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Thank you for all your emails about that dreaded duo JONATHAN ROSS and RUSSELL BRAND – "you may say those things..............I couldn't possibly comment" as a certain other, HOUSE OF CARDS, bounder would say!
But to make you feel better here is a pic of WOSSY in the stocks at THE LONDON DUNGEON waiting for 'the chop' (sadly his 'partner in crime' escaped!)
Jonathan Ross C.r. : GABOR SCOTT.
The good news is that FAWLTY TOWERS has had another repeat season so at least the excellent ANDREW SACHS will have earned a few extra shekels from the traumatic situation.
Another subject that I have received a huge post bag about is November's 'Treatment of the Month', XTREME LASHES, the ab fab new lash extensions by lovely beauty therapist UMAY of PASHA. Apparently you all want to flutter your eyelashes a lot, laydeez!
The good news on this front is that UMAY has now moved into Number 1, Harley Street, W.1. so you can get your lashes lengthened there if you are outside the Central London area where she does her house calls. Ring her on: 07974 053 170 for a/ps and get fluttering!
In the meantime why not try LASHFOOD, a wonderful new natural lash conditioner which will make your own lashes fuller and more luxuriant. Our guinea pig, REISA, reports that her, previously non existent, lashes have actually started to sprout after just 3 weeks of regular day and night application – eye-mazing!
0845 1 305 305 / www.lashfood.co.uk
Once you have perfected your lash look you will want to be gazing around in all the best places. The Red Carpet is a good place to start. Last month I attended 2008's ROYAL FILM PREMIERE at THE ODEON, LEICESTER SQUARE in the presence of HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN. The chosen film was the hilarious and moving A BUNCH OF AMATEURS starring BURT REYNOLDS, IMELDA STAUNTON, DEREK JACOBI and SAMANTHA BOND. Sadly the gorg MR REYNOLDS was filming on the night but the other stars braved the cold to sign autographs. The delightful IMELDA was there with her equally delightful hubby JIM CARTER and their beautiful daughter. HER MAJ wore a stunning red dress (red as in 'stop') and here she is arriving with HRH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH. As ever the Royal hair was coiffed to perfection by gorg Royal crimper IAN CARMICHAEL.
THE QUEEN. C. r.: ROWENA CHOWDREY.
I myself chose green (as in 'go') for this momentous occasion, sporting a nice warm furry trimmed coat by LOVE AND LILLY designer ADELE BLOOM. ADELE's cheap and cheerful LOVE AND LILLY 'fantasy' jewellery collection has really taken off in this credit crunch and you can track her down at: 079 76 72 88 80. My own hair was by the fabulous INANCH.
SALLY. C. r : ROWENA CHOWDREY.
INANCH is the new darling of the West End with a beautiful new bijou salon at 220, Gt. Portland Street, W.1. (020 7383 7607), near Regent's Park. I had heard a lot of good things about this dynamic young hairdresser, who was previously at MICHAEL VAN CLARKE and was dying to see the much discussed new salon. It didn't disappoint and I spent a truly magical afternoon there being highlighted to perfection by REBEKAH, washed by VESSY in the gorgeous scented and low lit red 'wash room', pedicured by MARCELA and trimmed and styled by the lovely INANCH herself. All the staff were delightful, fast and talented at their jobs (my pedicure simply hasn't chipped for weeks) and the whole experience was extremely pleasurable. I will definitely be returning with all the family. INANCH also specialises in extensions, numbering the gorg EVA HERZIGOVA amongst her clients. The salon has a really nice, relaxed atmosphere, so important for beautification, and I had a delicious glass of wine in reception with INANCH's charming hubby JOE, while waiting for a late date! Our hair is our crowning glory and it is most important to go to the best salon you can possibly find to maintain your locks. I highly recommend INANCH.
Once you have achieved the hairstyle of your dreams at INANCH, you will need to look after it. No more plunging into the bath or shower with unfettered locks. "If you want to get ahead, get a hat", as I always say when I am wearing one myself! In this case, it's a bath cap I am talking about – indispensable for keeping newly styled hair from the steam and spray of our ablutions..........I have had a good look around for the best bath caps available and have chosen LOVE LAMMIE's cheap but strong, prettily patterned but practical and completely waterproof ones which cover the complete head whilst still looking fetching in case you are caught out in the bath by your husband, lover or handyman!
www.lovelammie.co.uk
LOVE LAMMIE make all sorts of cool handbags and accessories – check em out.
On the fashion front, there are some fab bargains around, now that we are having to wrestle with the credit crunch. I recently found an absolutely brill new label called VIVIEN OF HOLLOWAY, whose clothes are really well cut, sexy and feminine with a distinct 50s feel (my fave, being the 'Face' – some say 'Bum'! – of FANNIANN who are very keen on the 40s and 50s looks), but without being expensive. Take a look at the website at:
www.vivienofholloway.com
and you will see what I mean. I got an amazing VIVIEN OF HOLLOWAY halter necked red dress for Hallowe'en and have been wearing it ever since. A newspaper recently found that gentlemen prefer Ladies in Red and VIVIEN OF HOLLOWAY certainly has plenty of those. I wonder who VIVIEN is? A lady after my own heart perhaps? Photos next month.
All of you 'yummy mummy's have been asking me for ages for really nice baby and toddler clothes that you can buy on the Web but that aren't 'samey'. Well, mummies, they ain't easy to find, I can tell you. However I have now at last found the perfect website for you all:
www.spreadshirt.net
SPREADSHIRT is a totally amazing company where you can actually make up your own designs with your own babies' names on. The styles include T-shirts, baby bodies, caps and bibs in soft, comfortable cotton, in all the usual baby sizes and colours. There are 20,00 styles on the site or you can create your own unique design. It's very quick and easy and do-able from home of course – fab for your own bubbas and for pressies. Our resident baby JO looked cute in his personally monikered giraffe tee and his mum reported that the garment washed and wore really well. My colleague DENNY is currently designing a baby body for her own little one even as I write.
Totally brill and innovative –10 out of 10 to SPREADSHIRT.
If you are slightly more mature but still want to find the perfect tee that you can customise yourself, then look no further than WUWI, a great new brand with unique designs for both men and women, rooted in street style, that donate £3 from each garment to the RS tree planting initiative. Go on, 'wear a tee, plant a tree'! The tee we tried in the office wore well, washed well and still looks fresh. Great stuff – and good for the planet.
www.wuwi.com
GIFT IDEA OF THE MONTH:
All my life I have been searching for the perfect jewellery case and finally I have found it. BEAUTY-BOXES.COM have brought out 2 real gems (excuse the pun!), THE WINDSOR and THE RICHMOND in gorgeous bonded leather with soft velvet linings and yes, "the price is right", starting at just £45.
I have snapped up THE WINDSOR in chic brown leather with cream interior myself and now have somewhere where I can see all my crown jewels at a glance, as the box opens up. Closed up it is of course the perfect travelling companion (and doesn't talk!) and there is a 'small but perfectly formed', travel sized case inside for short trips which is also really useful.
THE WINDSOR is very elegant and stylish and there are enough drawers, shelves and pads for storing all your treasures, including rings and earrings, safely. A BEAUTY BOX also makes a perfect present of course – however, if you are planning a pressie, order 2 as I guarantee you will want to keep one when they arrive.
Keep up the good work, BEAUTY BOXES – brilliant!
www.beauty-boxes.com
THE WINDSOR, open. C.r.: BEAUTY-BOXES.COM.
My BARGAIN BEAUTY GIFT OF THE MONTH has to be RADOX's fab new HEAVENLY GIFT PACK containing 2 really nice bath creams and 2 luxury candles with their own re-usable glass holders, for just £8. The packaging is fab and the products have a gorg fragrance. This is another product which you will need to buy at least 2 of as you deserve to keep at least one for yourself – after all in December you will be shopping and in January you will be recovering so you will need several fragrant candle lit baths to get over it all!
Available in good chemists and stores and go to
www.radox.co.uk
for the full product range.
Talking of fragrance, the best new perfume I have found for you, dear readers, is MONSOON Eau de Toilette, a sexy, sophisticated and feminine scent which seems to suit all sorts of different ladies – judging by the "let us spray" fun my colleagues and I had with it in our antiseptic smelling new office. MONSOON contains some of the world's yummiest and most evocative smells including lychee, bougainvillea and Moroccan rose oil. Delicious!
MONSOON have linked up with BRONNLEY to create a whole bath and body range in this fragrance.
Available from MONSOON and:
www.bronnley.co.uk/fragrances
Here are some more great new PRODUCTS:
LIPO CONTOUR have come up with a great natural alternative to having expensive and painful liposuction. Their CLASSIC BODY body sculpting garments actually lift and firm the tum, bum, hips and thighs as well as slimming them. The garments come in 2 lengths, are strong and comfortable and can be worn safely after pregnancy. They sounded too good to be true but both of our guinea pigs report that their 'wobbly bits' are not only skinnier but flatter, firmer and generally more sylph like, with a definite lessening of cellulite. Amazing – I'm going to order a 6 - pack for all my post natal and, erm, larger pals! Who needs liposuction if you can achieve such a brill effect with just a pair of knix!
www.lipocontour.co.uk
LAVERE (with a cute little acute accent, excuse the pun, on the last 'e' – but my computer doesn't do accents!) is a new and exciting company with some very interesting products. Their POWER EYE GLOW anti ageing eye cream wowed our trialler SUSIE who said "this product definitely reduced the dark circles under my eyes and my skin has now lost that horrid crepey look". GLORIA tried the LAVERE ACTIVE BODY SCRUB and said " this scrub has a peeling effect and has made my cellulite on my legs look much better. Previously I was using baby oil and sea salts together to get the same effect but it was really messy; this is much better and it smells good too."
www.lavere.de
It's not often that I get time to trial a product myself but I thought I'd have a go with TIMESHIELD TM's new WRINKLE RELEASE anti ageing serum which is a sort of natural alternative to BOTOX, relaxing your facial muscles (and therefore the wrinkles) quickly and effectively. My skin definitely had the winter blues and needed a lift and my worry and frown lines were getting a huge workout thanks to the sad lack of service I was experiencing in the service world (FULHAM CARPHONE WAREHOUSE, AOL and AMERICAN AIRLINES - are you reading this?) so it was surely time for an instant overhaul. The WRINKLE RELEASE really did soften my 'expression lines' (as my agent calls them!) and the serum has a long term effect, making my skin brighter and more radiant after a few weeks' use. Plus it didn't bring me out in spots, as a lot of these nourishing products do. Blooming marvellous, literally.
Stockists: 020 8649 8500.
STERIMAR HYPERTONIC BLOCKED NOSE nasal spray is absolutely wonderful if you get a lot of colds. Well, who doesn't in this ghastly climate? Just spray it up each nostril and it will clear your nose – and your head - for hours, including all through the night. Plus it doesn't smell pungent like most anti cold ointments and inhalers.
Plus – and this is a big plus – it seems to stop men snoring – yes, really! What a find, eh, laydeez? It's a good idea to lay some down immediately even if you don't yet have a snorer on your pillow – you never know when one may turn up!
Stockist: good chemists.
Finally if, like me, you enjoy a tipple in these colder months, you may like to consider 'light' alcohol. It tastes just as good but doesn't have the same devastating, potentially embarassing and potentially driving licence losing effect. I am talking about a new manufacturer called ENTWINE whose 5.5% alcohol content (only) PREMIUM BUCK'S FIZZ, SHIRAZ ROSE SPRITZER and SAUVIGNON BLANC SPRITZER are totally delicious but don't make you pinch your neighbour's bum or swerve into a lamp post.
Excellent – I am ordering by the case load.
Stockists: ASDA
My SHOP OF THE YEAR for 08 is the fabulous design and interiors shop KARAVAN, 74 Church Road, Barnes (020 8748 22 66 where you can find everything from exquisite continental furniture and accessories to practical wall fires to cuddly children's toys to cheap and cheerful decorations. Set in its own courtyard, KARAVAN also has a cafe serving delicious snacks to sustain you during the arduous business of shopping. The owners PAUL and JANE and the manageress GERRIE are delightful, all the staff are charming and efficient and you will probably want to move in and stay there, as I always do when I visit!
BOOK NEWS.
BOOK OF THE YEAR / 2008:
Thank you for all your emails about MARY-KATE AND ASHLEY OLSEN, younger readers. The good news is that the world's most famous and glam twins have brought out an amazing new book, chock full of fashion and celebs and giving an amazing insight into their lives. It's called INFLUENCE (PENGUIN $35),is now available in the UK and is my BOOK OF THE YEAR for 2008.
INFLUENCE is a huge and fabulous coffee table book of really fascinating and comprehensive interviews with some of the icons who have influenced and inspired the girls - and the rest of the world - plus short essays on each twin by the other and all sorts of gorgeous photos of MARY-KATE AND ASHLEY themselves, their interviewees and some of their fave fashion items such as studded boots, silver cuff bracelets, gilt encrusted gloves and frox, frox and more frox! The interviewees include BOB COLACELLO, DIANE VON FURSTENBERG, JOHN GALLIANO, LAUREN HUTTON, KARL LAGERFELD and CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN. This is a book you will want to read, re-read and dip into on a regular basis and will be proud to own and display: really good value.
MARY-KATE AND ASHLEY OLSEN. C.R.: OLSENS.
Here are the rest of my BEST CELEBRITY BOOKS this season, all of which make fab pressies:
AMERICAN PRINCE: MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY (VIRGIN BOOKS / £18.99) by film legend TONY CURTIS is the amazing, warts and all, true story of TONY's extraordinary life. It is not only about his meteoric rise to international fame as a heart throb film star and all of his hundreds of successful movies (including everyone's fave, SOME LIKE IT HOT of course) but also about the tragedies and sadnesses of his life, including the deaths of his little brother and young son, his 4 divorces and his sometimes difficult relationships with all of his children, including the almost as famous JAMIE LEE CURTIS. TONY is a delightful gentleman and his warmth and humanity comes across in the book, as well as his extraordinary talent.
TONY CURTIS at his recent book signing at HARRODS with his lovely wife JILL. C.r.: REZA KAZ.
TWIGGY's new self help book, A GUIDE TO LOOKING AND FEELING FABULOUS OVER FORTY (MICHAEL JOSEPH / £20) is another gorg coffee table book with loads of great pix and illustrations, as you would expect from the gal who has been at the top of her trade for 40 years. The evergreen beauty shares all her best fashion and beauty tips with readers in an easy to understand way and you can learn how to make yourself up exactly like her, how to look after your dresses and what to do if you have 'bingo wings'. Invaluable for us more mature ladies.
TWIGGY. C.r.: BREAKTHROUGH BREAST CANCER.
JEREMY CLARKSON'S 3rd volume of THE WORLD ACCORDING TO CLARKSON is called FOR CRYING OUT LOUD (MICHAEL JOSEPH / £20) and is bound to be another huge best seller. My male reader DANIEL says: "vintage CLARKSON. Bl---y brilliant! Irreverent, lavatorial and laugh out loud funny. All the blokes will love it."
BOB DYLAN's new book is called FOREVER YOUNG (HARPER COLLINS / £12.99) and it's a beautiful coffee table book featuring the lyrics of his famous, and always timely, song FOREVER YOUNG, illustrated by PAUL ROGERS. A must have book for DYLAN fans all over the world. I did a film with MR DYLAN in the 80s and can report that he is adorable – I hope this book is also a best seller.
Finally SARAH FERGUSON has cracked it again with a really cute kiddies' book called TEA WITH RUBY (HARPER COLLINS / £11.99), illustrated by ROBIN PREISS GLASSER. The story line is about a naughty little girl who gets to go to tea with THE QUEEN (see further up this column if you don't know who SHE is!) Sound familiar? Could it be based on the young exploits of PRINCESSES BEATRICE and EUGENIE? Anyway it's jolly good fun and it's good to see that THE DUCHESS OF YORK, a great gal who works really hard, is such a good writer since she was at school with me – congrats, MISS VALLENCE!
And if you are just looking for a good read on these dark nights, try IRONIC by PAUL NAGLE (BOOK GUILD / £9.99). It's a riveting and meticulously researched thriller about the Contras, the Columbian drug cartels and Wall Street with more twists and turns than The Grande Corniche. You'll be up all night for a completely harmless reason!
Btw, thank you for your emails about A WOMAN WITH NO CLOTHES ON, the wonderful historical book about the famous French Impressionist EDOUARD MANET and his favourite model VICTORINE MEURENT by VR MAIN (DELANCEY PRESS / £14.99) which I reviewed last month. Here, as promised, is the cover - a detail from one of MANET's most glorious paintings, OLYMPIA featuring VICTORINE with no clothes on of course!
A WOMAN WITH NO CLOTHES ON. C.r.: HERVE LEWANDOWSKI.
It's been a good season for 'giving a peach', as my daughter calls speech making, and I have been giving them in such exotic locations as Kempton Park Race Course, Brompton Library and delightful milliner LOUIS MARIETTE's Sloane Square atelier (07770 410 776).
I particularly enjoyed addressing THE SPELTHORNE CONSERVATIVES at THE COLTS AND FILLIES BALL, brilliantly organised by GRAEME O'REID and NICK WOOD-DOW. What a jolly lot they are out there! Their MP DAVID WILSHIRE is extremely dynamic and I reckon we're definitely in for a change of government next time, political fans.
My photo shows NICK and keen Spelthorne supporter BARBARA TAN with myself and KAMINI VAGHELA, 'The Eyebrow Queen' who has a fab state of the art beauty salon in Kensington (020 7937 2411), much frequented by moi. My elegant dress and jacket are of course by FANNIANN (www.fanniann.co.uk) and I am delighted to report that I will continue to be the Face of FANNIANN throughout 2009.
NICK WOOD-DOW, SALLY, KAMINI and BARBARA. C.r.: GRAEME O'REID.
Guests at the ball included the always gorgeous DIANA MORAN, 'THE GREEN GODDESS' herself, a previous COLTS AND FILLIES speaker,and here she is at a party with moi in the summer.
SALLY and DIANA MORAN. C.r.: CELEBRITIES WORLDWIDE.
Talking of gorgeous blondes and 'Faces' I am delighted to report that lovely C5 presenter LIZ FULLER who was our HG cover girl this time last year is now the face of DREAM, the sexy and sophisticated new perfume by RACHEL ELBAZ of RACHEL COUTURE (020 7235 39 79).
We HOT GOSSIP Editors have always led the field when spotting new superstars in the making and
LIZ has now gone 'on the buses' with the DREAM advertising campaign and can currently be spotted on London buses everywhere sporting a stunning evening gown by RACHEL COUTURE, as seen below.
LIZ FULLER promotes DREAM. C.r.: JAMES RUDLAND.
Perhaps LONDON TRANSPORT can come up with a 'scratch and sniff' of DREAM to accompany LIZ's dreamy pic. How about it, BORIS? Our brainy and dynamic London Mayor is popping up everywhere at the moment, including at the recent MOULIN ROUGE BALL where we had an interesting chat about our daughters' school (pic to follow next month.)
And, finally, if you haven't yet seen the fab current production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES at THE PLAYHOUSE THEATRE, look out for the amazing GRAHAM NORTON who will be taking over from the equally talented DOUGLAS HODGE to play the lead role of Albin from December 19th 08 until April 25th 09. See you there!
GRAHAM NORTON. C.r.: DAN WOOLLER.
Thank you for reading my column, dear readers. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, New Year and January 09 and look forward to regaling you with more Hot Gossip on the CFFHB front in February. In the meantime here are my family's and my Season's Greetings 08/09 to you all, designed by the brilliant PETER DALE. I have gone totally electronic this year and sent out e-cards instead of hard copy ones – sign of the times!
SALLY'S SEASON'S GREETINGS.
SENSUAL PLEASURES AND THE ART OF MORPHING INTO A HEALTH GODDESS (£16.99) is available from the following outlets:
Delancey Press - orders@centralbooks.com or 0845 4589911
ISBN: 0780953911998
LOO TIME VIDEO available from:
farminghamprods@aol.com and:
http://www.121music.com/pages/video_01/home.html
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