Style Fix

There’s more and more of the same concepts appearing in ads today. This Marc Jacobs Fall/Winter 2008/2009 advertising campaign staring male model Cole Mohr is more half-naked men, as with David Beckham for Armani, and more phallic placements (note the detailing on the front of the purse), as with Lucky Brand’s e-mail ad.

Jamie Lynn Spears gave birth to a baby girl on Thursday, June 19.

The family has not officially announced the birth or name, yet, but a nurse at the Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center betrayed them and secretly called CNN, who immediately reported it.

Expect pictures and more in OK! magazine - Spears officially announced her pregnancy through this magazine, and is expected to sell the rights to her baby’s first photos to them as well.

With the hubbub over the first ad campaign featuring an endowed-looking David Beckham in tighty-whities starting to die down, Armani goes in for round two.

The fashion master took the soccer master to Malibu Beach, California, and got him, once again, down to his skivvies. But now that Armani knows how the public reacts to a sexy, near-naked Becks, he didn’t just place this one in magazines and on billboards (though you will be able to find it there soon, as well) – it’s on the side of a Macy*s building in San Francisco.

Check out the photo here, from the unveiling of the mural on Wednesday, June 18. Now, prepare yourself to hear gossip shows and more talk about it non-stop for the next month or so.

I’ve always said that when I have the money to spend on designer goods, my first purchase will be a Kate Spade purse (in addition to some Stella McCartney clothes, of course).

If only I had done my taxes on time, I’d be indulging in the For Your Eyes Only online Kate Spade sale right now. But, alas, I have not yet received my governmental mad money and must continue to wait.

Check out the For Your Eyes Only sale where you can find purses, diaper bags, shoes, wallets, and even a few notebooks by summery designer Kate Spade. It’s a quick sale - lasting from today, June 17, through Friday, June 20 only. But with prices up to 60 percent below retail, it’s worth a expedient look.

I’m not sure what either of these young singers - Katy Perry and Ashanti - were thinking when they got dressed for MTV’s TRL show on June 9.

Perhaps celebrities see TRL as an opportunity to wear whatever they feel like? Perhaps they decided that feeling cute is more important than wearing something that flatters your figure? Or perhaps an appearance on MTV is not worth spending the money to pay your stylist?

I’m all for 1950s and 1960s fashion … but updated, and fit to flatter.

Top Button, a virtual fashion meeting grounds, is nearly useless to those of us that don’t live in New York City, Los Angeles, or San Francisco. Although there are a few online offers for free shipping codes, and a fashion-inspired blog, the site’s main bragging rights is that it announces dozens of sample sales each week - but only in these three cities.

Now, to keep up with the online market, sample sales are starting to move to the Internet, and Top Button is attempting to keep up. The community Web site has just launched The Top Secret - an exclusive (albeit incredibly slow) online place to gain access to bargains and steals that even Jane Smith in Arkansas can partake in.

Don’t worry about the site boasting an invite-only membership; for a limited time, register at Top Button, and you will receive access to The Top Secret. Or maybe if you ask real nice, I’ll invite you!

Dear Banana Republic:

Please.

Do not encourage guys to pop their collar.

They have enough trouble trying to make fashion decisions on their own; they don’t need you making them think that stupid trends are cool.

Thank you.

I love Kate Hudson. I love Stella McCartney. So when Kate caught my eye as the “Look of the Day” on In Style, wearing Stella’s designs to her runway show, I had a moment of pure elation.

Kate wearing Stella. It doesn’t get much better (unless, of course, it was Kate and me hanging out together, both wearing Stella, while attending the runway show).

Jessica Alba and husband Cash Warren gave birth on Saturday to healthy baby girl. No specifics were initially told the public, though the little one’s name has now been announced: Honor Marie Warren.

Honor. With a name like that, she can totally be BFFs with True Whitaker. The sentiment is nice, but … Honor? What’s the nickname for that?

When I have a baby I promise to give her or him a classic, real name … like Jane or Oliver. I recommend following this lead, not the Zowie, Zephyr, Kal-El, Ocean, Rumer … Just don’t steal my names, okay?

The photo here is of the couple - including a very pregnant Jessica - from May, at the 2008 Celebration of Mentoring.

Although Mischa Barton looks sweet in her fairy get-up at A Time for Heroes Celebrity Carnival, benefiting the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, it seems that she was the only one that got the wear-a-costume memo. Either someone was playing a trick on her, or, I suppose, she was just really in the mood to wear face paint and wings.

I’ll admit to having donned fairy wings in the summer before, but I was 18, with lots of friends, and not surrounded by paparazzi.

She sure had confidence, though, I’ll give her that!

Affordable shoe have DSW is rising in a time when other mid-market stores are dropping.

Recent reports have proven that high-end retailers continue to flourish regardless of the economy (i.e. the rich are still rich), and discount brands are doing well; but, those that fall in the middle have been cutting corporate jobs, closing stores, and seeing sale decreases.

Whatever DSW is doing seems to be working, though. Easily classified as one of these middle ground retail stores that is above Wal-Mart, but below Saks Fifth Avenue, DSW is undergoing rapid growth.

In 2007, 37 new stores were opened; 30 is the nearly fulfilled goal for 2008. Plus, the company was undergoing all of this growth without even targeting customers online … until now.

DSW just opened their first online venture - DSW.com - featuring hundreds of sandals, great sales and clearances, easy trend viewing, and a worthwhile reward program (also available in store).

I may have found my favorite new fashion-based Web site: I Saw It In. The site is a collection of who wore what in which movie.

Here’s how I just used the site:

The second I saw Katherine Heigl’s 27 Dresses, I thought, “I have to have that dress that she wears to the club!” But I had no idea what brand or designer made it. Today, I browsed over to I Saw It In, clicked on 27 Dresses, and skimmed through the dozen or so screen shots to find the dress that had me drooling.

Voila!

It’s a Temperley London dress and is currently on sale for half of the original price, making it … darn … it’s still a $630 dress. But at least now I can scope out their other designs, linger in the clearance section, and gather inspiration to make my own.

(In the movie, it was a jade color. This shade shown here is the only color left.)

I’m so very confused. I usually detest Balenciaga’s creations, but I usually love art-inspired prints and florals. So what, pray tell, do I think of this Balenciaga floral clutch?

Bloomingdale’s was given the worldwide honor of being named the 2008 “Department
Store of the Year” at the Global Department Store Summit.

Bloomie’s was chosen as the top honor from department store CEOs’ nominations based on meeting the criteria: “an enviable profile through branding, differentiated positioning and powerful messaging; successful developments and executions of product, store and service innovation strategies; delivery of an extraordinary in-store experience; offers of excellent customer service; and strong financial performance.”

Gap is offering an online discount right now, until Sunday, June 8. Just enter the code PWNLXCXW4ZM8 when you are checking out and receive $20 off of any purchase totaling at least $100.

That’s $100 worth of goods for only $80!