If you’re into zippers and super-skinny jeans, get a load of these beauties. This is my favorite pair right now. All bow down to the Paige Premium Edgemont Skinny Super Rebellious jeans. Yummy. Sure, they’ll cost you a cool $259, but what’s not to love? I adore Paige jeans too. I bought my first pair waaay back in the day and still wear them. The fit is fabulous and although they stretch a tad, it’s not to the point that they don’t fit anymore. There’s just something wonderful about the craftsmanship and the fit. I’m putting these on my Wish List this holiday season, but I don’t think I’ve been good enough. Darn my sarcastic ways.

Hadley Freeman said it best, “Paltrow is wearing officially the most ridiculous thing she has ever worn to a fashion ceremony, and that is saying something. It is not only see through but it is a crop top and a high waisted skirt, ie the two most unflattering garments of all time.” Amen, sister.

What do you think? I think it’s hideous. Here’s a link to E! so you can see all of the gowns of the evening.

Image:  Steve Granitz/WireImage

It’s time to gush! Last year, I received a gift card to Adorn Home & Body for my birthday and I’ve been a loyal customer ever since. The store itself is beautiful. The fab owners, Brent & Kim Charlet, have a talent for not only picking out adorable merchandise, but also creating a wonderful shopping experience. The store boasts the perfect mixture of clothes, accessories and unique home decor items.

I’ve bought a bunch of dresses from Adorn, because they are stylish and functional. If I throw on heels and statement jewelry, I can dress the outfit up for a night out, or I can wear wedge sandals and hoop earrings for a daytime look. When items go on sale, it’s impossible not to take advantage of the extra savings. Adorn sells a beautiful selection of jewelry; many lines made by local artists like Kendra Scott. While some of the jewelry is more expensive, like Seasonal Whispers bracelets, many pieces LOOK expensive, but they’re reasonably priced which makes them perfect for gifts.

As far as gifts and home decor items, Adorn has so many great items to choose from, it’s hard to pick just one. From smaller trinkets for the home to architectural salvage pieces, these unique treasure are everywhere. You should se the amazing wood dining table and upholstered chairs on sale right now for 40% off.

They’re putting new clothes and merchandise out every day, so stop by soon! Kim & Brent just got back from market, so the new fall items are on their way. The store is in Lakeway near the PJ Shop.

To make a long story short, Christian Louboutin got his fancy french panties in a knot when he discovered YSL unveiled shoes with a red sole. (They’ve also done blue: see pic above). The whole thing went to court and appeals are still flying. It seems Louboutin’s trademark red soles are no longer. Why such insanity, you ask? Well, you can’t own a primary color. Gee, really? Does this shock anyone? What’s funny is how incredibly long he got to ride the ruby wave until someone was like, “Wait a minute! He can’t trademark the color red! Why aren’t we making shoes with red soles? Let’s make some. Francoise, fetch me my diamond-studded sketching pencil.”

I think Christian needs to launch an entirely new collection with a really bizarre color for the soles like puce or amber or neon green. Then he can re-establish his notoriety and nobody else will want those colors. Right now all of the REAL Louboutins are almost obsolete because EVERYONE and their orthopedic-shoe-wearing GRANDMAS will be with red soles. All of the women who have spent a gazillion dollars on Louboutins will instantly be among kabillions of knock-offs.  Shhh, if you listen closely you can hear the sound of  a status symbol crashing. How quickly before the shelves at Goodwill will be overflowing with tear-stained Louboutin pumps? That remains to be seen.

Judge Marrero upheld YSL’s rights to manufacture and sell red-soled shoes and repeatedly asserted that red is a decorative element rather than a trademark-worthy feature: “There is something different about fashion. In fashion, color is an ingredient,” the judge said, musing that designers use color just as a chef uses “salt and pepper,” or a writer uses the word “the.” How much do you love this judge? I love him a lot.

When it comes to hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind pieces, my Kendra Scott earrings, rings and bracelets are my all-time favorite accessories. Not only are they brilliant and beautiful, but also wearable and dependable. What is dependable jewelry, you ask? It’s the kind of jewelry you can wear for any occasion and it always looks great.  Dependable means it’s the perfect finishing touch. Above is the Poppy Cocktail Ring in Salmon paired with the Grayce Statement Necklace in Crush, a press favorite.

I wore it to two recent events, the 1st Annual Military Gala by Liz Fields in San Antonio, and The Bachelorette Watch Party Benefiting Autism Speaks in Austin. The events were amazing and I got so many compliments about my Kendra Scott jewelry, it was crazy. The dome rings are always starting conversations! Above is the Poppy Cocktail Ring in Turquoise paired with Wren Earrings in Turquoise. LOVE.

Top Image: Kris Luck Images

Evening and bridal gown designer Liz Fields, who is based in New York, is hosting her 1st Annual Military Gala, a launch extravaganza that will kick off an effort across the country to give away gowns to women within the military family. The gala will be the perfect setting for Liz to showcase her new collection of bridal gowns, destination wedding dresses, special occasions niche designs and evening gowns. But, part of her dream to make military ladies’ dreams come true too.

At the heart of the gala will be military couples which run the spectrum of boyfriend-girlfriend, engaged, and married couples. They will celebrated and treated to a memorable evening of food, drinks, dancing, entertainment, prizes, giveaways and unbelievable surprises. Liz Fields is happy to partner with amazing sponsors like Lacy Pool, the stylist and buyer for Serendipity Bridal, who has teamed up with Kendra Scott and Toni Federici to create the looks. Additional sponsors include the Army Wife Network and Silver Eagle Distributors/Anheuser Busch.

I can’t let the cat out of the bag, but I’ve heard an American Idol Finalist will be performing and my beautiful friend Holly Mills-Gardner, a former Miss Texas, will be emceeing the fashion show and festivities as they unfold. Plus, the entire show will be televised on CMT in the Fall. How fun is that?!

As a woman who appreciates taking risks with fashion, I’d like to make a quick comment about the continual celebrity wardrobe malfunctions involving a voluntary involuntary flash of nipple AKA nip slip AKA shirt and/or dress fail. First of all, I’m not talking about the ones that happen in a bathing suit. I don’t think they count. Wearing a bikini is tricky business, especially if you take a dip in the ocean with fully functioning waves. Or if you have young children.

My son accidentally pulled my bikini top down at the pool once and it took me a few seconds to realize what happened. Had I been a celebrity, that would’ve been TMZ homepage material for sure.  I probably had a scowl on my face and my hair was in a bad ponytail. Had it been captured on film, it would’ve been an “Antarctica sounds like a fun place to live” kind of moment. I’m talking about this….Oh, and why in the world is she squeezing into the dress like it’s a sausage casing. Huh?

I’m talking about non-drunk moments when celebrities other than Pam Anderson, Lady Gaga and Paris Hilton pick out an outfit that costs more than your car, wear it and still suffer from nip slips. This makes zero sense to me.  I think they’re all planned. Shame on you, Milla Jovovich, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jessica Simpson, Keira Knightley, Martha Stewart, Oprah, Brett Favre, Anthony Weiner…whew, I’m getting tired.

Seriously, how can you not know your nipple will be or is currently exposed? What celebs and their stylists fail to recognize is there are, in fact, multiple solutions to planned staged dreaded wardrobe malfunctions.

#1 – Use toupee tape or electrical tape or duct tape. It’s sticky. Really? I don’t think I need to explain tape.

#2 – Stop wearing ill-fitting outfits. If your try on a dress and your boobs are instantly hanging out, the dress does not fit. Don’t buy it. End of story.

#3 – Wear a bra. If you’re going on national television, about to strut your stuff in front of millions of viewers, drop the “I like being natural bit,” get your skinny butt into Victoria Secret and buy a bra. Then, after you purchase it, take it out of the pretty bag and put it on under your outfit. This goes for strapless dresses too, Jessica Simpson.

#4 – Use a safety pin. Wow, this is so genius. I bought a box of safety pins five years ago and it’s still 90% full. One tiny safety pin can do the trick. You can pick a silver one or a gold one if you’re feeling fancy.

#5 - Don’t tweet about it. What’s even worse than seeing Khloe Kardashian’s nipple on a morning show is how much she tweeted about it. See one of her nip slip tweets below. No, they aren’t that special. Trust me.

My apologies to those of you who are reading my blog based on my previous blog post. I know you were expecting something heartfelt and you got this instead. Welcome to my brain. You never know what’s going to spill out.

Images: The Frisky and TMZ

What’s your best color? What makes look great, even when you’re feeling tired? What makes you look tired, even when you’re feeling great? What?!? You don’t know? Neither did I…

After gaining and losing a zillion pounds thanks to two pregnancies, my adventurous fashion sense checked out and I was left with a closet full of black clothes. Don’t get me wrong, I love wearing black and there’s nothing wrong with it. But I personally started to feel like I was intimidated by colors. It’s like my brain started to malfunction after I became a mom and determining what looked good on me was impossible. “Should I buy this blue shirt? Is it the right blue? Is it too blue? Oh, forget it. I’ll buy black instead.”

Thanks to my great friend, Lisa Kennedy of Kennedy Style, me and colors are friends again. Watch this video to see what I’m talking about:

I love the first few months of a new year, because it always kicks-off with fashion trends. Remember when legwarmers made a comeback in 2008?  Well, 2011 is full of fashion predictions as to what the coolest new trends will be. From threads to treads and heads – Justin Bieber and Jennifer Aniston are sporting shorter dues as of TODAY – let’s take a look at what you’ll be wearing. Or will you?

Fuzzy Shoes
Get a load of this furry footwear! I have no idea why any woman would buy these, because if you wear them once, they’re ruined. It’s like the stress of owning suede shoes multiplied by a zillion. One clumsy step in dirt, mud, rain, beer…these babies are toast. What do you think? Fabulous in fur or Zhu Zhu Pet clinging to your feet?

Geometric Shapes
It’s like disco meets hippie meets Bebe. It’s hard to wear bizarre prints, because they aren’t usually very flattering. I would be hard pressed to wear orange, yellow and teal for fear I may burn someone’s pupils. Then again, I really like the shape of the teal dress (right-hand side) and the blocks aren’t hideous. It takes me back to days of Swatch watches and wearing 3 pairs of socks at once. What do you think? Gaudy or great?

Statement Jewelry
MommyQ is all about statement jewelry. The bigger, the better! I will wear crazy cocktails rings that take up my entire finger with joy. I’ll wear a necklace you can see from miles away. I’ll wear earrings that touch my shoulders. BUT, what about a necklace that hangs down to your waist and stretches across your chest? It looks like a scorpion is crawling up her body. What’s your take on this necklace? Dynamite or dangerous?

Leather Socks
Wow. I’m slightly speechless about this completely odd fashion trend. It seems you can keep your ankles warm & toasty while looking hot in your stilettos. Okay, let’s dissect that line of thinking. First, why would you care about wearing socks with a dress? If you’re wearing a dress with heels, you don’t care about temperatures. If you wear the socks with pants, nobody will see. So why bother with leather socks? I’m thoroughly confused about this one. Care to enlighten me? Anyone? Anyone?

Images: Refinery29

Brace yourself for a flurry of decorating ideas! Why? Because Country Living is kicking off 2011 with a clean slate. February is the official WHITE issue, and when it comes to decorating, WHITE is in style all year-round. Country Living’s “Insider Guide to Decorating with White” features interior designers Rachel Ashwell, Darryl Carter, and Suzanne Kasler, revealing how to perfect decorating with one of the trickiest and underrated hues. Take a look!

Reconcile Beauty with Comfort (Rachel Ashwell)
- Choosing the right white matters: go for a crisp, clean white such as Wimborne White by Farrow & Ball, a warm white that never looks dull like White Room by Glidden, or a cool white with minty undertones like Strong White by Farrow & Ball
- Get over your fear of ‘breaking in’ an all-white room: embrace the crumpled, imperfect look and make sure white sofa slipcovers (such as Ashwell’s own Shabby Chic ones) are preshrunk and machine washable
- Soften up a rigidly blank room: avoid sharp modern pieces and opt instead for cushions and distressed surfaces to create a light yet warm space

Choose Your Details Carefully (Darryl Carter)
- Embrace white floors: by using white porch paint, white floors will endure and focus more attention on the objects furnishing the room
- Use white as a unifier: white can harmonize disjointed spaces, establish continuity from one room to another, and lets you move furniture to different parts of your home
- Pair white with textures: wood, woven fabrics, marble countertops, and antique rugs are all nice complements to sparse white spaces

Emphasize White’s Complementary Potential (Suzanne Kasler)
- Don’t treat all shades the same: not all shades of white go well together, so placing different ones next to each other to see if they blend is important
- Go for curtains, not couches: white-linen curtains are much less likely to get stained than a white-linen covered sofa, and a splash of color on the bottom part grazing the floor gives you an added bonus of both boldness and practicality
- Accessorize: varying textures and layers upon layers of objects bring together an all-white room

I wonder how old my kids have to be in order for me to have an all white color palette in my home? Does 50 sound right? Ha-ha! You can also follow Country Living on Twitter: @CountryLiving for instant decorating tidbits.

It’s one of my favorite times of year – AWARD SHOWS! Oddly enough I rarely watch the actual show, but I do love me some Red Carpet fashion. At the Golden Globes this year, what many consider the precursor to the Oscars, Hollywood’s most beautiful moms are shining brighter than ever. We’re seeing a bit more black than usual at this event, but you’ll see lots of pink. You know, one of the “in” colors for 2011. Let’s see which mommies are wearing it best and which ones are strutting their own unique style…

Pregnant mom-to-be Natalie Portman is glowing in this beautiful pink gown. I love seeing her look like the opposite of her psychotic Black Swan  persona. Yikes, that was unsettling. I’ll never look at a hangnail the same again.

Proud mama and timeless beauty Nicole Kidman looks stunning in this neutral dress. I wish she had a few more curves – like 20 pounds worth – but she still looks amazing. Her cutie hubby Keith Urban is probably wishing her heels were a bit lower though.

Boogie nights, one, Julianne. I love the fact that Julianne Moore went for hot pink. I love the contrast with her red hair and, of course, the nude shoes. I’m a sucker for nude shoes with bright colored dresses.I’m sure Joan Rivers will have something bad to say about it, but I give two thumbs up!

Jane Krakowski poses with her growing baby bump in a gorgeous light blue gown. I love how the style of the dress accentuates her curves and her wonderful statement earrings.  Pink is for suckers, perhaps? This mommy thinks so.

America’s favorite mommy, Sandra Bullock, is pulling a Khloe Kardashian by giving us a new hairdo for the Golden Globes. I’m guessing she didn’t actually cut bangs for real… I think those are fake. She looks beautiful in this nude-tone dress with delicate embellishment. Oddly enough, Ryan Reynold’s ex, Scarlett Johansson, showed up to the Globes in a lookalike gown. Ouch, that’s awkward.

You can catch all of the excitement as it happens HERE on the AP’s Livestream!

Images: WireImage

Formaldehyde rumors won’t kill my hair buzz. Is the Brazilian Blowout my new BFF? Uhm, yes! My friend and wardrobe stylist, Lisa Kennedy of Kennedy Style, was extremely confident about the power of the Brazilian Blowout. Me being the frizzy-haired skeptic that I am, told her I would “believe it when I see it” as I sat in her salon chair. With flat iron in hand, she laughed and shook her head. And I must admit, she was RIGHT. These are pictures of me and notice the totally sleek, straight hair. Wow!

I’ve heard my friends refer to the Brazilian Blowout as a “life changing” event. Obviously, this is really only true for those us that have naturally curly hair. Mine? It looks like a sad 80s perm – kinky, frizzy, BAD. I’ve had some of the best hair stylists in town try to fix my hair using my natural curls and by the end of it, they all agree I should wear my hair straight.

Why all the fuzz about the Brazilian Blowout? This is how Lisa describes it:

As a professional hair stylist, I have not seen anything like it. I think its revolutionary for the hair industry and will be around for a long time. I used to use smelly relaxers for people with curly hair and their hair would be dead straight. As soon as their hair started to grow it was obvious they had curly roots and straight mid-lengths and ends. With the Brazilian Blowout, you do get the ultra-straight result, but with the natural ‘fading’ back to your wave and curl over the 12 weeks to match your roots when it grows out. Think of it as a semi-permanent color that gradually fades so you don’t get the harsh regrowth line.

The first time I washed and dried my hair at home, I instantly noticed the difference. My hair was slightly wavy while it was wet, but as soon as I started drying it, the waves were gone. For the first time in a gazillion years, I dried my hair with a small round brush and NOTHING else. NO FLAT IRON. Can you even imagine?!? I sure do love my Chi, but I love it even more when it’s not on! This hair treatment saves me so much time getting ready – I can’t even explain it. As a mom, that’s gold, Jerry. Gold!

Read more about the Brazilian Blowout on Lisa’s blog, including a post that addresses the new formaldehyde issue, which seems to be non-issue anyway. Duh! Ready to make an appointment? Give Lisa a call or email her. Tell her MommyQ sent you! She’ll think that’s funny.

Every so often, something special comes along and it’s just too fun not to share. That’s how I feel about the Heart Designer Ornaments at HSN. Yes, HSN.  Have you ever gotten stuck on the HSN channel? I got sucked in one night and watched it for about 2 hours. It was quite mesmerizing. Anyway, they launched a new collection of Christmas ornaments featuring designs from celebs like Sarah Jessica Parker, Gwen Stefani, Tori Spelling, Molly Sims, Sly Stallone and many more. The above is Sarah Jessica Parker’s colorful creation. So Carrie Bradshaw!

Now you can shop and actually feel good about it, because 100 percent of the profits, no less than 30 percent of the purchase price of each ornament, will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and its on-going efforts to finding cures and save children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. As a parent, you’ve gotta feel good about that.

Here are a few of my fave ornaments. Which one do you like the best?

Gwen Stefani continues her Japanese-inspired quirkiness.

Tori Spelling’s design is clean and sophisticated, yet still festive.

Molly Sims opts for gold bling with a pop of color.

Sly Stallone got some creative help from his wife, Jennifer Flavin.

I must weigh in on the jeggings phenomena, because it’s starting to bug me. The other day I was in a boutique when an annoying saleswomen with far too much Botox asked me if I had “experienced” jeggings. “They are ah-maze-ing,” she smiled. Really? Have I experienced them? It’s not like lobster chip ice cream or a trip to see the pyramids in Egypt. Experienced? Hmm.  Aren’t they just fancy leggings pretending to be jeans?

Sure, I like leggings and I like some styles of jeggings, but things are happening with the trend that are starting to bother me.  I’m seeing lots of jeans with elastic waistbands that look like maternity jeans, but they aren’t. Are jeans really so incredibly uncomfortable that we have to eliminate the snaps and zippers entirely? Will real denim jeans becomes a thing of the past, replaced by jeggings, stretchy faux denim and those crazy Kymaro jeans on TV that look like an SNL skit?

It makes me wonder if jeggings are for the fashion-forward who like a touch of comfort now and then, or do we all really dislike the feel of real denim on our bodies? Denim can be cumbersome and scratchy and yes, the whole waistband versus ‘muffin top’ issue is annoying. I have certain jeans I can only wear with certain shirts because the waist is either too high or too low or too loose or too tight. Is elastic the magic solution? I’m undecided right now, but if I start seeing men’s jeans with elastic waistbands, I’m going to be extremely worried.

Now I wonder if the saleswomen was excited about the actual jeggings or the idea that her muffin top will be forever vanished. Maybe it is an experience after all? What do you think?

There’s one thing I love about the shawl cardigan trend, no tight sleeves! I’m okay with long loose sleeves, but I absolutely despise tight long sleeves. In fact, earlier this week I was trying on a few long-sleeve shirts and one had abnormally tight sleeves. The instant I put it on and felt the squeeze of fabric on my arms, I couldn’t take it off fast enough. Tight sleeves just make me insanely unhappy.

But THESE cardigans? Really? I would like to know who will be wearing these frocks this winter. Seriously? They are worse than Snuggies because you have to wear them in public. I can see myself shopping with my 3-year-old son and a woman would walk by us wearing one. My son would exclaim, “Mama, why is she wearing a blankie?”  To which I would respond, “Because she’s crazy, honey.” Take a look and please note the INSANE prices…the one pictured above is $455.

This is a reversible sweater coat pictured above. Omg. It’s like something I saw in Dances with Wolves. Plus, it retails for $268. And speaking of…get a load of this Navajo sweater vest below. Is the fringe really necessary?

Okay ladies, let me know. Am I wrong? Are these sleek and stylish? What do you think?

Back to the tights – Last week was Austin Fashion Week and lace tights were “the” accessory of the week. They were spotted at a fabulous French-inspired runway show, on the Neiman Marcus catwalk and paired with the newest looks from Betsey Johnson. At the Neiman Marcus show, there was a segment called “Rocker Meets Romance,” which featured a variety of day looks and evening looks with an edge. The clothes and shoes were amazing, but the lace tights stole the show.

Hop over to Babble’s Family Style blog to see the Sweet Rose Lace Tights Emily wore for the Elle photo shoot. Plus, you can learn more about hot Fall trends from Neiman Marcus by watching runway show clips and MommyQ’s interview from Austin Fashion Week.

On Monday night, MommyQ attended the Hair Affair Fashion Show and it was totally intriguing. From the moment I walked behind the red velvet curtains to conduct my interviews and take pictures, I was in eye candy heaven. The 18th Century French inspiration was vivid enough to make Marie Antoinette order a French Cosmso (3 oz. pineapple juice, 1 1/2 oz. vodka, 1/2 oz. cassis, garnish with pineapple slice or leaf) and party like a rockstar.

Waterstone Aesthetics and LegitArt Entertainment came together to oragnize the event and it was magnificent. Not to mention, 100% of the proceeds benefited Locks of Love, a non-profit for children under the age of 18 who suffer from long-term medical hair loss.

The wigs and hair pieces for the runway show were jaw-dropping. You must see the pics to truly understand how grand they were. I spent mots of my time backstage, watching the model prepare and get final touches on hair and makeup. I was totally impressed with how calm the folks running the show remained, even three minutes prior to the opening of the curtains. The models did a wonderful job bringing personality to all of the outfits. It was also great to see the look of satisfaction on the stylists’ faces when their model’s look came together. Pay special attention to the model with the birdcage on her head.

Experience the full story on News 8 Austin and visit Austin Eavesdropper for even more info, pics and goodies. Plus, find out which Texas model is destined for greatness on the reality show America’s Next Top Model.

Last weekend, the second annual Austin Fashion Week began with a huge party and fashion show at Idea City, the place GSD&M calls home. Partygoers and fashionistas did their best to beat the heat and as the sun went down and a cool breeze entered the equation, it was time to get serious about style.

What Bloggers are Saying:
You can see what local fashion bloggers like Indiana Adams (AdoredAustin), Joanna Wilkinson (KeepAustinStylish) and Tiffany Diane (AustinIsBuning) had to say about the runway show and Austin’s unique aesthetic in a News 8 Austin blog complete with video.

80s Pop Star, Tiffany
One of the hightlights of the evening was definitely 80s pop star, Tiffany, belting out her famous tunes. Part of me was expecting to see a redheaded teenager in an acid-washed denim jacket and big hair walk out on stage.  No, Tiffany is all grown up like the rest of us now. But she did an amazing job and really engaged the crowd. It was impossible not to sing along when she sang ‘I Think We’re Along Now.” See how Tiffany dazzled the crowd on News 8 Austin.

Austin’s Fashion Talent
A Project Runway contestant who competed in Season 6 , Louise Black, is participating in Austin Fashion Week this year. You can read about more of Austin’s notables on News 8 Austin.

My Fashion Blunder…
I have to tell a quick personal story, because it’s just to hilarious not to share. I wore a totally unique dress to this event – a Marc by Marc Jacobs red-striped linen dress. After the fashion show, we went to grab a drink at a local bar called Townhouse. After we walked in, we realized my dress matched the red striped fabric on the furniture exactly.  What are the odds of that? It was hilarious and just goes to show fashion is totally unpredictable.

Here are a few pics from the evening:

MommyQ is a bona fide fashionista. Well, at least for a while. I’m excited to report I will be a contributing fashion blogger for News 8 Austin this year during Austin Fashion Week, August 14- 21, 2010.  This is my first year involved in Austin Fashion Week and although it hasn’t officially begun yet, I’m already thoroughly excited.

My first blog post is about the fabulously talented Lisa Kennedy, an Austin-based fashion stylist and hairstylist. She has been helping me rediscover my own style, which has been slightly derailed by two pregnancies. Seriously, during my style consultation she pointed out the obvious. I own a ridiculous amount of black shirts. Lisa and I were standing in my closet together and I was like, “Oops. How did that happen?”  Find out exactly what a stylist can do for you and why you don’t have to be a celebrity to have one by clicking here.

What keeps Austin so stylish? It is the eco-fashion? The thirst for individuality? The cowboy boots?  Nope, it’s the people. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many of the women (and men) responsible for keeping Austinites informed and stylish. Get a fresh perspective from:

- Fashionably Austin keeps you fashionably connected to local fashion, as well as fashion catwalks around the globe.  My new friend and part of the dynamic duo behind this online fashion community, Cheryly Bemis, will be reporting from these events. It’s always fun to follow Cheryl!

- Austin Slave to Fashion is shopping and styling in the ATX. She loves all things fashion and thinks everyone deserves to feel good and look good in what they wear.

- Keep Austin Stylish keeps you up-to-date with the latest fashion news and trends in the most casually chic city in Texas.

- Let your imagination run wild with Colours Marie. Go ahead, colour outside the lines.

- Austin Eavesdropper covers music, fashion, food and all things fabulous. You’re all invited to “dork out” with her and celebrate the coolness of Austin.

Get your fashion fix on Twitter: @coloursmarie, @austinstylish, @slavetofashion, @webanna, @TollyM, @ATXfashionweek, @FashionablyATX -  and don’t forget me @MommyQ

If you haven’t heard, because your issue of Teen Beat hasn’t arrived in the mail yet, the Teen Choice Awards were on recently. Not sure what time or when, because I didn’t watch it. I’m a bit too old, a tad too busy and mostly, too uninterested. I did look at the Red Carpet outfits and I was expecting typical teenage-like controversy in the form of skimpy, leather and angry. Oddly enough, I was happily surprised.

Here are a few of my favorite looks. Plus, find out who rocked the cool ugly cute odd pumps pictured above:

Ashley Greene in Valentino
I have no clue who she is, but she looks amazing. I love the dress, the color, the fit, etc. A++ for lil’ Miss Ashley

Kourtney Kardashian in Sass & Bide
Kourt looks stunning. She puts the MILF in MILF, for sure. I love that she isn’t wearing black because her dark features look great in lighter shades. Kudos to the hot mama!

Kristen Bell in Stella McCartney
The sheer top and pattern in the dress is sophisticated and stylish. As Heidi Klum might say, it’s unexpected. The nude accents really make the dress pop. I want one.

Leighton Meester in Pucci
The dress is cute and it looks great with her dark hair and extremely l-o-n-g legs. I’m a fan of short skirts, so I certainly won’t knock her for that. But what about these shoes?
Winner, winner, chicken dinner?
OR
Uhm, eww?

I’m unable to make a firm decision, so I need your help. Do I love ‘em or hate ‘em?

Images: UsMagazine.com

Clogs
Clogs are back and cloppier than ever. Designer brands like Michael Kors, Stuart Weitzman, Tory Burch, Coach and Vera Wang are adding their spin on the updated version of this classic. And you will pay a pretty price for them…

Tory Burch – ‘Brayden’ Slingback Clog – $295 at Berdorf Goodman

Crossbody Bags
In addition to clogs, the crossbody purse is enjoying a bump in popularity. This bag usually features a long, adjustable strap so you can tote it across your body. This is a great idea to relieve your “bag” shoulder from constant wear & tear.  It’s also a super option for moms because you can have more freedom of movement. How many times has your shoulder bag flung around and almost popped your toddler in the head when you squat down?

Badgley Mischka – ‘ Mini’ Studded Flap Crossbody Bag – $119 at Nordstrom

Chains
Chunky chain jewelry is still a great accessory for fall. If you don’t like wearing a thick, layered chain necklace, you can opt for rings and bracelets with chain details like the bracelet pictured below.  How beautiful & fun is that?

Cara Accessories – Crystal Snap Leather Bracelet – $45 at Nordstrom

My friends will quickly confirm I am a ponytail fanatic. Yes, it’s true. Over the years, my hair has gotten longer and my days have become much more hectic. I no longer have time to wash, blow dry and straighten my hair. I don’t quite remember the days when I had lots of time for primping, but those days are over.

Ponytails aren’t a cop-out indicating laziness! They can look sleek, stylish and they are extremely EASY. I’ve read a bunch of articles about the trick to a perfect ponytail – heck, I even bought one of those silly items that’s supposed to give you added volume. I won’t say which one it was, but it’s completely insane and doesn’t work.

Anyway, hop over to Babble’s Family Style blog to read my article 4 Steps to a Perfect Ponytail. Enjoy!

If you love Project Runway like me, you’ll be excited to know Nina Garcia is coming out with a new book! The most recognized fashionista on television, who scrutinizes Project Runway contestants with brutal honestly and great one-liners, has announced Nina Garcia’s Look Book: What To Wear For Every Occasion, will be available on August 10, 2010. Oh, and she’s also the fashion director for Marie Claire. Like you didn’t know!

In the book, Nina Garcia answers the universal question all women at one point ask themselves when attending some of life’s most important events: “What should I wear?”  In her most practical—yet stylish as ever—project to date, Nina focuses her attention on what every woman needs to know when choosing what to wear to any life event—whether it be a job interview, a first date, or even a parent/teacher conference.  And let me tell you, lots of moms need help with this one.

The fun, flirty, illustrated guide features original four-color artwork by acclaimed artist Ruben Toledo, which compliments Nina’s trademark tone of voice. Whether you are already a fierce fashion diva or someone in need of  some couture advice, Nina’s book provides easy to understand, practical examples that will make you look and feel fabulous inside and out. Make a mental note in your stylish brain to get this book!!!

Miley Cyrus is going through her bodysuit phase – just like Madonna, Britney, Beyonce, Gaga, Pink and Rihanna. Who really cares! I understand, she’s only 17 years old and maybe it’s not appropriate for a girl that age to dress so seductively. Plus, she’s a role model to a young generation of girls.

All of this in incredibly legit, but what people fail to realize is if you’re a superstar, you don’t have to wear pants. That’s pretty much the point. Pants are optional when you make a gazillion dollars. When female celebrities stop wearing pants, they are sending out a sign of success. As soon as you see MommyQ strutting around without pants, you’ll know I’ve made it big.

Is there more to debate here? Is Miley a teen dynamo who wants to shed her Disney-created, squeaky clean image? Of course. She wants the world to know she’s an independent tween.  It’s her party and she’ll cry if she wants to.  Is she making bad choices? Absolutely. Will the public forgive her? Minus the moms of impressionable young girls, uhm, yes. Until all of that happens, she’ll keep strutting her stuff in a form-fitting garment that covers the torso and not much more. Let’s talk about something just a tad more important now, okay?

I know we blog about items you must have as a mother. Things you need for survival in this crazy, kid-filled, hectic life.  There is only one thing I can guarantee as a mom. If you have dark circles under your eyes BEFORE the children arrive, you will have bigger, darker circles AFTER they show up.

This is maybe the cutest, coolest, most innovative product I’ve purchased in a while. It’s the ‘Confessions of a Concealaholic’ Kit from Benefit and it works. If you didn’t figure it out from the clever name, it’s a concealing & brightening kit You can find it online at Ulta for $36 and in many department stores.

My favorite item in this little kit is the Erase Paste. Like you, I’ve tried tons of concealers and none of them seem to work like this one does. Now you MUST understand that the biggest part about concealers like this is knowing how to apply them correctly. If you buy this at the Benefit counter, ask one of the gals to show your how to apply everything. No shame in that!

Here’s what comes in the kit:

- “That Gal” Brightening Face Primer
- Erase Paste (no. 2 medium) brightening camouflage for eyes and face
- Lemon Aid Color Correcting Eyelid Primer
- Eye Bright Instant Eye Brightener
- Concealer brushes
- Step-by-step lesson

I think this would be a great gift for an expecting mommy or new mommy. She may laugh at it when she opens the gift, but she’ll be putting it on in the a.m. And thanking you for it…

It’s a  rainy, muddy, dreary day for the running of the Kentucky Derby. The track is wet & sloppy and there is a brisk rain and a cold wind. Yuck! I feel so bad for all of my friends who are there right now. Hopefully they are enjoying plenty of Mint Juleps and feeling no pain. Maybe they’ll win a few bucks too. That would help.

As you know, the Derby Hat Parade is practically more thrilling than the race. You can see all of the magnificent hats by clicking here. It’s like Carnival for your head! Want to see some of the celebrities who have graced Churchill Downs for the “Run for the Roses” – Brooke Shields, Kim Kardashian, Danica Patrick and many more!

I came across this hat last week on Etsy and just had to blog about it. I was reading about all of the women looking for that PERFECT Kentucky Derby hat and I thought this was a great fit. What a lovely hat for baby girl! I’m just amazed at the yarny goodness. You can read more about this beauty on Droolicious.

Play it safe by wearing an understated outfit and let your accessories do the talking for you. So grab your crimping iron, your fingerless gloves and your leatherette leggings — it’s time to go shopping!

Ditch the fishnet stockings and opt to fishnet platform heels instead. This is the Coussinet Platform Slingback from Christian Louboutin. Go ahead, weave yourself some serious style. Find them at Saks for $1,400.

If you’re looking for a more playful shoe, try on the Candy Stud Pumps, also from Louboutin. You get a little lace and the added bonus of bling in stud-form. These babies are hotter than you might imagine as they are sold out. The last pair in a size 41 for about $965.

Lace is available in hand bag form too! Check out this blue beauty by Rebecca Minkoff. It’s the Lace Mab Satchel and isn’t it fun? It has a detachable shoulder strap and gunmetal hardware. Yummy! Find it at Saks for $325.

A Rhinestone & Lace Bracelet that would make Madonna proud. Thanks to Vera Wang, we can all be modern material girls. This gorgeous little number has sparkly gems and it’s easy to fit on even the skinniest wrist because you just tie it to fit. Retails for $250 at Saks.

No wonder singer Carrie Underwood is such a star. She is draped in bling – literally. Emmy award winning costume designer Soyon An has created a ground-breaking wardrobe for country superstar Carrie Underwood using Swarovski Elements.

The sparkling costumes of Carrie Underwood’s “Play On Tour”, are encrusted with over 152,000 Swarovski Elements, debuting a new, glamorous look for the artist. Soyon An’s experience of designing for shows such as So You Think You Can Dance and American Idol enabled her to develop innovative creations that dazzle the audience.

Want to find the individual Swarovski crystals used for Carrie’s costumes? Just click here.

Image: Matt Sperling

“OUT” – Elastic Ballerina Flats
Are these still hot? Really? Still? Come on, people. How long must we deal with embellished, scrunched, elasticized flats? No matter how expensive or cute you think you look in them, they are like Robeez for women. Sashay on outta here! You’re nothing better than a glorified gymnastic shoe.

“IN” – Bondage Pants
I really hope this trend started by Rag & Bone catches on this spring. The Bondage Pant is a snazzy pair of jeans with zippers up the back of the leg, so they can be cinched super-skinny. And for those donut days, you can unzip them to give your jiggle some wiggle room. I’m all for a skinny nation and if we can’t actually be thin, let’s all fake it in 2010.

“OUT” – Peep-toe Ankle Boot Flip Flops
I’ve never fully understood the infatuation with this shoe. Flip boot? Boot flop? Your ankles can be warm and snuggly, yet your toes are free to wiggle and roam? And what makes them even worse is the ridiculous price tag. You’d think because half of the boot is missing, the price would be lower. Happy trails, you unsavory halfling!

“IN” -  Huge Chunky Necklaces
I hope spring brings more enormous, multi-stranded, chunky necklaces with all of the charms, trinkets, beads, bells & whistles possible. Nothing makes me happier than jewelry with substance. I love the way these heavy necklaces add drama and interest to any outfit. It’s nice to see designers are finally embracing Flavor Flav’s vision of beauty.

“OUT” – The Botox Bunny Nose
Ladies, the right amount of Botox looks magnificent. But there is such a thing as overkill, right? The difference between a flawless face and a frozen robot is about 50 units. It’s like two syringes too many. I’ve never seen it on the women I know personally, but I have noticed said “bunny nose” on many female celebrities. Due to the unnatural lack of muscle movement in the face (caused by years of too much Botox), the nose starts to crinkle like a bunny, yet it just creates a while new patch of weirdo wrinkles. I know it sounds silly, but take it slow when it comes to shooting your face full of Botulinum Neurotoxin.

I’ve been wanting to sponsor an event in Austin for a while, but none have been a great fit for me. Then my wonderful friend at Hosteria Verde Supper Club & Catering told me about her “Star Light, Star Night” fundraiser and I was hooked. “Star Light, Star Night” will be granting your party wishes under a starry sky! MommyQ is so excited to participate in it. I encourage all moms to incorporate this event into their Mother’s Day celebration.

This is more than just a fundraiser, it is a night of eye candy for the senses. The evening will feature models in Stella McCartney lingerie from Underwear boutique and amazing jewelry from Limbo Jewelry Design’s newest summer collection. Guests will enjoy fabulous food, yummy cocktails, a DJ, live music and a silent auction. In addition to all of these goodies for mom, there will be a spectacular aerial dance performance by Blue Lapis Light, an aerial site-specific dance company. The proceeds of this event will benefit Blue Lapis Light, a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring innovative forms of expression, inspiring and elucidating performers and audience members.

The pre-Mother’s Day event takes place on Saturday, May 8, 2010, from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 pm at the Spring Condominiums in downtown Austin. The event will be held poolside on the fifth floor of the tower overlooking Lady Bird Lake. It is truly an evening under the stars!

You can buy tickets online for $45 at HosteriaVerde.com. I encourage all moms to be there. Start off your special day with fabulous food, sexy style and a dash of aerial thrills. Drop me an email if you’d like to donate an item for the silent auction.

Image: Blue Lapis Light

Take a look at how you can rock a ruffle for less. Pictured above you will find a stunning Valentino Rose Tote that retails for about $1600. You can find it at Saks. If you don’t happen to have almost $2k sitting around in your designer purse fund, do not fear! There are plenty of affordable options.

Here is a beautiful Rosette Hobo bag at Bebe. It comes in black or metallic and retails for $99 – $129. Not too shabby

You can also find a smaller version at Bebe. It’s the Rosette Crossbody Clutch and this lil’ beauty comes in two colors. It retails for $64 – $69.

Another option is the Big Buddha “Mia” Rose Dome Satchel. Wow, that’s a mouthful. You can find it in a shade of pale pink at Dillards for $88. I know it looks nude, but it says “pink.”

If you like the ruffles more than the flower, check out this tote from Steve Madden. It’s the Ruffle Satchel and it comes in three colors. It retails for $88. Happy shopping, ladies!

PUMA Fitness Bag – Give her a sweet gift she can use. It’s big enough to tote gear, but not too bulky. One a few left at Zappos. Retails for $51.

Sephora Train Case – It’s gleaming, metallic pink with silver locks. Inner compartments to keep your gal’s primping favorites safe and organized. Find it at Sephora for $68.

Victoria’s Secret Terry Robe – It’s soft, comfy and even a little blingy. Pinky pink with fron pockets. Not sure why a robe needs pockets, but whatever! It retails for $50 at Victoria’s Secret.

Michael Kors Perfume Ring – Get your girlie a little slice of Kors heaven with this Very Hollywood Eau de Parfum Ring.  Totally red carpet-worthy for only $40 at Michael Kors.

Betsey Johnson Calandra – If your wife has a bit of a shoe fetish, treat her to a pair of frilly Mary Janes. She can wear these with party dresses or jeans – perfect for any occasion. Find them in every size at Zappos for $154.

I was watching the Real Housewives of the OC reunion show last week, and evidently Gretchen Rossi’s hair is a big deal. I think she always looks pretty (and she is my favorite housewife!), but I never really noticed her hair. During the show they talk about how many viewers are in luuuv with her hairdo. (Scroll down to the comments to see what I mean.)

She says she doesn’t wear extensions and she achieves her look with big hot rollers. Hot rollers! Wow, I haven’t thought about those in forever. In fact, I haven’t owned hot rollers in about 10 years.

I certainly used them back in the day, but we all did. My friends with long hair would even sleep in foam rollers for the big, bouncy head of curls the next day. Out of curiosity, I checked out the hot rollers at CVS and chuckled. They haven’t changed much. This week, I’m going to check out what Target has and if they have the really big rollers, I might even indulge.

What about you? Are hot rollers still part of your beauty secret?

Wanna know what’s in the Golden Globe goody bag this year? Well, the bag is worth $500. (Doesn’t that seem low? Maybe Hollywood isn’t recession-proof after all.)

Hers:
- A large Dooney & Bourke satchel
- Euphoria perfume by Calvin Klein
- L’Oreal cosmetics
- InStyle’s book, “The New Secrets of Style”

His:
- Tumi duffle bag
- Euphoria for men
- A custom shirt by designer Alexander West
- A style book for guys

The Presenters Lounge backstage is an entirely different story. The artwork alone is worth $3 million. Yes, $3 mil in a room for stars to apply more lip gloss. Or Botox – whatever.  Read more at People.

Image: People.com

What happens when Posh needs more signature, over-sized shades? She hops over to Milan, Italy,  where her hot hubby plays soccer (on loan) and buys a new pair. Or twelve.

Rumor has it she bought a $700k Rolex watch (for Becks), an insane amount of handbags and 20 new pairs of 5-inch heels. In fact, the couture house of Dolce & Gabbana (or maybe it was Armani) on Via Montenapoleone closed so she could shop in private.Oh, you can add evening gowns, cocktails dresses and luxury luggage to the list too. On to the furniture. She picked up five bespoke sofas from Natuzzi. And two bespoke suits for Becks.

This should make you feel much better about your $100 splurge at Target. Wanna see a hot D&G shoe option? The one listed below retails for $995. Yummy!

When it comes to must-have jeans, there are lots of players to consider. From William Rast to Rock & Republic to Hudson and True Religion, women have lots of choices for designer denim. I’ve gotta take a minute to add another fave to that list – Rag & Bone.

Maybe you have a pair and maybe you don’t. Speaking from personal experience (thanks to a cool gift from the hubby for X-Mas), you might want to check them out. A friend of mine turned me onto them and they are really awesome. I don’t own this pair, but they make an adjustable skinny jeans called “The Bondage Pant.” I know it sounds (and looks) scary, but these make sense in some way. On the days when your skinny jeans feel too skinny, you just unzip them a bit for extra wiggle (or jiggle) room.You will have to pay a price for that kind of on-the-spot lipo – $237 to be exact.

If you haven’t tried on a pair of Rag & Bone yet, make your way over to your favorite boutique and treat yourself. You can see them online at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and find them at By George (in Austin).

The Rock Star
Rock her world with a pair of Velvet Angels Ferox Slip On Boots. At least when she kicks your butt for procrastinating, she’ll look good doing it! Find them for $365 at Endless.

The Flirt
You can’t go wrong giving her a Python clutch! This is the “Trudy” pleated clutch from LAI and it will go with almost every outfit. Find it at BlueFly for $482.

The Beauty
Perfect shades for every fashionista can be found in the Dior Holiday Express Travel Pack. These must-have items come in a cute little case with silver “D” hardware. Find it at Neiman Marcus for $75!

The Romantic
She holds the key to your heart, right? Why not celebrate your love with this beautiful Tiffany Keys Heart Key Locket. Heart key locket in 14k gold with a 20″ long chain will cost around $775 at Tiffany & Co.

In my opinion, you’re either a fan of LC (Lauren Conrad) or you’re not. When I first started watching The Hills, I thought she became more likable as the show progressed, but I was never overly impressed with her sense of style. Maybe it’s because my attention was always being diverted to Kristen and her catty ways. I love watching spoiled, rich, divas be bitchy to each other. And the fact that they were graduating high school – so amusing.

LC emerged from The Hills as a budding fashion designer. She “designed” her first collection that was supposed to be rather pricey, but I don’t think it really took off. Now she is unveiling a ready-to-wear line at Kohl’s department stores. Speaking of Kohl’s, did you know Vera Wang has a line there called ‘Simply Vera’…

You can see LC’s collection at Kohl’s online by clicking here. I’m not being mean because I don’t have a line of clothes for sale, but I’d say this stuff is rather ho-hum. Where are the cool hobo bags and the chunky belts and the rompers and the bright colors? What about mini dress? I get that it’s supposed to wearable, but a cami and two cardigan sweaters? How hard is that to design? Again, not being mean…just wondering.

With one foot out the door and the other trying not to slip on Lightning McQueen, you’ve managed to fix your hair, do your makeup, put on a dress and toss on a pair of heels, only to realize that your attempt at looking stylish will be totally smashed to bits by your hideous computer bag! U-G-H!

Your bulky, manly, awkward, ugly and non-ergo-friendly bag isn’t helping your “I’m a hip mommy” image. (And neither is that spit-up stain on your shoulder.) Meet the Shine from Ice Red! This fabulous computer bag is so cool and glossy, you might just find excuses to carry your laptop around more often. It’s classy! It’s modern! It’s shiny! What more could a mommy want?

It comes in three shades – Pink, Black and Silver – and they’re all perfection.  Aside from the glossy, vinyl exterior, the interior boasts an organizer for pens, change, phone, iPod and more.  The straps can be snapped together too. The large compartment fits up to a 17″ laptop. Find it at Ice Red for $70.

This limited-edition eyeshadow collection called ‘So Smurfy’ is from Too Faced.  The compact contains four easy-to-use shades that can be used individually or together to create a signature look. The velvety shadows glide on smoothly creating a seamless blend of gleaming color.

If you read through the comments, you’ll see quite few ladies say the shadows are really glittery with big pieces of glitter. This means you may be wearing these smurfy shades all over your face and clothes. I personally cannot wear glittery eyeshadow. I’ve tried expensive, cheap, wet, dry, dark, light..within two seconds of applying it, my face is a sparkly mess. Reality is never as smurfy as it seems.

However; I give this item an A+ for the unique retro compact design! Get Smurfalicious for $32.50 at Sephora.

According to a recent article in The New York Times, eyebrows are out. Mechanical is in. This year, the forehead is the perfect blank canvas for beauty. In NYC, fashion-forward men are bleaching them away and some women are shaving them off.  If they aren’t shaving them off, they are blocking them out with cosmetics. Forget buying a new bag or a hot pair of heels to spice up your wardrobe, just sport shown brows.

So you mean a few years ago when my husband (who shaves his head) was haphazardly shaving his face and cut off an eyebrow – that was fashionable? Poor guy! Had he known, he might not have felt so silly all those months he spent waiting for it to grow back.

And me? Well, I’m a brunette and the idea of lopping off my eyebrows in the name of fashion seems rather hasty. They help to define my facial features. Although I do have bangs, so you can’t see them that well anyway. Maybe I should! After all, these tough economic times are making us all more cutting-edge. (Excuse me, what?!?) Ah, yes…because eyebrows are so high maintenance.

How many times have I thought to myself, “I could save thousands of dollars a year if I just didn’t have to deal with my eyebrows. How I wish there was a way to avoid that costly habit.” I guess my prayers have been answered. Lather up!

My wonderful friend, MissFitness, shared a funny story with me a few weeks ago. She was sunning and funning on a boat on Lake Travis during a holiday weekend, so the lake was packed with people. She spotted a very pretty girl in a metallic bikini with perfectly fixed hair, gorgeous make-up and so on. Yet this stylish gal was sporting some unusual kicks.

She was wearing a pair of Ankle Boot Sandals. Yes, now the hip, fashion-forward shoe is an open sandal/boot. That means your ankles can be warm and snuggly, yet your feet and toes are free to wiggle and roam. And what makes them even worse is the ridiculous price tag. No, just because half of the boot is missing does not lower the cost. I couldn’t find the exact style that girl was wearing, which is a bad indication. If you don’t  know which words to use to Google a pair of shoes, they are unsavory shoes to say the least. Scary!

They even come in a few different forms, so you can wear them out on the town. Steve Madden has a pair (pictured above) and of course the upper echelon of footwear, like Christian Louboutin, makes them too. (Pictured below.) For $1,700 you can look like Pocahontas at a rave or part of the Lion King cast. Ah, fashion designers. What will you be serving up next?

Okay, enough of my fashion posts. I’ll get back to what I know – babies and motherhood. Promise!

I was watching the All-Star Game last night and taking note of President Obama’s first pitch. The toss was fine, but something was amiss. Was it his jacket? Well, I was ticked it wasn’t a Yankee jacket, but that wasn’t it. The hair? No, that looked nice. It was his goofy, non-designer jeans! Wait a second. I thought he was ultra-stylish? What’s with the dorky denim choice?

Maybe he was going for comfort or maybe he just wanted to look like one of the guys. No matter what the reason was, it was a huge fashion faux pas. Let’s face it, we all know expensive designer jeans are the new ‘cool guy’ uniform. And my gal Sarah Palin would have never walked out in dowdy mom jeans! I’m not sure which brand he was casually sporting – Levi’s, Wrangler, Lee, Canyon River Blues from Sears – all I can say is, “yikes!” This guy needs to Bluefly!

What Obama needs is a slim fit with a slight flair. By no means does he need a skinny jean though! He should be slipping into a pair of True Religion, PRPS, 7 for All Mankind or at the very least, Diesel. Hopefully his press folks will hear enough negative buzz that they will whisk him off to Nordstrom for a pair of medium blue faded bootcuts posthaste!

Uneven Bangs
It all started back when I was in elementary school. My first foray into the bad hair lifestyle was uneven bangs. Bless her heart because she meant well, but my mom consistently cut my bangs an inch too short and totally uneven. A week later, nobody could really tell. But since these infamous bang trims always occurred the night before Picture Day, these lopsided moments were captured on film – FOREVER.

Perms
In the fifth grade I discovered that sleeping with my hair in braids gave me this big, frizzy, kinky hair the next day. It was awesome! Over time, my mom and her poor tired fingers got tired of braiding my hair hair every night ,so I started begging for the next logical step. A perm!!!!

Perms Continued
My first perm was quite a milestone in my bad hair diary. I still remember gagging on the stinging, stinky, highly toxic solution they used back then. I held a hand towel over my mouth and nose while the perm processed because the fumes made me sick. After the watering eyes subsided and my new ringlets were dried, I had the huge, puffy, curly hair I had always wanted. It was heaven. Needless to say I permed my hair for many years after that. Then I cut it all off.

Rat Tail
This is when I officially deserved the title of ‘bad hair’ because I cut my hair super-short and had one loooong strand in the back. Yes, folks! MommyQ had a rat tail. It was even a few shades lighter than the rest of my hair. I had this hair style in the seventh grade and it rocked. Other kids were jealous of my rat tail. And my Hunt Club jeans, parachute pants and faux Member’s Only jacket. I also had a killer black pleather skirt that I wore with turquoise opaque tights. Oh, yeah. I was a fashion nightmare.

A Rainbow of Colors
My final faux pa happened when I realized you could buy hair color in a box. I did bright red for a long time and then switched it up by turning my hair into a wacky shade of blondish-red that does not exist in nature. One time I actually had spots in my hair, a debacle resulting in 6 hours at the hair salon in JCPenney, on a Sunday, trying to get it all back to one color.

CHI Flat Iron
Thanks goodness for the invention of the CHI Flat Iron! It saved me from a lifetime of hairstyle don’ts! I can’t even remember my life pre-CHI, but I know it wasn’t pretty. Thank you, CHI Flat Iron for heating up to an insanely hot temperature that people should never have near their heads, eyes or ears. Your ceramic plates are my hair saviour!

In my opinion, this is either a fashion trend you love or hate. I can’t see people being on the fence about it. Rompers. First, don’t envision a little bubble onesie for infants. No, no, no. I’m talking about the one-piece short or pant outfit for women. Rompers are like jumpsuits and I love me some jumpsuits. No matter how many times styles change and trends emerge, a black jumpsuit is a timeless classic. I’m not kidding. And you either really like ‘em or you really despise ‘em. No blurry lines.

If done correctly and worn with the right accessories and ‘tude, I think these are awesome. In fact, MommyQ has one and I’m just waiting for the right time to wear it.

Check out this stylish number from Diesel, the Jubent Black Romper. F-U-N! What about this sporty one by Nanette Lepore, Three Grace Jumpsuit? How about going silky in this one by Twenty8Twelve?

Lemme make a little fashion prediction here, expect to see lots of women rocking the romper this summer. And if you hate it now, have no fears – you’ll like it soon enough.

It’s interesting what you learn when you go through old clothes. First of all, I was HUGE when I was pregnant. I can probably fit two of me into some of my large maternity and post baby clothes. My friends scoff at me when I talk about it, but it’s true. I gained at least 55-60 pounds — twice!

I have a few pair of maternity items that I really wanted to burn. Why? Because donating them seems too nice.  It was about two weeks before I was scheduled to have my second c-section and none of my clothes fit. Well, I didn’t want to spend much because my days in maternity clothes were almost over. (Or so I thought.) I went to Motherhood and bought these atrocious khaki shorts that were about the ugliest shade of brown you’ve ever seen. And I bought this stretchy pair of black shorts with stupid tiny pockets on the back, so they give you bad “mom butt.” Anyway, I LIVED in these hideous shorts for weeks and weeks. Yep, I had to wear them FOREVER after the baby too.

In addition to the maternity clothes, I’ve discovered that some of my normal clothes have turned on me. They were cute and hip when I bought them, but as they hung in my closet, they transformed into odd articles of fabric that are no longer cute nor hip.  I bought this black and cream sweater-vest top that I loved and now when I try it on I look like the St. Pauli Girl or a French Maid. I have this dress that I loved when I bought it. Now when I try it on it looks more like a witch costume or something Stevie Nicks would’ve worn to a cocktail party. What was I thinking? What’s funny is some of the things I’ve bought and not really liked much are now my all-time favorites.

It’s hard when good clothes go bad. Have any clothes turned on you?

Anyway, the focus was the Austin fashion scene and it’s thriving. Thanks to all of the creative souls living in Austin and all of the good karma, the ATX has carved out its own little paradise in the fashion industry.

The panel of experts did a great job offering helpful advice to all of us overly confident, chatty PR folks. One panel member stood out to me, as one often does. Lance Morgan, founder of Brilliant Magazine, was quick to respond with some funny quips and a few requests for cash and cashmere. A definite crowd pleaser!

After an array of questions from the audience, including one “panel stumper,” I decided to take advantage of the fashion expertise sitting stylishly at the font of the room. I had a burning question that just had to be addressed…

I asked Lance Morgan and Lauren Smith Ford, Managing Editor of Tribeza, the big question, “What are the rules about wearing white shoes?” They laughed at first, but offered a thorough answer.

If you don’t what I’m talking about, it’s the whole notion that you should never wear white after Labor Day. I’m not sure where that came from and I’m too lazy to Google it. Anyway, I grew up knowing two things. #1. -You can’t fly down a flight of stairs no matter how much you think you can. #2 – You can’t wear white shoes after Labor Day.

But celebrities do it and they’ve done it for years. Doesn’t that mean the rule no longer applies?

According to Morgan, the rule does apply. The only time you can circumvent it is if you live somewhere tropical. But Austin is like 105 degrees most of the year. Doesn’t heat have something to do with it? Morgan added that last year it was around 100 degrees in September (in Austin), so in that case you could wear white shoes two weeks beyond Labor Day. Miami and LA, however, are immune to this rule. But that’s an entirely different slice of cheese.

If there is a pair of white shoes in your closet, imagine an expiration date and wear them accordingly. And thanks to Lance and Lauren for enlightening us all! (Told ya so!)

Amy Schalk, owner of Soigné Boutique, promises an exciting look at the incoming styles for this spring. “As far as style goes, it is really across the board,” Schalk says.

The show will reflect this diversity, with more tailored European styling of London-based Ben Sherman and more whimsical flair via L.A.’s Voom, just to name two of the designers in the show. Schalk does offer one hint on style: “The asymmetrical kind of look is still in; the one-shoulder or off-shoulder things are still very popular.”

One color that has been hot everywhere else, but hasn’t crossed over into the fashion world, is green. Another hint from Schalk: this could be the year that changes. Learn more about the event here.

And speaking of fashion…when will tights be done? My friend and I were out last week and saw a girl wearing a short green and brown dress with brown tights. They looked totally wrong and my friend exclaimed, “I can’t wait for tights to be over with!” I couldn’t agree more. What’s wrong with exposed legs? Uhm, nothing. I saw this pic of Gwyneth from the Grammy Awards and all I can say is YUCK! Why would she decide to wear those hideous silver tights, especially with open-toe heels. Sorry, they just look so stupid. The outfit would’ve been amazing had she ditched them. Too bad, Gwynny. Major fashion faux pa!

“Won’t he look smart?” Absolutely! Is that before or after he purposely sits in a mud puddle, rips his pants, smears food on his jacket and feeds those candy-like buttons to his baby brother? I’m guessing before…

Nothing pleases a two-year-old boy more than an elbow-patched Marie Chantal lambswool blazer ($345) paired with a country shirt ($80) and corduroy pants ($100) that make lots of swishing noises when he walks. Oh, and the jacket is dry clean only.

Flabbergasted? Be glad I didn’t mention the $225 shoes…yikes.

Posted in Droolicious.

Well, I have to admit, part of me is kinda excited they’re making a comeback. I’m still undecided as to whether they look cool or stupid, but there’s a goofy kid with a bad perm and big bangs looming inside me that is dying to wear a pair.  Ah, the feel of itchy wool against the outside of your calf under your jeans. Priceless.

Lindsay Lohan of all people, figured this out somehow and launched her spin on it, the “Ankle Glove.” By the way, they instantly sold-out at Fred Segal. Seriously! Now it seems you can buy them online for $42. They are animal print and -hate to say it – maybe cute too? Maybe.

Even your tiny little non-Lindsay-like princess can wear them. Baby girls will most certainly be sporting some kind of leg warmer this fall. Baberoo makes 100% certified Organic Leggies for baby girls. They can be worn up to age 5. I must admit, these are CUTE! And you can change diapers in a snap!

Has the leg warmer been slimmed down and sassed up enough to see a happy rebirth? Better yet, will you be wearing them? I will..