MONTBLANC AND MY FACE CHANGE

It has been red carpet week in Los Angeles and I have looked terrible. I just could not get it together.  I was tired and washed out . I did not recognise my face, the skin looked like cottage cheese and I had dark shadows everywhere.  A friend on the internet said to me "you look exhausted"  Sun at my age is out of the question, if I don't get skin cancer I will get leathery skin. If I use a spray tan it somehow looks a little fake on my face.  I do need a holiday that is true, I hate them but need one.  I did two plays back to back, and two exhibitions and moved houses whilst doing the new one up.  I love that frantic pace, the adrenaline of working.  My girl friend, the make up artist,  Tonya Crooks said crisply "Change your make up. I was a little horrified, I have been using Chanel make up for many years and she was suggesting I use La Prairie?  I thought at first it was bullshit.  She suggested I use the Nars oil free pro prime and then put skin caviar concealer foundation, from La Prairie, on afterwards.  Hey presto I looked back to my normal self. All it took was a trip to Saks to feel a million dollars.  Check for yourself. My hair I was worried about too, am I too blonde, is it too curly should I give up?. Tanya said "No, why give up when you have just bought the most incredible house and you are happy?" I suppose sometimes I would like to get the slippers out and curl up with my new book and read some of the poetry by Ezra Pound I have just been sent.  Angela Kalinowski said she will add some highlights when she comes back on Monday and Gia Sinatra set to work or following her careful instructions which she did beautifully. That with my new Karl Lagerfeld collar I felt as if I was game set and match.

AMANDA WEARING A KARL LAGERFELD COLLAR FROM NET A PORTER,

A dress by Emilia Wickstead, Coat by Chanel, Belt from Louis Vuitton, Handbag Marc Jacobs, glasses by Prada. Hair by Gia Sinatra.

ME AND YASSI MAZANDI ARTIST AND WIT

Montblanc's breakfast today to celebrate Princess Grace of Monaco, was set at the Bel Air Hotel, serving Caviar we were all totally spoilt. I saw half of London there. among the guests were filmmaker, Julia Verdin, Pilar Boxford, Lady Victoria Hervey and artist, Yassi Mazandi.

PILAR BOXFORD AND JACK ENGLISH

JULIA VERDIN and JACK ENGLISH

THE PRESS RELEASE

"For the first time, Montblanc showcased the complete Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco, a tribute to the timeless iconic elegance of Princess Grace of Monaco. Regarded as the epitome of classic beauty, this collection features fine and high jewellery as well as writing instruments and timepieces in the Swiss watch-making tradition.  The style and spirit that captivated film audiences around the world during the golden age of Hollywood and made Grace Kelly a subject of adoration, returned to Los Angeles to shine on the red carpet during the Academy Awards."

It had actresses choose pieces that they loved.  It was a perfect setting and timing to put all worlds together.  With perfect manners Ingrid Roosen-Trinks, greeted us at the door.  What a change that is in this mad mad world, where people forget to say thank you.


Here I am making a wish for them.

THE DOMINO EFFECT WILL CHANGE THE FACE OF THE WORLD

Los Angeles is sunny and glorious. Nobody can dampen my happiness. My house is coming together and I have been well looked after by my friends.   All the furniture has now gone in place and I have to find some things belonging to Janet Leigh.  I like the idea that she still reigns over the house in some mysterious way.
I am moving from the Beverly Hills Hotel today which is tragic as there is so much fun on the terrace.  Last  night the ageless Joan Collins and her husband Percy were having dinner with her sister Jackie,  she was looking more glamorous than any other woman in the room. The lobby action in the hotel is remarkable.
The only problem I have is that I don't sleep and this makes me ratty.  I have done so many projects this year, finishing a new book of my poetry with Vincenzo DeMaar and edited by Tim Willis.  The house in Los Angeles, two flats sold, my house in London nearly finished.
So I am tired and excited all at same time. Life is good.
I was lying bed last night worrying, 100 whales died before the earthquake in New Zealand.  Revolutions all over the Middle East, the domino effect, spreading throughout, and it will go further than we think. Nostradamus was not wrong n'or the Aztecs.  We live in terrifying and addictive times.

While this is going on the parties started in Hollywood for this years Oscars. Harvey Weinstein's with Dior last night at the Chateau Marmont another at Soho House for the Richemont  Group, given by Pilar Boxford.  It was in the private room and I saw my lovely friend Eric Buterbaugh, the best florist in Beverly Hills.  My prediction is The Kings Speech will rule along with Social Network.  The rest except for Beautiful are not up to scratch.

GLITTER GIRLS GLITTER

I am now in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills at my house which I like the most. It has the right structure and light and automatically puts me in a good mood. I am no longer able to live in a room 10ft by 10ft however camp. 11 Cadogan Gardens was a charming lovely experience, but it felt like I was living in an over the top trifle.

I am very fortunate this week to have the very dapper Nicky Haslam staying with me, he is this afternoon doing his book launch here at Book Soup, between making everything sparkly and exceptional. All the parties we go to together are more fun and he has the ability to make everybody love him.. It has been a wonderful couple of days. Thank goodness that there are some amazing people in this world who are alive and not cynical.

So it is again Oscar time, and it makes me nag the hairdresser, I want to look like an old fashioned Hollywood movie star.. I think it is so much fun to play with curling irons, I love finger waves around my face and drive my very patient hairstylist Angela at Kimvo crazy with my new yet old ideas... Let's bring back glamour.. where is it, between stretch leggings and T shirts we all look a mess. Let's throw the whole lot out and wear corsets and nothing comfortable.. Confinement is fabulous, it stops me from eating and nags my gall stones.. No hell with comfortable... throw it out. Then I think I shall live with a make up artist, and have dark gloomy eyes, so even if I can't win an oscar I can look as if I am about to do an acceptance speech.
Fresh air and peace ahh, well there is no tranquility this week. The Oscars are within all the talented nominees grasp and Soho House is the talk of the town. Yesterday I went round to this incredible building, where about 150 people were preparing it for that evening.. With three hours to go nothing was ready, glasses, chairs tables books everything was being put into place. In the gardens, tiles were being put down and a water garden being made. With quiet panache Nick Jones was organising this event, I like a man like that who is confident that everything will be done on time. You know 5 hours later he turned an building site into an incredible party place. A modern library look with light and views stretching for miles east west north and east.. It was a movie play set for the ravishing party people and Dustin Hoffman, who was surrounded by long legged mini skirted hardly human women in expensive shoes. Kelly Osbourne in a structured silver dress with a new blond hair has taken a leaf out of my book and turned herself into Hollywood bomb.. hey girls, if Kelly can do it, we can all do it..People mingling were Loree Rodkin, Zeta Graff, Alek Keshishian, Jonathan Yeo and Madonna.

I went for a delicious lunch with Pilar Boxford at Boa eating Caesar salad, with delicious cheese chips.. only food combinations like this seem to be found here in Los Angeles.
Later Nicky took me to Andreas Gursky's beautiful photographs at The Gagosian Gallery, on North Camden Drive.. They take some time, and preferably with no one there because you have to notice the smaller details.. He is a genius at the hidden.
Although I don't buy photographs these huge magnificent pieces or the earths sea, building sites, countryside deserve the watchers full attention. We then dashed off to Mr Chow at the invitation of Mr Gagosian, thank you and had a great conversation with Nadja Swarovski.