Tough girl? Really, show it with leather jewelry! Harden up that pink sweater set with a brown leather necklace with a simple silver tag, or see how D&G’s black cuff with silver O-ring detail looks with a V-neck pewter metallic dress. You don’t need to break a wrist punching out bad guys to prove you’re tough enough. Wear leather jewelry, ­much more stylish and less painful.

I can’t resist cute finds on the cheap, but what girl can? So I’m currently obsessed with eBay’s Trendy Outfitter store. It sells Japanese and Korean inspired apparel worldwide for under $30. No, seriously, under $30. Since they ship from Taiwan, the price of shipping can be anywhere from $15 and up added to the price of the item. But $50 for a $25 wool blend trench coat? Not too shabby. Even more appealing than the prices is the no bidding concept, you see it and purchase it, so everyone is a winner! Reviews of the quality and fit of the pieces are rumored to be along the lines of a H&M.

While I haven’t purchased anything yet, but, in the name of journalistic research, I would like to maybe buy some things right now, ahem, I mean, after I finish this blog that is. Is this portion of eBay as awesome as it seems? Are the clothes are worth the transatlantic trip? Does anyone know?

One of the most important/exciting/fun days is fast approaching. No, not Thanksgiving, although who isn't excited about lots of good food starting at 3 or 4 p.m.? I speak of the highly anticipated premier of Project Runway. To better prepared for my weekly commentary on the season, I’ve studied Season 4’s contestants.

Here are my top picks:

Christian: This 21-year-old from Annapolis, MD is one heck of a firecracker. Maybe his energy comes from being the youngest Project Runway contestant to date but has true design creed. He has worked for Vivienne Westwood, which in turn landed him a position at Alexander McQueen.

Victorya: Victorya has the makings to be the next Chloe, with her quiet demeanor and focused manner (Phoebe Philo-ish). Her style leans towards classic, girly looks a la Chloe. But she could surprise us.

Jack: This chiseled faced ex-model is lovely to look at but is more than just a pretty face, he has loads of design experience and is funny, too. This Parson’s School of design alumni has worked for Tommy Hilfiger and Levi Strauss. Could the cutie Jack be this season’s fan favorite?

Steven: This is definitely biased (I’m a Windy City girl), but I have to give Steven a shout-out because he's the only one in the bunch from Chicago. Holla! He doesn’t have formal design training, but he’s made a name for himself in the Chicago design community. Will that be enough to make it to the top?

Stella McCartney is in a lingerie state of mind. One would think after
having newly given birth to her third child with husband Alistair, that
sexy underthings would be the last thing on her mind. Lucky for us
then, that chiffon slips, cotton and satin bras, silk-crepe camisoles
and silky knickers in modern incarnations are exactly what is on her
mind. The only question is, what took so long. McCartney, long ahead of
the proverbial curve, has always had flourishes of underpinnings
peeking out of clothing. If you think back to when she was dressing
Kate, Jaime and the rest in masculine Savile Row suiting, there were
hints of reverse silk-crepe camis peeking out then, they carried over
into her designs at Chloe and have been a recurring theme in her
eponymous line since. Some looks have even become standouts enough to
become wearable garments on their own. The burgeoning collection is a
versatile masterpiece akin to an Eres or La Perla with its satin
binding, french seaming and soft linings, but chock full of technical
aspects that an A cup to the D and DD girls will love (think forgiving
elastic, aka no digging in). And if that were not enough, she and her
team threw in other conveniences like being able to handle machine
washes and dryers, stretch tension for comfortable fitting thongs, and
reversed silk linings to feel good against your skin. Well I don’t know
about you, but anytime I can have lingerie that looks good, feels good
and is technologically ahead, I’m on it!

2007 was quite a year for Marc Jacobs, and his success was captured on film. On February 4, The Sundance Channel will show Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton, a Loic Prigent documentary that captures the celebrated 44-year-old fashion designer Marc Jacobs at work.

Fashion-obsessed viewers can get an inside look at the world of Marc Jacobs, who designs for his own two American lines and the venerable French company Louis Vuitton, which he joined as artistic director in 1997. Finally, we can all find out where the endless, sometimes wacky, inspiration comes from. Everyone's seen his reverse high heel, right?

Chanel Iman got the day off this past Sunday. Good for her, bad for the women’s shows who lost her and other underage models. It seems Paris just created a law where no one under the age of 18 can work on Sundays. Man, where’s the Babysitter’s Club when you need them?

It must not have made a noticeable difference at the Miu Miu, Lanvin and Louis Vuitton shows on Sunday, because no mayhem was reported. The young models must comply, meaning the other models must have doubled up on outfits and made it work. Think this law will affect designer’s shows or models’ jobs in Paris in the future?

Glitter and glam isn’t restricted to the ladies – men can shine too – with metallic sneakers that is. They add just the right amount of flash to jeans and a T-shirt or give a little East Village pop to a suit. We love the metallic sneakers by Allejandro Ingelmo, Allessandra dell Aqua and Swear. Now, pair them with a metallic shirt and you’ve gone too far fellas...

The saying that even on your worst day, you should look fit for
royality, takes on a whole new meaning for your ‘regal assets’ with the
new luxury jean brand Aristocrat Jeans. This 100 percent green jean
line with style names like Antoinette, Windsor, Stratford, Kent and
Essex (what, no Knights Templar and Mary, Queen of Scotts?), was
created by Bob Bak, who set out to create a line that would have the
shape and fit that jean fanatics crave, but not harm the environment
through its production. He researched and developed different
techniques and washes with premier mills while traveling in Italy. Come
Spring, Bak is expanding the line to include dresses and shorts. So
quick run out and get your noble on!

Spring is an ideal time to get the blues, ­ bright blue apparel and accessories that is! Celebs like Ellen Page and Jenny McCarthy have been seen wearing bright blue jackets with their jeans or carrying one big bright blue purse with all black apparel. Make this trend your own by pairing a bright blue patent bag with blue buckled flats and jeans, or belting a bright blue cardigan over high waisted pants and heels. The blues aren’t so bad after all!

Diane von Furstenberg in the last two decades, has invented and reinvented her effortlessly chic and stylish wrap dresses, making them a staple of nearly all working women's wardrobe. Her commitment to creating comfortable, chic attire is ever-present, and this spring, she has a new mission: create chic, comfortable footwear for women.

Her collection, which has 12 looks, is based on the principles of strength, support and style, she said. The power heel is back, and other shoe styles include black flat sandals, strappy gold heels, a Grecian sandal and perforated suede pumps.

The collection arrives mid-February at Diane von Furstenberg shops worldwide, specialty stores and select department stores. Prices range from $195 to $350, with novelty pairs priced at $400 or more. Hard to believe it is DVF's first venture into footwear. What took so long?

Square can be sexy if it’s a square-heeled pump! They have a vintage feel, and as the night goes on, they’re still comfortable to stand in. Wood-toned square-heeled pumps go great with a navy pinstriped skirt and matching blazer for the office, and black on black square heels make knee-length black shorts and a silver sequined halter top look classy and sexy.

Opposites attract, and often make for great combinations. Think sweet and sour, black and white, masculine and feminine, blazers and dresses. Add a masculine touch to a sweet cocktail dress in the form of a structured blazer over it. Pair a lovely red dress with a cream-colored or black blazer for day. Go from work to cocktails by removing the blazer adding in a silver clutch, snake embossed silver sandals and a fab antique ring.

Shoes or gems? Tough choice as to which women prefer. But thanks to jewelry designer Erikson Beamon and shoe designer Kurt Geiger women may not have to. The two designers have joined forces to make a limited-edition summer accessories collection. The entire collection is experimental, but what a successful experiment – Swarovski-studded cuffs, brooches worked into leather and wooden wedges with giant gems are just a few of the distinct accessories. Starting at about $220, they are available in London or from KurtGeiger.com in February.

Models are always complaining that they really are smart. They protest that everyone should stop stereotyping them. After all, look how many supermodels who have written books -- literary descendent Sophie Dahl for one -- right? Well, sorry waifs, the whole “models are dumb” stereotype may actually have some truth to it. According to London's Sunday Times, curvy women are smarter than women with straight or round bodies. A study of 16,000 women with a Coca-Cola bottle shapes, showed they were more intelligent than women of any other feminine shape.

I'm not sure how their intelligence was determined, but one thing is for sure – curvy women will be clamoring that their shape is the best body shape, now for more reasons than the ample and obvious ones. I suppose this is some good news for Gemma Ward, who has reportedly been losing campaigns since gaining 10 pounds. There, there, Gemma. If not campaigns, maybe the Nobel Prize?

Adieu, Adieu Mr. Valentino. It is the end of a very beautiful,
artistic, elegant era. On Wednesday night at the Musee Rodin, Valentino
presented his final Haute Couture show. There were the iconic red
dresses, embroidered flowers, elegant sheaths, and a parade of white
dresses that I was told, made references to his iconic show in 1968
(the White show) that made him. There were his muses: Farah, the former
Empress of Iran, Marie-Chantal of Greece, Uma Thurman, Liz Hurley,
Blythe Danner, Gwyneth Paltrow, countless other actresses and models,
all turned out to see his final show, take in his final bow and bid him
farewell. Many were overheard exclaiming their mixed emotions at seeing
this legendary designer retire, some wondered if he were happy others
understood it, that it was the right time and thing for Mr. Valentino.
This being a Couture show, there was exquisite workmanship on display
in the requisite day suits, feminine skirts, tailored coats and
glamorous evening dresses with beading, ethereal chiffon and
embroidery. The beauty was polished and ladylike with upswept chignons,
crocodile clutches and elbow-length gloves and Amy Winehouse (obviously
on a very good day) black eyeliner. The crescendo moments that summed
up all that is Valentino, came in the cacophony of white dresses and
the iconic red dresses projected on the sides of the tents. Suddenly 45
years does not seem enough!

Ruffles have ridges, pleats, frills and tiers, oh my. From subtle ruffles on skirts, to handbags and dresses, they are the frills of spring. Tuxedo shirts take on a girly slant when there are slight ruffles surrounding the buttons, and bags are down right dainty, with ruffled pleating along the shoulder straps. Note: this is a look where a little goes a long way.

Wow, did not see this one coming!

The challenge: ­ To use Levi's denim to create an iconic denim look that captures the spirit of the 501 legacy. I do not know about anyone else, but last week when they showed the preview and the designers were standing outside a warehouse, I thought for sure they would have to make an outfit out of scrap metal. Boo!

The winner: Ricky. He cried tears of happiness (of course, any excuse to cry) when the judges deemed his mini denim pleated dress the winner. Tailored bodice, button fly front, of course it trounced Rami's creation.

The loser:­ Victorya. Her outfit was very similar to Jillian's, yet it must have been the different washes of denim that kept Jilly in the competition. Sorry Victorya,­ your rigid and perfectionist attitude failed you while working with denim.

Only six designers left! My, this season is going fast. Where will the auf axe fall next week?

A to the Dizzo? Scion, a joint venture between Jay-Z and Iconix Brand Group Inc, announced they have acquired the Artful Dodger clothing line for $15 million. Artful Dodger is a high-end apparel brand founded by designer Scott Langton, and is sold in boutiques and specialty stores in the United Kingdom and the United States. Rumor has it Jay wants to design for the menswear brand but also branch it into womenswear. Maybe this investment was also a way to bond with his girl Beyonce? She has her own design experience, after all.

American Apparel’s ads are moving from pornographic to political.

The company’s newest ads are taking a stand for immigration rights. The black-and-white quarter-page advertisements show American Apparel employees of Guatemalan origin – and they’re actually fully clothed and shockingly the ad is devoid of all sex appeal. These simple, yet poignant ads have run in national magazines as well as the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times over the last month.

American Apparel is no stranger to controversy, some of it welcome an unwelcome. The controversy ranges from the boderline pornographic ads to senior partner Dov Charney being sued for sexual harassment to the company’s current stand on immigration. “These people don’t have freedom of mobility, they’re living in the shadows,” he said in an interview. “This is at the core of my company, at the core of my soul,” Charney told the New York Times. “Let me be clear who makes our clothes. It is a collaboration between American-born people and non-American-born people.”

I’m all for speaking out on issues as we near election time, but I can’t help but wonder if American Apparel has something more controversial in mind for future ads...

Ms. Rihanna will hit New York during the upcoming fashion week and will
be celebrating her second collaboration with totes umbrellas (ella,
ella). Rihanna’s umbrellas will be sold exclusively at Macys in the
spring and retail for $20 for a slender style to $50 for a dual colored
canopy style. No word yet about whether Ms. Rihanna and the umbrellas
(ehh, ehh, ehh) will be making a front row appearance though. But
knowing how she loves fashion and her appearances in Dsquared last
season, my bet is yes.

Get your Belvedere here, well not quite. But the new Belvedere ads have
premiered in all of the top-tier magazines and I must say they are not
as racy as they were talked up to be. After all, they are shot by Terry
Richardson, known for his provocative ads — you know the Victoria and
David Beckham shots in all states of repose (well if you could call it
that) , Tom Ford perfume ads (can you say graphic?) — a photographer
who conjures up a modern day Bruce Weber aestethic from Calvin Klein
and Abercrombie & Fitch ads of yore. The first ad to break is the
one with a beautiful woman putting on red lipstick, using her partner’s
belt buckle and looking stunned that a photo was snapped. Now it all
sounds innocent, except that this is Richardson, and to apply the make-
up the model has to use the belt buckle, well you can figure that out.
So far I haven’t been able to uncover any more of the upcoming ads, so
if you see any that are more provocative then this one, drop me a line
and let me know.

As the Couture team looks back over the year of 2007, we were struck by how many amazing stories there were, all of the ‘I can’t believe that!’ moments, the fashionable T.V. standouts, the continual stork visits to Hollywood and company, not to mention way-too-much news of Britney ‘Brit Brit’ Spears, Lindsay ‘LiLo’ Lohan and Paris ‘panties optional’ Hilton, to go around.

Global Warming finally came to the forefront thanks to Al Gore’s film and culminated in his well-deserved Nobel Peace Prize for his tireless efforts in getting the world to sit up and take notice of this cause before it is truly apocalyse now. The Sex and the City crew returned to work finally, ­ four years was truly enough, with ­ the filming of the long awaited SATC movie. Not to mention that Patricia Fields is hard at work not only on the SATC movie but also as wardrobe stylist for the new show Cashmere Mafia, a show akin to the SATC of yore. Mr. Valentino stepped down and the house surely can never be the same, but he had an amazing 45-year run which was celebrated with a retrospective in the Summer of 2007. He will be missed. New talent burst onto the ecological scene in the form of Rogan Gregory, which won the Vogue/CFDA award for designer of the year. Runners up Philip Lim and Philip Crangi may nothave won, but the lines and talent is as formidable as Gregory and weshould all keep an eye out for their designs. Other designers such as Doo Ri, Jonathan Saunders, Christopher Kane, Milly, Temperly of London were standouts as well. The year of 2007 saw countless secondary lines from established designers emerge, as if they did not have enough to do. Vera Wang’s Simply Vera debuted at Kohl’s, Target continues to lead the fray with its continual and expanding designer collaborations (Luella Bartley, Loeffler Randall, Erin Fetherston, Proenza Schouler and more). Even celebrities joined the clothing line bandwagon, designing discounted lines, with Steve and Barry’s picking up on most. They struck a deal with ­Sarah Jessica Parker to design Bitten, Venus Williams has eleVen and Amanda Byne’s created Dear. The best part of those deals, almost all of the merchandise is under $25.00.

The ?skinny model? debate was back under the microscope with backlash and weight gain (yes, bless Gemma Ward and her seven pounds), models in England were unionized to protect their runway rights. To ours and countless others? chagrin, the copyrighting of fashion made its way all the way to the
Supreme Court.

Magazines provided quite a lot of entertainment this past year as well. There was the ongoing Brangelina news, the aforementioned train wreck better known as Britney, Lindsay, Tara and more. However the most shocking and ?we can?t believe it? moment, came in the form of K-Fed gracing the cover of Details magazine with the headline ?Father of the Year.? Would you have ever thought four years ago, he of all people would be in the running for that title? Sad but true! Baby booming took on a whole other meaning with all of the pregnancies and births in Hollywood in 2007. The lovely Halle Berry is finally realizing her dream of becoming a mother with her dreamy boyfriend Gabriel Aubry, JLo ?I?m pregnant, I?m not, no really, I am,? is said said to be expecting twins. Ms. Blanchett will be having her third child, Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber had a delightful baby boy, Nicole Richie - the healthiest she has probably been in years - is do to give birth any minute now with her live in boyfriend, Joel Madden of Good Charlotte. Ms. ?Va Va Voom? Salma Hayek gave birth to the beautiful little Valentina and Christina Aguilera looked as thought she were about to pop by year?s end, but shockingly, did not.

Trendspotting, brought us flat boots, belt buckles and red lipstick, among others. Leggings came around again and metallics held onto their solid lead in the fashion industry, showing up on all sorts of accessories and clothing. Huge structured handbags were still holding on from earlier in the year, notably the large vertical totes and doctor bags. Vinyl bags, not our thing, returned and fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look through it, will be around for all of 08 as well. Television gave us a needed fashion fix in between fashion shows. We sat perched on our couture seats to see Gossip Girl, The Hills, Ugly Betty and Grey?s Anatomy. And we?re waiting with anticipation for the premieres of Cashmere Mafia and Lipstick Jungle. Hopefully one of these can satisfy our craving for the next Sex and the City!

S.R./S.S.

What is tall, fierce and possibly a very fashionable lethal weapon? A pointy-toe stiletto! Black, cream, red, yellow, leopard print, gold, silver ­any shade will do. Pairs beautifully with long, fitted jeans, a little black dress, or a knee-length pencil. The taller and pointier, the better!

What is young, sporty and mod all over? Proenza Schouler and its founders, Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough. This dynamic duo started their business five years ago, and have been the perennial favorite with Vogue editrix Anna Wintour and countless starlets since their Parson’s School of Design graduating thesis in 2002. Fast forward to today, and there are many industry accolades, numerous awards and a very successful capsule collection with mega brand Target. Not to bad for two fair-haired 24-year-olds who met in school.

The current collection of sleek, minimal black and white cashmere mini dresses, chain mail tanks, tailored coats, and color-block chiffon evening gowns with satin belts, are repeat bestsellers for the brand. This proves that while others in their graduating class were cutting up T-shirts, their classic, couture-like approach was the patterned path to gold.

Ribbons and bows tie a package together beautifully, but they top off shoes, dresses and accessories, too! Closed-toe high heels look unexpectedly girly with ribbon detail, and bows adorning a shoulder or hem of a dress garner attention (Charlize Theron at the Oscars in 2006, Nicole Kidman at the Oscars in ’07 – I rest my case). Tie your look together with a pair of prettily-bowed ballet flats with a simple sheath dress or stash everything in your Furla Venere Medium Pochette clutch, in the shape of a bow. Simply stunning.