Skins: Interchangeable Shoes

Mark Kline has waited through 6 years, five rounds of funding, and one reverse merger to get his shoe line Skins in stores. Wearers buy one set of "bones" which are made-to-measure insoles that are to be interchanged with "skins", soft collapsible outer layers. This way, you get several pairs of unique, stylish, custom fit shoes for yourself. If only they made this for stilettos.

Paisley Pouch

Hints of spring weather call for hints of spring in our wardrobes, and what better way to start than with a bright, mini, paisley makeup bag? This one by A Touch of Ivy is only $20 and brings bright colors of spring in a subtle way via its beige background. They come in two sizes, perfect for making your oversized spring bags more organized.

Need A T-Shirt With Those Vitamins?

Walgreens drugstores are launching clothing line Casual Gear, which will be in all 6,200+ stores by the end of March. "We're not making an attempt here to be extremely high fashion. We're all about conveneince and we feel this line speaks to that. We're a drug store, its not our goal to compete with some of the larger mass retailers" said a spokeswoman.

The line is made by the same company who produces underwear and sleepwear for Nike's brand Hurley and Liz Caliborne's brand Lucky. It will feature tshirts, tanks, track and yoga pants, hoodies, and quilted vests that will range from $6.99 to $14.99. It's cheap, it's comfy, plus I can buy some pajamas to go along with the usual purchase of toothpaste or late night cookies.

Who Is America's Next Top Tyra?

Reports have been circulating that Tyra Banks is leaving America's Next Top Model, due to her massive blowup with creative director Jay Manuel and lack of participation in the show (outside of judging day). She also believes that people don't take her seriously because of the show, and ever since Barack and Hillary have been guests she is convinced Tyra is the next Oprah. All I know, is that ANTM will not be the same without Tyra!

Gucci and Madonna Benefit

By now almost everyone has heard of the massive $5.5 million raised by Madonna and Gucci's party during NY Fashion Week. My blogworthy comment from the evening:

"Underneath each chair...is one Malawian child. Everybody gets one. Thanks for coming" -Chris Rock

Trendy Technology

No longer do you have obnoxious phone cords getting tangled in and obstructing your outfit. This is Jabra's BT3030 Bluetooth headset, designed as a dogtag necklace matching any casual ensemble. Six buttons for hanging up, receiving, and changing songs or volume are right on your necklace! its practical and cute.

Custom Cup O'Joe

Pantone is known for their impeccable color range and their new product "My Cuppa Tea" is a quirky example of color's role in our everyday lives. Along the inside of the mug are Pantone colors of coffee in different servings. Add your milk and match colors accordingly to get anything from Classic British to Milky. Whether it's for yourself or your boss, preparing coffee has never been this cute.

No Time for Fashion?

If you're going to do the neon trend, do it in small, witty doses like these "No Time" watch/bracelets by Tom Binns Design. Always making a bold statement, people will be looking at your wrist, but not asking for the time.

Animal Friendly Feet

Vegan Natalie Portman is literally reducing her carbon footprint with the launch of an animal-friendly shoe line. In collaboration with Te Casan, Portman helped design around 20 looks from heels to flats. Plus, you can pick up a pair of faux-leather, faux-calf, or satin shoes and feel double good about yourself knowing that the proceeds benefit Nature Conservancy.
Win-win!

A Boxy Bouquet

Giving flowers just got more fun. For those who think that flowers is cheesy, check out Jane Carroll's floral artistry website. She puts gorgeous flowers in unique vessels including boxes, boots, and beer mugs. They put a unique twist on a traditional gift, and are sure to put a smile on any recipient's face.

JLo's JBabies are #1

Pictures of Jennifer Lopez's twin babies got 4 million unique visitor hits and have broken traffic records on people.com's website. Max and Emme trumped the previous record of 2.49 million (to check out what people wore to the Academy Awards) by almost double!

Eco-Friendly Raw-Bags

Inspired by raw textiles and natural materials, Raw-Bags are a line of clutches, handbags, and wallets made from bamboo, rattan, and raw leather. They are casual, unique pieces that come in subtle earthy shades as well as a few brighter tones like teal and yellow bamboo. The products look like something you would buy on a trip to Fiji or the Philippines, minus the 23 hour commute. Raw silk and recycled paper products are set for future collections.

Charming

Heather Moore Jewelry has created a collection of necklaces, stackable rings, earrings, bracelets, and even holiday ornaments with personalized details, making each piece extra special for you and those you love. Made with 14K gold, sterling silver, and small precious gems these sweet pieces will last you a lifetime.

Robo-Clothes

Lululemon Athletica and NuMetrex have done something creepy: a heartbeat tank top aka a shirt that monitors heart rate, time spent being active, and calorie burn. The top is made of quick-dry nylon/Lycra, is infused with fabric sensors, and a pocket in the bra for a snap-in transmitter with the ability to translate data from a compatible watch or exercise machine. CRAZY! Its about $74 and available in 3 colors, so you can measure yourself all the time.

Trend Alert: Paint Strokes

Let your left brain be your guide this spring when deciding to purchase that paint splattered pinafore. Artistry was on the brain when designers showed plain dresses with bright, bold brush strokes all over them. Dolce & Gabbana does the above dress, but no worries to our fashion-bargain girls, this trend will certainly trickle down to mass stores by summer.

Bottled Tap Water To Go

This is genius: SIGG has created a to go bottle with built in water filter so you can have Brita quality water from any sink, anywhere! The bottles are 100% recyclable aluminum and long lasting. Now through Earth Day the company is celebrating their 100th anniversary with an eco-aware website. The simple yet genius product comes in many different design options and boasts that it can refresh and clean something as complicated as my -Gatorade-has-been-sitting-in-the-sun beverages!

Some Lovin Down Under

Bikinelle has created these fun little gadgets which make it easier for a girl to shave, wax, or epilate her you-know-what into fun shapes such as hearts, diamonds, triangles, and more. The hard plastic accessory is $22 and uses the tagline "keep in shape" is only available in London and Berlin, but I'm sure will launch Stateside very soon.

The Upper East Side is Getting Trendy

Balenciaga announced their new in store boutique at Bergdorf Goodman. They will set up a 700 sq. ft. space across from Prada, bringing hot and edgy designs to the usually prim and proper uptown girl. Along with other new, fashion forward luxe brands such as Tom Ford, Lanvin, and Eskandar, it makes us wonder what kind of botox injection the 5th Ave. retailer is getting.

Luck O' The Irish

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 5th Ave has never looked greener than this morning, as tourists from all over the world have come to NYC to view the biggest St. Patty's Day Parade in the nation. If your cute green outfit is hiding under a winter coat (which it very well may considering this morning's chilly weather) pick up this DuWop green eyeshadow palette from Sephora. And don't be afraid if colored shadows scare you, the kit comes with a tutorial on how to use the soft, shimmery shades of green properly for the Irish holiday.

The Hills: Manhattan Style

Whitney Port, Lauren Conrad’s leggy sidekick/the better Teen Vogue intern, is said to be leaving The Hills and using all those connections and years of mignon labor to move to New York and…intern again. This time it is at fashion PR powerhouse People’s Revolution where Whitney will be doing what most people with at least 3 years internship experience do: passing out flyers, stuffing gift bags, and getting other people coffee. Way to tap into those networking skills to get your career moving. We’ll see if she can survive owner Kelly Cutrone, who has a reputation of running things with an iron fist.

Color Vision

Aviator, wayfarer, oversize, or round bright frames and pops of color are what matters most on this season's sunnies. Celebrities and runway models are sporting frames in oranges, blues, yellow, and greens getting ready to paint the dull winter away. Hitting all kinds of price points from Urban Outfitters to Karl Lagerfield, put last years blacks and browns away with your winter boots and go pick out something bright!

Tiny Waist, No Belly Button!

whoa. whoa...

not even Alaia is worth this much tummy-tuck trouble. well, maybe that red one from clueless, but it would be a toss up.

Elephants Never Forget

Elegant safari-chic is what we're going for this season and what better way to do it than with elephants, like the ones on this gold plated ring by Palm Beach jewelry.

Elephants typically stand for strength and patience, but mean many things in different cultures. To the Hindu’s, elephant are found in the form of Ganesh who is the god of luck and fortune. In African cultures the elephant stands for patience, dignity, pride, royalty, strength and honor. Asians consider the elephant as a symbol of happiness, longevity, and good luck. Some Asian cultures also believe the elephant is a cosmic creature, and carries the world upon it’s back. The Elephant also has immense determination and loyalty - always standing up for others and always defending members of the group in its natural habitat. With all these amazing qualities and meanings, who wouldn't want to garb themselves in the animal.

Moss Mills and Noir also do beautiful elephant jewelry.

The Fankle Cankle Mystery

On my daily commute to work I was stuck behind someone on the escalator that certified the following premise: The ankle that is fat, the fankle, is inherently different than the ankle that morphs directly into the calf, the cankle. Both which are fashionably tragic.

The woman in front of me had tragic (not tragic in that Romeo and Juliet way, but in that fat kid eats because he's fat and fat because he eats kind of way) fankles. Not only was she wearing strappy white sandals (its pre-vernal equinox, come on!) but her ankle fat was just pouring over the sides of them so that the buckle was literally engulfed by her fankle skin.

Now, I do not claim to have perfect ankles, I actually detest my own, but in no way were hers muscular in order to support complementary muscular calves, which is the downfall of most cankle-ites. This leaves me nothing to believe but that she just had big lumpy fankles, by all means real as well as inexcusable. The fashion faux pas: she was wearing a below the knee skirt, highlighting them for the world! Worst of all, she was not trying to berid her curse by moving those lower limb muscles, but she was standing spread-fankle taking up the entire breadth of the escalator! I was forced to stare at this for the entire pull to the top of the subway before I could even get my thoughts straight, where I proceeded to power walk off my fears of a fanklular future.

Victoria Beckham is Scaring British People

Posh is doing something terrifying on this leaked cover of April British Vogue; its like her nostril is going to swallow me whole. Inside, she elaborates on her insanity by saying she could never go to the gym because she "can't bring [her]self to wear flat shoes". Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Victoria Beckham and I do think she is unfairly bashed by the media, but what can I say, I'm just a blogger.

I leave you with advice from our segacious Spice: "If they don't have a shoe in my size, I just stick toilet paper in--if that's what it takes to get a nice shoe"

Amy Winehouse Quote of the Day

"How long does Fashion Week last? Is it really a Week?" -Amy Winehouse at the Fendi party in Paris

Oh Amy...more singing, less thinking.

Puppy Face

This is beyond adorable. For our subtly quirky Suzie homemaker, these mugs by Taz Ah are simple bone white until you take a sip and see a bottom surprise! For $23, how can you resist starting a zoo of your own, minus the stink. Also comes in monkey, pig, rabbit, and tiger.

Monthly Grocery List: March

People say that working in fashion let alone keeping up with it, might not save you much money (they're right), but it will get you gobs of free stuff and insider tricks as to how to get the most for your already stretched pennies. One of the most delicious secrets I've learned so far is the annual merchandising calendar. This is the schedule of what and when the newest delights hit store floors. Starting now, at the beginning of each month I will post this blessed knowledge to help this world be a better dressed (and more effectively priced) place.

New to Stores in March:
- Sunglasses: the new spring/summer styles hit now, so if you're hesitating on splurging for those oversize Dior's that cover your not-so-tan-because-I-bought-these-glasses-instead-of-going-to-Florida face, don't, because the cream of the crop comes now
- Spring Dresses: start shopping occasion now, before all that's left is a size 12 blue floral
- Early Swim: don't get too excited for bikini weather, I'd wait it out until final deliveries in April or your suit may be out before you even get to use it
- Denim: delivery 2, stock up so you can knock Ms. I-have-hot-new-jeans-in-February out of the water

King of the Courts

T-4 days until the much anticipated March 10 Roger Federer vs. Pete Sampras matchup at Madison Square Garden. The match was set last November in Asia with the record of 2-1 Federer. The elder player (Sampras is 36 and Federer is 26) says Federer "has a little backhand flick that no one else in the world has today". With all the speculation of old age vs. new dominating the courts, my question is, who will they be wearing?

Jewelry is the New Bag

All eyes are on Paris at the closing of Fashion Week season where jewelry is taking front stage as the main accessory for the runway. From Balenciaga to Lanvin, Dries Van Noten to McQueen, big pieces stand out. So remember ladies, come next fall think: neckline neckline neckline!

Super Heroes and Pizza

This has nothing to do with fashion, but it is just too good not to post. Galactic Pizza is shrinking their carbon footprint by dressing their delivery boys in superhero costumes and setting them off in hybrid electric cars. If you are in the Minneapolis area, you could luck out and get a pie from Captain Awesome, Captain Organic, Italian Scallion, Flying Squirrel, General Statement, Merman, Pink Thunder, or Weather Man. Bottom lines are swelling with 2007 revenues of $800,000, up from $680,000 in 2006, and about 75 deliveries a day. The restaurant serves locally farmed organic vegetables, hormone free cheese, and vegan options as well. Delicious, environmentally friendly, and you don’t even have to leave the house. This my friends, is what I call win, win.

Marc Jacobs Accused of Plaigirism

Marc Jacobs finds himself in a bit of hot water this morning as he is being accused of plagiarizing a scarf design by Goran Olofsson from western Sweden. Olofsson claims that Jacobs copied a design of Olofsson’s grandfather from the 50s which is sold to local visitors as a souvenir. It seems that maybe the designer is spreading his creative energy too thin, relying a bit too much on inspiration rather than good ol' original creation. The facts we found:

Both scarves-which picture scenes for the Linsell area- look identical apart from the writing in the top section - the original says Linsell while the one says Marc Jacobs since 1984.

The original was designed by Gosta (Olofsson’s grandfather) who sold homemade tourist items that he designed himself.

It looks like these souvenirs were taken home by tourists to the United States and somehow found their way to the Marc Jacobs studio. Gosta’s only heir is Goran so he may own the original copyright.

“I would guess that he had about a thousand of these scarves made up,” said Göran. “I wrote at the weekend and am waiting for an answer."

Auctioned at Tiffany's

Givenchy's defining dress, known throughout the world for outfitting Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's, made an appearance at the Givenchy Paris store opening. The black sleeveless gown was bought back by the company in 2006 for a whopping $811,800 at a London Christie's sale.

Jovovich-Hawk for Target

Edgy fashion label Jovovich-Hawk adds another notch to the designer/mass retailer bedpost at Target. Sticking with the earth-girly vibes of their higher end collection, I'm sure this collaboration makes for another sell out hit, something Target needs to see with the soon departure of their famous Issac Mizrahi.