Sarah Jessica Parker: Bitten

Yes, I know this is the second post about SJP in 2 days, but please bear with me; I am very excited to share this with you. I'm not sure if any of you know this, but Sarah is launching her own clothing line, Bitten. What is even more exciting is that it will be affordable. I absolutely love SJP's fashion sense and she has most definitely become a fashion icon for many. Also, she won the Fashion Icon Award at the CFDA Fashion Awards in 2004 and accompanied Alexander McQueen to last year’s Costume Institute gala. It is upsetting that the line is being compared to The Row, the fashion line developed by the Olsen twins, simply because SJP is in a league of her own when it comes to clothes. The tagline for the collection is “Fashion is not a luxury, it’s a right”. Almost sounds like something Carrie would say in “Sex and the City” :) Judge for yourselves, first glimpse at Bitten by SJP to be sold at Steve & Barry’s starting June 7th.

The dress that she wore last night (picture on the left) is also part of Bitten.

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Night Out for Under $100 *Dinner Date*

I think this will be interesting to do. The first installment of the "Night Out for Under $100" will be a *Dinner Date*. Read on!
I'm sure that many of you ladies out there will agree with me when I say that on a night on the town, you want to look sexy. Personally, I also like to be comfortable and ready for anything. What if it rains...or snows...or you end up having to walk 8 blocks from the car to the destination because of the lack of parking spots. Girl's gotta be prepared.
I'm going to assume that you're not going to a big Hollywood bash and a gown is not required. For dinner you don't want to wear something that won't allow you to sit down and enjoy the meal. The inspiration comes right off the NY Fashion Week Runway. This number by Alvin Valley is a colorful, yet elegant ensemble.

1. Shirt. Yellow is the color. Chances are, you'll have to look in the Juniors section to find a bright one. By the time summer starts, yellow will be everywhere. Forever21 has a great sleeveless yellow top at $22.80.

2. Pants. These have a wide leg, so to get this look the pants cannot be too fitted, they almost have a "menswear" look to them, a little sailor. Well, Urban Outfitters have a pair for $39.99. That's what I call a wide leg.

3. Shoes. To complete the outfit, the last thing that's needed are shoes. For this outfit I'd go for a pair of ballerina flats or maybe a kitten heel. We have $37 left in our budget, which should be more than enough. Endless.com has a pair of tan flats by Tribeca for $36. These are beautiful!

This outfit is not only ready for dinner, it's all geared up for a stroll down the runway. Check back next week for more!

Water and Fashion

Sarah Jessica Parker has been one of my favorites for years, and she still is one of the best. Best Dressed that is. SJP is a UNICEF ambassador at a DKNY and Esquire party launching the TAP Project, a new charitable organization aiming to to create viable sources of clean water programs for those living in underdeveloped countries. Since today is Water Day everyone should do their part to conserve or support the cause. On the DKNY website you can purchase a t-shirt, 70% of the proceeds from which will be donated to UNICEF.

Enough about water. Look at her dress! Absolutely gorgeous! The metallics are in this season and SJP, as a true fashionista should, is all over the trend.

Here are some places you can find gorgeous metallics: Neiman Marcus has a gorgeous Tracy Reese Metallic Bronze Sleeveless dress at $400. Also at NM, there is a "Little Black Dress" but with a twist. This one is sequined and it looks gorgeous! Get one for $270.

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Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork

Would you pay $42,000 for a purse??? Would anyone?

Just recently, the must-have item of the moment was launched: the Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork bag. The price tag is anywhere between $40K and $45K.

The handbag is a shopper-style purse with a gold chain handle and is made up of 15 "samples" of bags from the LV Spring/Summer and Cruise 2007 Collection. The big thought behind it was prevention of counterfeiting. Only one percent of all the LV bags claimed to be authentic actually are. The company's anti-counterfeiting unit is confident that this may be the first Louis Vuitton product that cannot be faked.
The Patchwork bag is part of Louis Vuitton's Leather Extraordinaire collection. The bags are never seen on the shop floor and can be bought by appointment only.
All handbags are made individually at Louis Vuitton's secret 'workshop' in Asniäres-sur-Seine, north-west Paris.

A spokesperson for Louis Vuitton said it had taken the 'trademark mixes of new materials to new lengths' for the bag, adding: "It is literally a work of art and a rare collector's item, handmade in a strictly limited, numbered edition."

Still, $42,000 Dollars? I don't think so.

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Chanel

Gold is back with a bang.


Chanel has quite a few items in gold, including purses. This one on the left I'm not sure about. Is it hot or not? At a first glance it looked like a complete mess but now I actually like it. Chanel's Spring-Summer 2007 Collection is mostly black, of course, with gold accents. They stayed within their traditions of simple and classical pieces. A few years back, under the leadership of Karl Lagerfeld, The House of Chanel has defined the style and fashion of Chanel as being the five essentials: audacious, perfectionist, unique, passionate, and visionary. The most important essentials, wouldn't you say?
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Los Angeles Fashion Week 2007

The Mercedes Benz Fashion Week is always an event. Here are a few outfits that I loved and would absolutely tear them off the models and wear myself. Let's take a look.

My favorite by far was the new stuff by Ed Hardy. His colorful checkered number is great. A little about Ed Hardy: Don Ed Hardy is known as "the godfather of modern tattoo", he is the one who's art is used on the clothes. Christian Audigier is the designer who has been granted exclusive rights by Ed Hardy to work on the designs of the tattoos. Christian has worked with Von Dutch for a little over 3 years before starting his own company. Britney Spears, who was his very first celebrity client, to Paris Hilton, Hilary Duff and Justin Timberlake and Madonna herself often sport Ed's colorful vintage tattoo wear. Christian and Ed are responsible for trucker hats, the jeans and the now infamous Ed Hardy T-shirt. I've already talked about yellow being the color of this summer and fall this year and here we see it once again. Ed Hardy signature T's go for about $60 but they are well worth it. For more info go to http://www.donedhardy.com/
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What's In ~ FashionWatch 4

Welcome back. Let's take a look at what's hot with celebs this week.

1. Van Cleef & Arpel's Necklace. Reese Witherspoon wears it with everything: tank tops as well as blouses. Paris has one too. On the official website the price is not listed but I would guess that this one is not something I can afford. Van Cleef & Arpel's is a very high-end jeweler and that's what makes the necklace so popular with Hollywood celebs. There are quite a few replicas that look almost exactly like the real thing, the necklace runs about $70 here.

2. Chloé Quilted Bay Tote. Mischa Barton loves hers. Black quilted leather with white stitching and gold-tone hardware makes this tote a must-have. BergdorfGoodman.com has this purse for $1,635.00. A cheaper look-alike may be found here for$50.

3. Peace-Sign Earrings. These have been

seen on Joss Stone, Lindsay Lohan and even Minnie Driver. I'm all for peace on Earth and you can most definitely make a statement with these. For $15 you can get a pair here.

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Candy and Ice Pop

Wow, what is up with the new Dooney & Bourke designs? I'm not sure, but I k now that I will not be sporting one of them. First we have the Ice Pop. It is so wrong in so many ways. I love ice cream and everything but on a purse??? I got over the Tattoo designs and even the Bumble Bee. And then they had the Signature Hearts, which I wasn't a big fan of either. I think the designers misinterpreted the memo about making a more youthful spring collection.

And this one is just one of a few designers that make me want to gag. Let's take a look: Zebra. Animal prints are hot right now, but this is over the top. The drag queens (I love you guys!) will love it, I'm sure!
Madras... a lame parody of Coach's Hamptons Weekend Patchwork. It's bright and just in time for summer, but still over the top.

And now my favorite train wreck - the Candy. When I think of candy I imagine this sugary taste. Well, in this situation, the sugary taste makes me want to gag. Take a look for yourself. What self-respecting designer would put something like that up for sale? Beats me.

I know there are some devoted Dooney fans, but one of them told me that they will stop carrying Dooney after seeing these.
If you would like to purchase any of the handbags above, head over to Dooney & Bourke's website. There is a wide selection.
Please note that the information above is all my opinions. You are welcome to agree or disagree in the comments section.
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Tanning 101

It's very interesting to note that back in the 18th and 19th centuries tanned skin was perceived as unattractive. Forward to today and everyone wants to be tan. Even guys who used to say that only girls do that, now frequent tanning salons. Some people go tanning to prepare their skin for a vacation, to avoid a sunburn. Some tan because it's "cool". In a 1997 Seventeen Magazine survey, two thirds of teens responding said they "look better with a tan and feel healthier, more sophisticated." Personally I like it when my skin is tan. I don't tan very well in the sun and tanning just makes me feel better. I have a few years of tanning experience and below are things you need to know:

1. Always use tanning goggles. Always.
2. Always use a tanning lotion. It will make your skin get up to 40% darker and tan faster. There are many lotions out there and they can be costly. My favorite are the ones with bronzers for glowing skin. If you want to save some money, shop on eBay for the lotions. Make sure that you buy from a reputable seller who has good feedback. Some lotions on eBay are laced with Lubriderm and other stuff. Or they are expired. If you buy one make sure to check the expiration date and that it doesn't smell funny. The one I have purchased recently and am completely in love with is the Swedish Beauty's Priceless tanning lotion. It's described as the "7th Dimension Bronzing System with BodyBlush™ Blend". Smells very good too.
3. Don't burn. Or do everything to prevent burning. Burn is your enemy. Even though it may turn into a tan, burns damage your skin, later leading to skin cancer and you don't want that.
4. If you want to get tan fast use a spray tan. No UV to worry about and it's quick. If you've never done it before and you want to be tan for prom, don't do a spray the day before. You'll look like a Oompa-Loompa. You don't want that. Try a spray tan in advance and see how it looks on you to prevent a disaster.
5. Whitening teeth while tanning is the greatest thing ever! I bought the Twilight Teeth Whitening Solution and it works like magic After one use my teeth are super white. Ask your salon if they carry it.
6. Stay away from self-tanning products...it usually ends up a complete mess.
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Coach

Coach has come out with some pretty cute stuff for Spring/Summer 2007. I didn't buy a single one last season, they just weren't eye-catching enough. The new ones are. Very. The Hamptons Weekend Collection is very bright, with a lot of yellow and other bright colors. Coach designers are still staying true to the "scribble" style. I'm very excited about these. They just scream SPRING and the Small Hamptons Weekend Skribble Tote at $178 will go perfect with anything!

In other Coach news, they have introduced a first ever fragrance. I haven't gotten my hands on it yet, but hope to get at least a sample within days. To tell you the truth, I'm not expecting very much from it. The scent is described as "unique blend of pure florals". Mandarin and guava are the only exciting things about this fragrance. I won't badmouth it any longer, since I have not tried it. As soon as I do, I'll make sure to report on the experience.

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What's In ~ FashionWatch 3

The third installment in the series.

1. Marc Jacobs Aviators. These are great. Both Jessiaca Biel and Ashlee Simpson Love them. The red frames make them pop giving the aviators a new twist. At Nordstrom these go for $260, but Amazon has a pair just like these for $12.

2. Bib-Front Dresses. Dresses like the Bib Front Dress by 3.1 Phillip Lim at PinkMascara are a must-have today. Lindsay Lohan and Victoria Beckham have them. At $437 they can afford them, but many of us would rather go for this one at Forever21 at $30.

3. Gray Boots. We've seen them on everyone from Eva Longoria to Beyonce. The designer ones go for up to $1,000, but you can get a pair for $30 on eBay.
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Beauty on a Budget

Spring is in the air! On Tuesday the 20th the winter will be officially over. It's time to freshen up and update our look...On a budget...And I will tell you how. From head to toe rejuvenation.

Face. The first concern after a long winter is the skin. It may be dry or just dull. Let's start with a scrub to get the dirt and dead skin off. The best one I have found is the Avon's Invigorating Cleansing Scrub at $5. It has tiny salt beads that are gentle yet very effective. The skin tingles after a few seconds, feels like the skin is breathing. Next, Biore's Nose Strips for $7. Those will get rid of all the blackheads on your nose. Works like a beauty. For moisturizer I recommend Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion at $23. For makeup, be careful with face powder, because it clogs pores like no other. Instead, to get rid of the shine during the day use oil blotting sheets. Clinique, Clean & Clear, The Body Shop and Victoria's Secret all have them at under $7.

Hair. Split ends and dull color are usually the side effects of winter. To get rid of split ends all you need is a hair cut and possibly some deep conditioning. As far as color, it's time for an update. Many Hollywood stars, like Jessica Simpson, are trading in their blond locks for different shades of brown. If you want to update your mane go for golden brown or dark brown. Make sure to pick up the color without ammonia to avoid further damage to your hair. Semi-permanent is the best option because if you don't like it you're not stuck with it until it grows out.

Body. Let's start with keeping skin moisturized. A good body lotion is a good investment. Body butter is even better. The Body Shop has a good selection. The new Pink Grapefruit smells great and will keep your skin in perfect condition. And how about a bubble bath? Lush has some awesome bubble baths and soaps.

In my next post I'll talk about tanning do's and dont's.

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Back in Gold

And gold is back in! It's very exciting considering that lately all we've seen were silver tones. Oh, and those plastic bead necklaces. I'm glad those are out. Ok, back to gold. All the celebs have been wearing gold dresses. Lindsay Lohan scored a shirt with a huge gold bow. I'm not sure about that one, but gold or gold tone jewelry are must-haves this season. Even if you've considered yourself more of a silver person, give gold a try. I did and I love it. It all began with a Juicy Couture bracelet. I am absolutely in love with it. It's a starter charm bracelet made of 14k gold plate on solid brass. And it comes with a signature "J" and a heart charms. Nordstrom has it for $35. Saks has it for the same price. Neiman Marcus has it back ordered.
A few tips: DO NOT under any circumstances try to get the bracelet on eBay, they go for up to $60 there. Get it at one of the above store and even after you pay shipping, you'll still save money. The charms itself are a different story. They retail for an average of $40 per charm, but you can find a good deal on eBay.
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Back to School

With the next quarter just around the corner for many of us, we have to figure out what classes to take, with which professor and on top of all buy textbooks. I used to have a really hard time picking the right professor, especially when there is a number of them teaching the same class. How do you decide? Well, RateMyProfessors.com makes it very easy. Find your school, and then search by the department, class or the teacher's name. Each class and professor that teaches it has been rated by students who have previously taken the class, so it gives a nice insight into what the teacher and the class are like. The rating categories include Easiness, Helpfulness, Clarity, Overall Quality and Rater Interest. Oh, and the best one - the Hotness, which is optional but fun. So before you register for next quarter, make sure to pick the easiest or the hottest (whichever is more important) :)

PS The picture on the right is courtesy of my mom.

eBay

I have joined the world of eBay. Oh, don't get me wrong, I've been shopping on eBay for years, but now I'm also selling. Crazy huh? Well, my love of shopping has resulted in an overstuffed closet, with clothes that still have tags on; and cabinets full of makeup and perfumes never opened or used. So now it's time to get rid of some stuff. Check back often, I'll be adding more listings as time allows.

*My eBay*