Posted by Christina Wasil

Fashion Babylon, written by Imogen Edwards-Jones and Anonymous (can anyone guess who?) unveils many of fashion's dirty secrets. It's a painfully honest portrayal of an ugly industry profiting off physical beauty. For any fashion wanna-be, this book reveals the good, the bad and the absolutely repulsive.

What did I learn from Fashion Babylon? Well, for one, Sienna Miller is hot shit. I honestly had no idea that she was so popular. Maybe I'm a little out of it, but to me, she is just the girl that gets perpetually cheated on by Jude Law, has actual sex with co-stars, and morphed into Edie Sedgwick for her latest movie, Factory Girl. I'm assuming it's a UK thing, because Little Miss Shittsburg doesn't cause the same stir in the States. Apparently, every week, cars filled with expensive clothing pull up to her house in London and drop off freebees. Then, designer's hold their breath and pray she is photographed wearing their clothes or carrying their bag.

I also learned that Posh is viewed as fashion suicide. Designers, specifically Tom Ford, hate when she wears their clothes. Some won't even speak to her stylists! Yes, Posh and all of her money, publicity, and camera hogging, is blackballed by some of fashion's powerhouses. She, according to some designers, is on par with reality show stars wearing their clothes!

Getting the right celebrity to wear your latest style, or "seeding," as it is called in the fashion world, is key to huge sales. "There are really about ten women in the world who can actually shift frocks: Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, Kate Moss, Cameron Diaz, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sienna Miller, Uma Thurman, Scarlett Johansson and then, in a league of her own, Paris Hilton."

(Speaking of Scarlett, she is apparently an afternoon "grumpy pants." She will spend all day with her stylist, and then at about 2 PM, she hits a wall and becomes a nasty, nasty girl. And according to one insider, "she's not that pretty in the flesh." If that's true, I guess we can assume that Justin likes girls that look good on camera, but not so hot in person. Britney, Cameron, and now ScarJo! Interesting...I guess there's hope for fugly girls everywhere.)

For more industry secrets, keep reading after the jump.

Formerly titled The Sex Doctor's In The Basement, Molly Jong-Fast's selection of essays in Girl Maladjusted had me laughing until my stomach hurt. Molly's semi-celebrity childhood as the daughter of critically acclaimed erotic novelist Erica Jong ranged from absurd to hilarious, and we are given insight on what it's like to be asked, as a nine-year-old "Do you feel sexually repressed because your mother writes erotic books?"

Molly and her mother moved around a bit, starting off in uber-wealthy Fairfield County, CT, and finally ending up in NYC in a townhouse on 94th Street with a bright pink door and creepy sex therapists living in the basement (exchanging bodily fluids on the white pull-out couch). As they lived their bohemian lifestyle, Molly and her mother ran into a series of adventures that can only be described as irreverently obnoxious and hilariously human.

Imagine you are six. You have no bedtime, all the gumballs you can eat, and never have to worry about doing your homework. Your life is lived based on the whims of your father, who is very cool and very connected. As you get older, you are the "It" girl at Beverly Hills High. You have all the best clothes, and have all the best toys. You are invited to the best parties and have access to all the best drugs...Then one day, you realize that your fabulously privileged life is really a not-so-fabulous prison. You want out but realize you are trapped, shackled by the drugs and paranoia that have become synonymous with living. You are tormented by the memories of your childhood. You lack basic social skills and find it hard to get along with others...so what do you do? Well, if you are Jennifer Saginor, daughter of Hugh Hefner's personal physician "Dr. Feelgood," you write a tell-all.

You may remember that I went to the Model Dorm's decidedly fabulous book launch last week. After meeting the authors, Amanda Kerlin and Phil Oh, my expectations of the book were as high as some of the party-goers. I expected dirt, drama, and sex, sex, sex. Well, I got all of that and then some! From page 1 to 272, I couldn't put the book down, and when it was finished, I wanted more!

What's a model dorm, you ask? It's a one bedroom pigsty filled with old Ikea furniture and a bunch of gorgeous girls sleeping in bunk beds waiting for their big break. Think modeling is easy and fun and sophisticated? Well, think again. This book illustrates just how un-glamorous the backstabbing, plastic world of modeling is. You get a contract, and then you get shelved in a shoebox with a list of rules to follow - go to your castings, don't eat, and get LOTS of exercise! (How else are you going to keep dropping pounds and inches for your weekly measurements?)

Let the drama begin...

The Secrets of the Model Dorm book launch was held at the TriBeCa Grand Hotel on January 18 - the first snowy day in NYC. Trekking to the hotel in the snow isn't necessarily a good time, but it was worth it for the free Nicolas Feuillatte champagne and Svedka cocktails. DJ's James F!@$%^ Friedman and DJ Language were hot, spinning Kid Creole and the Coconuts (who are fabulous, by the way) and other runway worthy music.

Amanda Kerlin, the former IMG model turned author, was as stunning as her model friends who stopped by to show their support. Although there was no one easily recognizable at the party, all the models, aspiring models, and wannabe's were sashaying around like they were on the catwalk.

As the drinks flowed, the party got louder and bigger, and at one point, onlookers were treated to a 15 minute grope fest between a "thick" older man and his young date. Not that anyone was looking at anything other than themselves. But then again, what can you expect from models...

Keep your eyes open for next week's review of Secrets of the Model Dorm and an upcoming exclusive A Socialite's Library interview with the authors!

For more information on the book, check out its MySpace account!

Notes on a Scandal is presented as a novel within a novel, as retired history teacher Barbara Covett details the consequences of her colleague's scandalous relationship. Sheba Hart and 15 year old student Steven Connolly had a whirlwind love affair, and Barbara's novel documents both Sheba's story, and Sheba's life as she slowly loses everything. The relationship between Sheba and Steven started off innocently enough, but it soon became obvious that Steven had feelings for the beautiful 40-year-old teacher. Their interactions escalate, with Sheba and Steven meeting (in the most intimate of ways) "at least 20 times" at a nearby park, by the kiln in Sheba's studio, on the floor of Steven's bedroom, and in Sheba's home - while her husband and children are away.

Barbara and Sheba become close friends while teaching together, but the reader soon discovers that Barbara has an unhealthy obsession with her young coworker. Their friendship grows under the pretense that Barbara is a shy yet loving friend - a good listener - but Barbara's expectations of their relationship are downright predatory. Barbara eventually finds out about Sheba and Steven's affair, and her feeling of betrayal leads her to let Sheba's secret slip...

More on "Notes on a Scandal" after the jump.

Amy Sedaris refuses to disappoint with her new book, "I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence." The hilarious and surprisingly beautiful Strangers With Candy star combines recipes, gift ideas, games, pictures, and bizarre tips into 300 pages of consistent and often bewildering silliness. This book has an answer for any question you'd ever want to ask (and some you'd never want to), and the meat of it is no joke.

It's a mystery where Sedaris gets her material from, but her sense of humor strikes a bizarre balance between smarts and mindlessness. The wonderfully immature, off-color humor is seemingly endless, but there is definite value in reading "I Like You." If you are wondering what to buy your friend the nun for her birthday (a shower cap) or trying to think up a fun game to play with the neighborhood kids ("busking" - taking them to the airport to have them entertain travelers for small change), this book is a helpful resource.

Santa Claus gave me this book last month (what a guy), and I must say that I read it cover to cover wearing a smile that started to hurt my face after page 4. And while I suspected there might a joke-recipe included, everything I've made has turned out safe to eat. I recommend this book to anyone who loves to laugh. I can't say I've ever seen a book quite like this. But if one exists, I'd bet it's not nearly as funny.

Have you ever wondered how Gwyneth regained her MILF body so quickly? What about Cate Blanchett, Sadie Frost, and Kate Moss? Well, A Socialite's Library dug deep and did some serious research to find out for you! Not only are the answers spelled out in a 250-page book (complete with yummy recipes), but the body you want can be yours after only 21 days of hard work!! Sound like a gimmick? Well, yours truly tried it out and will bet her teacup Yorkie on it!

Dr. Nish Joshi started his Holistic Detox journey after spending time working with dancers that would eat tissue paper and drink Diet Coke all day long just to stay thin. They'd be baffled when they were sickly or would sprain their ankles easily. Their unhealthy lifestyle was ruining them, inside and out, and Joshi saw a need for reform. From this necessity he created his Holistic Detox Program.

Joshi combines his training in Osteopathy and his Ayurvedic upbringing (he was raised in London by Indian parents that treated everyday ailments with holistic methods) to produce his unique program. The program is a more traditional homeopathic approach with a heavy emphasis on a healthy eating plan.

The person that helped Joshi bring his Detox Program to fruition was Diana, the late Princess of Wales. Says Joshi, "She was extremely fragile when I first met her. Her divorce from Prince Charles was going through and she felt very low and vulnerable...Initially, Diana came to see me about tension in her neck and back. It then became obvious that she needed to work on her diet if she was to find renewed energy and resolve. Diet and remedy soon had her looking and feeling better."

More on "Dr. Joshi's Holistic Detox: 21 Days to a Healthier, Slimmer You - For Life" after the jump.

Almondine has had a bit of a family emergency, and she won't be able to entertain you all today.

Please look at these fantastic sites for your daily gossip, as well as any others on the blogroll.

[Just Jared]
[Egotastic]
[Hollywood Tuna]
[I Don't Like You In That Way]
[Cityrag]
[Perez Hilton]

Well, not only is this woman hideous, but she's also accused of murdering her son. So be as brutal as you'd like.

I will see you all on Monday for my last day of blogging. I'm sure you're devastated.

[Court TV]