Kate Moss Style By Angela Buttolph, I’m not exactly sure why I purchased this book?
It is not something I would usually read.
I probably purchased it because when I was searching on Amazon I couldn’t find anything I wanted so I browsed the new releases section and ordered it on impulse.
Whatever the reason, I am very pleased I ordered it.
I thoroughly enjoyed every single page, and I was sad to finish it, I could happily read lots more about Kate Moss.

I thought Kate Moss Style would be full of glossy photos and not much else, but Angela Buttolph has obviously spent a lot of time and effort researching her subject.
Kate Moss is a famously private person so it was nice to read all of the quotes and snippets from interviews with Kate Moss that I had not read before, and I feel that this book really does express how Kate Moss feels and thinks about the clothes that she wears.

In this book Kate Moss comes across as a genuine down to earth person who just happens to live an extraordinary life.
I found it refreshing reading this book to discover that Kate Moss truly does have a genuine passion for clothes, and (outside of her professional life) she doesn’t ever wear anything just to create a photo opportunity.
It was also interesting to read about the people who have the most influence over the wardrobe of Kate Moss; mainly her good friend and hairdresser James Brown.

It seems that everyone in the fashion industry, from designers to vintage store owners, are constantly sending items of clothing to Kate Moss in the hopes that she will fall in love with them and be photographed wearing their design or vintage find.
I completely understand this - what better advertisement, for their fashion label or clothing store, than to have the woman who is considered by many to be the style icon of her generation wearing their clothes.
And I am certain that Kate Moss is more than happy to sort through the parcels of clothes that she receives daily before she decides what look she is going to wear before the rest of the world follows in their attempts to emulate her iconic style.

Style is subjective, but I think Kate Moss definitely has style.
Kate Moss wears her clothes, they never wear her, and she always looks comfortable and as though she hasn’t tried too hard - which I don’t think she ever does, it seems to come naturally to her and she always looks good.
But being a model Kate Moss has obviously has an advantage over us mere mortals because she has worn more than her fair share of clothes, so she knows what does and doesn’t suit her, and this is a skill that definitely helps when deciding what to wear, or more importantly what not to wear.
The fact that, in my opinion, (I know lots of people will disagree), Kate Moss has a gorgeous figure means that whatever she chooses to wear, her clothes fit like a second skin, and good tailoring is very important when it comes to style.
Kate Moss says that she is never afraid to alter things to fit her perfectly, and although she clearly has a love of clothes she isn’t too precious about them, which no doubt adds to her enjoyment as she searches through the vintage shops that she loves so much.
Kate Moss may not be your idea of a style icon, but I think she looks pretty fabulous.

LUXEMBOURG

These horses are made from driftwood collected from the beach by artist Heather Jansch.

Heather Jansch, 60, searches for pieces of driftwood after high tides and storms near to her in Devon, England.
Heather an ex Welsh cob breeder says it can take her several months complete her beautiful creations, chiselling the gnarled driftwood branches into shape before screwing them to a steel frame.

Not surprisingly these pieces are popular with equine fans who are reportedly eagerly snapping up the life-size figures which sell for up to £55,000.

Beautiful - recycling at its best.

LIECHTENSTEIN

I want it.

Ren Biomimetic Perfect Lip Honey.
For perfect looking lips. Smoothed. Nourished. Plumped. Protected.
Or at least that’s what Ren say about this product.

Here’s the description from Ren ~
A multi-active lip balm that will leave your lips nourished, plumped and protected. Formulated with our exclusive Biomimetic Hydra+ complex to hydrate and nourish, it also contains plumping hydroxy-peptides, a remarkable skin protector called antileukine as well as healing and soothing Omega 3 & 6 oils.
Our handbags can’t live without it.
To use: Gently rub a small amount onto the lip contour, use as often as necessary.
£10.00 10ml.

The weather is very cold and windy, and my lips need some love, I definitely want it.

LESOTHO

These are some of my favourite Audrey Hepburn quotes.

• For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.

• I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it’s the thing I like most, to laugh.

• It cures a multitude of ills. It’s probably the most important thing in a person.

• I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it.

• If I get married, I want to be very married.

• People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.

• Pick the day. Enjoy it - to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come. The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present - and I don’t want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future.

• Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it’s at the end of your arm, as you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others.

• Success is like reaching an important birthday and finding you’re exactly the same.

• There are certain shades of limelight that can wreck a girl’s complexion.

• The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.

Audrey Hepburn - Edda Van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston
Born 4 May 1929 Brussels, Belgium
Died 20 January 1993 (aged 63) Tolochenaz, Vaud, Switzerland

Audrey Hepburn, talented, beautiful, stylish, and as for her eyebrows - I love them!

KENYA

I am always drawn to images of skulls, and I love this black skull necklace by Les Bijoux Des Sophie.
It’s made of resin with a pearl chain, the pendant is quite small at 4cm.
Price £163.

JORDAN

Charlotte Hughes-Martin, a Birmingham artist first appeared in the news after she secretly engraved images of animals on her neighbours’ milk bottles.
And since her identity was revealed to the media in the summer by her friends, Charlotte, sometimes referred to as the Milkbottle Banksy, has opened her own exhibition at a Sutton Coldfield gallery on Saturday.

Originally from Crewe, Charlotte Hughes-Martin, 30, engraved animal designs on the milk bottles and left them on random doorsteps.
Charlotte said initially it was a prank which started when she lived in Staffordshire because she wanted to see whether her milkman Frank would notice the decorated milk bottles.

Professional glass maker, Charlotte Hughes-Martin, said she was inspired by the milk bottles from fond memories of milk being delivered by horse and cart, when she was growing up in a rural village in Daventry, Northamptonshire.

Paisley Bottle and Wallpaper Bottle by Charlotte Hughes-Martin

Charlotte revealed that has been leaving the etched milk bottles on people’s doorsteps for approximately two years, and she said she never expected so much interest in her work.

Charlotte’s milk bottles art was featured in nine national newspapers, on international news programmes, and in several magazines.
Charlotte said that the milk bottles now sell for about £125 each.
She added, “I had this great milkman Frank when I was living in Gnosall, Staffordshire, who had the most incredible moustache.
“I just did it to see if he would notice.
“Then I wanted to see if any of the milk bottles would make it back to the dairy and see if I could trace where they ended up.”

Charlotte Hughes-Martin with one of her engraved bottles

Charlotte Hughes-Martin included her website details on the bottom of the milk bottles, but no-one contacted her about them until she moved to Birmingham six months ago to be closer to her studio in Stourbridge.
Charlotte said, “I was working in my Red House Glass Cone studio when my manager dropped by unannounced to say hi and noticed a few bottles sitting on the side.
“She went straight out and told her friend who works in the council press office and without me knowing a press release was sent out.”

Recycling fan Charlotte said that after her identity was made public she would use the milk bottle designs as a fun way to make people think about re-using and recycling everyday household objects.

Bullring Bottle by Charlotte Hughes-Martin

Charlotte Hughes-Martin’s exhibition opened at the Artifex Gallery in Sutton Coldfield on Saturday, and it will run until 7 December 2008. All the bottles will retail at £129.

Charlotte is obviously a very talented lady, I am happy for her on the news of her first exhibition.
It is always very pleasant to hear about something lighthearted in the news, instead of the usual doom and gloom, and thankfully the PC brigade haven’t spoilt this story with headlines of ‘criminal damage’ etc.
Well done Charlotte, I am sure you will sell lots of your beautifully engraved bottles, and now that your talent has been exposed I am sure your work will continue to flourish.

ITALY

A man takes the day off work and decides to go out golfing. He is on the second hole when he notices a frog sitting next to the green.
He thinks nothing of it and is about to shoot when he hears, “Ribbit. 9 Iron.”

The man looks around and doesn’t see anyone.
“Ribbit. 9 Iron.”

He looks at the frog and decides to prove the frog wrong, puts his other club away, and grabs a 9 iron.
Boom! he hits it 10 inches from the cup. He is shocked.

He says to the frog, “Wow, that’s amazing! You must be a lucky frog, eh?”
The frog replies, “Ribbit. Lucky frog.”

The man decides to take the frog with him to the next hole.
“What do you think frog?” the man asks.
“Ribbit. 3 wood.”

The guy takes out a 3 wood and Boom! Hole in one.
The man is befuddled and doesn’t know what to say. By the end of the day, the man has golfed the best game of golf in his life and asks the frog, “OK where to next?”
The frog replies, “Ribbit. Las Vegas.”

They go to Las Vegas and the guy says, “Okay frog, now what?”
The frog says, “Ribbit. Roulette.”

Upon approaching the roulette table, the man asks, “What do you think I should bet?”
The frog replies, “Ribbit. $3000, black 6.”

Now, this is a million-to-one shot to win, but considering the golf game, the man figures what the heck.
Boom! Tons of cash comes sliding back across the table.
The man takes his winnings and buys the best room in the hotel.
He sits the frog down and says, “Frog, I don’t know how to repay you.
You’ve won me all this money and I am forever grateful.”

The frog replies, “Ribbit, Kiss Me.”
The man is stunned, but he does, since after all the frog did for him he deserves it.
With a kiss, the frog turns into a gorgeous young woman.
“And that, I swear, is how that woman ended up in my room.”

ISRAEL

I absolutely love this claw bracelet by Pamela Love.

Pamela Love claw bracelet - Talon Cuff in Gold price $700, in Silver price, $900.

Pamela Love makes jewellery cast in sterling silver and 14k gold.
The Pamela Love range of jewellery includes bracelets, cuffs, rings, and pendants, shaped like eagle claws, miniature human hearts, darts, teeth, bird’s skulls, scorpions, and crab claws.

Pamela Love is the daughter of an orthopedic surgeon and the granddaughter of a dentist.
Pamela Love grew up around bones, teeth, nature, and science, so it’s no surprise that she takes inspiration from these in her jewellery design.

As I said at the beginning of this post I love the claw bracelet, and I like all of the other pieces too, but as they have become very popular since appearing in an advert for Gap I expect lots of people will be wearing them - which for me makes them ever so slightly less appealing.

INDIA

I have never been a fan of garden gnomes.
I know many people like them, but I can’t see the attraction.
But these less conventional gnomes are slightly more interesting.

These ‘gnomes’ prostitutes are the pride and joy of Romanian entrepreneur and gnomes creator, Cristi Birgu, 27, who exhibits his plastic prostitutes on the street near his home in Bacau county to advertise his garden gnome business.
Not surprisingly gnome lover Cristi Birgu has offended some of his neighbours with his naughty Gnomes.
Cristi’s neighbours are reportedly concerned that the realistic figures may distract passing drivers, and they say the figures are an unsuitable sight for children.
Local resident Gheorghe N said, “I don’t think it’s moral to display such objects on the street.
“They are a bad influence especially for children not to mention there are a lot of people with respect for God here and who don’t tolerate such things.”

Cristi Birgu says his saucy statues will remain where they are to increase trade.

Crisi Birgu also makes reproductions of Laurel and Hardy, Elvis, sports stars, cartoon characters, and animals.
Speaking about his prostitutes Mr Birgu said, “So far, my girls have attracted a lot of beeping from truck drivers but not too many customers.
“Sometimes I am afraid somebody might have an accident, arrested by the view, you know.”

GIBRALTAR

Celebrities galore flocked to the opening party of the £1.5 billion Hotel Atlantis, situated on the man-made Palm Jumeirah Island resort in Dubai.

The event was marked by a huge fireworks display which was reportedly seven ties as big as the display that launched the Beijing Olympics in August this year.
The Atlantis resort fireworks stretched along the 320 miles of Palm Jumeirah, illuminating the Arabian Gulf.

Celebrities and guests were treated to few songs by Kylie Minogue who was reportedly paid £1.5million for a 40-minute set.
Guests at the bash included, Robert De Niro, Ben Affleck, Rhys Ifans, Dame Shirley Bassey, Charlize Theron, Agness Deyn, Denzel Washington, Wesley Snipes, Mary-Kate Olsen, Sir Richard Branson, Fergie - the Duchess of York, Boris Becker, Mischa Barton, Michael Jordan, Lindsay Lohan , and Samantha Ronson.
There were 2,00 guests at the opening party, and the feast included, approximately two tonnes of lobster, 300 kilos of smoked salmon and 4,000 oysters prepared by multi-Michelin starred chefs Santi Santamaria, Michel Rostang, Giorgio Locatelli, celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa, and 500 cooks.
There were 200 dinner tables, decorated with 15,000 stems of carnations, and lit by 3,000 candles.

The Atlantis has 1,539 suites, 27 spa rooms, 24 swimming pools, a dolphinarium, the biggest water park in the Middle East, 65,000 marine creatures, 3,000 staff, and no libraries!
The Atlantis resort is 46 hectares; equal to 64 Wembley pitches.
The hotel, and the island of sand on which it sits, was completed in just four years.
South African hotel magnate Solomon Kerzner, 73, is responsible for this latest mega hotel in Dubai, he also has six five-star resorts.
Speaking about his newest project, Solomon Kerzner said, “The scale of what we have seen here is appropriate.
“It cost me $20 million for the party but people have to be aware of the scale of this project.
“No famous people were paid to be here and we refused to provide private jets. They came because they wanted to.”

According to reports since the Atlantis opened to paying guests six weeks ago, it has been almost 80% full.
Nightly rates range in price from £550 ($814) for a basic suite to $35,000 ($51,845) per night for the hotel’s signature suite, which features floor to ceiling views of Dubai.

$20 million just for the party - I knew the credit crunch was only a myth perpetuated by the government to lead the news headlines away from crime!

The Burj Al Arab Dubai

Richard and I once stayed at the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai (see one of our videos above), it was as you would expect; over the top gaudy oppulance, but we loved it, although we wouldn’t want our home to resemble the same ’style’ but it was a memorable experience, and the service was excellent.

DUBAI