Yay! One of my favorite designers, Betsey Johnson, has released her Fall/Winter 2008/2009 collections, and to no surprise, I love every single thing.

The collections were actually unveiled in New York a few months back, but I only now have really had a chance to check it out.

Betsey always makes a big splash when she has fashion shows, and there was no difference here, with loud colors and lots of balloons on display.

She had a lot of rocker-chic pieces in these collections, and I love how she always maintains a youthful look in her clothing but never childish. She always keeps it mature and sophisticated yet fresh and fun, which is certainly no easy task.

This particular outfit screams volumes about Betsey’s work, and any woman from teenager to middle-age could pull this look off.

She makes the all black ensemble look modern and chic, and I love the beret and retro sunglasses to top it all off.

I absolutely love these adorable skull-patterned black dresses and white tights, and don’t even get me started on the gorgeous high heeled chap type shoes.

Of course the girls themselves don’t hurt anything by playing it up and having fun, and they definitely make me want to head to Betsey Johnson and get this ensemble for myself.

If you want to check out the rest of the pictures from the show you can view them on PopCrunch.

I first saw these Givenchy jelly gladiator sandals on Style, and although I was not sure whether I liked them or not at first, they definitely caught my eye.

They called them “the must-have shoe for spring”, and although I am usually a fan of Givenchy I have to say that I do not agree here.

They remind me of a more retro version of the “croc”, which I never really took a liking to, no matter how many thousands of feet I saw wearing them around me.

Givenchy has spun a cheeky take on Roman style with this innovative new shoe, and they are not the only one. Other luxury brands such as Gucci, Marc Jacobs and Fendi have all brought their own version of this jelly sandal to the table as well.

Chanel is also doing the jelly, with a sandal that is clean with minimal adornment, only a rhinestone by the big toe. The price of their sandals are pretty staggering at $295, especially since it is, after all, a jelly sandal, but other versions such as Steve Madden’s are much more affordable at just $39.95.

These sandals have not really been out long enough to tell whether they are going to take off or not, but I know that I will certainly not be rushing out to the stores to buy them, that’s for sure.

Okay so we already have news of clothing lines from Lauren Conrad and Whitney Port of The Hills, and now Heidi Montag is launching her own line, Heidiwood.

Not such a creative title, since we already have so many copies of the Hollywood name and this little Heidiwood thing reminds me of a lame spinoff of the lovely Dolly Parton’s Dollywood … but moving on.

Heidi debuted her new fashion range last week in Hollywood, looking cute in giant black stilettos and a skimpy zebra print halter top.

Her style is decent but I certainly do not think that sales will skyrocket for this clothing line she has just released.

Oh, did I mention that her boyfriend Spencer Pratt proposed to her on stage, giving her two dozen long-stemmed pink roses before kissing her on the lips?

So her clothing line may be a little stripper-esque and her claim to fame came from an … ahem … reality TV show, at least she and good ole Spence are happy.

Via: The Hollywood Gossip

When most of us think of riding on an escalator we think of hurrying through the airport in sneakers and sweats or shopping at the mall in jeans and a t-shirt.

Dita Von Teese has now shown us how to really ride an escalator and look great doing it.

In a gray swing coat and gorgeous Christian Louboutin mary janes, Dita looked every bit the ’40s pinup beauty.

I have always admired this dark haired beauty for her classic style of authentic retro mixed with punches of modernity.

She is truly the leading woman behind a renaissance of vintage glamour, a look that no one can pull off better than her.

This escalator pic reminds us of just how impossibly gorgeous this lady really is, but then again we all know that Dita Von Teese could be working in a dump and still look picture perfect, so let’s not be too hard on ourselves.

Via: OSoYou

One of my all-time favorite stores, as I have mentioned before, is Victoria’s Secret. They cater to the sophisticated woman and yet manage to keep their designs flirty and fun.

With summer fast approaching, there is no better time than now to check out the 2008 swimwear collection available through Victoria’s Secret now.

Whatever your size and style preference you will find the perfect bathing suit, and with their low prices you can even afford to get more than one.

Although there are over one hundred different gorgeous styles to choose from, here are a few of my personal favorites.

Vix Floral Sequin Sliding Triangle Top & Adjustable Tanga Bottom

This is a stunning bikini that offers as much luxury and elegance that you can find in a two-piece swimsuit.

Exclusively for Victoria’s Secret, this little number offers decent coverage, with sequin embellishment and embroidery, lined cups for no see through, and is made of imported Brazilian polyamide/elastane.

It is available in sizes XS-L, top $110, bottom $60.

Beach Sexy Shimmer Stripe Sliding Triangle Top & String Bottom

A little bit disco-esque, this two-piece is full of sparkle and shine.

Trendy and flirty, you will definitely stand out on the beach in this one, with a center rhinestone heart and contrasting red string ties.

Crafted from imported nylon/spandex, this bathing suit will shape to your body like a glove, is available in sizes XS-L, top $32, bottom $24.

Rampage Metallic Triangle Top & Low-Rise Bottom

Featuring an all-over scroll print, light removable padding, neck tie and back clasp, this gorgeous little number is fully lined and made of imported nylon/spandex.

The flirty flippy skirt bottom accentuates your curves and covers you up a bit more if you want more coverage on the bottom.

Available in sizes XS-L through all Victoria’s Secret outlets, this set is $49 for the top, $51 for bottom.

Very Sexy Ombrè One-Piece Monokini

As you can see I’m more of a bikini girl myself, but there are a couple of one-piece suits that I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on.

Take this monokini for example, which features blended ocean-blue and mauve colors.

This one-piece has an open back and is fully lined. It ties at both the neck and back and features a plunging neckline, for a price of only $60.

Vix Jeweled Cut-Out One Piece

This is another of my favorites. A stone-bold stunner, this one-piece comes with beveled jeweled stones on the front and a one-shoulder asymmetrical silhouette that connects the top and bottom on one side.

With minimal back coverage and the bright white color, this bathing suit screams sex appeal.

Available in sizes XS-L this one-piece is yours for a very reasonable price of $165.

These are just a few of the swimsuits Victoria’s Secret is featuring this year, so make sure that you check out their retail stores or website to view the full collection.

If you are looking for a great gift for you - and your boyfriend - you will definitely want to check out Customized World.

I was flipping through a magazine the other day and noticed an ad for the company near the back, and decided to check them out for myself.

I am usually put off by things that are overly cheap because when it comes to fashion although I do not think you need to spend a fortune to get quality, I also do not think that you need to be super stingy either.

One thing I noticed right away was the low prices of the apparel they were offering, everything from t-shirts and bottoms to bridal wear and doggie clothing.

You can get any of their products customized personally for you, and the greatest part is that you do not have to choose from previously selected quotes and words, but rather can make them up completely on your own.

My favorite was the set of customized underwear or “Hotties” as they refer to them.

When I ordered my set, the deal was 2 pair for $20 which is very reasonable, and the shipping was cheap and very prompt, as I received them in the mail only four days later.

I absolutely love them, and although they are certainly not the most extravagant piece of intimate apparel I have ever bought, I was definitely satisfied with my purchase, and so was my boyfriend once he saw his name inscribed on them.

I must say that there are relatively few pieces that cannot be somehow made to work and look great, but there are still those few styles that I just don’t get.

The Steve Madden chap has started to become quite popular, and even though I keep going back to the website and into stores to check out the shoe now named as “Steve Madden’s Most Wanted”, I still don’t see what all the fuss is about.

There are actually about 20 different versions of this shoe that Madden presently has available, some of which I will let off the hook for the time being while others I simply have to make a point about.

I don’t care who you are, you cannot tell me that these do not remind you of your professor’s worn out old shoes only with a heel stuck on the bottom.

I tried, I really did, to come up with any possible outfit that this shoe could even remotely look decent with, and there was nothing.

Unless you are dressing up as a senior citizen for Halloween, I can’t imagine why anyone would like these shoes - sorry Steve.

Then there is also the Shawnee, which really does a disservice to the moccasin.

Talk about bland and boring - I usually love Steve’s designs, a combination of youth and sophistication, but with these I have to say he has gone off track.

Maybe if there was a higher heel or the fringe and string were scrapped … maybe not. What do you think?

We are now fully fledged into the spring season with the warm summer weather on the way and here are some just as hot spring/summer 2008 pieces that you will want to add to your wardrobe.

Vibrant Colors

Just as we reported recently on sunglasses, neon shades are in for apparel as well. Try a bold splash of lime green or sunshine yellow in your ensemble or go all out with a solid colored dress in an eye-popping shade.

If you really want to heat things up this summer, try one of these gorgeous dresses. The dress on the left you can purchase from Costume National, the similar hot pink version offered by Nanette Lepore.

Flirty and Romantic

Romantic looks covered in frilly and lacy designs are totally in this season, much to my delight. These feminine, flirty looks are gorgeous to wear either on a warm summer day or for an evening out.

Here are a few of my favorite versions. On the left is an admirable spring dress from Max Azria, with a skinny natural-hued leather belt that helps to accentuate the waist.

The typical romantic style dresses are done in light pastels and whites, but for a more daring look you could choose a dark romantic dress, seen here by Calvin Klein from his fall 2008 collection which could easily lose the tights and be worn with a pair of strappy heels to make it more suitable for the warmer weather.

Retrosexual

The styles of the ’50s are definitely back and all the rage, and I for one am a true fan of this timeless style. Think Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly, the overtly feminine yet subtly sexy apparel that will never really go out of style.

If you are interested in getting the bombshell ’50s look for yourself, here are a few staples you will need to include.

You will want to invest in some knee-length pencil skirts which will help to accentuate your curves and give you more of an hourglass figure. Sleeveless silk blouses work well as do shaped t-shirts and fitted jackets.

This is an adorable bathing suit from the Abaete Spring 2008 Ready-to-Wear Collection and a Kimono jacket and pencil skirt from one of my favorite designers, Michael Kors.

With these beautiful looks and the right accessories you will be ready and set for summer, the epitome of a true fashionista.

The summer is fast approaching and there is one accessory that you need to have to be ready for the beautiful weather - sunglasses.

Sunglasses have always been one of the favored accessories. There are so many different sizes, styles and shapes available and you can really have a lot of fun with them.

For the upcoming season, there are a few styles in particular that you will want to keep your eyes open for.

Cat Eye

One of the hottest sunglasses styles for this summer is the cat eye look. Also often known as butterfly frames, these sunglasses are pure femininity and sex appeal.

They are very vintage looking, think back to the era of Grace Kelly and Sophia Loren.

This pair is the Anouk Cat’s Eye Sunglasses from Tom Ford Eyewear, which retail at Saks Fifth Avenue for $330 USD.

Metallic

Metallics are all over the place this year, and they are most popular of all in accessories. There are some gorgeous metallic sunglasses, for both men and women.

Unveiled in Michael Kors‘ Spring 2008 line were numerous metallic shades, the men’s primarily featuring metrosexual styling done in bronze and gold tones.

For women, a good choice would be the Marina Chain Temple Aviator Metal Sunglasses, which are sophisticated aviators offering a subtle splash of metallic color, perfect for day or evening.

Color

Color is all the rage this season. We always hear of black making comebacks but this time it is all about bright colors.

Neon has returned to the runways, and there is no funner way to stand out than to brighten up your accessories.

Everyone from Armani Exchange to Kate Spade are turning heads with their electric-hued, vibrant colored shades, so start off your summer with a bang and get a pair of these stand out sunglasses.

If you have ever watched the hit TV show What Not to Wear, you have seen makeup artist Charmindy applying aerosol spray foundation to the nominees.

A revelation in beauty, this is definitely one of the newest breakthrough advancements in the cosmetics world, and one that definitely caught my interest.

The foundation that Charmindy uses is called ERA Face. It is the first and only patented spray-on foundation that combines long lasting color with a state of the art delivery system.

Applying your foundation has never been easier, and the spray delivery ensures that your face is coated evenly and that there are no unsightly spots or lines.

As stated on La Te Da Beauty Bar:

ERA Face is lightweight, fast and virtually mistake-proof. It contains light diffusing pigments to enhance the skin’s natural healthy glow. ERA Face provides sheer minimal coverage for a natural, less made-up look. For maximum coverage, color can be seamlessly layered to provide completely opaque results while still using minimal product.

With ERA Face you get head to toe perfection, as it can be used not only on the face but also the entire body if you want to cover up scars, moles, or other problem areas on your skin.

It can even completely cover up tattoos, varicose veins, stretchmarks, and skin discolorations.

The foundation is water resistant so it will not rub off on clothing or come off when it gets wet, and yet it can be easily removed with mild soap or a gentle makeup remover.

There are many other advantages offered by the ERA Face foundation as well, including that it is good for the skin. Its unique formulation helps the skin by providing it with vital moisture without clogging pores.

It contains ingredients such as aloe vera and chamomile which means that foundation is not heavy like other makeup, allowing the skin to breathe as a result.

ERA Face is available through a number of retailers, including Amazon, The Shopping Channel, and various other retailers for anywhere from $30-$70 USD.