GOSSIP HOTLINE

I have to tell you about the most fabulous book I am reading right now. It's by famed fashion designer Vicky Tiel and it's titled "It's All About the Dress: What I Learned in Forty Years About Men, Women, Sex, and Fashion." Yes, Vicky covers it all and you will be devouring every word of it!

Vicky became a huge success as a young American fashion designer in Paris in the '60s. Vicky received "Fs" in fashion school, but she and her best friend Mia Fonssagrives became the stylish "It" girls of their day, designing provocative hot pants, miniskirts, wrap dresses and catsuits that were worn by the beautiful jet set crowd. She also got into the movie business designing the wardrobe for dozens of films. Four decades later, Vicky still designs clothes worn by stars like Halle Berry and Kim Kardashian.

There's a funny section in the book when Vicky first meets MGM's head makeup artist Ron Berkeley, the man she would later marry. She could not believe how connected he was. He was the godson of Errol Flynn. He'd worked with Brando, Elvis, Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

What's funny is that Vicky is JUST as connected – Paul Newman, Clint Eastwood, and Warren Beatty. She dated Woody Allen, worked with Marlon Brando, Ursula Andress, Faye Dunaway, Lauren Hutton, Kim Novak and yes, Elizabeth Taylor, who invested in Vicky's Paris boutique and also threw her wedding to Ron.

Vicky became part of Elizabeth's trusted inner circle and you really get a feeling for what it was really like to be a part of Elizabeth's rarefied world. One of Elizabeth's favorite pastimes was eating and drinking and often these marathon meals lasted six hours or more! Elizabeth loved fried chicken — who knew!

Vicky also shares the lessons she learned from Elizabeth including "Always have sex with your husband — or someone else will" and "Always be kind to and approve of any friends your children bring home. You have only a few people who are truly yours forever: your kids and family. Don't risk losing them!"

Her book is like candy, sweet and addictive and you will want more. I am not a book reviewer, but if you love fashion, celebrities, and the glamorous life, you will be wildly entertained by Vicky's many adventures.

"It's All About the Dress" is on sale now.