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.

My Man SJP

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

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.