Feeling the call of the wild or '40s pin-up? It’s easy to play up your mood with the crop of current fun, funky prints on shoes. Banish that black, brown and gray and add claws to your wardrobe with a little leopard, zig-zag, zebra, cheetah or polka dot. Sizzle in black pants, a black sleeveless collared shirt and a wide white belt and zebra-print pumps. Try these brightly printed heels with jeans and a pretty but plain top.

Is this Hills girl a singer (her music videos on the beach are on the fence of hilarious/so bad I haven't been able to sit through an entire one yet) or a clothing designer? She’s probably trying to milk all she can with whatever comes her way.

According to WWD, Anchor Blue, a junior clothing line, contracted the reality starlet to use her ‘Body Language’ and guest design for the company. The move is an effort to keep the company above its competitors. Really though, I’m not sure how Heidi Montag can compete with Kim Kardashian for Bongo. I mean, even though the kids today might like to read her cover stories on Us Weekly, does that mean they want to dress like her? Maybe I’m on the outs (I am, after all, older than a teenage girl, albeit barely…oh, shoot, teenagers don’t say ‘albeit’!), but I wouldn’t want to look like I'm trying too hard – or maybe just I would, in her short shorts and halter tops. What do readers think, will Heidi Montag up Anchor Blue’s sales? Montag's already ventured into designing with her own line, as we reported in an earlier post.

If Bring It On was a movie about fashion designers, last night’s Project Runway would have been the final cheerleading competition. Chris and Rami both brought it – their three best looks from a collection that could potentially be shown at Bryant Park, that is.

So who’s moving on to Bryant Park? Rami’s looks proved stronger. The blue, high-collared, belted coat over a strapless little black dress, the intricately knotted strapless gray dress, and the long, elegant, black, ruffled evening gown (no drapey dresses! Shocker!) were more wearable than Chris’ collection. Chris’ looks were just a bit too heavy – the black safety pin skirt and furry belted blazer, the furry black knee-length skirt paired with a sleeveless black lace over gold tank top, and the long, velvet evening gown with fur stole. Unfortunately, costume-ish is just who Chris is.

Well, now that that’s settled, we’re even closer to being Project Runway-less. I’m getting teary-eyed envisioning who might get teary-eyed on the runway as it’s announced they’re the winner. Jillian, Christian and Rami - who do you think it will be?

2007 was quite the year for rehab – Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, British Britney AKA Amy Winehouse, Owen Wilson, Jonathon Rhys-Meyers – and 2008 started out with a bang as well. Eva Mendes checked in and out of rehab within a few weeks…was that relatively shocking to anyone else? And Kirsten Dunst is still in there, sleeping in a comfortable bed, maybe laying in the spa getting a massage, “cleansing” herself of toxins or whatever it is they do in those sparkling celebrity rehabs.

All the celebs who have been flocking to rehab got me thinking, do they keep up with fashion while there? There’s no paparazzi around to snap photos, so if they wanted to don sweatpants and flip flops they could, but on the other hand, they’ve got to keep their celebrity status up while in there with non-celebs. Maybe Kirsten and Eva packed a few essentials: a large Marc by Marc Jacobs tote to be searched through by security, white bootcut Just Cavalli jeans that go with sweatshirts or can be dressed up with D&G jewelry and a Jean Paul Gautier blazer, so others can take them seriously, and maybe a few pairs of Sergio Rossi heels – for non-cocktail parties, of course – and Juicy Couture flats for bumming around rehab.

Zip up, zip down, zipper details all around – zippers have been spotted on handbags, dresses, sweaters and more as of late. But don’t go into zipper overload – stick with one medium-sized bag with multi gold-zippered pockets, or choose Just Cavalli zipper-adjustable tapered jeans or Moschino's asymmetrical zipper-front dress.

He sings a falsetto that makes many gasp (wondering if it is painful to do so I’m sure), has a ‘sexy back’, dances, produces, acts — well, if you call it that. Yes, I’m discussing Justin Timberlake and his newest assignment, being the new face for Givenchy Parfums’ men’s fragrance. I suppose since his tour is finished, his clothing line William Rast is sailing along, and his current squeeze is away in London filming, he thought why not (we know he doesn't need the money). As for Givenchy, this a great coo for them, because Justin has a built-in audience. With that will come thousands of screaming fans — 13 to 40 — rushing the international doors to get the fragrance, and thousands more of amors, significant others, drowning in the scent to keep their partners happy. Cha-ching!

Ah, the good old days, when refreshment was simple, cheap and came in a little packet that mixed with water. Or perhaps you remember it as I do, the perfect temporary hair color (that grape flavor/shade was rockin' when I was in middle school). But flash forward to today and Kool-Aid has teamed with Reebok to create a line of candy-colored and Kool-Aid scented shoes in three flavors: cherry, grape (again, great shade!) and strawberry.

I can hear the Kool-Aid man laughing in delight over this. Wonder which pair he prefers?

It might be surprising to learn that one of the world's most dramatic, unapologetically elegant and glamorous designers almost didn't become a fashion designer at all. Christian Lacroix originally wanted to be a museum curator, and studied at the Sorbonne and Ecole du Louvre in Paris. Can you imagine? Lacroix's talents almost went to waste – maybe he could have embroidered the walls of the museum?

Lucky for Couture.Zappos.com that Lacroix fell into fashion by chance, landing a job as an assistant at Hermes and the rest is history. The Spring 2008 shoe collection is full of the design flourishes - sumptuous velvets, satins, crystals, color and prints, that Lacroix is famous for. The Christian Lacroix flower-embroidered pump is both perfect for jeans and a tee that need a bit of dressing up or a pencil skirt and blouse for work. The high-heeled sandal with rhinestone detail is elegant without being too formal and pairs beautifully with a little black dress. No wonder he's sustained longevity in the business!

Ah, straw bags have arrived and that signals the onset of Spring. No more bulky coats, well at least not out here on the West Coast (sorry East Coast), no more boots -- other than for styling, just fabulous straw in every incarnation. Unfortunately it will also mean the sound of the Couture team's various credit cards getting a workout, because we are shopping again. I'll be picking up the Michael Kors Santorini woven tote to take with me on one of my excursions to flea markets in Paris. Ms. M has her eye on the Dolce & Gabbana Carolina woven straw small tote to take with her on her business trip to Florida, and Ms. S surely needs the Michael Kors Santorini woven clutch. Ms. S, what could be more stylish than that for meeting your friends for drinks and dancing on the Strip?

Hey, what will you be getting?

Bold, bright colors make outfits stand out. Take that fact and apply it to your face – bold, bright eyeshadow makes eyes pop! Seen on the runways of New York Fashion Week, models wore light pink, light green, blue and red shadow, especially if modeling an elegantly restrained color palette. Make this look work by picking a color that makes your eyes stand out – pink or blue for brown eyes, green or red for blue or hazel eyes – and keep your outfit and the rest of your face simple, or you’ll look clownish.

Again, I am admitting one of my guilty pleasures, I love those (overrated, yes I know) Marc Jacobs ads featuring the diminutive Victoria 'Posh' Beckham. I'm not sure if its the blank canvas approach to the shots, her standing doll like with a vacant stare, the ridiculousness of the big plastic bag, the stepping out of a box, or the haloed angel decked out in black, but they always manage to captivate me. After all, here is a woman that is always tanned just so, never loses that dour expression, dresses sometimes to the extreme, but always carries it off. She is more fascinating than most, because she gets what the public thinks of her and can poke fun of the poking fun. Who else could pose nearly naked in all manner of repose with her hot mate, throw out a baseball in wedge high heel sneakers, or run behind their 2 year old in platforms?

Zappos.com is kind of a big deal. People know us. And here's proof: Chic TV recently did a story about metallic shoes – a big trend for the spring – and all shoes featured were from Zappos.com. Check it out! My favorites are Nine West’s Jubilyn gold gladiator flats and Sigerson Morrison’s silver flats.

Click here to watch the video

Chilly outside, but want to show your legs? Coat dresses are a simple solution – wear them over a dress or shirt/skirt combo, or wear them as a dress! To pull off wearing it just as a dress, look for coat dresses with three-quarter length or short sleeves in a fun color like red or purple. Button up, add tights and go!

A big issue when buying women’s shoes is comfort. Women who love heels but cry when the day’s over know what I’m talking about – blisters, cuts and aching feet are no fun.

Thankfully, lots of designers are thinking more and more about comfort when designers. Not Marc Jacobs (I don’t even want to try to walk in those reverse high heels), but, for example, Donald J. Pliner. At the WSA in Las Vegas this past weekend, I got to preview his collection for spring 2008. He used flexible materials such as mesh elastic along with regularly used materials, like leather or patent leather, to help make shoes more comfortable to walk in and prevent cuts. He also employed a great technology in some of his shoes – liquid resistance! I’ll have to pick up a metallic pair in a liquid-resistant fabric for going to the clubs. Great idea! Look for these shoes to be sold on Zappos.com this spring.

Am I the only one who thinks Katie Holmes has continued to look older and older as every day passes by? And no, I am not talking about the natural aging process that occurs second by second. In every photo taken of her, she appears dressed well beyond her youthful years, let's not even get started on the Anna Wintour hairdo. It is hard to believe this is the same ‘Pieces of April’ person of a few years ago. And with that, I ask this: isn’t she only 27/28, why dress 47? Isn’t this the time in her life to be daring, to test the limits, to be adventurous? I know she is married to a much older man, a mother of a young child, step children, blah, blah, blah. I’m all for being tasteful, even a touch of demure mixed with a little edge, but come on. Someone call Victoria B. and tell her to help Katie get her ‘youth’ back.

Bombs away! But in a good way – bomber jackets are hot right now. For girls, a leather brown one looks very vintage when worn with a chic scarf. Fellas can keep them from looking too Top Gun by losing the aviators and wearing a black one with dress slacks and metallic sneakers.

I am not hating on Paula Abdul, really I’m not. She has a successful gig as the emotional judge on American Idol, looks fairly hot for having weathered drugs, yo-yo dieting, tipping a few bottles and having a husband or two. But did she really need to make more 'bubblegum pop' music and, better still, make an accompanying video? Please tell me I am not the only one to have seen the 'Dance Like There's No Tomorrow' video? There are three different vignettes going on: in one, she is doing her 'I'm still in the '80s', over-choreographed Janet Jackson dance routine with male dancers all around her moving in Fosse-style syncopated movements; in another she is dressed in a lace-covered corset mini dress, gripping a microphone and singing with Randy (yes, from Idol) accompanying her on guitar; and of course one of her singing by herself in black leggings and a red top that has an extended train that swirls around her, as she steps back and forth over the mic mimicking singer Ciara's moves from the Promise video. But, at least the idols that work together stay together – the closing shot is of all the idols: Ryan, Randy, Paula and Simon. Lets have a collective sigh here.

My question to you is why did the former L.A. Laker girl choose now? And more importantly, what would Simon say to her if she were a contestant on American Idol? Here is the link, check it out and then please explain it to me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_FBDaK_Gig&watch_response

Got a sweet tooth but don’t want to head down the path that leads to diabetes? Hershey's and Ben & Jerry's have come up with some creations that might just help control those sugar cravings. Each company has lip glosses out that taste almost like the real thing. Hershey’s has a trio of ultra-moisturizing, SPF 15 lip balms that come in Milk Chocolate (of course), Vanilla Crème and Almond.

Ben & Jerry's branched out from ice cream in 2005, creating adorable lip balms, sold in miniature ice cream pint packaging, in all of the flavors of their popular pints. Available only in Scoop Shops for now (but soon to be sold on the company's website) for less than $5, choose from Peanut Butter Cup, Strawberry Kiwi, Mint Chocolate Cookie, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Chocolate Fudge Brownie. Fabulous and flavorful, how fun is that?

Victoria’s Secret siren Karolina Kurkova has been cast in the live action G.I. Joe movie. She landed the role of Courtney 'Cover Girl' Kreiger, an ex-model turned soldier, who is the object of Joe's affection. Hmm, ‘Cover Girl’ in two-piece camo-outfits, a sexy swimsuit and underwear model…typecasting much?

The cast also includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller, Marlon Wayans and Lee Byung-Hun. The movie will come out in August 2009.

Couture.Zappos has revved it up another designer notch with the addition of the label Alexander McQueen. If you have not noticed — or, even more worthy of a Couture citation — not heard of him, then check out the fab handbags and scarves on couture.zappos.com.

But just in case, here goes: McQueen hails from London originally, left school at age 16 and worked as a tailor on Savile Row — where Mikhail Gorbachev and Charles, Prince of Wales were clients. He has designed theatrical costumes for the famous house Angels and Bermans as well as attended Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, where his graduation collection was purchased in its entirety by the late Isabella Blow. He is and has always been known for his controversial collections, think the Bumsters (pants) and his Highland collection as well as his skillful tailoring and amazing design eye. So now that I have caught you up on who he is, why are you still sitting there? Check out the amazing stuff that Couture has!

It’s a bra that lifts. It’s a sly sippy cup that fits. It’s a vino bra. Yes, that's right, a wine bra.

The Wine Rack, $29.95 at Firebox.com, will make you look more voluptuous. Well, until you drink all the wine out of your bra that is giving you that extra lift, that is. You can do this slyly by sipping from the discreet little straw hidden away under your clothes.

I know drinking at bars every weekend can get expensive, but this is a bit out there, even for my open mind. After all, who wants to start out as a sober C cup and end the night as an inebriated A?

Pleats please! Pleated skirts are classy, they draw attention to legs, and best of all, no dry cleaning bill is necessary to keep those pleats in! Keep yours on the longer side to avoid looking like a schoolgirl – wear with a groomed ponytail, a cute cardigan and pointy toed stilettos to show you mean business.

Well, the reunion show had its moments:

Kevin is still not gay.

Heidi called Victorya out on always being ‘a bit uptight.’

The video montage of Chris’ laughter was funny at first, then annoying, kind of like his laugh.

The video montage of Ricky, which highlighted every single time he cried was pretty funny, especially when it was preceded with a clip of him saying, “I don’t really get too emotional.”

Everyone shed a few tears during the episode. It was precious.

Oh, and Heidi could barely see through her bangs. Aren’t bang trims free?

Christian won Bravo’s Fan Favorite award. His ego must be flying high, ­ wonder if it will affect his performance at Fashion Week? As if he could get any more arrogant – or could he?

Well, I, for one, know I can’t wait to see the finalists’ collections. ­ Any guesses on who will win this season?