Fiber Optic Femme

Of all the vices I grapple with (and believe me, they are numerous), jealousy is not typically one of them.

I mean, sure, I may momentarily lust after a great handbag, or even admire the well-shaped calf of a jogger; but for the most part, I'm pretty content with my aquisitions and physical appearance.

There is only one thing I desperately want...one tiny attribute... that just being in the presence of someone who HAS them can turn me into a miserable envious, pouting, covetous wrech.

Long, beautiful, voluminous eye lashes!

Mine are nice, but they have an extreme bend to them so they can look almost short. But my best friend from college, my girl who lives in Sweden, my 4 year old god-daughter--even the MBTA officer at the station near my house--all have these FABULOUS long, full, "mufasa-manes" framing their eyes. And a part of me hates them for it. It's NOT FAIR. I want long lashes. I DESERVE long lashes.

The problem with lusting after a different set of eye lashes than you were born with is that, unlike lip plumping glosses or (God Forbid) acrylic nails, lash extension is tedious, expensive, and often short lived. And your only other real option is to develop a steady hand and become BFFs with a bottle of adhesive.

So just when I was ready to curse my DNA and resign myself to a lifetime of envying pre-schoolers, I stumble bleary-eyed into sephora looking for a solution. And by golly, I found one!

Make Up For Ever's Lash Fibers ($20) is a lash extending primer that actually works...and doesn't leave you looking like a C-list porn star after a long day at the office...(I'm talking to you Maybeline XXL mascara). The look is natural enough to work for daytime face, but still subtantial enough to keep you batting shamelessly well into the wee hours of socializing.

So as it turns out, I can stop giving the evil-face to people born with long lashes, and can now genuinely enjoy time with my best friend without a part of my want to pluck her lashes for my own selfish transplant needs!

It feels good to be almost envy-free! Now all we need to do is take care of this whole "vanity-thing"...wish me luck!

The Second Coming...(of Rodriguez)

Whether it signified a level of comfort, fidelity, or a Capricorn's steadfastness, incoming First Lady Michelle Obama kicked off the official Inauguration activities wearing none other than Narciso Rodriguez.

Lady O donned a black and red Rodriguez creation for the election night festivities in November, so its not a total shock to see her in another look by the designer.

This time, the color palette was more subdued. Gone was the vibrant celebratory red. In its place, a chic but stately camel-hued high-waisted knee-length pencil skirt, paired with and embellished black knit top. A coordinating Long camel jacket completed the ensemble.

The official KoS review: We Likey!!! This is the type of look that is stylish enough to keep the fashion whores happy, while still being completely appropriate for Michelle Obama's "down-to-business" persona. This is the OPPOSITE of that wacky Thakoon number she wore at the DNC... and that's why we LOVE IT.

So far, our girl is off to a fabulous start...we're keeping our fingers crossed for only good things to come!

Belle of the (Inaugural) Ball

America is just 2 weeks away from what may prove to be one of the biggest Inaugural Ball scenes in history. And while most I-ball excitement is centered around our President-elect and the kick-off to his administration's first 100 days in office, the second, and perhaps most feverish anticipation is about one thing, and one thing only:

WHAT IS MICHELLE OBAMA GOING TO WEAR TO THE INAUGURAL BALL!

I'd venture to guess that never in a million years did Barack Obama imagine that one of the landmark moments of his (and even our collective) lifetime would be defined by his wife's wardrobe choice! But it is, and the fashionistas in all of us are waiting with bated breath...and opinions galore!

I-ball gown enthusiasts have been pouring over desiginer's sketches of possible looks for Lady O's grand entrance. The stylings range from the marvelous, glamorous and chic(Herrera, Lagerfeld, Rodarte) to the bland, horrific, and absurd (Besty Johnson, Zac Posen, I'm talking to you...).

After much debate, and some waffling, the official KoS selection is this glorious Marchesa gown. It just does all the right things in all the right places and demands attention without bludgeoning the onlooker's retna by being garish. With its well-achieved balance of structure and flow, the result is obvious femininity with an overwhelming strength.

So Michelle, if you or your search engine cronies read this in time... WEAR THE MARCHESA... and call me! We have at least 4 years of shopping to do! And after the Dress-that-divided-a-nation on election night, I think another voice of reason in the malay would be beneficial!!! The IRS seems to always know how to find me...greedy little buggers.

The People's Republic of Freakin' Amazing Handbags

If you would have told me last month that my new favorite handbag was going to be for sale at Banana Republic, I would have laughed in your face. Hard.

Not that there's anything wrong with BR, I mean who doesn't love a good cashmere sweater set for under $200 bucks! But let's just say the upper echelon stylings of Gap, Inc. have never really spoken to me. Maybe a bracelet here, a super-bargain blouse there, but it's definitely not the first place I think of when I need my shopping fix. In fact, no phrase tends to curb my consumer fervor more quickly than hearing one of my friends coo, "Oh, lets check out what they have at 'Banana'!"

Hang me.

But this season, out of nowhere, a big heaping gob of style has apparently come and steamrolled the accessories design team for Banana Republic. Because they have, dare I say it,... some pretty fabulous stuff!

I'm not sold on their footwear, but by golly the handbags are great. I know this because, well... I bought one. (Don't tell Monica Botkier!) There are clutches, and chain-strap shoulder bags, but in particular, the Cambridge Pleated Tote in purple suede had my name all over it. The leather is stellar, and the details on the bag (braided handles, well-placed pockets, darling pleats) add a sense of luxury that even had my most stylish gay friends saying, "There is no way that came from 'Banana'!!!"

Which, of course, filled me with a great sense of accomplishment.

So kudos to you, Banana Republic! Your new bags have more than earned their place in my lust-worthy, must-have hall of fame. My money (well, my $260) is yours. If you have another great accessories season like this one, I may just be willing to pledge my allegiance.

Though I will never agree with your brand's moniker choice. Tropical fruits and governing systems just don't belong together. Not even if you do have really great cashmere.

Aqua Team Fashion Force

Aqua Team Fashion Force by austynellese




Nothing says 80's or early 90's quite like aqua! Thankfully, hindsight is 20/20, and this time around, the still watery hue runs deeper than side ponytails and stirrup pants! From oversized sunglasses to opulent jemstones, Aqua's renaissance has come...and not a decade too soon.

Click on the image above to check out these great styles and find out where you can get them now!

Fringe Benefits?

After watching more hours of RTW Spring 2009 runway shows than is clinically recommended, I think it's time for a second opinion diagnosis of one of the big Spring runway trends: the return of fringe.

It seemed to be everywhere--from the more rugged-looking fringe of William Rast and Hermés to the silky strands of Jil Sander and Alexander McQueen. Many of the looks were dramatic...others were fairly tragic, but their popularity among designers this season brings up a very important debate that divides humanity right down the middle. Because no matter how you try to find a gray area, there are two types of people in the world: people who love fringe, and people who don't.

Yours truly is a proud member of "Team Hem" on this one; because when you get right down to it, fringe always looks sort of costume-y. And whether you're a die-hard fan of the wild, wild west or perhaps just preparing your wardrobe to reflect the fashion era of the first great depression as we enter into the second one, there is no excuse for you to look like a cowboy or a flapper gal almost a decade into the 21st century.

No Excuse.

If you must wear fringe, you're less likely to become a cautionary tale if you stick to fringed accessories. A nice scarf, a fringed handbag, and a necklace or belt with a tassel are a few simple ways to capitalize on the hypnotically feminine movement and texture that fringe provides. But beware. it's easy to go overboard. I wouldn't was this to happen to any of you...

Retailers Remorse : Life After NY Fashion Week

'Twas the night after fashion week and all through the houses,
Not one item was thrilling, not even the blouses!
The buyers all sulked through the market with stares
In hopes that inspiration soon would be there!

Okay, maybe its not that bad, but according to WWD, retailers are suffering from a case of the blahs after what one boutique owner called a rather "phoned-in" showing at New York Fashion Week. With a few sited exceptions, like collections from Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, Rodarte, and Zero+Maria Cornejo, most of the buzz this fashion week seemed to be about the celebs attending shows, and not the showcased designs.

Perhaps buyers were looking to the runways for the one "IT" look or "Must-have" silhouette that would bring customers clamouring back into stores after retail's brutally slow summer. What they seem to have encountered instead was alot of beautiful things...that we've all seen before.

Call it lack of inspiration, or blame it on a struggling economy (the DOW closed almost 500 points down today!), but whatever the reason, the end result seems to be a spring 2009 RTW inventory selection stocked more out of necessity than unfaltering love for the collections.

Not everyone was dismal about the collections. Larger retailers with lots of buying power seemed to be okay with the safer approach to spring. The VP/ Fashion Director of Macy's called the looks "fashionable and realistic,"which could just be the diplomatic way to say bland...

But huzzah! The industry did not leave us completely without a vision for SP'09! The dress, in almost all of its iterations remains a strong piece, and the "grandfather sweater" so popular this fall gets reincarnated as the "boyfriend jacket" in the spring.

2008 may not have been a groundbreaking year for fashion, but on the whole, it was pretty solid. Would a repeat be horrible? Maybe...maybe not. They say, "the devil you know is better than the devil you don't." And in many cases, its true. I just don't want either devil going anywhere near stirrup pants!