Style Fix

I have a chest that is larger than the average woman’s. Add to that my footballer player back and swimmer shoulders, and you’ve got an upper body that pulls shirts to a new - and often indescent - level. I have to be aware of this, or else I end up looking skanky. Shirts get filled out and suddenly become belly bearing, low cut, and super tight.

Not all women have figured this out about themselves yet. My inspiration for this rant came from this recent celebrity snapshot, showing a bit more than I need to see.

Rosie Perez, left, and Rosario Dawson at a Beverly Hills luncheon for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s (HFPA) today. Rosie stomach is enviable! But she is falling out of the top. Sometimes you have to admit that one half of your body is a different size than the other. A good tailor would work wonders for Rosie’s look.

Rosario on the other hand, is dressed to fit her body. Her look is also more appropriate for an afternoon occasion. But haven’t either of these women heardof a little color?

If you spend money on nice clothes, you should take proper care of them to ensure a long life with the colors, seams, shape, and fit in tact. But with all of those crazy symbols on clothing care labels, how can you be sure that you are following the tag to a tee?

I’ve found the perfect laundry companion! This chart shown here is a helpful explanation of what each graphic means. Print out a copy and keep it posted by your washer and dryer for quick reference. If you use public access laundry machines, consider laminating a copy and keeping it in your laundry bag; or, hang one up where everyone can take advantage of it.

This chart was put together courtesy of the Soap and Detergent Association. I stumbled upon it by means of the craft site Whip Up, who found it thanks to the hunting prowess of Label-Free.

There have been lots of little interesting tidbits to keep up with in the fashion realm lately. Here are a few compiled for a quick perusing:

* Bill Blass and creative director Peter Som had a buzz-worthy week! First, reputable sources were flying off the presses announcing that there was drama amidst in the company, which has been down in sales lately. Magazines, papers, and Web sites were quick to spread rumors of Som looking to leave Blass. But now, according to an exclusive for Portfolio, the anxious public is rest assured that Som is not leaving, but is in fact currently renegotiating his contract.

* Tommy Hilfiger has not only seen sales increase, but was recently named #1 on Women Wear Daily’s “Top 10 Designer” list and ranked #16 on the “WWD 100″ list for overall brand recognition among female consumers.

* Speaking of WWD … they’ve designed a new look and means for their homepage. Check it out at WWD.com.

* We can’t forget that a new season of Project Runway is two episodes in, especially not when so many people are spending their breath bashing this season! Last year’s winner Christian Siriano, bloggers, and more are expressing grave disappointment with the current designer-contestants. I, however, will still be glued to the couch every Wednesday night!

Sisterhood stars Blake Lively, 20; Alexis Bledel, 26; America Ferrera, 24, and Amber Tamblyn, 25 attended the premiere of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 in New York City, today, Monday July 28.

The four actresses revisited their roles from the 2005 film version of the teen novel series written by Ann Brashares for a sequel this summer. Playing Bridget, Lena, Carmen, and Tibby (in order as the actresses stand, left to right), they bring four unique stories together on the big screen once again.

In addition to the quartet - who are each showing their own distinguished personal style here - three of Blake Lively’s Gossip Girl (also based on a teen novel series) costars showed up in support. Chace Crawford, Leighton Meester, and Ed Westwick all made appearances.

The new movie, in theaters next week (August 6 official release date), takes pieces of plot from the second and third novel in the series, but is largely based on number four: Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood.

Jessica Simpson went shopping at Bergdorf Goodman Friday in New York City, with her mom Tina Simpson.

I love a good thought-out pastel piece matched with a bright, bold accessory. Though I am a bit jealous that she looks so good just headed out for some shopping!

She’s on the cover of TV Guide this week, looking like a smoking hot 20-something starlet … except she’s only 15. But that argument and commentary on Miss Miley Cyrus, of Hannah Montana fame, is over played.

On Monday, July 21, Miley stopped by the MTV TRL studios, along with Teddy Geiger and Emma Stone, in the teen-appropriate getup shown here. You have to hand it to the little pop icon, she has more confidence, spunk, and sheer cuteness her little pinky that most celebrities can ever dream to have.

Five points to Miley for an age-appropriate outfit that makes her happy.

However, those points are immediately negated by the sheer number of accessories. A hat, a bubble ring, two belts, a lace vest, and several bangles.

It’s a common youthful mistake, and even college girls still struggle with it. But ladies, the age old advice always holds true: Take off one accessory before you walk out the door.

Harper Collins Publishers has an ongoing, monthly, online drawing - Book in a Bag - for five random readers to win three must-read new novels, packed into a designer bag courtesy of The SAK.

This month, you can enter to win the Ashbury Leather Shopper shown here (click on it to see more details at The SAK), stuffed with three new fiction novels courtesy of Avon A books em>(an “imprint” of Harper Collins): The Safety of Secrets (2008) by DeLauné Michel, The Flirt (2008) by Kathleen Tessaro, and The Godmother (2007) by Carrie Adams.

After the lucky five win, and the rest of us mope about not getting something for free, be sure to return each subsequent month to Harper Collins Book in a Bag online to enter to win a new bag, with new books. Up next month will be the California Classic Crossbody in Teak from The Sak, with three more must-read books: It Had To Be You (1994) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, The Smart One (2008) by Ellen Meister, and One in a Million (2008) by Kimberla Lawson Roby.

Good luck … but not too much, because I want to win, too!

Women of the world, I beg of you, take to heart this statement made by Nina Garcia as she judged this week’s Project Runway designs:

“I think shiny, tight and short is the quickest way to look cheap.”

I agree, Nina. I agree.

Short and snappy, here’s a rundown of a two top performances on the Men’s Spring 2009 Fashion Week catwalks. All pictures shown are thumnails, so you can click on each to get a larger version.

First up, John Galliano. He certainly never fails to make a show. This week we have his musings from an ’80s garbage can, a pirate’s rag pile, and a gangster spider. View Galliano’s entire show at New York Magazine.

Second, we have Alexander McQueen. The name alone should be the perfect lead in for what you are about to experience. Get ready for airbrushed muscles on tees; ill-fitted crotches; greasey, slicked back hair; glam track suits; ultra femme for him, and shiny, angular foreheads. View McQueen’s entire spring collection at New York Magazine.

Well, designers, the tone is set. Be weird, be odd, but be sure to put on a show!

For the rest of the menswear collections that walked with Galliano and McQueen, peruse full photo albums at, you guessed it, New York Magazine online.

The second episode of Project Runway Season 5 airs tonight, Wednesday July 23, at 9 p.m. Eastern on Bravo. If you missed last week’s season premiere, you can catch it before the new episode, at 8 p.m.

Last week, contestants were given one of the favorite challenges of past seasons: to make an unconventional design from material purchased at the grocery store. This week, the teaser ad has Tim Gunn taunting audiences by saying that something “is a Project Runway first.” Natalie Portman is the guest judge.

If you are itching with anticipation and excitement, how about creating your own sketch or outfit based on last week’s challenge? Do so, and you could win a complete hair product collection from TRESemme. Alison Kelly (shown here), from Season 3, will host an online competition related to each episode’s challenge given to the designers. Check it out: submit your work, or just rate your peers’ work.

Redheads of all ranges of shades can and should rock the occasional red outfit … especially if it makes you exude as much confidence as Christina Hendricks is here, in her shiny, orangy-red party dress at AMC’s red carpet event to celebrate the second season of Mad Men July 21.

Blonder reds - especially when they have the skin coloring of a real redhead - can brighten their reddish tones and highlights with a strong, bold hue as Lindsay Lohan did on set for Ugly Betty July 20.

Traveling back in time a bit to prove that it can always make for a “do,” here’s Nicole Kidman (with husband Keith Urban) at a CMT Music Awards event on April 14.

Because no redheaded post would be complete without Julianne Moore … here she is finally adding a touch of color (she lives in black or nude) to her look. The raspberry undershirt helps higlight her rosy cheeks as she reads the children’s book she authored, titled an appropriate Freckleface Strawberry, at a kids J. Crew back in November, 2007.

Anya Rozova (formerly Kop, shown here attending the July 17 Vans by Marisa Miller event), now back to her natural brunette coloring, and Katarzyna Dolinska are the latest girls from America’s Next Top Model to sign with Elite Model Management, the agency that awards contracts to the winners. (Read more on these two specifically at NY Mag.)

Previously, Elite has snatched up several other contestants within seconds of their eliminations. Still working with Elite are: Shannon Stewart, first runner-up, Cycle 1; Ann Markley, 4th place, Cycle 3; Mollie Sue Steenis-Gondi, Cycle 6, placed 9th; Megg Morales, 10th place, Cycle 7; Samantha Francis, Cycle 8, placed 12th; and Sarah VonderHaar, 8th, Cycle 8.

Elite also signed a few girls who have since moved on, including: Sara Albert, Cycle 6, placed 4th; Nicole Linkletter, winner of Cycle 5; and Kim Stolz, 5th place on Cycle 5.

Winners of cycles 7, 8, 9, and 10 are all still with Elite. In order, they are: CariDee English, Jaslene Gonzalez, Saleisha Stowers, and Whitney Thompson.

Berlin, Germany’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2008 kicked off this weekend with designers such as Kilian Kerner, Kai Kuehne, and Vivienne Westwood. Sure, there were plenty of eye-catching, cutting-edge designs walking the runway that could potentially inspire you. But it’s much more fun to highlight that wacky, tacky looks that will (hopefully) never become trendy.

Women’s fashions are what usually get the masses flustered - there are simply more choices, options, and directions for a designer to go with women’s wear than men’s. Women have skirts, dresses, pants, high heels, blouses, accessories, jewelry… Men have pants, suits, ties, shirts …

Designer Kerner found new heights for men’s fashion to go during his show Sunday, July 20, in Berlin.

Here are three highlighting tastes of Kilian Kerner. And do take the time to click on the photo and see it full size so that you can fully appreciate the large, baggy crotch and similar details.

If this is the way stylish men will soon be dressing, I suppose I will happily remain single.

If you insist on plastering a message across your chest, why not make it a positive one?

Tees for Change shirts - and jewelry! - spread positivity, peace, and inspiration. The spring and summer 2008 collection includes earthy colors, natural fibers (including super-soft bamboo and organic ones), and these 12 mantras:

* Breathe deeply
* Chase dreams
* Choose happiness
* Embrace change
* Live passionately
* Laugh often
* Live fully
* Live mindfully
* Practice kindness
* Practice yoga
* Seek balance
* Today matters

Find tank tops, tee shirts, baby onesies, men’s fit tees, and jewelry in greens, blues, rusts, and more. The adult versions have just the phrase printed in a simple font, while the baby versions include a whimsical, related image. There is also currently a limited edition, pink, “stay strong” tee to support breast cancer.

I think “today matters” is my favorite, but any of these would far surpass any print telling the world that you’re “all natural” or that you’re baby is “addicted to the bottle.”