So Fresh and So Clean

The always entertaining Andre 3000 made an appearance at GQ & CFDA's Best New Menswear Designers event last night in NYC. Only Dre can rock his jeans inside of high boots and still maintain his swagger. I'm diggin' his style though, dapper dan with an edge. With his wittle bite-size self. Call me, boo!

Update: Spies tell me that Mr. 3000 quietly debuted his Benjamin Bixby line in an NYC hotel room on Tuesday night. The small collection, said to be influenced by American-football, was viewed by the diva Anna Wintour herself. "She liked it," Dre said. "She was saying she hopes I get the right investors that believe in what I'm doing."


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Beauty Buzz: Kissable Couture

Ronny, Bobby, Ricky and Mike

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Keisha Nash Whitaker, former model and current wife of Forest Whitaker, recently collaborated with celebrated makeup artist A.J. Crimson on a lipgloss line called, Kissable Couture. The shimmery First Kiss collection, which comes in colors from the lightest pink to the deepest red, goes on smooth and never gets tacky. Each of the seven shades are named after guys that Keisha or her friends have kissed...Forest is a sparkly crimson, David is a smokey topaz, Chris is a pure peach, Tyler is a bright violet, Eric is a bronzed coral, Dylan is a bubblegum pink and Johnny is a pale lavender. Love it! Methinks I'd like to try out Eric...which one would you take for a spin?

Check them all out at http://www.kissablecouture.com/, a few new shades are due out before Valentine's Day!

Keisha at Sunday's SAG Awards

A.J. Crimson paints the faces of Christian Milian and Amerie

Justice With a Snap

Judge How You Doin?

I know I'm not the only one who enjoys the guilty pleasure that is daytime television. From talk shows (Maury, The View, Oprah) to classic sitcoms (Golden Girls, Will and Grace) to judge shows (Judge Judy, Judge Mathis, Divorce Court), daytime television is a freakin' goldmine of mindless entertainment. I could eat, sleep and breath courtroom shows alone. But even I couldn't believe the latest and greatest incarnation of sassy judges that rule with a 'tude, Judge David Young. Yes, friends, Judge Young is the first openly gay judge to have his own show. And by openly gay, they mean a stereotypically flaming mess!

His show premiered back in September 2007, and every time I catch an episode I watch with mouth agape. His tagline, "Justice With a Snap" is well earned. An avid Broadway lover (duh), Judge Young has been known to break into song on the bench and his dramatic hand gesturing is the stuff of genius.

What else is there to know about Judge Young?

He is also an avid collector of penguins and has over 1,000 as a tribute to the character in the "Batman" television series. He is also a member of Weight Watchers and attends weekly meetings. Young lives in Miami with his partner of 12 years, Judge Scott Bernstein, and their Cairn poodle mix dog named Maggie.

You can't make this stuff up.

His interactions with his bailiff, Tawya, are also priceless. Whenever he directs any comment to her, she rolls her eyes, snaps her neck, swings her weave, sucks her teeth and goes, "umpf." I'm so serious.

As you may have guessed, the show's producers were banking on the fact that Judge Young and Tawya provide cringe-worthy, cliched, utterly-watchable buffoonery. I'm praying for the day that there can be an openly gay judge on television that doesn't also have to be so fiercely over the top.

Please someone tell me you've watched this show! What do you think about Judge Young and his shenanigans?


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Fab Look of the Day

Kelly RoRo is looking glowy, glam and gorgeous in a shake-your-shimmy dress at the In Style Best Beauty Buys 2008 launch in London. I know I get on Mariah all the time for wearing similar ensembles: tight, short, plunging neckline. Yes, Mariah, we know we're ash and you're lotion. But Kelly can pull this look off because she's young, fun, and fabulously fresh-faced! With that skin, face and body, she should absolutely be working her angles for all they're worth! Why let Beyonce have all the fun?

Kelly is currently in the UK promoting the new-fangled edition of her “Ms. Kelly” album which will include brand new songs and has a release date of March 10th. In terms of her album promotion, I still think desperate times call for desperate measures, but I'm rooting for you, Kels!

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Make Today an Oprah day!

Mogul, legend, powerbroker, inspiration, survivor, and all around phenomenal woman, Oprah Winfrey, celebrates her birthday today. Here are a few ways you can channel your inner Oprah today:

1. Take the necessary steps to start living your best life.

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2. Remind your man that you "loves him, Lord knows you do, but you'll kill him dead fo' you let him beat you!"

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3. Work out.

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4. Start every sentence, no matter the topic, with, "My best friend, Gayle..."

5. Endorse Barack Obama!

6. Embrace your inner crazy and couch jump a la Tom Cruise.

7. Consider your life fulfilled even if you are not married/don't have kids.

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8. Make a donation to your favorite charity/scholarship fund.

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Make it an Oprah day!

SAG Awards Red Carpet

Debra Messing

Finally! A real red carpet! Fashion dreams do come true! The stars were out last night for the SAG Awards and there were plenty of fashion hits (and a few misses) for our viewing pleasure. Passing judgment brings me such joy. Let's get to it, shall we? First, I think my favorite of the night had to be Debra Messing. She looked like a total bombshell with her tousled, sexed-up hair. And the jeweled neckline of her Oscar de la Renta dress really dazzled. Solid A, Debs!

Trend #1: Shades of Silver and White

Eva's shapely silouhette really brought this backless Naeem Khan gown to life for me. I thought she looked gorgeous from head to toe, the curly bob is cute and chic.

Teri Hatcher looked suprisingly well put together. Her simple chignon really worked with her Badgley Mischka dress, which had gorgeous embellishments at the decolletage. Nice job, Teri-doll!

Ashley Tis, I really love your dress. The off-color piping is interesting and figure-friendly. But, lemon drop, you're a wreck up from the neck up. Scary.

Ugly Betty scene stealer Becki Newton wore a white sequined gown that should have worked, but fell flat. The tiered skirt looked really fug on television. Perhaps it came across better in living color?

Trend #2: Strapless

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Vanessa Williams was stunning in her bright mustard yellow Escada gown. Gush and gush.

Sandra Oh pulled off a fashion risk by wearing a couture gown by an unknown designer, inspired by a traditional Korean dress. Different, but in a good way. I even like the huge bow...it's inspired!

I am really feeling this retro glam Pamela Dennis number on Ana Ortiz. Great fit and perfect, simple adornments. Divine!

Sara Ramirez had the right idea with this dress, but the color and silouhette were a bit too prom-dressy for me. All she needed was a corsage on her wrist and a geeky date.

Ummm...yikes. Angelina can wear a doo doo stained muu muu and still look amazing and I guess that's the look she was going for here. Just tell me the pregnancy rumors are true and she gets a pass.

What is that velvet? Ellen Pompeo chose a sculpted Nina Ricci dress that she saw in Vogue. Some looks are best served on the pages of high fashion magazines.

Trend #3: A Sea of Blue

Marcia Cross chose a great Monique Lhuillier dress in a color that really works with her fiery red hair and creamy skin.

Kyra Sedgwick looks fantastic in a cobalt blue number with sweetheart neckline.

Amanda Bynes in Marchesa. Like the dress, hate the hair. The whole look is a little too mermaid-esque.

Jamie-Lynn Sigler was breath of fresh air in this colorblocked Calvin Klein ensemble. I was suprised to find out that it's actually a skirt and a body suit. I love that she looked different from just about everyone else, and her haircut is fab!

Trend #4: Short dresses

I'm not crazy about the color, but Michelle Pfieffer looks amazing. Does this woman age?

Rebecca Romjin worked the short dress trend, but it didn't come together for me. She's still a glamazon though!

Chandra, Chandra, Chandra. You really tried this time. I appreciate that you're going for a Dreamgirls feel, but I'd advise against vertical stripes on television.

Worst Dressed

Lorraine Bracco as Grape Ape. Bad color, worse fit. So entirely wrong. Her body looks like it's struggling to get out.

Oh, Nikki. Where do I begin? The hem, the sleeves, the fabric. Wrong, wrong and wrong. Fire your stylist!

What in fashion hell happened here? I'm personally offended by Jane Krakowski's look. I usually love all things Catherine Malandrino, but the puke green color and the lintball neckline are straight out of a bad dream I once had. Yuck!

Rih Rih debuts a shorter do!

Hello world!

I looooove Rihanna's chic new asymmetrical cut...the bangs are so deliciously piece-y, modern and edgy. She looks smashing! What do you think of her new shorter do?

History of the Handbag

Alexander McQueen S/S 2008 stamped crocodile minaudière

Ever wondered how handbags became absolute fashion musts? Well on a random trip to my local library, I lucked up on an exhibit called "The Handbag: A History of Style." How very serendipitous! Here's a short history of my favorite accessory, courtesy of the Morris County Historical Society:

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The earliest historically verifiable handbags - little sacks containing pomanders (scented oranges), flint and money - were carried by gentlemen and known as "pockets." These were hung by thongs from the back of the girdle and were often cut from behind by thieves who knew how to capitalize on a friendly pat on the back; hence the name "cut purse."

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By the 1400s, both men and women were wearing purses, and as times prospered and the little sacks got fuller, they were ornamented with gold or elaborate embroidery.

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A century later, the drawstring bag was a status possession. Paintings of that era show flat bags gathered by tasseled strings. By the end of the century, however, fashion went undercover, as women preferred to wear their pouches under their skirts.

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In 1670, breeches with built-in pockets came into fashion and men dispensed with their handbags. But they did continue to carry a little netted "purse" for money inside the pocket.

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In the 18th century, pouches for both men and women disappeared. After the French Revolution, however, the style of women's clothes was so delicate that it was impossible for them to contain a pocket. Out into the open came the handbag, then known as a reticule (and occasionally a "ridicule" by men whose idea that was of a good joke).

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Skirts became more ample, and pockets won the next round. Even when dresses grew tighter in the 1880s, handbags were slow to return. The real renaissance for bags came around the turn of the century, with the advent of the hobble skirt. A pocket was an impossibility, and very large handbags carried by long strings or chains became popular.

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In the 20's, as dresses got skimpier, handbags became indispensable, and have remained so until the present, both as a utility and as a fashion item reflecting a personal style. Now every fashion has its handbag and every woman can have a wardrobe of shapes and colors.

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In addition, a new chapter in handbag history is being written, as men's fashions become leaner, and more and more men discover the convenience of toting their belongings in a handsome hand or shoulderbag.

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Twentieth century technology has opened up a treasure of textures and materials from space age synthetics to hand-woven straws. There are rain-proof bags for stormy days, sturdy totes for the beach, delicate fabric for evening, and squashy shoulder bags for casual wear. In short, a fascinating variety of handbags for every mood, every outfit and every occasion. Fashion is in the bag!

Separated at Birth

Left: Dita Von Teese at Gaultier’s Paris Spring/Summer Runway Show

Right: Blaine Edwards from "Men on Film"

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