MY FAVORITE GOWNS FROM THE FALL 2008 COLLECTIONS

Angel Sanchez, who became a household name thanks to Sandy Bullock, continues to impress with his body-conscious, figure-flattering designs, like this purple floor-length strapless number.Amanda Wakeley's graphic take on the gown breathes life back into the black-and-white look. Bottega Veneta, always sophisticated and flawlessly draped . . . this eggplant off-the-shoulder dress with fishtail hem is breathtaking.Jenny Packham, new on the scene, creates a fluttering cocoon-like gown. The neckline here is simply divine, and refocuses your attention on the decollete after you are awed by the draping of this elegant taupe chiffon. Made edgier by...

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BEST SALES & MARKDOWNS!!

shopbop.com, up to 70% off, end-of-season saleBarney’s Warehouse - LAST DAY IS SUNDAY!La Petite Coquette bra binsnet-a-porter.com, up to 60% off (see Stella McCartney dress)delia*s.com Intermix sample sale, ending this weekend at the Metropolitan Pavilion on W 18th Street - the next one is in Augustyoox.comeLuxury.com (see Derek Lam bag, 50% off)more to come . ....

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COOL SPOTS IN NYC - Fab Restaurants & Bars in Manhattan

RestaurantsAroma36 E 4th St. betw. Lafayett and Bowery* great wine and Italian eats - 9.5 rating on Citysearch Bar Americain52nd betw. 6th and 7th* gorgeous space; must try homemade potato chips with blue cheese dipping sauceBubby’s120 Hudson St.*famous brunch; good place to catch celebs in repose, with their kids, etc.Cafe des Artistes1 W 67th St (Cross Street: Central Park West)* great people-watching, $$$Chinatown Brasserie380 Lafayette St. at Great Jones St.* great "scene" and dim sumCube 6363 Clinton St. betw. Rivington and Stanton* byob sushi place, a fave of Gwyneth; tiny but awesome - must make a res and be on time!Da Silvano260 6th Ave.*...

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THE NEW BRIDE

No longer is a poufy Cinderella dress the norm for gals walking down the aisle. Lauren Davis, for example, wore a custom-designed floor length Olivier Theyskens Couture feathered gown which the designer "sheared" to a minidress for the party (See VOGUE March 2008).White is still customary, but a splash of color or band of black might be added. I positively ADORE the idea of wearing blue or green satin shoes with an ivory dress. Let it be noted, however, that Christian Louboutin has traded his signature red sole for baby blue when it comes to bridal footwear. Clever!Above are some examples of dresses which may not have been designed with matrimonial...

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FAVORITE BRICK & MORTAR STORES

CHAINS (2+ stores)The Intermix, NYCBarneys New YorkAnthropologieNordstromForever 21SephoraONE-OF-A-KINDHenri Bendel, NYCBergdorf Goodman, NYCHildegard's, AspenStacy Gemma, NJNature’s Emporium, Fair Haven, NJThe Town Shop, NYCDISCOUNTLoehmann'sFilene's BasementTuesday MorningMarshall'sHOUSEWARESWest ElmABC Carpet & HomeAnthropologieSmith & Haw...

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SURE THINGS

You know that go-to outfit you can always rely on to get noticed, no matter what? It is like solid gold! Here are my favorite "Sure Things" for getting attention when I go out.Most Complimented Clothing & Accessories:1) DVF dresses. This woman is GOOD. I have NEVER gone out wearing a Diane von Furstenberg wrap and NOT gotten compliments. It’s a sure thing. I have a friend named Lo-Lo who is trying to get a DVF in every color and I don’t blame her!2) D&G heels. Shoes may not come readily to mind when Dolce and Gabbana are mentioned, but the Italian designing due really has a knack for constructing unique and sexy slingbacks and peep toes...

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MUST HAVES FOR FALL 2008

Fellow Fashionistas, I am well aware that it is not yet March, and I have just listed the must-haves for Spring 2008 (see below), but I have just viewed a lion's share of the runway shows from Milan, London, Paris and New York [if you are so inclined, newyorkmagazine.com has excellent coverage of the tents in Bryant Park and other fashion meccas], and I feel compelled to begin my shopping list. Not only can we keep an eye out for end-of-season deals that fit the bill, but we can assess our closets and determine what to pull out of cold storage (hi, leg warmers!) and what to buy. > Winter White, particularly in layers. You can even throw in...

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Oscar Fashion Review

The best & worst of Oscar 2008:I jotted these observations down last night as I watched the show. I was shocked that the interviewers didn’t ask many people that oh-so-popular-question, “Who are you wearing?” So in most cases I have not specified a designer. I will go back and modify as more information becomes available. I just wanted to put my two cents in before US Weekly and Stacy London trash all my favorite outfits!THE GOOD: Flawless as usual:1) Penelope Cruz, in a gorgeous feathered strapless gown, I am guessing by Chanel Couture? And I absolutely adored the half-up hair, cascading down her back.2) Cameron Diaz – I loved her bustle...

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THE GOOD, Part Deux

A. I've got High Fashion in Low PlacesNow we all love couture, and of course are all waiting with baited breath for the Academy Awards Red Carpet to begin in a few hours, but let us try to economize from time to time, shall we? Here's how to look fab without breaking the bank. And don't shy away from a high/low mix a la Sienna Miller. Keep everyone guessing!Great Finds at: Old Navy (hello bikinis and scarves, layering tanks)Forever 21 (j’adorable boy briefs and cocktail rings; the occasional fab dress)Loehmann’s for high-end, obscure designer pieces. It's hit-or-miss, but you can stumble upon a Roberto Cavalli gown or a great pair of Michael...

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THE GOOD

This being one of the gorgeous Northeastern snowy mornings, I thought I'd devote today's entries to other things that are uplifting. A. Genius Ideas that we wish we had thought of or really delight in: * Bra strap extenders (if you just HAD to have that Kiki de Montparnasse bra but it's a tad snug around the midsection, adjust the band for a mere $1.39 with Dritz® Bra Back Extenders, on joann.com. * You love your sexy kitten heel mules but they slip off and make a wretched slapping noise when you walk down the stairs or try to tiptoe out of your office on a Friday afternoon unnoticed. Then you need Heelstraps! They are ingenious little contraptions...

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Must Have Items for Spring 2008

Okay, so we’ve all just finished watching the Fall 2008 Runway shows, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. First, we must enumerate the MUST HAVE items for Spring 2008:· A Unique Trench, either patterned or sheer (high end see Jil Sander and J. Mendel; low end, see Bebe). Above: Christian Dior zebra print, Heatherette red stripe, Richard Nicoll chiffon.· Perfect lightweight slim [not skinny] jeans; straight leg, dark denim. I really adore J. Brand, but if you have the means, Chloe has an awesome pair as well. Go to net-a-porter.com.· Wide Leg Pants. I must admit, I am not a huge fan generally speaking, but with the right blouse and ultra-high...

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Intro.: Fashionista

Helllllloooooo fellow fashion devotees! I've decided that it's time to start documenting my obsession in a more public way. Having undertaken a successful ebay retail business and begun my search for a career at a top mag, I am now ready to publish. Tune in for tips, ideas, info., opinions, and elucidation of even the most obscure trends.For starters, I want you all to know my favorite shopping websites so you'll get a sense of my tastes:shopbop.comfigleaves.combluefly.comFavorite places to shop IRL:Barney's Warehouse Sale (2x per year in nyc: late Feb. and late Aug., gals!!!)AnthropologieTarget (just picked up a tiny floral triangle bikini from...

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