The Ooooooo-Weee! (More intense than a normal fashion fix, here's what has me feenin')

On the Low, Though, Shhh...

Last week, when my fam was here from "Tha A", they wanted to do the tourist thing in NY. Then a friend of mine came up from B-More to shop. I'm game for wearing heels to do almost anything, but with all the cracks and vents, New York streets are too treacherous for long treks in good shoes. As I got dressed, I realized the need for a fly pair of flat boots. I'm not into looking like a cookie-cutter teeny bopper (though I'm barely a day over 20, wink wink), so the 80's-inspired pointy-toed, slouchy boots don't do it for me. A pair of equestrian boots, though, is the perfect wardrobe addition for this clotheshorse. Unfortunately, riding boots (at least the cute ones) can cost a pretty penny. I gotta shout out Tia at Shake Your Beauty for her post on a party dress from Delia's, which, of course led me to a search of the site's shoe department. Gasp! These boots are only $67! Don't spill the beans, though or everybody'll be beat-biting, and we can't have that. So these will be our little secret... pinky swear?

Gangsta Heezeelz!!!

If you're a true music fan, you'll rock a t-shirt featuring your favorite act, right? Well, why should it be any different with fashion, or more specifically, footwear? This "Dressed to Kill" raglan from Hellz Bellz is the edgiest shoe shout out I've ever seen, and I'm lovin' it. I see it with gray or black skinny jeans and converses or ankle boots. I might even be funny and wear a denim mini and ballet flats with opaque tights. I like to keep folks on their toes like that. For only 48 smackeroos, you can get one of your own at Cultlist. Be forewarned, any chick who dares wear this tee better have enough attitude to carry it off. Not for the faint of heart (or foot), it screams "sex, murder and mayhem" (Hov is so quotable!). When you wear your heart on your heels, though, there's bound to be a little bloodshed, right?.

Five, Six, Pick Up... (Gifts for Cosmetics Connoisseurs)

About Face

There's one in every crew... the girl whose wardrobe is a little blah, but her makeup is always perfect. She doesn't care much about the Christian trinity (you know, Louboutin, Lacroix and Dior), but she sure knows the ABC's of beauty (Anastasia, Bobbi Brown, Cargo, and so on). You and the rest of your gal gang give her fashion goodies every year, but she never seems to wear them (because she's given them to her other friends for their birthdays). This year, stop trying to reinvent the wheel, for once, and give her something she won't have to re-gift. If you're reading this, you've got more of a fashion focus than a beauty brain, so I did the foot- (er, finger-)work for you. Here are five glam-up giftsI found that should fit a variety of friendship (price) levels.

BFF on a Budget ($)

If it's a stocking you're stuffing, spend $5.09 for this set of 8 e.l.f. Hypershine Mini Cell Phone Lip Gloss Charms at drugstore.com, or up the ante a little for a $25 Sugar Cosmetics Zip Kit containing a lip gloss and 4 eyeshadow choices at makeup.com.












Generous Gal-Pal ($$)

Cargo's $45 collection of favorites makes it easy to achieve this holiday season's sophisticated looks. A $108 value, this festively packaged limited edition kit is available only at Sephora. Every face-ionista knows no face is completely "beat" without perfectly bowed brows. Give your homegirl the upper hand with this $75 Anastasia Beverly Hills kit.













Sister-friend with a Surplus ($$$)

If you got it like that, then give like this: Bobbi Brown's limited edition Rose Gold Collection. For $125 your beauty-addicted buddy'll get a glamorous 5-piece makeup set in an exclusive shimmery Beauty Kit.

Shop to Save (Because Saving $$$ is Good but Saving Lives is Best)

There Once Was a Tree...

I think we all know the camp song about "the prettiest tree that you ever did see." Well, on that tree, there was a leaf, (also the prettiest that you ever did see) and it somehow fell into melted 18K gold before ending up on the end of a 30" chain. OK, that's not exactly how this beautiful piece of jewelry came to be, but it's pretty close to the truth. The real deal is that eco-conscious Nugaard Designs dipped dehydrated real leaves off Brazilian trees into silver or gold to create their Flora Collection. Through a partnership with Trees for the Future, a tree will be planted for each piece sold from the collection. Lucky's editors liked the Round Leaf Earrings, but my favorite piece was this necklace I found on delight.com for $87.75. Either choice makes the perfect Holiday gift, (no matter which you celebrate), so this Cyber-Monday, get one for every eco-chic(k) in your life.

That New New for You You (Pat Field for Barbie)

Barbie Never Plays Out

When i was a wee stylista, my playmate/exemplar epitomized glamor, success and almost everything a girl could want. She was plastic, though, and her world was all for fake fake. (Dunno why we used to say it that way). The dollie days have ended, but thanks to Mattel's strategic partnerships, real-life fashion figures can still channel the eternally chic icon. First, there was the limited edition makeup colabo with M.A.C, and now there's the new fashion line from Patricia Field. (You know, the mind behind Sex and the City style.) Launched November 13 at Field's Manhattan boutique, "Barbie by Patricia Field", a collection of audacious apparel and accessories is comprised of two separate lines, "Barbie Luxe by Patricia Field" (Sold exclusively at Macy's East stores) and "Junior's Barbie Wear by Patricia Field" (sold at Hot Topic). Both lines,however are available at House of Field. So far my favorites are the "I Want My Dream House tee" and the vintage-inspired belted black satin dress.

Five, Six, Pick Up...

Turkey Day Dressing...

It happens every year... you ponder what you'll wear for the big gathering. You want to look cute, yet fam-appropriate. You also need something that will either accommodate or camouflage your post-dinner bulge. Instead of trying to undo the top button on your jeans without anyone noticing, this Thanksgiving, try rockin' an empire-waist frock. Here are five i found that will compliment most body types and fit a range of spending limits:

Bougie on a Budget ($): Wear this $22.80 mock-neck sweater dress from Forever 21 with a cardigan to keep your arms warm.


A Little Wiggle Room ($$): The layering options are endless with this $59.50 pleated denim shift dress from the Gap, and this $44.99 Isaac Mizrahi for Target merino wool turtleneck is a complete look on its own.

















Extra Dough to Throw ($$$): Do it demure in this $240.00 purple knit jersey dress from T-Bags or go girly with the "Lipgloss" ruffled dot dress from Joie. From Net-a-Porter and Nordstrom, respectively.















P.S.
Each of these dresses goes great with any of this season's footwear trends. Just make sure you wear opaque tights. Oh, and if you've decided that you're not doing any shopping until after Thanksgiving, I'm sure you can pair one of your dresses from summer with tights and a cardigan too.

For tha Low Low (Gotta Love a Sale)

I Don't Wanna Grow Up...

Is it me, or do these shoes make you hum the Toys R Us theme? (C'mon sing along) Giraffe prints to round toes to school-girl bows, it's the cutest pair of flats there is... (OK, no more singing.) These adorable flats from the Gap, originally priced at an affordable $39.50 but on sale for $12.99, won't even take away from your milk (ahem, cocktail) money. Here's the catch, though, they only have size 6 left.

I Wish I May, I Wish I Might... ( I Will one day, When My Pockets Get Right!)

Let's pretend I won the lottery, had a visit from my fairy godparent (he or she's out there somewhere, I just know it) or found some other way into a whole lotta chedda. If said fantasy were to come true, please believe a MAJOR shopping spree would be very close to the top of my to-do list. 'Til that happens, let's play a little game of "that's my shoe"

Rope-A-Dope

I don't know about you, but gray skies make me blue. These gray Missoni boots, however... well, they make me a little blue, too, because I'm madly in love with them. However, at $2080, they're about as accessible as Djimon Honsou right now. Still, I'm picturing them with a really cute shift dress, a slouchy cardigan and some opaque tights. Gray skies always clear up, but owning these boots would really make me put on a happy face! Now, be a dear and make a donation to the StyleScrybe Needs New 'Ssoni Boots Fund, or you can let your fingers do the walking to Net-a-Porter and cop 'em for me. Please? Ok, fine. Don't. I love you anyway.

The Ooooooo-Weee! (More intense than a normal fashion fix, here's what has me feenin')

Buns of Steal

When it comes to music, "Crews pop to Hip Hop" (Shout out to the Youngstas... where are those dudes now anyway?), but fashion's all caught up in metal mania. These lustrous, stretchy jeans from Cheap Monday are a perfect way to keep my derriere debonair. Pop into your local Urban Outfitters and cop a pair or two. At only $65, it's almost like you didn't pay for them at all... get it? "Buns of Steal?" And all this time you were thinking I had a typo in the title... pshaw!

Pump Pump Pump Pump it Up!

When was the last time you saw a pair of shoes for under $200 that were so fly they had you stuck on stupid? It actually happens to me pretty often (yeah, my shoe obsession runs deep), but with footwear each new high feels just as good as the first one. These sexy cracked leather "Alix" pumps from Report, with their almond toes and high collar, are the perfect addition to my fall lineup. Dude, they're only $189 at Zappos! Yep, I'm officially a card-carrying "crack" head.