A very slender and brazen friend of mine once told me that just about any woman—no matter how skinny she is—is likely to have what she called "cottage-cheese butt." Meaning, of course, is that even very skinny people get cellulite, since it's more of a cosmetic problem than a weight issue. That's why I'm intrigued by all of the new skin-firming lotions hitting the market lately, promising to tighten skin and reduce the appearance of cellulite through solely topical treatments.

For my first venture into skin-firming territory, I decided to test drive Bliss Spa's Poetic Cosmetics Fatgirlslim. I like Bliss products, and I liked the clever name, plus the lotion had several positive reviews on sites like Makeup Alley. The not-so-secret ingredient in this cream is caffeine—or, more specifically, "QuSome encapsulated caffeine molecules." I suppose the idea is to make your skin so jittery that it tightens up on contact, but I found the effect to be more disturbing than anything. I could actually feel my skin going taut when I applied the lotion, and the side effects lasted for hours—namely, it hurt to sit down. Plus, I didn't see any noticeable difference in the area where I'd applied the Fatgirlslim, but perhaps that's because the tingly feeling was so weird that I couldn't stand to use it for more than two weeks. But I'd be interested to hear what other people think, so pick up a jar for yourself here for $25 and let me know how it works for you.

For the launch of its latest mascara, Bourjois Paris Cosmetics hired a gaggle of leggy, long-lashed, pink-and-black-clad ladies to march around the Bryant Park tents during Fashion Week. The "protesters" are hard to miss, carrying faux picket signs that read: "Yes To Volume, No To Clumps!" The mock demonstration was staged to create a buzz about the company's new Yes To Volume! No to Clumps! mascara, and passersby could score a full-sized tube of the ultra-volumizing product.

What makes this mascara different from the rest is its fine-toothed comb applicator, which separates your lashes much more precisely than even the newest tube of typical mascara. But its secret ingredient is collagen, which enhances and plumps your lashes. It's intended to be worn in layers to build volume. You can purchase a tube here for $13.50.

Allow me to take a break from the parade of celebrity fashion that is New York Fashion Week to spotlight a fabulous jewelry designer: Alexis Bittar. The New York native also happens to be a favorite of the stars, with a client list that includes Madonna, Cameron Diaz, Eva Longoria, and Mischa Barton. But what I love most about him is that his striking jewelry is accessible to those of us who can't necessarily afford Fred Leighton bling. Bittar works mainly with lucite and semi-precious stones, but the results are a far cry from costume jewelry. Rather, the retro-inspired designs look very refined, with just a touch of funkiness, like this Multi-Oval Link Necklace, which costs $172 and is available here.

To see some of my other picks from Bittar's collection, read more

At first I wasn't thrilled by what I saw of Carolina Herrera's Spring 2007 collection at New York Fashion Week. But the more I look at the photos, the more I love the clothes. Composed almost entirely of black, cream, hot-pink, and salmon-red tones, the dresses and separates are effortlessly elegant, with high, cinched waists and smart, broad collars.

Like many of Herrera's fashions, these really embody classic femininity, like they're meant to be worn by socialites who don't want to look stuffy. Many of the dress fabrics featured lots of lacy patterns, which I'm not crazy about, but I love the brocade styles and other delicate details. (To see all of Fabsugar's New York Fashion Week coverage, click here.) To see the highlights from the Carolina Herrera collection, read more

For New York Fashion Week, Victoria's Secret Pink built a sorority-themed showroom promoting its Phi Beta Pink collection for fall, as well as a Rock Royalty Holiday line, which hits stores Oct. 17. Strewn throughout three sorority-house bedrooms and a common area were piles of cute pieces from the Pink lounge and sleepwear line, which is targeted to girls ages 18 to 22.

Phi Beta Pink, which is available now but will have more colors coming at the end of the fall, features cute, girly items emblazoned with with fun slogans, like "Phi Beta Pink," "Just Woke Up," and "More Pink Pretty Please!" It also includes a number of accessories, such as scarves with hoods, fingerless gloves, leg warmers, and totes. There are a number of sporty items, too, including a tennis-racket cover, a surf board, and built-in shelf camis. To learn more about the Pink line and to see more pics, read more

The fashion cognoscenti (including Anna Wintour, Margherita Missoni, and Nina Garcia) turned up to support buzz-worthy fashion label Proenza Schouler on Monday for the unveiling of its Spring 2007 collection at at New York Fashion Week. Designers Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough—who named the label after their mothers' maiden names—continued their theme of mod but thoroughly modern clothes, emphasizing bronze and other sleek metallics, swingy A-line skirts, and geometric accents like square buttons. Like Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler is favoring the edgy but enticing combination of pale yellow and gray, then topping it off with bright lavender lips. (To see all of Fabsugar's New York Fashion Week coverage, click here.) To see the Proenza Schouler collection, read more

Welcome to day 2 of our week-long look at coat trends for Fall 2006. Today’s spotlight: peacoats. (To read yesterday's installment, click here.) Admittedly, the old-school pea coat is a perennial favorite, but this year designers are mixing it up with new twists on the classic double-breasted wool look, making them cropped, asymmetrical, and single-breasted. Here are my picks for some great peacoats at both designer and non-designer prices.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Whipcord Teal Short Jacket in Teal, $398, available here.

Mackage Leather-Trim Asymmetrical Coat, $580, available here.

Zac Posen Flannel Peacoat, $1,800, available here.

Four more affordable options, so read more

When I think Oscar De La Renta, I think drama, elegance, and glamour. But the unveiling of the label's Spring 2007 collection at New York Fashion Week was somewhat anticlimactic. (To see all of Fabsugar's New York Fashion Week coverage, click here.)

With the exception of some bubble shapes and high waistlines, the silhouettes were very traditional, and none of the gowns stood out as particularly groundbreaking. (Though I was delighted to see even more big graphic prints in the form of red poppies and other bold florals.) What do you guys think? To see the collection, read more

• A blogger scores a mini-interview with Anna Wintour, who likes to fit in a game of tennis before the runway shows — Almost Girl
• Some of the fashions from Charlotte Ronson's runway show look like they came out of the Delia's catalog — Couture in the City
• Vivienne Westwood's Nine West collection, debuting this week, ain't exactly cheap — The Budget Fashionista
• Do Karaoke, win a Prada bag — Popsugar
• Or, win a Furla bag and tons of other swank stuff — Off the Rack
• A show I'm sad I missed: 3.1 Phillip Lim — The Bag Snob
• Evian opens its posh Detox Spa in time for Fashion Week — SheFinds
• Ashley Olsen mulls her own fashion line called The Row — Luxist

Source and Source

Luca Luca may not be a household name, but when the Hilton sisters, Patricia Field, and Emmy Rossum all show up at the label's New York Fashion Week event, you know Luca Luca is a name to know. And after seeing the Spring 2007 collection, I can understand why the celebs love it. (To see all of Fabsugar's New York Fashion Week coverage, click here.)

Created by Milan native and noted looker Luca Orlandi, the clothes are delightfully feminine without being fussy; again, we see a heavy reliance on neutral tones, here with romantic splashes of red. The irresistible cocktail dresses and evening gowns emphasize clean lines and retro-inspired shapes, including cape jackets, high waists, and voluminous skirts, that are both flattering and innovative. Details like bows and embroidery—which might look frivolous elsewhere—take on a sleek sophistication. To see the collection, read more