Saturday, January 31, 2009
Bon Anniversaire
Jean Pierre...you don't look a day over 50...
and enjoy the skiing in Avoriaz!
Bienvenue en France ! La Grève Générale !
The City of LightThere is always the Paris of our dreams.
Strolling along the Champs-Elysées before stopping at a sidewalk cafe for an apéritif...
Visiting the Musée d'Orsay then perusing the used book vendors along the quai next to the Seine...
Shopping at the boutiques on the Rue Saint-Honoré and the Rue du Bac...
Checking out the antiques at the Marché aux Puces early on a Sunday morning...
Dining late at a neighborhood brasserie in the 16th Arrondissement...
And then there is the Paris of our reality.
La Grève
From AGI News
FRANCE: GENERAL STRIKE, CHAOS IN CENTRE OF PARIS
AGI) - Paris, Jan. 29 - Today's general strike in Paris has turned into chaos and clashes in the French capital. The strike against the economic politics of Nicolas Sarkozy and his management of the financial crisis saw the participation of tens of thousands of people, mostly just parading peacefully. After a few hours however some groups of youngsters became violent. Many of them were wearing ski-masks, they started shouting slogans against Sarkozy asking for his resignation. Then they began throwing stones, they started fires and clashed with the police. The police in turn used truncheon against the rioters but were unable to disperse them according to eye witnesses. The protesters tried to enter Boulevard de Capucines shouting ''We go to the Elysée!". Had they really done so they would have passed the shopping and tourism districts to reach the President's office. The police stopped them however.
Yet again the French are on strike. This time, among the usual collection of everybody striking over their own petty demands that they expect the rest of society to attend to for them, is the over-arching theme of this economy wrecking event – they are striking against the global economy.
The best I can gather from interviewed agonists and such is that in large part people are mad at the French government’s intervention to prop up the banks and major industries, something the blithering idiots are usually all for. Normally, a trend away from socialistic dirigisme would be a good thing for the overall potential of a healthy economy, but these protestors, including the bolshy CGT, Reds, etal., are protesting that the largesse of the state is being directed at the economy at all and not limited to relieving them of the cost of social free-riding.
Even the employees of the Euronext stock exchange are marching. Just what is it that they think the ‘social compact’ is supposed to do for their racket that the rest of the people in their same union won’t protest?
Olivier Besancenot, the young leader of France’s extreme left is hoping Thursday’s strike will be the first step towards another French revolution as the recession bites and protests multiply across Europe’s second largest economy.“We want the established powers to be blown apart,”
PARIS January 29, 2009 (IHT) - Hundreds of thousands of workers went on strike Thursday across France, snarling transportation and closing post offices and schools in a sign of discontent with President Nicolas Sarkozy's response to the economic crisis.
... Mass transit in the capital was in chaos, with service on suburban commuter lines reduced or nonexistent, and most subways and buses running well below normal frequencies. The Education Ministry estimated that 37 percent of teachers walked out. In Marseille, the country's second largest city, television showed buses crammed with commuters as subway service was completely interrupted.
Across France, airports were operating at reduced capacity and flights were delayed. The rail line that serves the two Paris airports was completely shut down, stranding arriving travelers in long taxi lines.
As many as 200 demonstrations were planned across the country, including a massive march across Paris in the afternoon.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Beladora Bling For Zesty Zink
This shoot, thanks to Angela the Dita von Teese doppelganger, was at an artist's studio in Silver Lake for Zink Magazine...
a beauty editorial with Beladora bling...and lingerie!
What's not to like?
I'll fill you in on the details when the magazine comes out.
And Liz and Renee...thank you for a job well done on a difficult day.
I heart you!
Go Team Beladora!
(Liz and Renee ...Speaking of photo shoots...what do you think about "The Bitches of Beladora"?)
Hey...I just had to ask it was Miss de Ville's idea.
Music - The Paul McCartney Interview
Music - Lilly Allen - The Fear
OK, I hate the video but I love the lyrics.
Lily Allen - The Fear Lyrics
I want to be rich and I want lots of money
I don’t care about clever I don’t care about funny
I want loads of clothes and f***loads of diamonds
I heard people die while they are trying to find them
I’ll take my clothes off and it will be shameless‘
Cuz everyone knows that’s how you get famous
I’ll look at the sun and I’ll look in the mirror
I’m on the right track yeah I’m on to a winner
I don’t know what’s right and what’s real anymoreI don’t know how I’m meant to feel anymore
When we think it will all become clear‘Cuz I’m being taken over by The Fear
Life’s about film stars and less about mothers
It’s all about fast cars and passing each other
But it doesn’t matter cause I’m packing plastic
and that’s what makes my life so f***ing fantastic
And I am a weapon of massive consumption
and its not my fault it’s how I’m program to function
I’ll look at the sun and I’ll look in the mirror
I’m on the right track yeah I’m on to a winner
I don’t know what’s right and what’s real anymoreI don’t know how I’m meant to feel anymore
When we think it will all become clear‘Cuz I’m being taken over by The Fear
Forget about guns and forget ammunition
Cause I’m killing them all on my own little mission
Now I’m not a saint but I’m not a sinner
Now everything is cool as long as I’m getting thinner
I don’t know what’s right and what’s real anymoreI don’t know how I’m meant to feel anymore
When we think it will all become clear‘Cause I’m being taken over by fear
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Just Another Day At The Office - NOT!
Today the jewely divas were off to a photo shoot for Genlux, the premier luxury fashion magazine of Southern California.
The shoot had everything you would have imagined from a drop dead gorgeous stylist who could have been Dita Von Teese's doppelganger to teh usual hair, make-up and associated fashionistas to a rocking cool photographer with all the accoutrements including a fog machine.
Here's a photo of just one rack of the wardrobe which included some of the prettiest spring frocks from Valentino to Catherine Maldonado.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Tough Times For The Bergdorf Blonds
Since you probably missed these two gems on life for the posh girls
in a post mortgage meltdown -recession - credit crunch - hedge fund scam world....
I thought that I would share them with you.
First, a classic from my favorite Aussi blogger in London, Ms Robinson
at Woman of Experience
with
The Great Mistress Firesale
And then a link I found through Instapundit
Dating A Banker Anonymous
with
God, you are so 24!
Enjoy
Monday, January 26, 2009
Savvy Shopping - Got Gold?
But let's face it...you can't keep it all in your mattress.
OK, I gave up giving investment advice long ago but I'm still always interested knowing what works in a bear market.
And so is the Wall Street Journal.
What You Need to Know About Gold
By JEFF D. OPDYKE
Gold shined in 2008. Could 2009 be as bright?
Of all the major assets -- stocks, corporate bonds, cash and others -- gold was one of last year's few standouts. While so many investments collapsed amid the turmoil, the price of an ounce of gold posted a gain of about 4.3%.
So far this year, the rare metal is up about 0.7%, after a rally Friday put it back in positive territory. And longer-term concerns are emerging that aggressive, untested government policies aimed at righting the flailing economy could ultimately fuel a further rise in gold prices.
So why does gold work for now?
The case for gold is this: The government is pumping trillions of dollars into bailouts and stimulus plans, a purposefully inflationary policy aimed at reversing current deflationary pressures. If inflation results, or if the dollar weakens as the supply of dollars necessarily increases under the stimulus plans, gold is a likely winner because it hedges against inflation and fiat currencies.
But not everyone agrees
The opposing view: "The inflation argument hasn't been seen yet in government data, and once the economy catches gear, the [Federal Reserve] will pull the money back out of the economy," negating any inflationary pressures, says Tom Pawlicki, a precious-metals analyst at MF Global, who says he's "not friendly on gold."
This article lists four investment strategies with both the pros and cons
Bullion
Pooled Accounts
Exchange Traded Funds
Mining Stocks
I'd like to offer you another option
An investment you can wear.
John Galliano For The Guys
Jean Paul Gaultier For The Guys
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Every Day Is A Great Day Now - The 4 Lessons
The Davos Dream...Continued
From the Wall Street Journal
JANUARY 26, 2009
World's Elite Visit Davos in Doubt
And Davos doesn't come cheap. The annual corporate membership required in order to send executives costs 42,500 Swiss francs ($36,768), plus 18,000 francs to attend the meeting, not including accommodations, according to a Forum spokesman.
Dreaming About Davos
How I've longed for an invitation to the annual World Economic Forum at Davos.
Let's start with the fact that I LOVE the Swiss Alps...in all seasons...but particularly in winter.
And no...don't ask why a California born woman (Saint John's Hospital in Santa Monica) has a thing for the Alps...it's a Magic Mountain thing...it's too zauberberg to explain.
Next, everybody who is anybody gets invited to Davos.
But apparently, this year the guest list is thin...so there finally was space for me!
From the International Herald Tribune
At Davos, crisis thins the guest list
GENEVA: The Masters of the Universe no longer sit atop the magic mountain.
Let's face it...in years past we've had economic gurus Bono, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
so I want to know who's at Davos this year....
Not long ago, at the annual gathering of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Richard Fuld Jr. of Lehman Brothers held forth on the state of the global economy before mesmerized journalists and cowering subordinates while other Wall Street stars mingled after-hours with the likes of Claudia Schiffer, the German supermodel.
Let's face it things are different
"The pendulum has swung and power has moved back to governments," said Klaus Schwab, the German-born economics professor who founded the World Economic Forum in 1971 and has been its impresario ever since. "This is the biggest economic crisis since Davos began."
The crisis, to be sure, is hurting some more than others. While Davos will draw about 2,500 participants - roughly the same as last year - it looks like there will be many fewer members of the tasseled-loafer-set strutting down the resort's snowy streets.
Yes but where is everybody?
Lloyd Blankfein, the chief executive of Goldman Sachs, is sending his deputy. It looks like Schiffer and Angelina Jolie, accompanied by Brad Pitt during the boom's glamour years, will also be absent.
Even Bono, the rock star and social activist who has attended for the past three years, has other commitments: He and his band, U2, are promoting a new album.
Well...maybe it is more than timing.
Lehman, once a top-tier corporate "strategic partner" to the tune of 500,000 Swiss francs, or $432,000, a year, is bankrupt, and Fuld's invitation has disappeared with it. Even if he had wanted to come, Schwab said, there is no room for has-beens at Davos.
"It's like a guillotine," Schwab said, relishing his role as guardian of the velvet rope for the mover-and-shaker and position-paper crowd. "So many former CEOs and former politicians want to come. We say no. Once you lose, or you're not in an active decision-making role, you don't have the right to an invitation."
Some invitees do not want to test Schwab's hospitality. John Thain, the former chief executive of Merrill Lynch, abruptly canceled after being pushed out on Thursday from a top job at Bank of America, which acquired Merrill last year. Thain, a Davos regular who once ran the New York Stock Exchange,was to have participated in a panel on Saturday called "The Bank of the Future."
Which is good to know after they received the BAILOUT $$$.
Citigroup, which recently received a $45 billion bailout from Washington.
Citigroup, now scaling back to a smaller Citicorp, still plans to send five formal participants to the conference like others in the strategic partners circle. But the company has sharply reduced the army of other executives and support staff who accompany them.
Seriously guys...invite me to Davos
Ski all day, discuss world economic issues all night...
Sounds like my kind of fun!
Can't Get Enough Of "The Big O"?
Light, Bright and Just Right
Multiple bangles of bling!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Guy Stuff - I Prefer the $43,000 Suit
Do we really need this?
Skirts And Skorts For Men–Will Shoppers Buy?
At the trend-setting men’s wear shows this week in Paris and Milan, skirt-like skorts for men have popped up on some runways
Yohji Yamamoto’s version was so long, flowing and full that his culottes definitely straddled the skirt/pants line, while Yves Saint Laurent and Alexander McQueen showed more tailored styles in which the culottes silhouette was more defined.
Similar looks have been percolating in fashion circles recently — Mr. Yamamoto unveiled skirts for men at his September runway show for the Y-3 label for Adidas. And, Marc Jacobs has been appearing at high-profile events and parties wearing skirts or skorts since early fall. The designer, who donned a skirt yet again for the Louis Vuitton’s men’s show in Paris Thursday, took a bow wearing a pair of tartan skorts at his Marc by Marc Jacobs runway show in September and just two weeks ago was photographed at a New York screening of “Defiance” in a skirt.
That One Special Thing - But Is It Simply Not Suitable?
The $43,000 Recession Suit
Even as overall sales wane, some luxury makers push the price envelope; 'one really special thing'
Friday, January 23, 2009
Music- The Corrs - Little Wing
What's not to love about hot Irish chicks doing a Hendrix cover of Little Wing.
Not to mention some of my favorite lyrics including
That's all she ever thinks about
Riding with the wind....
Vintage Value Venture - Winter Blues for Mellifluous Mozart
You can get some real music...
maybe even a little Mozart at the Music Center
Mozart: Sonata in F, K 377
Brahms: Sonata #3
Janacek: Sonata
Schubert: Rondo in D Minor
What to wear?
Classic vintage of course!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Diner Chez Maman
Puppy On Prozac Brings Down Chirac
Former French President Chirac hospitalised after mauling by his clinically depressed poodle
Admittedly, this looks suspiciously like something from The Onion
but it was actually reported in the Daily Mail Online
Former French president Jacques Chirac was rushed to hospital after being mauled by his own 'clinically depressed' pet dog.
The 76-year-old statesman was savaged by his white Maltese dog - which suffers from frenzied fits and is being treated with anti-depressants.
The animal, named Sumo, had become increasingly violent over the past years and was prone to making 'vicious, unprovoked attacks', Chirac's wife Bernadette said.
Actually, the vicious pet is what I call a "designer dog"
a Maltipoo or Maltese/Poodle hybrid.
Here's a picture of a random Maltipoo.
(And you're saying to yourself that you'd be depressed too if you had to wear a stupid red bow in your hair)
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Obama And The Bad Boyfriend Benefit
What now? Barack Obama, bad boyfriends, and the good people who do dumb things
Obama's inheritance is the Bad Boyfriend Benefit. Personal experience, combined with the consumption of way too many Sex and the City episodes, has taught me that one of the easiest gigs in the world is to be the next boyfriend after a bad one. Because the contrast is so sharp, the legacy of a bad boyfriend is that if the new one is simply a decent human being, they can still have the overwhelming support of friends and family.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
First Lady Fashion For The Inauguration - Fugly
Every article that I've read today has just gushed about our First Lady's Inaugural style.
Well, I'm just not drinking the Kool-Aid.
I think that Michelle Obama is a very formidable woman.
Her personal style is extremely modern and chic.
She knows how to choose the right outfit for the occasion.
And, hate me if you must...but I think that her inaugural gown is another miss.