Style Fix

It’s time for some celebrity look stealing. Here are four head-to-toe looks from this weekend that I wish belonged to me. When so many female celebs took the surprisingly warm weather as an excuse to hooch it up, there ladies looked classy. Click on any of the pictures to see a larger version.

Selena Gomez was one of the many starlets to make an elegant appearance at the Beverley Hilton Hotel Saturday for St. Jude’s 5th Annual Runway for Life Benefit. The Duff sisters and Jennifer Love Hewitt were also there looking classy-sexy, but Selena was my favorite. Her dress combines the classic little black dress with today’s popular metallic tones.

At the Nickelodeon Australian Kids’ Choice Awards on Saturday many of the attendees took the opportunity to wear outlandish, unflattering duds. Toni Pearen, however, looked clean, appropriate, and the perfect level of casual. Okay, so it appears as if she has something on her boob, but she still looks amazing.

I was already loving Hilary Duff’s pink and black outfit for Friday’s 4th Annual GLSEN Respect Awards, but then when I spied the hint of pink on the underside of her shoes … sold! I have coveted these Christian Louboutins since day one (I hope she’s wearing Louboutins and not a copy).

Oh, Nina Garcia, how does she manage to pull off such funky pieces? I fear that I would look goofy, but Nina looked tres chic as she signed copies of her new book The One Hundred at Beverley Hills Saks on Friday.

Thanks for making me drool, Selena, Toni, Hilary, and Nina. Keep up the good fashion looks, and please remember me when you are empting out your closet!

Online shoe haven Endless has had a lot going on lately!

1. Costs are low and shipping is fast.

The store offers a constant good deal on shipping: Overnight shipping is free, meaning you pay regular and they upgrade you at no charge. Return shipping is always free, too. Plus, they have a price match guarantee where, for up to two weeks after you order, they will match any competitor’s lower price on the item. They also will refund you the difference if the item goes on sale within two weeks of your order.

2. New brands are constantly being added.

Recently, Endless has added Puma athletic shoes to their stock. Select Te Casan designers have also been added, although none yet from Natalie Portman’s collection.

3. You get a free subscription to Vogue when you order!

Spend $25 or more, now through November 15, and you will receive an e-mail follow up with a free gift subscription to the Vogue magazine of your choice: Vogue, Teen Vogue, or Men’s Vogue.

Women’s Boots, an online retailer that sells every style, shape, and size of, well, women’s boots, had a heated debate around the office over fashion week greats and legendary designers. The result? A top fashion icon was selected for each decade, from 1900 to present day.

1900s: Jeanne Lanvin
1910s: Anna and Laura Tirocchi
1920s: Coco Chanel
1930s: Elsa Schiaparelli
1940s: Christian Dior
1950s: Marilyn Monroe
1960s: Jackie Kennedy
1970s: Valentino Garavani
1980s: Princess Diana
1990s: Anna Wintour

… and the 2000s decade remains open with two more years to go. Who do you think has potential to be named top fashion icon of 2000 to 2009? Diane von Furstenberg (shown here) gets my vote for making a comeback after a ten-year hiatus, and going on to win top honors including a Lifetime Achievement award.

What about Women’s Boots choices - do you agree or disagree with any of them? I think Chanel, Dior, Monroe, and Kennedy were obvious but essential selections. Likewise, it’s hard to deny (although I really want to) Anna Wintour’s impact over the ’90s.

eLuxury always has good deals on designer shoes, purses, and more (good meaning still $300, but 50 percent off what they originally were). Today they have a special page set up as a “private sale” with exclusively Marc Jacobs shoes and bags.

Now, I am no crazy, necklace-wearing fan of Marc Jacobs, but (if I had the loot and was feeling frivolous) I could see myself with a Marc Jacobs bag.

The first one here is one that easily caught my eye. It’s the Quilted Colorblock Soft Pouch in Lemon, and was originally $695, but is now going for $419 at eLuxury.

The second, well, I really like the frog clasp … the cut and style of the bag is just too reminiscent of the mini backpack I carried in middle school. Plus, if I’m going to have an amphibian on my purse, it’s going to be a bargain buy not a $400 splurge. This Evening Rana Pouch is regularly $795, but is on sale at eLuxury for $479.

It’s hit or miss with Marc Jacobs for me. Check out the Marc Jacobs sale at eLuxury to decide for yourself.

After Natalie Portman was featured as a guest judge on Project Runway two weeks ago, and hostess Heidi Klum reminded the contestants that Portman has her own line of vegan shoes, people have been searching on the Internet trying to find Natalie’s footwear line with Te Casan.

First, I feel inclined to point out that Natalie helped design a line, under her name, for shoe company Te Casan. Rather than, as Heidi mistakenly announced, Natalie’s line being called Te Casan.

Phew. Now that that’s cleared up …

In passing, Heidi made mention of Te Casan, which is pronounced “Tay Ka-saan.” TV viewers that had never seen it spelled out, tried their best to sound out what Heidi had said. Enter the best popular Internet search term of the week: “Natalie Portman’s Take Us On shoes.”

An easy auditory misinterpretation, but funny none the less.

Some of Natalie Portman’s shoes for Te Casan are currently on sale.

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).

First Natalie Portman teamed with Te Casan to create a line of vegan dress shoes. Now, Leona Lewis is joining the ranks.

Leona Lewis, that girl that won her season of the U.K.’s The X Factor, and who incessantly repeats “keep bleeding, keep, keep bleeding love,” has decided that being vegetarian since she was 12 and not wearing leather or fur (what about wool, Leona? or suede? …) qualifies her to be a fashion designer.

Lewis has only just announced her plans to create a cruelty-free line of clothing, so we’ll have to wait a bit to judge the outcome. I’m trying to remain neutral.

In other, related news … I’m currently wearing the cutest shoes from Payless that are completely vegan and cost a mere $7 as oppose to Natalie’s $300 price tag.

Stella McCartney remains the leading vegan designer, and even has a $1,000 shopping spree contest going on through PETA.

Click on picture to see these and other Christian Louboutin shoes at Barney’s online.

What do you get when you cross a designer sandal with an 1980s pair of jellies?

Something that should never be worn, made, and definitely should not cost hundreds of dollars. But, alas, Givenchy, Gucci, Fendi (of course Fendi would), Marc Jacobs have all jumped on the recycled 80s trend bandwagon. So have more reasonably priced companies like Steve Madden and Xhilaration.

The first photo here is Marc Jacobs’ $160 jelly ballet flat. The second is by Xhilaration, available for $7.99 at stores like Target.

So it is cool that there are vegan designer shoes and all, but come on: no one wants sweaty, sticky feet that reek! Do you remember how horrid jellies made your feet smell?!

READ MORE: The Los Angeles Times did a very jelly informative article, complete with links and prices to a dozen different styles available now.

Dear Piperlime:

You get an A+ for catching my attention with this spring-loaded ad, featuring gorgeous, super-fun high heels.

How did you know that I have been hunting down artist-inspired fashions?

Thank you!

I just discovered a super cool discount shopping site. Endless.com brings you handbags and shoes for less than retail prices, plus they offer free overnight shipping.

Check it out! You can get a new pair of Kenneth Cole pumps, some Jessica Simpson boots, a Badgley Mischka clutch knocked down over $100 in cost, Reebok sneakers, stylish reusable shopping bags from Baggu, vegan sandals, work-required safety shoes for him, and some Keds for the kids … all in one place!

PLUS (if all this isn’t enough), save $20 when you spend $100 on items deemed “eco-friendly.

Yowzers! This site is BETA now, but won’t be for long. Get to it; get shopping!

Bonus points to Endless for having a “report typos” section!

Dear Giorgio Armani:

Exactly who are you supposing will buy your $475 designer Skorpion Quadline Roller-Skates? Were they just something fun for you to make in your spare time, something that will look clever rolling down the runway?

Please let me know; I am very confused.

Thank you.

Imitating Givenchy is not always a good idea. Case in point: just because Givenchy made ugly open-toed boots, Cheyenne, does not mean that you should make similar ankle boots with air holes.

These Tashkent by Cheyenne Morris boots shown here run about $415 for the grey ones (at Piperlime) and $500 for the tan ones.

It is a shame, really, because when Tashkent designer Cheyenne gets it right, she gets it spot on. So do check out the rest of her Spring 2008 shoes.

Let’s all hope that she soon loses this holey boot trend and instead makes more of her awesome sandals and flats.

What do you think? Would you wear them? You can see photos of these, and all Tashkent shoes, in action (i.e. on models’ feet) at Cheyenne’s home page.

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 …

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