Hot New Thing: Principessabeauty.com

Ciao Principessas! You know you love anything that is beautiful and all the good things in life. Indulge in the sweet luxury of Principessa beauty products and let your inner beautyholic come out. The Dolce Dreams Whipped Body Lotion will soften and smooth your body leaving your skin kissably silky. Girly girls learn what your favorite color means and check out all the pink facts this site has to offer.

Hot New Thing: Asos.com

Love the style of Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce? Then this site is customized for you to the tee! (No pun intended.) Don’t forget to change the currency and you will see that the prices are amazing for all the hottest trends. If you could look like the celebrities for half the price, why not stock up? You can make whole ensembles based on what your favorite fashion icons are wearing. The site even lets us in on the top trends and styles for the current season and makes shopping that much easier. Check out the Indian Nights page.

Hot New Thing: Simply She

This place is the perfect place to find unique tees and sweatshirts. With the sayings and designs featured on these hoodies and tanks you will definitely prove “there is just something special about me!” Share all of the clothing with you friends and they will love you forever. Confirm these affirmations and wear each piece with love and respect and they will help you get through each day with a smile on your face! One great item is the boyfriend tank. Make fun of your current or past boyfriend to remind everyone of what a catch you got!

Hot New Thing: Allurise.com

Too old to whip out the “Pretty, Pretty Princess” game and still want to adorn yourself in gems? Grow up with this trendy site offering sparkling jewels fit for a queen. Shopping is made so easy that you can choose jewelry by occasion – going out, formal, or casual. Stock up with necklaces, earrings, and rings and you will earn your seat on the throne. The elegant stone necklace is sure to make people treat you like the queen you really are.

Hot New Thing: Junk in Our Trunk

Don’t mistake this site with its name! The custom-designed jewelry, handbags, knitwear and accessories are far from anything relating to junk. The Ruthie agate pendant necklace, a double-stranded vintage piece with Japanese and glass beads, is a trendy addition to your jewelry collection. The vintage tees are my favorite and come in all different varieties. All you need to add is one of the long scarves, and you will be mistaken for a more put-together Mary-Kate!

Last minute spring break essentials

Finally, a break from the cold and dreary winter. Hopefully by now your Spring Break plans are set, and you are almost on your way to beautiful, white sands and bright blue water. So, close your textbooks, and put your pen and paper down because now is the time to make sure you have not forgotten the must-haves to guarantee fun in the sun.

The number one vacation necessity is the perfect bathing suit - one thing that you will definitely use when at the beach. Whether you bask in the sun near the ocean or just soak up the rays while partaking in other activities, a bathing suit is a must. If you haven’t found the ideal suit yet, Pink Panties on State Street has a huge selection, including the hot designers Vix and TNA. Be prepared to hand over some cash, but its well worth it.

Bohemian jewelry paired with your hot, new bathing suit will make you the Queen of the Beach. Chunky wood bracelets and necklaces stacked together is a look you will be seeing a lot of, so start early, and you will be sure to make waves. At State Street’s Art Gecko you will find original wood jewelry. The assorted chunky bangles and turquoise rings will make you hipster chic.



State Street shopping also offers another one of spring break’s essential fashions. Princess of India offers embellished tunics that will make you fit the new Bohemian Bourgeois (Bobo) style - a mix of thrift and luxury modeled after Mary-Kate Olsen. Wear these sequined tops over your bathing suit or out at night for a look equally hot.

Men’s sunglasses for women are the latest craze. Aviators will complete any outfit and reflect the strong sun out by the pool. Traditional aviators are good, but plastic or colored rimmed are even better and will distinguish you from your jet’s pilot. For a more girly version, check out Ray-Ban’s pink rimmed sunglasses. To achieve this trendy look at a more affordable price, check out the men’s section at Urban Outfitters.

Spring Break has always been known for crazy times - some funny, some scary and some you wish you could take back. Add any of these must-haves to your suitcase to prevent any regrettable fashion mishaps. Enjoy the sun, be safe and always be stylin’!

Fashion and politics intersect with Edun

Leave it to an Irish rock star and activist to create a clothing line with a socially conscious spin. Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson, launched their line ‘Edun’ (nude spelled backwards) earlier this month at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City. The pair collaborated with Gregory Rogan, the designer behind the high-end denim line, Rogan, to unite aesthetic and ethical production without economic exploitation.

Edun follows four strict ideals set by Hewson. “Respect for the environment from where the clothing came from; respect for what the material is made up of; respect for the person who made the clothes; and respect for the person who buys it.” The goal of the line is to make people label conscious. The idea Bono says, “came out of wanting to treat people in the developing world in a non-patronizing way, through business. It’s a trade rather than aid model that we're interested in.”

Bono is notorious for his political mindedness. He fought for debt and AIDS relief in Africa. After traveling to Africa many times, it is of no surprise that he would see Africa fit for the job of housing factories. Bono told the Associate Press, “[Edun] is a marriage of social activism and aesthetic innovation while creating employment in Africa and other developing areas of the world.” Edun garments will also be produced in Latin America.

Bono, Hewson and Rogan swear by their environmental friendly materials and processes. The casual collection of clothing utilizes traditional Incan vegetable dyes and other organic materials as a way of staying fashionable while using local resources. And as for child labor? Kathy Lee Gifford may have exploited young children, but slave-like sweatshop conditions aren’t a concern when sporting Edun.

The spring collection will feature chiffon dresses, knit jersey tops, and avant-garde denim and cost anywhere between $45 and $300. One of the chicest details is the inscribed jean pockets. Each pair includes one of the German writer Rainer Maria Rilke’s poems embroidered inside. One message states, “we carry the story of the people who make our clothes around with us.”

If you are one of many lucky fans who scored a ticket to U2’s sold out world tour, you can take home a special Edun original. The concert T-shirts will be made and designed by Edun. U2 invades Chicago at the United Center May 7, 9, 10 and 12.

Not only does this collection bring together rocker chic and hip, eco-friendly materials, but it also speaks to the activist in us all. Hopefully, Bono has now found what he’s looking for.

Hot New Thing: Bonbon Oiseau

Bonbon Oiseau, French for beautiful bird, offers custom and limited edition jewelry and whimsical hair adornments with a romantic and vintage feel. Designer Deborah Stein’s colorful creations are made from feathers, flowers, charms, and semi-precious stones and beads. My favorites are the Winner’s Circle earrings that feature little vintage gold racehorse and horseshoe charms and iridescent labradorite. There is no doubt that you will be a winner with these earrings dangling from your ears.

Hot New Thing: Weezies.com

Weezies is a hip place to shop for affordable and trendy accessories. This shopper’s mecca offers it-girl handbags from Chinese Laundry to L & L-perfect for pairing with a knitted scarf. Add stylish jewelry designed by Robert Rose or Sade and your ensemble will be complete even with extra money left in your bag! You can score must-have ponchos like those seen on Jessica Simpson. The site also features gifts for men - one stop shopping at its best! You don’t need to spend a lot to look stylish so “be chic, be hip, be smart!”

Celebrities dodge fashion police at Oscars

Whether or not you couldn’t wait to see who would go home with an Oscar, one thing for sure was that style divas everywhere tuned in to see who was best dressed. Now that Oscar mania is over, it is time to catch up with what the celebrities were wearing and forecast the upcoming trends in formal wear.

Hundreds of millions of viewers who tuned in for the red carpet extravaganza preceding this year’s Academy Awards were definitely not disappointed. The stars shone extra bright with few locked down in the fashion police paddy wagon. Hollywood’s elite were sure to make style history.

This year, the strapless dress dominated the red carpet. Emmy Rossum glowed in burgundy Ralph Lauren. Charlize Theron looked far from a monster in a heavenly, sea-foam satin organza and tulle John Galliano gown. Gisele Bündchen proved to be fashion forward and up to the minute in a hippie-chic silk crepe empire gown by Dior couture. However, it did not look flattering on her super-slim figure. Renée Zellweger chose a Carolina Herrera raspberry strapless gown, while Beyonce played it safe and looked stellar in a black Atelier Versace velvet frock.

Among the sea of pale colors were Best Supporting Actress Cate Blanchett's one-shoulder yellow silk taffeta Valentino Couture gown and Penelope Cruz’s Oscar de la Renta yellow silk taffeta ensemble. Gweneth Paltrow came a long way from her pink Ralph Lauren prom dress in an updated pale pink strapless Stella McCartney gown. Halle Berry's Atelier Versace iridescent taupe chiffon ensemble and Natalie Portman's Greco-Roman column and metallic trimmed taupe dress by Lanvin were the archetypes of understated beauty.

Forget black! Midnight blue was a favorite of the stars, with the likes of Salma Hayak in a deep, plunging Prada gown and Oscar nominee Virginia Madsen draped in a mermaid royal blue corset gown by Atelier Versace. Best Actress Hilary Swank was clad in an outrageously sexy Guy Laroche back-revealing evening gown, and Kim Porter went on the wild side in a Zac Posen Jacquard snake dress. Even Johnny Depp, famously known to defy trendy styles and favor fashion faux pas, was dressed in a navy tuxedo.

Tired of sitting on your couch wishing you could look like these fashion goddesses but don’t want to turn over the green to buy designer couture? Well, with the help of Allen Schwartz you don’t have to turn green in envy. A.B.S. by Allen Schwartz is a famous red-carpet designer knock-off clothing line. This line is respected and applauded for bringing red carpet trends to the sales racks in record time. If you’re planning a trip to Chicago, be sure to check it out at Nordstrom’s or at www.absstyle.com. For an even more affordable route try www.edressme.com for more red carpet looks straight from Hollywood.

Fashion mavens do it doggie-style

Has it ever been OK to say that fashion has gone to the dogs? Even if it hasn’t, it is now. Dog enthusiasts everywhere are jumping into the hip and trendy world of puppy fashion. Now your doggie can be more fashion forward than even you, with the wardrobe to prove it. Integrating fashion trends into doggie accessory lines makes sense. After all, it appeals to women and their fashion sense.

Dog ownership has come to mean more than just companionship. According to Forbes, Americans spent $34 billion on their pets last year. These numbers could only unfurl the ever-growing pet clothing industry. The first person to get on the bandwagon of pup couture was Yana Syrkin, owner of Fifi & Romeo boutique in Los Angeles. She has said that “Fifi & Romeo helped raise the bar for the dog apparel business from funny dog clothing to chic and fashionable clothing functional for man and woman's best friend.”

And the good news for guys? Fifi & Romeo isn’t just a girl thing anymore. The company is designing a new line for the flagship Sean John store in New York City opening in the fall. It will feature masculine looks for the upscale stud.

Couture collections of designer wear for the chicest of canines include chic cashmere sweaters, raincoats, and embroidered cotton tees, which are among the most popular. Even funny costumes are must-haves for the most spoiled pooch. Options here are endless, too. Everything from ballerina tutus to team jerseys for sports fans are available. Mock fur coats and motorcycle jackets are also popular. If you dig deep enough, you’ll find outfits to please every kind of owner and pooch alike.

You can also pamper your beloved canine with stylish footwear. Your pooch will be head over paws for shoes like the real star of The Simple Life is a fan of. Paris Hilton’s Chihuahua, Tinkerbell, has made a name for herself. She is a world-famous social dignitary and a hip fashion maven that should be the envy of doggies everywhere.

Glitzy and glamorous accessories can adorn your pup and play up their most precious assets. Swarovski crystal-covered collars and leashes are the perfect indulgence and will make your diva pup the center of the doggie crowd. They even can be personalized with your doggie’s name on it. If you really want to dress your little princess up add a bow or studded crown to complete the look.

Claim to be fashionable? Then why dress your dog in something unflattering or lacking in style? Be the stylist you always wanted to be, and dress your dog up in cute outfits to earn a consistent spot on the best-dressed dog list. You and your pup will make both canine and human heads turn on your daily walk around the streets of Madtown.

Celebrity clothing lines run amok

As Wisconsin’s temperature continues to plunge, it is hard to contemplate summer fashions let alone the looks for fall. However, for the fast paced apparel industry, developing trends for New York’s Olympus Fashion Week took center stage earlier this month. The world’s leading designers enticed the fashion elite - a crowd comprised of celebrities, editors, buyers, and socialites – by introducing the hottest creations for fall 2005.

An old concept in an increasingly saturated market, celebrity designs stole the limelight this year. The overwhelming buzz drew the crowd’s attention, leaving them at the edge of their seats, anxious for more.

Instead of sitting in the front row this year, fashion diva Jennifer Lopez displayed her debut upscale clothing line, Sweetface, in the midst of new and old designers alike. Utilizing leather, fur, and metallic detail to accent shorter than short sweaters, high denim pants and chiffon dresses sparked a craze. This daring blend of materials and not so ordinary look suggested that “Jenny from the Block” didn’t mind diverging from the norm or leaving the middle-class Bronx block. The staple names of yesteryear like Ralph, Calvin, and Donna need not worry about getting lost in the star shuffle, so stay calm guys and girls. J. Lo’s line took the form of pure amateur quality, fitting for any pop-star wannabe.

As Gwen Stefani, Beyonce Knowles, and Lil’ Kim set out to make fashion history, one can’t help but wonder about the industry’s future. What happened to years of dedication and expertise in the field? With the snap of a finger or blink of an eye, any celebrity can muster up a clothing line. It makes perfect sense – stars in the spotlight can take full advantage of their status and rake in on clothing lines stamped with their name on them. We can’t actually be the star, but now we are able to look like one.

P. Diddy has profited astronomically with his surprisingly successful Sean John men’s line, receiving accolades in both the fashion and entertainment businesses along with countless devoted fans. With his women's line in the woodworks, he recently ascertained that this new project is a difficult feat, proving that the skill behind fashion is not rooted in the power of a status-worthy name.

As New York Fall Fashion Week approached its finale, every fashionista had the opportunity to digest the runway insanity, catch up with their favorite big name designer and redefine what fashion means to them for the current moment. The worlds of fashion and entertainment are colliding like never before. Fame is bringing style to a new and perhaps frightening extreme. Could Jessica Simpson be the next style savvy pop-star setting frenzy on the runway? Or rather, could Avril Lavigne influence her unique punk flavor to dominate the catwalk? The destiny of the once known haute couture fashion business may leave you shakin’ in your stilettos or trippin’ over chains depending upon which new celebutante uses their name to cash in on the runway.