Sew What?

I got a sewing machine for Christmas, and I have been so busy dreaming about all the wonderful things I am going to create, I haven't actually gotten around to making any of them. But I will! I must! I will!

In all my plotting, I have become quite taken with this little gem of a site, Burda Style. There are tons of hip, easy patterns for everything from dresses to quilt tops to handbags to fleece ski masks, and a bunch of them are even free!

I am especially loving the Jenny Dress, which is actually four patterns in one! Three skirt variations and a dress!! There are not enough exclamation points in the world!!!













I am not quite confident enough to tackle it yet, but I think one of you should try it and let us know how it goes.

And tell us, what other patterns and projects are catching your eye these days?

Style From Your Stars

I hope that I am not alone when I say that sometimes I read my horoscope, and sometimes I take it seriously. I mean, how else am I supposed to know when to spend money and when to worry about work and when to fall in love.



Really.



And now, your horoscope can even tell you how to dress! Read on to learn how you can follow the stars for perfect fashion in 2010! (This enlightening feature is brought to you straight from OK! Weekly Magazine. Which means it has to be true, right?)



Capricorn (Dec. 22- Jan. 20)

You're the zodiac's Queen of Couture, sparing no expense on luxe fabrics and high-end pieces. Stick to toned-down hues-- you look perfectly regal in grays, blacks, silvers and whites.

Your Star Style Star: Kate Bosworth (01/02/83)





Aquarius (Jan. 21-Feb. 19)

Edgy and adventurous, think of yourself as a rock goddess on a 10-city tour. A roughed-up leather jacket is your style staple. Sling it over embellished leggings or a mini dress.

Your Star Style Star: Mischa Barton (01/24/86)





Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20)

As the zodiac's flower child, you're as sweet as a freshly picked blossom. Creative and nostalgic, channel the princess of your childhood dreams in frothy fabrics and girly accents.

Your Star Style Star: Eva Longoria Parker (03/15/75)






Aries (March 21-April 20)

A daring fashionista, you turn heads in sky-high heels, body-skimming clothes and bold accessories. You're a master of layering who can skillfully blend clashing patterns into a runway-worthy ensemble.

Your Star Style Star: Kristen Stewart (04/09/90)





Taurus (April 21-May 21)

Understated elegance defines your style. Like a prep school siren, flowy chiffon blouses, crisply cut blazers and classic pearls are your style weapons. Splurge on luxe fabrics and innovative tailoring.

Your Star Style Star: Penelope Cruz (04/28/74)





Gemini (May 22-June 21)

Bright, eye-catching and electrifying, you wear your personality on your sleeve. Embellishments and accessories are never in short order with you. Mix and match vintage treasures with trendy separates.

Your Star Style Star: Mary-Kate Olsen (06/13/86)





Cancer (June 22-July 23)

Femme to the core, you breathe new life into tailored pieces and borrowed-from-the-boys styles. Always accentuate your womanly figure with a nipped-in waistline and try lowering necklines a touch as well.


Your Star Style Star: Diane Kruger (07/15/76)




Leo (July 24-Aug. 23)

You're the fiercest of them all in animal prints, fire-hot hues and cuts that spotlight your dangerous curves. Feed your appetite for luxury with standout accessories.

Your Star Style Star: Jennifer Lopez (07/24/69)





Virgo (Aug. 24-Sept. 23)

Your schoolgirl charm is sweetly sexy. Button up a classic cardigan. Stick to black, white and soft neutrals, with only the occasional hint of bright color.

Your Star Style Star: Rachel Bilson (08/25/81)





Libra (Sept. 24-Oct. 23)

Equal parts vixen and disco queen, you can pull off evening-wear in broad daylight. From silky fabrics to beadwork to glitter-infused makeup, you live to shimmer and sparkle.

Your Star Style Star: Hilary Duff (09/28/87)





Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Vintage allure with a punk rock twist spells Scorpio style. A splash of diamonds, a sprinkling of marabou... your brand of glamour is classy, not flashy. Smoldering black is your signature hue.

Your Star Style Star: Anne Hathaway (11/12/82)




Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Active and energetic, your look is peppered with sporty spice. Flat-heeled boots and designer demin are wardrobe must-haves that are worth splurging on. Brighten things up with punchy tees and a bold necklace.

Your Star Style Star: Miley Cyrus (11/23/92)




So, what say ye?
Does your style match your stars?

The End of the Year As We Know It

The end of the year is fast approaching, my friends.

(Pause: am I the only one who is completely shocked by this? 2009, we hardly knew ye.)

In addition to my total and complete shock, this also means all sorts of "Best Of 2009" lists. And this year, we get an extra bonus with a litany of "Best of the Decade" lists as well.

(Wait, seriously? The end of the decade? What the what?!?)

I have been enjoying all kinds of merry list-making (hotties! movies! celebrity scandals!) but Entertainment Weekly's list of 20 Knockout Dresses of the '00s might be top of my list of favorite lists. (See what I did there?)

There were some well-known pieces, like Halle Berry's strategically appliqued Oscar dress...

... and Keira Knightley's diaphonous green gown from Atonement...

... but there were some lesser-known surprises as well. (Michelle Obama's colorful Democratic National Convention shift anyone?)

Check out the list for yourself and then come back and make one of your own.

Tell us, what were your Top Dresses of the Year? (Or the past 10 years, if you're feeling ambitious.)

All Treat and No Trick

The opinion I am about to share usually makes me pretty unpopular, but I am going to share it anyway. Ready?

I don't like Halloween.

I like candy (I really like candy), but I don't like knocking on people's doors and asking for it, and I do not like dressing up and going to crowded parties where I have to dance awkwardly with some guy dressed as a shark or one of the cops from "Reno 911," and I do not like being scared, and I do not like fake blood, and I do not like Halloween.

Around this time of year I usually find myself in the minority, though, and I am guessing there are some Halloween lovers out there. So here are a few last-minute, cheap and easy costume ideas for those of you who love to celebrate but haven't had the time yet to pull something together.

(I also hate thinking of costumes. Maybe I should read this post?)

Blown Away

You don't need a real windy thunderstorm to look like you've been caught in one, and this costume will win you major points for creativity. Plus, you can definitely put it together with things you already have lying around. Start with business casual clothes (slacks, dress shirt, belt) and add a quirky tie. Tie the tie as you normally would, then loosen it and slip it off. Undo a wire hanger and feed one end down the back sleeve of the front part of the tie. Bend the excess wire so it can be inserted into the skinny sleeve of the tie, then put the tie back on and twist the hanging pieces so they look like they just got blasted with a gust of wind. Turn an old umbrella inside out, gel your hair to stick up in the same direction as your tie and you'll be ready to blow everyone else away, too.

Day of the Dead



For a slightly creepier look, go with white face paint and and black lipstick. Use eyeliner to draw vertical lines around your mouth and eyes, and darken the area around your nose for that extra-dead look. Your box of Christmas decorations can be an unexpected place to find some costume accessories; keep your eyes peeled especially for brightly colored plastic flowers. Tinsel and other sparkly garlands can also be incorporated. Sponges, paper plates and every day craft paint are all you need to make stamps or stencils of skulls and other patterns for your clothes, and tempera paint will wash out if you are planning on wearing the items later. Vintage pieces, either from your own closet or a thrift store, add the finishing "from another time" touch.

Spooky Punk



This offers a slightly lighter take on the same ghoulish theme. For this outfit, grab a black dress or a similar trustworthy favorite and embellish with fishnets, gothic-inspired jewelry and funky boots. For the shredded scarf, tear some old clothes, tablecloths or sheets in gray or black and attach the pieces using safety pins for a back-from-the-dead punk rock look that won't permanently alter clothes you love. Experiment with different shapes and types of fabric to achieve your favorite look. This do-it-yourself scarf can also be added to a black T-shirt and dark jeans for a male version of the same costume. And, for a little bit of fake blood that doubles as a tasty treat, add some red food coloring to one-sixth of a cup of chocolate syrup, plus a dash of corn syrup to thin it out. Yum!

So, even though I will be sitting home, pouting and eating the candy I should be passing out to adorable children, I hope you have a wonderful time this Halloween!

And, if you decide to try out one of these great costume ideas, let us know how it goes!

The Devil Wears Prada

If you are looking for a high-end fashion fix, sprinkled with a little hilarity and some awesome one-liners, might I suggest the new documentary The September Issue?

It follows the planning and publication of the September issue of Vogue magazine, generally regarded as the annual Bible of the fashion world. My favorite bit might be a cameo by celebrity photographer Mario Testino, where he announces that, for an upcoming photo shoot, he'd definitely like to do something with the Vespas in St. Peter's Square in Rome, and then for sure "something with soldiers and horses." Yep, still laughing about that one.

And there's plenty more where that came from. You'll laugh, you'll cry (from laughing), and you'll definitely be glad you don't work for Anna Wintour.

Let me know what you think, won't you please?