One hot minute
Let PLT introduce you, dear readers, to the decade's first key party trend: microsocialising. Don't confuse this with that other cultural moment, reported in the pages of this magazine some two years past: microparties, defined as "a gathering of friends small enough to guarantee not having to worry about the mojitos running out".
Microsocialising is different from that. First spotted by PLT at a number of events in late 2009, her hunch was confirmed at the jolly opening party for The Nineties Are Vintage shop at Selfridges, in London, when Peaches Geldof turned up, posed for pictures, and left again. It was almost as if the highlight of the party for her was the stepping-out-of-the-car part (or was it the stepping back in?). Other guests - including Alex James, Shinga Shoniwa and Henry Holland - stayed longer. Geldof's behaviour contrasted sharply with that of another trusted minstrel of the high life, Tyler Brûlé, of Monocle magazine. When PLT caught up with him at the new Ralph Lauren boutique in St Moritz, he said that the best thing about his Christmas party season had been "three weeks of no aeroplanes - and not having to get in a car".
Fools for love
The vagaries of great love have, for reasons we won't go into now, been on PLT's mind recently. For advice, she turned to Sadie Frost and Carl Barât. Next week, the duo appear as star-crossed lovers in Sam Shepard's Fool for Love at the Riverside Studios in west London.
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Okay, so how far should anyone go for impossible love, asked PLT. "I would go to such intense extremes for love," said Sadie. "It's very painful and completely blinding. It's a great pastime, but, personally, I'm glad I'm not in it. "All the way. That's the point, isn't it?" said Carl. Have you ever been so in love, you've had to go to the doctor, asked PLT. "Love has made me sick. Having a broken heart is a devastating feeling, and there is no remedy," said Sadie. "Nope, only for the clap," said Carl. Boys.
Tower power
PLT's friend in Dubai reports from the Middle East's social event of the year, the grand opening of the world's tallest building, the Burj Dubai (er, we mean the Burj Khalifa, renamed after the ruler of Abu Dhabi, who has bailed out Dubai to the tune of $10 billion). "It was VIPs only: sheikhs and their families, with the women in Elie Saab or Valentino. There were fireworks, an air and laser show, and the world's biggest fountain. It was rumoured Morgan Freeman had flown in his own Emirates-made aeroplane from LA." Quite a night.
The look
You can imagine how relieved PLT was to find a outfit for the snow that was not only cosy and instantly stylish, but also a hit with the in crowd. Kids in north London have started importing Kigu animal suits from Japan, resulting in Lily Allen, Giles Deacon and Rob da Bank being spotted out and about in them. PLT herself caused a stir when she went out to tread some virgin snow dressed as a red panda. The experience was only slightly marred by a nearby workman rudely insisting she looked more like a raccoon.
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So now you know
When not on tour, French teenage pop wannabes Plastiscines can be found at tiny Parisian rock'n'roll club Le Tigre. "It has a red carpet and amazing Renaissance-style furniture," says guitarist Marine.