Style Fix

Take a good look at these two males.

First we have Patrick Dempsey, star of TV’s Grey’s Anatomy and the big screen’s Enchanted.

He’s a handsome, well-put-together, 42-year-old father and husband.

Then we have Petey boy. Pete Wentz is the bassist, back-up vocals, and lyricist of the band
Fall Out Boy. He is a 28-year-old, makeup and hood-wearing, woe-is-me boy who is promised to be engaged to 23-year-old Ashlee Simpson.

But personal lives aside, just take one look at what each man chose to wear today, Monday, March 31.

Need I conclude for you … ?

“H” must be a lucky first letter for a retail name, because that is the only similarity that I can see between two industry stores that are seeing profits rise at a time when most retail companies are struggling to stay afloat.

Both Hermes - the top name known for gorgeous, expensive, silk scarves - and H&M - a haven for $8 cotton tees, cheap accessories, and affordable teen trends - have reported impressive increases in sales lately.

As my search for fabric as impressionistically inspired as Madame Stella McCartney’s latest collection continues, I digress to show you the dress pattern and fabric that I am currently working on.

It is an Easy Sew pattern with three different options for strap and back style. I’m going for the one shown here on the right, not being worn by a model.

In person, the fabric is an antique-looking cream color background with a rose-hued design.

As I don’t have my own sewing machine yet, but rather tote my projects around with me whenever I am headed to someone’s house where I know one is available for my use, I am at a standstill right now with progress. Everything is cut out and pinned, and ready to go.

The Purse Page has a knack for spotting what designer bags celebrities are toting in “seen around town” snapshots.

But when I saw the photos that were posted today of Reese Witherspoon with Jake Gyllenhaal and a $1,500 Bottega Veneta bag it was neither Reese nor her basic-looking bag that I was looking at.

Fact: I am in love with Jake Gyllenhaal and can actually see him from my desk (or at least his likeness on the cover of a magazine).

Myth: Guys look good in sweatpants.

Jake, my love, sweatpants? We can see too, too much when men decide to go the flimsy, soft, cotton route in public. True, I don’t think anyone past college age should wear these out of the house, but especially not men.

Liberated, jumping man bits are not the same as freely bouncing woman parts. No matter how sexy and talented you are, I do not want to see your Wang Chung tonight. End of story.

If you don’t who Fifi Lapin is … well, you should, and will soon.

She is the it girl of the moment in fashion. She rocks all the latest trends. She gets the hottest styles direct from the runway. She is a cartoon rabbit with a blog.

Yes, it’s true: a cartoon bunny has cooler clothes and friends than I.

This ingenious creation pens her wardrobe direct from top designers’ catwalks, and is always sure to tell you who she is wearing.

Everyone will love and appreciate Fifi and the simplistic details of her life as a 20-year-old socialite rabbit. I just wish I had thought of something so original and inspired; what a crafty way to deliver the fashion news!

In the pictures here you can check Miss Fifi Lapin out in her yellow Dior bow-tied jacket and purse that she wore back in November along with the real deal walking down Christian’s runway.

Prints of the super cute, up and coming fashionista are available for purchase through her Etsy store which will be re-opening in April with all of the latest spring trends.

I happen to love my birthday more than any other day throughout the calendar year. Even as a child I looked forward more to my birthday than Christmas or Flag Day. I signed up for every free birthday club I came across.

But as adults, we don’t get free happy meals, ice cream sundaes, and such on our celebratory day.

Until now.

Piperlime, the Gap Inc. Web site that sells kick-butt shoes and handbags, will send you a little special something on your big day. All you have to do is tell them when it is, and which - if any - of their promotional e-mails you would like to receive. Plus, if you have a Gap, Old Navy, or Banana Republic card you can receive 500 points for signing up!

The birthday surprise is yet a secret to me, but since my birthday is coming up in one month and ten days …

Question: When does spoiled reality show star Brittny Gastineau fall into the shadow and fail to get mentioned as a party attendee?

Answer: When the event being held is to announce the collaboration of outrageous Heatherette designer duo of Richie Rich and Traver Rains with crazy, fun makeup company M.A.C. Cosmetics. Oh, and don’t forget that Kim Kardashian - Brittny after eight straight cans of Red Bull - is the spokesmodel.

Your local M.A.C. store should have all of Heatherette’s glitterific creations in stock now, as of Thursday, March 20. Plus, products are available for online ordering as well.

Canada, ey? The land of ice hockey, Avril Lavigne, … and super cute fashions?

Sure enough.

As L’Oreal’s Toronto Fashion Week was ongoing last week, concluding this weekend, we have been finding out that our northern neighbors have more to offer us than average pop singers.

After a quick glance of the most recent designs to hit the runway, these shown here are my favorites. I would easily wear any of them.

The only problem that I see: I’d wear some of them now, and this is supposed to be a forecast for fall 2008.

I am still dreaming about Stella McCartney’s Impressionistic floral print that she used on her $1,000+ goodies for spring 2008.

In my attempt to hunt down some fabric that I could use to sew my own version (yes, I am that crafty/nerdy) I have found a few that are almost there. Nothing yet is quite perfect, but those seen here are my top choices thus far.

All of these are available for purchase at ReproDepot; most are available in other colors, too.

Any thoughts??? Once I get home, and charge my camera battery, I will share with you the pattern and fabric that I am currently working on!

Audrey Tautou - the adorable French actress remembered most from the foreign-language, feel-good film Amelie - is hitting the big screen once again.

This time, however, she will be breaking away from her usual typecast role as the sweet and innocent girl next door to play a sassy, conniving gold digger in Priceless (Hors de Pris). Her fashion-addicted character Irene lives the life of a high-class Riviera belle, but in order to continue on with this lifestyle attempts to woo and charm a man for his money. In true romantic comedy form, the man that Irene thinks is a well-to-do businessman is nothing more than the local bartender.

Although the plot certainly sounds predictable - (I’m guessing she falls for him, finds out he’s broke, must decide if love is more important than money … and so on) - with a backdrop of Nice and Monaco, you can bet I will be in the theater when it lands in America on March 28!

It’s sure to catch my eye … between Audrey Tautou’s acting, the French language and fashion, and a script that Tautou claims “shows a dark side of society, even if it’s tiny. Behind the diamonds you can find a nasty, dirty thing.”

See you there, Audrey, March 28!

In case you forgot, fashion is a form of art. It can capture true beauty the same way that a canvas can. In fact, Stella McCartney reminds of this connection to the painted world with pieces from her spring collection.

I must say, I would easily wear either this quaint little, ruffled dress OR carry this super-chic take on granny’s carpet bag to a Sunday at the Philadelphia Art Museum, a walk around the city, or trip out to visit the family.

Nay-sayers of this floral print are rolling in, but I find her inspired fabric choice flawless. I have not seen any floral print like it; it is grown-up without being old lady. It is impressionistic: Monet and Cassatt meet the fashion world. It is one of my top 10 dresses for spring 2008. It is … $1,000 each!!!

Okay, I love it, but I guess on my budget I will be heading out to the fabric stores instead, searching down a similar print to make my own version. Fingers crossed!

If Tyra’s latest episode of America’s Next Top Model (read a recap) exemplified poor taste, then this week’s Make Me A Supermodel was a five-star meal.

In each episode of Bravo TV’s Make Me, sexy supermodel icons Niki Taylor and Tyson Beckford host both male and female wannabes in a realistic photo shoot, a runway show, and an model’s life experience. The photo shoots are fluid, with group shots and individual, and some models getting nixed altogether because the photographer isn’t feeling them. The runway shows are weekly and feature high fashion quirkiness. The experiences have included paparazzi rumors, being brand ambassadors, and winning over the public.

The newest episode (full recap) - first aired at 10 p.m. EST on Thursday March 13 - showed Tyra and her meat-wearing ANTM crew up!

Three words, from Niki to Tyra: Habitat for Humanity. Also could be translated to: Game on, Tyra!

That’s right, Niki took her last few model contestants down to New Orleans to meet a woman who lost her house. They then spent the day working on the foundations of a new home for this woman with Habitat for Humanity.

Dresses like Paris Hilton’s adorable natural-colored one that she wore yesterday around town in Hollywood is why I am most excited for warmer, spring weather. Don’t miss her awesome shoes, either!

As always, I applaud people for their attempts to be different. But I fear, dear Givenchy, that I must pass this time.