No Kidding?

Singer Ricky Martin has finally come out of the closet. Gee...and we all thought the hunky dude in the Speedo was just a good friend....

How Old is Miley Cyrus?

16? 17? Here she is, looking awkward in a skin-tight leather/vinyl/pleather dress at the premiere of her movie, The Last Song. This is a look more appropriate for a grown-up like Heidi Klum, no?  And if you're going to dress like an adult, at least bother to wash your hair.

Paris Fall 2010 RTW Highlights

For the Young 'Uns - Prom Time at JCPenney

I didn't go to Prom, but if I had, I'd have worn something frilly from Gunne Sax. Heh. (This was the 80s, people.)

These days, prom dresses aren't quite so prim. Some are looking like sexy nightgowns even.

JCPenney has kicked things off for prom season offering a selection of affordable dresses in every style from flirty to chic styles, JCP has you covered. Teens can check out the JCP Prom Shop at JCP.com in the teen section to see the latest trends for prom this year. Also, JCP’s Prom shop offers additional suggestions for accessories, tuxes, and even lingerie.

This year, JCPenney partnered up with Seventeen.com to give away the Ultimate Prom featuring a performance by the band Boys Like Girls for one lucky winner’s school. The contest kicked off last month and today the winner will be revealed at an Ultimate Prom event at the JCPenney store in Westfield Culver City Mall.

The event will kick off today at 4pm PST (7pm EST), complete with a fashion show featuring the hottest prom fashions from JCPenney. The show will be judged by the cast of Big Time Rush, who will give away prom dresses. Boys Like Girls will perform and announce the winner of Seventeen Magazine’s Ultimate Prom Sweepstakes.

Perhaps the best part is, the event will stream live on the web via http://www.livestream.com/ultimateprom and also on JCPenney’s Teen Fashion page (Facebook.com/JCPTeen) so everyone can enjoy the performance by Boys Like Girls and see all the prom fashion.

Barbie Inspires

Barbie and The White House Project have partnered together and are asking women and bright young girls to sign a declaration to “Ignite a National Movement to Inspire Girls.” The goal is to gather one million signatures which will then be presented to First Lady Michelle Obama.

Over the last 51 years -- and 126 careers -- Barbie has inspired girls to dream big and be who they want to be. Barbie’s own personal career choices encourage girls to try on different careers and hobbies, play out their dreams through her and defy limits.

As the lead sponsor of Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day -- a global event which activates millions of kids to visit workplaces on April 22nd -- Barbie and The White House Foundation are engaging girls through mentoring and hands-on work experiences. By helping bring millions of girls to the workplace, Barbie and the Foundation are showing girls they can aspire to do anything and be anyone.

Click here to sign the petition on Facebook, or use the widget below:

Nina in Paris

Nina Garcia in Paris during Fashion Week. Michael Kors might have something to say about the crotch on her pants.

Image snatched from the amazing Gastro Chic. Go check out her fabulous photos of fashionable folks.

Millionaire Matchmaker Contest

Hey folks - get thee over to Blogging Bravo and enter the Millionaire Matchmaker contest! BB is giving away three autographed copies of Patti Stanger's book, Become Your Own Matchmaker. You  know you want a millionaire of your own! (Who doesn't?)

L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara

My lashes are about average. They are neither long nor short, nor are they particularly full. For the longest time I didn't wear mascara because I didn't feel that I needed it, but after several trips to the cosmetics counters in Nordstrom and Bergdorf and Saks, I've been brainwashed into a daily application.

My biggest issue with mascara is that they be smudge-proof. When the label says "water-proof," do not think for a minute that this also indicates a lower probability of smudging. Smudging is caused by facial oils and rubbing, not water-based moisture. With my oily skin and daily application of under-eye cream, I have a serious smudge problem, both with eyeliner and mascara.

But, the other day, I threw caution to the wind and bought a tube of L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion mascara. The name makes me think of projectile vomiting or virulent diarrhea, but that unfortunate detail aside, I was intrigued by the mace-like wand. Dangerous, but possibly beautifying. And no, the label did not indicate that the product was smudge-proof. Like I said, I was throwing caution to the wind. And I'm pleased that I did - not only do I find it much easier to use the spherical brush, but also I found that this mascara does not migrate to any other portion of my face. Yay!

That's not to say that it's perfect; it lengthens my lashes just fine, but does nothing to thicken them. It does not make me look like Penelope Cruz (but I suspect most mascara commercials use some sort of trickery and enhancement) but it doesn't make me look like a sad raccoon, either. And for $10, it pleases me more than the Dior and YSL mascaras that cost 2 and 3x as much.

Milan Fall 2010 Fashion Week - Etro

Readers of this blog might have noticed that I am a big fan of designers who are not afraid to use color and pattern in their work. Etro is one of my favorites, and if I had the money and the body for it, I'd be wearing it regularly. Here are some of my favorites from the most recent collection.

Paris Fall 2010 Fashion Week - John Galliano

As with his 2009 collection, John Galliano's Fall 2010 collection explores a folkloric theme, "a tribe of adventuring nomads" trekking "through a mountainous terrain, crossing imaginary borders in search of a new land."

A land where silver glitter falls from the sky, apparently. Groovy, no?

Paris Fall 2010 Fashion Week - Elie Saab

While Elie Saab's 2010 Spring Couture show was all sweetness and light, for the upcoming Fall season we're getting un-basic black and lots of it. Nothing hugely innovative or new, but lots of lovely looks.

Marc Jacobs Fall 2010 Video

Paris Fall 2010 Fashion Week - Gareth Pugh

Gareth Pugh's Fall 2010 collection could almost pass for mainstream, if mainstream means heavy leather for women and a sort of Jedi Master/priest look for men. But I'm a fan of Mr Pugh, and I think it all works. And isn't that last look just calling out for Tilda Swinton?