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 Last night, on "30 Rock," Tina Fey briefly dated a cute guy who was 17 years younger than her. On the show, her friend (played by Jane Krakowski) says to her: "What can we do? We're cougars."
Yuck.
Why is it that women who date younger men get branded as cats of prey, with sharp claws and pointy fangs? Meanwhile, big, hairy men in their 40s and 50s who chase coeds are considered to be heroes? From here on in, let's refer to them as "grizzled bears."
I don't have a problem with women or men dating more virile partners. But the definition of a cougar is not just a lady with a yen for a young buck. She's a woman who obsessively does Pilates and insists on proving it. She favors leopard print bustiers, skinny jeans and frosty lip gloss. She's that divorced gal at the office holiday party who won't get off Santa's lap. In fact, she's grinding against him.
Are you a cougar? If you live in Los Angeles, the likelihood of having cougar-like tendencies is significantly higher. God forbid you allow yourself to have one gray hair here. Or abandon "sexy" for "sophisticated." I wince whenever I see a 50-plus woman with hair too blond, jeans too tight, and a face with nary a laugh line.
 At the same time, I just turned 40 this year and I ain't loving the aging process one bit. It's harder to drop a few pounds and I suddenly hate my gums. Then again, I can now afford to order the most expensive entree on the menu and I can travel abroad. Plus, I have more confidence than ever. The tradeoff is tricky, but I prefer today to yesterday.
Honestly, am I a cougar? Sometimes. More gum than fang, alas.
Photo credits: Tina Fey, Esquire; "The Graduate," United Artists; cougar, bigcats.com
Am I the only woman who has had a tantrum while trying to tie a scarf? It's like wrestling with a damn slippery eel. I understand why men groan when they have to knot a cravat. Obviously, I am not talking about a winter scarf that provides warmth and the comforting nostalgia of school days canceled because of snowfall.
Rather, I am referring to the decorative scarf -- that accent of color or texture that is supposed to tie an entire outfit together or add a splash of "look at me go!" To me, a well placed scarf is that sartorial sly wink of confidence. I always look twice at women wearing great scarves. They broadcast a fashion sagacity that I admire.
Yesterday morn, I knotted and arranged and then untied and reknotted an old Hermes silk scarf that my Mom passed along to me. After a few attempts and a dozen expletives, I gave up. I looked like a drunk PTA matron. I threw the scarf on the floor and kicked it.
Let's learn from the pros. Notice how Faye Dunaway wore her scarf in "Bonnie and Clyde." She tied it almost like a bandanna, which is a pretty haughty look for a demure silk scarf.
Below, we have an Olsen who didn't even bother to try and knot her scarf.  Instead, she draped it around her neck -- much like a pet python -- and sashayed out the door. Somehow, it works. Bravo, Olsen.
The Audrey Hepburn style of wearing a scarf around the head is tres cute, but looks tres ridiculous if you are not riding on a Vespa in Rome in 1954. Sorry, Hep.
Europeans seem to inherently know how to wear a scarf. When I travel in London or Paris, I can pick out the American by her serious, self-conscious scarf. A scarf must always look as careless as a doodle on a scrap of paper or a hastily thrown together picnic.
Oh, and I'm not the only scarf dunce, apparently. There are no less than 10 books on Amazon that will teach you the delicate art of throat origami.
Mick Jagger always impressed me with his scarf-wearing prowess. In fact, rock stars -- in general -- seem to have some sort of scarf sixth sense. I think it's because they're high or drunk when they get dressed.
Hey, maybe that's the secret. Tie one on before you tie one on. Next time I pull out that old Hermes scarf, I will have already had a martini.
Photo credits: big knit, Vogue; Faye Dunaway, United Artists; Olsen, WireImage; Hepburn book, Amazon.com; Mick Jagger, Photo Bucket
 Fashion is often foolish and we love it that way. So when a book that lovingly spoofs the industry comes along, designers and devotees laugh until Champagne spurts out of their aquiline noses. "Star Von Bunny: A Model Tale" ($19.95) chronicles the whims of a nubby stuffed rabbit who is determined to be the most famous hyphenate: model-actress-plushie-travel pillow.
 See Star Von Bunny meet French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld (right) or do yoga alongside Christy Turlington. The book, written by fashion insider and J Mendel creative director Kym Canter and designed by Ellen Kahn, makes for a fun, fast read. My favorite shots are of Star lingering outside the Church of Scientology and the Kabbalah Center here in L.A. "to network." Clearly, this rabbit already has a paw up in this town.
Photo credits: Harper Collins
 Sharpen your claws, kitties and tom cats.
A few events and sample sales worth noting as you plan your weekend, courtesy of BargainsLa.com. Let the cat fights ensue:
Hurley Fans won't want to miss the Annual Hurley Warehouse Sale starting Thursday 11/29(noon-8pm), 12/30 (noon-8pm), 12/1 (8am-3pm) and 12/2 (8am-3pm). Save 35%-75% on hip surf/ skater line of tees, hoodies, shorts, pants, jackets for guys and gals. 16901 Jamboree Rd., Irvine, 92606 CC/ Cash only. Future sale dates to be announced.
Vintage couture designer Karen Zambos is having a her last Sample Sale of the year on Friday 11/30 (10am-4pm). Dresses and accessories from the KZ Jersey and Elegantly waisted lines are all $20-$25 about 80%-90% off of original retail. 112 W Ninth St., #1226, Los Angeles 213.833.0093. Cash only.
The Rachel Pally Warehouse Sale is on Thursday, 11/29, Friday, 11/30, Saturday, 12/1. (10am - 6pm) and Sunday, 12/2 (11am - 4pm). Save 50%-90% on this signature line of versatile women's clothing, both this season and last season overruns. 2001 S. Santa Fe Ave., Suite F, Los Angeles, CA 90021, Cash/ Ck/ CC.
The Thomas Wylde Blowout sale is on 11/30-12/2 (10am-7pm) Save 80% on signature lamb leather jackets, cashmere and skull hoodies, swimwear and more. Smash Box Studios, 8549 Higuera St., Culver City. Cash/ CC only.
Divine Design is back on 11/30-12/3. Top designer merchandise including fashion, home décor, and furnishings as well as beauty, toys, and spa products are all at 50%- 90% off. Divine Design, 9900 Wilshire Boulevard, the former Robinsons May building in Beverly Hills. $35 entry fee.
Billion Dollar Babes is hosting a sample sale on Stuart Weitzman shoes on Friday 11/30 (12 noon-8pm, BBB VIP members) and Saturday 12/1 (9am-5pm public sale). Save 50% -80% on current Fall styles. 5979 West 3rd St., #203. Los Angeles, 90036. Cash/ CC only.
James Perse is having their semi-annual warehouse sale on Saturday 12/1 (9am-5pm) on overstock, special purchase and past seasons product for men, women and babies at 40%-70% off original retail. Siren Studios 6063 W. Sunset Blvd. Cash/ Cc only.
Designer Jade Howe will be on hand at Nordstrom in the Glendale Galleria, from 1:00 to 3:00 on Saturday, 12/1 to impart sartorial sense for men.
This just in: Apparently, ex-supermodel Twiggy isn't catty enough to sit next to Tyra Banks and judge nubile aspiring mannequins. Or is it ageism? Sixties icon Twiggy has been replaced by '80s face Paulina Porizkova as judge on "America's Next Top Model."
Has it ever to occurred to Tyra to cast an old rock star or a rich CEO as a judge? They're the ones that end up fighting over supermodels, right?
Photo credits: Twiggy, BBC; Porizkova, Models.com
 Yet another indication that luxury has gone wholesale. Literally.
Costco -- that emporium of oversized merchandise like flats of tampons and gallon jars of capers -- is now selling purses by Fendi and Bottega Veneta. And guess what? Quite frankly, compared with prices at Neiman Marcus, the deals are quite spectacular. This Bottega braided hobo in camel to the right,  for instance, sells for $1,299.99 at Costco. 
A similar bag, left, costs $2,250 at Neiman Marcus. Now, there's a good chance this Costco offering is a season old or slightly different. But still...
There's no mistaking the fact that this Fendi patent shoulder bag in white (right) at Costco ($1,199) is the same exact bag as the one in black or brown for sale at  Neimans for $1,730. Of course, it's a summer bag, you say, and it makes sense that it sells for less. I agree. I am not as shocked by the prices as I am by the retailer.
Would you buy a designer bag at Costco? And if you did, would you tell people that you found your Fendi in the aisle next to the 700-pound bags of Purina?
Photos: Costco.com and Neimanmarcus.com
 
Who cares about linebackers when Decades Two on Melrose Avenue is clearing out its entire Chanel inventory with a major semi-annual sale. VIPs are welcome tonight at 6 p.m. for a special pre-sale. The store opens tomorrow at 11:30. Expect great discounts on 150 iconic jackets, 50 handbags, and plenty of skirts and blouses. Just in case you didn't know, Decades Two sells designer consignment and their stock is always current and impeccable. You can save up to 70% on retail prices and many of their outfits have been worn but once or twice. If Coco were around, she would exhale a plume of smoke and simply say, "bon."
 Former Gucci designer and perpetually half-buttoned Tom Ford may be yelling "cut!" soon. He won't be screaming at a seamstress either. In today's WWD, there's a small mention that Ford has optioned the 1964 Christopher Isherwood novel, "A Single Man" for the multiplex. He reportedly plans to direct the story of a gay university professor in Los Angeles with wanton wanderlust.
Photo credits: Tom Ford, TomFord.com; "A Single Man," Amazon.com
 The book, Guy Critical, is a modern day romantic romp that's reminiscent of a 1930s slapstick comedy. Think Myrna Loy and William Powell in "The Thin Man" as a married couple who swill martinis and bicker and hiccup and make up. Author Matthew Milner (right), abandoned Wall Street to write the novel and create a website called  Answerology.com that brings men and women together. He weighs in here on the not so subtle nuances between he and she:
How does Answerology.com work?
 "Think of it as "Dear Abby" for the Facebook generation. Basically, a woman would type in her question, then tell us what kind of guy she wanted answers from -- for example, 35 year-old Catholic jocks from Los Angeles. We'd e-mail her question to everyday guys from our community who fit the right profile, and she'd get 5 or 6 different responses. Once she connected with a relevant guy, she could continue the conversation on our site privately.
Soon after we launched the site, hundreds of guys a day started e-mailing our customer service department, asking why they couldn't ask questions, too. So if you go to the site today, anyone can ask questions, whether it's about their romantic relationship, or their relationship with friends, family, and colleagues. It's all about getting better at the game of life through shared experience."
What do women ask about most? 
"Almost 10 million Q&A's have been posted so far, so at this point, we've probably seen everything under the sun. But I'd say women's most frequent questions are about trying to read the tea leaves of a relationship and looking for signs of cheating. For example, 'I've been dating my boyfriend for 3 months and I just found out he still has his profile up on a dating site. What does that mean?' Another popular topic is about emotional/sexual balance -- i.e., 'What can I do if I love my husband but don't want to fool around with him anymore?'"
And men care most about...?
 "Men's most frequent questions reveal how difficult it is for them -- despite what women think, and despite what men think about each other -- to make the first move, especially in what I call "high-risk environments." For example, they'll ask, 'I think I'm in love with my colleague. How do I figure out if she likes me, too, and how do I ask her out without looking like a total jerk?'"
You left a career on Wall Street to write a romantic road trip novel and launch the site. How is playing the market like dating?
"Well, when it comes to their wallets, people are risk-averse. On Wall Street, I helped our clients reduce risk from their portfolios so they could protect their wealth. I did it by building cool financial instruments that zigged when something else zagged. But people are risk-averse when it comes to love, too. In fact, most of us instinctually try to reduce love risk: in junior high, we'd ask our friends to find out if our crush liked us. Nowadays, we might pretend we don't care about someone, or we'll avoid declaring our love so we don't risk rejection."
 Name a surprising male vulnerability that you discovered through responses and forums on Answerology.com.
"With Answerology's cloak of anonymity, guys can really open up. In their 20s, guys are putting their cards on the table by asking questions like: "Am I tall enough or big enough for women to find me attractive; am I good enough in bed?" With guys in their 30s, on the other hand, we are seeing their vulnerability about providing a comfortable home-life for their wife and family, or coming to terms with a working wife who might be wearing the pants in the family."
What brings men and women together fastest? 
"Whether you're just starting a new relationship, or you're in one and having a hard time, allowing yourself to be vulnerable is a great way to build a bridge. Revealing who you truly are and being loved for it... that's the holy grail of a great relationship. Of course, having a sense of humor doesn't hurt either."
Give us a tidbit of guy talk that will help us understand the male psyche.
"If you're trying to understand a guy, pay attention to what he does, not what he says. And be aware of the moments that he's acting a certain way just because he thinks that's how guys are supposed to act."
photo credits: Guy Critical, Amazon; The Thin Man, Warner Bros.; Moonlighting still, ABC; Kate Moss, Getty Images; The Graduate, MGM; Raisin in the Sun, Columbia TriStar; Horses, quarterhorse.com.
 With her sly wit and signature call out "Shut Up!" on TLC's addictive "What Not to Wear," Stacy London has become America's most trusted stylist. She's that friend who will firmly tell you that the new bangs don't suit you, while she offers a loan of her Louboutins as consolation. On Nov. 23, her new talk show -- "Fashionably Late" -- debuts on TLC at 10 p.m. Expect sartorial advice and a peek inside the closets of celebrities. Tune in. After you put on your best stilettos and pour some Pinot, of course. Here's London's take on her own personal style:
Style icon: Kate Moss. Not exactly the most original answer but true: she mixes couture with vintage, old styles with new and makes everything look effortless and modern.
Go-to outfit: OK, this changes all the time but right now for casual  day: An H&M black turtleneck under a Tibi silk art deco patterned blouse, Union jeans and Gigi Favela boots. Evening: I've been favoring a little black chiffon Zac Posen number.
Memo to designers: Make more style in sizes 12, 14 and 16.
Growing up in Manhattan made me: the sassy woman I am today.
 When I was an assistant at Vogue, Anna Wintour told me: not to wear stirrup pants to the office, ever.
Purse du jour: Oversize clutches for day: Trina Turk and Catherine Repetti and box clutches for evening: Shana London (unfortunately no relation so I had to buy them).
Philosophy on fashion: Wear what looks good on you, not what looks awesome on the retouched 40-ft. model on a billboard.
I never wash that gray right out of my hair because: I like when people call me Rogue or Cruella De Vil.
Best place online to find a great deal: EBay!
Animal look-alike: My cat Moo (has white whiskers on one side only).
Worst fashion blunder: My pink Norma Kamali romper with bloomer style short legs and massive shoulder pads... Shut Up. I was 10 at the time.
(Early on, left, London practiced her vamp and accessorized furiously.)
Life motto: "Work Hard. Dress Right."
Red lipstick or red wine:
"Red lipstick MOST definitely because while it may GET on your teeth, it won't stain them."
Photo credits: London, courtesy of her collection; Kate Moss, Mario Testino; Anna Wintour, Time.com; Manhattan, Henri Silberman; Cruella, Walt Disney Pictures; lipkiss, dreamstime.com.
 Sales make me crazy. If I enter a store and see a rack of clearance clothes, my palms get moist and I feel my heart go thump-thump. If a salesgirl should try to waylay me en route to the rack, I will hip-check her like a hockey player.
You get it, right?
The beauty of shopping online sales is that you needn't push or pounce. NeimanMarcus.com is currently holding a major sale and I scoured the e-racks for you. Here are the best three items on sale right now. Run, Forrest, run!
First, this gold brocade skirt from See by Chloe is the perfect dress-up piece to be paired with a fitted black turtleneck and tights or a white blouse. The box pleat and button with banded waist make for just the right amount of accent. This is a classic skirt that will never go out of style and works for any age -- add black tights if you're not loving your knees. Best of all, it's on sale for $120, reduced from $420.
 These adorable ballerina flats by Tapeet in green satin make me giddy. The simple style compliments the look-at-me color. I see myself -- as Audrey Hepburn -- capering about in black capri pants and a black, short-sleeve turtleneck. At $81, down from $325, I could wear these out in one season and be satisfied.
Finally, this bag by Be&D piques my interest because of its rich, almond shade and the intricate gold hardware. It's like a hippie with a high-paying job -- bohemian and somehow, business-like at the same time. I also dig the long strap. There's craftsmanship here in the Irma handbag and the price of $313 (down from $895) makes it a great gift. When was the last time you saw a foxy, designer purse for less than a cool grand?
Happy Thanksgiving!
Photo credits: women fighting, Jupiter Images; all others, NeimanMarcus.com
 Kate Moss -- she of the skyscraper legs and snaggleteeth -- has always been a  lightning rod for polemics. Fashion bloggers analyze her every outfit; tabloids exploit her every drunken binge. The thing about this model that I adore is her absolute insouciance when it comes to style.
We all know that models can throw on anything, add a scarf, and look utterly elegant. It's a combination of their supreme genes and that feline grace that comes with hours of catwalk pacing. It's also as unfair as a New Year's Eve on a Monday. But only Kate can hit it out of the park wearing wellies with shorts or knee-high suede moccasins with a skimpy mini.
 Lately, Moss has been making the rounds wearing a tuxedo jacket. It looks so fantastic, paired with jeans or leather pants. It got me thinking that I want a piece of that action. A tuxedo jacket can enliven a T-shirt and skinny jeans or add some gravity to a bright,  flouncy frock. I love a tuxedo jacket with cargo pants because it is the ultimate contrast: formal with fatigues.
Here's an awesome and affordable tux jacket (with my embellishment on the lapel, right) from Alexander McQueen's McQ line that sells for $463 on netaporter.com. The vented back and pinstriped lining give it that  formal edge.
For a more kick-around jacket that won't dent your bank account, check out Urban Outfitter's version, left: a bomber style with satin trim. Buy it here for $68.
Photo credits: Kate Moss, Bauer Images; tuxes, netaporter.com and urbanoutfitters.com
 America's Sweetheart -- well, that mantle may be more deserved of a more visible actress -- has designed a special Emporio Armani bracelet for Product (Red). It will sell on emporioarmani.com on Dec. 1, which is World AIDS Day. (Nine days later, you can find it at the Armani stores.)
The bracelet looks to be more of a hippie cuff. It comes in red leather for women ($175); brown leather for men ($195). There's also an embossed tree of life in the leather.
FYI: Product (Red), started by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006, is a global collective focused on ending AIDS in Africa. You have probably seen the GAP ads too. In other words, right now, it's a smart and worthwhile logo. To learn more, go to joinred.com.
Photo credits: Julia Roberts, InStyle; bracelet, Armani
 Left: an outtake from the underwhelming commercial David Lynch made for Gucci. Where were the little people and severed ears? See it here.
The fashion and film worlds share a schoolgirl crush on each other. Lynch and Roman Polanski were spotted at the fall shows earlier this year in Paris. Director Wes Anderson, too, has been seen on the sidelines of a Marc Jacobs show.
Meanwhile, the fashion houses are grabbing up sponsorships to film festivals. Just yesterday, WWD reported that the Italian designer and Tribeca Film Festival have teamed to create the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Award. It is, in essence, a few grants for indie filmmakers promoting social change through celluloid.
Gucci already has its own Gucci Group film artist award, which it established in 2006. Julian Schnabel nabbed it this year at the Venice Film Festival. Prada has a foundation -- created in 1993 -- that lauds artists in film and other art forms. Chopard practically owns Cannes as the official sponsor.
What I find most interesting is the fact that Chanel cosponsored the Tribeca Film Festival for the past two years and fest cofounder Jane Rosenthal explained the union to me this way: "A good movie has a good wardrobe." I wonder if Gucci and Chanel fought over the opportunity to be a part of this prestigious festival?
For a while, I have been predicting that fashion houses will figure out a way to produce films and hence, guarantee that their wares make it to the big screen. The red carpet isn't long or wide enough to satisfy designers. Even Harvey Weinstein, right, who bought Halston, has noted that he plans to cross-promote his companies. Pass the Halston popcorn. Photo credits: Gucci, Gucci.com; Harvey Weinstein, Getty Images
 For me, buying furniture requires a lot of angst and commitment. Instead of assuming that I may use a chair for only two or three years, I size up furnishings as if they are adoptees. Will I always love this chair and never scream at it? Can I see this couch taking care of me when I am old and need to nap all day? (I certainly don't apply such faulty reasoning to a $500 pair of shoes.)
This charming, upbeat chair from Urban Outfitters allays all of my worries of our future together by selling for a mere $50. That's, like, 10 grande lattes. (It was originally $200 and there are other patterns available.)
I love the retro pattern and the zaftig style. Is anyone else tired of crisp, sleek lines in furniture? Would you want to take a seat in a skinny lap? Not me.
 This just in: Victoria's Secret may be that the company which once sent lovely lingerie down the runway has gone bonkers. How horrifying are these get-ups that were spotted at last night's runway show at the Kodak Theater?
To the left, we have a model masquerading as a wedding shower gift with way too many ribbons and bows. She reminds me of that pile of present debris that always makes me hesitate and question my eco-conscience. Shouldn't I recycle these bows, I ask myself, as I chuck them into the garbage.
But that's tame compared to the other looks.
This disaster on the right appears to be a plain, white bra that badly needed attention and decided to throw up all over itself. What the hell is all that squiggly black stuff? It reminds me of the scene in "The Exorcist" when Linda Blair's tummy spelled out, "Help me." My husband would not be turned on by this insane look unless it was made of licorice.
Here to the left, we have a confounding accessory -- a huge metallic corset -- paired with some fairly sexy underwear. What does the belt add to this ensemble? Just another reason to scratch my head and check out the latest looks from La Perla.
Photo credits: WireImage
Ode to Cate*
Like Clark Kent sans cape,
bespectacled but still potent
Cate Blanchett somehow manages to be even
more endearing and cool
in Elvis Costello glasses and Spanx-like stockings
Off the red carpet,
not even a swatch of lip gloss,
she still shines.
*This post involved Pinot Noir.
Photo credit: WireImage
 The very sad news that Kanye West's mother, Donda, may have died from complications from plastic surgery -- a breast reduction and tummy tuck -- makes you think about the real price of vanity. In her case, mortality.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, nearly 11 million cosmetic surgery procedures were performed in 2006, up 7% from 2005. Breast augmentation (329,000) and liposuction (303,000) top the list.
I did some quick searching online and found conflicting reports about the deaths associated with lipo or the combination of liposuction and another procedure. Every association seems to report different numbers. But many isolated incidents of deaths surface. And actually, the combo platter of plastic surgery is grossly popular. Why not get a tummy tuck and a butt-lift at the same time, seems to be the prevailing thinking. (Um, maybe because you won't be able to sit or stand up for a few weeks? Ouch, indeed.)
Anyway, here's a link to some info from the FDA's government website that I found interesting. Notice how inconclusive the findings are because of the unreported fatalities. The study showed that deaths associated with lipo could be as high as between 20 and 100 per 100,000 procedures. Death from car accidents is only 16 per 100,000 crashes.
That's astounding. If you have a better chance of surviving a car accident than liposuction, maybe it's safer to do crunches while you drive?
Photo credit: Wire Image
 New York magazine reports here that Marc Jacobs recently said that he would be interested in doing a reality TV show. Would he be willing to expose it all? You bet. According to the fashion designer, his program would be about: "Everything, all aspects of my life. I'm a shameless human being."
One place you won't find Jacobs' dirty laundry is on a museum wall. He recently told me that he would never hang his designer wares in a hallowed hall. Here's his take on fashion as art: "Fashion to me is not art because it is only valid if it is lived in and worn. I make clothes and bags and shoes  for people to use, not to put up on a wall and look at. I think clothes in a museum are complete death. I have seen exhibitions of the clothes of Jackie Kennedy and I am not interested in her wardrobe. I am interested in the life and the women who wore those clothes."
Always the provocateur, eh? I disagree with Jacobs on this issue. To me, fashion is as relevant of an art form as film or sculpture. Clothes are such a direct commentary on culture. I wonder if Jacobs has seen this sculpture -- courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery in London--by Yuken Teruya. The artist takes consumerist symbols, like this Marc Jacobs shopping bag, and creates intricate paper sculptures to convey its effect on our forests.
Photo credits: Marc Jacobs, wireimage.com; Marc Jacobs by Yuken Teruya, Saatchi Gallery
 Hankering to wait in line for a crack at H&M's latest knockoffs? On Dec. 13 at noon, the newest L.A. emporium from Hennes & Mauritz (sounds classier, right?) opens right across the street from the Hollywood & Highland Center.
On opening day, H&M will hand out gift cards (worth up to $300) to the first 200 customers. No doubt, such incentive will only add to the pushing and shoving on the line. They will also offer special prices on certain garments. Maybe a few Roberto Cavalli leftovers will find their way to the newest outlet?
The address is 6922 Hollywood Blvd. and the store can be reached at (323) 466-7633. You have plenty of time to marathon shop. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Sundays too.
There will be a new, expanded shoe section at this location too. Ladies? Let's try and behave.
Photo credit: H&M; photodump.com
 Hot damn. Was there ever a man as sexy and surly as Paul Newman in "Cool Hand Luke"? No sir. The movie -- set in a Florida prison and chock-full of more Christ imagery than my Aunt Betty's sitting room -- turns 40 this year.
The costumes? Well, it's mostly prison garb and cigarettes and sweat. But for any dude out there who's tempted to toughen his image, the road is straight and short.
First off, you need that blue button-down --preferably government issue -- Newman wears throughout. I like this
chambray workshirt by Ralph Lauren (right) that looks incredibly soft but masculine. It's $85 on Polo.com. Meanwhile, L.L. Bean offers their own vintage chambray at $34.50 in a dark indigo that will  probably fade perfectly if you wear it and wash it plenty.
Next up, a pair of jeans is essential. Not those low slung, skinny denim pants that make a man look he might cry over a bloody nose. I found a pair of jeans called the Cool Hand Luke style from Earnest Sewn, $224, that are beaten up but not overly distressed.
This jacket from Marc by Marc Jacobs that I spotted on sale at  Bluefly.com for $299 seems like the type of outerwear Luke might have worn. I dig that it's corduroy with a built-in hoodie and looks like a jacket that could weather an escape.  Newman sports a silver bottle opener on a chain, but I don't recommend that look. It just screams "DUI, anyone?" and so instead, opt for a bitchin' pair of shades. I am in love with Ray-Ban's silver, large aviator -style sunglasses, $129.99. The gold is too prep meets highway patrol, but the silver frames are badass in a subtle way.
Like a sucker punch.
In a prison yard.
Photo credits: all "Cool Hand Luke" photos, Warner Home Video
Talented costume designer Katherine Jane Bryant (left) goes by "Janie" and oversees the sartorial look of our favorite show, "Mad Men." She also won an Emmy for her work on the dearly departed "Deadwood." Bryant, a Tennessee native, is mad for good manners and well-dressed crowds. She even hosted a black-tie birthday party recently. Here's the skinny on her personal style:
Amount of pressure a costume designer feels on Halloween: People always ask me, "What should I be for Halloween?" My stock answer: "Be creative and really, really scary." I ask you, what happened to being scary on Halloween?
I first played dress up with: My grandmothers' closets. My Barbies, my friends, my baby sister Anna, and my cousin were all subjects of my visions!
Cinematic style icon: The ever so glamorous and sultry Norma Shearer.
Go-to outfit: Black Valentino buckled boots with
 Swarovski crystals, J Brand skinny dark blue jeans, majestic light gray henley style-shirt, 1970s vintage leather jacket with leather appliques on the pockets, a pair of vintage sweetheart bracelets, and gold hoop earrings.
Favorite on-set experience: Would have to be on the set of"Deadwood." 
It was season one and was the first time the principal actors
and 150 background actors were together all in period
costume! Definitely a moment of WOW!
Purse du jour: The Maison by Valentino in burgundy patent leather, gorgeous.
Men should never skimp on: Manners!
Women should always skimp on: Men with no manners!
 Animal I most resemble: A Siamese cat.
Top three vintage stores in Los Angeles: Play Clothes (11839 Otsego St., Valley Village; [818] 752-6569), The Way We
Wore (334 S. La Brea Ave., L.A.; [323] 937-0878), and Golyester (136 S. La Brea Ave., L.A.; [323] 931-1339).
If I could makeover anyone, it would be: Middle America.
Memo to designers: Always be true to yourself.
Barney's Warehouse Sale or Fred Segal Sale: Barney's Warehouse Sale.
Worst fashion blunder: I'll have to go with panty lines or a fanny pack.
 Right now, I am collecting: Positive thoughts.
My mother always told me: "You can do and have anything you want, you just have to put your mind to it" and "No use crying over spilled milk."
Makeup must-have: False eyelashes.
I dig fashion because: It's a way in which each one of us
can express ourselves. Fashion is outrageous, creative, beautiful,
 opulent, minimal, whimsical, understated. Fashion is always evolving. It's everything.
I wish my nickname was: Zsa Zsa. Photo credits: Janie Bryant, (her collection); Barbie doll, Smithsonian; Norma Shearer, Photoplay; bracelet, Marathon jewelry; "Deadwood," HBO; Siamese cat painting, Mimi Harvey; rainbow, Missouriskies.org; Zsa Zsa bust, lanscz.com
 Surely there must be someone in your life who would appreciate a massage or some pampering as much as you do. For the month of November, West Hollywood's Voda Spa (7700 Santa Monica Blvd., [323] 654-4411) is offering two treatments for the price of one on Mondays -- from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The offer applies to all 50-minute specialties like the Siberian Wild Berry Scrub ($120) or the Caviar Wrap ($150). There are also Deep Flow and Hot Stone massages up for grabs.
Spread the love. Check out the spa at www.vodaspa.com.
Photo credit: jupiter images
 Am I the only one working in an office surrounded by leftover Halloween crap candy? You know the types: Tootsie Rolls, Sweet Tarts, random candy corns, and those circa World War II root beer barrels?
Now, I am not about to join socialite Tinsley Mortimer and start blogging about my caloric intake. That is insanely egocentric and puke-worthy.
But I will allow that I ate approximately 38 pieces of loser candy (I was swallowing the Tootsie Rolls before I finished chewing them!) the other day and I still feel like a manatee two days later.
Ladies: THROW OUT those sad excuses for confections that are scattered around public spaces. Eating that crap is like dating a cheapskate guy who checks out the waitress while you order. You can do better.
  There are plenty of Toblerones, Kit Kats and Snickers out there. Hold out for the right candy/man and you'll be much more satisfied.
Photo credits: pumpkin, hallofween.com; Tootsie Rolls, Tootsie Roll Industries; manatee, nwf.org; Toblerone, Toblerone.com; Cary Grant, bbc.com.
 Well, it was only a matter of time before the Takashi Murakami merch for Louis Vuitton sold exclusively at MOCA made its way to other channels. Art and commerce have truly collided and it looks like the consumer is driving without a seat belt.
Murakami totes, coin purses and agendas are selling on EBay at a markup of almost 70%, which means that early collectors are making hundreds of dollars off their shopping sprees at the downtown L.A. museum.
This morn, the Louis Vuitton Murakami MM Neverful tote (above) is selling for $1,424.99 on EBay, with 15 bidders vying for the bag that the Japanese artist created for the show at MOCA. The bag sells at MOCA for about $900.
In case you haven't been following the story, MOCA decided to install a Louis Vuitton store in the Murakami exhibition and the boutique is selling LV wares emblazoned with his day-glo take on the logo.
An agenda, featuring a new whimsical character named Chibiko Kinoko (see above), is selling for $641 -- not too much more than its $500 selling price. The coin purse, also adorned with the LV logo by Murakami, should fetch $400, which is a jump from its $255 MOCA price.
 The museum is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so I can't check out the MOCA store to report on inventory. But last I heard, the pieces were still in stock -- as the exhibit runs through next February. Clearly, Murakami/Louis Vuitton fanatics who can't fly here to get the goods are beholden to locals with EBay seller accounts.
Whoever thought that art collectors would go by handles like "inlandfantasy" and sell on EBay instead of Sotheby's? Or is it art? Weigh in.
Photo credits: Louis Vuitton agenda and tote, Ricardo DeAratanha/L.A. Times; Flowerball art by Murakami, Kaikai Kiki Co. Ltd.
 Went to a screening of "Margot at the Wedding" and it made me pine for a family I never had. The same goes for Jennifer Jason Leigh and Nicole Kidman, who seem to have conveniently rubbed the serial number from their past in this brilliant and funny movie.
The film, directed by Noah Baumbach (husband to Leigh), explores the toe-curling cruelty that exists between competitive siblings. Sisters. I think this picture (above) well sums up the onscreen relationship between the two. Leigh -- a bohemian single mom engaged to an engaging slacker played by Jack Black -- is constantly pedaling behind her successful, pool cue-thin novelist sister, a.k.a Kidman.
Kidman is as cold blooded as a croc and when she's not striking out at her sister or son, she seems to want to bite off her own arm. Leigh, passive-aggressive but generally sweet, loses a few emotional limbs to her sis, but holds her own.
I love the look of the film and the costumes by Ann Roth. Kidman's deceptively pert pink hat, Leigh's clogs and tunics. Go see it. Take your sister.
Photo credits: Paramount Vantage
 In a world dominated by decor magazines with confounding names like "Domino" and "Blueprint," one publication -- "House & Garden" -- was as direct as a handshake.
Too bad it folded yesterday at the ripe age of 106 years.
So it is with a straightforward sigh that I say "so long" to a Conde Nast mag that taught me to never fear color, to seek out the handiwork of Dorothy Draper, and to aspire to one day tend both a house and a garden.
Currently, I am in a condo sans any greenery save for the moss-colored cashmere sweater on my bedroom floor. Conde Nast will most likely push "Vogue Living" now and quite frankly, I am not prepared to support that mag. I don't want to live "vogue." That sounds tiring.
I hope that the talented staff -- including this blog's pal Allison Reynolds -- all find a new home (and garden) soon.
Photo credit: Conde Nast
 Style aside, Liza Richardson is cool from head to toe. The DJ who dominates the airwaves for KCRW's "The Drop" every Saturday night also does music supervision for movies and TV shows
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Last night, on "30 Rock," Tina Fey briefly dated a cute guy who was 17 years younger than her. On the show, her friend (played by Jane Krakowski) says to her: "What can we do? We're cougars." 
against him. 
At the same time, I just turned 40 this year and I ain't loving the aging process one bit. It's harder to drop a few pounds and I suddenly hate my gums. Then again, I can now afford to order the most expensive entree on the menu and I can travel abroad. Plus, I have more confidence than ever. The tradeoff is tricky, but I prefer today to yesterday.
