If you're looking for a dazzling and affordable holiday party dress, look no further than this Aqua Metallic Draped Dress ($70, originally $88). I plan on rocking it at my company holiday bash. What's great is that it looks fancy but doesn't feel that way — the cotton/metallic fabric is easy to move in. Plus the side draping is totally unique and it's liquidy like Charlize Theron's metallic Lanvin dress. Done.
Desire/Acquire: Fisherman Pendant Lamp
I love the industrial, retro look of this Modern Dose Fisherman Light ($235). Its silver-toned steel surface provides a great neutral palette that one could decorate around, or simply add to an already-established room's decor. And while it's rather reasonably priced, if I want to decorate with multiples of these (I can see three of them hanging in my kitchen), they do add up.
To find an unbelievably cheap alternative, read more
Guess What This Lamp Is Made From?

10 Lamps to Take You to Marrakesh and Back
You know how I love all things Moroccan. Most recently, my eye's been lingering over these gorgeous Recycled Metal Globes (on sale for $118). Their circular shapes and cutouts are sure to transform a room. Made from interlacing recycled metallic bands, the latticework will cast gorgeous, geometric shadows when they're lit up. I can see these looking fabulous in a moody bedroom or over a burled wood table. Where would you put them?
To see nine more Moroccan-inspired lamps, read more
In The Showroom: de couture Spring 2009
Before you start planning your Spring 09 wardrobe around these bags, we should break the ice by saying they start at $1,500. Alas, a luxury price point never stopped a determined (or financially gifted) fashionista. Chain mesh is one of de couture's signature materials and this Spring 09 it was used in such a glamorous yet refined way--we couldn't be bigger fans of their work. All of the basic colors in your wardrobe; nude, black, chocolate, gold, and silver, were used in the collection and mixed and matched beautifully. Our favorites were a nude suede shoulder bag woven with sparkling silver chain and a small chocolate colored clutch with black mesh. Check out our snapshots from the showroom below.
Retail Happenings: The Metal Shop
Here's a pop-up concept with a little more depth than just collaboration t-shirts and last season's overstock--The Metal Shop, opening in New York this Thursday, will host a variety of designers with the theme of metals in mind. Michael Kors, Helmut Lang, and Patrik Ervell are among designers included in the pop-up which will appear at participating designer, Issey Miyake's Tribeca retail space. The pop-up is being curated in conjunction with The Metal Ball, an event inspired by the legendary Bauhaus Metallic Festival and held in the wake of Performa's 2006 White On White Party. The Bauhaus School was once decorated entirely in metallic colors and it is the aim of the Performa sponsored Ball and resulting pop-up store to once again celebrate that, well, celebration. Just in time for the holidays too...
The Marc Jacobs Mood In 2009
Call us boring fashion conformists but Louis Vuitton (by Marc Jacobs) and Marc Jacobs were two of our favorite collections from the Spring 2009 season--Marc Jacobs is king of creating an aesthetic motif that crosses both of his lines without so much overlap that they feel part of the same collection. Because he is so skilled at creating these threads between collections, and because his collections are so often well-received, it feel likes Jacob's dictates the fashion language for each season with Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton anchoring both sides of the spectrum.
What's lovely about his mood this season is that, unlike Fall for instance, there's a great deal of mix and match that consumers can continue to play with. This opportunity couldn't come at a more appropriate time as many of us, from all incomes, will have to swap out our more expensive purchases for more affordable ones.
Here's our shortlist of Jacob's key ingredients to the Spring 2009 season. Click on the link for an example of the look in either the Marc Jacobs or Louis Vuitton Spring 2009 show.

- wide leg trousers (MJ, LV)
- statement necklaces (MJ, LV)
- the short dress (MJ, LV)
- bold stripes (MJ, LV)
- nipped-in jackets (MJ, LV)
- wide belts (MJ, LV)
- colored metallics (MJ, LV)
- handheld purses (MJ, LV)
- mustard yellows (MJ, LV)
- strong shoulders (MJ, LV)
Celeb Redo: A Better Doggie Bag For Susan Sarandon
I love to see celebs getting snuggly with their pooches, so how delighted was I to catch this glimpse of Susan Sarandon and her lil Maltese?! Even so, I'm less pleased to witness the furry-pal-inside-purse phenom later that night.
Granted, the two were attending Longchamp's 60th Anniversary celebration in NYC, so the Legende Satchel was a must-have, but where's a proper tote for her precious pet, Penny? Next time, hopefully she'll carry that metallic trend with an appropriate luxe, gold (dog) bag like these below.
March Shopping Madness: Shiny Shiny

Metallics are mighty steadfast. They've been around for a while, and even if you think they've overstayed their welcome, they aren't going anywhere. If you love yourself some radiance, invest in some shiny shiny. They'll make you smile when you stare down at your feet. Smile on.
Prada Transformers From Today's Fall 08 Show
Check out these boots, er, shoes, er, transformers. Looks like spats really are coming back into style as seen in today's Prada Fall 08 show. These metallic creations seem to consist of three interchangeable parts (though we'll admit it's hard to tell), making them a sure bet for upcoming 'pack like a pro' stories. We're totally sold on the newspaper-boy vibe that spats give off, though how these will manifest on the streets, only time will tell.


