(Photo: The Cut)

Fashion Week kicked off this weekend in NY and as much as I wish I was there, I'm not. So I'm going to link you up to my fave fashion week blogs of people who are there so we can keep up-to-date together with the latest going-ons. And then we can giggle and gossip all week long over all the trends we are looking forward to and those that we plan to pass on when the upcoming Spring arrives.

1. The Cut. The Fug Girls are giving their wicked insight on all that is going on onstage and backstage and around the stage at the shows on NY Mag's blog. They also have cliff notes with links on their site to specific blogs, if you want to narrow your coverage and get to the good stuff.

2. FabSugar is in full force at the shows and they had the best packing-organizer-chart to make the trip as fab as possible. Their coverage is interspersed with the rest of the fashion world updates, so it's not as concentrated. But it's worth scrolling through to find their fashion week posts.

3. LuckyMag. Lucky, of course, has a blog dedicated to Fashion Week and I like it because it is more like snippets as they happen instead of a lengthy analysis after the fact. We're talking one-sentence blogs. It's the best for quickly browsing and getting a good idea of what is being seen.

4. Sephora has backstage pics of the makeup seen at the shows. They include the list of products used to achieve the looks and how to do it.  Great for any makeup junkies (like myself) out there!

Any fashion week blogs that you like to read that I've missed? Leave a comment and let me know!

It's Banana Republic's 30th Anniversary!  And to celebrate you can get an additional 30% off your purchase - for TODAY ONLY.  So here's what you do:

If you're shopping online, enter HAPPY30 when you check out.  You also get free shipping.

If you want to get the discount in the store, then click on this picture:

It will open in another window.  All you have to do is print it out and bring it into the store. 

Happy Shopping!  (I think I'll be snagging the high-waisted pencil skirt pictured!) 

You've already seen Meagan's picks for recent red carpet revelations, including Anne Hathaway's gorgeous confection of a gown and Keira Knightley's royal blue party dress with a lacy twist - and I clearly concur with her choices! But I have my own nomination for Queen of the Red Carpet in mind: Actress Diane Kruger, who looked stunning at the Venice Film Festival in not one but two amazing formal dresses.

First, she caught my eye with this sexy take on the LBD by Dior Couture. I love the nipped in waist, the fullness of the skirt, and the sheerness of the dress to show off her figure without crossing over into tarty territory. Despite the fact that she's dressed head to toe in black, I think she manages to pull it off without looking remotely boring. And then I saw her in this gown, by Alberta Ferretti...

...and the deal, shall we say, was sealed. Now this is what I would wear on the red carpet, had I a red carpet to dress for! It's sexy and classy and timeless and of-the-moment, all at once. I think the color perfectly complements her skin, and I adore the sparkly accents on the bodice. Love! What do you think of Diane's dresses?

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Just found a great tip for softening denim from designer Ya-el Torbati in the October issue of Lucky magazine...and it doesn't even involve a washing machine. Simply take a standard fabric-softening dryer sheet and "briskly rub [it] all over the surface of the jeans. For darker washes or black denim, turn them inside out to keep them from getting worn-in-looking. You'll feel a difference pretty quickly, but keep going till they're as soft as you like." (Lucky, October 2008, p.108) This sounds amazing - it literally could not be easier, and who doesn't love a nice, soft pair of jeans? I'll have to try it out this weekend!

If Nine West's fall advertising campaign is to be believed, we're going to be seeing lots of thigh highs this season. In my mind, the heyday of the thigh high was sometime circa 1996 - around the time Clueless came out and the sexy schoolgirl look was all the rage. Back then, thigh highs were usually paired with miniskirts, Mary Janes and a tiny backpack in lieu of a purse - and they were usually spotted on teenagers. I haven't really given thigh highs much serious fashion thought since then, but I am really digging the way they look in the Nine West ads. For instance, this sexy head-to-toe-purple look at left; The model looks divine in various shades of plum, and the brief flash of skin between the tops of her stockings and the hem of her dress is a nice way to break up the monotony of the monochromatic color scheme. I also love the way they layered shorter socks over thigh highs in the shoe and bag shot below. If you're a little shy about thigh highs, you could try pairing them with a flat, knee-high boot to keep the look casual instead of vixenish, or you could rock a textured pair of thigh highs over some opaque stockings. And if you're in the market for thigh highs, stockings or socks of any kind, may I remind you of the fabulous Sock Dreams website? Whether you're looking for something sexy and feminine or comfy and subtle, Sock Dreams has your back.

I had myself an Old Navy shopping spree last weekend and I am still basking in the glow of my retail victory. They have some seriously cute styles for the fall and if you want to check it out for yourself, you can get 40% off a single item now through Sept. 18. This excludes clearance items, so that means you can try out one of their new fall styles for nearly half off! When you checkout, just enter the code:

Do you wear body shapers?  Spanx seemed to revolutionize the underwear industry a few years back when they began offering slimming underpinnings and I'm curious if you are on board with this?  I bought a high-waisted, thigh slimming Spanx-like shaper, similar (but not as high-waisted) to the one pictured to wear under my wedding dress last year.  And now, every once in a while, I'll break it out to wear under a regular dress for added security.  You know, to stop the jiggle!  Body shapers not everyday wear for me but I do sometimes where them with everyday clothes.   The one I have can feel pretty restricting after a long day though so I try to only wear it when I know it won't be for a long period.  Except, of course, when I wore it with my wedding dress.  The silk fabric of my gown was not very forgiving!

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Currently coveting these motorcycle boots from Free People.  I'm picturing them with a flirty, floral dress and a long, belted cardigan.  Bring on the autumnal weather! 

Love this beauty shortcut I just read in this month's Glamour:

"If you don't feel like wearing eye makeup, then at least rub vaseline on lashes to gloss them up." (10/08, pg. 124)

There are a lot of days when I don't feel like putting on mascara because I don't feel like washing it off at the end of the day (note: I do still wash my face but eye makeup is more of a hassle). Lazy? Yes. But I can't be alone in this. So I just tried this little Vaseline trick and I love the look of my lashes. I was afraid that the Vaseline was going to feel wet or dewy on my lashes and make them feel weighted down, but it doesn't at all. Plus it defines them just enough so that they look naturally fresh. I plan on using this trick more often than not!

So last night's episode of America's Next Top Model was the premiere of the camptastic reality show's 11th (!) cycle. ANTM is a huge guilty pleasure for me; despite my better judgment, I've watched every cycle in real time, with the exception of the first cycle (which I later caught in reruns on VH1) and the 10th cycle (which I will probably watch on VH1 eventually). Last night's 2-hour premiere, of course, introduced the 14 modeling hopefuls, from Asian diva Sheena to awkward French transplant Marjorie to transgender pioneer Isis, and then quickly cut one of them from the competition just in time for the 10 o'clock news. Tyra giveth, Tyra taketh away. I made popcorn and lounged on the futon and enjoyed the silliness as I always do ("Beam me up fiercely!"), but I have to admit that my main reaction by the time it was all over was....yawn.

ANTM has been starved for new ideas since...well, basically since the second cycle (there's only so much you can do with this premise), but I think the been-there-done-that feeling was even more pronounced than usual. And it looks like I wasn't alone with that thought: This was actually the lowest-rated ANTM premiere in history. So what does this mean for the future of Top Model? Do you think viewership will pick up as the cycle goes on? Should the CW take some drastic measures to revitalize their former moneymaker? Or is the show simply...over?

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Every woman who has known the misery of being uncomfortably prodded by the underwire from her own bra will be interested in one of these: The BraBABY is a basically a little plastic cage that enables you to throw your bras in the washing machine (and dryer!) without damaging them.

I must have one of these! I have ruined countless bras by forgetting to remove them from the laundry load before transferring everything over to the dryer, and I know the best thing to do is to wash your delicates by hand, but who has the time or the patience for that?! Plus, you get 2 BraBABYs for just $19.95 on the website. Twenty bucks seems like a small price to pay for not having to constantly adjust your bra because of a wonky underwire poking you in the armpit. Brava, BraBABY!

If you grew up in the late '80s/early '90s (the early '90s basically were the '80s; see early episodes of Saved by the Bell for evidence), the answer to this question is almost certainly yes. But do you remember L.A. Gear with the kind of nostalgic affection that's going to make you want to wear it all over again? The Amsterdam-based design team of Club Zonder Filter certainly seems to think so (there they are at left, and is it just me or do they look ever so slightly guilty about attempting to foist L.A. Gear on an unassuming public again?!). According to the Cut, the two women of CZF have teamed up with the wildly tacky sneaker company to relaunch the brand for a new generation...or possibly the same generation, a little older and not much wiser. There's a lengthy interview with CZF on the Sneaker Freaker website, in which the ladies sing the praises of L.A. Gear's epic tackiness ("They were the first brand who released sneakers for girls with a fashionable twist and they did it in a bit of a tacky, yet ‘oh so’ great way...For example, putting rhinestones and LED lights on sneakers, blending laces with actual lace or satin ribbons – no other sneaker brand could get away with that!") and offer a sneak preview of the freebies that will accompany each pair of shoes ("The shoes come with an L.A. Gear x Patta tee and different colour laces, so you can knock yourself out rocking those old school checkerboard and weave lace-ups. And don’t forget the special infrared shoebox that nobody is going to want to throw away!"). My opinion on this whole ordeal is probably unsurprising, given my previous rants about fanny packs, Hypercolor and crimped hair, but here it is anyway: Noo, not L.A. Gear! I refuse to believe that trends embraced by my awkward, 10-year-old self are the current height of fashion! Now, ladies, are you with me, or are you already itching for a new pair of L.A. Gear sneaks?

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If you're in the market for a new camera (like me), you might want to really consider the Casio Exilim EX-Z300.  What makes this camera different from other digital ones?  It has a "makeup" feature!  Yes, it has special technology that recognized faces and then softens shadows and makes skin looks smoother.  It's like having Photoshop right in your camera, which means more flattering pictures which is always welcome.  Just check out the above example of the camera's makeup function.  Doesn't she look like she is on Oprah?  Oprah seriously has the best makeup and lighting artists ever.  Everyone looks airbrushed on that show.  I am pretty excited about this since my current Exilim that I've had for five years needs an upgrade.  Mostly because it hasn't been working since July.  It's time.

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Rachel Bilson is gracing the pages of Page Six magazine this week and while she looks beautiful, it's her nail color that stands out to me. The gun metal shade on her short, softly squared nails is the manicure I'm going to be requesting the next time I go to the nail salon. Deep shades of grey are very chic this fall, which means this is a season I'm going to love. Purple and grey? I am thrilled! To get Rachel's manicured look, I found OPI's shade of Coronation from their Designer Series is very similar. Their designer series is actually made with diamond dust, which means you'll get the best shine and a strong formula to make your manicure last. The look of Rachel's nails is a matte one, so I'm afraid that this color might have a little too much shine but it's worth a try. What do you think? Will you be experimenting with platinum colored nails this season?

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Sigh.  I want to wear dresses like this.  This is how I would like to do my grocery shopping.   I'm very jealous of Anne Hathaway's Atelier Versace gown that she wore to the premiere of her new movie Rachel Getting Married.  Even more envy-inducing, she's in Venice wearing it.  I want to be in Venice right now.  Just needed to share my love of this gown with you all.  Another gown on the red carpet that caught my eye is Kiera Knightley's:

This red carpet is in Toronto for the premiere of her new film The Dutchess.  It is completely different from Anne's but it still has whimsy which I'm always a fan of.  I think if you're going to be on a red carpet you should most definitely wear dresses that you wouldn't normally be able to wear "in real life."  There should be an element of fantasy in a red carpet wardrobe and many starlets have been reluctant to go there as of late.  Everyone seems to be too worried about being on "best" and "worst" dressed lists.  The red carpet is not an arena to play it safe in.  It is, instead, the perfect place to take risks with fashion.  I say, Go Big or Go Home.  Which is why Anne and Kiera get a standing ovation from me.  How about you?

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Okay, so everyone probably knows by now that green tea is good for you. It can actually speed up your metabolism, in addition to providing an excellent supply of cancer-fighting antioxidants. Also, it's delicious! (I love green tea everything, from ice cream to plain hot tea, straight up.) Plus, I've heard that replacing your morning cup of coffee with green tea is good for your skin (I've been skipping the coffee lately and yes, my skin has improved). But in addition to drinking it, green tea's skin benefits can be reaped by actually putting it on your face. Check out this "Wacky Beauty Tip" from Cosmo:

If your skin is sensitive or just looking irritated and puffy for some reason, steep a bag of green tea for a minute or two, let it cool down, and dab it over your face. The antioxidants in the tea take down inflammation.

I've also heard that dabbing a cool tea bag over your face is a great way to reduce the irritation of an acne flare-up, so if your face is red for any reason, try this out! You could also cut open the tea bag and make a green tea mask (eliminate the vitamin E oil if you have oily skin). Speeds your metabolism, soothes your skin, keeps you healthy, tastes great with Chinese food...green tea, is there anything you can't do!?

Freebie Alert: E.L.F., purveyors of ultra-cheap cosmetics, want you to try their new Mineral Lipstick. They want you to try it so much, in fact, that they're willing to give it away! Spend $20 or more on their website before September 15, and you'll get a FREE tube of Mineral Lipstick when you enter the code EGLIPST at checkout. The lipstick is a "nourishing blend of exotic oils, natural waxes, vitamins and plant extracts [that] create the perfect moisturizing formula," and it's completely free of parabens, preservatives and chemical dyes. Plus, it comes in 12 pretty shades of nudes, reds, plums and pinks, and the price is a terribly reasonable $5 - so if you love it, you can stock up!

Betsey Johnson always has fun, girly, over-the-top fashion creations, but they can be a bit pricey. My latest Betsey love, however, costs a mere $12 and has the magical ability to transform a boring pair of pumps into an edgy, punk rock take on ballet slippers. Observe:

These lacy, lace-up socks look a little strange by themselves, but combine them with some sexy-yet-standard heels and hello, fashionista! I think these are a great way to rejuvenate your shoe wardrobe for less than the cost of an actual new pair of shoes (even from Payless!). What do you think?

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EDITED TO ADD:

Wow, I was floored just now when I clicked over to FabSugar and saw an almost-identical post on these socks! Rest assured, dear readers, that I didn't plunder this topic from Ms. Fab - I actually noticed the socks yesterday on the Urban Outfitters website and decided to save it for today's blog. Guess it's just another example of great minds thinking alike...!

Just had to mention Natalie Portman's dress by Rodarte that she wore to the Venice Film Festival this week. Click on the image to make it larger so you can see all the exquisite detail. I adore this dress. It is from Rodarte's Fall 2008 ready-to-wear collection and on the runway it looked so...gothic. But there is something avant garde about Natalie in this dress - it is daring with a dash of sweetness. Not unlike Nat and the sister design team, Kate and Laura Mulleavy, that is Rodarte.

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