I went to a high school with a very rigid dress code. While I abhorred it with a sense of allegiance to the student body, I never really struggled with abiding by it. I didn’t wear midriff-bearing tops or facial piercings or daisy dukes. I was a square and played by the rules. And as I look back on my high school experience now as an adult, I understand that dress codes are necessary to maintain a safe and somewhat sheltered environment for kids. Some rules, like the “no professional sports apparel” rule at my school, were set in place to avoid conflicts potentially related to gangs or rivalries. And, I think rules regarding decency are also necessary. Short skirts, low-cut tops and anything too revealing is not a form of self-expression so much as it is a cry for attention and an obvious distraction on high school campuses.

But, I think high school is a very different place today than it was when I was growing up. This is a world where a gay male student was crowned prom queen at a Los Angeles high school. Looking back, I can only recall one openly gay student at my high school and he certainly wasn’t popular, quite the opposite. What kind of environment is that? One in which the gay kid was singled-out for the way he dressed and his sexual orientation. Is that a safe environment? Part of me wants to defend strict dress codes for keeping high school a sheltered and academically-focused environment. But, what are school administrators sheltering these kids from other than themselves? Are strict dress codes only creating a more judgmental foundation that will lead to intolerance in the future?

On the flip side, could a more open dress code–one that embraces individuality–lead to a more open-minded population once the students enter the real world? Would it foster lasting acceptance and self-confidence in students? Who knows. But in the here and now, I can’t see any harm in allowing students the freedom to express themselves. Perhaps school administrators should sit with members of their school’s student body to discuss the issue. That might produce an amicable compromise while teaching kids how to reason and discuss problems instead of acting out irrationally. Maybe. They are, after all, teenagers.

Bottom line, I don’t think a girl’s senior photo should be banned from the yearbook because in it she wore a tuxedo. Furthermore, I don’t think male students wearing makeup should be off limits either. Likewise, I do think a girl should be allowed to attend the prom in a tux, and vice versa.

Throughout the episode, it really seemed like anyone could be the winner of the Marie Claire spread, Paris vacation and $100,000 to start their own line. The judges liked the cohesiveness of Irina’s look, which incorporated a lot of accessories, but Nina Garcia criticized her for using nearly all-black, a decision she had warned Irina against. “Black doesn’t get a lot of editorial,” she said. Nina did love Irina’s t-shirts, though. 

Althea was praised for her sportswear and knitwear, and for having a great sense of what’s going on “on the streets.” I’m not really sure where the judges get that from. I do like a lot Althea’s big sweaters, but I don’t feel like there’s anything really innovative about them.

Carol Hannah’s always been my favorite. She’s only 23, but her dresses are colorful, interesting, feminine and flattering. Judges did commend her for her playing with color the best of all three finalists, but were disappointed that her collection didn’t have a cohesive theme. I think they have a point too, but come on! Her pieces were by far the most attractive, and I bet women around the country would most want to wear those clothes.

So, you guessed it — Carol Hannah didn’t win. Irina is the winner of Project Runway Season 6!

Instinctively, anger kicked in. Here we go again. Skinny, skinny, skinny! That’s all we ever hear about. Skinny, good! Fat, bad! But, the more I thought about it, this little slogan might actually do some good. As someone who has always struggled with her weight, I find it most difficult to visualize the future. It’s hard to focus on a goal that is six months down the road when there’s a Carl’s Jr. just around the corner. But over the past couple days, Moss’ seven little words have been running through my head. For someone like me, it’s not a bad motto to keep in mind when battling food cravings.  

Still, in the grand scheme of things, this just contributes to the ever-growing pile of weight-obsessed images and ideas coming at women from all directions. But mostly from the fashion industry. Well, and pretty much all advertising. After all, it’s not “skinny” that girls should be chasing, but “healthy.” And it could be assumed that this motto is what turned Kate into a waif in the first place. So, it’s a dangerous line.

Nonetheless, I do want to know what skinny feels like. It’s just hard to deny the taste of a good cheeseburger.

The workplace has evolved over the years, but it certainly hasn’t evolved past common decency or good taste. For those of you out there, like myself, who still hold down a traditional 9-to-5 job in Cubical Land, there are guidelines to what you can and cannot wear. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t bring personal style to the office. It just means you can’t dress like a hooch or a hung-over college co-ed.

Unfortunately, these basic guidelines are often ignored. In my office especially. If you can’t already tell, this is more a personal manifesto than it is a resource for practical office dressing. (Although, I hope it will prove useful to some or all who read it.)

Here are my tips:

Be Aware of Your Hemline- If you’re going to wear a skirt with a slit in it, please make sure the hem is no higher than an inch or two above the knee. Trust me. I’ve witnessed what happens when someone wearing a short skirt with a high slit bends over. And it ain’t pretty. Hello! Mad Men fashion is everywhere right now, let the skirt down a little and go retro!

Try Flats, Not Flip Flops- Flip flops creep into my office environment way too often. On Casual Friday they are acceptable (barely), but wearing them any other day of the week is blatantly inappropriate. This isn’t college anymore, as much as I would love for it to be. I understand that heels are a pain. Pretty, but a pain. Instead of rubber flip flops, try wearing flats. They are a  more appropriate alternative to heels.

Mix and Match Your Wardrobe- I think most of us are smart enough to know what is, and isn’t, appropriate to wear to the office. It doesn’t all have to be serious black pant suits and button up shirts. Incorporate color and accessories and items that reflect who you are into your office attire. Mixing and matching is a great way to shake up a dull work wardrobe. Just make sure your private parts are covered. That’s all I’m saying.

The fashion industry is never one to turn down a revival. The latest example of the industry’s fascination with what’s come before: Overalls.Yes, the rugged uniform of the working class that experienced a fashionable revival in the nineties with a trendy “shortalls” update, are now back with a vengeance. And in a variety of forms too.

The least surprising, and most literal, reincarnation of the overalls can be found at Ralph Lauren. The designer sent a slew of models-as-country-bumpkins down the runway, showcasing the designer’s spring collection. The pastel pallet, combined with the the rough edge of the denim overalls, created a lovely aesthetic. Then, Ralph turned it up a notch with a pair of silver, wide-legged “glamouralls,” which, suffice it to say, are just about guaranteed to never be worn out, by any woman I’d associate with at least. I’m sorry. Some things just cannot be paired, and black-tie and overalls are one of them.

Other designers have managed to find a better balance in their attempts at redesigning a classic. One of my favorites is Rachel Comey’s rust red ankle-length overalls. Unlike other incarnations, Comey’s design needs nothing under or over it. So, when wearing them you don’t have to worry about looking like a dorky kid in denim overalls and a white t-shirt. This version definitely has a good chance of making it out and onto the streets. And, perhaps, onto the Sartorialist blog.

But, with that said, I think this overalls revival will be another flash in the pan. I just don’t think most woman can, or want to, pull them off in a chic way that can exist outside of the playground.

She did bring a certain “it” factor to the show, what with her platinum locks and rebel wardrobe, as well as epic contempt for authority and idiotic squabbles with co-worker, Brad. But, she was also damn annoying half the time, always sulking about and somehow making everything about her! Some reports lead me to believe she left on her own, while others, like this People.com article, say explicitly that she was fired! I’d like to believe that Rachel Zoe actually had the balls to fire Taylor, but I’m leaning more toward Taylor making the decision to leave on her own. After all, for those of you who watched season two of RZP, we all saw how Rachel handled the ”Paris” dilemma. By NOT handling it.

I’m praying there will be a third season of the show, with or without Taylor in the mix. Surely the producers will find another neurotic brat with a sense of style to stir up commotion. All cynicism aside, I do believe Taylor was an asset to the company and certainly Rachel’s right-hand gal. Although, it’s so hard these days to know what’s real and what isn’t in the world of reality TV with shows like The Hills and The City setting up their cast members with all sorts of fake jobs and such that make us envy them.  

Farewell, Taylor. Shut it down.

I’m going to go out on a limb here, but I am leaning more towards love on this one. There are twelve looks to judge, and I’d say I like at least seven of them. Granted, that’s still failing when it comes to a high school grading scale. But, if this was baseball, she’d be batting over .500, which is impressive. Her pink Marchesa gown with black lace detailing was not only reserved, but really elegant as well. Another red carpet look, a nude mini-dress with jeweled triangles on the front, was also a demure choice for the singer, but nonetheless sexy. She even bedazzled her nails for the event! That’s dedication.

While hosting and performing, the singer gave us what we’ve come to expect from her. Her long electric-blue flapper dress, white lace-and-feathers mini and black corset with pearl bolero, all of which hit it out of the park. I even loved the Swiss cheese looking red tulle ballgown. But, yes, there were also some disasters. The devil-esque red velvet outfit and the cone shorts with practically-invisible corset top. Those were definitely bad.

But, at least there was no Muppet dress.

The Closer

Ninety percent of the cast’s wardrobe is nothing special. The show centers around Los Angeles police officers, so there really isn’t much wardrobe freedom. But Brenda’s propensity for pink is an appropriate fit for her sugar-and-spice Southern character. And all her ladylike suits, trench coats and hats are a welcomed contrast to the gritty storylines.

Ugly Betty

This cast has an unfair advantage. After all, they work at a fashion magazine. But, of course, it is Betty’s delightfully nerdy wardrobe that always makes us smile. No matter how geeky she looks, somehow it comes off as a little bit chic. And hopelessly adorable. Plus, her lable whore coworkers are always the epitome of fashionable.

Gossip Girl

These Upper Eastsiders live for fashion. Blair, Serena, Jenny and Vanessa all rock their own distinct styles, which were recently used as inspiration for Anna Sui’s line for Target. What’s more fashionable than that? If Anna Sui wants to copy your style, you know you’re doing something right.

The Tudors

It must take days just to get the actors and extras dressed each day for filming. The costumes are elaborate and beautiful. All the velvet and fur and jewels and gilded crowns are amazing. However, it will be interesting to see how King Henry VIII’s wardrobe changes as he will finally be portrayed as the fat slob we all know he was. We’ll see how far Jonathan Rhys Meyers actually goes to achieve this look in the final season.

Mad Men

Did you have any doubt that Mad Men would be number one!? This is the most stylish show on TV hands down. Draper and boys are dapper, but the women get to have the fun when it comes to fashion. From Joans’ curve hugging dresses and tight sweaters to Betty’s perfect-little-housewife wardrobe, the styling is spot on and super sexy. Dirty martini anyone?

Yes, it’s the time of year again to find the perfect trench, and I have!

Fluxus Brand has come out with an amazingly chic cream go-go trench coat that is sure to make the right statement this winter. This season, stay away from the typical browns and blacks and go for a beige or off-white piece instead, that way you can easily match up with something bright underneath. The coat is perfectly accented with big black buttons down the front and along the cuffs of each sleeve. Further, it wears with the comfort of your favorite hoodie as it’s fully lined french terry cotton, but when you put it on it’s a whole different story — you look super classy and chic.

Also, it’s a very versatile coat. You can easily dress it up with a cute dress and tights, or down with jeans and a chunky scarf. Plus, it is absolutely perfect for the cool California winter, which, for me, is just great.

The best thing about it, though, is that it’s low maintenance, made from 100% cotton, and machine washable in a cold cycle and tumble dry low!

As to Fluxus itself, almost all of their products are great. In fact, we just recently had a huge success with a Fluxus t-shirt and scarf giveaway. Check out the reviews!

The fashion industry is notoriously obsessed with youth. Models barely into their teens rule the high-fashion runways. But life is pretty darn good these days for models over thirty. Just ask Amber Valletta.

Unlike Kate Moss, who is yet another model in her thirties still working her butt off, Amber Valletta seems to be doing less personal branding and designing clothing lines, as Moss is doing, and more traditional photo spreads often reserved for the barely pubescent. In the November issue of Elle magazine she is featured, not once, but twice. Now, don’t get me wrong, Kate certainly does her fair share of traditional modeling these days too, notably gracing the cover of W’s big September issue.

Not only do these woman, including Milla Jovovich, Shalom Harlow and Heidi Klum, defy age restrictions in their industry, but they are smart business women with far-reaching talent as well. Many of them have been successful as actresses and designers. And, in Moss’ case, she is a downright model mogul. It’s nice to know that there is life after 30. After all, these days most ads directed at women portray an unrealistic ideal of youth and beauty. If you’re not young and thin, then you’re nothing, is often what women are told through advertising.

Well, screw that. Beauty is individual and unique. And age is just a number. Just take a look at the pictures from a steamy photo shoot from 2008 featuring, a then 38-year-old, Claudia Schiffer and, 27-year-old, Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Yowza!

You go, girls. Ahem, I mean, women!

It really is like Netflix; customers receive their chosen dress by mail and return it in a pre-paid envelope already included in the deal. A four-night loan runs $50 to $200 and it includes dry cleaning. For an extra $25, renters can even choose a second style as a back-up.

From their website: RTR makes high fashion affordable. We buy pieces directly from top designers and then offer rentals at just 10% of retail prices. It couldn’t be simpler: just browse our pages until you find something you love. Put it in your basket, tell us when you’d like it delivered, and it’ll appear on your doorstep—in two different sizes, just to be safe.

The site also offers stylist advice for accessorizing, sizing, and so on. And they’ll soon be renting accessories too! Yowza. I think my world has been rocked–just in time for holiday party season! Unfortunately, the only option is to add yourself to the wait list right now…so here’s hoping.

He may be the whiz kid of the fashion industry right now (and I do love his clothes), but I don’t think even his elevated status can fool shoppers into dropping hundreds on a pair of black Spandex shorts that look more like an undergarment than anything else. I can’t even think of any hip application for these shorts that might somehow justify purchasing them. I’m trying to put together outfits in my head and it’s just not working.

Wang tried to justify the price by saying that the yarn used is from Italy and it was digitally woven to create the shorts. Big deal. The end product doesn’t look like anything special. I at least expected some hip details (studs or cutouts) and I certainly expected there to be color. But, there is none of that. These are just plain old black biker shorts with an excessive markup. I’m serious when I say that they look identical to Spanx, the undergarments notably worn under pretty much every dress at the Oscars, Golden Globes and every other Hollywood awards show. See for yourself. At least with Spanx there’s some guarantee your butt will look smoother though. Alexander Wang makes no such promise.

So take your $400 biker shorts, hop on your bike and pedal off into the sunset Alexander Wang.

Each individual design is intricate and amazing. There is a pink lace design (my personal favorite), one featuring a Swarovski crystal serpent, a black one with gold starbursts with ruby-red centers, and another featuring a crystal spiderweb. The most over-the-top is probably the laptop embellished with laced-up crocodile skin and crystals. And it’s probably the only one you might actually be able to own. Only because you can win it. The “croctop” along with the other designer Dells will be on display at Bergdorf Goodman, but who the hell knows how you can actually buy one.

And who knows how much they cost. But, I’ll bet my left arm (and my leg) that most people can’t afford them because they cost more than both those body parts and then some. They are limited editions anyway, so you know it’s the well-connected rich folk who get first dibs, which means they’re probably all gone anyway.

So what have we gotten out of this? Hooray, pretty new artistically-designed computers. Boo, we don’t get to own one though. Why must the well-to-do constantly remind us common folk of the things we cannot have? Man, how will I EVER live without my crocodile laptop?

5. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

I know, I talk about these twins a lot. But they’ve got great style and are true students of fashion. Because they are such lovers of fashion, they have great archives of designer and vintage clothing that they’ve collected over the years. I’d pay $5 just to get a peek into their closets. No joke.

4. Zooey Deschanel

I’m not sure what I’d expect to find in Zooey’s closet, but I think it would be a great surprise. She’s got an adorably quirky fashion sense and I love most everything she wears, so I’m pretty sure whatever I find I’ll like.

3. Sarah Jessica Parker

Hello! Haven’t we all dreamed of raiding Carrie Bradshaw’s closet? Going through SJP’s closet would be the next best thing. She has become just as big a fashion icon as her fictional alter ego. This would probably be the best place to go for killer shoes! I wonder how many pairs of Manolos SJP owns.

2. Kirsten Dunst

I’ve loved her style for years and years. From her everyday outfits to her red carpet gowns, I usually love it all. So, I’d jump at the chance to take a look at where all her lovely clothes sleep. I think her closet would hold a great mix of designer and vintage clothing, along with more affordable and hip everyday items.

1. Rachel Zoe

Duh, right? I mean, have you watched her show? The woman has so many clothes, if she ever falls on hard financial times she could turn her closet into a retail store and make millions. No doubt she’s got racks full of elite designer vintage clothing, jewelry, accessories and shoes. It would take days to go through it all.

I just hope the crazy teen burglars don’t get their mitts on these celebrity closets.

It’s definitely nice for a man to take care of himself. Just as it is for a woman to take care of herself. Both sexes appreciate good hygiene in their partners and potential partners. But, when men start delving into anti-aging lotions, facial masks and exfoliating products, a line needs to be drawn. I think that kind of regimen is just plain vain. For those of you who have seen American Psycho, feel free to insert your own Patrick Bateman joke here. Plus, such an over-the-top beauty plan is truly emasculating. Perhaps I hold a little too tightly to antiquated gender roles, but I like my men rugged. Not overly moisturized and groomed.

I think both sexes should take a few steps back from the mirror. Most of the beauty products that are pushed on us these days are unnecessary. Beauty companies are increasingly playing to the vanities and insecurities of both men and women. I’m guilty of buying anti-aging serums and an array of scrubs and lotions that promise various benefits. But I’m increasingly aware that such an extensive regimen is excessive.

Hey guys (and girls)! We’re in a recession. Now might be the perfect time to go back to good old fashioned soap and water.

To be fair, I wasn’t a fan of Kourtney’s style to begin with. I think she just puts on whatever is bright, skimpy and expensive. There’s no thought to it. And it’s not particularly classy or chic. Her style while pregnant is pretty much the same thing. She constantly looks like she’s going clubbing with a tiny piece of fabric stretched over her growing belly. She was even photographed wearing the same white stretch mini-dress as her not-pregnant sister, Kim.

Kourtney’s been getting a lot of flack for wearing tight clothes while pregnant. That’s not really my issue. I’m not saying pregnant women should have to cover everything up in loose flowing clothing and sweats. I think Kourtney looks fine and fit, but I just think her style is lacking originality or maturity. I guess she’s just trying to keep up with her two sisters. But, hello, Kourtney, you’re pregnant! Give it up for a while. Be pregnant and stop trying to maintain your party girl image.

It will be interesting to see what she squeezes her belly into in the final days of her pregnancy.

I want to find Carey refreshing, and she is in comparison to all the sex that is pushed in Hollywood, but I find her to be eerily similar to Michelle Williams, both in terms of style and in that sweet-but-questioning beauty they both possess. What I love is that she has a concept in mind when it comes to the things she wears, even if they flop on the read carpet. Like the pleated maroon dress she wore to the premiere of “An Education” in London. It was a grand attempt, but I think it was much too old for her. However, I love the dress she wore to the Broadway opening of “The Seagull” back in 2008. The forest green and black dress was regal, with hip touches like jumbo pockets and an industrial zipper up the front. Another favorite of mine is the all-black ensemble with nude pumps she wore recently in London.

Off the red carpet, she seems like a girl who dresses to fit her life, not a girl who wears 5-inch stiletto heals to the grocery store. I’m eager to see how her style evolves as she grows into the great film career we all know is ahead of her. And if she’s nominated for an Oscar next year, you know I’ll be waiting to see what she wears on the red carpet.

Looking for a way to shake up your next shindig? Set the tone with a silly, sexy, scary, or just plain celebratory theme?

Party themes make party planning easy. Once you’ve got a theme, you can find food, drinks and decorations to fit. Themes are especially great for costume parties because they help guests determine what to wear.

If you decide to make your next party a theme party, be sure to follow a few rules. First, pick a theme that is broad enough to appeal to all of your guests. You might be a big fan of Battlestar Gallactica, but if you make that your theme, you’re limiting your guest list to only those who follow the show. This is bound to leave some of your friends and family feeling left out.

Second, be sure the theme lends itself to easy costumes to put together. You don’t want to frustrate your guests by forcing them to spend a lot of time, money and effort coming up with an elaborate costume in order to join your celebration.

Finally, for your own sake, you might want to choose a theme that allows for cheap decoration ideas. Something too specific or too elaborate, and you’re likely going to have to shell out a lot of cash and/or spend a lot of time setting the stage, when the real point is to relax and have fun.

Theme Party Ideas:

The hardest part of planning a theme party is, usually, picking the theme. Here are some fun, easy ideas to get you started!

1 – Fiesta

Fry up some fajitas, mix up some margaritas and pin up a piñata for some Mexican-style merriment.

2 – ABC

No, this is not an alphabet party for preschoolers; it’s a grown-up gathering where guests wear Anything But Clothes. Go for garbage bags, plastic wrap, towels, blanket…anything goes, but clothes!

3 – Color

A color-themed party is more than just having your guests wear a certain color; guests should be encouraged to find a costume based on anything to do with that color. For example, if red is the color, guests could come dressed in a Red Sox uniform or a can of Red Bull or even as Scarlett O’Hara.

4 – Tiki

Turn your porch into paradise with tiki torches, a tiki bar, and a few fake palm trees. Serve up pineapple, pork and mai tais, and have your guests wear their best grass skirts!

5 – Toga

The quintessential costume party, a toga party can be fun at any age. Plus, your guests are almost guaranteed to have an extra bed sheet around to use for a costume.

6 – Halloween

Costumes are practically mandatory at a Halloween party, but who says Halloween can’t be the theme of a costume party any other time of year? Have your guests dress up as their favorite Halloween icons—witches, vampires, ghosts, pumpkins and mummies.

7 – Pimps and Hoes

It may not be politically correct, but this party is definitely entertaining. Guys are pimps and girls are their pros. Or, even more fun, switch the roles!

8 – Murder Mystery

Buy yourself a murder mystery kit, assign roles, and encourage guests to dress and act the parts. Or, if you’re feeling really creative and you have the time, create your own murder mystery game.

9 – Decade Do-over

Pick a decade you’d like to relive, and relive it! Dying for disco? Flipped for the ’50s? Excited by the ’80s? Choose your decade, tell your guests, and party like it’s 1999 (or ’89, ’79, ’69…)

10 – Vegas

Rent some casino games and encourage your guests to dress in their fanciest attire and play the night’s high rollers.

11 – Wigs & Hats

Instead of full costumes, encourage guests to simply wear their craziest wig or hat (or both). This is a great option for folks on a budget.

12 – Clothes Swap

Rather than throwing out your old clothes, swap them for new ones at a clothes swap party. Invite your guests to wear unwanted items (over appropriate undergarments) and then trade these pieces for other guests’ items.

13 – Rubik’s Cube

A variation of the clothes swap, a Rubik’s cube party involves guests dressing in items of various colors (e.g., a green shirt, blue jeans, a white sock, and a red sock) and then swapping items with other guests until their outfits are of a single color.

14 – Around the World

Wear clothing from a specific cultures around the world. Consider making different rooms of your house into different countries with the appropriate food and drink from that country. Lots of fun to be had from just the drinking alone!

15 – Bond

Tell your guests to pick from a variety of characters such as Blofeld, Dr. No or Goldfinger, Octopussy, Honey Ryder, and Mary Goodnight to maintain diversity so the party wont be filled with Bond look-alikes wearing tuxes. You can even hand out missions at the beginning of the night to make it more of an interactive event.

(Photo Via: Good-times and Murder Mystery)

So for those whom we loved and were taken too soon, who do we think will top the list?

5. Michael Jackson

For better or for worse, MJ was the undeniable king of pop.

Costume features: One glove, sparkly clothes, hat, moonwalk.

4. Farrah Fawcett

One of the most indelible images of beauty in all of American culture.

Costume features: Feathered Farrah wig, fun ’70s clothes and/or a bathing suit if you are very brave.

3. Patrick Swayze

Will any of us ever get over sexy Johnny Castle? No, no we won’t.

Costume features: Tight black pants, no shirt, cut abs, dreamy eyes, a love that knows no bounds, and some serious classical dance moves.

2. Bea Arthur

Oh Dorothy, your wry-one liners will be missed.

Costume features: Gray wig, shoulder pads, big earrings, a deep voice, and a cavalcade of snappy come backs.

1. Billy Mays

Was there ever a salesman better known and more revered?

Costume features: Button-down shirt, black beard, big smile.

We’ve all been there, when watching an awards show or flipping through the latest tabloid you see a celebrity wearing an outfit you would just die to own! Unfortunately, it costs thousands of dollars. Your hopes of owning that gem of an outfit are crushed. Until now! The latest fashion website offers celebrity looks for less so that you never have to go through the hell of realizing you can’t have the outfit of your dreams.

Stylespot.com pulls celebrity looks from red carpets, hot Hollywood nightspots, movie and TV sets and the tabloids, and breaks them down piece by piece. It then offers links to alternatives to the high-priced designer duds. Some of the celebrity looks featured on the site are cute (some I remember eyeing myself), but the catalog of looks is not complete. You won’t be able to find every celebrity look on this website. So, there will still be a few disappointed fashionistas out there.

While most of the low-priced options are good substitutes for the real thing, some of the website’s picks definitely miss the mark. Separates are often offered as a substitute for a dress, and flats often have to do instead of the original stilleto heels. But that’s to be expected. One of the looks they definitely did get right is this black and white stripped dress worn by Shenae Grimes at the premiere of Whip It. Both the mid-priced and budget looks are spot-on alternatives to the real thing.

Have no fear tabloid-flipping lovers of celebrity fashion. This site will help to get the looks you love. Not all of the time, but sometimes it just take that great pair of shoes or killer dress to make your day!

Jeans go with everything, right? Yes, and no. When it comes to shoes you certainly have the right to pair them up however you want, but if you’re like most of us, deciding on the right combination of shoes and jeans to finish off an outfit can sometimes be a stressful decision. Here’s a little help!

• The casual/dressiness factor of your shoes and your jeans should match. “Dressiness” is a subjective thing, really, but in general the lighter the denim color the more casual the jeans, and the darker the denim the more glamorous.
• The wider the cut of the pant leg openings, the more “substantial” your shoes should be, for balance. Skinny leg jeans look great with ballet flats and stilettos while boot cuts and flares look best with chunky wedges and boots.
• The wider the cut of the leg opening, the longer the inseam should be — Skinny leg jeans can stop right above your foot and show off your entire shoe, but a flare leg style won’t look right unless it almost reaches the floor.
• Color: Anything goes! Shoes are an accessory and every color goes with denim, light or dark. Use shoes to make a statement and add a pop of color to an otherwise simple outfit, or match them up with your top or your handbag to pull an outfit all together.

(Photo courtesy of tranchis on Flickr)

Touted as “jeans that make you look thinner,” Hello Skinny Jeans promises all three. They’ve been featured all over the media, from Oprah, Rachel Ray and Tyra Banks, to magazines like US Weekly, Self and InStyle. Their website claims that, “Patent-pending SkinnyJeans® are made of classic, velvety-soft stretch denim with ‘Memory’ derived from its nylon-elastane content which never ‘grows’ or loses its shape.”

I’m actually pretty impressed by their variety of sizes: Hello Skinny Jeans come in inseams of 29, 31, 32, 35 and 37, and waist sizes of 24-34, 36 & 38. They’re also cut, sewn and washed in Los Angeles, so there’s no guilt about a third-world sweatshop. Most designs are bootcut, and are available in a few different dark and light washes. They also carry cords.

The cost? You can’t see the price until you add it to your cart, but my choice came in at $188. They are pretty pricey, but is it better to have one really hot pair of jeans than five ill-fitting $30 Gap or Express jeans that are only going to wear out in a couple months anyway? If you’re not sure about ordering online, they are carried in a variety of stores around the country.

Do you have a pair? It’s a lofty promise–do they really make you look thinner?

Apparently men’s earrings were big in the ’80s and ’90s. I’m probably not the best person to speak about that, as I was still pretty young, but now that I think about it, I do remember certain teen hunks on the covers of Bop! or Tiger Beat sporting earrings. Brad Renfro being one of them (a small stud in his left ear). And I had a major crush on him back in the day. Yep, and Devon Sawa wore an earring, too (a hoop in this case). Man, I am blushing remembering the boys I had crushes on when I was young. I must have seen Casper 15 times…all for the five minutes of Devon Sawa at the end.

But, I digress. Given the two examples above, it seems the bad boys were the ones wearing the earrings. And the bad boys always make the girls swoon. So, I am starting to see the appeal of this men’s earrings revival. Of course, earrings and other bling have always been a part of hip-hop culture. And, emo guys wear plugs. So, it’s not like men wearing earrings ever really stopped. I think this revival is more specific to a certain style of men’s ear-wear. I guess it can’t be all bad though if guys like Marc Jacobs are sporting them. He’s a bad boy in his own right.

Then again, Jon Gosselin also wears earrings. So, I’m back to where I started, hating men’s earrings. I guess this trend has to be reviewed on a case by case basis. Marc Jacobs, good. Jon Gosselin, bad.

(Pic courtesy of www.elegantmensrings.com)

In our most recent Twirlit Giveaway Wednesday, we featured the Fluxus brand, an All-American brand that incorporates simple but tactile materials such as jersey cotton, tri-blend and the signature hand of the burnout in avant-garde shapes.

We were lucky enough to give away the following items:

A Burn Pocket Tee – This popular tee consists of a cotton/polyester fabric drapes nicely for a comfortable feel.
(Retails for $57)
A Fluxus Burnout Scarf – Made of super-soft fabric, this scarf is available in white and black burnout, and goes perfectly with a white t-shirt and some fitted jeans. (Retails for $39)

And the Winners of each of these items who answered the question, “Which celeb has the best casual style?”

1) Ashley who says, “I love Alexa Chung’s casual style, she really knows how to play with proportions and layers!”

2)Jenny who says, “I adore Jennifer Anistons style — so simple and classic ”

Thanks for entering and we’ll be in contact with the winners soon!

These are just screwed up regular janes & joes who got 15 minutes of fame and then, all of a sudden, they know how to design clothes and shoes and make perfume? I call B.S.! It’s all a crock and I am sick of it. Dina, get back to me when you graduate from Central Saint Martins or Parsons School of Design. In my book, being a bad mother certainly doesn’t make you a shoe designer. Look how Lindsay turned out. No way am I letting you get your hands on my shoes.

If Natalie Portman (a talented actress with actual style) can’t make a shoe line work, what does Dina Lohan expect? She already tried cashing in on her daughter’s success and now that Lindsay’s career is down the toilet, I guess she is branching out into other ventures that require no talent and ubër amounts of greed.

I tried checking out the website that is supposedly selling Dina’s shoes and found none. So, I have no idea what they look like. But, I don’t really need to. I’ve already made up my mind. I was disgusted at the word Dina. Even if the shoes are the best things since sliced bread, I would be so embarrassed to admit who they’re “designed” by. Could you imagine walking down the street and someone says, “Oh, cute shoes.” And you’re response is, “Thanks, they’re my new Dina Lohans.” Mortifying.