The Empty Glass by J.I. BAKER.... a novel.

Her story is as timeless as her notoriety...and yet Marilyn Monroe continues to tantalise and taunt us . We still bask in her glory and search the reasons why....her memory lives on and on and this book revisits the early hours of August 5, 1962.

"The Empty Glass" is packed full of fact,legend and what ifs.....A fascinating,fast paced tale of as Los Angeles deputy coroner Ben Fitzgerald who arrives at the home of the legend who now lies dead in her bedroom. He discovers her diary and her ramblings about her affair with "The General".
A thriller that is well written,darkly humorous and an excellent read for any Raymond Chandler and Marilyn Monroe fan.  

I Beck' Your Pardon...

Yesterday I came across an article by( the "controversial") journalist for the Daily Mail: Liz Jones.
Now I use the word controversial lightly as Ms Jones has been "attacked" by the shy and retiring Rihanna...about comments made about her in an article in which she referred to her as being a "toxic role model". I am not going to go there but if you fancy it...then look it up and enjoy!

Liz Jones has a bee in her bonnet about not receiving a reply to her email requesting an invite to Victoria Beckham's upcoming show in New York in September . And the buzzing can be heard in her words ..loud and clear. But despite that fact,Liz Jones is a thoroughly enjoyable read! I love the sarcasm and acerbic wit and I love the fact that someone has finally addressed the elephant in the room...No not the ultra thin Victoria herself who is more asparagus than elephant but about her diffusion line: Victoria, Victoria Beckham. 

We all know that a "diffusion line" aka second label is supposed to be a "cheaper"...more affordable collection. But somehow that seems to lost on Mrs Beckham who wants to make sure that all WAGS, slags and anyone from unsavoury reality TV won't be caught on camera wearing. Like that makes a difference,seriously....

The difference in price is so minimal it is quite laughable. Yes... she has made leaps and bounds in the fashion world and it is to her credit..she is hard working and a fashion maverick...she has in all intents and purposes earned her title. Yes... she has a bountiful and sizable amount of money to play "dress the Barbie Beckham" but from that came a genuine love and respect for fashion and all the labour of love put into creating collections.
Got that...
But why oh why is she so bloody expensive?! 

We are not talking Hubert de Givenchy here,let alone the illustrious and late Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior or Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel   ....and by that I mean the late great powerhouses of fashion labels that have grown to become what fairytales are made of.
Mrs. Beckham is still on chapter 4 here and a long way away from an Opus let alone an Iliad.
So what rattles my cage and part of Ms. Jones' is the following and I quote:

"I personally quite like the VVB collection. But, sadly, I cannot say it is VVG. And this is why. I think there is something a bit sinister going on here. And it is not just the prices, which are only a tad cheaper than her mainline clothes: a sleeveless tux dress is £745, a shirt mini is £565. 

(Most clever of all is that you click on the dress on the website, and then you are invited to join a waiting list. I know this is meant to make shoppers feel privileged, but it just makes me feel as though I am on hold to speak to the people at npower.) 

To aspire to becoming a powerhouse of fashion to rival the rivals is one thing but getting off the power trip is another....I Beck' to differ and I  Beck' your pardon  but ease off the insane price labelling please!

Now for the rest of her thoughts on this and more, do click on the link and enjoy Liz Jones entertaining and informative article:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2382798/Liz-Jones-gives-opinion-Victoria-Beckhams-defiantly-unsexy-new-range.html

A Conde Nast Tragedy: The end of Easy Living....

Every month I buy 6 magazines...religiously and without fail: Vogue, Elle, Red, Glamour, Marie Claire and Easy Living.

Today I found out from my local newsagent that Easy Living will no longer be published....I am bereft.

Easy Living was ...Easy Reading.....Easy Cooking...Easy Shopping.... but unfortunately Conde Nast had to pull the plug after 8 years ,it simply didn't make the figures and it was allowed to go peacefully in its sleep.
Well, at least it made it to it's 100th issue with Michelle Obama gracing their cover. That is one way to go out.

So.... What will the publishers of Vogue and Glamour pull out of their colossal hat?....Is there to be a new lifestyle magazine .....Hmmm?

Someone?....Anyone...?
Helloooooooooo???

Accent the Positive.....Today's Silhouette

Flocked Silk Bustier Dress: Dior

Embroidered Cashmere Cardigan: Christopher Kane

Camisole : Celine

Leather Belt : Hermes

" It's Up To You....CHANEL CHANEL...!"

I have been "umming and aahing" over this.... and have finally decided to share this with you! 

Two weeks ago I waltzed into the Chanel boutique on the Croisette wanting to look at the sale and what it had to offer. I also had a pair of shoes in mind that I wanted to purchase from the summer collection but not really expecting to find them....or so I thought!

The place was heaving with hysterical Lebanese women out for a bargain and quite vocal about it too...I felt like I was in a Supermarket. I found my friend who works there and asked her :

"I am looking for the shoes with the leather wedge heel...." I was desperately trying to describe them to her and was convinced that I had failed...dismally.

"I know exactly the pair you mean...I think I may have one pair left!" and off N. goes...returning with the desired pair in hand. I heard angels sing loud enough to drown out Lebanon to my right.

They were a perfect fit...they were horribly expensive : €970...not on sale and I HAD TO HAVE THEM!
So...I bought them throwing caution to the wind, my partner who is usually the voice of reason, agreeing that they truly were fabulous and very me. I had planned so many outfits around them...my head was spinning,then again the fact I had paid that much may well have been the reason for the nausea....

I knew exactly when I was going to unveil them ....4 days after purchase on a lunch out with the ladies.

I wore a pair of jeans Esprit shorts, a gorgeous white Marithe & Francois Girbaud tunic top that ruched and tied in various places, my vintage black Chanel handbag and my shoes...

I felt like Cannes was my runway and I...the Queen for the day.

Fast forward:the shoes were a HUGE success...all eyes were on them...and I was positively incandescent with joy...And!....incredibly comfortable too.

I get home,remove my babies,wipe away any little speck of dust before cramming in the balled up tissue paper and laying them gently to rest within their box....

" AAAHHHHHHHH!" I scream ,my partner rushing to my side.

And there was a tear....A TEAR!!! in my Chanel shoe!! The thought is inconceivable... but it was blatantly staring me in the face:

The strap had literally torn along the dotted seam....€970 down the toilet.

I returned them heartbroken.
Obviously there wasn't another pair left...Anywhere. But this was a design flaw so bad that trying to replace it would be downright foolish even N. at Chanel said so...as well as admitting that they did have some returns but not with this particular problem....Hmmmmm....the strap was simply too fine for such a heavy heel.

So you would think that due too this horrendous outcome I would be reimbursed?? After all I did not return them on a whim...regretting my purchase or the foolish amount I spent...so giving me my money back would somehow be the right thing to do...Non?
Non!....
Chanel (in France ?) doesn't reimburse...it gives you a credit note ....
The good news is...I have A Year in which to use it in.

(a muffled and strangled:)....whoopie.....



I just hope that the Autumn/ Winter collection will have that special something that will call out to me as those shoes did...and I won't have to shell out a penny more!

(I shudder at the thought...)

Epilogue:
Between the rusting Ice-Watch, the €200 + Cotelac cardigan I washed by hand and the colour ran...this has been an interesting summer.
As the manageress at the Ice-Watch store told me when I went to pick up my repaired watch:

"I really would like to apologize for this ...but I must say,this was very strange!"
"Oh! ...You don't want to know about the very strange things that have been happening to me...."

LARGER THAN LIFE: JOAN SMALLS

Joan Smalls is regal in a pair of high waisted trousers and crisp white crop top.

And looking hot even in a pair of designer vans: Givenchy's printed skate shoes.....if you like that sort of thing.

Balenciaga's Baby : Cate Blanchett

Here's a question for you:

Who wears Balenciaga better on the Red Carpet by making the "surreal" look downright regal?

Cate Blanchett...of course!

This was at the premiere of Woody Allen's "Blue Jasmine"  where Cate plays : 

"..Jasmine, the former wife of a Park Avenue mogul whose wealth was built on fraud. She arrives, bankrupt in Hermes and Chanel, to stay with her working-class sister in San Francisco."