadly, Dede Allen left us this past June. The other editor I idolized was Sally Menke who edited all of Quentin Tarantino's films from RESERVOIR DOGS to the brilliant, INGLORIOUS BASTARDS. I always thought anyone who could close themselves in a dark editing room for months with Quentin Tarantino must have superwoman powers. It is too sad to think what happened to Sally while hiking in record high heat on such an arid terrain near the Hollywood sign. RIP, Sally. We will all miss you......and your brilliant editing....

Early as a bird, Zac Posen

2010-10-01T21:39:00.007+02:00

I know Zac Posen is really excited to be showing his Spring '11 Collection in Paris, but did he have to make the curtain call at 11am? I had to arrive at 9:30 am to pick up my invite which means 7:30am wake up call after a night of champagne and taxis. Thank God, Zac picked the Imperial Salon at the old Intercontinental Hotel aka YSL's old stomping grounds to reveal his collection. Dark and inspired from a boudoir salon, it was the perfect ambiance for my tired eyes. I suddenly woke up once the Grace Jone's beat started to vibe the walls down. The collection was a strange mix of sex, feathers and haute couture gowns ready to fit his downtown muses. I sat in the back and enjoyed the show especially the accessories by Yaz Bukey. Now the question is, will Zac continue to show in Paris or go back to NYC?

To be continued......

Post Party, Post Floating, Post Cavalli

2010-09-30T22:28:00.004+02:00

After the fashion show, we went back out into the courtyard to congratulate Martine Sitbon and her hard working crew. WE always have a great time with the RUE DU MAIL usual suspects. Now, it was time to go to the Roberto Cavalli 40th Anniversary dinner but I passed on that one. It was time to get back in the taxi and go to bed. So boring, I know. But what's a girl to do?

Martine Sitbon's Color Burst

2010-09-30T22:01:00.006+02:00

I ended up bringing several girlfriend fashionistas to the RUE DU MAIL fashion show. Fueled by a couple glasses of champagne, we all crammed into the back seat of the my reserved taxi. Ami Sioux, the fashion photographer, being already 6ft now was 6.4 in her size 11 high heel shoes. We arrived on time at RUE Du MAIL but decided to stop by the cafe right next door since fashion shows are notoriously late. In the cafe, I bumped into David Mallet, the famed hair stylist who took pictures of my hair. He loved how his colleague, Barbara, had crimped my hair previously that day. Now, ready to join the show we walked into the court yard and what do we see, more glasses of champagne pushed in front of our faces. Oh, Oh... The show started with an explosion of color with dresses that floated down the runway. I started to take photos of the models but decided to put away the camera and just take it all in....or maybe that was the champagne having its way with me. Sometimes floating is all we need to make it through the day...or night!

Going back to Lady like.....

2010-09-28T20:09:00.001+02:00

For this Autumn, I felt like splurging on a new look in the bag department. I have not bought a new bag for a couple years so when I saw a photo of the actress, January Jones, with the new Yves Saint Laurent CHYC bag on her shoulder, it was love at first sight. I bought the black patent leather version to give the bag a kinky Betty Page feeling to it. The only feature that I do not like about the bag is that it has one of those bloody magnets on the clasp. This tends to erase all my metro tickets and credit cards. Can someone please tell the bag Gods to stop designing bags with magnets????

Tonight, blow your head off....

2010-09-22T18:59:00.009+02:00

Sorry, I know this has nothing to do with fashion nor art...but when I come to think of it, cooking is like fine art in my eyes. And I have been looking towards India this past week. I have been cooking up a storm with the great help of www.manjulaskitchen.com. Last night, I cooked my own Paneer cheese to go along with my Bhindi Masala ( Spicy Okra), Toor Dal and Basmeti rice with cilantro. I usually cut in half the amount of chopped red pepper but it still burns my mouth. I love being transported into Manjula's kitchen. Each night I try a different recipe as long I have all the ingredients and spices. Southern India food is very vegetarian friendly but very spicy which does not bother me. Nothing a cold beer cannot fix. "Nobody told me"

Bon Appetite!

Edward Hopper in Lausanne

2010-09-13T10:57:00.004+02:00

We took the train to Lausanne, Switzerland for the weekend to see the Edward Hopper Exposition at the L'Hermitage Museum. There is something so strong that resonates in his paintings that leaves one very emotional. Maybe it has to do with his interpretation of the human condition which basks in solitude. It was hard not to have tears in my eyes while I gazed at Hopper's masterpieces.

My Fall Collection 2010

2010-09-04T14:07:00.005+02:00

Maybe I am getting old. I think I have seen enough trends go in and out of style to lose interest in the next big thing. I find it harder each season to get excited about what the fashion world is spilling out into the boutiques these days. So, what is a girl to do?

Go back to basics....go back to the land of easy and simple. Kind of like finding an old friend on Facebook. Or maybe NOT.

I went back to order a few pieces from Martine Sitbon's RUE DU MAIL Pre-collection at very affordable prices. All pieces were in black ( a Parisian classic) or in powder rose/beige. Draped and structured is the way to go this fall. Mix it up. I also indulged in the leather craze this season by buying a smooth as butter black leather mini skirt to give my classic pieces a bit of rock-n-roll feel. Add one pair of Isabel Marant's sexy retro black suede heels and this 'old' fashionista is ready to rock.

R.I.P Corinne Day

2010-09-01T23:23:00.004+02:00

Corrine Day, the fashion photographer that 'discovered' Kate Moss died Friday due to a brain tumor. I really was inspired by her raw and haunting photographs of the 1990's. so sad to lose her so soon.....

Men with open toe sandals...

2010-07-12T14:15:00.007+02:00

Ok. I think I have a real problem with men wearing open toe sandals. It is what the French would call a real 'tue l'amour' for me ( killer of love).

I stated in my marriage contract ' no open toe sandals' clause. Seriously, these are my terms for divorce.

Here is John in the front row of Chanel Haute Couture. What is such a nice guy exposing his toes like that?Didn't his slew of celebrity clients stop him from leaving his salon?

One more question: are those his Chanel bags?

Isabella Blow

2010-07-06T23:35:00.001+02:00

This article made me cry. I remember seeing Isabella Blow in the streets of Paris with a dress made of plastic cards. All the heads on the street did a double take. She always had the most amazing clothes and hats while perched in the front row.We even went to the same hairdresser in the 6th arrondisment. So, I was a bit shocked when I read that Christie's in London was going to auction all her life away in the form of clothes and objects. It felt like a rape. Thank god for Daphne Guinness' love and friendship to save Issie's s estate from turning banal. What a real friend and soul you are Daphne. Respect.

‘Why I stopped the sale’

By Daphne Guinness

Published: July 3 2010 00:13

The first thing I thought of when I heard earlier this year that Isabella Blow’s personal effects – including her wardrobe – were due to go under the hammer at Christie’s London was a sonnet written by Oscar Wilde and entitled “On the Sale by Auction of Keats’ Love Letters”, specifically the lines: “These are the letters which Endymion/Wrote to one he loved in secret, and apart/And now the brawlers of the auction mart/Bargain and bid for each tear-blotted note.”

It is now an open secret – though I did not want any publicity for my action – that, by purchasing the entirety of the lots, I stopped the auction. Since then, however, there has been so much speculation about why I did this, I have realised an explanation is needed.

The story begins on the morning of May 7, 2007, when I was woken in New York City at 4am by a telephone call from Alexander [Lee] McQueen. I had been dreading, but half-expecting, this call for quite some time. Issie was dead, he said. She had poisoned herself. It was an awful death, an agony that lasted for two days. I don’t think either of us stopped crying for the full hour and a half of our conversation. Lee had seen her just the week before and he was so grateful for having had that time with her; I had, for various reasons, been regularly uprooted from London, and the last time I saw Issie was a fleeting visit before Christmas, though we had spoken in the weeks afterwards and she had seemed more positive about life. Still, I will regret not having seen her during this time for the rest of my days.

God knows, we – her sisters, her friends – had tried to stop this tragedy. Issie had made several attempts to take her own life as her depression took hold over the last few years; often it seemed she could not speak of anything else in her quintessentially English, moving and often hilarious way. Only Issie could make you laugh about a terrible thing like a fatal attraction to suicide. She would describe her obsession in detail, combining her gallows humour with her vast body of knowledge and finishing it all magnificently with her incomparable laugh. Still, she was stubborn and eventually had her way, and we failed. Or, maybe, she won.

My resulting fury at what was, to me, the most tragic loss, is something I cannot, even now, describe. Indeed, I shall never get over Issie’s absence, and when I heard her estate needed to be settled so that her sisters could pay off its debts, the realisation of what that would entail was really the last straw. The planned sale at Christie’s could only result in carnage, as souvenir seekers plundered the incredible body of work Issie had created over her life: the hats she wore every day and had made in duplicate; the laser-cut black leather dress Alexander McQueen had made her with the fitted bodice and full skirt; the shocking pink Jun Takahashi burka she had insisted on wearing to a show in Paris. (Issie had worn the burka after convincing David LaChapelle to shoot models backstage at the couture; before the Dior show an especially earnest journalist from Le Monde had attacked her for her choice of dress. Issie just brushed her off like a vague annoyance, defending her right to dress as she pleased and adding that she was standing solidly beside the women upon whom the burka was imposed.) Isabella never dressed down.

Indeed, in many ways, the auction would not be merely a sale of clothes; it would be a sale of what was left of Issie, and the carrion crows would gather and take away her essence forever. That so much of Issie’s history has become bound up in her death and the way in which she died meant that the main theme of the event would be her end, which is not, by a long shot, the whole story; it should not define her. With biographical books and movies about to appear, the timing made me absolutely nauseous and I know she would have hated it.

Isabella and I belonged to similar worlds and we were educated in much the same way. I knew her, but not as well as I would later, first in the 1980s when I was a teenager and she was married to her first husband. Upon my own marriage I left England for Europe, not to return until about 1998, when we bonded completely. After 16 years London was almost unrecognisable to me: the boom had brought huge amounts of money, and the urban landscape was a shadow of the one I had left. But Issie remembered what I – we – had known, and brought to that an adventurous imagination and spirit that matched my own.

I didn’t think it was a coincidence that her grandmother, Vera Delves Broughton, and my great-grandfather, Walter Guinness, Lord Moyne had been very much an item for years, spending their time on the Rosaura, his boat, sailing around the world in the 1930s, from Papua New Guinea to the jungles of Africa and the deserts of the Middle East. (Walter wrote two books on the cultures he found there, and brought the first living Komodo dragon back to Britain before being assassinated in Cairo as the last British minister in the Middle East.) It seemed as if an invisible hand had drawn us together.

We would often lament the passing of this older England, which was in the process of being poisoned by the presence of so much money that it had become almost impossibly expensive for artists – or indeed, anyone – to live in the city. Issie was often described as eccentric, because it is easier for most people to write off individuality in that hackneyed way, but I would say instead that Issie was irrepressibly generous with her time and her friendship, and had an incredible impact on the worlds of design and art.

Purple Haze

2010-07-05T12:07:00.004+02:00

Lavender season is in full hilt here in Provence. Fields and fields of glorious purple haze running throughout the Haute Provence and the Luberon. Pure heaven....

The Cicadas are coming!

2010-06-27T22:42:00.005+02:00

Today we heard our first cicada sing his song from the trees. It must be around 28 Celsius and dry conditions for the bugs to make the exodus up a tree and start their musical chirping that becomes such a big part of the Provencal summer. Some people hate their chirping, I find it hypnotic........

Les Temps des Cerisiers

2010-06-22T15:00:00.005+02:00

It's Cherry season here in the Luberon. The branches on the cherry trees are heavy with juicy red fruit. This is the first year that we can actually harvest a big bowl of cherries from our very own trees. I am also surveying our almond trees to make sure that the fruit advances without any damage from our bug friends. So far, so good.

Last Image of Greece

2010-06-01T18:54:00.007+02:00

Our boutique hotel is full of hipster English tourists. All mid thirties with adorable loving outfits only an English girl could wear. This particular woman has been hanging out the pool in the same dress combo for the past three days. I could not take my eyes off her outfit in a weird 'touch it to make the pain feel oh, so good' kind of way.

I think it is time to leave Mykonos, Greece

Finally,grilled fish.....

2010-05-31T17:51:00.003+02:00

After days looking grilled fish, we finally found our haven called Kounelas which means rabbit.

We ate a delicious arugula salad and grilled bar with a bottle of very light Greek white wine at 11.5 % alcohol. Yaz started to mix with the locals and that was my cue to find a taxi back to the hotel.

Sur la Plage...

2010-05-31T17:36:00.003+02:00

Yaz and I hit several more secluded beaches on the north side of Mykonos. Lots of Ipod sharing and running into the cold Aegean water. I almost got our mini car stuck on a cliff. My San Fransisco days of driving came in handy.

Very expensive Greek Salad

2010-05-30T12:08:00.004+02:00

Yaz and I flew to Mykonos, Greece to get out of the cold, grey Parisian skies. We both were taken back from the barrenness of the arid island. No trees, just tootsie roll colored dirt and white houses plus thousands of English tourists in bad clothing. We had calamari and two drinks for 42 euros on the famous Little Venice area. I got in a shouting match with the crook owner who later apologized for his ripping me off. Yaz and I will not go back into town after that so I rented a car and will start hitting the more secluded beaches around the island.

A Double Life

2010-05-18T21:54:00.009+02:00

A copy of DOUBLE MAGAZINE arrived in my mailbox the other day. My friend, Fabrice Paineau, writes for the new, alternative fashion/art magazine. Do we really need another magazine in this age of fashion blogs and virtual Pret-a-porter collections arriving with one keyboard click? Hmm.....

Yet, something was different about this thick 5 pounder sitting on my lap last night. I actually read it front to end cover relishing over the Juergen Teller's Cuban photos to the latest visual candy of Serge Leblon and stylist Camille Bidault Waddington art deco collaboration. Flipping through the pages of Serge Leblon's dreamy imagery conjured up memories of a photo shoot Jean Pierre and I posed for in Italian Men's Vogue a couple of years ago. Again, Fabrice wrote the article and Serge took many photos of couples in various cities around the world. Thank God, for Photoshop!

Spilling wine could be dangerous for your computer

2010-05-16T18:08:00.007+02:00

Sorry about the lapse of time from my last posting. A spilled glass of Cotes du Rhone wine found its way onto my keyboard (whoops). I have once had a similar experience in a Hollywood bar when a semi full Perrier bottle opened up inside my purse( a long story) I found my cell phone swimming amongst liquid bubbles only to come back to life after a few hair blow dryer sessions. No such luck this time with my computer. I had to wait till my husband arrived back home from NYC with a new MAC AIR under his arm. I have taken a pledge that I will no longer surf and drink.

RIP Malcolm Maclaren

2010-04-09T20:28:00.007+02:00

Malcolm Maclaren passed away Thursday in Switzerland after a short battle with mesothelioma cancer.

Many said Malcolm was a visionary. He was many things, recording artist, fashion designer with then wife, Vivienne Westwood, and manager to the Sex Pistols and New York Dolls. Many credit Malcolm with starting the British Punk rock movement. In my eyes, he was a true renaissance man...

Malcolm floated into my life on the tracks of his remixed MADAME BUTTERFLY and his baby faced rocker BOW WOW WOW in the early eighties.

I remember seeing Malcolm when he lived with Lauren Hutton near Bond Street in New York city circa 1983-84. My friends and I thought them to be such a funny looking couple. Lauren was absolutely gorgeous walking hand in hand with Malcolm with his white pale skin and flaming red hair.

In 1985, I moved to Los Angeles and lived in a downtown loft while starting my career in film editing. One evening my friends and I went to some kind of music/club happening in downtown LA and who do I see? Malcolm having a smoke outside. I do not remember saying anything to him considering I may have been slightly enhanced myself that night. It was the 80's. We were all trying to have fun while being completely broke. My friends and I would hang out at art openings to abuse the free drinks and hors d'eouvres. Then, we would drive to the next art gallery and do the same thing...I guess I can say, I am lucky to still be alive after all that alcohol induced driving!

Fast forward to 2003, Fall Fashion show for Martine Sitbon in Paris, France. My husband and I are seated in the front row next to who? Malcolm Maclaren and his American girl friend, Young Kim. This time the tables had turned. I finally had a chance to talk to the man that floated in and out of my life. Malcolm introduced himself to Jean Pierre and said he would love to work for him. Wow, Malcolm Maclaren doing the music for JP! I do not know if Jp would appreciate Malcolm's cutting edge taste but I was completely giddy with excitement thinking about all the creative possibilities.

Then a year and a half ago, I was hanging outside the Parisian club, Le Baron, in the wee hours of the morning waiting for a taxi, and who do I bump into talking to Martine Sitbon? Malcolm McLaren. This time I went up to him and told him that I had just written about him and Lauren Hutton in my blog.

Malcolm started to tell me that that period was the end of his relationship with Lauren Hutton. Steven Spielberg had called Malcolm in the early 80's to come to LA and help him with the music with his new film, THE EMPEROR OF THE SUN.

Now cut to St Barth's this past July. We get a call from Young Kim to come over for dinner at their beach house up in the hills over looking the bay. We drive up the long winding hills finally arriving at Young and Malcolm's home away from home. They had a rented a Bali inspired villa which was totally open revealing an indoor wading pool and living area with spectacular views. Malcolm had cooked for us. It was totally touching that he cooked so well...Mostly vegetarian style which really impressed me. We hung out for 3-4 hours after talking on the sofa and sipping chilled French wine. Malcolm was talking about his next projects at the same time letting Young know it was time to change the playlist. He never let a minute go by without the right beat.

I get sad thinking about the passing of Malcolm. I will no longer have the opportunity to talk to this curious man.

My heart is heavy for Young, his beautiful companion and partner in crime for many years.

Death sucks. Malcolm was one of the cool ones.

Last images from Asia

2010-03-27T12:58:00.005+01:00

I forgot to add some of my favorite photos while walking around Tokyo...There was an amazing Louise Bourgeois sculpture and many dog and cat dedications.

I am back in Paris today. Feels great to be back home even amongst the dog shit on the Parisian sidewalks.....

Tramways and MICMACS

2010-03-25T11:49:00.004+01:00

I spent the day taking the tramways as Jean Pierre and actress Julie Ferrier did some press for MICMACS.

Sand storm blasts through Hong Kong

2010-03-24T03:04:00.003+01:00

I thought it was a bit smoggy but in fact, Hong Kong was hit by a sand storm the first day we arrived. It was hard to make out any skyscrapers in its famous skyline.

Grass Trimmer at W Hotel Hong Kong

2010-03-23T04:43:00.002+01:00

Some people still take their job seriously.

Fast Forward to Hong Kong

2010-03-22T16:52:00.004+01:00

Arrived late tonight in Hong Kong @ midnight. I felt claustrophobic and aggressed by all the noise and music coming from the hotel hall. Very disappointed with our room at the W Hotel. I came all the way to HK only to have view of the highway. Most of the things in our room do not work and I had a mini meltdown in the hallway of the 17th floor. It would be nice if W Hotel would explain to their guests why the phones do not work or why it is so freaking hard to find the elevator button.

Next day I got to tag along with JP during his interviews. Waiting to discover HK....

Design Japanese style

2010-03-21T04:12:00.004+01:00

This time around in Tokyo I decided to explore Tokyo's many art galleries and design centers. A pretty hard thing to do in Tokyo since I could not find a taxi to drive me to my chosen destinations. The taxis kept getting lost. I think this has to do with the absence of proper addresses in Tokyo. I did fall in love with the ethereal lamps of artist Chihiro Tanaka and the blurred gold fish and over saturated flowers of artist Mika Ninagawa.

Roaming around Tokyo one more day...

2010-03-20T15:39:00.004+01:00

Another day walking around until my feet hurt, forget to eat and I am hungry by the time I hit the hotel elevator. Such an explosion of cultural differences and pleasures.I cannot find one plastic bag in the streets or in a tree.

Concrete Street

2010-03-19T10:20:00.004+01:00

I find the Japanese architecture facinating in a ugly/beautiful kind of way. Of course, it all comes alive especially on a rainy night. Those photos will have to come later. A few snap shots of jolie/moche in action.

Unifrance Hysteria

2010-03-19T02:52:00.004+01:00

Last night, MICMACS opened up the Unifrance Film Festival. We did the red carpet thing with screaming Jp Jeunet films shoving pens and photos in his face for signature. At least, the Japanese are organized. Each fan had a working pen with a photo of Jp or a publicity still of one of his films. The fans also wrote on a piece of paper their name so that Jp could dedicate the photo to them. I kind of felt like Alice in Wonderland who fell down the hole with a good jet lag buzz leading the way. Perfect way to spend an evening in Tokyo.

JAPANESE SMOKE OUT

2010-03-18T14:52:00.004+01:00

As I finally exited the airport, the French film group I was traveling with immediately went into one of those plastic walled smoker zones to suck their nicotine sticks after a 12 hour plane ride. Little did I know this was a bad omen coming my way. In Tokyo, it is illegal to smoke outside on the street but ok to light up in restaurants and bars. Go figure. At 9pm, I found myself dining in a small private room in a Japanese restaurant with my new French friends puffing away between each course. I guess I am going to have to get used my smelly hair for the next few days.

On The Road Again....

2010-03-17T14:33:00.003+01:00

Ah Japan, land of the warm toilet seats. This time I am traveling solo to Tokyo where Jean Pierre is presenting his film MICMACS at the Unifrance Film Festival. Time to go to bed when I start to feel like an elephant is sitting on my face....Good night.

Boats, and planes and trams, oh my!

2010-03-08T14:11:00.009+01:00

Lyndsey and I had a wake up call in the form of coffee and tea at 5 a.m. delivered by our personal host, Hussein. He then shuttled us by golf cart to the dark and wavy ocean where we jumped on a speed boat to be whisked away in the wee hours of the morning. Strange thing to board a boat when it is still pitch black out side. Lyndsey was popping away her Bach's Remedy pills while I tried to close my eyes for a few minutes. After fifty minutes of a stomach turning boat ride, we arrived at the Kaadedhdhoo Airport to wait for another fifty minutes for our flight back to Male. All in all, we took one golf cart, one speed boat, three planes, one airport bus, one airport tram, and finally one taxi home. No more German charter planes for me!

The fun boat ride in the dark......

A few more days in paradise....

2010-03-05T06:07:00.004+01:00

This is the part of the vacation when we realize we have only fifty more pages left in our book....The tanning lotion bottle is low and it is time to make contact with the travel agency at what time the boat will escort us back to the airport to make the flight back to Male. Two more days of leisure then a full 24 hours of travel back to the city of light.....I am ready to see my man and my dog, Spencer.

Boats, Planes, more boats, and a golf cart

2010-03-04T06:17:00.006+01:00

It was a long day of travel for both Lyndsey and I. We had to get up early around 7am which disrupted our daily ritual of morning swim and breakfast routine. The boat ride to the Hadahaa atoll took fifty minutes. We thought it was a bit suspicious that we were not offered the customary bottle of water and face cloth cooled in mint water."What no cooled face clothes?" Later, we figured out that Alila Villas resort is the first resort to be environmentally certified in the Maldives. So, no plastic bottles nor toiletries. All shampoo and body lotion was in beautiful ceramic containers. A small step for mankind.......WE were also on a boat full of technology inclined tourists. It was fun to watch them click away.....

On our way to Alila Villas Hadahaa , Maldives

2010-03-04T06:07:00.004+01:00

We took a hour boat ride to reach the remote Alila Villas.Alila Villas Hadahaa is the first resort in the Maldives to be environmentally certified for both design and construction. You will not see plastic in any form on this island. The architecture is both natural and very futuristic. The water bungalows remind me of the Paul Verhoeven film, STARSHIP TROOPERS. Somehow these water bungalows conjure up images of ants and bugs. Hmmm. I do have to say they did a great job at bringing a boutique hotel to the inner bowels of the Indian Sea.

One thing that I felt contradicting the architect's 'Natural' philosophy', was that every building had air conditioning. AC is not something I want to sleep, do yoga , nor receive a massage in. Especially in the tropics.

I want to feel the sensuality of the humidity. I want to feel it on my skin, hear the geckos chirp and the palm trees sway. In our villa, there was no ceiling fan to be found which I found a bit too dictatorship in the land of architects. I do not want to sleep with a fan blowing out cold wind on my body. I really do not think that Mr Architect ever came to the Maldives nor swam in its pristine Indian ocean. In the end, this is all about personal taste. I prefer a resort that marries more organically the natural environment and is less about a statement.

Good bye Cocoa Island Resort

2010-03-03T05:57:00.003+01:00

We left Cocoa Island at 9am for a long day of island travel to Alila Villa Hadahaa. Lyndsey was a bit under the weather after her Australian red wine experience. At Male International airport we caught a small plane to the southern Atoll of Hadahaa which is a hour away from the Equator. Exiting out of our plane, the air was so much more humid and hot. Seven more days of paradise!

Como Shambala Spa deluxe

2010-03-01T18:27:00.005+01:00

It was with great pleasure that Lyndsey and I had several spa services at the Como Shambala spa. All the services are done by Thai women with the most delicate yet powerful hands. I prefer the Asian attitude towards spa excursions. It is easy to abandon ones mind and body to the sensual hands that make me feel like putty.....There was also a complete water therapy pool that we took advantage of after our massage.

Cocoa Resort yoga

2010-03-01T18:05:00.004+01:00

I have always wanted to vacation at a Como Shamabala resort because they offer yoga classes, alternative cuisine plus wholesome face and body treatments all under one roof. They have a very big and airy yoga pavilion right off the beach that catches the gentle ocean breezes. We did several classes but ended doing our own practice being the Iyengar divas that we are....

Moving to the hood on Cocoa Island

2010-03-01T06:48:00.006+01:00

Our travel agency, Atoll Paradise Travel Agency, did a great job securing our reservation at Cocoa Resort. It is high season so normally all the finer resorts are booked months in advance. The only hitch was that we would have to move rooms half way through our stay. So, we packed up after the second night to Dhoni Loft suite 826 which was one of the original bungalows on water. I asked the resort how they managed during the 2004 tsunami. They said they did not receive a lot of damage due to their reef. The coral reef is what protected most of the Maldivian Islands. It kills me to see places like Bali, destroy these natural protectors with dynamite. I snorkeled in the North Bali waters only to see grey coral that looked like a cemetery.

www.atollparadise.com

Food, Glorious, Food

2010-02-28T18:33:00.008+01:00

We just woke up and walked for what seemed like miles in our jet lag haze to the breakfast cafe on the beach ( it was only a 5 minute walk) The menu selection was full of healthy choices plus an amazing platter of fresh bread and pastries made by the night time pastry chef. One could order a Maldivian breakfast complete with curry and vegetables served with roshi and coconut sambal. Or try the miso soup with tofu, poached egg, and seaweed. I tasted the egg white frittata with oyster mushrooms and arugula. And I will not even write about the fruit table ( with fruit that actually tasted like fruit!)

After we left out breakfast table, Lyndsey asked me 'what's for lunch?

Suitcase essentials for a Maldives Getaway

2010-02-28T13:11:00.011+01:00

Being in paradise means that one can get away with minimal make up. I try to bring just the bare essentials when it comes to packing. Make-up wise, I always bring one new lip color and that is it. Since my skin will be naturally glowing from the sun, I find that all I need is a lip color that is fresh and a wee bit dramatic. After doing my research in grey Paris, my favorite colors were either Lady Danger by MAC or Heatwave by Nars, a semi matte orange red lipstick also seen on the Spring 2010 Prada runway. I also brought a lip balm by MAC in sheer orange. And if I can find one, I bring the newest Eres bikini which this year happens to be in a gummy bear orange. I also went over to the Missoni to try on their bikinis but was too ashamed to show the results to the sales woman. I am a real woman with real curves so putting on a piece of tissue the size of a cocktail napkin over my behind did not empower my femininity. I always bring an Isabel Marant dress. I was in their store when the new spring dresses arrived and I bought two right on the spot. They are easy to wear and pack. Another basic piece is my sturdy straw hat and a colorful sarong that I can tie up a la Lanvin asymmetrical couture and I am ready for sunset cocktails. Got to go, the sun is just about to set....

Sun Deck Heaven

2010-02-26T10:00:00.003+01:00

The back side of our Dhondi Loft Suite was perfect for ordered in lunches and sunbathing.

Dhondi Loft Suite, Cocoa Resort

2010-02-26T08:47:00.004+01:00

Unfortunately, we will only spend two nights in this beautiful, all exotic wood house on the water. After that, they will move us to one of their older water bungalows. Boo hoo. Everything is open and inviting to the gentle warm breezes. Thank God, my traveling partner in crime does not like air conditioning. I was told that due to the Japanese clientele, all bungalows have a/c. I cannot imagine not wanting to feel the humidity and warmth of the Maldives on my skin. I mean, why travel for 18 hours in a tin box plane if you close yourself up a chilled suite? Lyndsey and I slept last night with all the windows and glass doors open. It was heavenly to fall asleep to the sound of the waves lapping against our Dhondi Loft Suite.

Dolphins and tears...

2010-02-25T15:46:00.005+01:00

When we finally sat in our boat taxi charging the way to our Cocoa Resort, we spotted a few pods of Dolphins. There must of been at least 40 of them frolicking about with the youngsters doing flips for us high into the sky. I looked over at Lyndsey and she had tears in her eyes. The bitches have arrived......

Condor Flight from Hell

2010-02-25T12:24:00.007+01:00

Traveling with a plane full of Germans in Premier Economy class was enough to put me over the edge. This is White Bitch Hell.In a perfect world, I usually have the luxury to fly business class. One can sleep, eat well, and drink French wine. But hey, I took a step down the seating arrangement to be seated next to my friend, Lyndsey, during the flight. Quel suffrance! The plane was an old relic from the Thomas Cooke Traveler fleet. Lyndsey and I were the only English speaking tourists on the plane. The rest of the cabin was filled up with overweight, swine flu coughing, smelly feet, and rude Germans that just stared at Lyndsey and I throughout the 12 ordeal. As we sat in our assigned seats, the zealous pilot started to announce that the computer would not 'boot up' so we would have to wait' ten minutes' for another computer. We waited two hours on the runway. Lyndsey started to worry that perhaps it was not the safest thing to assume that a new computer would work after a ten minute installation. While sipping my vulgar Psalft wine I repsonded, 'Well, I guess we will find out soon enough, drink up ' I started to think about it. Computer does not work...OK, please tell us what computer was not working and what would that mean for our flight across the Indian sea? Finally, the happy pilot came on the loud speaker announcing that the new computer is working so off we will go... This all made us a bit nervous. Lyndsey was ready to walk out. But lo and behold, the plane took off. The flight attendant came by with a delicious vegetarian meals but the down point was the wine. German wine! I drank two of the bottles just in case we went down I would not feel the pain. Quel suffrance!

White Bitch Tour Begins....

2010-02-25T11:45:00.004+01:00

After several failed attempts to take a dream vacation with my man, I end up going to the Maldive Islands with a girlfriend. Since the travel agency would not refund our money back, I told my husband that I would not let a good chunk of change go to waste. Plus I cannot take one more day of suicide weather in Paris...Low, wet and grey skies with no end in sight. Most of Paris has left for the mountains. Moi, give me a beach with crystal azure water with the most healthy coral reefs in the world. Not a hard choice to make for me. So, off we fly to Frankfort to catch our transfer to the Maldives.

British Film Institute screens MICMACS

2010-02-24T12:40:00.004+01:00

Final leg in London...Our last night is spent at the BFI where they are screening MICMACS with a Q&A after the film.

More driving, more signing, more speaking

2010-02-24T12:09:00.004+01:00

How does he do it? More traveling about London. The British Film Institute is screening MICMAC tonight with JP giving a Q&A afterwards.....

BAFTA NOMINEE COCKTAIL PARTY

2010-02-23T21:57:00.004+01:00

We are back in London to attend the BAFTA Nominee Cocktail Party. I love going to the English parties just to watch what the women are wearing..They kind of mix and match a la Posh Spice meets Dynasty clan. I took out my camera to take photos of these beauties when a man politely asked me to put my camera away. That is when I saw PRECIOUS director, Lee Daniels walking our way. We spoke for a good 15 minutes. JP was director of the DEAUVILLE FILM FESTIVAL when we first saw PRECIOUS. I was blown away by his film but also a bit pissed off with some of the frame per frame rip off LEE borrowed from JP. All was forgiven when we spoke to Lee. He is the sweetest and most talented man. So go ahead, take what you want, Lee. It is OK with me.....PRECIOUS is my vote for BEST FILM for the OCSCARS!

Q&A Glasgow Film Festival

2010-02-23T21:29:00.003+01:00

I do not know how Jean Pierre does it...interview after interview and the only thing that is a saving grace is the charm of Morris O'Brien of BBC News. A fellow Irishman from Tipperary...not too far where the Sullivan clan comes from in South West Ireland. We introduce Jean Pierre's film, then dine in a nice restaurant only to come back half way through our dinner to be present for the questions during the Q&A. Next morning, Jean Pierre has another two hours of interviews. I take off to see a bit of downtown which is a bit eerie in the fog...

Glasgow Film Festival

2010-02-23T20:21:00.005+01:00

If this is Monday, this must be Glasgow... Yet another festival. The Scottish are a bit more theatrical and lyrical than the English. Like the Irish, there is music and drink everywhere. Makes me think of being in Eire...

Off to Scotland, more MicMacs Promotion

2010-02-22T22:13:00.002+01:00

Today, after Jean Pierre was finished with interviews for his new film, MICMACS, we departed for Scotland for the Glasgow Film Festival. Lots of time spent in cars and in planes. Not my favorite thing to do......

A Life Time in Pictures, BAFTA

2010-02-22T11:18:00.005+01:00

The BAFTA honored Jean Pierre with a Life Time in Pictures Award for his body of cinematic work. Jean Pierre spoke about his passion for the cinema and how he started to shoot his Super 8 home movies when he was young. It was exciting seeing the auditorium full of fans. There were film clips for each of Jean Pierre's films plus discussion after each sequence.

LONDON CALLING.....

2010-02-21T21:27:00.005+01:00

Jp and I are invited to London for a BAFTA ceremony and some promotion for his new film, MICMACS. I am starting to like London with its youthful energy and fun, loving people. It was also a few days before London Fashion Week which actually felt a bit drab following Alexander McQueen's suicide......

Suicide Sucks...RIP Lee McQueen

2010-02-11T18:49:00.004+01:00

I just read the terrible news of designer of Alexander 'Lee' McQueen's death at age 40 apparently from his own hand. What a loss for the fashion world. McQueen recently did the costumes for Lady GaGa's Bad Romance video. He designed those scary,wicked hoof like heels for his Spring 2010 collections that some of the top models refused to wear. I was a fan of his textile designs on his dresses in futuristic metallic forms. He was the real bad boy of the fashion world. So sad to lose someone immensely talented and unique. I bet he is drinking a dry martini with Izzy right now.

A SINGLE MAN Paris Premiere

2010-02-11T17:01:00.004+01:00

We went to the A SINGLE MAN Paris premiere last night. I remember when Tom Ford quit YSL RIVE GAUCHE in 2004 'to pursue other artistic adventures'. Tom did a great job considering it was his first directorial debut. On the other hand, I felt that the film suffered a bit from not having a more experienced director. I really find it distracting to have music on every single frame of film, head to tail. A SINGLE MAN was more like a personal music video for two hours. Beautiful music....Not unpleasant to watch, only forgettable the next day which is a pity. Kind of like of a poor man's THE HOURS ( which lingered in my head for days) Still, I find it pretty amazing that anyone can shoot a film so poetic in 21 days. Sounds crazy, but maybe it is what the single man prefers.....or not.

Pre Ordering the Pre Collection......

2010-02-07T14:29:00.006+01:00

As I entered into RUE DU MAIL's showroom, it was bustling with buyers ordering the Pre-Collection for their stores. Maria Luisa was there ordering for her Parisian boutique named after her. She had her team of buyers hovering over the pieces trying to decide what combination of pieces they should offer their customers. They took advantage of the in-house mannequin with legs up to the sky, to see how the clothes draped on real flesh and bones. At this point in my life, I know what cuts look good on my body. Right away, I knew that these timeless pieces were going to be hanging in my closet this Fall. The prices were right and the fabrics were all heavenly draped and easy to wear. I applaud Martine for using fake fur instead of the real stuff. I do not get the point in wearing a dead carcass posing as a fashion statement. Maybe we should take up the old Mayan way of stripping off human skin, drying it out, then patching it together a la SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. That is so Fall 2010!