When I was a kid, I hated turtlenecks. They were itchy, and I always ended up looking like a librarian or, worse (in my childish mind): my mother. Of course, now that I'm an adult, I wear turtlenecks all the time, and often look like my mother. Who knew she was so hip? Anyway, the turtleneck will be anything but frumpy with a couple of ideas:

1. Bold colors - not your librarian's turtleneck. Often it's the beige, earthtone turties that make you look boring. An eye catching color, no matter what the piece, makes you stand out. Pair a hot, jewel-toned turtleneck with charcoal pants and sky-high heels for an updated work look. Also, a multi-colored example breaks up the monotony usually associated with a monochrome piece. The one at left is a great top - fun colors make you look like anything but a librarian.

2. Great accessories. If you're wearing a monochrome top, some of this year's fabulous standout accessories can finish and compliment your look. Many of them are meant to make a bold statement, taking the boring right out of your outfit. A antiquey brooch with a thin belt makes a very modern look. One of my favorites, a long, chunky beaded necklace becomes the centerpiece of your outfit, and gives your turtleneck a very grown-up, fashionable tilt.


3. Cutouts, no matter where they are, instantly rev up your outfit. Who knew that the ordinary turtleneck, sans sleeves, would turn up the hotness on what could have been a very boring outfit? Check out this exampe from Dolce & Gabbana. Short sleeves, a lacy pattern and a simple pair of black jeans. Minimal effort, maximum beauty. Of course, who can afford D&G? Not me. Fortunately, the turtleneck is a big part of the fashion landscape, and a trip to the mall will no doubt yield your own gorgeous, unique turtleneck. Oh, and P.S.: makes a sophisticated, parent-friendly holiday outfit. Enjoy!

Dear Carrie,

First of all, please let me congratulate your success at the CMA's this year. Not only did you secure the Horizon Award for Best New Artist, but you also ran away with the Award for Female Vocalist of the Year. If there were an award for Fabulous-ness, I'm sure it would be yours too.

I've followed your career since that cheesy, yet highly addictive, talent show. Your pipes are impressive and you are a class act. You wear the label of "Fashionista" well, and always look so put together.

But much to my dismay, I was a little disheartened to see that you've recently lost a few---or more than a few. We all have our body issues, and we all want to knock the scale down a couple of notches, but who's telling you that you need to do so???

Currently, I don't have children. When I do, someday, have a little girl, I want her to look up to an artist like you. But maybe I'll change my mind if you lose too much weight.

Be careful, Carrie. Right now, you are good, salt-of-the-earth, people. Don't become one of them. Rock your body at a healthy weight.

Seriously, do you want to become jaded and Hollywood-fied like this one?

Love,

F. Nashville

Photos courtesy of Nashville City Paper and Gossip Rocks.

This is a fashion rule I break all the time: I have blue eyes, wear blue semi-frequently, and love to wear blue and blue/grey eyeshadow. Now I don't wear it to work, mind you, but what do you think, gals? Do you ever match your eyeshadow to your clothing, or should that trend be left in 1985?

Share your response in the comment section.

Photo courtesy of Popsugar.

How do celebrities reach iconic status? Is it because they are so fabulous in and of themselves? Or maybe it's because of their infamous lifestyles. Either way, they wouldn't be anywhere without the PR machine and the marketing wheel a-spinning.

In a bilateral effort to maximize their own public exposure, and publicity for the designer duds they wear, magazine photographers capture images on film to linger in our memories forever.

I won't dare to compare Kirsten Dunst with Marilyn or Audrey, but the following photos are really beautiful, creative, and inspiring. Will we someday place ol' Snaggletooth among the ranks of the infamously elite?

Vogue, September 2006

InStyle, September 2006

Carrie Bradshaw once said, "When I first moved to New York, and was totally broke, I used to buy Vogue instead of dinner. I felt it fed me more."

Thank you, fashion photographers across the world. You continually create such gorgeous images on the pages of our magazines. I do appreciate it.

Photos courtesy of Style.com, InStyle, SFF, and Gossip Rocks.

Poor Katie Holmes. Not only is she marrying the world's craziest guy not in an asylum, but now our old friend Victoria Beckham allegedly tried to convince her to lose more weight for her wedding.







?!?!

This video suggests that perhaps Stickham is really down-to-earth and not as uptight as I thought, so there's a part of me that feels guilty for even mentioning this incident. But please, people. I am so tired of having images like the below picture thrust in my face as the epitome of beauty.





Let's take a closer look at Katie. Does she really need to lose weight? From all I can tell she's thinner now than before she had Suri. She looks fabulous. I know moms who would kill to look like that so soon after having a baby.

My heart aches for these women, and all women who feel that they have to fit a certain mold in order to be beautiful. I'm angry that it's gotten this far. I'm upset that a woman as thin as V.Beck feels like she looks awful naked.

We have to change how we view beauty. We aren't going to get good models of true beauty from Madison Avenue. We can't look to magazines.

It just makes me sad that there are people who feel they have to diet themselves down to a shadow in order to get acceptance from a very fickle world. I wish it were different, and that's one of the reasons why this site exists...to remind you all that there IS a way to be beautiful, healthy, and well-fed too!

pictures courtesy of Popsugar.