55 Secret Street

Web Snob Weekend

 

Bag Snob hangs out with Brigette Romanek, Designer of Romanek bags!

Summer must-have fashions for fall? Stylebites decodes this tricky wardrobe transition!

Coquette says stay warm this fall while looking stylish with Soia & Kyo's belted coats.

Even celebs know it's all about menswear chic this fall. Second City Style takes you shopping for the must-haves

Stylehive HiveSlides: watches so expensive, who cares of they keep time?

For the men in our lives, Bag Bliss loves the db clay green-friendly guy wallets.

Reporting live from Milan fashion week, GlamChic zooms in on the sexiest Versace collection to date.

Papierblog talks about the love of Brooklyn, New York and Noble Youth Design.

Diamonds are a typical girls BFF, but atypical Type A's like Kristopher invest in a cheap and chic Kenneth Jay Lane ring.

Ready to step out in style for fall? Check out StyleBakery.com's essential Fall Shoe Guide for the hottest pairs of the season at every price.

Spotted: Cameron Diaz in a Christo-look frock. Stiletto Jungle shows you where you can snag the artistic dress for yourself.

Fred Astaire wore their neckties as sashes, while F.D.R. donned their capes to make history in Yalta. Brooks Brothers has been rebranding of late as a luxury house it once was, and Fashiontribes picks the best looks for female dandies from their new high-end Black Fleece label designed by Thom Brown.

Even celebs know it's all about menswear chic this fall. Second City Style takes you shopping for the must-haves .

Beauty Snob tests out the T3 Bespoke Labs Evolution Dryer, does a $300 hair dryer really make a difference?

As the dust settles after NY Fashion Week, My Fashion Life asks if Marc Jacobs is better off showing in Paris next season.

If you (like 2000 other people) didn't make it into our Fashion Indie magazine launch party, do not fret. We have the video of what you missed. See it here!

$55 and Under: Up to 50% Off at The Gap

Cableknit Cardigan in Bitter Chocolate $59.50  $49.99.    Animal-Print Bow Ballet Flat in Giraffe $39.50  $29.99.

Suede Duffel in Gray $49.50 $39.99.    Tipped Cardigan in Heather Gray $49.50 $39.99.

Favorite Knit Shell in Heather Gray $19.50 $9.99.     Scrunched Driving Shoes in Russian Red $49.50 $36.99.

Turtleneck Dress in Vamp Red $49.50  $39.99.    Solid French Cuff Shirt Dress in Black $69.50  $44.99.

Original Just Below Trousers in Black $59.50  $38.00.    Solid Ruffled Shirt Dress $69.50  $39.99.

Knit Scoopneck Dress in Brown $49.50  $29.99. High-rise Trouser Jeans in Dark  $59.50 $29.99.

Women: Favorite knit shell - heather gray

My Little Brown Eye...

I was a little under the weather last week, so forgive me if I'm a little late with some of these things... 

* Vogue India has launched and the debate is on - why is Gemma Ward sharing the cover? And how long will we have to wait before a curly-haired desi model graces the cover?

* Although I enjoyed my first Fashion Week in New York a few weeks ago, I may have missed the Fashion Week at the recently concluded London shows since Prince famously rocked the runway for Matthew Williamson.  Yeah, I admit it - I just wanted an excuse to put Prince on my site!  He knows all about 55 Secret Street of course...

* Jaime Pressly and her widely-panned St. John Couture dress at the Emmy Awards made me think of a New Yorker article about her a few years ago, 2003 to be exact, The Almost It Girl.   She kept stressing to the writer of the article how badly she wanted to be taken seriously in Hollywood.  Hopefully her new Emmy has solved that problem for her.

* Interesting article about Eartha Kitt in the Sunday New York Times called The Wild Child's Delight on her affinity for hornet's nests.  Yes, hornet's nests.   I say 80-something legends can like whatever they want!

* Speaking of legends,  I can't wait to hear the duet Aretha Franklin is doing with Fantasia (Oh wait, here it is - Let Me Put You Up On Game), but I can't get behind the idea of mommy-to-be Halle Berry playing Aretha in a movie on her life - especially when Jennifer Hudson and Queen Latifah are available!  I respect my legends so I will not comment further unless she brings it up again.

* I am always in SoHo and I recently stopped into the Todd Oldham home design store (all of the floor samples were on sale by the way) but I am glad to hear that he is stepping back into fashion.  He has joined Old Navy as it's Creative Director and, of course, his eponymous clothing line is on the way too.

*Also in SoHo, I had to drag myself out of Jonathan Adler's store on Greene Street.  TOO! CUTE!  Remember these pillows I showed a few months ago?  And check out these groovy cannisters. 

      

* Still can't get enough of Dominican hair care tips?  Good, because Tia Williams has a yet another tip for Dominican Hair Preservation (hint:  Philosophy's Shear Splendor Age-Defying Hair "Marinating" Oil for Chemically Treated, Chronically Dry Hair.

* Oh, and Terry McMillan has a blog called Comment-Terry.   Stop by and say hello and encourage her to post often!

$55 and Under: Cynthia Rowley's Limited Edition Makeup for Avon

I met Cynthia Rowley very briefly during Fashion Week and I forgot to ask her about her new limited edition makeup line for Avon.  After all, I was too busy eating and telling her about one of her handbags that served me well for years.

But that's okay.  I love the Plum Orchid lipstick on me so I'll stock up on that and probably the lip gloss, but I'll pass on the brush set.  I believe in using good brushes - with or without cute packaging. 

Cynthia Rowley for Avon

Lipstic in Plum Orchid $4.50.  Nail Enamel in Plum Orchid $4.00.  Lip Gloss in Rose Petals $4.50. Eyeshadow Quad in Plum Orchid $8.00.   Brush Set $15.00.   Blush Stick in Plum Orchid $8.00.

Plus-Size Pretty at Nordstrom

Maggy London Tie Front Silk Dress $168.

Nine West Print Peasant Blouse $89.  Nine West Wide Leg Pants $94.

JS Boutique Floral Silk Dress $198.

Web Snob Weekend

I'm a little under the weather (sniffle, sniffle)  See you tomorrow...

The Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk Panel names their 9 favorite lip balms for keeping your pout kissable
all through fall.

Coquette knows it's all about personal style! Give us a style tip and be entered in to win one of five free copies of The Little Black Book by Nina Garcia.

Bag Bliss loves the cheap-chic Heidi Klum Handbag Line at Monsoon Accessorize.

If little things in life make you happy, you'll be thrilled with the Theory Olive Patent bag says Bag Snob!

HiveSlides:  Check out Stylehive's slideshow of some of the most luxurious, over-the-top products in the Hive.

Beauty Snob discovers the ancient art of magnetic healing with diamonds!

Transparency, escapism & old Hollywood Glamour! Fashiontribes dissects the Top 10 most interesting trends from the recent Spring 2008 New York Fashion Week.

Exclusive! GlamChic gets intimate with Elle Macpherson .

To have and to hold: StyleBakery.com hunts for the hottest fall handbags for every budget.
eBeautyDaily thinks Nina Garcia's new book, The Little Black Book of Style, is just perfect for the beauty-obsessed budding fashionista.

Kristopher's sure the only way you should box your life in is with this Devi Kroell box clutch.

Dissed & Dismissed: Second City Style catches celebrity style disasters.

iPapier looks at and reviews Peter Jensen's Spring 2008 collection at London Fashion Week.

Forever 21 at 37

I know the name in and of itself implies that Forever 21 is not for me.  I was born in the 60s after all (October 1969 - I just made it!), I'm above a size 2 and I graduated from high school nearly twenty years ago. But I like Forever 21.  Sure, the music is in the club loud, but I always check it out, lest I miss out on a great bargain that passes the looks chic not cheap test. 

Now the key, as with any brand on the lower end of high-low chic, is to shop strategically.  Earrings and dresses? Yes!  Sequins or Shoes?  No way! 

Some things you just can't get away with...

Dresses

 

From top: Satin Babydoll Dress $24.80.  Knit Tube Dress $19.80.  3Q Sweater Dress w/Belt $27.80.  Gathered Knit Dress $19.80.

Blouses

                 Woven Blouse $14.80.                              Ruffled Sheer Blouse $19.80.

Tunics

Satin Tunic w/ Sheer Sleeves $27.80.  Ruched Tunic $13.80.  Sunshine Tunic $22.80.  Gathered Knit Tunic $19.80.

Earrings, Bracelets and Necklaces

Love Bird Necklace $5.80.  Warped Metal Cuff $5.80.  Warped Plate Earrings $4.80.  Warped Metal Disc Earrings $4.80.