Stylish with Substance

There's nothing like whimsical, themed, quality, rare pieces-of-art bags to tote your necessities to the beach, and to compliment your Jackie O's and wide-brimmed hat. Lulu Guinness vintage beach bags are perfect for the cool chica of any fashion orientation.

Lulu Guinness Beach Belle Fiona Tote

Please refer to the eBayers' own delectably-written description of this item. This bag is great for anybody, from earthy hipster, to fashionista, to a woman whom was a babe, herself, in the fifties - the era apparently inspiring this little lass. A sun hat, beach ball, reading book, cool drink, and more float around the cute cartoon lady. Delightful!

Lulu Guinness Swimsuit Beach Tote

This is a real treat, a rare gem and find. How special is this vintage swimsuit-shaped beach bag? The picture truly speaks for itself (view larger in eBay listing). Unless its authentic-styling makes you wonder, yes, that is a bag. The straps are ... straps! Beyond cute.

Finally, I must say something. I let the happy honeymoon days exist in peace, but enough time has passed.

Sandra Bullock, a unique wedding I do applaud, but cowboy boots under your white gown do just not go. It's not even about my opposition to the footwear style, or even completely about the inappropriateness of ultra-casual mixing with ultimate glam. The dream wedding gown should be matched with complimentary, elegant, and petite shoes. If you must state something bold and wear western - or hillbilly, as I see was the intent with this gala - accessories, at least take the different route of wearing a simpler, darker shaded dress, like a matte bronze slip-dress cut to the knee. Then you must throw in the topaz stone necklace. It is the gem of the setting sun, and this was an affair meant to represent beauty of the natural, mixed with its complimentary aspects of hot and wild, no?

In my pretend French: Jés! In British: Bullocks!

I've stayed away from the whole Tom/Katie disastrous "plot," because I just figured they weren't crossing my territory. But now they've become offensive to the style world, and are apparently actually fooling people, this time(?)

Tom Cruise and *coughchokehack* fiancée, Katie Holmes were voted one of the most fashionable *hack* couples by AOL style expert, Danielle Dubin.

I'm sorry, but Katie looks horrible. Her jeans are tapered(!!!) and are too long. (We learn once more, that no one is too good for a tailor.) They bunch up from the ankle to the calf, and make her feet look like boats. (I'd also like to suggest a cute, brown, perhaps tweed, kitten heel for the casual affairs.) And while I'm at it, the girl's hair needs a styling and she should lose the futuristic jacket that eerily "goes" with Tom's. *shudder*

I used to like that adorable Katie, but now she is dead to me.

(See more fashionable, or not, couples from People.)

And please excuse me for being so unpresentably sickened during this article.

Ryan Seacrest is starting his own "humorous" fashion label, "R," but the word, "fashion" is used loosely by me.

The 30-year-old American Idol host, who says he's always had a taste for fashion, is now offering his own line of men's and women's T's, tanks, distressed [polo] shirts as well as sweaters, reports USA Today.

Polo shirts are refined preppy/country club, and he's going to manufacture distressed polos? That's just wrong, and I can't picture it. Are they going to be worn out, with holes? Oh, the humanity.

As for whose backs the shirts have already adorned, they include those of Lindsay Lohan, Kelly Ripa, Will Smith, Ryan Cabrera and first Idol winner Kelly Clarkson. [Seacrest] often wears his personally designed creations on Idol.

The wishtobe maven has his own fashion advice to give.

Seacrest has one main tip for fans: "The combination of a blazer over any T-shirt with a pair of jeans is foolproof."

Ella says, "Ryan Seacrest, Out! of style."

I am on vacation in the charming boondocks of Cape Cod for part of the summer.

Le sigh. My words of wisdom about this situation are:

I love nature, but I don't want to be in it.

(I have the slight technology of dial-up on my laptop, but you might expect a delay or lack in posting of my newly christened weekly entries.)

Amy Peters is a crafter of the most delightful jewelry, each piece is a token of hopeful thoughts and wishes. Every accessory is precious to its owner for its select sentiment, not price. The studio's bracelets, necklaces and more carry messages, such as, "imagine," "fly," "magic," "strength" and so many more. Each item is personally-held artwork for women who still hold some childlike spirit.

The designer was born and raised in Palo Alto, California. Her artistic nature can be attributed to growing up in an area where the arts were well funded. Amy took her first jewelry class at the age of 8, and she was hooked. She earned her BA in Metal Arts and Jewelry Design from San Francisco State. In 1995, she rented a dirt-floored shed with no running water, where Amy Peters' Studio was born. While designing, she uses her childhood memories and her dreams as inspiration.

There are exciting things happening at Amy Peters', in addition to being featured in well-known magazines and sold in over 700 venues, she was recently featured in Lindsay Lohan's birthday party goodie bag! The same choker given to Lindsay's guests is apart of a Monthly Drawing at Amy's site. And the studio has opened up a Café Press shop, with similar inspirational designs!

I already have a lovely "Imagine" bracelet, and the "Fly" necklace is going on my birthday list!

Fall is all around in the fashion world, and I'm feelin' it, myself. Yes, there is unbearable heat right now, but that only encourages our move toward the next season.

Manolo Blahnik has one sole, defiant fall boot for sale at Neiman Marcus. It's as bold as can be with leopard-print hair-calf, and a 4 1/3" heel. There could be nothing more luxury to wear under your crisp trousers among the reddening leaves.

Madonna is pictured here in desperate need of a tailor. I can't believe what I'm seeing; 90-degree-angle shoulder pads. They don't flatter her chest or her general shape. There isn't one fingertip exposed under those long sleeves. And the skirt is a bit long, which doesn't work in this case, because the line of the entire ensemble makes Madge look freakishly tall. Also, I'm not a fan of dark hose, because it makes a woman's legs mismatched from her body.

Every lady needs a fabulous, flirty summer-day dress. I love this Herb Garden Dress, by Anthropologie, for its refreshing color, laid-back pattern, sweet neckline, and especially its trouble-spot concealing ruched waist. I also dig the detail of the sheer slight overly at its knee-length hem. The dress is flattering for any femme in women's and petite's.

The Friday Feast, a very popular Meme, has a question about fashion this week. The question, about designing, is the "Soup" portion, which is referred to as, "smooth and warm to soothe your mind." I'll answer the question, but I'm not getting fuller than that, I have to quickly get to my own dinner.

If you were a fashion designer, which fabrics, colors, and styles would you probably use the most?

For an upscale range, I would focus on rich and flattering lines. The colors would mostly be "saturated" (deeper) and soft, earthy, natural tones. Oh, yes, and happy green. I would use quality, natural fabrics, of course, but particularly, I wouldn't make tops in too thin or clingy material. Surprisingly, and strikingly different, I would tone down my use of cashmere, because I, myself, am allergic to wool. I enjoy acrylic, instead. I would still use a lot of wool in skirts and trousers (with full lining), though, and I love tweed.

As for shoes; natural calf skin. I can't get enough of that soft leather. I'd also make flats in, not only soft-textured material, but flexible-soft. It makes the shoe more comfortable. I'd want to pad the heel area with material exactly like Dr. Scholl's heel liners, and the footbed with nice, supportive cushioning.

I'd also focus on lower (mid) heels. I don't believe in crazy-high heels.