Regis & Kelly go BA-nanas

It's always a riot to see what Regis and Kelly dress up as for Halloween. This year I think they took the cake with their hilarious spoof of The Rachel Zoe Project. They also did one of Beyonce's "Single Ladies" and The Bachelor, but they weren't as good.

Is it just me, or does Kelly look eerily similar to Rachel with those oversized shades? Of course she was rocking Rachel's signature fur too. Regis was her assistant Brad in a bowtie and glasses. Kelly also played Taylor in signature plaid and dark nails. Gelman was Rachel's husband Rodger. Lit-rally dying!

[Today Show]

It's also always fun to see what the Today Show crew will transform to. This year they went with a Star Wars theme. Hoda gets the award though for her Yoda get-up. It's pretty cool that they were able to use authentic stuff straight from George Lucas.

Here's who was who: Natalie Morales (Queen Amidala), Kathie Lee Gifford (C-3PO), Chewbacca (mystery person?), Meredith Vieira (Princes Leia), Matt Lauer (Luke Skywalker), Al Roker (Han Solo), Ann Curry (Darth Vader) and Hoda Kotb (Yoda).

Gwyneth Paltrow in alice + olivia coat

[Christopher Peterson/BuzzFoto]

Gwyneth Paltrow wore alice + olivia's silver lamé coat and Christian Louboutin cage booties (I die!) last night in New York City. The actress attended the DVD release party for Valentino: The Last Emperor (seems like they're a bit late on this since I watched it via Netflix over a month ago, but whatever).

Back to that coat... It must not be out yet for common folk because I couldn't find it online anywhere. Designer Stacey Bendet launched the line at Barney's in 2002. I love the designs because they're fun, and they're not too terribly expensive. [payless.com]

Right now, Payless ShoeSource has several affordable shoes designed by alice + olivia. My faves are the 'Sunset Slouch Boot' in this pretty scarlet color for $49.99 and the 'Essex Lace Wedge' for $39.99.

Scent obsession: Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Lexington Avenue

[bondno9.com]

I've been a fan of Bond No. 9 perfume for years. Ever since I set foot in their cute little shop on Bleecker St. (next to Magnolia Bakery) I was hooked. Thankfully my cousin, who surely must be Bond's #1 customer at Saks, has tossed me lots of samples.

My new favorite is Andy Warhol Lexington Avenue eau de parfum. It's positively delish. The notes are...

-blue cypress

-fennel (unexpected and yummy!)
-roasted almonds
-pink peony
-crème brulée
-sandalwood

Warhol lived on Lexington Ave. in the 1950s. The fabulous bottle features his shoe designs. Right now, you can get the limited edition bottle with a Robert Lee Morris necklace. The necklace is 18" long and features four sterling silver shoe charms engraved with the Warhol quote, “Beauty is shoe, shoe beauty” ($575). Other prices are: 50ml, $140; 100ml, $205; and bon-bon 7ml $50.

Verizon unveils Motorola Droid

[Motorola/cnet.com]

Rats! I'm not eligible for a Verizon phone upgrade until July. The anticipated Motorola Droid will be available on November 6 for $199 with a two-year contract. This smartphone has a powerful Google search engine that is voice activated.

Apparently this is Verizon's answer to the AT&T's Apple iPhone. There are over 10,000 available applications. Plus, some applications like VZNavigator will be free with this phone.

Here are the specs (ex-Circuit City employee talk)...

-6.6" tall x 2.4" wide x 0.5"thick
-Weighs 6 ounces
-3.7-inch" 16:9 touchscreen with 480 x 854-pixel resolution
-Headphone jack, a micro-USB port and 16GB micro-SD card

Read more about the phone and pre-order it here.

Go faux

[urbanoutfitters.com]

I recently found one of my grandma's many big, glam fur coats in the closet. It's embroidered with her name on the lining. She was a very chic lady. Alas, that was a different time, and real fur gives many people the creeps these days. Luckily faux fur is both socially acceptable and stylish now. Here are a few of my favorite fur-free pieces for the fall/winter...

Urban Outfitters, Silence & Noise 'Pamela Coat,' $168 (above). This coat looks almost identical to my grandmother's. It would be perfect over dresses or denim.

[bloomingdales.com]

Bloomingdales, Aqua, 'Faux Mink Fur Coat,' $188. Another coat in my grandmother's closet was a mink (several minks for that matter) with the heads attached, eek! This glam faux mink coat looks modern, and will look as great dressed up or dressed down. I love the oversized shawl collar.

[saksfifthavenue.com]

Saks Fifth Avenue, Juicy Couture, 'Faux Fur Jacket,' $398. This faux rabbit fur jacket looks great with black, as demonstrated. The peter pan collar makes it look unique.

[urbanoutfitters.com]

Urban Outfitters, byCORPUS 'Chubby Jacket,' $168. You get two key fall trends - animal print and faux fur - in one, what more could you ask for?

Then there's always the vest option, which I also discussed here...

[forever21.com]

Forever 21, 'Long Shag Vest,' $37.50. First of all, I love that the vest is black. The belt will help it not to look as bulky as some fur can do. I would probably remove the satin belt and replace with a different one.

[net-a-porter.com]

Net-a-Porter.com, Rebecca Taylor, 'Faux Fur Gilet,' $350. This fabulous vest is open in the front. I'd pair it over a dress or with skinnies.

Lust: Crocodile-embossed Botkier Ruffle Clutch

[botkier.com/ forever21.com]

I'm often guilty of carrying my daytime bags out at night. Not only does this kill my shoulder, but it's really just not necessary since it takes like five seconds to switch over necessities - especially with all of the fabulous clutches out there.

I have my eye on this delish grey croc-embossed Botkier 'ruffle clutch' ($299). I love that it comes with a detachable strap for those times when you just don't feel like holding onto your bag. It's also available in black and black cherry patent.

I'm a fan of Botkier because the leather bags are durable, and they have classic shapes. I still carry my bag that I bought many years ago.

For a more affordable version of a croc-like print clutch, try Forever 21's 'patent animal skin clutch' for $14.80.

Bandage skirts

[justjared.com/ chickdowntown.com/ express.com]

Celebs including Rihanna, Heidi Klum, Nicole Richie and Mary-Kate Olsen have been seen sporting a bandage skirt by Pleasure Doing Business. The skirt comes on the heels of the Hervé Léger bandage dress trend. These form-fitting but comfy skirts come in many different colors.

The Pleasure Doing Business '3 band skirts' are reasonably priced at $88 on chickdowntown.com. However, I found an even more affordable skirt at Express. The 'modern stretch high-waist tube skirt' for $59.50 (plus they always have great coupons) is a fabulous buy. I love the way this version has the black zipper up the back. It's also available in 'pickstitch,' which is mostly black with thin white stripes (second pictured).

These bandage skirts look great with leather jackets (a la MK Olsen) or looser fitting tops since the skirt is so close-fitting. Ankle boots and pumps are good choices for shoes. I'm going to pair mine with sheer black hose when it gets too cold to go with bare legs.

The art of mixing prints

[Photo Agency/ nymag.com/ urbanoutfitters.com]

Rachel Bilson is always well dressed. She has even mastered the tricky art of mixing prints as demonstrated at the Madewell and Lucky Magazine Denim Party. Bilson is wearing a black Juicy Couture cardigan, black-and-white Madewell dotted tank, black-and-white printed Myne skirt and vintage boots.

The second photo is from Diane von Furstenberg's fall 2009 RTW collection. The designer paired a plaid coat with red-and-black printed (almost leopard-looking) leggings, burgundy shoes and a bold hat. Obviously this runway look is edgy, but it works because of the similar colors.

Here are some simple rules to break away from the matchy-matchy...

-Keep it in the color family. The key to making this look work and avoid looking like a crazy person is to work with a similar color palate.

-Think accessories. Pairing accessories like stand-out shoes in a different color (leopard print perhaps), jewelry or a bold hat (like DvF's) also can have the same effect.

-Add hosiery. Since tights are so in, there are tons of different options out there that can add another dimension to your outfit. Try houndstooth, floral or plaid-printed tights.

-Start with stripes. A striped cardigan, dress or skirt is always a good place to begin. Then pair it with something floral.

-Cheat. If all else fails, you could always get a dress that has already done the mixing for you. Try one of the above dresses by Kimchi Blue at Urban Outfitters ($39.99).

Jean Paul Gaultier for Target

[nymag.com]

French designer Jean Paul Gaultier is creating a line for Target. Exciting news! According to WWD, the line will be available in 250 Target stores on March 7 through April 11. According to Target, "Jean Paul Gaultier for Target pays tribute to the American woman, celebrating the forces of style both past and present in American pop culture."

The edgy designer's regular clients include Madonna, Marion Cotillard and Nicole Kidman. Gaultier designed Madonna's famous cone bra in the nineties. In 1999, 35% of his company was bought by Hermès. He was then hired as head womenswear designer for the label in 2004. The above photos are from his Spring 2010 RTW line. What everyone wants to know is, will there be cone bras and cut-outs in the Target line?

Magic, Mirth and Mischief! MAC's holiday collection

[maccosmetics.com]

I look forward to MAC's holiday collection every year. This year's theme is Magic, Mirth and Mischief which involves a lot of sparkle and shimmer. We would expect nothing less! The color theme seems to be lots of pinks, purples and peachy/gold hues.

I love the mineralize eye shadow duos, especially in 'It's a Miracle' (purple and gold). These are only $19.50, which is a great deal because you get two amazing colors. I also love the pretty, frosty purple nail lacquer in 'Lucky Number,' $12. The softsparkle eye pencil in 'Iris Accents' is a creamy pencil with micro-fine glitter - perfect for the holidays, $14.50. The bright pink lipstick in 'Utter Fun' is fabulous, $14. Hot pink is unexpected when you're surrounded by a sea of red during the holidays.

The kits that MAC does for the holidays are perfect gifts. There are two lip kits in pink and neutral for $22.50. The eyeshadow kits come in four different color combos at $36 - my fave is 'Sorceress.' There are also two face kits in pink and bronze featuring different blushes and shimmer powders, $38.

MAC also has two lip bags features a cute pink/silver bag with a lip pencil, lipstick and Dazzleglass for $36. The two eye bags include Fluidline, a small eyeliner pencil, Zoomlash mascara and pigment shadow in a pewter/turquoise bag, $36. There are also brush bags for $49.50 including eyes, 'buff and line' and 'sweep and define.' Love, love, love it!

"Amelia" follows her dream

I saw the sneak preview of Amelia last night. Oscar winner Hilary Swank stars as Amelia Earhart. Everyone knows how Earhart's story ends, but I didn't know much about her life, so it was an interesting film in that sense. The film isn't particularly exciting - informative is a good way to describe it.

The film, directed by Mira Nair, centers around Kansas-native Earhart's attempt to fly around the world. We see her stop in different countries throughout the film. At times, this jumping from past to future got a bit confusing. Earhart follows her dream of flying and freedom at all expenses. Swank definitely had the haircut down-pat judging from photos. As for Earhart's voice, I've never heard a video of her speaking, but her voice was unique

George Putnam (Richard Gere) manages Earhart's career. After she makes a successful flight across the Atlantic Ocean, she becomes very famous. Putnam proposes marriage to her several times, which she refused because she wasn't the marrying kind, before she actually agrees on certain terms. Later, Earhart has an affair with aviation expert Gene Vidal (Ewan McGregor).

Eventually Earhart ends the affair and stays with her husband. In 1937 Earhart's plane disappeared over the Pacific Ocean after losing radio contact. Though her plane was never found, the film made it seem that it ran out of fuel.

The clothes in the film were fabulous. Looking at old photographs of Earhart, it looks as if they were able to replicate her clothing to a tee. In one scene Earhart wears a full fox stole and in another she wears a great feathered hat.

It was also interesting to see plane dynamics during the 1930s (they actually lifted off from the water for the transatlantic flight!). In one particularly lively scene Earhart takes Eleanor Roosevelt (Cherry Jones) on a flight over Washington, D.C.

Even though Earhart died over 70 years ago, the story seemed relevant because she mentioned several times about having so much when so many people had so little. The country was going through the Great Depression and many found hope in Earhart's story. The film opens tomorrow, October 23.

Glam sequined pumps

[nordstrom.com/cusp.com/zappos.com]

In case you haven't noticed, sequins are a huge trend right now. This is great news for those who love a little glitz (like moi). So if the gorgeous, black-and-gold Dolce & Gabbana 'sequined striped pumps' at $675 are merely a dream, I found three pairs of fab and reasonably priced sequined pumps.

The black DV by Dolce Vita 'Fire' pumps from Nordstrom are a must-have. At $89.95, they're affordable too. They'd look great with dresses and tights or denim. (Note: these shoes run abnormally small - order up at least a half size.)

I also love the gold 'Sparkly pump' by Dolce Vita at Cusp.com for $155. The bright blue peep-toe Chinese Laundry 'Ladybug Sequins' heels are so fabulous at $88.95 on Zappos.com. The color is just incredible, and they're also available in black.

J.Crew's November catalog finds

[nitrolicious.com/j.crew.com]

The November 09 J.Crew catalog arrived yesterday. I do like the cover look (see top right photo) on model Erin Wasson - the black-and-white 'floral fan placket perfect shirt' ($79.50)with the 'textured jersey bouquet' tee ($36.50) over top and black beret ($38). Tres chic!

A few of my other favorites include:
-'Cashmere v-neck cardigan' ($168). The cinnamon spice color is so yummy. It's the essential fall cardi.
-'Crystal-and-pearl pastiche' necklace ($135). This layered-looking necklace would dress up your outfit in an instant.
-'Ruffled silk top' (79.50). This would look fabulous for work paired with a jacket or cardigan. I especially like the soft blossom color.
-'Midnight tweed mini' ($98). The adorable tweed skirt will look great for this season. It was paired with a long cardi in the catalog and a turtleneck online.

-'Double-cloth lady day coat' in bright hydrangea or dark poppy ($298). I'm a fan of a brightly colored coat to brighten even the bleakest winter day.

As usual, they are featuring lots and lots of layering, plaid, granny-chic jewelry and boyfriend shapes. They are also showing the shorts with tights trend. At first I was unsure, but now I like it.

There were also a lot of great buys for men. I love the Clarks Wallabees and gingham shirts they're showing.

Lust: John Hardy Palu Macan Tiger collection

[jrdunn.com]

I'm a big John Hardy fan. Though I've had a few issues with some of his pieces, and they had to be sent back to Bali (where their main workshop is located) to be repaired, I think that the company does beautiful work. I have a lot of pieces from the Kali collection. They're all very wearable. Right now I'm obsessed with the Palu Macan Tiger collection.

My favorite pieces in the Palu Macan collection are the silver kick cuff ($895), dome ring ($495) and medium twist chain bracelet ($495). Though I'm very into gold jewelry at the moment, the sterling silver tiger design is unique and beautiful. Plus, it would go well with my other Hardy pieces.

According to johnhardy.com, Macan means tiger in Balinese. It is the symbol of "courage, passion and triumph over the impossible." Hardy moved to Bali in 1975 where he studied Balinese jewelry making. He formed the company in 1989. Then in 1998, Hardy hired Guy Bedarida from Van Cleef & Arpels as head designer. In 2007, Hardy retired and sold the company to Damien Dernoncourt and Bedarida.

The company is very green and earth-friendly too. Who doesn't love that? In 2006, they launched their Sustainable Advertising Program where they calculate carbon emissions associated with their print ads then plant the equivalent number of bamboo trees in Bali. They also plant bamboo for every piece in sold in the lovely bamboo collection.

My local jewelry store Fink's sent me a gift card for $100 off $500 purchase of John Hardy (hence the reason this falls in the budget category too!). So tempting. They're also hosting an event in Richmond where you can meet Bedarida on Saturday, November 7 at Short Pump Town Center where he will talk about his inspirations for the pieces in the 2009 fall collection. He will also autograph any piece purchased at the event.