Come On, Gap Happy! Get 30% Off Now Till Sunday

You're invited ...

Give & Get starts today! Shop and enjoy 30% off during Gap's Friends & Family event!

When: 4 days only, Today through Sunday, August 2

Where: In-store: Gap, Gap Outlet, Banana Republic, Banana Republic Factory Stores and Old Navy

How: Present this coupon at the register. Use it as many times as you like.

In-store Barcode (For multiple uses)

Shop The "Clearance" Section For Fabulous Deals On Fall Coats!

It's still muggy outside but thanks to the arrival of all the pre-fall collections, I'm already looking forward to comfy cashmere and cocoa on cool, crisp days. And no bugs. Heaven! But even better than checking out the new merch is scoping out cider weather styles at all those end-of-season sales and final markdown deals.

My mother used to start shopping for back-to-school clothes for me and my sister practically the day after Christmas and was done upgrading our winter wardrobes while it was still hot enough to be playing outside with our Willy the Waterbug sprinkler and drinking Kool-Aid.

It drove me INSANE, but the off-season is the perfect time to hunt for deeply discounted classic pieces to add to your wardrobe and sample here-today, gone tomorrow trends without blowing your budget.

Stretch your shopping dollars even more by checking out the "final sale" or "last chance" sections of your favorite sites; often merch is priced at 70% off or more.

Check out some of the awesome outerwear that's up for grabs in the clearance section:

Converse Denim Trench , target.com, $17.48 (was $49.99)

4-button Cape, target.com, $12.49 (was $49.99)

Mossimo 3/4-Sleeve Wool Coat, target.com, $11.24 (was $44.99)

Xhilaration Crusader Wool Coat, target.com, $11.24 (was $44.99)

Ok, so this coat might not meet many people's definition of cheap or affordable but, HELL-O it's Phillip Lim. On sale. Trust, you'll wear it forever. 3.1 Phillip Lim Boxy Double-breasted Coat, Outnet.com, $342.50 (was $685)

Mossimo Wool Cape, target.com, $11.24 (was $49.99)

Alix Belted Coat, Delias, $49.99 (was $99.50)


Woman's Cropped Peacoat, oldnavy.com, $25 (was $34.50)

God, don't you hate it when your mother is right?

What about you guys? Are you shopping for fall or SPF? Which fall coat is your favorite? Should I splurge on a pricey one or save my nickels and dimes for all the insane shoes I've had my eye on?

Shaving Cream Or Whatever's Handy?

Some of the best ideas happen by chance. Or in this case, a desire for extra sleep.

I was in the shower this morning after scrounging an extra few minutes under the covers when I went to grab a razor to shave my legs and what I thought was my handy bottle of body wash. Turns out the bottle I grabbed was my DCL conditioner, but I have to say, this improvisational "shaving cream" was the best oops ever!


I gave up buying flowery, silky shaving gel long ago to save an extra step and some cash, and usually just use an extra squirt or two of body wash when legscaping, though admittedly with sometimes stubbly and nicked results.

But the conditioner 1) It rinses out of one's razor much more easily than shaving cream. 2) One capful covers a massive surface area, such as an entire leg plus one armpit. Now that's what I call bang for the buck. 3) Whatever is in it that adds moisture to your hair does the same for your legs. Mine have never been this silky smooth after shaving before. I feel like a model in one of those Caress commercials; I simply can't stop touching my legs. They're like butta, baby!

Now I'm curious who among you buy shaving cream, versus those of you who prefer to multi-task using another product in your shower. Sound off on your shaving secrets in the comments!

Check Your Credit Card Balance: This Week's Deals At Editor's Closet!

This week at Editor's Closet: Francesco Biasia handbags, Sequin jewelry, Burberry/Dolce&Gabbana sunglasses, Love and Thorns by Rosalina jewelry and Blowout Sale.

Not an EC member? Joining is free.

Francesco Biasia Handbags

Sale starts Monday, July 27 at 11AM EST

Francesco Biasia: Ultra feminine luxury. Absolutely contemporary.

A refined delight, exquisitely chic with a sophisticated touch.

Francesco Biasia: a diverse selection of textures and unparalleled attention to detail.

Sequin New York

Sale starts Tuesday July 28th at 9AM EST

Trend-centric - Only the world's top must-have looks make it into the Sequin collection.

Owners Linda and Kim travel the globe to find them. Home for their muse? The antique stores and flea markets of Paris, Rome, New York and Milan.

Burberry + D&G Sunglasses

Sale starts Wednesday July 29th at 10AM EST

Sophisticated Burberry Sunglasses feature craftmanship of the highest quality. The designs are truly unique and make a dramatic fashion statement.

Designer Dolce & Gabbana eyeglasses eyewear collection offers a signature fashion forward look, with the high performance and durability.

Love & Thorns by Rosalina Lydster

Sale starts Thursday July 30th at 10AM EST

Celebrity jewelry designer Rosalina Lydster presents Love and Thorns.

The latest collection inspired by the iconic symbols balancing the inner psyche is a representation of the finest in edgy and sophisticated fine jewelry.

Black diamonds and oxidized gold are interwoven to create a unique symbol of Love and Thorns.

Accessories BLOWOUT SALE!

Sale starts Friday, July 31st at 9AM EST

You have been waiting for this one!!

Unbelievable prices on unbelievable merchandise. Very limited quantities!!

How In The World Does A Girl Get Her Hands On CG's "Queen Collection!?"

Riddle me this, lambs: The reason companies advertise something is presumably because they want consumers (i.e. you and me) to buy it, right? This is pretty much the kind of thing they cover in the first 10-minutes in Marketing 101.

But evidently the good folks at Cover Girl have some ulterior stealthy purpose in mind by teasing Queen Latifah's Cover Girl’s Queen Collection and then NOT MAKING IT AVAILABLE WHERE ANYONE CAN ACTUALLY BUY IT!!

Now, if you are one of the millions upon millions of "toasted almond" or "cappuccino" cuties, the frustration of shopping for makeup that doesn't make you look ashy or like one of the Twilight undead in a sea of "beige" and "ivory" is nothing new.

Many of us were mixing shades in Tupperware containers in our bathrooms (come on now, I know I wasn't the only one) long before companies like Prescriptives caught a clue that not everyone is the same one-shade-fits-all.

Fast-forward and today there are definitely more beauty products for woman of color at their local CVS, Walgreens, Duane Reade, whatev, but sometimes it requires the skills of a trained CIA agent to hunt down which stores have them in stock. Yes, yes, department stores offer a Benetton rainbow of shades but damn, sometimes a girl just wants a little beauty lift that doesn't require taking out a loan for a tube of lipstick.

Which brings me to the impetus for my rant. In a metropolitan area with a significant minority population -- not to mention one where the nation's first black president and his ultra stylish wife reside literally just down the road -- why did trips to FOUR separate stores turn up hide nor hair of the Queen collection? In fact, NONE of the deeper shades in the CG range were available. Zippo. Nada.

Honestly, in this day and age of 24/7 Sephora-ification, this kind of beauty scavenger hunt is just ridiculous. For an exclusive product launch, sure, but a mass market (supposedly, but not really as it turns out) line. . . . fuggedaboutit.

Apparently the collection is fit for a queen because Miss Dana Owens is the only one who can get her hands on it! Now, who do I see about getting reimbursed for gas after traipsing all over town in my fruitless search?

Maybelline Lash Stiletto: Lash Out Or Throw It Out?

It started so innocently--a look here, a lingering gaze there.

It was wrong and I knew it. I was happy with the one I had. God, we'd been together for ages.

But the thrill! The adventure of the unknown!

I was weak and gave in to temptation . . . to try a new mascara.

Straight brushes. Angles brushes. Curved brushes. Lengthening. Curling. Volumizing. I've tried them all. Whatever the package was selling, I was buying.

In high school I used L'Oreal Voluminous mascara almost exclusively. Then in college I dabbled with Maybelline Great Lash, Lancome Definicils, and others.

After a very brief fling with Revlon's 3D Extreme mascara and an ill-fated clumping incident with Mega Lash by Wet 'n' Wild, I'd finally found lasting results with Cover Girl's Lash Blast, you know, the one Drew Barrymore has been pimping. It lengthens, curls and volumizes like crazy and I was happy with my fabulously full and flirty lashes.

But then, the allure of of cute packaging seduced me to try Maybelline's Lash Stiletto. Shaped like a leg-lengthening dagger heel with that black-and-red combo recognized by fashionistas the world over, it promises to do the same for lashes.

Louboutins for your lashes? I was powerless to resist.


Unfortch, once the heady anticipation faded, it was clear that Maybelline's boasts were little more than sweet nothings, focus group tested and Photoshopped for consumer consumption.

While it did lengthen, the bristly brush was so rough it was like using a toothbrush and the mascara was annoyingly goopy, giving me clumped-together lashes that Tammy Faye Baker would have envied. Plus, it had a weird odor that didn't exactly invite you to use it anywhere near your eye.

Epic fail--two snaps up in a "suck" formation. Lash Stiletto is so getting binned. It's not even enough worth keeping just for a quick lash lift before dashing out to Whole Foods. Hey, Maybelline, maybe next thing less focus on the flashy packaging and more on making a fabulash product, m'kay?

So my old reliable Lash Blast isn't sassy or sexy but a momentary mascara lapse proved that it's what's inside that counts.

New Getting Ready Anthem: I Don't Know Too Much About Clothes, But My Hair Looks FIERCE!

Love RuPaul's sassy "Supermodel (You Better Work)" ditty?

Then get ready to shake what your mama gave ya when you hear the sparkly ode to fabulous hair by mister sister Amanda Lepore.

For those unfamiliar with this silicone-packin’ mama—known as “The Number One Transsexual in the World”– Amanda has been New York City´s “It” girl since the early 1990s when she achieved legendary status as a club legend and fashion icon.

Known for her eye popping balloon-art burlesque and jaw dropping penchant for wrecking the red carpet wearing nothing but lipstick and Louboutins, the trannylicious Heatherette muse has model stomped the runway, launched her own fragrance ($950 a bottle, bitches) and cosmetics lines, and is painting the music biz MAC Spice It Up red!

Her tune "My Hair Looks Fierce" isn't exactly new (it came out in 2005) but it's just now bubbly up like a cheesy fondue and getting mainstream attention.

Check it here.

Warning, you'll be singing the lyrics and tossing your hair around like a Paul Mitchell hair model before the chorus repeats.

Bite Me: Limited Edition Twilight Lip Venom V Offer From US Weekly

What tween girl wouldn't give up her mortality to lock lips with sparkly vamp Robert Pattinson?

Well, this might be next best thing!

DuWop will launch a makeup collection inspired by the movie Twilight at the end of this year. It will include a movie version of Lip Venom, a lip plumper that looks like blood, which has already been used on set on the tussled hair vamp-throb.

Instead of a gloss, Lip Venom V is a shimmering crimson lip stain suspended in a venom-laced liquid lip conditioner with a super potent bite (watch out!), and contains argan, avocado, olive oils and vitamin E.

According to DuWop:

The product should be shaken before use to represent the blending of the human and vampire worlds and applied repeatedly until lips are plumped, revitalized and the desired intensity of color has been reached.

Sounds . . . intense.



And thanks to tabloid darlings US Weekly, you can get a fang-tastic (ha!) sneak peek before it hits shelves. Use code: Venom54U at checkout to receive an exclusive 20% discount off your Twilight Venom order ($16). Limit 2 per order.

No word yet on other products included in the Twilight line, but there will probably be a super-pale foundation for a total vampire white-out, lilac powder for under the eyes and blood-red mascara in the range.

But if the rumors of a hygiene-challenged RPatz are true, we'll pass on the eau de Edward Cullen.

Knuckle Bustin' Bling

Being single sucks.

Yeah, I know, not exactly breaking news.

Don't get me wrong, it isn't all bad. No one steals the covers in the middle of the night, leaving you a shivering lump hugging the edge of the bed for warmth. And there's actually milk in the carton when you reach for it.

But as if having to turn into Dale Gribble to deal with the creepy crawlers instead of shrieking from the safety of the sofa isn't bad enough, it seems a city-wide alert went out to every loser-y loser the second your Facebook status changed from "in a relationship" to "it's complicated."

It's like some sort of silent signal that only short, fat, balding and under-employed guys with superb recall of every episode of Battlestar Galactica, and a misguided desire to draw you into a conversation about the original vs. the sacrilegious reboot, can hear.

You’re either fending off annoying psychos, hung up on an annoying psycho, or becoming one yourself. Seems like no matter how it goes, you end up on the defensive.

What you need is a ring. No, not that kind of ring. A knuckle ring. No, not that kind of knuckle ring. A strong-yet-delicate knuckle ring.

Definitely an improvement on the LL Cool J-circa 1988 look, these bad ass knuckle-busters (pair the ring finger with either the middle or pinky ones) are the perfect symbol for that winning combination of go-it-alone toughness and alluring femininity.

Melody Ehsani (Karmaloop.com, $50)

Kaboom Two Finger (Homeroom Jewelry, $136)

Cat knuckle ring (Ambiguous Horse, $220)

True, it’s not diamonds. But the statement is just as powerful.

Aaarrrgggh! Break Out! Neutrogena To The Rescue . . .

9-1-1 emergency!

9-1-1 emergency!

Ugggh, this week is not off to a good start. One of a few reasons: I have an enormous, throbby new friend located on my chin--quite possibly the most painful and unattractive location for a blemish (although tip-of-the-nose would come in a close second).

And I’m not happy about it. Not one bit. God, it's like being in high school all over again--all of the angst, thankfully none of the term papers.

Can you believe it, Mount Vesuvius-like skin eruptions aren't serious enough to qualify as a sick day? Humpf. So, feeling like every zit was highlighted with a day-glo yellow Sharpie, I fled to my local CVS for every medicated potion, cream and tube I could get my hands on. After perusing my options to the point where I'm sure security thought I was casing the joint, here's what's been helping me through this difficult situation.

Every dermatologist I've ever been to says that the worst thing to do in these situations is to slather on products that strip the skin of moisture but the devil in the convertible with vanity plates on my shoulder was screaming, "girl, desperate times call for desperate measures!"

Needing something less toxic than the skin-stripping varnish of Clearasil yet more potent than Alba's botanical brew, I picked up several products from Neutrogena's Rapid Clear line which sets a pretty high skin-clearing bar, promising clearer skin in eight hours. I also cherry picked one item from their Acne Stress Control brand so that my emergency regimen would have all of the important steps: cleanse, tone and treat.


In the a.m., I started cleansing with the Oil-Eliminating Foaming Cleanser (for acne-prone skin) which has a slightly medicine-y scent and a tingely feeling that makes me nostalgic for the cool and comforting aroma of Noxema. Ah, memories . . . The feeling is pleasant though and nothing like the god awful flesh-eating feel of some AHA and benzoyl peroxide products.

The best part: this stuff builds a thick and creamy foam like whipped cream on the top of a frappuccino. My derm favors clear, non-foaming products but for my money, the lather "proves" that it's digging deep and cleaning out all the icky, pore-clogging crap. My skin was as soft as a baby's butt (and when did that become the barometer of softness anyway?), the redness was definitely less and my face didn't have that tight Botox look that sometimes happens when skin is sucked dry of all moisture like the Sahara.

And since we're on the subject, here's a great tip to try: Skip the drying mask, simply leave the zit busting cleanser on after sudsing for at least 60 seconds before washing it off. It's not only antibacterial, it's actually a great anti-inflammatory. Bonus!

I followed the cleanser with a liberal splash of the Acne Stress Control Triple-Action Toner which contains something called "microclear technology" to "speed treatment deep to the source." Sure, whatever. Call it goat placenta as long as it works, and this stuff does! Unlike most toners which are pretty much battery acid in a bottle, this formula is infused with green tea and cucumber to soothe and calm skin after its hormonal tantrum. My face felt so fresh and so clean! A definite must to throw in your bag to remove oils and refresh your face after a sweaty workout.

And finally, the Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Spot Gel. My medicine cabinet will never be without this tiny tube of awesome pimple fighting power! I did a mirror check after about four hours and there was already a noticeable improvement--the size of the zit was definitely smaller, there was zero redness and no puffiness. Talk about truth in advertising! Salicylic acid can be really harsh but this product was very mild without the "burn" that you sometimes get when it gets applied to just cleansed skin, yet totally effective. Plus, it dries clear without stickiness so you can easily dab it on affected areas before putting on your makeup.

So for about $30 bucks, I skipped a derm appointment and can leave the house without wishing for a turtleneck and hat. Thanks to the zit zappers at your local pharmacy, the doctor is always in!

Bowed Over

The backpack.

Sure, it's big enough to hold your stash of stuff and still leave you hands free to double-clutch your Starbucks venti mocha cappuccino and biscotti, but it just screams "third period with Mrs. O'Dwyer for English Literature."

The only thing missing: a Trapper Keeper with Johnny Boy's name and hearts scribbled all over the front.

So unless you're hiking through Europe for your last romp with adolescence, ditch the sad sack for the flaunt-it now Valentino Bow Tote, the TDF combination of preppy-sweet meets portability.

Available in red and black, the sassy side bow adds a Alexis Morrell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan vibe to dress up your "the corner office will be mine" power suit. And after climbing the corporate ladder all week, throw it over your shoulder with a pair of jeans for a touch of lady-like whimsy.

At $895 from Neiman Marcus, you might have to clock a lot of over-time to afford the princely sum. Or skip the whole Ramen noodle debt diet and sling this Brick Lane tote by Marc B. on for size (Topshop.com, $120).

Honestly, going to work from 9 to 5 is hard enough; dress up the doldrums of everyday with a brilliant bag!

Celebrate! Crappy Crocs Headed To The Giant Clearance Bin In The Sky

Yes, Christmas has come early!

Crocs, that most fug of footwear, could be going the way of the doo doo bird come September.

Despite all fashion sense and visual acuity, the label somehow managed to sell millions upon millions of pairs (100 mil to be exact) of those sweaty-foot causing plastic shoes over seven years.

Seriously, Crocs are the footwear equivalent of a giant "You will never have sex again" sign. Shudder.

I love comfy footwear as much as the next gal—yup, I practically live in flip flops until chilly temps force me into sensible shoes —but if I see another pair of those colorful plastic garden clogs on the city streets, expect the long, painful death of my inner style freak.

Case in point: Sunday afternoon. Downtown DC. A perfectly lovely girl in her mid-twenties wearing a sleeveless summer dress, a chic fedora, oversize aviators…and Crocs. For the love of fashion, why spoil a perfectly good outfit with these shoes that look more like garden hoses or colorful sponges than like actual footwear? Why?!

No comfort is worth the style shame.

Luckily, the universe has no room for this sort of hideousness, and as fate would have it, the economy crashed. Crocs customers realized their money is best spent on anything other than that absurdly ugly footwear.

Now let's all join hands and send out our collective karma vibes to the style gods that a similar fate befalls Uggs and all things Ed Hardy. . .

Fuller, Angelina Jolie-like Lips -- Without Injections!

Thanks to bee-stung lipped Angelina Jolie, lip plumpers are big business (ba-bum ching).

When DuWop's Lip Venom first hit beauty counters back in the day, I was one of the millions of eager guinea pigs. But the full-on assault of spicy, tingly essential oils and cinnamon and ginger made me look more like an assault victim than femme fatale. Yikes!

Try this much more flattering -- and way less painful -- lip-plumping makeup trick: Add a schmear of shimmer lipgloss over lipstick or bare lips right in the middle of your lower lip and in your cupid’s bow. The extra bit of shine and light-reflecting particles create the illusion of an instantly fuller pucker, without making you look like you're in need of medical attention.

Remember that blurry camera trick Cybill Shepard used on "Moonlighting?" Well, my favorite shimmery gloss, Guerlain Kiss Kiss in Beige Secret, is a soft goldie beige that is like a magic eraser that softens the lip line by mimicking your natural lip color, thus making your pillow-y pout appear fuller.

Give it a try and see if you don’t see the effect right away. The difference is subtle, but it’s enough to give you a little confidence boost.

Scents Of A Woman

My mom's signature scent for most of the 70s and a chunk of the 80s was Charlie (and they call it, Char-lie -- great, that jingle is now stuck in my head ...). She only changed it up because they stopped making it.

After that it was L'Air du Temps, which I thought was just the height of too much because it sounded very oh la la and sipping-tea-with-lemon-and your-pinkie-finger-cocked-just-so. When she's feeling particularly sassy, she'll go for a walk on the wild side with a daring splash of DKNY Cashmere Mist behind both ears. The hussy.

I, on the other hand, am not a scent monogamist. For me, perfume is an accessory, as important as a pair of shoes or a purse. And just as I change the earrings I wear from day to day, I don't wear the same fragrance.

I've dallied with florals. Experimented with citruses and vanilla. I've even spritzed l'eau pour hommes. What, is that so wrong?

During the warmer months I love floral scents. Eyeballing my vanity, there are about six bottles in current rotation with YSL Baby Doll, Harajuku Lover's Love (how frigging CUTE are the bottles!?), Marc Jacobs Daisy and Pucci Sabbia being my go-to faves. Well, this week anyway.

And when it gets chilly I tend to reach for something spicy and heavier, like Gucci Rush. Same goes for day to evening—the fragrance I wear to work is rarely the one I put on for an evening out.

Perfume is like potato chips--how can you settle for just one?

How about you? Do you have a perfume wardrobe too?

Headbangin' Headbands

Ok, here's the deal. Achieving cute hair in DC's summer heat and humidity is a losing battle.

My hair vacillates between being as poof as a French poodle's fur or flatter than a pancake without yeast. So since I can't afford to have Ken Paves on speed dial, I have thrown in the proverbial towel and stocked up on headbands.

They're the perfect solution for a bad hair day -- or in this case, June to August -- plus, they're cheaper than a weave and you can start your morning without the glorious smell of burning hair.

I'll worry about styling in the Fall when a PhD in hair engineering is not required.

Headbands have seen a major revival these last few season, thanks in part to Gossip Girl, but I think they make the perfect accessory to any outfit! But for the record, I’m not a huge fan of wearing headbands around your head vs. around your hair. I like the look in the editorial pages of my favorite glossies but IMO it just looks ridiculous when you're standing in line at Starbucks. Unless you're on your way to audition for a part in Hair or as the third elf in a stage production of Lord of the Rings, it just looks costume-y.

If you’re going to make a statement with your headgear, why not do it in a more subtle, wearable way??

Can You Hang?

My apartment is a hodge podge-y mix of bits and pieces from places like IKEA, Pottery Barn, West Elm and a few little boutique shops. Pretty mass-produced for the most part. But the pictures on the wall and pillows on the sofa are the odds and ends that help make a space a home.

There's really no rhyme or reason to my design scheme other than I happened to like a particular item. Or it's red. Somehow or other it's become a signature color, though if you were to look in my wardrobe you wouldn't find more than one or two articles of clothing in fire-engine red.

If I had to put a name to it, I'd say the look of the space is "eclectic eccentric." The Cartman plushie and handmade doll from South Africa gazing at me from my bookcase would agree. Weird, yes, but it works.

But there was one wall that taunted me with its blankness for the longest time. I must have looked at a thousand prints and posters for inspiration--nothing. I checked out modern and classic art exhibits. Nada. I searched frantically on Google, using terms like "modern art" and "contemporary art" without luck. Do you any idea how many hits that brought up? Oye. It became easier to pinpoint what I didn't like rather narrowing down what I could commit to putting on that blank, load-bearing menace.

In a totally random moment, I ducked into an art gallery in a school for students with special needs near my job during my lunch hour. Called WVSA ARTs Connection, the school uses the arts to teach kids and helps them learn business skills and money management through the sale of their work in the gallery and commissioned pieces. Students receive a 30% commission and the rest goes to support the art program.

The artwork was simply amazing and humbling for someone who can barely draw a recognizable stick figure. And as I strolled through the gallery, I finally found it--the picture I had been searching to find for months. Surprisingly, after all the Jackson Pollack and Andy Warhol prints, and Guggenheim knockoffs, the perfect picture turned out to be a colorful abstract by a 14-year old boy named James. It was a total win-win. My wall was now brightly adorned and both the school and James benefited from the sale.

Original, affordable art that's actually art. And for a good cause. Picture that.

Sometimes you just need to unplug and explore the nooks and crannies in your own backyard. You never know what treasures you'll find.

WVSA ARTiculate Gallery, The School for ARTs in Learning & WVSA ARTs Connection, 1100 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20036. For custom orders, call 202.261.0204 or email gallery@wvsarts.org.

Pucker Up! Make Your Pout-a-Porter Beauty Mark

Diva.

Viva Glam.

Flair.

Wicked.

An image may be worth a thousand words, but a sassy little product name can be just as enticing.

Admit it, you've probably purchased a little cosmetic pick me up in part because you liked the name. Guilty as charged.

Now Lancome is giving all you PYTs the chance to make your beauty mark. Chris Benz is the latest fashion provocateur to partner with the company on an as-yet-unnamed shade for their Pout-a-Porter series--past collaborators include Peter Som, Thakoon, and Behnaz Sarafpour.

Lancome is letting you name the shade, which is inspired by his Spring 2010, as long as it's incredibly creative and awesome. Naturally.

You can post your suggestions to Benz's fan page on Facebook. Anyone can post, and the winner gets a $500 Lancôme gift certificate, bragging rights, and of course, a supply of the lipsticks, which tend to sell out in a heartbeat.

I'm off to the Lancome beauty counter. Uh, strictly for research purposes, of course.

Deadline is July 12, at 5PM EST. Good luck!

Smooches, XOXO.

Leanne Marshall's Collection Finally Arrives At Bluefly!

Remember Leanne Marshall?

Hop in your DeLorean and flashback to a time not so long ago before Project Runway was almost sued off the air to the series' most recent winner.

Surely after that very messy lawsuit, Christian Siriano's whirlwind success, and Kenley Collins' projectile-cat case, you have room in the corner of your brain to remember the quiet bespectacled brunette who described her design theory as "Holly Go-Lightly attends a Salvador Dali exhibit?"

Finally, after months and months of waiting, and a change in the show's network to boot, her collection for Bluefly has hit online shelves. The nine-piece collection features softly draped and sophisticated pieces in oceanic blues and corals. Each piece is made from eco-friendly materials, with prices ranging from a bit under $100 for delicately ruffled tops to almost $1,000 for an elegant empire gown.









But despite her bold style statement, there's a definite "deja vu all over again" kind of feeling when you look at the pieces, no?

The vintage-y meets architectural origami aesthetic was fresh and new just a short season or two ago, but style waits for no man. Or woman. Now, ruffles and folds and pleats have been turning up everywhere from the Oscar red carpet to your neighborhood Ann Taylor Loft.

Honestly, she had to sew practically every day on PR and produce a collection for the finale, couldn't she have sewn faster or something?

Love the the look of Leanne's line but not the price tag? Make it work! Check out these Leanne-inspired looks for less:



1. Moonlighting ruffle skirt, Mod Cloth, $39.99

2. Ruffle tank, Gap, $9.99

3. Soft petal dress, Forever 21, $36

4. One-button jacket, Bluefly, $82

5. Warehouse Concertina pleat dress, ASOS, $85.50

Project Runway fans, what do you think of Leanne's Bluefly collection? Worth the wait or should it be auf'd from shelves?

Urban Decay Complexion Primer: Put Your Best Face Forward -- FREE!

"Hi, my name is Paige and I'm a makeup junkie."

Seriously, I'm surprised Candy Finnigan hasn't staged an intervention to get me to deal with my obsession.

If it's new, improved, revolutionary, patent-pending, made from rare, possibly extinct ingredients, yes, please, I'll take two. And if it comes in a really cute package? Fuggedaboutit. Do you take Visa or MasterCard?

And yet I was a late adopter of the whole primer craze. I pooh-pooed and rolled my eyes, dismissing it as a cosmetics conspiracy to pry every last nickel and dime from my wallet for a completely unnecessary step in my beauty routine. Kind of like the eyelash curler. There's not much I won't do for beauty but using a medieval device to get flirty lashes? Pass.

But I ate my words after trying Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light from Smashbox which builds a smooth, pore perfect foundation for your makeup. It's the makeup equivalent of a Wonderbra for your face; it's you, but better. Total genie in a bottle. It's the next best thing you can do for your face beside cleansing and moisturizing.

As much as I love it though, I'm SUPER psyched to get my hands on Urban Decay's Complexion Primer. If you love their eyelid primer, imagine what this product can do with this one for your whole face! Sure, Smashbox is good but what if this is better?! It could be THE ONE, like the elusive pair of perfect jeans.

Sephora Beauty Insiders (aka card-carrying beauty addicts!) can try it FREE before anyone else. Just use code URBANLAB at checkout when you purchase online from Sephora. Not an insider? It's easy to get behind the beauty velvet rope. Click here to sign up.

Addiction definitely has its rewards!

Happy Chic 4th of July!

"Holiday! Celebrate! If we took a holiday . . ."

Madonna on the iPod, sunny skies, fireworks and BBQs on the beach. Ahhhhh, long weekend here I come!

In celebration of the nation's birthday, show your patriotic pride in super cute red, white and fabulous looks that won't cost you a whole lotta Benjamins.



Have a safe and happy holiday!

Clutch Moves

Believing that "your jewelry should be priority number one when choosing your outfit," designer Amrita Singh combines her passion for bling with that other all-important accessory--handbags.

Case in point: Her Indian-inspired sari clutch has a glam goa jewel that adds a dramatic je ne sais quoi to any look from a pair of pegged jeans or classic LBD.

You might be stressing out about what to wear to so-and-so's wedding or wondering why suddenly every dress you see is strapless just when you're looking halter for a formal event, but when it comes to what to carry, it's in the bag.

Plus, this larger-than-it-appears clutch has plenty of room to stash your cash, lipstick, cell phone and credit cards. It's 11" in length when unrolled and 3.75" when rolled and looks much more expensive than it's $24 price tag (was $75).

It's just the thing to satisfy a modern girl's love for looking fabulously original.

Available for a limited time only at the HauteLook.com sample sale, going on now.