When you think about German clothing, you probably think about lederhosen (those traditional German dark green or black shorts that are held up by shoulder straps and worn with a white embroidered shirt) or dirndl, (the female version of the lederhosen but with a skirt instead of shorts). But in modern day Germany, things have changed a lot. No longer will you see traditional German clothing or German military uniforms, instead you'll see German high fashion in fashion shows all over Europe and beautifully cut casual sportswear worn by most Germans in everyday life. Used to a history that was militarized and restrictive, Germans have now escaped from this prison and want to feel relaxed and comfortable, while still looking elegant and beautifully put together.

Top German designers like Toni Dress, Hagro and Jobis are famous for their casual, yet elegant clothes. For winter 2008, Jobis is showcasing cream, figure-hugging stretch pants, lots of tight turtleneck sweaters, down coats in muted colors and superbly tailored short jackets. Hagro is offering floral skirts and long-flowing dresses with a country feel in navy blues and beiges. Toni Dress, known for its impeccably cut trousers and matching jackets, has yet another fabulous collection of designer jackets and pants. All beautiful quality, but all able to be worn comfortably.

Of course, Germany is also known for its most famous designer, Karl Lagerfeld. Lagerfeld's career has been in the spotlight for more than 50 years. Originally, he was famous for the coats he designed, but more frequently now, he's known for his various "little black dress" designs. Lagerfeld also designs jeans and t-shirts (perfectly cut, of course), and his fitted t-shirts are now some of the most popular German fashion items.

Finally, I can't talk about German fashion without mentioning the German avant-garde designers. Known for their flamboyant, unusual designs with wild colors and a crazy, almost costume-like look, they are also often the muse for more conservative designs that are considered more wearable.

When it comes to fashion, Germany pretty much has it all. From the catwalks of Berlin and Munich to the normal everyday German on the street, German fashion has come a long way since the days of lederhosen and dirndl.

The television show How I Met Your Mother is opening up its doors to reality television stars. Kim Kardashian, Kendra Wilkinson from The Girls Next Door, and Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag from *The Hills *will all appearance on an episode of How I Met Your Mother. The episode is being taped this week, so it likely will not air until sometime next year. The reality television guest stars will all be playing themselves in a fantasy sequence in the show. I guess these reality television stars are trying to increase their 15 minutes of fame into 20?

Comedian Adam Sandler and his wife, Jackie, welcomed their second daughter into the world. Sunny Madeline was born on November 2. Sandler wrote on his web site, "Everyone is happy and healthy." The couple already has one daughter, Sadie, who was born in 2006. The couple has been married since 2003. Can you imagine having Adam Sandler as a father? I just think that it would be so hard to take him seriously as a father. Who knows? He's probably a really good father, and I wish the family the best.

According to Jennifer Aniston's interview in the December issue of Vogue, Jennifer and her mother, Nancy, are slowing reconciling after years of estrangement. Aniston told the magazine that they first started talking again when Aniston went through her breakup with Brad Pitt in 2005. Aniston's states that her mother "has changed," and that "she's humbled with age." The past estrangement from her mother stemmed from a interview that her mother gave to a tabloid television show, and the book that she wrote, From Mother and Daughter to Friends: A Memoir, which was about Jennifer's and Nancy's relationship. I think it's a great thing when a mother and daughter can be brought back together, because a mother-daughter relationship is a bond that everybody needs.

Sources:
www.usmagazine.com
www.people.com

For those of us who are bored already with traditional fashion weeks, London Swatch Alternative Fashion Week 2009 presents a good, well, alternative. This event will be held from April 21-25, 2009, at Spitalfields Traders Market (an upscale, elegant version of what we here in the U.S. call a flea market, which centers on fashion and home design items).

London Swatch Alternative Fashion Week is free and features runway shows daily from 1:15 to 2 p.m. Hot, young and up-and-coming designers will present their alternative, inventive designs directly to the public, the press and the fashion industry while competing for a Swatch Individual Designer Award or Swatch College Award in recognition of their originality, creativity or innovative use of designs and recycled textiles.

Twelve designers per day will show their designs to live jazz music, and the event is also an opportunity for new and upcoming models to show off their talent. Categories shown include women's wear, menswear, millinery, shoes, loungewear, lingerie, fetish gear and costuming. Designers who showed last year include Pretty Pervy, Rachel Hines, Richard Shoyemi and Victoria Harley. Jasper Garvida, a Project Catwalk (the UK's version of Project Runway) winner, is the most famous Alternative Fashion Week alumni. This 26-year-old major talent combines old-world elegance with modern sensibility to create collections that are truly worthy of rock royalty. One of the standout pieces from his past collections was a white, off-the-shoulder gown with a ruffled mermaid tail that managed to transcend all clichés except beauty. (I have never seen any garment that would enable you to make more of an entrance, and yet it still enhances the wearer rather than competing with her.) The young designer also showed a richly decadent, floral-patterned skirt paired with a combination corset/cardigan and patterned faux-fur jacket that looked insane in a brilliant way, like Edie Sedgwick raided her grandmother's closet to get dressed to go to the hospital after she burned down the Chelsea Hotel. I write about fashion constantly, and it makes you kind of jaded, but I can truly say that Jasper Garvida is the first designer I've seen in a long time for whom I would be willing to blow my rent money on some of his pieces, so why not go to Alternative Fashion Week 2009 and find the next major talent before he or she becomes out of reach?

Like any television show or film that features a fashion magazine office (and there are a surprising number of them) Ugly Betty is a show largely driven by its wardrobe -- from the ridiculous to the sublime. With sexy power outfits, strong silhouettes and intriguing uses of color, the employees of the show's Mode magazine always dress fabulously. And even Betty's often awkward wardrobe has a charm and whimsy worth bringing to your own closet.

When trying to emulate the great parts of Betty's style, go for bright colors and mix-and-match prints. Leggings under skirts and cardigans over blouses help provide the look of layers and textures that she favors. Of course, accessories are critical for Betty, although you probably don't want to be as over the top as her. A pair of fun earrings or a vivid hair clip can bring a sense of fun to your look. Most importantly, be comfortable in your clothes and make sure you're dressing for you. Betty's outfits work because they make her happy.

For a look that's both more assertive and sexy, take Wilhelmina as your template. With a preference for designers like Dolce & Gabbana and Alexander McQueen, Wilhelmina is all about the power of clothes, and it shows both in the cut and colors of the outfits she prefers. Black with splashes of jewel tones (particularly purples) are always a hit for her. She also exhibits success going with silvers and golds with the occasional splash of red.

Even gents can take their fashion cues from Ugly Betty, by looking at Daniel's fashion choices. With clothes from Gucci and Dior, Daniel dresses in sleek, conservative styles, but always brightens up his wardrobe with a spectacular tie or stylish shoes. Classic, with one item worthy of comment, is the way to go here.

While over the top both in look and plot, Ugly Betty makes a surprising amount of fashion sense as long as you can step back from the drama queen antics of the plot and bring a bit of playfulness to the show's fashion ideas.

It appears that Britney Spears is doing her best to make a comeback. Britney's latest album, "Circus," is being released next month, and it seems like she has some big plans for it. On Britney's Celebrity MySpace page, she put up four pictures of her auditioning male dancers "in anticipation of next month's Circus." Britney is planning to have her own concert tour next year, and she just sang a song with Madonna last week at the pop star's concert. At the concert, Britney appeared really put together, like she is serious about her music once again. So, maybe she finally has cleaned up her life and is going back to the old Britney Spears. I can hear Britney fans all over the world rejoicing!

Here's some really odd news. Actresses Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron will be filming a movie together and will be playing husband and wife! The movie, The Danish Girl, is based on a novel about true-life Danish artists Einar and Greta Wegener. Kidman will play Einar, who dresses as a woman for one of his wife's portraits. Well, the portrait gains so much fame that Einar actually continues to dress as a woman and undergoes a sex-change operation. The movie is still in preproduction right now. I just find this really odd that Nicole Kidman will be playing a man (dressing as a woman), because her looks are so feminine.

Once again, The Hills star, Lauren Conrad, was spotted out with her boy, Kyle Howard. The two attended jazz night at Teddy's together. The couple cuddled together at the corner of the bar, and it was quite apparent that the two are more than just friends, even though neither one has come out and made it official that they are together. I don't know who they are fooling? If they really want to say they are just friends, how about acting like just friends out in public!

Source: www.people.com

The hottest celebrity trend in footwear right now is heels with elastic straps. So instead of painful straps going across your foot or ankle in your stiletto heels, the trend is to wear shoes that have elastic straps. The elastic straps are designed to make the shoe more comfortable and not dig into your foot. Such celebrities as Blake Lively and Kate Bosworth have been seen wearing these shoes on the red carpet. This is one celebrity trend that makes sense. Why not wear shoes that are more comfortable?

As the temperatures start to dip, celebrities are breaking out more and more scarves. Again, you have to hand it to celebrities for this fashion trend. Adding a scarf to your outfit will not only keep you warmer in the cold weather but it will accessorize your outfit quite nicely. So, which celebrities are fans of scarves this season? You have Katie Holmes, Nicole Richie, Lauren Conrad, Blake Lively, Jennifer Aniston and Leighton Meister who all like to sport scarves. Missoni makes tons of different scarves that the celebrities love. Don't just stick to plain colored scarves this season, but mix it up with stripes, polka dots and other prints to add some drama to your outfit.

What else can you wear with your scarf this fall and winter? Well, you can stick to the celebrity trends and try a retro swing coat for winter. Many celebrities are going back to the retro look, and the swing coat is the perfect way to do this. A swing coat will button on the top, and the bottom half of the coat is left open to basically "swing." This type of coat can be worn dressed up or with your basic jeans. Celebrities such as Katie Holmes, Blake Lively and Eva Mendes have all been spotted wearing this type of coat this season. So, go ahead and take out your scarf and your swing coat and work it like a celebrity.

Can you believe who is engaged already? Kendra Wilkinson. Yes, the former girlfriend of Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner is already engaged to be married. The really off thing is that the announcement was made by Hefner, and the wedding will be at the Playboy mansion next June. Kendra will be marrying the Philadelphia Eagles' wide receiver Hank Baskett. Also, Hefner made it known that he will be giving away Kendra at her wedding. Okay, so who else finds this completely odd? I think that the whole girlfriend of Hefner thing was a fake, and she was actually dating this guy while supposedly being Hefner's girlfriend. I mean what would a 20-something-year-old, pretty woman want with an old guy like Hefner. I think that Baskett is more Kendra's style.

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake had a little reunion at the Madonna concert on November 6. Both of the singers performed songs with Madonna at her concert. The concert was held at L.A. Dodger's Stadium. Britney and Justin only briefly crossed paths at the sound check as they did not perform the same songs onstage with Madonna. Britney sang "Human Nature" with Madonna while Justin sang his duet "4 Minutes." Britney was actually really tame and looked rather put together in her black satin pants and white ruffle shirt. Maybe this is a start to a whole new Britney Spears.

Another little odd tidbit of celebrity gossip is that country singer Toby Keith has admitted to shaving his armpits. First of all, this is really too much information for me. Secondly, Toby Keith really doesn't come across as the metro-sexual type. Keith said that on hot summer nights while performing concerts he just gets so "hot and sweaty" that shaving helps cool him off. I actually know quite a few guys who aren't swimmers who do this. I guess it works for them. So, guy, if you want to be like rough country singer Toby Keith, shave your armpits!

Source: www.people.com

My Name Is Earl star Jaime Pressly has separated from her fiancé and father of her son, Eric Cubiche. The actress told Access Hollywood, "We are taking a break from our relationship but we are together every day with Dezi and still love each other very much." Pressly and Cubiche have been friends for over nine years and were dating for over a year and a half before getting engaged in 2006. The couple had no planned wedding date after being engaged for 2 years. I guess at least they didn't make the mistake of getting married and then getting divorced within a year like other celebrity couples have done.

It looks like country singer Taylor Swift is getting back at her ex-boyfriend, Joe Jonas from the Jonas Brothers. Swift sings about the end of their relationship on her new album, Fearless, due out November 11. The song "Forever and Always," is "a song about watching somebody completely fade away in a relationship and wondering what you did wrong," Swift stated. Taylor also said that Joe Jonas is the only guy who has hurt her "deeply." According to the rumors, Jonas broke up with Swift via a phone call. How low! I'm glad that she gets a little bit of revenge and her feelings out in her new song.

According to Ashley Olsen, she has absolutely no plans to wed any time soon. There have been several rumors circulating about Ashley Olsen and her boyfriend, Justin Bartha, that they are engaged to be married. Well, Olsen's rep has officially put those rumors to rest by telling People Magazine that "Ashley Olsen is not engaged to be married." Her rep also says that the two are dating and they are "happy." To me it seems so weird to have rumors about Ashley Olsen getting married as I still think of her as little Michelle on Full House. I guess considering that she is 22 years old, it's time to realize that little Michelle is all grown up.

Source:
www.people.com

Remember when J-Lo was at the top of her game? She was considered one of the sexiest women alive, and as a result women everywhere emulated her. They wore pink, velour jogging suits, matching caps and hoop earrings. They even started celebrating their butts - sticking them way out for everyone to see. After all, J-lo never hid hers. It was her signature feature. The only problem was that every woman couldn't follow her lead because their backs were flat. It wasn't a good look, but they really didn't know what to do about it. So here's some help if you just happen to be one of those chicks.

If you want to add a little "oomph" to your backside, you can do it easily. Why? Having a little back end is a problem that's plagued women for generations. The good news is that women of today happen to be in an era where they have plenty of options. Below are a few of them. They all offer you different ways to get that J-Lo butt you've been dreaming about.

Option #1 - Spanx: This undergarment does more than just hide panty lines. Spanx also raises your butt and gives it definition. The great news is that it is relatively inexpensive, and you can find it almost anywhere these days.

Option #2 - Silicone -padded panties: You can purchase them in the girdle section of a department store or order them from a specialty lingerie shop. What do they do? They add extra cush to your tush. Get a pair or two to help you fill out that pair of jeans on date night.

Option #3 - Earth shoes: Earth shoes are designed with Kalso Negative Heel Technology. What does it do? It lifts your butt in order to give it better shape and your body posture. If you invest in a few pairs, you'll have an instant fix for your outfits.

These three options will help you plump out your butt and have the kind of shape that makes you want to strut down the street. All of them are easy to do and sure beat the heck out of going to the gym. Also, they can help you reminisce. You can now put on that old J-Lo CD and dance through the house. You can even pull out some of that old velour.

When you think about German clothing, you probably think about lederhosen (those traditional German dark green or black shorts that are held up by shoulder straps and worn with a white embroidered shirt) or dirndl, (the female version of the lederhosen but with a skirt instead of shorts). But in modern day Germany, things have changed a lot. No longer will you see traditional German clothing or German military uniforms, instead you'll see German high fashion in fashion shows all over Europe and beautifully cut casual sportswear worn by most Germans in everyday life. Used to a history that was militarized and restrictive, Germans have now escaped from this prison and want to feel relaxed and comfortable, while still looking elegant and beautifully put together.

Top German designers like Toni Dress, Hagro and Jobis are famous for their casual, yet elegant clothes. For winter 2008, Jobis is showcasing cream, figure-hugging stretch pants, lots of tight turtleneck sweaters, down coats in muted colors and superbly tailored short jackets. Hagro is offering floral skirts and long-flowing dresses with a country feel in navy blues and beiges. Toni Dress, known for its impeccably cut trousers and matching jackets, has yet another fabulous collection of designer jackets and pants. All beautiful quality, but all able to be worn comfortably.

Of course, Germany is also known for its most famous designer, Karl Lagerfeld. Lagerfeld's career has been in the spotlight for more than 50 years. Originally, he was famous for the coats he designed, but more frequently now, he's known for his various "little black dress" designs. Lagerfeld also designs jeans and t-shirts (perfectly cut, of course), and his fitted t-shirts are now some of the most popular German fashion items.

Finally, I can't talk about German fashion without mentioning the German avant-garde designers. Known for their flamboyant, unusual designs with wild colors and a crazy, almost costume-like look, they are also often the muse for more conservative designs that are considered more wearable.

When it comes to fashion, Germany pretty much has it all. From the catwalks of Berlin and Munich to the normal everyday German on the street, German fashion has come a long way since the days of lederhosen and dirndl.

If you really need to get away from it all in December and appliquéd Santa or reindeer sweaters don't satisfy your sense of style, why not plan a trip to a fashion show in Fiji? The first annual Fiji Fashion Week will be held at the fabulous Renaissance Fiji Beach Resort and Spa on Denarau Island in Nadi, Fiji, December 3-7. It will showcase Autumn/Winter 2009 fashions for the southern hemisphere — yeah, there's a whole half of the world that's not on the same schedule as Paris — through a two-day workshop for emerging designers, two nights of fashion shows and an exhibition day showcasing designs from both emerging and established Fiji brands and designers.

Designers featured at Fiji Fashion Week Winter '09 include Manafidji, Robert Kennedy, Wai Tui, Uprising Beach Resortwear, Value City, Hupfield Hoerder, Samu Cabe, Tali by Rajan Sami, Courtney Nicole & Arieta Tora, Ellie Nusbaum, Brittany Byrne, Craig Marlow, Carlos Semisi & William Sanday and Lisa Lee. The local fashion sensibility is definitely tropical, but surprisingly chic — no Hawaiian shirts or Bermuda shorts in sight. And lest you be in doubt about whether Fiji is really a hotbed of fashion or not, celebrities that have visited there recently include Britney Spears, Tori Spelling, Nicole Kidman, Madonna, Demi Moore, Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, John Travolta and Mel Gibson.

The really interesting part of Fiji Fashion Week, though, is the attention given to further development of fashion talent through the workshops. Designers will be on hand to discuss all aspects of putting together a line, from designing a collection to marketing it to maximizing press coverage and sales from the perspective of fashion editors and stylists. Fashion weeks aren't usually as upfront about the commercial side of the business — I like to call them the world's most glamorous tradeshows — but in Fiji there's even a meet-and-greet exhibition between designers and buyers. Think about it, fashion designer wannabes. You could stand out there as a big fish in a small pond and live in one of the most beautiful places on earth. It sure beats Fashion Week Rochester, anyway!

After keeping quiet on his relationship with singer Ashanti for several years, rapper Nelly is finally talking. Nelly told People Magazine that the two have been together and that, "I think it's always serious, when you can hang with a person continuously ... and have fun." Nelly has been linked to Ashanti since 2003, but neither one has come out to the press or public and announced that they were together. They have been seen at award shows and events together but never talked about their relationship. Early this year, Ashanti only called Nelly "a good friend." It's quite refreshing to see two celebrities keep their relationship low key. They should get the privacy that they want.

On the other side of the music spectrum, country singer Alan Jackson was honored by his fellow country singers during a taping of Country Music Television's (CMT) Giants. Artist Brad Paisley, Martina McBride, Dierks Bentley, Taylor Swift and George Strait all honored the country legend at the Ryman's Auditorium in Nashville. Jackson, along with the other country artists, sang several of Jackson's popular songs and paid him tribute. The show will air on CMT in December, so if you are an Alan Jackson fan, be on the lookout for it.

It appears that Salma Hayek may be giving love a second chance with her ex-fiancée, Francois-Henri Pinault. The two were seen getting pretty cozy with each other at a soccer game in Rennes, France. Another attendee at the soccer game stated, "They were very together." The couple has a one-year-old daughter together and was engaged to be married before calling it off back in July of this year. It looks like the couple is trying their hand at reconciliation as they have also been spotted in L.A. and Paris together. Heck, I would give my relationship with a billionaire a second chance and probably a third or fourth also!

Source:
www.people.com

Even on Saturday Night Live, AMC's Mad Men is heralded as the show everyone is talking about but no one is watching. Still, the drama about New York's advertising industry in the 1960s has been scooping up the awards, as well as accolades for its detailed presentation of retro fashion.

In many ways an ad agency is the perfect setting to showcase the styles of the early sixties. An industry of image, fashion has always been important to the ad world. Also particularly fun is that the standard of beauty for women in the early 60s involved lots of curves, which is quite different than a lot of what we see today. Mad Men, even with its retro style, gives us fashion to look at that is more reflective of the majority of women's bodies.

The show's clothes are largely driven by pattern and texture. Plaids and hounds-tooth are common, as are tweeds and knits. And while workplace colors are often muted shades of browns and blues, color splashes across the screen in everything from girlish sundresses to the sexiest red-dress wearing secretary you've ever seen.

While showing off the early 60s style, Mad Men is also influencing today's fashion with the increased popularity of both the secretary blouse (fitted waist, bow at the neck, cap sleeves) and the pencil skirt. Swing coats and retro, rounded-toe high heels are also making the cut. For men, the slim cut of the suits of the era remains in, although fabrics remain more somber. Mad Men's real influence on fashion today comes in the form of hats. What used to be a necessary clothing item for men is starting to return as a fashion statement.

Gentlemen inspired to don a fedora or other retro hat take note: it's not just enough to follow the fashion cues of Mad Men when it comes to the hat. You need to follow the etiquette too. You may look hot in your fabulous new brim, but show a bit of class and don't wear it inside.

Ankle boots are still all the rage this year with celebrities. They are being worn with dresses, skirts, jeans and trousers. You can find ankle boots all over the red carpet, and then go down to the hottest club in Hollywood and find them there too. The latest celebrities to follow the ankle boot craze are: Mischa Barton, Michelle Williams, Lindsay Lohan, Kate Moss, Rachel Bilson and Jessica Simpson. If you aren't that sure about wearing ankle boots like celebrities do, then opt for a black pair, like the ones from Calvin Klein, because wearing black will not call that much attention to them. You can still be in style with the celebrity fashion trend but just downplayed a little.

It appears that leopard print has not gone out of style with celebrities. It can be quite tricky wearing leopard print and getting it right, which may be why celebrities have stylists to help them. If you are shy about wearing leopard print, try just wearing a small piece of leopard print. Do what Keira Knightley did and wear a leopard print scarf with an outfit. Or try what Rachel Bilson wore and match a leopard print cardigan with jeans. For the daring person, you can try to pull a Claudia Schiffer and wear a dress that has leopard print all over it. Whatever style you choose, just remember to rock it out like a celebrity would.

If you decide that you want to wear ankle boots with your leopard print clothing, why not throw in another celebrity trend of statement *watches*? Try sporting an oversized watch on your wrist to fit in with this celebrity trend. Pictures have shown such celebrities as Jennifer Aniston, Kate Moss, Nicky Hilton and Sienna Miller sporting large, statement watches on their wrist. Choose one that is gold or silver and really add some jazz to your outfit.

So, now you have your next outfit planned out for your big event. Leopard print with ankle boots and an oversized watch. You will look just like a celebrity!

What did you dress up as for Halloween this year? Well, if you were Jennifer Love Hewitt and her fiancé, you would have paraded around as Brangelina for Halloween. Yep, one celebrity dressed up as another celebrity for Halloween. Hewitt told Entertainment Tonight that her and her fiancé, Ross McCall, were going as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt for Halloween this year. The key to their costume? We're just gonna have lots of babies!" Hewitt said. She also added, "And I'm going to look really sultry and really drop-dead gorgeous." So, I just find this rather odd that one celebrity would want to dress up as another one for Halloween. Does anyone else think it's a little strange?

Singer Amy Winehouse was hospitalized once again this past weekend to perform more tests on her lungs and chests. Winehouse was last hospitalized back in June of this year with lung problems, but as pictures show, she has not stopped smoking. These tests were done just as a precaution to check how her lungs and chests were. Winehouse's father has admitted that her lungs are diseased due to smoking cigarettes and cocaine. So, if these were just precautionary tests, why was she admitted into the hospital for an overnight stay? Usually, you have tests done and can go home the same day. I think that there is definitely something seriously wrong with Amy Winehouse's health.

The Bachelorette couple Trista and Ryan may be returning to reality television. The couple, which just announced they will be having another child next year, is considering doing another reality television series. This series would focus on their children and their family life. According to Trista, "It's just a matter of whether it fits." So, they had their wedding taped and shown live on TV, do you think she will have her delivery taped live and shown on TV? I sure hope not!

Sources:
www.people.com
www.usmagazine.com

Remember Twiggy? In the 60's, she made having a stick-thin figure popular. As a result, women everywhere learned how to eat celery, fit into sweat pants and strap in all of their natural curves. It explains the painful look on some of those old pictures of your grandma. Thankfully, this trend faded away, and now you rarely hear about Twiggy except in old movies or on America's Top Model. Yet this icon must be given credit for leaving behind a legacy that can still help women today. What is it? Twiggy taught us all how women with boyish figures should dress.

Let's face it. Our DNA has more to do with our hip size than we'd like to think. For this reason, if you have a boyish figure - one that is slight and lacks curves - you can't do much about it. I don't care how many hotdogs and fattening shakes you consume. So, it's best just to wear clothes that accentuate your form and help you look good. Here are a few tips.

Add curves by . . .

• wearing patterns like plaids, tweeds and polka dots.

• dressing in ruffles that add curves and shape to your body.

• adding voluminous trapeze dresses and baby doll dresses.

• rocking pencil skirts that give you hips.

• flaunting straight-legged jeans that thicken your thighs.

• falling in love with spaghetti straps that show off your neckline and shoulders.

American Idol's Simon Cowell has ended his six-year relationship with his girlfriend, Terri Seymour. A rep for Cowell confirmed that the couple broke up, and that it was actually Terri's idea and not Simon's. His rep also added, "It was something that was coming, so it wasn't a shock or a surprise." Cowell has mentioned in the past that he will never settle down and have a family. In my opinion, this is why the couple broke up. Seymour is only 34 and most likely wants to get married and maybe even have children. My question is though, why would she waste six years with Cowell? Did she think that she could change him? Maybe.

It appears that Hugh Hefner's exes are finally moving out of the Playboy mansion. Bridget Marquardt stated to US Magazine that Holly Madison and Kendra Wilkinson are indeed moving out of the Playboy Mansion for good. Bridget also mentioned that she doesn't know how long she will be there. It also appears that ex-girlfriend Holly Madison did not take long to move on from Hefner. She was spotted getting pretty cozy with magician Criss Angel at a club in Las Vegas. I guess Criss Angel is at least one step up from Hefner.

In pretty shocking celebrity news, actor Joaquin Phoenix has announced that he is retiring from movie acting. He is going to pursue his music instead. He has been working on a record with British band The Charlatans. Phoenix has been nominated for two Oscars in his career and has starred in several top box office hits, such as Walk the Line and Gladiator. Walk the Line was actually the movie in which Phoenix learned how to play the guitar to impersonate Johnny Cash and first got interested in playing music. I personally loved Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash, but I'm not so sure that I would like him as a musician. I guess we will have to wait and see what his music is like. Of course, look at how many other professional athletes and actors have come out of retirement when a second career hasn't worked out for them. Somehow, I don't think this will be the last that we see of Phoenix as an actor.

Sources:
www.usmagazine.com
www.people.com

Biker chic is always more or less in fashion, but a fashion show devoted entirely to it is kind of fresh. The traffic division of the Cork City Council in Cork, Ireland is putting on a fashion show called Cycle Chic. It will take place on November 1st from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Millennium Hall, and features trendy bikes, smart clothes and funky accessories. This event, which is free and open to the public, is part of a larger national promotion called Design Week, which celebrates design, creativity, intelligent energy and travel.

The focus of the Cycle Chic fashion show is promoting Cork as a travel destination and cycling as a modern, green and stylish form of transportation. In keeping with that mission, exhibitors include Basil BV, Dutch creators of fashionable bicycle baskets and bags; Cahill, local makers of eclectic bikes; Cycle Chic, a web site with a variety of cool cycling accessories; Cyclodelic, which concentrates on accessories that appeal to female cyclers; Johnny Loco, an artisanal bicycle company, which has turned into a lifestyle company with the addition of clothes and accessories to complement their bikes; Riding Pretty out of California, who design stylish bicycle helmet covers (otherwise known as scarves); Viva Bikes of Denmark, a line of classically elegant urban bikes; Retrovelo Design of Germany, who design bikes with a retro spirit; and belleEtik, an ethical trade company from Ireland which showcases super-chic clothes from fairtrade-certified companies.

Sponsors of the event include the local government, the Trendy Travel European Project, Intelligent Energy Europe, Express Security Europe, Baile Bella, Origin Hair Design and L'arte de Beauty. Cycle Chic follows on the heels of similar events in London, Amsterdam, Vancouver, Las Vegas and Copenhagen. I also saw this trend on the New York runways in Fall 2008, when the Academy of Arts University show featured brightly colored and patterned helmets as accessories for knitwear. There's something appealingly futuristic about the whole thing, and considering that gas prices have become a crisis worldwide, it can only be a good thing if it takes off.

It seems like celebrities like to stand up for each other, which is actually a good thing. When she visited The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Jennifer Love Hewitt stood up for Dancing with the Stars' Cheryl Burke. Burke has been called out by her co-stars about being too heavy and gaining quite a bit of weight over the summer. Hewitt, who was also criticized by the press about her weight in the past, sympathized with Burke and said, "Cheryl Burke is so beautiful and an amazing dancer and that's what people should concentrate on." I like to see this spunk in other celebrities. Even if Cheryl Burke did gain weight, who has the right to say anything about it? Most women would love to still have her body. I commend Jennifer Love Hewitt for publicly sticking up for her.

One celebrity who may not be so proud anymore is Bill Pullman (Independence Day). His son was pulled over by the cops this week and busted for possession of moonshine (alcohol) and assault on a government official. Jack Pullman, 19, was arrested and will face numerous charges. He was released from jail the next day. Pullman has issued a "no comment" statement about his son's arrest and pending charges.

You can add underwear model to the resume of Victoria Beckham. Beckham will follow in her husband's footsteps and become a model for Emporio Armani's women's underwear. You can expect to see Victoria's advertisements during the spring and summer of 2009. Giorgio Armani, who is the mastermind behind the Armani empire, called Victoria Beckham a "style icon." So, not only will she have singer, actress, mom and fashion designer on her resume, she can now add international underwear model. Is there anything that she won't do?

Source:
www.people.com

While clothes are critical to creating the mood for all movies, films about fashion particularly rely on their costumes to tell the story and impress their audience. This is certainly true of the 2006 flick The Devil Wears Prada. Of course, just as the film is largely a caricature of the world of fashion, often the clothes are too.

It's not that the individual pieces don't have their great moments. Rather, The Devil Wears Prada combines too many signature elements, making various outfits look too busy, or in some cases, too cliché as logos and signature patterns take over the screen.

That said, The Devil Wears Prada absolutely gets some things right, including showing us, almost by negative example, just how hard it can be to be fashionable. After all, it's easy to look like you're trying too hard or your clothes are a costume. To be fashionable, you also have to look comfortable, or at least familiar, with your clothes. If you can't walk in three-inch heels, don't wear them.

Some of the cutest looks in The Devil Wears Prada are clearly influenced by menswear. A prep school style blazer paired with fabulous boots and a short, tweed skirt has potential in its mixing of ideas. So does the tweed newsboy cap donned with an otherwise over-accessorized outfit.

But understated and enduring are today's fashion trends (as is often common in difficult economic times), and the outrageousness of the looks in The Devil Wears Prada are more suited to the crazy consumption of the 1980s.

If you want to take your fashion cues from The Devil Wears Prada don't try to recreate entire looks or styles from the film. Rather find one item in a costume you enjoyed and use that to build your own look, keeping your ideas focused and understated, so when you catch someone's eye with your fashion savvy, the image you want them to see is clear.

Many expectant mothers start thinking about what kind of life they want for their baby, as well as the type of world the little one will be living in. As a result, it is no surprise that many pregnant women are interested in organic maternity clothing. The green movement in clothing is expanding to expectant mothers, and a range of organic maternity clothing is now being offered.

Organic Maternity Clothing: Comfort and style
Organic maternity clothing -- especially green clothing made from organic cotton -- can be very comfortable for expectant mothers. In many cases, organic cotton breathes well and provides comfort. This is especially important during the summer. Additionally, organic maternity clothing is free of harmful dyes that can irritate the skin. For those with sensitive skin, having an organic option can really help improve comfort as the pregnancy progresses and clothing options become more limited.

Additionally, it is nice to know that you will be protecting your child. While most people believe that harmful chemicals in dyes used on clothing probably will not affect fetal development, many receive peace of mind from knowing that they are not taking any chances. With organic clothing, you do not have to worry about chemical exposure.

It is true that on an environmental note, buying used clothing is best. But it can be difficult to find used maternity clothing in good condition. Many women keep their maternity clothes, looking forward to the next pregnancy. In cases where you have a hard time finding used clothing, organic maternity clothing can be a good, green alternative. Look for clothing made from natural fibers, and clothing that is free of manmade chemicals and dyes. Round Belly is one of the best sites for organic maternity and children's clothing.

Your new child will live in the world you helped create. The choices we make now affect our children and grandchildren. We can take a stand by making lifestyle changes, and organic clothing is just one part of the equation.

It appears that Jessica Biel wants to be just like her boyfriend, Justin Timberlake. Biel visited a recording studio earlier this month and recorded a couple of tracks. Her rep stated that Jessica did "an amazing job." What is her rep supposed to say? That she really sucked at singing? Her rep is on her payroll! Jessica has sung before when she was a younger kid and preformed in musicals and plays. So, who knows, maybe she can really sing. Maybe her and Justin will put out a pop record together and become the king and queen of pop?

Carrie Underwood is the latest celebrity to be featured as a wax figure at Madam Tussauds in New York. When asked about her wax figure, Carrie stated, "Honestly, it looks so good, it's almost kind of creepy looking at myself." While at the unveiling of her wax figure, Underwood also answered questions about her feud with Jessica Simpson, who is dating Underwood's ex, Tony Romo. Underwood stated that there is absolutely no feud between her and Simpson, who she has only met once quite briefly, and Jessica "seemed really nice." I guess this is one celebrity feud we can put to rest.

For all you fans of Lindsay Lohan's character on the television show Ugly Betty, don't get too attached to her. Lohan has been cut from the six episodes of the series down to the four that she has already recorded. Among the rumors swirling in Hollywood is that America Ferrera, who is the star of Ugly Betty, and Lindsay Lohan were not getting along so well on the set. Supposedly, Ferrera was getting tired of Lohan thinking she was the star and acting like she was too good for everybody. If you remember, Lohan had the same issues when she filmed a couple of movies in the past. I guess her rehab didn't help her professional attitude.

Source:
www.people.com

Sweater dresses have a surprisingly long history. While we tend to associate their first burst of popularity with the 1950s, patterns for such garments were produced by pattern companies and in sewing magazines in the 1940s and 1930s. Today we tend to think of the sweater dress as a comfortable, casual clothing item, but this wasn't always the case.

Through the 1950s, the soft lines of the sweater dress didn't mean that wearing them was remotely comfortable. Foundation garments for women including girdles, corsets and highly structure bras were still the standard, and the clingy shape of the sweater dress only made them more essential.

In the 1960s, sweater dresses took on a split personality. Conservative dresses, usually in a single color and with small stitches, were appropriate for women in the workplace. Meanwhile, the sweater dress also became popular with the rise of the hippies who incorporated multiple colors, layers and stitch styles, including crochet. Sleeves became wide and outrageous. As they moved towards the 1970s, sweater dresses came in all lengths - from the micro-mini to floor-length versions. Some were worn alone, other were worn over slacks and blouses or smaller, clingier dresses.

In the early 1980s, the sweater dress was largely co-opted into the dance-wear craze, and sweatshirt dresses were as common as their knit cousins. Worn with leggings, the lengths were often quite short, and bold patterns in primary colors were popular. Bright reds and blues, along with black, white and yellow dominated the sweater dress in the first half of the eighties. In the later eighties, hems came down a bit (but were still largely above the knee), and the dresses took on more muted colors. Sweatshirt materials were out, and the traditional sweater dress was back to being knit. That said, the silhouette still remained loose.

Beginning in the 1990s and moving through the turn of the century to today, the sweater dress went back to its roots, becoming clingier, more appropriate for office settings and often homemade as knitting once again became a popular activity for women.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. And why wouldn't it? In prime form, an apple is red, juicy, crunchy and delectable. I believe these are the main reasons an apple tempted Adam in the story of the "Garden of Eden." After all, nobody would believe that a guy would get all worked up over a kumquat. Yet, even when it comes to apples, there is a dark side. Women with apple shapes rarely see it as a plus.

Women with apple shapes start off small and skinny at the bottom and grow larger as you move up their bodies. This fact is true regardless of size. As a result, their biggest issue is finding a way to balance out their bodies. The good news: there are several ways to do it.

Apple-shaped women can create an illusion of balance by wearing certain kinds of clothes. These clothes are ones that elongate the neck, minimize the bust, create a waist or widen the leg area. Here are a few suggestions:

Flared skirts
Wrap dresses and tops
Wide-legged or normal jeans
Wide-legged or normal slacks
Fitted blouses and boat necks
Long-lapelled jackets
V-neck sweaters

These items are the kinds of clothing that accentuate the bodies of apple-shaped women. As you can see, most of them are classic clothes. You know the kind of clothes that rarely go out of style and translate through time. You can easily find them in any department store.

All of this talk about apples is making me hungry. The last time I looked, they were on sale. You can get an apple for fifty cents! And the best thing is that you don't have to make a deal with the devil to do it.

I've travelled in Asia for the last five years and have visited many countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan. All of these countries are vastly different in culture and tradition, and to some extent, in fashion. But one thing I discovered in all of them is the Asian women's addiction to shoes. Sure, Sex and the City's Carrie had a shoe obsession, but most Asian girls easily have her beat.

In Thailand, girls are obsessed with high-heel, strappy sandals. They're available everywhere and come in every color and design you can imagine. No fashion-conscious Bangkok girl will ever have less than 30 pairs of shoes, and many have a lot more. One of my Thai friends, Tua, has over 60 pairs of shoes and adds to this collection every week. She loves the pointy-toed shoes, the sling-back sandals and even the peeptoe shoes. She also has a pair of Mary Jane's that is to die for. Tua loves shoes so much she actually gets a rush of excitement when she finds another cute pair and can't wait to try them on. If they fit, she's transported to a place of unimaginable joy. Now that's an obsession with shoes!

In Japan, a lot of Japanese girls are really into boots of all lengths (ankle boots were popular when I was there) and stylish flats that they can walk in. Japanese girls definitely seem to be more concerned about comfort than Thai girls, who will stagger around in the highest high-heel shoes just to look sexy. Funky Mary Jane's in moss green, brown and black are a big hit in Japan, and paired with the typical Japanese flair for fashion, they do look cool.

In Hong Kong, women seemed much like the Japanese during the day. Trendy, yet comfortable seems to be the order of the day; probably because Hong Kong is a walking city. So flat shoes, low-heeled boots and Doc Martens abound. But at night, even though you'll still see many of the flat shoes around the shopping areas, if you head to the Hong Kong nightclub or restaurant scene, designer high-heeled, strappy sandals hold sway.

If you're ever in Asia and you love shoes, you'll fit right in. For Asian girls, the shoe is often more important than the clothes.

Yet another set of twins is being born to a celebrity couple. Actor Charlie Sheen and his new wife, Brooke, are expecting twins in April of next year. According to Brooke's mom, Moira Fiore, they think that the twins are boys but are not certain. The couple announced in August that they were expecting a baby next year, but did not mention twins at the time. Sheen already has three children from previous relationships, and these kids will be Brooke's first children. There must be something in the water in Hollywood, because it seems like almost every celebrity couple that gets pregnant is expecting twins.

Another pregnancy announcement broke in Hollywood this week. Actress Alyson Hannigan and her husband, Alexis Denisof, are expecting their first child together next spring. You may remember Hannigan from the American Pie movies and her current job on How I Met Your Mother. The couple has been married for almost five years and originally met on the set of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Good luck to these two on their new little one!

Is there one couple in Hollywood who aren't expecting a baby? Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer. There were tons of rumors going around the web and even in magazines that claimed Jennifer Aniston was pregnant and that is why the couple has rekindled their romance in the past couple of weeks. Well, Aniston's rep has come out publicly, telling Entertainment Tonight, "Give me a break. She is NOT pregnant." The couple seems to be giving their relationship another try though. They were spotted holding hands and celebrating Mayer's 31st birthday together. Why is it that whenever a couple gets back to together, it automatically means there is a baby involved? Maybe they just really missed each other and want to give it another shot?

Sources:
www.people.com
www.usmagazine.com

One of the hot new shows for fashion is Gossip Girl, a delightfully trashy drama about privileged teens in New York City. The fashions on the show are so popular that several blogs have already sprung up to document the show's clothes, hairstyles and makeup.

While much of the show's look is dependent on exclusive designer names such as Michael Kors, Kate Spade and Juicy Couture, many key items to the show's style are more pedestrian and familiar than you might expect. For that prep school look, French Toast offers uniform basics, although they're made for kids and will only fit smaller-sized adults. But gray or navy pleated skirts aren't that hard to come by, and with the right accessories you can definitely make it into something stunning.

Gossip Girl favors classic looks with lots of color and mostly feminine (the show is a big fan of ties on girls) styles for women, and khakis and sweaters for men. To get the Gossip Girl look, think texture and patterns. Tweeds and corduroy, as well as knits and more sumptuous fabrics like velvet and silk are sure winners. Plaids, stripes and piping, as well as great accessories are critical. And the accessorizing isn't just limited to women - men need to consider French cuffs in order to show off cuff-links and also will want to have great ties, pocket squares with the right jacket, and if you're really daring, the oft-seen-on-the-show ascot.

Part of the show's appeal is also its love of outrageous costuming, which is often showcased during the exclusive parties its characters attend. Whether it's a themed birthday party (think 1920s or Marie Antoinette) or a high-profile event like the White Party, the fashion of Gossip Girl is driven by special-event looks, which hold particular interest as we enter the holiday season.

Gossip Girl understands that all fashion is costume, and while every look on the show won't necessarily translate easily to our more mundane lives, the show is a great inspiration to be completely serious about making your wardrobe absolutely playful.

Could Madonna be losing a husband and a child? Madonna adopted little David in 2006 from Malawi and promised David's father that she would take good care of him. Well, David's biological father has now come out to say that he feels bad for David because of all of the photographers pushing to get pictures, and Madonna's impending divorce has added even more unrest. Since Madonna adopted David, his biological father has gotten a new wife, had two other children and also has provided a home for his family in Malawi. David's father had this to say about the situation, "But now, when I think of David in danger of living outside a family life, I find it unbearable." As you may remember, Madonna had trouble adopting David in the first place, because he was from Malawi and there were certain laws that had to be followed. Could this be a way for little David's father to get him back from Madonna? You never know.

Comedian Sasha Baron Cohen and actress Isla Fisher celebrated their daughter Olive's first birthday with a celebrity filled party. They threw a country western first birthday party with all the works. The celebrity guest list included Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox with her daughter Coco, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, Dustin Hoffman and Tobey Maguire with his daughter Ruby. What will her second birthday party be like, let alone her sweet sixteen?

It's official. High School Musical heartthrob, Zac Efron is now 21. Efron laid low for his 21st birthday, celebrating with his girlfriend, Vanessa Hudgens, and close family and friends at L.A.'s Pace restaurant. Some of the guest included Monique Coleman, Ashley Tisdale, Amanda Bynes, Brittany Snow and Michelle Trachtenberg. Efron left the restaurant with Hudgens just around midnight and headed off to a local hotel with a couple of the guest to continue the party. I'm actually pretty happy to see that some young Hollywood stars know how to celebrate and not make fools of themselves. Good for them!

Source:
www.usmagazine.com
www.people.com

What do you wear when you are going on a nice date night or to a casual holiday party? Well, you could follow the celebrity trend and try a feminine blouse. It seems like the ruffled and feminine blouse is back in fashion. It's a great option to wear to work or when you are going out. Several celebrities such as Anne Hathaway, Kelly Ripa and Brooke Shields have all been bringing this fashion trend back. They key to wearing this blouse this season is to make sure that it is not too big on you and shows off your body shape. Try feminine blouses with ruffles and ties around the neck, like the blouses that Cavalli designs.

If you rather show off your body in a dress for your holiday party, try another celebrity trend with a striped, strapless dress. America Ferrera, Hayden Panettiere and Blake Lively have gone the striped-strapless-dress route and looked really great. The key to wearing a striped, strapless dress is to make sure that there are not stripes going down the entire dress, especially if the dress is tight. Instead, there should be blocks of stripes such as just along the bust line or big stripes that are actually more like blocks of color. When wearing a striped, strapless dress, keep the rest of the look simple with clean jewelry and shoes.

US Magazine threw their annual Hot Hollywood bash, and one of the biggest celebrity trends for the ladies was patterns. Every celebrity that you looked at had some sort of pattern on. There were pinstripes, paisleys, geometric patterns, leopard print and all sorts of loud and out-there patterns. It seemed like celebrities were shunning plain clothing for the night. Some of the ladies who attended the bash and wore patterns were Miranda Lambert, Ashley Tisdale, Blake Lively and Vanessa Hudgens. When wearing a pattern, especially a very bold one, make sure that you keep everything else simple, because you don't want to look like you are desperate for attention. Patterns are definitely one fashion trend that anyone can follow.

Source:
www.usmagazine.com

In some really good celebrity news, Travis Barker has finally been released from the hospital. Barker was badly burned in a plane accident almost a month ago and has been in the hospital getting treatment ever since. The plane crash killed four people and injured Baker's friend, DJ AM. The musician will continue recovering at home where he can be closer to his kids and family.

Another fight has erupted in Hollywood. This time it is between two unlikely people. Jenny McCarthy has called comedian Denis Leary "stupid" for the jokes that he makes about autism in his new book Why We Suck: A Feel-Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid. Not only is Jenny McCarthy lashing out against Leary, but the autism community has joined her. This includes actress Holly Robinson Peete, who, like McCarthy, has a son who has been diagnosed with autism. I definitely think that McCarthy and Peete win on this one, as autism is a serious matter and should not be used in jokes, even if Leary was misunderstood in the book.

Looks like another celebrity baby is on the way. Country singer Brad Paisley and actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley are expecting their second child next April. The baby will join their son, Huck, who was born in February 2007. Kimberly is currently filming her last season on the television show According To Jim, and Brad is set to host the Country Music Association awards in November. After Kimberley's show is over, she will head back to Nashville, where the family lives. This is one celebrity couple that I am really happy for as they seem down-to-earth and not conceited like some celebrity couples. Of course, it could be because they don't run in most celebrity circles and they don't live in Hollywood.

Sources:
www.people.com
www.usmagazine.com

As we move towards winter in the northern hemisphere, gloves are an inevitable item on many people's shopping lists. But while we mainly think of gloves as a way to keep warm, these hand coverings actually have a long history as statements of fashion, affection and power.

Gloves may be mentioned in many ancient stories, such as Homer's "The Odyssey," and the histories of Herodotus, but it is hard to be certain because of translation issues. What one translator views as a glove may have really been a gauntlet, a glove-like object that covers the hand by not the fingers, or a sleeve.

While gloves and mittens were surely used for warmth even earlier, gloves first appear as a high-fashion item in the 1200s when they were made of a range of materials including linen, silk, fur and leather. Gloves, like most clothing of the time in Europe, were governed by sumptuary laws that enforced class structure by limiting certain fabrics, jewels and styles to persons of a certain rank. Gloves became increasingly ornate and the subject of ritual throughout the next several centuries, particularly during the reign of Elizabeth I.

Gloves for fashion and social purposes were not just restricted to women. Men also wore gloves to signify rank and as a part of basic good manners. For many centuries at formal events neither a woman nor a man could be properly seen without gloves.

While gloves were a proper part of ladies attire until the mid-20th century, today, most gloves are worn only for warmth. And while stylish models are preferred, gloves are rarely seen indoors. An exception to this remains formal occasions that often have women wearing gloves for proms, the opera and black tie events; the appropriate length of the gloves (wrist, elbow, opera length) is determined by the occasion, event time and dress cut. Gloves remain a required part of some men's formal attire as well - usually white tie or military formal dress.

Despite the fact that many people find gloves a frustrating and confining part of winter, they can be a remarkably fun fashion accessory.

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What's in a *belt*? Everything! Jewels. Plastic. Leather. Beads. Metal. With all of this stuff, you'd think people would know how to wear them. Alas, they don't. Here are a few common scenarios:

Scenario #1: Shelia prides herself on being able to wear the same clothes she did in high school. As a result, on occasion, she wears a tie dye belt around a dress that used to go with another outfit she wore in 1965.

Scenario #2: Bill is a cowboy who works in corporate America. Of course, while in the office, he complies with wearing a suit and tie. But his belt is always a BIG one - with an ornate buckle.

Scenario #3: Cindy has always had a thick waist. In order to create a smaller one, she wears a skinny belt. It makes her look like a sausage with a string tied around it.

Sadly, we all know a Shelia, Bill or Cindy. They are our friends, relatives and coworkers. They are smart in every way except fashion. So here are a few tips they can use in regards to wearing belts:

Belts should fit . . .

A. The times. Unless the 60's are back in style, don't wear a belt from that era. Stick with the current trends.

B. The outfit. Casual belts belong with casual outfits and vice versa. Save cowboy buckles and other trendy belts for jeans.

C. The body. Your belt size should fit your body size. Skinny belts look best on skinny people.

Give these belt tips to the Shelias, Bills and Cindys of the world. And use them yourself. They will help anyone select a belt that looks good on them.

When I think of Ireland, I think of green hills, Guinness beer, the potato famine and lots of chunky girls wearing dumpy, dark, ugly clothes. Yeah, well, I did grow up in England, and we tend to be a bit prejudiced. But I am smart enough to admit when I'm wrong. The bit about the chunky girls wearing dumpy, dark, ugly clothes, that is. Maybe that was Ireland 75 years ago, but it's not today. Irish girls are stylish, street hip and fashionable, and a lot of them are really pretty. So, if you're going to be in Ireland what's the street style like?

First of all, knitwear. Irish girls wear a lot of sweaters, cardigans and hats. Well, you've kind of have to. It is still cold there most of the year. The knitwear is gorgeous. Made with the softest lambs' wool and handmade, an Irish sweater will last for a couple of generations. The layered look is also in style. Leggings or a short or knee-length skirt on the bottom, with a t-shirt and shirt on top, and then a short or cropped jacket. Pair all these up with a long scarf and a pair of high heels, and you're the height of fashion in Dublin. Tartan has also been in for a couple of seasons and definitely gives an outfit an authentic flair. Bags, this winter season, are huge and roomy. You pretty much could carry a 6-pack of Guinness in most of them, with enough room for the kitchen sink and a microwave.

For guys, Wrangler jeans, a shirt and a shoulder bag worn across the body (all in muted or dark colors) looks cool. A vintage t-shirt, shirt and jeans looks even better. Oxfam (the huge British charity shop chain) is very popular, and you'll see many an Irish fashion follower rummaging through the Oxfam racks.

The great thing about Ireland is innovation and a slightly crazy style is admired. Even an outfit that could look quite boring is worn with a funky shawl, scarf or beads and some high heel boots and a weird and wonderful bag. Ireland. Quirky is almost normal here.