THE SCENE: Meeting the families.

Ah, home for the holidays... we all remember them well. You and your beloved wish for a tropical excursion, where you can lie on the beach, sip Mai Tai cocktails, and watch the sunsets. Then, bam! One phone call
and you are snapped out of your fantasy into the reality of family obligations. Now, of course, it does not really have to be that bad; there is a certain comfort in embracing the family call and soldiering through it. That is why the film Four Christmases, a delightful new romantic comedy, is the perfect pre-holiday antidote for the upcoming
holiday season. We may not be able to get out of our responsibilities, but we sure can laugh at seeing how other people deal with it on the big screen. Four Christmases - In Theaters November 26th!

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Featured styles: Buddhist Punk Charcoal T-shirt, Toscano Long Sleeve Zip Mock Neck Pullover, Ted Baker Plodded Charcoa Trouser, Marc Jacobs Black/Grey Suede Lace Up Boot with Knit Upper.

What's better than a well-dressed man? A well-shod one, of course. The Couture Team loves great shoes and our fashion focus this week is on the casual, yet cool varied lace up styles. If you are the type of man that likes a boot, then D&G Dolce & Gabbana Lace and Zipper Detail Boot is perfect for you. If you like the sporty look, try on Jean Paul Gaultier's sporty-inspired wingtips. If your tastes lean more towards a classic oxford style for work, Marc Jacobs Burnished Grey Oxford is ideal. If you like a little edge, try Alexander McQueen's side lace-up shoes. There really is a shoe - or boot - for every man.

Summer fashion should be comfortable and casual, which is why sneakers are ideal for guys. So, tell us fellas, which sneaker would you choose to wear out and about from the beach to the bar and why? The Cesare Paciotti Euro-inspired sneaker or the Marc Jacobs sportier pair?

Sobriety acts out in many ways. It can be overt confidence, which seemingly is the case for designer Marc Jacobs. He was the brilliant but schlumpy bespectacled designer that stood at the end of the runway in his grey sweater, baggy pants and kicks, looking out of place and oh so nervous.

Then, wham! He reappears out of sobriety as this buffed god-like creature akin to a Mount Olympia statue. Gone were the spectacles, gone was the greasy too-long hair, sweaters, and, huh, buffed arms were now rippling through his short-sleeved tees and fitted slacks. The hair is now closely cropped and blue, yes really, blue - midnight to be exact. Confidence seemed to know no bounds. There were nude cover shots, hotter than hot fashion shows, pictures of him everywhere. A film about his genius and maniac behavior, a coveted limited edition book (check out our earlier Well Read Fashionista on his book here), and cheeky tattoos. But when is confidence too much? Could we say he should have stopped at the blue hair? Was it the nude covers, which, even if I do say so myself, made me stop for not one but three looks, or the Spongebob or Red M & M tattoos that are the overkill? When is too much too much? We here a Couture are torn, so write us back and tell us what is the definitive line of just right and too much.

Most of the public might find them obnoxious, but we at Couture love those Marc Jacobs ads featuring the diminutive Victoria 'Posh' Beckham. We're 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 two-year-old in platforms?