The Style Editor

Harry Potter star Emma Watson is the new face of Britain’s Burberry. In a campaign shot by famed photographer Mario Testino, Emma looks lovely in a classic Burberry trench.

The campaign coincides nicely with the ad campaign for the latest Potter installment: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which we’ve all been feverishly waiting for. (Warner Bros., you are still on my boycott list for pushing the release date back on this movie 9 months.)

If you’re a huge Potter fan (like the Obama girls, who were accompanied to the set of the movies today by the First Lady), you can download a movie release countdown clock from one of our favorite sites, Mugglenet.com.

For many women, babies are a huge part of a full life. Whether you have your own child or grandchild, or are an official aunt or designated “auntie” to a little one, finding great baby items at great prices is part of living life with style.

From having our own babies, and shopping for countless showers, we have compiled a list of Top 10 Must-Have Baby Buys. We’ll add items over the next week until we’ve rounded out the top 10.

This is not an exhaustive list of all of the baby things you might need, but notes some of the items that we have come to appreciate. Any of these items would make a great addition to your own baby registry (register at Amazon.com or Target.com!), or a really cool baby shower gift. There is a very wide range of prices, too, with some of the least expensive being some of our top faves.

Here’s our countdown …

10. The Sassy Baby Safe Feeder

This is a genius way to give your new eater something to chew on — literally! The little mesh bag can be taken apart and all manner of food inserted. The baby can then suck and chew on the bag without choking. My 8-month-old loves this! We chop up chunks of organic banana or strawberry and let him chomp away — I set him up with this at dinner time and it gives me a little time window to eat my dinner while it’s hot!

Sassy Baby Safe Feeder

$16.99 at Amazon.com

To clean, I turn the bag inside out and give it a vigorous scrub. This set comes with two rings and four bags.

Ashley Tisdale is an L.A. fashion fixture, which is funny if you’ve ever watched The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. I mean, you just wouldn’t think that Maddie would have a whole lot of fashion sense. But Ashley Tisdale is definitely in the know, style-wise. Go figure.

Here is a little trifle she was seen sporting about on a recent shopping trip:

Lark & Wolff by Steven Alan Stripe Boatneck Sweater

$68 at Urban Outfitters

This is a great staple piece for summer — bright and airy with the pop of yellow (or navy, it comes in the darker hue as well), and flattering with the boatneck collar. It just seems like you should wear it out to the lake, doesn’t it?

Want to know Nicole Richie’s favorite piece from her latest House of Harlow 1960 accessory collection? Well, here it is:

And she’s not the only one partial to it — Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton have already been seen out and about wearing this necklace. It’s a resin bib necklace (and judging from this year’s Oscars, necklaces are WAY back in — see Amy Adams or Beyonce Knowles for reference), made from 14k gold-plate with faceted resin details. It has a lobster-claw clasp and comes in at 20″ long.

I have to say that suede fringe has never been my thing, per se. There is just something hippy-dippy about it that never appealed to me that much. But I always say never say never when it comes to trends, because even things you swear up and down, time and time again, that you hatehatehate have a way of becoming more appealing as they coast into full-on trend.

For example, even though the 1980s Dynasty shoulder pad look mar my memories of an otherwise idyllic childhood, there was still something strangely intriguing about the sculpted shoulders on that white jacket Beyonce was sporting coming out of London’s Bungalow 8 this past week. But I digress…

So, I’m scanning the Urban Outfitters website and I happen across this suede fringed hobo in the sale section:

Urban Outfitters Suede Fringe Hobo, $39.99

Usually, I wouldn’t give two looks, and there were other suede fringed things that I averted my gaze at immediately. But this one was definitely appealing, and, I admit, very on-trend for summer. There is just something pleasing about the juxtaposition of flowy, beachy looks with something more earthy and grounded, like suede.

OK, here comes the annual hunt for a flattering swimsuit. It has to cover enough here and there, but still make you feel sexy (even if all of the running you do on th beach is after your toddlers). We spied this on from LL Bean and think it will work for a lot of body shapes. It comes in black with an electric blue colorblock trim and ink blue with bright purple trim.

L.L. Bean Twist-Front Tank, $74.95

Simple knot details and an empire waistline. Breathable, quick-drying Italian fabric, made of nylon and Xtra Life Lycra® elastane. With SunSmart™ UPF 50+ for reliable sun protection; also chlorine resistant. Imported. Handwash, line dry.

Soft-cup bra; tummy-control panel; conservative leg openings.

Urban Outfitters Under $5 Sale

Funky finds for rock bottom prices are up at Urban Outfitters! And, scuttlebutt is that there will be lots of in-store only $5 deals through the weekend.

There are a lot of fun novelties that would be great, inexpensive gifts for older grade schoolers and middle school kids (do you ever get the feeling when you’re shelling out $20+ per birthday party that the gift you’re buying for your kid’s friend is just going to end up forgotten under the bed anyway?).

Animal diorama ($4.99); micro terrarium ($3.99); lucha libre key caps (2-pack, $4.99)

Then there are some fun accessory-type things that make life fun, but at fat-free prices.

Cobalt ring holder ($4.99); nail necklace ($4.99); monogram card set ($3.99)

Just in time for a stylish summer, super cute shades for next-to-nothing (I always, always buy cheapie shades anyway, because they invariably get left at the beach or sat on in the car).

Sunglasses ($3.99 - $4.99)

And right now is really the best time to stock up on some fun patterned tights and leggings for fall. I know, it seems a long time away right now, but you will be patting yourself on your frugal back come fall.

Patterned tights ($4.99 each)

Urban Outfitters Under $5 Sale

It’s Wednesday, so to help everyone get over the hump, here are a few free things to check out in the vast Internet universe:

Wanna know where to get some celebrity looks? People magazine will hook you up:

Drew Barrymore’s Laker Necklace

Ashlee Simpson-Wentz’s 3.1 Phillip Lim Plaid Dress

Rihanna’s Printed Jacket

Nicole Richie’s American Idol Maxi Dress

People Magazine StyleWatch: You Asked, We Found

Interested in style advice from Oprah’s stylist:

Q&A with Kelly Hurliman

Here’s a fun trend Alert: Bamboo Earrings

Self Magazine Fashion Obsession

How does People magazine choose its cover stars?

The New York Times Talks To Editor Larry Hackett

eBay has more under-the-radar finds now than ever before. And given that a lot of shoppers are spending their dollars wisely, it is easier to lock in on great deals at the auction giant. We came across this fab find in our own eBay shopping this week and it has so much going for it. It’s a 1980s vintage Tadashi bandage dress, very pin-up girl styling with some peekaboo mesh. And hey, it’s reminiscent of Herve Lager great bandage dresses, without the Herve Lager price tag!

$99.99 at eBay

Vintage Tadashi Bandage Dress

It may not be in my budget right now, but I am still loving this crepe dress from one of Michelle Obama’s favorite designers, Thakoon. The cut is flattering and the black and white simple, but the crisscrossing pattern evokes something Japanese origami crossed with something slightly S&M-ish. You can definitely get your inner Gossip Girl on in this number. Love it!

Details: Wide-neck dress in crepe. Contrast mesh banding throughout. Two-way zip closure with contrast trim at back. Sleeveless. 38″ long, measured from center back. Shell: 57% acetate/43% viscose. Lining: 100% silk. Trim: 70% nylon/30% polyurethane. Dry clean. Made in the U.S.A. - Ivory

Pantone has spoken, and the verdict is in … this palette represents the Top 10 Fashion Colors for Fall 2009:

Top Row: Iron, Purple Heart, Majolica Blue, American Beauty, and Honey Yellow

Bottom Row: Rapture Rose, Burnt Sienna, Warm Olive, Nomad, and Creme Brulee

These colors were selected after surveying all of the major spring runway shows.

For the full color report, with designer sketches and insights for the fall 2009 fashion season, check out the PDF here:

Pantone Fashion Color Report 2009

What do you think of these colors? Will you be adding any of these hues to your fall wardrobe? Leave a comment and let us know!

So No Doubt is back together and giving the fans a rollicking summer tour! Yay! Return of Saturn and Rock Steady are two of my favorite road trip albums — let’s hope their next album is just as good.

And a beauty look that can be worn day or night with the same dramatic effect is boldly lined, dark eyes with a neutral lip, a la Gwen Stefani.

For some women, this look is utilized with regularity. But for others, heavy eye makeup may be a bit daunting. One way to feel more comfortable with darkly lined eyes is to find a product that will stay put. You don’t want to look fabulous for the first ten minutes only to have yor eye makeup run and leave you looking like a raccoon that recently got into a fight. That is why MAC is one of my favorite beauty brands, in large part because the colors are bold, the products last forever, and the products stay put. MAC’s Fluidline gel eyeliner, which you apply with a brush, is just about foolproof. It gives the look of a liquid liner without needing to have a surgeon’s hands to apply it. Even better, the texture of this product looks like liquid liner that has been set with powder, giving it slight natural smudge, which is exactly what you are going for, all in one step.

This is real life, not the makeup artist’s chair, so streamlining the process is best. Use a big, fluffy brush for your eyeshadow and a finer brush for the liner, and use a loose hand. Don’t worry, it will look good! Using the blending brush, sweep on a neutral color eyeshadow, in a taupe shade, and a neutral brown on the browline just to define your bone structure. Then use the finer brush to put on the Fluidline. The finer the brush you use, the thinner the line you will dray. You can use a fatter flat brush to great effect, which is what I do, and the width of the brush allows you to use a much freer hand (translation: you can really brush on the line with speed). Experiment with the line you draw: extend it past the outer edge of your lash line, curving it upward or extending it straight out or draw the line thicker or thinner. Curve the line over the top of your eye, peaking in a different spot on your eyelid. With this product, you can actually have fun without worrying about not being an expert.

After you line your eyelids, decide whether you want to do a thin layer of Fluidline on your lower lashes. On the lower lashline, you will want to keep the lining on the thin side so it doesn’t look too rock star messy. You may even want to just line from the outer corner to about halfway in. Then, you could use kohl pencil to line your inner lashline to really create the darkest eye possible. Put on a quick layer of mascara and your eyes are done! Fabulous!

Now, you only have to add a few elements to complete the look. Use a neutral blush with a fat brush to pink up the apples of your cheeks and define your cheekbones. This will help balance the dark eyes and the pale lips. You don’t want to look like a vampire.

Last, add some light shimmer to your lips. The best shade, for all skin tones, is Love Nectar LustreGlass from MAC. Use a neutral lipliner, like MAC’s Lip Pencil in Stripdown, and then brush on the Lustreglass. Now you’ve captured the look!

MAC FLUIDLINE GEL EYELINER
$14.50 at Macys.com
MAC Fluidline Gel Liner

MAC BRUSHES
224 Tapered Blending Brush, $28.00
MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush

212 Flat Definer Brush, $20.00
MAC 212 Flat Definer Brush

POWDER BLUSH in AMBERLING ROSE by MAC
$17.50 at Macys.com
MAC Powder Blush in Amberling Rose

LIP PENCIL in STRIPDOWN by MAC
$12.50 at Macys.com
MAC Lip Pencil in Stripdown

LUSTREGLASS in LOVE NECTAR by MAC
$14.00 at Macys.com
MAC Lustreglass in Love Nectar

I admit it: I saw the commercial for Smooth Away hair removal pads and kind of fell for the sell. I looked it up online to gauge people’s general response, which ran the gamut from loved it to hated it. The main complaint I found was that shipping costs were expensive yet the product took forever to arrive. So I didn’t order online.

But, when I saw Smooth Away on the As Seen On TV end-cap at my local Target, that shipping problem melted away. My curiosity got the better of me and I spent the $9.99 for the product, which came in a small box.

But does Smooth Away actually work?

The short answer is yes. And no.

I figured I would blog about my experience, so I made sure I followed the directions exactly. Smooth Away basically sanded down my skin and hair, which did indeed cause some strands of hair to break and rub. My legs became extremely white and ashy as the sandpaper surface buffed my legs, giving a nice little exfoliation (though I felt a little rubbed raw after the fact).

However, after about 10 minutes of Smooth-ing Away with only minimal results, I started laughing because I could have shaved both legs and my bikini line in the time it took me to give myself a minor rug burn on the lower half of the lower half of one leg.

So I’ll stick with stealing my hubby’s Mach 3 cartridges until I can afford laser hair removal.

You ask, we answer …

Q: Dear Fashion Editor:

Where can I find a handcuff necklace like the one Adam Lambert wore on American Idol’s Rock Night?

~ Glambert fan

A: Dear Glambert fan:

We totally noticed that cool handcuff neck piece while Adam was up there killing “Whole Lotta Love”! And we found it for you at emitations.com, one of our favorite sites for great inspired-by jewelry pieces (at prices that real people can actually afford)!

Emitations Handcuff Necklace, silver, $19.99

Two great tastes that taste great … together! Yes!

It’s the still hot gladiator sandal and that ’80s comeback kid, the jelly shoe. And yes, I had a pair of jellies when I was a kid (in cherry red, obviously) — I begged my mother for them and outgrew them after about four very satisfying wears.

Givenchy Shoes Cutout Jelly Flats

$170 at Shopbop

(Available in Black, Orange, Clay, Fuchsia, and Army)