DECKING THE NECK

LANVIN

MARNI

Megeve, France---

While packing for my trip to Tokyo last week, I faced a dilemna that I face everytime I have to go to a big city in winter.

What kind of jewellery should I bring?

Winter is not exactly the best time to be showing off your rocks because you're all wrapped up and that covers the pieces. PLus you can't feel what's on you with all the thick clothing and scarves. I've lost many earrings that way. They just fell off my ears because I couldn't feel anything either from the cold or because of a thick scarf.

Tokyo is also not exactly a city where you show off your rocks because they don't care. Even the tea lady is richer than you.

New York, meanwhile, is not exactly a place where you show off your rocks because you'll be robbed. That goes for London, Paris and the rest of free world except for Hong Kong and Singapore unless it is close to Chinese New Year.

WHELL! I thought, certainly not delicate chain necklaces since I don't do small any time of the year. Since OTT ribbon and tchotschy necklaces are a big story, I decided to bring one of mine. Certainly not as expensive/overpriced as those pictured above.

I have bought a strand of South Sea pearls that cost the same as those ribbon necklaces. You do the math but that's another story.

I brought a very inexpensive ribbon necklace that I bought from Firma, a shop in Manila. It is made of sequins and beads sewn on a large piece of lace.

It was certainly appreciated in Tokyo.

I was surprised since I thought the Japanese would be on to the next big thing like a teapot hanging from your neck or something.....

MY TAKE ON YOHJI

Megeve, France (where else does one go in winter??!)---Well, there's Niseko in Japan where all of Hong Kong and Singapore goes to ski.
Quote of the day:
Husband: 'Who is this Yohji that you are so bent on visiting today?'
Me: 'You'll know when you see the bill.'




I was in Tokyo last week as part of a personal fact (ay--flat!) finding mission and in between searches I stopped at Minamo-Aoyama, the only street I shop in because they have Commes des Garcons, Yohji Yamamoto and Issey Miyake within miso-throwing distance of each other.

Plus, they always have my size but they will say, 'This is rash one...MEDIUM!' (but I'm sure they laugh behind my back because it's really a LARGE to THEM!)

Anyway, I went to Yohji and to Commes and now I know why Yohji is in administration. (For Americans: Chapter 11)

Because he has customers like me. People my age have already aged beyond the school run and the power suits that they probably have no use for Yohji in their lives. Even I had to turn down the beautiful cotton blouses with oversized cuffs and bows because my husband will say I look like a clown.

There is no need for 'drama' or to 'make a statement' at my age. I did that in the Eighties at the height of Yohji when I couldn't afford it.

I used to get 'Are you a Sicilian widow?' from him when I wore Yohji at his purest. This time I bought 2 lightweight jackets for the summer which I am sure will not get such comments. But we'll see.

I'm sure he'll think of something like, 'Do you know your jacket is uneven?'

Meanwhile, Commes was hopping with younger customers more intent on buying tee shirts (and there were so many I thought I walked into the Gap) than her jackets. Commes also wins in the price to production value war. Jackets are 10,000 yen cheaper in thicker (I'm not sure about better) fabric with a lot more labour put into them. I paid more at Yohji for plain black (what else?) unlined jackets.

I stayed away from the beautiful crinkled polyester double-layered jackets because I can hear, 'You're going out in THAT? We have maids to do ironing, you know.'

I was going to buy a gabardine casual tailcoat with a red lining but I decided against it because there was something wrong with the way the shoulder line (there was none and that was the point) sat on my shoulders and I could hear, 'Are you an orchestra conductor?'

I didn't go into Issey because I had to get back to the hotel to go swimming and cook myself in the steam room in time for dinner.

But I'll be back in March. There are two cotton-linen jackets I want to get at where else...Yohji.

BEFORE YOU ADOPT OR HAVE KIDS.....

HONG KONG---
Just in time for this month's controversial bonus distribution in the banking industry:

Today's quote:
"I will support you in everything you do except in buying overpriced Chinese IPO-s"
-part of wedding vows made by a fund manager to her husband, a broker

- "The Omen with ringlets..." Metro (America)

This is a movie that came out in July 2009 but since I hardly ever go to the cinema, I usually have to wait for the DVD or watch movies on the plane. (But I am planning on seeing the Richard Gere dog movie, 'Hachiko.' Hopefully, the little furry mammal doesn't end up in his butt and doesn't come out a Shit-zu)

MY REVIEW of Orphan:

Am I glad I chose not to have children. After seeing this film, you'll never look at children the same way again.

In fact, you will be terrified to be alone with them in the same room!

At least with dogs (and I have a lot of violent and insane experiences with them) you know what you are up against.

With kids like this, you'll never know if you'll live another day...or who gets to the kitchen knife first!

AND this is not Chuckie and Redrum. It's WORSE!!!

IT'S IN THE BAG---well, maybe not

MEGEVE, France----

Italian designer Alberta Ferretti told Elle UK (Jan 2010) : 'A bag only needs to be big enough to carry your lipstick.' (I assume she means an evening bag but then there is speculation that the Queen has nothing in her purse!)

A woman who carries evening bags that hold nothing can mean any of the following:
1) I am so organized and/or wealthy and/or have such a huge and/or efficient staff that I don't need to bring anything. This is a result of the premise that the more powerful or wealthy the woman, the smaller her purse. Have you ever seen First Ladies carrying the Fendi Spy bag? Like my husband likes to say, 'If you are REALLY important or the issue is THAT important, people will know where and how to reach you.'

2) I can compartamentilize my life so well that I don't need to bring the blackberry. Either that or I have a PA trailing me who HAS my blackberry. See point (1) There is also a servant /driver with a garage clicker who opens my front door/Pentagon-level security gates. See point (1).

3) It's a European thing. Not bringing anything is a chance for flirtation. The chance to bum a cigarette off that cute guy (who turns out to be gay), the chance to ask for a pen and paper (you will only get it from a waiter) and the freedom of not bringing keys either because you are bent on going home with someone (such as your husband who HAS the keys and the bank account--this usually does not end in fliration but argument or worse, divorce).

This reminds me of my masseuse here who refuses to get snow tires or a 4x4 and often gets stuck in the snow. One time I asked her why she didn't just get even a cheap Fiat Panda 4x4 and she replied, 'I can always ask a man to help me.'

Take note feminists, not triple A but a MAN! (My husband always helps her so after his relaxing massage, he gets to flex his muscles. Then he gets angry that she doesn't have a 4x4)

Who woulda thunk?

But then I wonder, just to stay warm waiting for 'a man' to help her (like if my husband wasn't around) would lead her to AA.

This damsel in distress attitude may really work because once she was stuck with moi and no homme and get this---suddenly, a tractor show up driven by 'a man' who pulls her up my driveway!!
(The Secret in action!)

Meanwhile when I have to catch a flight, can't put the chains on and get stuck in a ditch , am snowed in without a shovel and....well, you know what happens.

Nothing!

BETWEEN CHIC AND DEATH

Megeve, France---It is MINUS -9 degrees. Do you know where your fur is?

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE and I apologize for not having visuals for this entry (not that they were ever any good...) because (are we surprised?) I don't know how to work my computer at home. But I can work the toaster and the lights.

Today's quote:
KG: Exactly how good looking is he?
Friend: He is so good loking I can't play tennis with him because people might talk.
(Wow! Must he has to be cuter than Bradley Cooper!)

I thought of Chic and Death as a year ender because:
a) the demographic of Megeve is on the Alzheimer map which means that the population falls between chic and death. Geneva's is between 90 and death. No wonder assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland.
b) I just bought my husband a Hero Go Pro camera which you can stick onto any surface (including a ski helmet, which he plans to do) and record footage.
c) Then I thought: Last year, at about this time, Natasha Richardson (or whoever is the wife of Liam Neeson and the Natasha who is NOT on Californication--Im too lazy to google) died in a ski accident and she supposedlty wasn't wearing a helmet. I had a similar accident last year but obviously, and unfortunately for my enemies, I did not die.
(Plus upon advice of my husband, I did everything I WAS NOT supposed to do such as get up right away and not go to the hospital. Why ruin a ski holiday if you can get up, ski and entertain a chalet-full of guests? Maybe because you could die? )

Many people have told me to wear a helmet. Okay--maybe in America where ski clothes are unchic and they have unchic laws like having to wear helmets and speed police in Aspen---I would wear one.

But God forbid in France!! Mon Dieu!
People here ski in jeans or corduroy with cashmere sweaters 'casually' slung on their shoulders. Very Euro.

I am thinking of whether I should be seen skiing with my husband, l'etranger et le anglais who WILL be wearing a helmet, onto which he will attach his new toy! But he knows how to read the map and I don't, you see, so I need him.

The last thing I want is to be found as a cryogenic experiment on the piste the following morning like Michael Jackson and Bubbles. Except as we know, Michael Jackson had tons of other experiments done on himself.

This choosing between chic and death also reminds me of something one of my editors, a cancer survivor told me. She said one of the best things about cancer was that she lost so much weight that she was able to buy a whole new wardrobe out of necessity and was finally able to fit into sample sizes.

What can I say? The fashionable life is all about being able to shop the press sales!!

Speaking of the fashionable life, I highly recommend 'The Towering World of Jimmy Choo: A Glamorous story of power, profits and the pursuit of the perfect shoe.' I'm not a Jimmy Choo fan. In fact, I hate their shoes but I admire their business model and Tamara Mellon (even if you know she injects excess patent coating into her skin).

I can't bring myself to fork over 1000 USD for a pair of shoes only to see every secretary and her boss in HK wearing it. That also goes for Louboutin. But if there were only a few such as Verdura's pine cone where there is a limited edition of ONE....Then I'll have to sell my house.

The title says it all but for those of you who always want to see both sides of the story, this is it. Objectively written, well-researched yet reads like Dynasty. Am I dating myself? I don't watch Gossip Girl because I also can't work the DVD.

Oh well, there is always the calculator which I soon will have to use to find out how much I really spent this month!!

JOHNNY WALKER IN DA CHATEAU!

From an overdose of five shots of Johnny Walker Black as part of a cure for my cold the other night, I elevated my taste level last night to about six TASTING glasses (okay maybe 8-10 including champagne) of Chateau Margaux in various vintages from 2006-1985.

Margaux held their first wine dinner in Hong Kong at the Mandarin Oriental Grill. I estimated there were about a hundred people in the room. I expected the wines to be between good and great, which they were because the hotel ran through the vintages as the dinner's unique selling point. However, I had no expectations about the food. Food is hardly ever good at wine tastings.

But our menu last night did not disappoint. In fact, it seemed like the chef made a great effort to have the food truly complement the wines and not just have the wines stand out which everyone was expecting based on the vintages.

I never knew Margaux was in business since the 16th century and they owe their top quality to---wait for it---the British (followed by "of course" and uttered by a Frenchman) and to a lesser extent the Germans.

Who knew? I always thought with the Limeys and the Krauts, all you had to do was plunk down in front of them any plonk that could kill germs and they'd drink it.

On last night's menu:

RAW: salmon, hamachi,tuna, sake and cucumber with an ultra yummy jelly sauce and gourmet salt washed down with Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux 2006...I never knew they did whites. They had been doing it for 3 centuries and today they produce only 33,000 bottles a year, about 10% of their total production.

SOUP: Onion consomme with a floral tea bag while other unenlightened meat eaters had langoustine soup accompanied by Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 2004 (what I think is their 'diffusion' or 'secondary' line, the Kors to Michael Kors but still at over 100 USD a bottle from the dealers)

Now for the main event--the sellers chose the series of wines that follow to show all the facets of Margaux vintages where every one should be a treat (or trick if you paid too much for a fake or if like the Philippine president, ysed 'government funds' but that was for gallons of Petrus which many Margaux aficionados say is 'overrated').

RISOTTO: mushroom, truffle, asiago (cheese) and egg yolk was divine with CM 2001 which is considered young but drinkable because is not yet 10 yrs old. As the French guy said, "Why refuse it now? But you could also save it for more depth in 10 years."

CHICKEN: breasts very nicely presented in a green nest accompanied by CM 1999. NOW you're talkin' ---what a difference two years makes!

SEABASS for me and STEAK for the unevolved. This time, I will have to admit that the CM 1995 didn't come out as well with the fish than it did with the steak. My husband said it was stellar. 1996 would also be a great choice. They served the food with edible clay and I got a kick out of that.

CHEESE: Comte, Beaufort, Mimolette with super yummy DRIED GRAPES (NOT raisins!!) and quince was served with the star of the evening, CM 1985. At 24 years, it was a great privilege but by this time you are so stuffed that you want to go home.

BUT NOT BEFORE the white cotton candy TREE the size of a huge bonsai plant with chocolate truffles!!!

I had to stay home all week nursing a cold just to get well for this dinner. It would have been a disgrace to miss it. One of the diners told us that she flew back from Korea just to make this dinner.

FULLY BOOKED

Many people find it strange that I have absolutely no interest in today's news stories on celebrities, movie stars and reality TV personalities. Plus some politicians. I am not alone in this attitude because if you get to know history (and I don't mean watching "The Tudors' and "Rome") you will find out that it is much more exciting than the present.

It's still real life but nothing any news on Victoria Beckham and her latest dresses come close to. (Now HER---Victoria Beckham---have have to admit, I read about!)

And these speak volumes on why I was quiet over the summer.........

Isabella de Medici--Catherine de Medici's distant niece--on the surface led a glorious and independent existence (for her time) in Rennaissance Florence. Until her brother wanted her dead with the help of husband. Can the Menendez brothers beat that? They only killed their parents.

A family of relentless social vaulters since they were the new rich of their day, Isabella's dad wanted to marry Mary Tudor and her brother (the one who killed her) wanted to marry Elizabeth I.

This book shows you a very delightful (to the point of childishness) and human Queen Victoria and the responsibility she had to bear before she turned 20. While many of us are doing drugs and deciding where to work, she was ruling an Empire, arguing with Prime Mininsters, looking for a husband, taking care of about half a dozen kids and marrying them off. Some of us who work part time at Burger King can't even find a decent man!
(On top of that, like Catherine de Medici and Empress Marie Therese before her, she managed very good political and financial matches for her children and grandchildren. Take that, Mrs Bennett and other social astronauts!)

Ah The Bolter!!! (As in she bolts from responsibility) Idina Sackville-West. Supposedly the shame of her family only for a great granddaughter (I think) Frances Osborne (Mrs George Osborne and for decorators out there, she married into the Osborne of Osborne and Little family) to be totally enamoured with her life like you will. Think the glamour and humor of Jeeves and Wooster but REALLY up to NO GOOD!

After three recommendations not including every bookseller and Oprah.....

Now THIS ONE was also a bolter but I didn't like her idea of leaving a husband and perfect home. I hate that. Couldn't get past page 6 (??) when she prayed to God for assistance (what for if you got something good??) Like Revolutionary Road, I call this, White Wimmin Problems.

How could you be unhappy if ya got everything??

I might not be spiritually evolved because I don't understand and see the romance in leaving everything to study cooking, yoga and languages. That's what Jamie's shows, your yoga teacher and Berlitz are for.

She got a best seller out of it, though!

For anyone who is getting swept off her feet, read this NOW!! Reads like an MTV series from the 60s.

At least today we have Google and Kroll security. It was harder to expose a fraud then.

Now these TWO--one hardly ever travels out of the UK (but they have lots of homes) and the other is in a different country almost every week. Great rapport between two people who are not married (that's probably why they had great rapport) and didn't have an affair (really??). Deborah Duchess of Devonshire is aka the grandmother of super model Stella Tennant (who originally wanted to be a coroner).

Got your attention now, did I? But this would too!! Great prose, fab one-liners that show you a quick mind goes everywhere.

(She agrees with me that Jackie Kennedy is an odd one. Read "Nemesis" for all out Jackie mudslinging)

NOW THIS! For all those impressed with Harvard and what it stands for. Unfortunately in my house, that was no one. Not even the dogs. But it's a great read, (McDonell is a great writer and storyteller but like Imelda Marcos, after you read the book you're like, "What?") will make a good film with Bradley Cooper and I want to read Twelve, his earlier work on Upper East Side life. If it's anything like this in tone, it would probably be a VERY dark version of Gossip Girl.

IN MY BATHROOM:

Even in the loo, I strive for enlightenment.
Not for the politically correct or bleeding heart liberal. But great to read amidst scented bubbles.

Be grateful you don't live in the English countryside.
When you are having a bad day, read this and weep....Turns misery into laugh out loud comedy.