Fake Diamonds for the Elizabeth Taylor in You!

imageDiamonds, of course, are a girl’s best friend. But in this economy, who has the money to go out and drop some serious cash on a rock? Enter the world of lovely costume jewelry. Oversized faux diamonds are fun, cheap and look great with anything from an evening dress to jeans and a t-shirt! I love the “Big As A House” diamond ring from Fred Flare — only $9 and makes a huge impact! For something a bit more vintage, what about the tea party ring from Banana Republic? Its vintage cut and mix of materials send a perfect mix of “this is an heirloom” and “this is fabulous.” Check out my slideshow for other lovely faux diamonds!

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6 Geeky Gimmicky Cameras That Are Way More Fun Than Your Canon!

imageWhether you’re a true studied photographer or simply rely on your iPhone and TwitPic to document your daily adventures, nowadays everyone’s got the photo bug in some form or another. But have you noticed that despite the ever-increasing accessibility, portability and quality of cameras with all the latest tech developments, all the newly released digi gadgets have just started to look and function basically the same? Quick and convenient, sure, but borrring! Bring the creativity back to picture-taking and add some variety to those thousands of extended arm self-portraits you have tagged on Facebook with a novelty camera. Print photos instantly on the go with the Fuji Instax Camera (no need to scrounge around for your USB cord!), or create pop art portraits with the Pop Cam from Fred Flare. These novelty cameras aren’t exactly a practical replacement for your usual point-and-shoot, but they’re a fun addition to anyone who loves living behind the lens! Take a look at the slideshow for the 6 quirkiest cameras on the e-shelves today!

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Purple Handbags Are A Must Have for Fall

imageStand out from a sea of black! Rich hues are in this fall, so why not give your outfit a pop of color with a purple handbag? I love this Kooba Amber Shoulder bag ($545 at Neiman Marcus) for it’s roomy size, not so flashy gold hardware, and cool looking bow detail. The Caroline Shoulder Bag (On Sale for $169 at Neiman Marcus) with watersnake skin gives a glamorous touch to an everyday bag. Finally, the Marc By Marc Jacobs Classic Q Huge Hillier Leather Hobo ($498 at Bloomingdales) is sleek, roomy, and versatile with two strap lengths. Check out Coquette for more stylish purple bags for fall.

Meet Manolo, Mingle With The Olsens, And Party With Opening Ceremony At Fashion’s Night Out!

imageAny fashion week brings with it a slew of star-studded parties, but next month’s spring 2010 shows in NYC will be ushered in by an absolute extravaganza- Fashion’s Night Out. The September 10th event will feature everything from model and celebrity appearances to in-store events and meet and greets, and of course, shopping! It’s being put on by Vogue, the CFDA, NYC & Company, and the City of New York, with the idea that engaging the city in the fun and excitement of fashion and shopping will restore consumer confidence once again. So what can we expect? For starters, Anna Wintour will appear at Macy’s in Queens (wow, who would’ve thought) to sign t-shirts (again, wow), Andre Leon Talley will host a game at Bergdorf’s. Coco Rocha will be doing a special performance at DKNY, Sasha Pivovarova will be showing her art at Henri Bendel, and it-girls like Harley Viera-Newton and Alexandra and Theodora Richards will be DJ-ing about town. Want more? Manolo Blahnik will hold a meet-and-greet, Oscar de la Renta will sing, Opening Ceremony is having a block party, and Chanel will have a customized handbag studio! Still not excited? Mark your calendars: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen will be bartending at Barneys– is it bad that I want someone to order a black and Tanner? For more information on Fashion’s Night Out, including the festivities in other cities around the world and a more complete list of events, go here!

Gotta Getaway? Indulge In Minimalism At The LUX ELEVEN In Berlin, Germany!

imageIn our fast-paced society of instant gratification and non-stop networking (we can’t even keep in touch with friends guilt-free on Facebook without calling it “networking”), it is easy to become stressed and harried. Even weekends, the lone couple of days we had to rest and recuperate, are now filled with playing catch-up for the office or partaking in fun, but taxing activities that don’t let our bodies just sit back, take a deep breath, and truly relax. The next time you get a some vacation time, treat yourself to somewhere that is fun, interesting and will also give you some time to really breathe a sigh of relief. Try Berlin, Germany and stay at the beautifully streamlined Lux Eleven hotel. Imagine Calvin Klein had designed the interiors and you have the modern minimalism of steel and hardwood in a clean and spacious area. Now imagine Hello Kitty completed a touch of the finishing details and you get the the hot pink lobby and roll out carpet, the pink and purple striped blankets atop starkly contrasting black and white, and the twinkling, spherical lights flanking the hallways- basically, de-cluttered glam in a minimalist setting. The rooms are amazing as well, with anything from value rooms to penthouses available, all of which come furnished with a seating area and kitchenette to make you feel even more relaxed and at home. Still a little stressed? The Lux Eleven provides a spa and healing center that uses different programs and treatments, as well as plant-derived Aveda products to put you at ease, mind, body and soul. Shopping more the name of your game? Their Ulf Haines store offers pieces straight from the collection from big name designers like Balmain and Ann Demeulemeester and if spa treatments and shopping leave you hungry, the hotel also houses a meticulously decorated restaurant and bar that serves the finest in food and beverage. Check out the slideshow for a closer look ar Berlin’s simply gorgeous Lux Eleven hotel and start planning your perfectly peaceful getaway today!

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Stylehive’s “Hive It” Button Is Now On JCPenney.com!

imageLet’s go on a little shopping trip, shall we? First stop: JCPenney.com. Why, you ask? Go to the web site and see for yourself! Go to any product page- say, this I ‘Heart’ Ronson crinkle top– and under the “Add To Bag” button, you’ll see a row of icons belonging to Facebook, MySpace, Stylehive, and Kaboodle. Recognize the orange one? That’s our “Hive It” button- click on it and you’ll automatically bookmark the item! Just select your images and tags as usual, and voila! Hiving from JCPenney.com is easy as that. Be sure you’re already logged in to your Stylehive account, and try it for yourself! Want to add the “Hive It” button to your web site or e-store? Go here to get started! Happy hiving!

Cute and Cuddly Gifts For Your Littlest Loved Ones!

imageOne person that everyone loves showering and spoiling with gifts is the baby. We love gifting things to babies because, well, they’re just so darn cute! And everything made for them is also just so darn cute! Honestly, I believe that if we could get away with it, many of us would still be wearing soft fleece pjs with footies attached, or eating dinner off personalized plates and silverware with tiny animals marching across. Alas, we grew up as did our tastes, and although we can’t use many of the super soft, extra-cuddly or painfully cute clothes and accessories that infants get to, we now have the means to buy them and provide them to the babies in our life. Whether it’s your baby’s first holiday, a new niece or nephew that you’re welcoming, or a close friend’s mini-me, there’s a vast variety of brightly colored toys, plush pastel blankies, itty-bitty garments and beautifully shining accessories that are admittedly a little superflous but undeniably lust-worthy and still very practical. Click on the slideshow for some favorite gift ideas to show the littlest one how much you love them.

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Beauty.Com Partners With Zero + Cornejo Maria On An Exclusive Travel Case

imageBeauty.com is at it again with another one of their famous designer collaborations. This time around, they collaborated with the award-winning fashion label Zero + Maria Cornejo in creating a super chic travel bag stuffed with 16 deluxe hair, makeup, and skincare samples. The travel bag trio features zippered compartments in three shapes that can be carried individually or as a set. “This bag is based on the three shapes that always inspire the collection — a circle, a square, and a triangle,” says Cornejo. “When I was designing the bag, I was thinking of busy women like myself who, when they travel, need maximum flexibility. I love the idea that each separate compartment snaps apart so that you can separate your products and just grab one item and go!”

The entire set is valued at $140 but will be yours free with any purchase of $100 or more at beauty.com/zeromariacornejo.

So what exactly will you find in this chic travel bag?

-Nick Chavez Beverly Hills PLUMP ‘N THICK Thickening Spray Gel with Collagen
-Origins Modern Friction Nature’s gentle dermabrasion
-Borba Gummi Boosters Acaí Skin Balance Confections
-Caudali Paris Vinoperfect NIght Correcting Cream
-Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Seasilk Color Hold Moisture Hold Shampoo
-Talika Paris Eye Therapy Patch
-Diana B. Scented Candle
– Lorac TANtalizer Baked Bronzer
– Jane Iredale Longest Lash Thickening and Lengthening Mascara
– Paula Dorf Perfect Primer
– RareMinerals Purely Nourishing Facial Moisturizer
– Dr. Brandt pores no more vacuum cleaner blackhead extractor
– PHYTO phytodefrisant
– BVLGARI Omnia Green Jade Body Lotion
– Arcona Night Breeze Heal/Protect PM
– Urban Decay Lipstick, in Sellout

Nelly Furtado Explores Her Fashion Mishaps On MTV’s “What Were U Thinking?”

imageWe all have a few outfits we’ve worn in the past that, when confronted with the pictures, makes us want to burn every piece that went into the outfit along with all the photos in a big evidence-ridding bonfire. Who hasn’t scrolled through photos of themselves on Facebook and with a quick click of the “remove tag” button thought, “What was I thinking?!” Luckily for us non-famous folk, our fashion mishaps and momentary lapses of judgment aren’t printed on every newsstand tabloid, paraded on national television, or discussed in Twitter trending topics. On MTV’s web series, “What Were U Thinking?” famous fashionistas like Kim Kardashian and Kristin Cavallari get a chance to defend their style choices, give praise to designers, make fun of their own faux pas, and provide us insight into some of their biggest “WWUT?” moments (for example, was Nelly’s “I’m Like a Bird” get-up for real?!). Click “See Video” to watch the show’s most recent guest, Nelly Furtado, dish on her favorite funky wardrobe highs and lows, then click over to the show’s official site to see past guests’ episodes and the show’s October 12th finale with “Twilight’s” Ashley Greene.

Channel Your Inner Monster This Halloween With “Where The Wild Things Are”

imageFor a book with only 9 sentences, Where the Wild Things Are sure is making a splash in the fashion world and beyond. Published in 1963, the book has been read by generations and now we get to enjoy a live action feature length movie directed by Spike Jonze this week. Needless to say, the book and movie provides some great inspiration for a Halloween costume. Between the furry monster suit Max wears and the other frightening (yet cute) monsters, it’s easy to channel your inner “wild thing.” Even my favorite boutique Opening Ceremony created a capsule collection based on the characters of the movie. But chances are you’ve already got a fur vest or even some furry boots, so a costume fit for any wild monster is already lurking in your closet! Just add a fur skirt or find some faux fur at a craft store, add a homemade gold crown, and you’re ready to go. Take a look at my slideshow that will have you ready for a “wild rumpus” this Halloween!

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