Cricket Lee Takes On the Fashion Industry

I wrote about Cricket Lee in a January 2007 column, Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, tell me my body shape before I squall and reference Cricket Lee's Fitlogic system, which makes finding your body shape a little less confusing.

Well, check out this article in the Wall Street Journal:
Cricket Lee Takes On the Fashion Industry

Project Runway Season 5 Casting

Did you watch Project Runway Season 4 and think you could do just as good, if not better, on the fashion challenges?
Maybe you think you are just as fierce as Season 4 winner, Christian Siriano (seen here with Heidi Klum).
If you have what it takes to "make it work" on the runway, now is your chance to prove it! According to Bravotv.com, it is casting time for Project Runway Season 5!

Project Runway 5
THE EMMY-NOMINATED PRODUCERS OF PROJECT RUNWAY ARE LOOKING FOR THE NEXT GROUP OF DESIGNERS TO APPEAR ON PROJECT RUNWAY SEASON FIVE!
We are seeking designers with serious chops to compete in the fifth season of of Bravo's hit competition series "Project Runway." We are looking for up-and-coming as well as established fashion professionals and aspirants. The selected designers will compete and show their designs to the industry's top names! This could be a career-making opportunity!

We want impressive talent. Think you have what it takes?

Download the application here.

Then fill it out and be sure to mark your calendars with the following dates for our OPEN CALLS:

LOS ANGELES
Friday, March 28th
Saturday, March 29th
Sunday, March 30th
9am-6pm
W Hotel Los Angeles - Westwood
930 Hilgard Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(NOTE: NO neighborhood parking)

CHICAGO
Tuesday, April 1st
9am-6pm
W Hotel Chicago Lakeshore
644 N. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60611

MIAMI
Thursday, April 3rd
9am-6pm
Hyatt Regency Miami
at the Miami Convention Center
400 Southeast 2nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33131

NEW YORK CITY
Saturday, April 5th
Sunday, April 6th
Monday, April 7th
9am-6pm
W Hotel Times Square
1567 Broadway at 47th St.
NY, NY 10036

To catch up on the latest Project Runway tidbits, go to unofficial blog, Blogging Project Runway.

Hot Lips

Consolidated Publishing, Co
By Theresa Shadrix

If there is one thing about women, we love our lips.
A leading consumer market researcher, The NPD Group, reports lip-gloss sales per year average almost $200 million.
And, according to Estee Lauder, eighty percent of women own a tube of lipstick. The other twenty percent are probably confused about what shade to buy and are just afraid to commit.
My point is, whether you are young or old, at some point in your life you will open a tube of lipstick or lip-gloss.
The modern gal owes much of lipstick's staying power to chemist Hazel Bishop, who in the 1950's developed the long lasting lipstick in her mother's kitchen. Her lipstick "guaranteed not to come off on cigarette butts, glasses, or him." She revolutionized lipstick and helped it evolve from a prestigious expression of beauty and style to one of power for the everyday woman.
Today, lipstick has gone green.
No, not the color only Kermit would approve of, but one that is environmentally friendly. Maybe you have heard of the term 'hot corn' for bio diesel fuel. Well, let me be the first to tell you hot lips are out and green lips are all the rage.
Earlier this year, Cargo Cosmetics introduced PlanetLove lipstick "The First lipstick that helps fight Global Warming."
Not only is the tube made entirely with corn and the lipstick is greenhouse-gas free, but the box it comes in is embedded with wildflower seeds and you can use it to grow a wildflower garden. The lipsticks contain a patented Orchid Complex, meadowfoam seed oil, as well as jojoba and shea butter and no mineral oils or petroleum-based ingredients are used.
The $20 PlanetLove lipstick comes in twelve shades designed by celebrities. Five shades were designed by celebrity moms for their children:
Faith and Grace by Angie Harmon,
Cherry Bliss by Kim Raver,
Lola and Sam by Denise Richards.
And six shades were designed by celebrities
Evangeline Lily,
Lindsay Lohan,
Maria Menounos,
Mariska Hargitay,
Sarah Chalke
and Alabama's own Courteney Cox.
If that isn't enough to make you fall in love, Cargo will donate $2 from each sale to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
The only thing not to love is for now Alabama gals will have to go to Sephora at Riverchase Galleria or online to purchase the lipstick.
For more on PlantLove™ Botanical Lipstick, go to CargoPlanetLove.com or www.Sephora.com.

SNL is fierce!

Saturday Night Live's Amy Poehler as Project Runway Season 4 winner Christian Siriano is simply fierce! (Pause My Playlist before you watch)

Project Runway Season 4

I must say the final collections from season four amazing. Although I had several favs, my top three designers were in the finale.

I knew Christian was going to win because his collection was simply stunning. It was art, avant garde, and the design was spectacular. I am simply blown away at his talent at such a young age. If only everyone knew what they wanted to be when they grew up and went for it with the same determination as Christian. (I am still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up!)

I loved Jillian and Rami's collections as well. They had many pieces that could be worn off the runway.

To see Christian's fierce designs, check out his site at ChristianvSiriano.com

Wearing White

It still amazes me how many questions I get about wearing white. There is no need to be confused any longer, here is a simple recap:

1. Don't wear white undies with white pants/skirts/skirts. You need to wear undies that are closest to your skin color. Unless, of course you really like for people to giggle, point and stare at you after you walk away. Maybe you have a twisted need for attention...I dunno...but, be warned.

2. Supposedly, the fashion police have thrown out rules about wearing white and you can wear white year-round. But, in the South, if you wear white pants or shoes in January you will be stared at and will get a few "Bless her hearts". So to be safe, Easter is March 23, 2008 and this is the formal day you can bring out the white gear.

3. It doesn't matter what any fashion advice you read, don't wear white or colored hose with white shoes. And, don't wear pantyhose with open-toed shoes unless it is the open-toed hose. It doesn't look hip, it looks hag. If you won't take my word, then here are a few writers/bloggers/fashion savvy sisters who agree with me (majority rules!):
Desiree Hackett Hickson
Shari Braendel
Suzanne Beecher
Fashion Cents
Star Jones
Suze on Style

Handle with Care

Now that my hands are somewhat famous, or better yet my obsession with my aging hands is known to all, I have received questions if I can tell a difference to anything I have done to my hands.

Gloves: I do pay closer attention to the weather and wear my clearance sale Tj Maxx leather gloves if it is cold or windy. Honestly, it is much more difficult to remember to wear gloves when I wash dishes. I tried to stop washing them, but I lost a child in the piles of dishes in the kitchen. So, in order to save my hands, I plan on using the dishwasher as much as possible.

Moisturize: I have become a moisturizing freak of nature cause this is where I have seen the best results. My skin became so dry that I had these odd patches of rough skin. I have tons of different kinds ofmoisturizer, but tend to lean towards ones with little fragrance. I use a moisturizer with sunscreen in the morning...the same Oil of Olay that I use on my face and neck.

Hand Sanitizer: There are some hand sanitizers that have moisturizers in them, but I am not a fan of smelling like I just stepped out of the hospital. I am almost out of my Hands2Go foam, non-alcohol sanitizer and this has not dried out my hands at all. So, it is not that I am against hand sanitizer, I just don't like the strong odor, the alcohol after effects and drying out my hands.

So there ya go. Feel free to share your tips for hand care.