The Best of One Shoulder Dresses

The one-shoulder dress is categorized as a "trend", but it's a good investment because it comes back pretty frequently (unlike, say, Hammer pants.) Check these out, organized by price range:

UNDER $100

ASOS folded one shoulder dress ($82.07); ASOS frill empire dress ($69.30); Gianni Bini lila dress ($47.40); T by Alexander Wang ($85); Aqua one shoulder dress ($88)

UNDER $200

ASOS Black corsage dress ($136.78); Aqua Couture peplum dress ($155); ABS one shoulder gown ($129.90) also in wine; Alice & Olivia Joyce dress ($130); Tbags print one shoulder dress ($134)

UNDER $300

Rachel Pally Aphrodite dress ($246) also in black; Tadashi ruched matte jersey dress ($298);

Over $500

Alexander Wang slinky one-shoulder dress ($575)

Gossip Girl Fashion: Stylist Spills About Season 3

It's no coincidence that this Sunday is the launch of Anna Sui's Gossip Girl inspired Target collection - they're making sure it goes hand-in-hand with the premiere of Season 3 (Monday at 8pm on the CW.)

We know what Anna envisioned Blair, Serena, Jenny and Vanessa wearing this fall - but what will they really wear? Check out what stylist Eric Daman has to say about what the girls (and in turn, the rest of us buying Forever 21 knockoffs) will be wearing this season.

Jenny:


Serena:


Blair:


Thus far there is no video update on Vanessa's style from the CW peeps. Maybe they figured out everybody hates her? (I don't know why I do, but I just do.)

Trend Alert: Metallic Snakes

Clockwise from top right: Pave snake earrings, $30, emitations.com; Vintage Snake Belt, $9.99, eBay.com; Coiled snake necklace, $12, Torrid.com; Dereon snake bracelet, $68, MaxAndChloe.com; A.B.S. Snake ring, $75, MaxAndChloe.com; Blu Bijoux snake bracelet, $48, MaxAndChloe.com.

If you're unsure whether the snake trend is "you", give it a test run and rent one of these cute Kenneth Jay Lane cuffs in black ($14/week, $30/month) or white ($17/week, $50/month) at Bag Borrow or Steal. Non-member prices are a smidge higher, but not by much, and shipping is free.

Trend Alert: Fugly Nylon Longchamp Bags

According to my Red Line-riding pal Erin, there's been a megatrend of chicks on the Boston T rocking these totally fug nylon bags by the brand Longchamp:FYI: Unless you are hauling diapers or corrected 3rd grade test papers, there is no excuse for this bag.

Now, I've heard of buying the smallest Coach bag on earth just because it's Coach, or even carrying the plastic store bag of a pricy designer just to appear as if you grabbed any plastic bag and you're so posh that that one came up by chance in a heap of other posh plastic bags (telltale fading aside), but seriously - I draw the line at purchasing something ugly as hell just because it's got a label. And in this case - double WTF - who even cares about Longchamp??!

[Photo by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott]

Now that their hot new ad (above) has launched, I may or may not be changing my tune about the brand's chic-itude. But the nylon bag is still a no-no.

Kiss of Fire

My latest cosmetics obsession (after spotting the look on a Zac Posen model for his Fall 2009 collection show -check the pics below) is orange lipstick. No, I haven't lost my mind. I'm just bored of true red, and nothing lights up the eyes and the complexion like a gash of color on the mouth.

M.A.C. Cosmetics cult classic shade "Morange" is what Posen's ladies were rocking, but I'm pretty broke and $14 on a lipstick feels steep, so I hit the drugstore today looking for something similar. The winners:

Revlon Super Lustrous in Kiss Me Coral (the web image looks dull but it's near neon in real life) $7.99

L'Oreal Colour Riche in Volcanic $8.95

Models at Zac Posen Fall 09 wearing M.A.C. Lipstick in "Morange"
[Images via Style.com]

Hair Trend Alert: Little Braids

One hair trend I'm loving this spring (especially since my bangs are at that totally obnoxious stage of growing out where they poke me right in the eyes) is the tiny braid. It's popping up on women with really expensive hairstylists all over Hollywood.

How to do it:
I first noticed the mini-braid trend on Jen Aniston at the Oscars. This headband-esque, medium-small braid, also featured on Nicky Hilton, can be worn when hair is up or down. You'll need a way to secure it unless you have very textured hair. Use bobby pins or a clip if hair is down - just make sure it is nondescript as the end of the braid is hidden under the hair. A visible barette or clip will make you look like a 6th grader. If hair is up, make sure the end is pinned or tied in with the rest of the hair, and mist a bit of hairspray over the base.

The braids featured on Mary Kate and LC are skinny enough that they should stay intact on their own, whether hair is worn up or down. I would pinch a dab of gel on the end of the braid just to be sure. These braids can be strategically placed, but I prefer them sort of haphazardly strewn about the hair - especially when it is worn down and wavy.

Fall 2009 Makeup Trends

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Color! So glad it's sticking around beyond the spring and summer seasons for 2009. Dior's models rocked the rainbow at the Fall 2009 show, and the old 80's up-to-the-eyebrows trend seems to be back with a vengeance. So long as you choose a flattering color for yourself, I say go nuts.

A slash of black liquid liner along the top lids is a classic look, but I like how they also lined the crease to create a longer eye at Moschino. At Vivienne Westwood they punked out the usually ladylike look by applying liner to the entire lid. Try Urban Decay's Liquid Liner in Perversion ($18 - P.S. I find the liners with brushes as opposed to "felt tips" create a cleaner line.)

Usually a summer makeup trend, bright coral showed up on lips and cheeks in two fall shows. Combined with a complementary bright pink lip or a doll-like smoky eye, when done lightly this color is completely wearable on most skin tones. Zac's model is wearing M.A.C. Cosmetics - Eyeshadow in Blackberry ($14.50)and Lipstick in Morange ($14.50). Betsey's model is wearing Stila - Long wear lip color in Hippie ($17)and Convertible Color in Gladiola ($25)on cheeks.

This is a strong look and a tough one to pull off, but with the right evening ensemble (I'd go with something simple, with a feminine accent like a ruffle or bow just for contrast) the goth lipped look can be done. Betsey's model is wearing Stila Cosmetics - Onyx Kajal eyeliner ($18) and Convertible Color in Poppy ($25), both on the lips.

I'm not a big bronzer gal myself, but toned down the full lid of shimmery brown shadow and a peachy nude blush can look really soft. Back in the day this went hand in hand with a heavily shaded brow - I like how they left them natural at the Chloe show (pictured.) Try Smashbox eyeshadow in Sienna ($16), layered with Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy shadow ($14).

And the best for last - conceptual God John Galliano sent the ghosts of gypsies past down the runway for fall, and thanks to some equally masterful makeup artistry, models looked like abandoned childhood dolls left to freeze in a blizzard.

Eyeshadow was applied to the entire socket of each eye, with the inner corners and browbones highlighted with a dash of metallic cream to prevent a completely punched-out look. Cheekbones were carved out with plum powder and brought forward with cool metallic highlighter.

I'm really fascinated by the way it was done, so be on the lookout for a how-to in the future.
A great highlighter I recently tested? Smashbox 2-in-1 Luminizing Primer. ($34 for .98 oz.)

Give Me a Black Eye

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[Clockwise from top left: Yigal Azrouel, Cavalli, Marc Jacobs, Marc Jacobs, Versace]

Dark and heavy - it's what many designers seem to have asked makeup gurus to deliver for Fall 2009, because it was all over the runways. This was not just a "smoky eye" - it was smoky, glossy, hard, reminiscent of both Egyptian royalty and proto-punk. Call it a cat eye if you will, but understand this is more the type that would maul you to death. You need attitude to rock this look, and not money.

Marc's girls wore Nars cosmetics (check out their "Night" series of shadows), applied by Francois Nars himself. Shocker since he hasn't worked a show in about a decade. People sure love Marc. Or he gives a mean BJ.
Azrouel's wore M.A.C. and Cavalli's went drugstore with Max Factor's 200 Calorie mascara piled on.

Just musing here: Maybe the vicious painted glare is their collective nod to the disasterous economy, the grittiness of life at the moment? With $50,000 dresses flying down the runway beneath these faces, it would appear (at least I would hope) to be an ironic juxtaposition.

It's London Fashion Week

And lately it's becoming my favorite of the fashion weeks. Here are a few trends I'd like to see cross the pond:

(Click either image for a closer peek)

These are three of the best looks to hit the London runways to date:

Giles, Julien MacDonald, and Richard Nicoll.
I'm in love with the fabrics, the tailoring and the general future-romantic vibe, respectively.

For more on the London Shows, hit up WomensWearDaily.com.

What's New: Fur Vests, Hammer Pants and a Puzzle Piece

Just wanted to show you what's in store (and in style) for next fall in case you're the ahead-of-the-game type. While most of the other established design houses gave us nothing but barf-worthy prints (exception below) and "Is that grandma's fucking curtains?" brocade numbers in their recent pre-Fall 2009 shows, the always fantastic Nicolas Ghesquiere kicked out a 70's rocker staple -the shagged-out fur vest- for Balenciaga to remind us all what glam really means. Although I'd advise you to rock faux fur unless you're either an Eskimo or a fucking asshole.

I'm also loving and dying for those pants - harem styles (i.e. Hammer Time) will be on the racks this summer for those who dare (you need 2 things - be thin and wear high-ass heels), but I'm favoring this punk jodphur skinny-harem-combo. I'll post a copycat version that isn't $9,000 when I find one, in both cases.

As for aforementioned exception to the gnarly prints out there, Alexander Wang gave us this crossword getup, which again, I'm dying for: