GWAS Playlist

This week's pick of pop culture, magazines & pretty things...

1. Unlike its Australian counterpart, who just ran with Jessica, US Marie Claire has given all four Sex and the City stars a July issue cover (is this multi-cover madness a mag trend or what?). No doubt serious fans of the show will buy all four – great marketing gimmick. Coupled with the return of the 90s supermodel (Claudia, Christy, Linda and Amber all feature in major new campaigns), Kylie turning 40 and Madonna releasing her album, there has never been a better time for women aged 35+ in the land of mags...

2. Gwyneth Paltrow glows on the July cover of US Harper's Bazaar. Inside she talks about practical parenting (“If you don't have time to go to the waxer, then shave your legs. Do little things that can get yourself back to feeling like your own person....You can obliterate yourself out of love and giving. And I don't think that's healthy”), her body ("I've worked out like crazy"), fashion (of course!) and Barack Obama: “I don’t feel there’s any lip service with [Obama]. I don’t feel like he’s one of those jaded politicos who say one thing and are talking out of both sides of their mouth. I also feel we’ve done such damage to our reputation – and as someone who lives outside America for half the year, I overhear things that I wish I didn’t overhear. A lot of people in the West think that we’re not very sensitive to the rest of the world, and I think that having a president called Barack Hussein Obama in 2008 says that we are part of the world, and we don’t want to make unilateral decisions about the fate of all of us. I just pray to God that he wins.” Her wish might just come true. Go to harpersbazaar.com for more.

3. US ELLE bucks the middle-aged covermodel trend, with Mary-Kate Olsen taking out the July issue cover (granted, she is an old soul – and the queen of nanna-chic), resplendent in a Stella McCartney silk chiffon frock and Azzedine Alaia belt. She tells the magazine: "Unless you’re a twin, you honestly can’t know how close twins can be. There’s such a strength… It stems from love, and it stems from passion. We’re driven people. I do know I can’t work in an office. Ashley, on the other hand, loves going to an office” and “I don’t know—you’re either on the worst-dressed list or you’ve started a fashion trend. I think there’s a real disconnect between the media’s perception of fashion and the fashion world’s idea of fashion. I don’t know why I wear some of the things I wear. I like wearing crazy things sometimes. I like being playful. Sometimes I feel like I’m playing dress-up and becoming a character. It’s sort of like an art. It can change your mood or the way that people are attracted to you.” Read the full interview. Pic: JustJared.

4. Pop brat Avril Lavigne has struck a licensing deal with Procter & Gamble Prestige to launch her very first fragrance in 2009, says WWD. “Young teenage girls really aspire to Avril and love everything about her,” said Heike Hindenlang, global marketing director for the company. “We think we can reach out to new consumers with her scents. It’s about finding which brands appeal to young consumers and [which] fashion and celebrities are resonant with them.” In other smelly news, Agyness Deyn is the face of Jean Paul Gaultier's new scent, Ma Dame, and ads for Calvin Klein's new fragrance, Secret Obsession, starring Eva Mendes have been deemed too raunchy by some TV networks.

5. Pinky Brewster Lily Allen got drunk at UK Glamour magazine's Woman of the Year awards, accepting an Editor's Special Award while under the influence and later writing on her MySpace: "I got very drunk last night, too drunk. It’s not cool getting that drunk, I feel awful and I have to thank my little brother Alf for getting me home safely. Kids, drink responsibly or you’ll end up looking like this, not pretty! Was quite fun though, from what I can remember. Need fry up now.” Other winners, who displayed better behaviour, include Kate Beckinsale (Best Film Actress), Dannii Minogue (TV Personality), Kate Moss (Entrepreneur), Beth Ditto (International Musician), Kelly Osbourne (Theatre Actress), Cecelia Ahern (Writer), Fearne Cotton (Presenter), Hayden Panettiere (Newcomer), Leona Lewis (Solo Artist), Mark Ronson (Man of the Year), Annie Lennox (Inspiration) and the Spice Girls (Band).

6. Unless you've been sunning yourself on a Caribbean island without your BlackBerry (in which case, cow), you'd know that our favourite US magazine reviewer, GlossedOver, is back online after a two-month hiatus. But not only that – we now know her identity, thanks to her new column at The Frisky (and the fact she revealed it on her site). She's none other than LA-based writer/editor Wendy Felton. Ms. Felton, who was/is sections editor at fashion trade magazine Intimate Apparel Business, launched GlossedOver in 2005, holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from UCLA and studied journalism/creative writing through UCLA's Extension Writer's Program. Now, if only we knew the identity of the anonymous blogger behind 4InchHeelsOnly, who appears to have (temporarily?) logged off (Caribbean or courthouse?).

7. Yours truly took herself and her BFF (husbands in tow: they saw What Happens in Vegas) to Sex and the City: The Movie last night, along with 300 or so other women and their BFFs (and the odd poor boyfriend – or smart single gent with a pick-up motive). Half the spectacle was observing that many women in one room – and, of course, what they were wearing. Most chose jeans, boots, pretty tops and ghd-ironed locks, while others went all-out in sparkly frocks and some looked as though they'd come from the gym (I saw at least two J.Lo/Juicy Couture-circa-1999 velor tracksuits, I swear). My verdict? It was the film equivalent of a three-course dinner: i.e. very satisfying. The fashion and styling failed to leave an impression on me (unlike films such as Priceless), as I felt Carrie looked like a disheveled 80s hobo for most of it and had seen so many stills that nothing surprised me, but I relished every minute of this final journey with the girls.

Four years on, Carrie has two published books under her belt and a contented relationship with Big, Charlotte is comfortable in her role as mummy to Lily, her adopted daughter with Harry (she is so adorable, I seriously think this will spark a major Chinese adoption trend), Miranda and Steve are living in Brooklyn with Brady, and Samantha has moved to LA to support Smith in his acting career. Everything is fine, fine, fine – then, as life often goes, everything falls to shit. In fact, everything is shit for about 80 per cent of the film, with the show's trademark sharp, funny dialogue and a few hilarious moments saving us from falling into a deep, melancholic, kill-me-before-I'm-40 depression. Jennifer Hudson, as Carrie's temporary assistant, is a little breath of fresh air, Cynthia Nixon gives us her all as Miranda (and you will, for the most part, despise her for it) and Sarah Jessica Parker is at her absolute best (strong but fragile; cute but sexy) – one particularly moving, make-up-free scene left an indelible mark on me, which has given me even more reason to respect her (despite the hoopla surrounding that Nina Ricci dress!). The film raises questions about monogamy, the preservation of a woman's identity within a relationship, the preservation of relationships (the sex talk turns from who with to how often), the meaning of marriage and moments of truth. Love, of course, is the core theme – and I felt nothing but when I left the cinema with my best bud and planted a Big one on Husband's cheek.

8. The cool kids at VBSTV, Vice magazine's online channel, have a new series online, Dear Diary, hosted by Lesley Arfin (author of the same-named book). In episode three, Arfin goes to Chloe Sevigny's home (you might recall Sevigny wrote the forward for Arfin's book), where she goes through her stuff and her diary. Chloe fans will love it. Also, fans of 80s film icon Martha Plimpton (The Goonies, Parenthood), will enjoy reading her Nylon interview. For less edgy ladies, the June issue of Lovely magazine is also online.

9. Australian weekly celebrity/gossip/fashion magazine Famous has appointed a new editor, Gereurd Roberts, formerly of The Guardian. Roberts replaces Shane Sutton, who joined the mag from New Idea. No doubt the launch of Grazia in coming months will keep Roberts firmly on his toes.

10. Retailer Mango (MNG) has added a small t-shirt collection inspired by Barbie to its racks. The Barbie by MNG Jeans line contains six prints, influenced by the 50s, 70s and 80s, available on the website and through most stores worldwide. Can't see them flying off the racks like Kate Moss for Topshop but only time will Mattel.

Celebsville small-talk: Yves Saint Laurent's funeral in Paris was attended by the likes of French President Nicolas Sarkozy and First Lady Carla Bruni, Catherine Deneuve, Caludia Schiffer and John Galliano; Kim Cattrall is set to appear in a new HBO TV show based on British series Sensitive Skin, in which she'll play a "middle-aged wife and mother in New York who rediscovers her sexuality and begins to question her place in the world and the choices she has made in life"; Forbes reports that Gisele Bundchen is still the highest earning supermodel; and Fergie's wedding plans are going to cost her and Josh a cool $1.5 million.

Celebrity quote of the week: "I'm a terrible actress. Everyone thinks I'm only friends with Tom and Katie to be in a movie, but it's not true." – Victoria Beckham, we believe you.

The Word for the weekend: "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6: 35

WIN! So, every now and then during the cooler months, and despite my new appreciation for pale skin, I get the urge to be tanned (you can take the girl out of Sydney but... y'know). Trouble is, the dry wintry air, too-hot showers and indoor heating sap my skin of moisture, leaving said tan application looking very flaky and sad despite my best efforts to exfoliate. Cue Fake Bake Tan Enhancing Lotion, $26.50, which will replenish lost moisture and enhance the look of your faux tan. I have five of these bottle babies to give away. First in (email satchelgirl@gmail.com with 'Fake Bake' in the subject line) with mailing address details shall score the goods!

Sponsor spot: Two of our lovely sponsors, Krista Eppelstun of Australian Flavour and Nikki McMahon of Beloved, were featured in The Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday in a story titled 'Fashion in their sites' (woo!). Do also click by FromTheLandofOz (one-of-a-kind jewellery) and SassiSam (gorgeous girlie treats) in your online shopping travels. Merci.

Yours truly,
Girl With a Satchel