After talking about my favourite streetstyle subjects in my last entry, I thought it’s only fitting to list some of my favourite streetstyle sites. I love the old guard – The Sartorialist, Garance Dore, Tommy Ton (of Jak & Jil fame), Facehunter, etc – as much as the next person but now that they've become household names, it’s time to welcome in the new guard. Here are the top five new streetstyle sites I obsessively check for updates so I know what’s hot out there. Best of all, I can actually afford to imitate their style since, unlike the subjects in the old guard, these are real people who do repeat their clothes and don’t get clothes right off the runway!

Vanessa Jackman (http://vanessajackman.blogspot.com/)

An Australian living in London, Vanessa is super-sweet in real life – I know cos I spoke to her once at the Tuileries Garden in France! Her photos have a romantic yet gritty feel about them, and it’s clear she has a way of making her subjects feel at ease before taking a shot. The girls in her pictures have a relaxed style that’s on-trend yet never crosses the line into fashion victim, making them perfect inspiration for your next outfit. Her writeups about the obstacles she overcame to take particular pictures are always a hilarious read too!   

Mr Newton (http://mrnewton.net/)

When you look at the photos on this site, you can tell this is a photographer who loves women. Not in a pervy way, but in that he embraces their style, movements and feminine quirks. A New York resident, he takes shots of girls at street fairs, flea markets, concerts and other happening events so we can see how the cool people of NYC are dressing. With styles that are slouchy, pretty and most importantly, real, looking at the photos featured here almost makes you feel like you’re roaming the Big Apple yourself.

All the Pretty Birds (http://alltheprettybirds.blogspot.com/)

Tamu McPherson lives in Milan, so it’s no surprise she loves fashion. Her entries are peppered with personal anecdotes on how she feels about a trend her subject might be rocking and commentaries on what’s going on in street style at the moment. Like Vanessa Jackman, she also photographs fashion personalities (like editors, stylists and buyers) but always provides a rundown of who a person is and gives us an insight into the real person behind the pretty clothes.   

Street Peeper (http://streetpeeper.com/)

Phil Oh might better be known as Susie Bubble’s official photographer during Fashion Week, but that doesn’t mean the man only shoots those with Susie’s slightly more eccentric fashion sense. From on-trend double denim to smart blazers and turban-clad men, as long as it’s stylish, it can be found on this site. The origins of every item of clothing on each person are also listed by the side of each picture so you won’t be left wondering how to recreate the look.

La Mode Outre (http://lamodeoutre.com/)

Many streetstyle bloggers are fashion-lovers first and photographers second. James Bent, the Brit transplant who helms this local streetstyle site, is the other way around, which accounts for the stylistic shots and occasional black and white photo. Stylish youths, bloggers and local designers all find themselves under the spotlight on this site, along with what went on behind the scenes while the photo was being shot. It’s high time Singapore got a proper streetstyle site of its own, and Bent is definitely a name to watch out for!

With the proliferation of street style blogs nowadays, it’s easy to find your tastes being dictated by what The Sartorialist et al have determined as the current style icons are wearing. For example, Carine Roitfeld and Anna Dello Russo have been favourites practically since the birth of street style. But how many of us can run out in a sheer lace dress with red underwear beneath or wear pieces before they’re shown on the runway? Sure, you might say that’s not what these street style sites are about. But when the same people turn up on your RSS feed day in day out, it’s easy to think that’s what you should be wearing too, and you find yourself dressing in black from head to toe, or entering a state of depression cos you’ll never be able to afford anything they own. That’s why in place of the usual suspects, I find myself taking notes when these five people appear on my favourite street style sites. 

    Taylor Tomasi-Hill

Currently Marie Claire’s Accessories Director, her style is eclectic yet on-trend and classy at the same time. This is a typical TTH look: striped top, floral skirt, structured blazer, vertiginous heels, a 2.55 and either stacks of edgy bangles or a statement necklace. From the various times she’s been snapped, it’s clear she doesn’t jump onto every trend wagon (ahem … I’m looking at you, ADR), but takes what best suits her look and style, then makes it her own.

    Gloria Baume

Teen Vogue’s Fashion Director clearly dresses the part. Her style is colourful, youthful and a sight for sore eyes during Fashion Weeks when all you see is black, black and more black. Plus, she’s not afraid to wear flats most of the time too. She mixes prints, neons and neutrals like a true master, and has the perfect balance of boyish femininity.  

      Giovanna Battaglia

This Italian fashion director’s look is, at first glance, nothing like the other icons I’ve chosen. Her style is chic, classy and ladylike, and she’s not afraid to play up her sexuality. But the ex-D&G house model’s look is also quintessentially Italian in that she embraces prints (animal prints in particular) and colour, topped off with an irrepressibly youthful exuberance.

       Yasmin Sewell

Interestingly, what catches your eye when you see a shot of Liberty’s Chief Creative Consultant are her distinctive curly locks and dazzling smile. Once you get past those, you can be assured that what she has on is a relaxed mish-mash of the latest, most in-demand names in fashion like Christopher Kane, Josh Goot and JW Andserson. Boyish yet always elegant, Yasmin’s style is inspiring yet never intimidating.

       Julia Frakes

She’s only 20 but Julia “bunny bisous” Frakes is already a freelancer for multiple magazines (think Lula and Vogue Nippon) and attended many a fashion show. But, you can be assured that whatever outfit she has on is just as inspiring as what is coming down the runway. Featuring a veritable explosion of colours, prints and textures, and the most well-stocked tights collection second only perhaps to Susie Bubble, her style is girlie, whimsical and never predictable.

So, who are some of your favourite street style subjects? Are they the usual suspects or someone more left-field?

Unlike the rest of the world, I haven’t been following the World Cup. And, I have absolutely no interest in doing so. Yet, I still have a pretty clear idea of who scored a goal and when, which referee needs to gets his eyes checked and which player looks the hottest with his shirt off. Why’s that, you ask? Well. It’s all thanks to Twitter.  

It’s not like I’m following random sports journalists too. No, these excited proclamations are all courtesy of the 164 (at time of blog update) friends, celebs and assorted fashion industry players whose tweets I usually count on for the timeliest fashion updates, not sports. It seems that come World Cup time, everyone becomes an armchair commentator, whether you’re usually a sports fan or not.

Take last night’s match between Germany and England, for instance. You get tweets from models – Frida Gustavsson: “YEEEEEEEEHHAAAA GERMANY GERMANY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO F-CKIN RIGHT !!!!!! 4-1 BOOYAA BABY!!!” – to even the esteemed New York Times’ critic Cathy Horyn retweeting about the situation on the streets of England after they lost – “All London was eerie quiet today for a couple of hours, like the rapture had happened. Then the people came flooding back on the streets.” Whenever Team USA is playing, the tweets get even more fast and furious, since most of the journalists, models and designers I follow are from the US. What I’m wondering is, aren’t Americans not supposed to give a damn about the World Cup?

The only person who seems to be in the same boat as me is poor Henry Holland, only he’s having it much, much worse. Over the weekend, the designer was at Glastonbury but instead of hitting up performances galore, he’s “Stuck at Glasto being forced to watch the football. Livid.”  Aw, I feel you Henry, I really do! In fact, he hates it so much, he’s even come up with his own hash tag - #henryhatestheworldcup, with tweets like “City boys + beer + football = a bunch of w*nkers walking round east London taking the piss out my chrissy loubs” and “How does a football match turn a pub full of people into tourettes sufferers??” It’s like the man is reading my mind! (Other than the fact that I don’t have a pair of chrissy loubs for people to take the piss out of)

It’s like what happens during Fashion Week – since every journalist in town is at the shows, what you get is an avalanche of tweets describing what comes down the runway, who is seated front row and centre, even whose view is being blocked thanks to a tiny blogging sporting a giant bow at the Dior show. The only difference is, I knew this is what I was signing up for when I followed them. Minute-by-minute updates about what is going down on the football field, on the other hand, is a totally different (you know what’s coming up) ball game.

Are you suffering from World Cup weariness, or are you all caught up in football mania?

Being a fashion fan can make for some confusing times. Why? Well, magazines worldwide (including CLEO) are about to launch into a recap of the hottest fall/winter trends – even though the looks came down the runway four months ago and right now, it's resort collections that are coming down the runway. In fact, it’s taking a lot for me to resist the urge to blog about the candy colours and loose, flowing silhouettes that make up resort. (Do you like how I snuck in a few lines about it anyway?)
 

It’s not that I don’t want to blog about what we’re going to be wearing come September … it’s just that to be honest, out of all the collections shown a year – spring/summer, fall/winter, resort, pre-fall, haute couture – f/w is probably my least favourite season. It’s not just cos of the dark, sombre colours. It’s also cos the coats – trench, camel, what have you – coming down the runway are heartbreakingly gorgeous … and can NEVER be worn in SG (although you could have whipped yours out during yesterday’s flash floods). But because a true fashion fan knows how to make the trends work for her, instead of jumping in blindly and sweating buckets in a shearling coat a la Burberry, here’s what I’m looking forward to rocking this season.
 

Black sheer overlays

Ever since the Olsen twins sported matching long sheer skirts at an awards ceremony earlier this year, I’ve been in love with this look. It’s classy yet sexy without being hoochie. I’d like to think MKA were the ones who influenced the designers at Giambattista Valli and Givenchy to come up with sheer tops, skirts and dresses this f/w. Olsens FTW!
 

Capes

This superhero-inspired apparel was spotted on the YSL s/s runway but sadly, didn’t take off. This time, it’s back and better than ever – and since Karl Lagerfeld sent his own version down the Chanel runway, I’m convinced it’s finally going to be a fashion hit. If the man can convince every fashionista in town to wear CLOGS, there’s clearly nothing he can’t do.
 

Maxi skirts

I’m all for flashing your best assets – but only if that means your legs, NOT your ahem, private parts. After seeing enough buttcheeks and flashes of underwear to last me a lifetime, I can’t wait for the world to embrace the long, ankle-grazing lengths at Celine and Michael Kors. Maybe Phoebe Philo and Michael have been scarred by mulitple crotch-sightings too?
 

So, what are some of the trends you're looking forward to showing off this season?

*WARNING: MAJOR SQUEALS AHEAD

Just the other day, Annabelle and I met Sandra (a stylist who used to work at our sister mag Harper’s Bazaar) wearing the limited edition Hello Kitty Repetto flats that were sold at On Pedder, and carrying the Anteprima x Hello Kitty collab wirebag.

 

Hello Kitty love!

What’s that cute cloud-looking thing she’s carrying? It’s Hello Kitty’s DNA. Confused?

 

Dr Kitty (Sanrio’s version of a mad scientist) explains this project to us.

See, we were at the Kitty Lab at Expo. It’s basically Hello Kitty Land, with Hello Kitty everything! Hospital, café, college, boutique, police station! When you enter this city, you’re armed with Hello Kitty’s DNA. With that, you go around to the different booths and play virtual puzzles to create the Hello Kitty of your choice.


Belle sussing out the map

So this is how it really looked like, with a clock tower  that stands in the middle of the city, and buildings, lights and zebra crossings surrounding it.

Some of our favourite stops at Kitty Lab:

1. Kitty Boutique

Love the window display!

Booths to score an outfit for your Kitty.

2. Kitty College

Belle and I are top students in My Melody’s class. Woot!

3. Strawberry Hospital

Check out the handicap lot outside the hospital. How cute is the logo?

And SERIOUSLY THE BEST OPERATING TABLE EVER!


Very current medical posters around. Wash your hands!

4. Kitty Police Station


Head here if you get lost.

5. Kitty Café


Insane kids going amok.


The game station where you’re supposed to slurp into the spoon (which is a mic). We all lost at this!


Yummy cakes inside. Too bad they’re all fake ones! Can I have one like this for my birthday pleasssse?

6. The Subway

We find the best phonebooth in front of the train station. Fyi, there’s no train though, just the station. But still, the attention to detail at Kitty Lab is amazing, with oh-so-suitable station names and the hilarious ads!

 
Kitty College ad which has the best math formulas ever. Why didn’t my teacher teach me that in school?

 
Kitty Café ad. They have falafels!

It says Apple Line, Kitty Line and Cookie Line! Awwww

And when you’re done (13 stations in total), head out through this train station and you get a card that records all the attributes of your personalised Kitty. It’s worth a go if you’re a huge fan (like me!) and look out for the small selection of limited-edition Kitty Lab products for sale at the exit too.


Details:

Date: Now till Nov 29
Venue: Hall 1, Singapore Expo
Hours: 10am to 9pm (last entry at 8pm)

Admission:
Mondays to Thursdays
Adult: $35, Child: $17
Fridays to Sundays, and Public Holidays
Adult: $38, Child: $20

Ion is possibly the most exciting mall to open in a while, and yesterday I headed down to the 8-storey (including the four basement levels) for the media preview tour. Now, here are a few fast facts about Ion:

• The cost of the land and the building = Over $2 billion
• Number of stores = 355
• Percentage of stores that will be opened today = 70%
• New to market store, new concept stores or standalone boutiques (for example Herve Leger which was sold at Pois, but now has its standalone) = over 80

Can’t wait to head down? Now, here’s what you should check out:

Paule Ka, incredibly chic French label famed for its girlie cocktail frocks and sophisticated tailored jackets. And then head next door, Tyan, with its store-within-a-store featuring Vivienne Westwood Anglomania.

Cartier, which boasts its own custom-made lift with beige leather walls, a VIP room for private shopping sessions and even its very own private washroom. the exterior of cartier - inside, they even have their very own lift!

Liz Claiborne – we hear everything in the store was approved by Isaac Mizrahi! It wasn’t ready when I was there, but it sure looks a lot hipper and younger.

Rubi Shoes – A store filled with amazing affordable shoes? Mostly the most guilt-free shopping you can get. Brought to you by the people from Cotton On. They weren’t open yet, but it was just too exciting!

The 4 duplex flagship stores in the B2 and B3 -- Topshop/Topman, Zara, Uniqlo and New Look, a brand-new high-street store (think Forever 21!)

Burger King – A completely new concept fast-food store (and the only fast food chain in the mall) that has four personalised sound zones, with its own speakers and iPod connectors and a brand new menu too (try the grilled chicken salad).     the interior of the new bk studio - cheryl tries plugging in her iPod

Ion Paterson Link – this 24-hour access link that connects Ion and Orchard MRT has a cool ceiling screen that, at the moment, makes you feel like you’re under the see, with silhouettes of fishes swimming above you.

Am gonna head there again real soon, to suss out the rest of the stores. Let me know if you see anything exciting that I should check out!

Have fun exploring!

Love,

Daphne

The wait is (almost) over! After what seems like an eternity of construction work and countless detours coming out of Orchard MRT station, the first few stores at Ion Orchard are finally starting to open for business, and we couldn’t be more excited. We got a sneak peek inside the second Louis Vuitton store in Singapore last week before the official opening at night, and we’re pleased to report that if the rest of the stores opening are going to look as great, the wait was definitely worth it.

The exterior of the LV store is enough to blow a passer-by’s mind away – the curved glass facade is inspired by the folds of a scarf and is made up of two groups of mold-textured glass that mimic the iconic Damier chequerboard effect.

But what we think everyone (or ok, most women) will enjoy the most is the over 9m-long curved Bags Bar for women (the men’s Bag Bar is 6m-long), which even has monogram-inspired prints on the wall behind it.

Upstairs, we also saw – and promptly fell in lust with - the range of bags and wedges that Sofia Coppola designed for the brand earlier this year. The director and long-time friend of Marc Jacobs is a well-known champion of flats, so it’s no surprise there were no heels in sight. We also couldn’t keep our eyes off the transparent “shoe closets” with the LV monogram printed onto them dotted around the store, with individual tags to open each drawer. Carrie Bradshaw would die to have those for sure!

Of course, there’s no forgetting the clothes. Models walked around in Marc’s glorious creations while we wondered how they managed to even stand up straight in their gorgeous but scarily vertiginous heels.

We’ll take the clothes please, thanks!

Oh, and the pink luggage too!

If you bought a copy of the May issue and pg 38, you’ll know what a secret sample sale is. And becos So Shoe Us loves you (muaks!), here are all the invitation codes/links to gaining entry for these members-only sites!

1. Reebonz

Head here and key in invitation code: Cleoz (expires in June 2009)

2. Gilt Groupe

Just go to http://www.giltgroupe.com/invite/cleosg

3. Rue La La

Select “Invited by a Member” at their main website and enter this email address as your key to get in: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Here’s where you should go: http://www.ideeli.com/invite/cleo

Another site we like is Beyond the Rack, where you just have to key in invitation code AB09CE7E to log on to more sales. And do head to OutNet.com. It’s not launched yet but it's this up-and-coming site is by the people behind Net-a-Porter, so expect the sale selection to be completely awesome. We suggest you head on over and get on their mailing list ASAP. 

Loves,

Daphne

Mention the name Christian when talking about fashion and most people would think of either Christian Dior or Christian Louboutin. But there's one more Christian that deserves just as much fanfare and adulation - and we're not talking about Project Runway's Christian Siriano (although, good job him for having Saks stock his Fall 2009 collection). French designer Christian Lacroix might not be as feted as the other 2 Christians but his work is just as illustrious and sure to go down in history - especially where costumes are concerned.

Known for his jaw-droppingly gorgeous haute couture designs, it's perhaps no surprise that he also designs for the stage - for over 25 stage productions in fact, including Shakespeare's Othello as well as operas like Carmen. And from March 20 to June 7 this year, you can see 80 costumes and 60 sketches and illustrations specially flown in from the Centre National du costume de Scene in Moulins, France, and from the designer's own personal collection. It's the first time this exhibition has gone international and you'll definitely want to see these costumes for yourself.

 I spent a good hour or two at the exhibit just ogling the amount of hard work and sheer inspiration that goes into each and every costume, admiring the brilliant mixing of different prints, textures and colours, and seeing close-up for myself the amount of thought that goes into every minute detail so as to make an item pop out on the stage. Colours that you'd never have thought could complement each other (neon yellow and coral, anyone?) meld together perfectly under Lacroix's expert eyes and materials you'd never even considered for a costume - latex, armoury and even dyed paper - suddenly just seem to make perfect sense. I left the exhibit feeling completely inspired and even more determined to incorporate as many prints and colours into my outfits as possible! Check out the sneak pics of the exhibition below and make your way down to the National Museum asap - entry is $8/free for all students with a student pass.

  

 

Confession: I’m a bagaholic. I can’t resist buying bags, from small pouches (“Pouches make the world go round” is one of my favourite phrases) to giant carry-alls that can fit everything but the kitchen sink. My mother, for one, can attest to my addiction – she’s been nagging at me to get rid of the bags I no longer use (and are perilously stacked under a desk in my room), since I keep buying new ones to add to the collection. But any bag-lover will tell you that is a request akin to asking a mother to give up her own child, and I can’t bear to do so because I’m convinced I’ll end up using them again some day, somehow.

My love for bags also means that whenever the latest catalogues come into the office, I’m all over them like the paps are when they see Britney. From Prada to Kate Spade to Charles & Keith, I’m all about equality and check all the collections out with equal excitement. But of course, having a memorable campaign helps as well, and when I heard that one of my favourite models, Irina Lazareanu, and 86-year-old style maven Iris Apfel (whose signature round and thick-frame glasses have inspired me to channel Harry Potter) were the models for Coach’s spring 2009 collection, I was even more excited to check out their new range.  

Well, I definitely liked what I saw, and I’m sure you will too. After all, all the best of spring’s trends were in the mix, from solid brights to zip details.  

But surprisingly, bag whore that I am, I still managed to be distracted by all the other goodies on display. But which girl can resist wooden bangles with gold hardware that are perfect for stacking (a trend that’s still huge this season), lace-up python gladiators (seriously, I’m drooling here), a cropped jacket with a GIGANTIC bow in the front that’s just simply divine, and a pair of gloves with uber-cute flowers on the trim?!!?

Naturally, we wanted to take a look at everything up-close and personal for ourselves, so Daph and I also attended the launch of Coach’s spring/summer collection last week at Novus at the National Museum. The breezy, balmy weather was perfect for the looks that were all about verve and vitality, and we had a blast oohing and aahing over the accessories, the clothes, and the flowers cheekily placed in the bags that the models carried out as well! Unfortunately, I only managed to snap two pathetic shots before my camera battery went flat – but here they are anyway so you guys can a get a feel of the show too!

Okay! I apologise for the off-tangent introduction. But at least if you see Kamei on the streets next time, you can ask her about her sea-men fantasy. The main reason that got me thinking about sailors, is the cute nautical theme that runs through Loewe’s spring collection. Be inspired by the gorgeous button detailing, the textures, and the way the outfits were put together. These are my fave looks:  

Fun, kooky accessories are an unexpected touch to this crisp, white outfit. And I heart the cute polka-dot clutch!

This skirt is simply a work of art — and its dramatic-ness is played down with a classic navy cardigan. Great way to make a party skirt office-appropriate.  

Mix up your textures! And this is a crazy beautiful tote. Loewe’s bag collection this season is simply gorgeous, there are just so many pieces that stand out. 

And OMG, the oversized, art-deco inspired accessories (especially the bangles) were just too cool for school.  This piece (see below) can be taken apart to become three small pieces, or joined in a Lego manner together for a dramatic effect. And the acrylic belt with its gold hardware – if you want to invest a belt this season, you definitely should consider getting this.  

And this heel is seriously TO DIE FOR.  

And now the bags! There are so many which I would love to own… le sigh. First here’s a cute monogram messenger bag with an adorable oversized lock that, because it’s mainly fabric, will not deplete your bank account.   

Then there are also these, which will just make you smile.  

While Daph is a fan of Fall's dark hues, it's no secret that I'm a huge fan of colour. My colleagues don't cal me a walking Pantone chart for nothing! 

So of course I feel it is my duty to let you guys in on what none other than the world’s leading authority on colour themselves, Pantone, has deemed as the Colour of 2009: *drumroll* Mimosa! According to their press release, "Mimosa, a warm engaging yellow, brings hope and optimism during a time of economic uncertainty and political change. Inspired by the Mimosa tree and the sparkle of the renowned cocktail, the 2009 colour of the year represents the hopeful and radiant characteristics associated with the colour yellow."

Isn’t it a lovely shade though? It’s so bright and happy, and the perfect visual perk-me-up with all the doom and gloom around us these days. Before you laugh and say there’s no way such a shade can ever be suitable for sallow skin/the office/people who only wear black, let’s take a look at the spring ’09 runways for inspiration, shall we?

We also have The Spirit stars Eva Mendes and Sarah Paulson showing us how to work the shade on the red carpet. Ok so you might not have a red carpet to strut your stuff on, but December IS the month of parties, parties and more parties, so be two steps ahead of everyone else and rock this shade even before 2009 is here! 

So OK, realistically, most of us would be afraid to try this colour. But come on, it's the festiev season after all. There's no betetr time to embrace bright, bold and cheery colours than now! Merry Christmas in advance everyone! 

My sporting career might be long over (and I’m pretty sure the same goes for Daph) but I still can’t help getting excited whenever it comes to Adidas Originals and Adidas by Stella McCartney. Unlike the regular line, which mostly caters to those who actually engage in physical activities, these 2 ranges are for those who value form as much as function. Adidas Originals is all about vintagey-cool apparel and accessories, while Stella McCartney’s line features heartbreakingly stylish sportswear that’s always slightly minimalist yet rich in detail (and might possibly be the only line of hers I can afford at the moment, sigh).

So when the two of us headed down to 8Q Singapore Art Museum to check out the preview of the Spring/Summer '09 Adidas by Stella McCartney and Adidas Originals collections, we were ready for some pretty rocking threads. 

2009 also marks the 60th anniversary of Adidas Originals, which they’ve chosen to commemorate with a Soles & Stripes (stripes cos that’s the Adidas signature and soles, well, that’s pretty self-explanatory hurhur) Collection. Keep your eyes peeled for this super-cute cobalt blue parachute-style dress with stripes across when you visit the store – we tried our best to sneak off with it but sadly, did not succeed. As for the ASM line, well, as usual, it was love at first sight.
 

From ruched dresses with cut-out hems to bright yellow tops with gathered detailing, the clothes were all simply gorgeous. Seriously, even a water bottle (with a pink to grey ombre design) becomes a must-buy in her hands! And don’t even get me started on the bags and shoes (made without leather, naturally) – with girlie bow details and in the prettiest shades, I’m definitely in love. If there’s anyone who can convince someone to start working out again, it’s definitely Stella. Now excuse me while I sit here and cross my fingers that she’ll somehow come across this love letter to her and her designs and decide to sponsor me for life woot!

PS. OK, I just HAD to include this ">link. Speaking of German brands (that’s where Adidas hails from), check out this YouTube video of Karl Lagerfeld handing Britney an award at the annual Bambi Awards in Germany, which honours people who have impressed the German public and their creativity. Uncle Karl calls BritBrit a “not only a phoenix … but a Bird of Paradise”. CLASSIC!