Napoleon's Waterloo

Sad news today as the Napoleon Perdis make-up empire collapses and dozens of stores shut up shop.

Whispers attended Napoleon's very first make-up boutique launch in far-flung Paramatta which was Perdis' stamping ground. It was an odd affair. A token red carpet and red velvet rope to hold back the 3 or 4 locals who possibly thought they were witnessing a glittering event.
One collared Whispers to ask who were the glamorous tall models that just arrived by limo and swanned into the party. We didn't have the heart to tell them they were drag queens from Oxford Street.

Napoleon's problem was he rose too fast and became too large. Taking on the USA, especially Beverly Hills  is always a mistake when you aren't known. Selling a product - and they are good products- when there are 100s of similar is a bit like taking ice to Eskimos. And you need very deep pockets. A little known fact is that some of the biggest brand names that occupy ritzy & expensive real estate on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan are loss making but used as advertising for their products and the stores remain there for the prestige value.

And did the name Napoleon bring with it risky karma? After all his namesake ended up on an island which is where Mr Perdis now is- back on his home soil on at least a very large island. Napolean has been trying to sell the business for some time but the problem is, he just wasn't a big enough name.

Read the full story at the MailOnline. We like promoting the Mail- they nick tidbits from us all the time.

But the Chandeliers !

Last week just wasn't a good week for Whispers. Not feeling top of the world etc. We had to turn down the odd stiffy or two. And thus, we missed yet another glittering' event. And it was a glittering event because several newspaper columnists told us all about the crystal chandeliers that were featured at the 2017 Prix De Marie Clair Awards.

We can't really say we missed those in attendance. Mainly because we saw the same "A-List" the week before and will probably again next week at something or other. Assorted newsreaders and TV hosts, models and fashion designers were there to receive an award. Don't get us wrong. They're all nice people. And they all look nice. Some are beautiful even and some most handsome. Take the modelling Stenmark Twins (please). Absolute charmers and devilishly handsome. We can't say too much as Whispers knows the family quite well but..they were just as handsome as they were last week and will be next week at the next event.
Our one real regret was that last week we also missed an event at which many "influencers" would be in attendance. We've yet to meet a real influencer but it's early days. Back to Marie Claire. Editor Jackie Frank is one of our most liked and clever magazine editors. She's unpretentious and knows the business which is why her magazine is very successful. And apparently, she knows her chandeliers. And now the readers of many publications also know about those chandeliers.

Here is our snap of singer Danni Minogue at the event in an exciting white frock. It's so wonderful that the Mail Online ran at least 8 photos of it. Next to her is the wondrous make-up guru Napoleon Perdis who whipped up some gorgeous puff sleeves out of the the remaining fabric from Danni's dress. And a snap of the designing duo from Romance Was Born. What fun !

Masked Man

When Whispers first encountered the amiable make-up supremo Napoleon Perdis many moons ago it was at the opening of his Parramatta salon on a Thursday afternoon. A small coterie of locals had gathered by the red carpet to watch the celebrations including 2 senior citizens who politely inquired of us whether the 2 tall elegant ladies ascending the salon stairs were "soapie stars". Alas we didn't have the heart to inform them that were actually drag queens, albeit fairly glamorous ones.

Napoleon has risen to giddy heights of stardom with salons all over the world including Beverley Hills (California!) where he is in huge demand especially by movie stars on the night of the Academy Awards but now he has turned his back on "high maintenance celebrities " according to this article.
Fortunately our home grown celebrities are still in favour as evidenced by society favourite, hair dresser Joh Bailey who wore what was acclaimed as the most superb mask of the evening created by Napoleon for the Silver Ball last week at John Symonds' Point Piper house.

A Tale of Two Cities:

Our favourite, sometimes loathed (it's really the very best & worst of the tabloids in the world) the UK Daily Mail and Mail Online has differing thoughts for each country where it appears. Thus the terrible aeroplane accident involving superstar Harrison Ford was reported somewhat differently in the UK and Australia. Perhaps they perceive us colonials are made of sterner stuff  when they described Ford's injuries as "moderate" in the UK but "serious" in Oz!

Miranda Kerr-It Suits Her

One of the joys of the David Jones department store Autumn/Winter fashion parade-another chance to spot our favourite wife of a Hobbit, Miranda Kerr.  In a Josh Goot suit Miranda shows what the well-dressed business woman will be wearing this year and former DJ's ambassador Megan Gale competes and looks equally as gorgeous, showing us why a million Italian men go crazy when she steps out in Rome. Make-up king Napoleon Perdis helps achieve the look:
 photographs : Getty

Miranda Kerr Models for DJs

Miranda Kerr jetted in for the David Jone's summer fashion show at Fox Studios last night and to introduce her new baby to the family. Hubby Orlando Bloom baby-sat Flynn while Kerr showed of her stunningly slim and in-shape body. Afterwards she mingled and chatted with guests at a party where magnums of Veuve Clicquot were served well into the late hours !

Miranda & make-up king Napoleon Perdis

with Natalie Imbruglia