OSAMA BIN LADEN IS KILLED BY CIA

“MISSION ACCOMPLISHED” ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHED

BIN LADEN’S BODY BURIED AT SEA.

DONALD TRUMP DEMANDS LONG FORM DEATH CERTIFICATE.

State of New York to issue long form death certificate for Donald Trump’s political career.

Republican 2012 Presidential field reportedly on life support.

Michelle Bachmann left speechless. Doctors to perform CT scan live on C-Span.

Former President George W. Bush once again urges all Americans to go shopping.

Sarah Palin to complain.

Kim Kardashian plans release party in Pakistan for new sex tape “Taxi Cab Concessions” .

Search for Lindbergh baby resumes in Malibu, Bel Air and The Hamptons.

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The best men’s sport coat of spring 2011

It’s that Merv Griffin/Mike Douglass kind of vibe, in a good updated for the new millenium  kind of way.

Billy Reid “Jonathan” Sport Coat, $595, at Bloomingdale’s and bloomingdales.com

Must have of the season: The J Crew trench motorcycle jacket

One of the best designed items at any price for spring?  Take the best of two outerwear icons—the motorcycle jacket and the trench coat— and you create this fresh  must have  hybrid jacket with neon orange zipper tape accent. If you can’t fully commit to wearing orange this spring and summer, this is a knockout! $168 at Jcrew.com

Bright Ideas

Mary Katrantzou Scarf available at Barneys New York

Alexis Bittar Woven Cuff at AlexisBittar.com

Fendi Super Platform Mary Jane available at Neiman Marcus

How should a man’s bathing suit fit in 2011?

Perry Ellis Spring 2011. Image from GQ.com

It should fit just like this.

It’s a bathing suit not a burka. So when you go shopping for a new one this year make sure you ask for trunks with a 7″ inseam and a leg opening that skims your thigh.

If you are under 5’10” you should look for a 5″ inseam. If your are over 6’4″, then go for a 9″ inseam–which should hit you at mid thigh.

Pretty in Pink

So far this season, pretty dresses have been few and far between. This is one of the prettiest dresses you’ll see anywhere, at any price. A flirty dress in printed silk stretch with  asymmetrical V-neckline with ruffles at shoulder seams and  gathered at left side seam with ruffle detail. Slit at side hem. Silk Poetic Print Dress, $168 and, yes, it’s from AnnTaylor.com

TheBestDressedList.com

The Chic of Araby

This  sandal boot is one of the chicest women’s shoes of the summer. Available exclusively at Lorishoes.com, $148

Soft canvas wraps the leg from the sole to mid-calf with rugged-edged seams adding a stylish urban feel. Smooth Italian leather trims the top and belts the ankle, with matching trim around the open heel. A leather and canvas strap crosses over the toes to complete the look, with leather lining and sole for comfort.

Add black leggings or skinny jeans and you’re ready for an adventure.

Grey Matter

Guys, if you’ re going to part ways with cold hard cash to update you spring wardrobe, you just have to remember that grey is the new black.

Zegna

Fall 2010

March 2010

Dolce and Gabanna suit and tie on Kobe Bryant. GQ.com

Above, John Varvatos  Star USA trench available at Bloomingdale’s, $595

Left, Banana Republic slim fit utility shirt, $125. Right, Gap selvage hem skinny fit jeans, $88

TheBestDressedList.com

Being Anthony Luciano

Aristotle famously declared that “man without a city is either beast or god,”  by which he meant that communal participation is the defining characteristic of being human.

So when Anthony Luciano, the New York based accessories designer whose newest collection of lux handbags is flying off the shelves at Neiman Marcus, responds aphoristically in an email that “I’m not participating in the recession,” you have to  wonder if he is some glib beast whose head is stuck in the economic sand or, quite possibly, the incarnate deity that  every retailer could use  at the moment.

Anthony Luciano

“I can only expand,”  he wrote in another email exchange, ” by saying I believe that even in tough economic times people are still drawn to beautiful and unique things which is what I do best. I have, of course, put more price conscious items into the line to attract a more discerning client but I will always do special custom made lux accessories.”

Eureka. Who needs any more bedazler logo crazed “status” bags? Who ever needed those in the first place?  In his current collection, Mr Luciano’s uses soft waxed and hand painted python to remarkable effect, producing, for instance, weightless hobo carryalls with over exaggerated leather tassels and irresistibly soft clutches with feminine floral touches. The waxing and painting produces solid colored  surfaces that remind one of licorice or liquid, even. Colored python skins have a subtlety akin to watercolors.

Even in July of last year someone had the good sense to point  out to Women’s Wear Daily that “if you want people to part with their money, they have to feel like they are getting something for it.” One wishes more retailers and designers shared WWD’s and Mr. Luciano’s insight. People don’t want basics in a down economy. They already have plenty of those. And they’ve already had it with  items whose prices bear no relation to craftsmanship.

Even  if you’ve only recently started pinching your pennies, giving you something for your money is not a new concept for Mr. Luciano. Inside each of his handbags you’ll find he has sewn in a penny, his trademark since he started his company in 2000. “It’s an Italian tradition. When you give a handbag or wallet as a gift you should put money in it first for good luck.”

WHERE: Neiman Marcus Michigan Ave on Thursday October 8th and Friday October 9th

WHAT:  Meet Anthony Luciano and  watch him construct pieces by hand on the selling floor. Take the opportunity to collaborate with the designer and choose from a variety of hand picked frames from his vast collection to create a custom bag.  Anthony will help you choose the perfect leather and sketch a design and make your unique piece.

TheBestDressedList.com

10 things you can’t afford to live without

We are all being forced to cut back on the non essential things in our lives. Here’s my list of things you can’t afford to live without:

10 New York Times Select. The online version of the newspaper of record. If you were part of the 70% + of people who thought Iraq was responsible for 9/11, don’t worry, you won’t hate everything. The Op Ed page has Bill Kristol who convinced John McCain to put Sarah Palin on the Republican presidential ticket. You’ll like him.

9 indianmathonline.com You can’t afford those damn American Girl dolls anymore for your children/other people’s children? Good.  You are not the only one that thought they were always a transparent antifeminist waste of money. American girls don’t need dolls, they need math skills. Come to think of it, so do boys. Playing with dolls or soccer balls will not be a valued skill set in the 21st century global economy. If that surprises you, then you need to fork over $150 a year, per child, ASAP–before their math score turns out to be 150 on their SAT.

8 Window shopping. You go to a museum to educate yourself about the history and quality of art. You don’t go there to bitch that you can’t afford the art or to ridicule the artists. Try the same logic in a high end department or specialty store.

7 A museum membership.Museums exist for a reason. If you are unsure why, now would be a good time to find out for yourself and for any children in your life.

6 A good hairstylist/colorist. Length is not a hairstyle. Peanut brittle is never a convincing shade of hair color even if you are the governor of California and are married to a Kennedy. Oh, and ladies –male and female alike–highlights are not a hair color either.

5 A great pair of  shoes and jeans. I mean ones that other people consistently compliment you on and not the ones you’re wearing while you are reading this.

4 A friend that will bring you chicken soup when you have the flu. That eliminates everyone from your Facebook/bigmuscle/jdate account. Now what?

3 Your own personal Gayle King: Someone who (or something that) would have no real reason for being if it were not for you.

2 A loving mother. Just like she keeps telling you: you really are going to miss her when she’s gone.

1 The knowledge of what  the hell has happened to Nicole Kidman’s face. Did anyone catch a glimpse of Clutch Cargo Kidman on “Oprah” this week? Caveat emptor.

tomkolovos.com