Patricia Field Sequin Boots - Cute or Crazy?

Patricia Field sequin boots, $37.50 (50% off original price)
(code GRECHEN for extra 15% off)

Sequin boots - Fun or WTF?
	Fun
	WTF
pollcode.com free polls

Glamour Puts a Little Meat on the Bones

Look at the realness (aside from airbrushing, of course) of Glamour Magazine's most recent swimwear feature model. She looks like someone I'd actually see at a beach in real life, and she looks fabulous and not malnourished. And she's the sole model on a multi-page spread shot by Patrick Demarchelier - and the spread is not entitled "Swimsuits for Curvy Gals" featuring Lane Bryant styles.

I'm not the first whose gut reaction to this spread was not only to be impressed, but also to be relieved. How often is it you look at a swimsuit ad or a feature on beachwear that you don't feel the urge to starve for four days, even if you're rockin a BMI of 19? Can you look at THIS and eat your lunch afterward?

Do tell:

Do ads and magazine spreads featuring swimwear affect your self image?
	Nope, I'm hot and I always feel hot
	Sometimes - like if I'm PMSing or something
	I know I'm hot but I feel a little fat when I see them
	They almost always make me feel like a fat cow

Cover Girls - Do We Care?

WWD posted an article today listing the cover girls that sell the most magazines. It made me wonder - when you're dropping your $3.99 at the newsstand, does it really matter who is on the cover? Tell us:

What makes you buy a magazine?
	I'll buy any issue if I like the mag
	Enticing cover headlines
	Cool cover model
	Thickness or size
	I have no idea

The top selling faces were no surprise - Jolie, Lohan, LC, Beckham and Jessica Simpson (drama queens!) Celebs with relatively low gossip quotients like Rachel Weisz, Katherine Heigl and Drew Barrymore didn't move much paper this year. The other question I have - have you ever NOT purchased a magazine because you hate the person on the cover?

Fashion Question!

THE CHALLENGE:
Event: Wedding
Who: Non-distinguished guest
Date: Late April
Time: A.M.
Vibe: "Semi-Formal"

Which dress is the best?
	A. Pink rosette
	B. Gray flutter
	C. Pink ruffles
free polls

Update: She went with the gray flutter dress! Thanks for your votes.

She Ain't Afraid of No Vogue

Cathy Horyn, the New York Times fashion writer known for her fearlessness (she's been banned from shows several times by thin-skinned designers for giving them honest, sometimes negative reviews) has just taken it a step further.

Either the Vogue empire has weakened so much that Horyn doesn't need to fear the wrath of Anna Wintour, or girlfriend just doesn't give a damn. Either way, she put out a great article on why Vogue kind of sucks. Check it out here.

And tell us - do YOU think Vogue sucks? Get clicking:

How do you feel about Vogue?
	I love Vogue!
	Why bother? I can't afford the clothes.
	ZZZZZZ. The articles are boring.
	I look at the pictures, but that's it.
	Who are all these rich people and why do I care?

Retro Swim: Glam or Gram(my)?

Victoria's Secret Very Sexy top $42 and bottom $38; Lux one-piece $98, UrbanOutfitters.com; Lux top $48 and bottoms $58, UrbanOutfitters.com; Isaac Mizrahi for Target top $22.99 and bottoms $19.99.

Urban Outfitters, Victoria's Secret and even Izaac Mizrahi for Target have all shown retro cut swimwear this season (as in high waisted bottoms, ruched-sleeve crop-tops and boy-leg one pieces with sweetheart necklines.)

Looking at them in a catalog, I think they're absolutely adorable. Kind of old-fashioned glamorous. Plus, they look as if they would hide a lot of "flawed" bodily attributes.
But could I actually wear one? Like, walking around South Beach? I'm not sure.

I'm wondering where other chic chicks stand on the issue.

The old fashioned swimsuit trend - love or hate?
	Love
	Love but I wouldn't wear it
	Hate

Jellies: Do or Don't?

Jelly shoes by Fairy Tales Are True. Urban Outfitters, $10

My torrid relationship with "jelly shoes" in the 80's has me saying no (I wore them in the ocean to protect my feet from crab pinches. Ironically, it only provided attacking crabs extra grip. And I know, WTF? But for whatever reason, sea crabs assail me.)
They made a comeback last year, selling mostly for under $30 for nostalgic grown-ups. But Givenchy just crossed the line. Would you drop $165 for these busted jelly sandals? If so, you are an idiot. And idiots can buy them at Barney's.

Question of the Day

African print dress at Oscar de la Renta
(photo: Marcio Madiera, Style.com)

Can white girls who aren't Ani Difranco pull off African prints?
I've never tried, but as we all know it's a huge trend for the upcoming warm weather.
Opinions welcome.

It's Electric for Diesel

Diesel Spring 2008 ad campaign

Diesel's latest print ad features an Asian girl in crazy pants about to be hit by a bus. Considering most Diesel Jeans run upwards of $100, would you rock these puppies?

*According to my poll, 55% of y'all are down with neon, while 45% still have nightmares of the stuff from third grade.