Boyshorts are cute but can run the risk of the dreaded panty line. Blending barely-there mesh with careful construction, OnGossamer's Gossamer Mesh Boyshorts are a fashion godsend. Purchasing info at OnGossamer.com.

- Lesley Scott

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Work, work, work. We all spend so much time there, why not look your most fab? Here are some excellent ensembles, whatever your professional calling:

• FASHIONISTA As many as possible of the trends du jour...in this case wide-legged pants, a leather blouson & anything purple (Proenza Schouler) - NeimanMarcus.com
• GALLERINA OR FUNDRAISER Demure chic (YSL) - BergdorfGoodman.com
• CORPORATE MOVER & SHAKER Show off your killer instinct in a military-inspired pants suit in black (Armani Collezioni) - Saks.com
• ARTSY TYPE Go for interesting silhouettes & lots of Japanese-inspired layers (Sonia Rykiel) - BrownsFashion.com

• PARK AVENUE PRINCESS Anything high maintenance & recognizably "designer" (Versace) - Versace.it
• DOMINATRIX It's all about artificially fabulous figure-molding & don't-mess-with-mama (Dolce & Gabbana) - DolceGabbana.it

• ESCORT Shiny eyecandy satin trench, de rigeur garters & black slinky thigh-hi's - Bebe.com
• PALM BEACH SOCIALITE & HOSTESS Make it bright & make it Pucci - Net-a-Porter.com
• AN HEIRESS (WITH TASTE) Expensive fashion'y prowess encouraged & indulged (Lanvin) - Lanvin.com

- Lesley Scott

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Jackie O shows how to travel in style (photo: BrownsFashion.com)

A cruise is a great excuse to show off your flair on the road. Some fun, flirty frocks, a new bathsuit (or three), a coverup that heads straight from the pool or beach to cocktails, some colorful accessories, and off you go. The reward for overpacking is that you leave lots of room to bring home some fun new fashion finds.

Some great items for a cruise capsule wardrobe:

• Sundress (Emilio Pucci at Brownsfashion.com)
• Heels (Christian Louboutin Zeppa raffia wedges - Net-a-Porter.com)
• Stylish, Lightweight Purse (Murval nylon Parisian Wallpaper Kelly-style bag - GiveSimple.com)
• Eyecatching, Easy-Pack Accessories (lucite bamboo link bracelet - AlexisBittar.com)

• Classy Swimsuit (HeidiKlein.com)
• Oversized Sunglasses (OliverPeoples.com)
• Pooside Tote (LLBean.com)

• Enormous Glam Sunhat (Kokin - NeimanMarcus.com)
• Chic, Cocktail-worthy Coverup (Silk habotai mini kaftan - AllegraHicks.com)
• Flats (Paul Smith Genesis - Zappos.com)

For more hints & ideas on packing light but stylishly for the road, CLICK HERE for our other recent post on packing lightly but with maximum travel chic.

- Lesley Scott

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FASHION:

• Second City Style has found the perfect eyelet accent pieces for those who just can not commit.
• Give your fave 4-legged fashionista a chic, Sienna Miller-inspired leg up by rocking cruelty-free fashion suggests Fashiontribes.
• Patagonia’s vitaliti knits keep Girlawhirl looking and feeling cool all summer long.
• Find out which of the season's hottest swimsuits flatter your figure with StyleBakery's Swimsuits For Every Body.

SHOES, BAGS & ACCESSORIES:

• Meet jewelry designer Erika Pena. [FabSugar]
• Bag Snob lunches with bag designer du jour, Jennifer Alfano!
• Omiru finds pointy toed shoes for wide feet.
• Travel in style. eBelle5 discovers Forbes top 6 Designer Travel Bags for all budgets.
• Though Kristopher Dukes has a like for lucite that borders Hollywood Blvd. street chic, she's crystal on what’s clearly the stuff of stripper’s shoes is served successfully in petite portions, a la these Davis by Ruthie Davis shoes.
• Win a gorgeous pair of diamond earrings with My Fashion Life.

BEAUTY:

• eBeautyDaily discusses 8 things cosmetic companies don't want you to know.
• The press-on pedicure: hot or not? [SheFinds]

LIFESTYLE:

• Fashion plates go Parisian chic with Delight.com's Les Femmes Dish Set and Coquette says snatch them up before they are all gone!
• Sail the Sea of Cortez aboard an 80 foot luxury schooner with The Travel Snob.
• Lindsay Lohan back in rehab! The Stylehive has assembled the tools to give L.Lo a fighting chance to slay her demons once and for all.
• Papierblog compares the celebrities of yesteryear to the ones we have now and longs for the old days.
• L.A.Story says Darfur is *not* a fashion line. You can help those in need by watching a video and clicking a link!
• Check out these stylish Andy Warhol Snowboards. [Styleaholics]
• Kiss your processed foods goodbye, suggests The Sweet Life, and try Super Natural Cooking with Heidi Swanson.

- Lesley Scott

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Donatella Versace, inimitable empress of luxury (photo: Matthias Vriens)

Glam Shopping Beat by Lesley Scott:

The Versace name is synonymous with over-the-top glitz and glam of the kitschy-yet-fabulous sort. And the current face of the brand, Donatella Versace, knows how to live large (or, at least, be photographed extensively in the act). In the upcoming July issue of Details, she shares her top 10 tips for looking good, wearing cologne, shaving, the perfect summer getaway luggage, and which celebs have the best style.

• the always stylish Kanye West
• goin' my way? a Versace-designed Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster

• facial hair done right, courtesy of the Killers
• Versace luggage
• The Dreamer cologne by Versace
  
  

Enjoy the Style Wisdom of Donatella Versace:

1. The three biggest fashion mistakes are cheap suits, shoes, and shirts. Spend your money on something good. (suits: Paul Smith)
2. Some men look great unshaven; others just look like they forgot to shave. Beards and mustaches work if they're distinctive - think earthy & rock 'n roll like the Kings of Leon or The Killers. (photo: James Dimmock via ew.com)
3. "I just designed the livery for a Lamborghini and I’m told this machine is a real object of male desire. But true luxury is about the best of everything. Don’t cut back on the little things—great coffee, a good novel, a wonderful aftershave."  (Lamborghini photo: driversdrive.com)
4. "For luggage, I use big Versace suitcases. I always overpack, but my advice to men is to pack a capsule wardrobe: a few suits, a pair of casual trousers, and then tops and accessories for changes—ties, belts, watches, shoes." (suitcase: Versace.com)
5. "In my opinion, men who have greatstyle include Lou Reed (downtown–New York chic), Jude Law (London chic), Alain Delon (French chic), Marcello Mastroianni (Italian chic), Rupert Everett (English-public-school chic), and Kanye West (modern, cool chic)." (photo: vipglamour.net)
6. "When buying a gift for your wife, do your research. Find out what she wants by subtle interrogation, or ask her friends."
7. As you get older, go for an elegant and understated look. "But [older men] have the advantage that they can do the rugged thing—think of Sam Shepard in denim. I find older men more attractive than boys. I need a man who can teach me a thing or two." (photo: IMDB.com)
8. "I don’t like jeans—I love them. I like slim-cut jeans, and at the moment I like them dark and clean, like tailored trousers." (Theory slim jeans available at NeimanMarcus.com)
9. Scent is very important. Strong fragrances suit some men, while citrus types suit others. "I like my men to smell fresh and woody, but also like a man." (Versace The Dreamer cologne - Sephora.com)
10. "When it comes to dress, there are more rules in America than in Europe. Dress is more of a social indicator—except in L.A., where you don’t know if the guy in the T-shirt and combat trousers in the hotel lobby is the busboy or a studio executive. That’s pretty refreshing."

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One of the best ways to support what you believe in is with your wallet. However, buying shapeless, elastic-waist hemp pants or dowdy, unattractive footwear in the name of saving the earth is completely out of the question. Fortunately, a growing number of design students in the world's top fashion schools are beginning to seriously tackle the problem of how to make eco-chic synonymous with high fashion. There is also a handful of earth-minded companies that are also style conscious, making it easy to maintain one's fashion dignity while being a friend to the earth.

This year, rock eco-chic versions of the season's must-have's: a maxi-dress, colorful bracelets & oversized tote:

Natural hemp & eucalyptus Goddess patio dress - DisciplesOfPlanetaryEcology.com

100% organic cotton Inspiration sweater - perfect for a post-sunset summer evening. Available at UndertheCanopy.com.

Customizable shoes with soles crafted from recycled rubber tires, eco-friendly woods & glues; the uppers are whatever ribbon or trim suits your ensemble or mood. Available in three heel heights from Mohop.com.

Good in a Nutshell bracelet - handcrafted in Colombia from tagua, a sustainably-harvested rainforest nut & distributed by Tierra Santa Cafe, which promotes fair trade and higher education. Available at WorldofGood.com.

Large Portfolio tote made from 100% repurposed candy wrappers - Ecoist.com

- Lesley Scott

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Glam Shopping Beat column for the week of 3/20/07 - by Lesley Scott:

The weather turns warm, and you'd rather be at the beach, or, even better, aboard a fabulous yacht (or even near a fabulous yacht). However, you're going to be landlocked, so why not bring a little of the sea home with a nautical chic ensemble?

Give the usual white sailor pants a miss & opt for a less predictable dark denim pair: it's a fresher, not to mention more practical, choice.  The hot weather is always a great excuse for flats, but avoid getting too dressed down & casual by adding eyecatching accessories: a spiffy pair of sandals and bag with nautical detailing, a scarf with lots of bright red & navy to set off the crispness of your white tee, and a beachy-themed charm bracelet (or five).

The top five best ingredients for pulling together a nautical chic look:

Ocean charms bracelet - SpaceMermaid.com

Burberry nautical scarf - NeimanMarcus.com

Wide-legged denim sailor pants - Anthropologie.com

Slouchy chic satchel - TylieMalibu.com

Moschino flats - Zappos.com

fashiontribes.

FASHION:

• My Fashion Life tests out Condé Nast's new online baby, Stylefinder.
• Bag Snob interviews one of the most powerful figures in the fashion industry, Julie Gilhart of Barney's New York.
• Papierblog wonders whether fashion is getting too violent, especially after the debut of Stella McCartney's line at Target in Australia.
• Coquette loves the sleek look of dressed up bermuda shorts and gives her favorite picks.

 ACCESSORIES, BAGS & SHOES:

• eBelle5,the designer handbag blog, recommends hitting the courts in style this spring with the designer Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Badminton Set and Pouch.
• The wonder of the $42,000 Louis Vuitton Frankenbag...which has Fashiontribes wondering if it was inspired by other handbags of horror?
• StyleBakery.com finds the hottest handbags of the season, from $13 cheap chic finds to $1300 splurges (and everything in between)
• Wrapped in peach-pink satin and midnight-black lace, Kristopher Dukes is sure these shoes are pure you.
• Read the Stylehive interview with Jennifer Sarkilahti for Odette NY jewelry who handcrafts elegant and pretty jewelry with an artisan feel from wax carving and casting.
• The Jewelry Weblog talks about the trend of jewelry as part of clothing. For example, this platinum and diamond jacket.

MEN'S FASHION:

• Check out Fashiontribes Fellow for the checklist of the top 10 wardrobe must-have's for men this spring.

BEAUTY:

• Nail Tech Secrets shows off some cool blue nails for spring!
• Who got the best makeover on America's Top Model? [FabSugar]
  
• 40 Days and $0 Nights of Beauty Brand Reviews: Day 21, Lancome. [Blogdorf Goodman]
• Girlawhirl loves the sugar scrubs from Diana b.
• Second City Style stages their Annual Beauty Olympics Week 2: Lips/Eyes - testing 100's of products so you don't have to.
• Once you go Brazilian – you never go back -- Funny Video! [SheFinds]
• Rejuvenate your skin for spring with microdermabrasion and eBeautyDaily!

LIFESTYLE:

• Mmmmm.....macadamias! Oil, muesli, pesto, and of course, nuts...The Sweet Life has the tasty dish.
• The Travel Snob discovers that culinary travel is a family affair at Mexico's Esencia Resort in the Riviera Maya.
• Be "Under the Influence" of a musician "Undiscovered"--James Morrison. ( podcast) [L.A. Story]
• Check out the first ever hip-hop throw pillows for your home. [Styleaholics]

- Lesley Scott

fashiontribes.

Irrespective of Posh Spice the (skinny) person, her style is generally impeccable. Like Jackie O, Audrey Hepburn, & other timeless style mavens have shown, the secret to timeless chic is to find a "uniform" that works...and then work it to death. These pix show Victoria Beckham successfully doing various takes on the same theme: a black shift, slimming black stockings & footwear, and then adding accessories such as a chic bag & shades, and topping it off with an eyecatching jacket with graphic appeal. 

Some options for stealing Mrs. Beckhams' style without breaking the bank:

Zip front jacket - Nordstrom.com

Neiman Marcus brand - NeimanMarcus.com

Embroidered silk jacket - Bloomingdales.com

Belted shift dress - BananaRepublic.com

Miss Sixty tall black boots - UrbanOutfitters.com

Rafe for Target black patent doctor bag - available for pre-order for $50! at Target.com

Opaque black tights - Tights Please

Vintage oversized sunglasses - Amazon.com.

- Lesley Scott

(Photos: Splash News Online)

fashiontribes.

In our fave post of the week, it's a truckload of unsolicited - but oh so necessary - advice from chicas in the know! The Bag Snob weighs in on everything from incontrovertible evidence about why it's essential to protect one's delicate face from aging SPF, to the right bag to carry for your frame (especially if you're teensy), to whether Terri Hatcher should get jaw realignment surgery...or simply wait 'till the end of the full moon.

FASHION:

• Think ahead! Girlawhirl offers up a spring 07 fashion forecast & primer.
• Meanwhile, it's fall in the here & now. A hot product: long scrunchable, cuffable socks. [Stylehive]
• Paris Style Summary: Mattie Roberts cracks the French style code.
• This fall's staple: the turtleneck dress. [Stylebites]
• Want to Find Great-Fitting Jeans? Turn to Kasil! LA Story gives you the "skinny" (& bootcut, straight leg) in a podcast with David Lim, Kasil designer.
• Coquette shares a preview of a new women's fashion line, Mademoiselle Parasuco, while attending the San Francisco launch party.
• Second City Style interviews Uluru NYC's Designer Caroline Priebe - you can't help being drawn to the elegance and styling of her cashmere sweaters and dresses.
• Not available on the Internet to purchase, but available for window shopping none the less - fab Ebel watches for men & women. [Jewelry-Weblog]
• Your typical holiday gathering is awash in black-black-black. Fashiontribes shows how to turn the tables (affordably) in a chic white frock with black accents, a la the Elie Saab runway.

BEAUTY:

(left to right: red kissers at Blumarine, Costume National, Anna Sui)

• Red Lips: Be Not Afraid! A step-by-step guide to nailing this season's hottest look. [Bonbons in the Bath]
• Beauty Buzz "hearts" this terrific new hair dryer: tourmaline (check), ionic (check), ceramic (check), lightweight (check), quiet (check!!) and LESS MONEY (check!!!!)
• What you need to know before you shop for foundations, concealer and powder. [Beauty Newsletter]
• eBeautyDaily reviews the newest offering from Tom Ford, Black Orchid.
• Beauty Addict gives you the full breakdown of the NARS holiday collection...the good, the bad, and the...muddy brown?

- Lesley Scott

fashiontribes.