Summer Fruit

Summer, I adore. Not only for the warm weather and sunshine, but also the longer days and shorter nights. The best part, however, has to be the fresh produce. I have been simply living on tomato sandwiches the past few days. Is there anything better than a vine-ripened tomato between two slices of bread? A bowl of dark cherries, perhaps. Yum.

Good Vibrations

There is a new development in mascara. Two top end lines, Lancome and Estee Lauder, are introducing vibrating mascara applicators. Yes, for those of us who are too lazy to wriggle the applicator back and forth, technology finally provides an answer to our prayers. There is some science behind it, i.e. the movement puts more product on the lash, but it seems like yet another marketing scheme. I'm surprised no one has tried putting a clock on the tube . . . Forgive my cynicism. Finding the perfect mascara has been a lifelong endeavour. And I am not convinced that battery power is the answer.

This photo was ripped from an amazing tutorial I found on the Team Sugar blog, which explains how to recreate Marilyn Monroe's iconic look.

Update: At the moment, Voluminous Naturale is rocking my lash world. It goes on like a dream and comes off easily. No smudges. Perfection.

hello vélo

Rising fuel prices have made me reconsider my preferred form of transportation. While I am lucky enough to own an extremely efficient vehicle, the bicycle is becoming a lot more attractive. Especially since speculation is rife that the oil market is being manipulated. I hate ugly greed, especially when perpetrated by corporations at the expense of the working classes. This seemingly leftist comment may seem out of character for a self-confessed consumer; however, I would argue that rising fuel costs mean that the average person's disposable income will continue to dwindle. Forget about buying cute shoes, one might be making serious compromises at the grocery store. Viva le marché libre. Or some such thing.

Porn for Women

This is a great book that always makes me giggle. There is something hugely seductive about the sight of handsome men being helpful around the house. These women are genius!

Be Reckless

At some point, I stopped feeling reassured by the valediction 'take care' and started feeling annoyed. It seems so sanctimonious, as if one is in need of being cautious. It seems to me a better way to sign off is: 'be reckless'. It definitely sounds like more fun.

SATC

It's difficult to pick just one, but I think my favourite SATC episode of all time has to be from Season 3 when the girls go to LA and Carrie hooks up with Vince Vaugn's character. Not only does it feature Mr Sunshine but also a cameo from the incomparable Carrie Fisher. And it makes an interesting statement about the consumer culture of the late 1990s, in particular the status accessory, which in this instance is a faux Fendi bag.

Ice Ice, Baby

Sometimes it seems like I'm the only one in the house who knows the recipe for ice. If it weren't for me refilling the trays, there would be no chilled goodness when it comes time to mix cocktails. Mmmm . . . cocktails

Matt

I miss you so much.

The Drugs Don't Work

Research conducted at Harvard has found that fresh flowers can reduce anxiety and depression. According to the study, the presence of flowers in the home had a positive effect on the subjects' feelings and attitudes, leading to greater compassion, increased energy and fewer feelings of anxiety and depression. Which is good news, since a new report published today asserts that Prozac and other SSRIs don't work. Speaking of Prozac, I wonder what Elizabeth Wurtzel thought when she read the report? I guess it doesn't make her look like a total chump. The research did concede that Prozac et al could still help the seriously depressed. The report recommends that drugs should be prescribed only if all other avenues, such as counselling, have failed.

Making Love Work

The secret to keeping two lovers: divide up the duties

Linda Blair
Wednesday February 13, 2008

Guardian

Just imagine it. A younger lover to fulfil all your physical desires and another, more mature and settled partner to share your domestic bliss, even take delight in running the home and in raising your offspring. Doesn't that sound ideal?

Tilda Swinton, 47, who appeared at the Baftas on Sunday with artist Sandro Kopp, 29, recently said of her partner, 68-year-old director and artist John Byrne, "We ostensibly live in the same house, but I travel the world with another delightful painter. The arrangement is just so sane."

A moment's sober reflection brings you to the conclusion that "ideal" is exactly what this is. Surely, no one can be truly content to stay at home while their partner enjoys lust and leisure elsewhere? Surely, a stay-at-home partner must feel jealous?

Not according to Byrne, who has told reporters: "We're amicably living together in the same house, under the same roof. It's extraordinary. We love each other too, in an extraordinary way."

Human beings are remarkable for their diversity, and that includes the vast range of relationships we can create and maintain. And the most important ingredient in any relationship is a good matching of needs. That is, the sum total of everyone's needs must be met within the relationship. This is a rarity within any relationship - almost never does one person meet all the needs of their partner. Most of us either simply accept that some of our needs will go unmet, or we fulfil them - usually, the less controversial ones - outside our primary relationship.

But another way to resolve this mismatch is to fulfil some of your desires with one person, and the rest with someone else, ensuring that all parties are aware of, and happy with, this arrangement.

An important factor in a successful tripartite setup - as indeed in any more conventional relationship - is open and honest communication. Any secrets in this often delicate arrangement have the potential to create a sense of betrayal that can damage the relationship at least as much as the pain of jealousy. And speaking of jealousy, it has no place in a happy tripartite relationship. Jealousy is about possession, and not wanting to share.

In summary, then, for anyone thinking of entering into and maintaining a happy relationship with not just one but two others, I suggest that you begin by finding two individuals whose needs meet yours, and who don't feel jealous of one another. Once you have managed this feat, you'll need vast amounts of time and energy to keep things running smoothly. I leave it to you to decide whether it's worth the effort.

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2008

Simple Solution

For reasons known only to herself, my greyhound occasionally pees on the carpet. Not ever day, not every week, but every now and again. It doesn't matter if she's been out for a walk or cooped up in the house. She pees on a patch of carpet near the front window then slinks off. I have yet to catch her doing this. Until then, I am left to clean up the mess. I searched the web and found recommendations for Simple Solution. I tried it yesterday, and although the patch isn't quite dry yet, it did seem to help. It picked up the old stains and took care of the odour. Fingers crossed it will lift the stain completely.

Shuttle Launch

Today marked the successful launch of the latest NASA shuttle. It's a bittersweet moment, because I saw the shuttle on the launchpad a few months ago in better times. Much has changed since then.

Roasted Vegetables

Stripped of my usual comforts, I have had a difficult few days adjusting to life on the South Beach diet. Yes, I feel more energetic. Yes, I am fizzing with vitamins, fibre and leafy goodness. But I miss the soft calm feeling that only carbs can bring.


Image: www.epicurious.com

Did She Have Some Work Done?

Is it just me, or does Kathy Bates look a little fresher? No one seems to have commented, but then it has been a busy week for gossip. And to be honest, we don't seem to care much as a culture about women who fail to conform to current beauty norms, i.e. young, can-tanned and filled with plastic. Loved her to death in Dolores Clairborne.

Photo: Wire Image

Late-Night Tequila Shots

While the bf dozes, I am still awake. Had a major anxiety attack for no apparent reason--other than the million things stressing me out right now. Why is it that when my head hits the pillow all my worries seem to float up to the surface? I'm sipping tequila out of a bar shot glass, hoping I can numb myself and get some sleep. We have an early morning flight tomorrow for Espana. To be honest, I would rather stay home and get some work done. It's supposed to be a b-day treat for my other; however, as he has made known in word and deed, it is not exactly what he'd hoped for. Tell me about it. I thought I would be married by now, and I'm still waiting for a fucking confirmation of that proposal received three years ago. Sigh . . .

Tragic but the tequila is easing the pain. Isn't that the first sign of alcoholism? Or is the seventh? I can't remember.

The Man I Love

I've been crushing on this man for years. He haunts my dreams. Or at least the characters he portrays on tv do. I'm not going to stalk the man. Yeesh.

Tropical Beauty

This Christmas, I spent my holidays in Florida. It was my first experience in a tropical setting and I must say it was a beautiful one. Having grown up facing harsh weather, I cannot believe the difference a little sun and sand make to one's appearance. I felt relaxed and confident. So far the bloom has lasted despite the rainy weather we've been having in the UK. Now that I've had a taste of the tropics, there's no stopping me.

Master Cleanse Cocktail

Post-holidays, I decided it was time to take action and go on a cleansing fast. I picked the lemonade diet, aka the master cleanse, since it was easiest. In order to help the cause, I cleaned out my fridge and cupboards. Long story short, I broke the fast with a pizza. My pantry being bare didn't leave too many options for aperitifs. Necessity being the mother of invention, I created the master cleanse cocktail. Here is the recipe. It's fucking kick-ass.

Juice from one freshly squeezed lemon
Equal parts maple syrup and plain vodka
Mix well and pour over ice

Photo: www.jupiterimages.com

Practical Princess

From The Times
January 5, 2008

The woman who remade Tamara Mellon's closets
Coolhunter mets the woman whom the Jimmy Choo creator says "changed my life". But can an organised closet mean a better life?
Organised knicker drawer

Tina Gaudoin

Practical Princess comes highly recommended. “She changed my life,” enthuses the elegant accessories tsar Tamara Mellon over pre-lunch drinks, But then if you had a wardrobe the size of Winchester, you might be glad of the help. “Oooh,” says the good-natured Mellon, “it’s not that large.” The girl beside her chokes on her champagne cocktail. “It’s not,” she shrieks. “It’s even bigger.”

Elika Gibbs, aka “the Practical Princess”, says she saw the future while toiling in the Mellon closets. “I thought, it actually doesn’t matter how big or how small your wardrobes are – we’re all busy, we all need organising.” How right she is. Lest you think this is another one of those fascist fashion columns (I’m guilty – I wrote one once) about how to chuck out all your clobber, it’s not. Gibbs doesn’t believe in diktats. “If you like it, then you keep it,” she says. “It’s how and where you keep it that counts.” She insists on seeing my wardrobes, which I gamely resist for about five minutes. “You must,” urges Mellon. “You have to experience the difference.”

Gibbs arrives early one Monday morning like a leggy blonde lurcher in a parka. She is all action. A deputy Practical Princess wades in behind her bearing boxes of Gibbs’s own coat hangers, shoe boxes, etc. My biggest issue with PP, other than the fact that I’ve had to chuck out a few really revolting things from my closet before she arrives, is that the majority of us cannot afford a wardrobe makeover – Gibbs charges £450 per day for her services. “Aha,” says Gibbs. “That’s where you are wrong.” Her website offers tips and insights into how to effect a sea change in your closet. “And you can buy the hangers, boxes and scented drawer liners – they are not expensive.” And with that PP goes to work.

A few hours later I return to a transformed wardrobe. Gibbs waves a massive bag of metal coat hangers at me. “These are the heroin of storage,” she exclaims. “They ruin everything.” Knickers line up like Coldstream Guards at the Palace; shoes are boxed. Later, she sends me pictures of the shoes via e-mail to print out and stick on (you can buy the software on her website). “It’s a matter of common sense,” says PP, who has organised my wardrobe into colours – all the black, navy, grey and brown dresses, cardigans and coats hang together. Gosh. Do I really not have any colour in there? “Well,” says Gibbs pragmatically, “I always say that once a wardrobe is organised, you can see what’s missing.”

The joy of PP is that not only can you see your clothes, but you can appreciate them. My honeymoon (now vintage) Louis Vuitton luggage peeks proudly from the top of the shelf. I hate to admit it, but Gibbs has changed my life, too. You could do a lot worse than going to www.practicalprincess.com and taking her advice… We all need a Practical Princess in our lives. I feel a TV series coming on.

coolhunter@thetimes.co.uk

Natural Instincts

Those of you who read Allure have already heard the rave reviews about this product. Let me add my voice to the chorus. I'm a reluctant at-home dyer, but after a few disappointing and overpriced experiences at the local salon, I decided to go it alone. Other products are smelly, messy and gloopy. This one is a pleasure to use. The colour covered those pesky greys and was an absolute delight to use. Unless I decide to go lighter, I see no reason to give up the at-home treatments.

Highly recommended!

Shaving Tips

I love the look and feel of smooth legs. But I hate most depilatories on the market. So you can understand why my heart skipped a beat when I went on Amazon and saw a banner ad promising to zap my legs hair free forever. I checked it out, but it looks like a gimmick.

Hate to say it, but the razor is the way. It's quick and convenient plus it does a nice job of exfoliating the skin. I was staying chez the bf and didn't have my gear with me. I borrowed his razor and discovered something even better than the Venus. The Mach III rocks. And a shout out to L'Occitane Cade After Shave Balm. It smells so yummy!

Ode to a Torso

Is there anything more attractive than the torso? It literally is the trunk of our body, connecting our head to our heart, our legs to our gut and our arms to ourselves. I'm a big fan of a fitted shirt, like this one from the gap. It looks so fresh, so young, so polished. With age or inactivity, our torsos disappear beneath a layer of fat and bloat. Reclaim the torso, relinquish the sugary snack. Be healthy! And, as an added bonus, belly fat is the easiest to lose. Or so says the author of South Beach Diet.

Facing Spring

What is it about spring? Hope starts rising and the sap starts running. The air feels delicious. Possibilities abound. After a long dirty winter, I feel reborn. Of course, this rebirth is facilitated in part by the following fab products.

Blistex Tint and Shine I found this in my local Super Drug a few months ago. I'd switched purses in the morning and forgotten to transfer all my essentials into the new bag. I picked this up on a whim and have bought two more since then so I'm never caught without it. The colour is very subtle but it perks up a pale face without looking too obvious. When applied, I find it tingles a bit. This may not be to the taste of all users, especially those with sensitive skin. My mother tried it after seeing it on me, and she said it did sting a bit. That said, it's the perfect thing to swipe across your lips for a little moisture and colour. Blistex has always been my default choice for lip care products. I always have a tub of MedPlus close to hand at home. Of all the brands available, I find Blistex is the least likely to cause irritation or create dependency issues. Some lip balms seem to suck all the moisture out of the lips, leaving the user desperate for one fix after another. The only quibble I have is with packaging, but for £2.25, it seems churlish to complain.

Clarins Moisture Quenching Hydra-Care Lotion
I picked this up at Easter whilst crossing the Channel. Sounds very glam, but if you've been on one of these ferries, you know the reality is quite different. Needless to say, the onboard shop was a bit of a scrum. What I was really looking for was the hydra-care serum. I'd read Hannah Betts rave in the Saturday Times edition. My skin is classic combination, but I was looking for something to cure the dry patches I get, quite literally, from the tracks of my tears. The bf can be quite a bastard sometimes. Unfortunately, the serum wasn't in stock so I picked up the lotion instead. Good thing too because it's been an absolute godsend. The stuff is genius. It's very light but soothing, leaving my skin feeling soft and fresh. It has an SPF 15 as well, which is better than nothing. For those of you with combo skin, you know how difficult it is to find a lotion that satisfies the dry patches without irritating the t-zone. The lotion is oil-free, which is probably why I haven't had any break outs. Highly recommended but I will have to revise my opinion as the weather gets warmer. Clarins has a nice range of products. I've recently made the switch from Clinique, and I'm very pleased with most of what I've tried. The Water Comfort one-step cleanser is very nice. I find the standard moisturizes a bit rich for my skin, but the sensitive line and hydra care are perfect. And I love that the Clarins staff is generous with free samples. I travel a lot, so the miniatures come in very handy.

Bobbi Brown Moisture Rich Foundation This woman is amazing. I know the overall aesthetic a bit retro--think 90's nude/no make-up make-up--but the product itself is genius. I've never had much success with foundation. Either the shade or the consistency is off. When I was a teenager, I didn't mind so much. Apart from the occasional spot, I had pretty amazing skin. Now I'm starting to get older and I need something to get the red out, ease over the rough patches and in general make me look the way a good night's sleep used to. Bobbi Brown's moisturizer does all this. I have turned into one of those women who needs to 'do her face' in the morning, but in a good way. You'll pay more for this than you would for a drug store brand, but it is worth it. The website seems to be up and running now. When I visited the counter at Selfridges, the staff were very helpful and quite kind in dealing with customers. They were very patient with two young tweens, sending them away with free samples.

Faux Fashion Wisdom

High-Waisted Trousers A bit of an obvious choice to start with, but hear me out. I think that, given the right fabric, cut and figure, high-waisted trousers can be very hot. Think navy jersey or crepe on a whippet thin body, and it's fresh but classic. It evokes the best of Chanel and early twentieth-century sportswear. The wrong cut and fabric, even on a 00 frame, can make the wearer look like she's swathed in diapers. So not hot.

Colour makes me squeamish. I know it's a good thing. The all-black wardrobe signals a lack of imagination rather than a surfeit of sophistication. But colour can look so cheap. Unless the fabric and style are spot-on, your fancy bright-coloured tunic can look like it came from the bargain bin rather than the boutique. Coloured leather makes me especially nervous. Yellow shoes look so nasty with a week's worth of city grime. I think colour works on the beach and at the weekend. In a silk or other fabulous material, it makes a great statement in the evening. As always with colour, choosing what flatters your skin rather than what's features on the racks will always keep you on the right side of fashion.


White Sunglasses I think this is a seriously awesome trend. Awesome as in fear-inducing. Fashion has been pretty safe for a long time. Now with the whole retro 80's vibe going we're finally starting to see some bold statements. Some work and some don't. White sunglasses work for about .99999 % of the population. The rest of us will be cringing every time we see our digi snaps from the summer of 2006. Speaking of sunglasses, I find the whole oversized vibe fascinating. Like big bags and even bigger coffee cups, this trend seems to exist for one reason only. And that's to make the girl-child wearing or carrying them look even smaller.

Leggings I wore these the first time round, so this trend is pretty tired for me. I had great pair of vintage stirrup pants that belonged to my mother. I think that look rocked pretty hard. What I hate most about leggings is the singular lack of imagination they show. And the fact that they look pretty rubbish. Plus if they're not made from breathable material, they can give you thrush, which is never fashion forward.

Fur We knew this one had to come back. I grew up in Canada, where it's seriously cold for half of the year. When I was a teenager, I went through a kick of buying vintage furs. Persian lamb was my absolute favourite. I wore it with leggings and loafers, which sounds tragic, but made me feel pretty wicked cool at the time. With my sunglasses and cigarettes, I seriously felt like I was channelling the best of Edie Sedgwick. Ah. Good times. I have a number of objections to fur, some ethical others aesthetic. For one, I think you need to live somewhere sub-zero before you can even contemplate a fur coat. Second, you need to be an uber-woman. Britney, Mary-Kate Ashley, et al, look like little kids playing dress up. They're just not femme enough to pull it off. If you're going to wear fur, your bod needs to be seriously lush. I doubt any of those girls have enough body fat to menstruate regularly.

Black Silk Cardigan

It's starting to feel like summer, but the evenings are a bit chilly. I've been hunting for a black silk cardigan, and I haven't been able to find anything. Even reduced to searching on ebay and found a bunch of random overpriced designer stuff. One woman is selling all of this allegedly top-end merch for half price. I don't think ebay is the place to unload Alexander McQueen. Anyway, it's such a drag to have to struggle to find simple pieces like this.

French Connection

Went to France for Easter and expected to find great deals on cosmetics. Not the case. Clarins et al was the same price or even more. What gives? I thought that the French had sorted out the price?

From The Times | March 15, 2006
Perfume cartel fined £32m | Leading cosmetics companies & distributors adopted heavy-handed tactics to keep prices high

By Adam Sage

THEY are among the most famous names in cosmetics, linked with elegance, refinement and romance, enveloped in the enticing smell of luxury.

Yesterday an altogether more unpleasant odour clung to the world’s biggest manufacturers of perfume and make-up after a damning report of their commercial practices in France. They were denounced by the French antitrust authority for colluding in maintaining high prices to the detriment of consumers.

At the end of an extensive inquiry, the French Competition Council fined 13 of the leading brands in the global cosmetics industry and 3 of their French distribution chains a total of €46.2 million (£32 million) for price fixing.

In its ruling, the council said that the manufacturers had adopted heavy-handed methods to force up prices and stamp out discounts for well-known perfumes and make-up.

Among the famous names denounced in the ruling were L’Oréal, which was fined €4.1 million; Chanel, €3 million; Christian Dior, €2.2 million; Yves Saint Laurent, €1.8 million; Guerlain, €1.7 million; and Elco, which markets Clinique and Estée Lauder, € 1.6 million.

Three French distribution chains were also condemned for colluding in the price-fixing arrangements. They were Marionnaud, bought last year by the A S Watson group, which was fined €12.8 million; LVMH’s chain, Sephora, fined €9.4 million; and the privately owned retailer Nocibé, fined €6.2 million. LVMH, which also owns four of the perfume brands fined by the council — Christian Dior, Guerlain, Givenchy and Kenzo — said that it would appeal. In a statement, the antitrust authority said: “Each of these brands agreed with its distributors that each product should be sold in the shops at the same price, effectively eliminating any possibility of competition between sales points.

“Each agreement was accompanied by the creation of a price police, consisting of controls on the prices practised, pressures and threats of commercial reprisals against distributors who refused to apply the prices imposed by the brand.”

The council said that cosmetics manufacturers had argued that they needed to maintain prices to defend their “image of luxury”. But it continued: “This absence of competition . . . enabled all of them to increase and then share out the surplus obtained to the detriment of the consumer.” The council’s 133-page report detailed the evidence accumulated during its investigation into price fixing between 1997 and 2000.

It said that cosmetics manufacturers had sent letters to distributors complaining of “abnormally low prices”, and threatening vendors that refused to increase prices with “delivery delays” and “repeated errors”. Other vendors were told that deliveries would be stopped altogether. One shop complained of “insidious” pressure, with frequent spot checks on prices. A shop in Lyons is quoted as saying of Christian Dior: “The threats were clear. If we sold for more than 10 per cent under the recommended price, Dior would cut the brand out.”

An internal memo at Chanel about a discount sale in Paris said that the company’s legal department was furious and advised “frightening” shopowners. Another internal note at Thierry Mugler perfumes said that the price of a 100ml bottle had been fixed at Fr590 — about £59. “This price, being unofficial, must never be stated on any document or letter from our company. It must only be communicated orally.” Yves Saint Laurent contacted a perfume distributor to complain about its low prices. “After a telephone conversation, the customer has agreed to eliminate all discounts,” a company memo said.

In cases affecting British consumers, the Office of Fair Trading has the power to punish companies that exhibit anti-competitive behaviour. It can impose sanctions or apply for the disqualification of directors. Where it thinks there is a danger to competition, it will refer the merger or industry to the Competition Commission.

backlash

Is it just me or is anyone else fed up with monster mascara? I reached the breaking point a few weeks ago when a misfire with Lancome Fatale left me looking like I'd just suffered a fatal blow. And if I'm honest, even at the best of times, under ideal application conditions, these lengthening mascaras have a tendency to clump like a country cousin going up stairs. So I picked up a tube of Great Lash by Maybelline at Boots and am loving the low-key look. As a bonus, it's much easier to take off at night.

Pleather

Whilst under the influence of this week's spring-like weather, I picked up a new handbag. It's a lovely light brown item made from pleather. Very ethical, very light, very nice. But very, very slippery. Unlike its counterpart, pleather blissfully slides off the shoulder, slips off the lap and in general shimmies all over the place. It's kind of annoying.

Singapore Sling: The Original Alcopop

Am stuck in the hellacious midlands on a work-related jaunt. Hotel room is beyond grim, so I stopped at the local M&S for a little light refreshment. The shop had run out of my first choice--g & t (nasty but nice once you knock back your second)--so I plumped for a Singapore Sling instead. I'm on my second and it tastes pretty delish. But if I'm brutally honest, it is a bit of a chemical cocktail, literally!

Wiki tells me the drink was created in the early 20th Century at Raffles Hotel in Singapore. I kind of knew that somewhere in the deep dark drink-related recesses of my mind. I love this pic I purloined from the net--very art deco. Am feeling somewhat soft-angled at the moment. Should move from the couch to the bed in case I pass out. But first, a toast to Charlotte Church and Gavin whatisname, aka Mr. Scrummy. May their child be fortunate and fair!

Spring 2007: Brought to You by the Colour Green

What is it with the colour green this season? Every mass-market shop I've been in seems to be flogging stuff in the exact same shade. I noticed it again today while in the M&S food hall. They're selling a nasty pair of leather heels in corrugated green leather. Too much! Now these shoes, I love!

300

Saw the trailer for 300 today. It looks lush. If I had it to do all over again, I think I'd want to be an art director. What better way to spend a life than making things look incredible?

Britney

It's very sad to witness, even at a remove, the pain and suffering Britney seems to be going through. I hope the girl finds her way to better soon. And I also hope that the public can show her some much needed kindness. Clearly, things haven't been good for a long time, and it's not fair for the media or her fans to lay any kind of expectations on her. I miss the healthy, happy Britney, but as far as I'm concerned, I'd rather see her retire than try to fake her way back to how she used to be.

Desire v Reality

WaNt: The deliciously ruched chocolate brown leather shoulder bag from Prada.
ReaLity: As determined by my current fiscal situation: a nasty knock-off from Mum's and Spencer.

Dirty Snow Day

I am still deep in the January blahs. The bf has found himself a whole new wardrobe in the seasonal sales, but I have refused to enter the breach. I've restocked my lingerie drawer at full price. It was the principle of the matter. Who wants to grub around in a bargain bin for pants? Actually . . . I can think of a few people who would pay money to participate in that particular scenario.

Am eagerly anticipating the spring especially in the biting cold of January. Spring with its warm breezes, sweet scents and stirring promise of sex, sex, sex.

SATC

Somehow, through no fault of my own, I missed season six of SATC. Since the nights are still drawing in, I thought I would remedy this oversight. Tonight I wept a little, okay a lot, when Harry proposed to Charlotte. I'm a sucker for a happy ending! Now watching my new fave show 'Ugly Betty'. I love that plucky, yet resolutely unplucked, Latina!

Sony Bravia Rocks

It pains me to admit it, but the bf was wise to buy a new Sony Previa. Although I would have preferred to see the money go towards jewelry, I am enjoying the sharp picture and brilliant colour.

xmas madness

It's been ages since I've blogged. Only one excuse for that. I've been working too damn hard. Lots of shopping this weekend and this week if I'm honest. Women spend over 200 hours of their life Christmas shopping, but I'm sure I've done more then that already.

Love the new Nicole Richie mugshot. If that's what vicodin looks like, I want some.

Casino Royale

Went to see Casino Royale last night with the bf. What can I say? Daniel Craig does not disappoint. He is one yummy yummy screw. Kudos to the design team and Lindy Hemming in particular. The costumes were fabulous. I guess it can't hurt that every status/prestige product is clamouring for placement in a Bond flick. They were certainly spoiled for choice. What I admired most, however, is the restraint shown in putting everything together. Every costume, every moment, looked fabulous. It might have been OTT but it worked, suiting the actor, the situation and the screen. Judi Dench might be a woman of a certain age, but I found myself coveting the quirky but beautiful diamond earrings she wore in her first scene with Bond. That said, it was the dress worn by Caterina Murino that really stole the show. Forget fuck-me shoes. This is the do-me dress. Muy caliente! Or, seeing as Murino is Italian, Ciao Bella!

Big Bags

Bags of Freedom or a Heavy Burden?| Tamara Kaminsky
Times Online, 15 November 2006

On the train this morning, I turned eagerly to the feature story in today's T2 but was soon disappointed. Looking at all the sad and tragic little stargirls carrying purses that could double as body bags for their mini frames, I realized that the vast-bag has had its moment. I don't care anymore. I want something small, stylish and light as air. No room for my shopping, my dog or my vitamins. Just keys, mobile and lipstick. Miuccia, please grant my wish.

Shuts Down Intermittently

I very nearly had a Denise Richards moment the other day. When I first start up my MacBook, it switches off. Usually, I can cope with this but today I was doing some field research and needed to make an urgent entry. No dice: switch on, switch off. Switch on, switch off. I very nearly hurled it over the paraphet until I realized that's what washed up Baywatch actresses do, not princesses. Finally, Apple has come up with a fix.

Perfection

Update: And now on her way to reading social and political history at King's this fall. Kudos.

Dove

Don't like the products, but I admire the team behind this campaign. Isn't it great when commercials get all adbustery? Isn't it nice how they've been able to shuck their past (does anyone remember the old ads, pitting mothers against daughters for a man's approbation?), and reinvent themselves as a friend of feminism. Dove soap sucks. It may have one-quarter moisturizing cream, but it leaves a stubborn scum on the bathroom tiles, which makes the maid's job even harder. So I switched to another soap just for her. And do you know why? Because she is worth it.

Have a fabulous day, kids.

Rate My Bra

Storm in a Royal D-cup | Rebecca Newman
The Telegraph, 25 October
The Queen gets her custom-made undies from Rigby & Peller. Camilla favours Marks & Spencer. So which is more deserving of the royal seal-of-approval?
Full Article

Best Idea Ever!

Cashless cappuccino as coffee shop introduces the pre-pay caffeine fix | Martin Hickman, Consumer Affairs Correspondent
The Independent, 19 October 2006

A café chain is launching a coffee card so customers can pay for their shot of caffeine without having to fumble for change at busy times.
Full Article

Mid-Season Sales Slump

Everywhere on the high street it's all about the mid season sale. I stopped in at my local Whistles (up to 50% off sale now on) but after making a desultory loop around the shop I walked out. The sun's shining and it's a beautiful day. I'd much rather spend my lunch hour sitting in the park.

Major agg this morning: the wrong paper was delivered. I was disgusted to find The Daily Express on the matt. Heather and Paul are still fighting apparently.

Aquascutum Spring 2007

Photo by Giovanni Giannoni, WWD

Aquascutum Spring 07

The reviews are mixed for Michael Herz and Graeme Fidler's spring collection. While previous collections had inspired countless high street knockoffs, this season's offering is said to lack coherence and focus. Comparisons with Britain's other purveryor of rainwear heritage brand Burberry continue. While the fashionistas may not be convinced, I think the collection translates the 80's influence for today, making it fresh and wearable.

SJP Gets No Love From Nirpal Dhaliwal

Ranking at number 29 in a recent celebrity poll, Times writer Nirpal Dhaliwal exposes the other ugly side of Sarah Jessica Parker. A brilliant piece. Straight men have always been impervious to Ms Parker's charms. I remember listening to my college friends debate the merits of SJP's character Carrie Bradshaw. My friend Wade sniped that she looked like a woman's idea of an attractive woman whereas one clever wag shot back that she was a gay man's idea of a hot chick. A silence fell over the group and the point was settled. Boys dig Charlotte but Carrie gets no love.

The Sunday Times | Celebrity: The Power 50 Part Two

She legitimised being a vapid, shoe-obsessed cretin, says Nirpal Dhaliwal

The only women who are uglier and more disgusting than models are those who aren’t but wish they were. Carrie Bradshaw — brought so vividly to life by SJP — epitomised these empty-headed klutzes and their desperation to conform to the junk middle-of-the-road lifestyle peddled in glossy magazines. Parading as hip metropolitan divas, they are, in fact, driven by the most mainstream and conservative preoccupations: fashion, diets and men.

Sex and the City began as a humdrum show about some whitebread squares trading stories about their boring yuppie lives. It soon evolved into what modern women want most: a reason to hate themselves. In the process, Parker played her part to the full. She got thinner, her outfits grew more expensive and glamorous and she became another strand in the web of self-loathing in which today’s women are entangled. She legitimised being a vapid, shoe-obsessed cretin for an entire generation. Posing as a kooky, self-deprecating slave to fashion, her character was, in fact, a narcissistic witch who flaunted her possessions with ruthless vigour.

Her bouncing self-confidence was flabbergasting. Her irrepressible zest and nitwit smile beamed out the message: “I’m thin and I’m blonde, and I’m all that!” But, apart from Matthew Broderick, guys aren’t hot for bony, big-nosed, big-chinned girls. And that mole! Couldn’t she have skipped on a few designer frocks and had it fixed? Carrie always questioned why her relationships never lasted, but the answer stared right back at her whenever she looked in the mirror.

Thanks to Parker/Bradshaw, I can’t go to any bar without hearing moronic, bellini-bingeing wannabes brag about blowing the peanuts they earn in PR/media/retail on the latest stupid accessory. Men have been robbed of sexy, interesting women. And SJP carries a big chunk of the blame.

A Grey Day for Fashion

The Times October 13, 2006
Women revolt over a grey fashion dilemma | By Nicola Woolcock


SHOPPERS have been turned off by a sea of grey clothing ranges and are shunning high street fashion chains, retail analysts said yesterday.
Full Article

Vogue touts grey as "the designers' shade of choice", describing it as: "restrained, chic, edgy - its subtleties allow for eclectic interpretation, whether sharp as steel in silk or soft in jersey knits".

And Would the Gentleman Like to See Something in a Glory Hour?

Last week while in bed with the bf, we did a little web surfing. Not porn, but shoes. I was feeling the agony of defeat after having spent the day, sans taxis, in high heels. We decided it was time I found something sensible so we looked on to that well-known purveyor of sensible shoes Clarks. I found a few lovely items in the lesbian bus driver range, but the men's section is where we struck gold.

The shoes are as nasty as your creepy uncle with wandering hands and have names like Hour, Month, Star, Year, Trip--all prefixed with the spangly sounding glory! Check out the Oliver Sweeney range if you dare. The man designs shoes like he wears a cup to breakfast. And by cup, I mean rugby box. Look at the lines of Trip or Sight and see if you don't get my meaning.

Stella McCartney New Show

I am loving the romper suit. Ms McCartney definitely has her mojo working this season. Look, love, want. The blue is great too. The shade feels very 80's to me but in the best possible way. What makes it fresh is its lightness. Matched with bare skin and minimal accessories the colour feels very now. Black or green would make it a costume.

My Mother, trendspotter

I'm home for a flying visit. Although I've been back for a few days, I am just getting over my jetlag. Wish Ambien wasn't so wickedly addictive; I really need some sleep. Yesterday, while I was looking for my runners in the closet, I came across a pair of Crocs. They're my mother's apparently, and she's been wearing them for yonks. She says they are perfect for gardening. Not everyone agrees though. I found this hilarious website today.

Premiere Week

I'm back in Americas and awfully excited that I'll be around for the Season Premieres of my two favourite shows, Desperate Housewives and Lost. Other than that I'm feeling hideously jetlagged.

Travel Restrictions

Major agg. I'm flying to the States on Sunday and am trying to sort out my hand luggage. The list of what's permissible is fairly clear. And, while I don't mind going without my make-up bag, it's going to be tough leaving my lip balm in the hold. Restrictions will be eased on Tuesday, which hopefully means all my fellow dry skin sufferers will be able to bring their lotions and potions on board.

This is, of course, a small price to pay for security and I am deeply grateful to everyone who helped foil the latest plot. I just get miserable when my lips crack.

Diet Doctors

I watched the diet doctors last night with the bf. It was truly horrific. The foot and mouth section was disgusting. Especially since the culprit in most cases was poor hygiene. Yes, how tedious, but drying between your toes and flossing your chompers does pay off.

The bf was pretty dismissive of the whole thing. He's much smarter than I am and kept questioning the scientific merit of their data. I don't have much to say about that, but I was slightly dubious of mackerel's merits as a cure-all.

New York Fashion Week

While flicking through celeb blogs yesterday, I came across this pic of Victoria Beckham at the Proenza Schouler show. What I love most about this pic, which I've shamelessly ripped off, is the blonde in the background. Although she's got her hand in front of her mouth, you can tell she is laughing her ass off at Vicky's get up. Priceless.

The slutty 12 year old in me loves this outfit, but I think it's one for the dress-up box not for going out. Poor Posh. Why can't we love her? She tries so hard.

Out of the Blue

Do you see me, my love. I am
flagging. Flagging.

I was moved to tears by Rufus Sewell's reading of Simon Armitage's poem. It was brilliant.

Nineties Nostalgia

Flipping through this month's fashion mags was enough to make me believe that Kurt Cobain was still alive, Courtney Love still had some shred of credibility and Billy Corgan might save rock 'n roll. (While the 80's and the 00's were all about fashion for me, the 90's will always be defined by the music.)

I am loving the boyfriend look, feeling slightly bemused to see starlets mixing vintage with billion dollar bags, and wondering if it's possible to do grunge the second time round. I've said no to leggings and sweater dresses, strictly because the memory of my 15 year old self strutting her stuff in footless tights and graphic prints is too painful to resurrect. As a woman of a certain age, I've always maintained it's important to draw a line under certain trends once one has had a go. That said, I don't think I'll be able to resist digging my dad's cardigan out of the closet, although I may not be wearing it with leggings this time round.

Mamasita

Why do I have babies on the brain? Maybe it's the pictures of SJP and son James published in this week's Grazia or the upcoming Suri-spread in Vanity Fair. After work today, I stopped off at my boyfriend's flat. In the courtyard, I ran into one of his neighbour's, a very hot new dad. He was watching his little girl carry a shopping bag in from the car. She was adorable, as was he. I know it's very sad, but I must confess that I've started checking out mums and kids at the shops, trying to gauge the age of the mothers to see if there's still time for me.

The bf let me watch "Supernanny" this evening. He loves it that I cry every damn time the mommy and daddy get their first apology and cuddle from the little hellions.

Tumi

As I am flying home soon, my thoughts have turned to luggage. I so want to upgrade my current set. Tumi is on my wishlist. I took a quick peek on the website at work today and liked what I saw. The women's travel section needs some work, but the technical specs and construction can't be beat.

Although I did plan to make the switch to Clarins last week, I unearthed a stash of Clinique in my closet. So I'll be working my way through that before making any skin care changes.