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    Blog Posts by Joanna Douglas, Senior Fashion and Beauty Editor

    • Can you feel bad for designers failing when they put out $400 bike shorts?

      ShopbopShopbopIf you're not already familiar with Alexander Wang, he's a young designer in New York with an ever-expanding celebrity fanbase. Lindsay Lohan and Rihanna regularly wear his clothing while others like Paris Hilton and Christina Aguilera might be spotted in one of his dresses or handbags.

      Wang's Fall 2009 merchandise has just been released and one of the items is this $395 pair of bike shorts. Aside from a few interestingly placed seams, they are your average nylon and spandex shorts you might wear to the gym, or if you're going for a '90s look, under a skirt or oversized t-shirt. Is an item of this kind worth nearly $400? Hell no! But then again, Wang also released some cuffed, cutoff sweatpants last season for $225.

      How do designers expect us to pay five times more than we'd like to on what is supposed to be a casual, affordable article of clothing? Are they just turning a blind eye to this recession we're in? $400 bike shorts are outrageous and almost infuriating. If designers

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    • What not to do when your child has an addiction

      Getty ImagesGetty ImagesAmy Winehouse used to joke about rehab, but her addictions are no laughing matter. As the public is well aware, the singer has been a complete mess for the past few years and could not get well. Her ex-husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, got her hooked on drugs and she had a severe eating disorder. At first her parents were in denial and stood up for her, claiming she had no substance abuse problems. Then the ignored the issue. Finally her father did something quite desperate: he faked a heart attack in an attempt to scare her off heroin.

      "I was at my wits end," says Mitch Winehouse. "I just didn't know which way to turn. I'd tried everything. Once I even started screaming and said I was having a heart attack, but it didn't work. Amy's not stupid and she wanted to see my medical records proving I was actually ill... got our doctor to tell Amy that I was dying."

      Last summer Amy often stayed in her bedroom. Her father claims fans even threw drugs up to her window for her. Finally he brought

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    • Jennifer Aniston sets herself up for ridicule again

      Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesKevin Winter/Getty ImagesJennifer Aniston has signed on to star in an upcoming movie called "Pumas," where "two thirty-something women make a habit of romancing younger men and take a French skiing vacation that challenges their romantic expectations." In other words, they're cougars, and once again Aniston will be pegged as a woman hyper-focused on dating. What's funny is, earlier this year Aniston claimed, "there are too many movies out there that don't empower women, movies in which their only way of being happy is finding a man. And you know, that's not my favorite theme." Um... but that has been the theme of nearly every movie she's made!

      Why does she continue to do this to herself? After being constantly mocked for a long string of unfortunately titled films like "Derailed," "The Breakup," and "He's Just Not That Into You," you'd think that Aniston would get the point. But then she signs up for "The Baster," a movie about a 40-year-old who uses a turkey baster and sperm sample to get pregnant. What is

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    • 25 best romantic movies of the past 25 years

      Ahh, we love a good romance, especially on the big screen. The folks over at Entertainment Weekly attempted to pick the 25 best romantic movies of the past 25 years--no easy feat! Mediocre rom-coms are a dime a dozen these days, and many of our all-time faves actually came before 1984. That said, we disagree with many of EW's selections.

      First of all, we know "Titanic" was the biggest box office success story, but was it the best love story? No way! Also, what is "Once"? We've never seen it--have you? "When Harry Met Sally..." really should have nabbed the top spot. "Jerry McGuire" doesn't belong on the list, and though we love a Disney classic, "Beauty and the Beast" shouldn't make the cut either. We give kudos for less predictable choices like "Edward Scissorhands" and "There's Something About Mary," but the tragic, punk ending of "Sid and Nancy" doesn't scream "romantic love affair."

      Which films do we wish were on the list? "As Good as it Gets," "Something's Gotta Give," "Sixteen

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    • Not-so-skinny jeans

       shopconfederacy.com shopconfederacy.comWe all love days when our slim fitting jeans feel comfy, but is there any worse feeling than days when they are too tight? Rag & Bone's Bondage Pant may be the fix you're looking for. Handy zippers run down the back from your upper thigh to just above the ankle "so you can make them tight just where you want them tight, or make them not tight at all."

      Now instead of popping your top button after a big meal you can just unzip and pretend it's a fashion statement. Now that's something we can get behind. This pair retails for $287 at Confederacy, but we have our fingers crossed for some more affordable knockoffs in the near future. Jeggings, be gone! [NY Mag]

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    • Why have we become so obsessed with the lives of teen stars?

      miley-c.netmiley-c.netWhen I was growing up, I idolized the stars of "The Mickey Mouse Club," "Saved by the Bell," "Beverly Hills 90210," "Punky Brewster," and pop acts like Debbie Gibson and New Kids on the Block. I read all about them and tidbits about their personal lives in "Tiger Beat" and "Bop" magazine, but gossip wasn't nearly as juicy as it is nowadays. Furthermore, my parents could have cared less who these stars were dating or what where they liked to shop.

      Times have changed and celebrity culture has exploded to monstrous proportions. With reality shows, rampant gossip blogs and weekly tabloids, the information is practically shoved down our throats whether we care or not. But one thing that surprises me is the interest we adults now have in the lives of teen stars.

      Youngsters have increased interest and use of sites and magazines aimed at adults. As a result, many of these media outlets have widened their coverage to include teenage celebrities like Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, Zac Efron,

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    • Would it be fair to blame Michael Jackson’s doctor?

      APAPIn the sad saga of Michael Jackson's death, it turns out that his physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, administered the dose of propofol that killed the pop icon. He was the doctor at Jackson's bedside before the singer was taken to Los Angeles hospital and pronounced dead. As a result, detectives have searched Murray's Houston office and his Las Vegas home, now treating the case as a possible manslaughter.

      Propofol is an anesthetic typically used to induce unconsciousness in patients before a major surgery. Murray said he previously administered the drug to help Jackson sleep and then stopped the IV drip when the singer wanted to wake up. Experts in the field say the drug is only administered in hospitals and there is no reason the drug should have been in Jackson's home. Toxicology reports are still pending, but thus far many people are looking to blame Murray for Jackson's death, as the drug allegedly caused his heart to stop.

      "They (the family) are suspicious of this doctor and they

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    • “Sex and the City” movie sequel seeking extras

      Ray Tamarra/Getty ImagesRay Tamarra/Getty ImagesIf you are a fan of the "Sex and the City" franchise, wouldn't it be cool to actually be in the new movie? Casting directors are looking for "background performers" next week, so if you are in the New York City area, now is your chance for a moment on the big screen with Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte! In addition to professionals in the Screen Actor's Guild, casters are also seeking "fashion models, celebrity types, upscale socialites, fashionistas, urban club goers, gays and lesbians, international types (Middle Eastern, Arabic, Asian, European, British), and professional soccer players."

      When: Tuesday, August 4, 2009 from 1:30pm - 4:00pm (for non-SAG members)
      Where: Metropolitan Pavilion - 125 West 18th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues.

      If you can't make it to the call next week, casting directors are also accepting submissions via email. Send a recent picture and contact info to: sexandthecity2@gwcnyc.com.

      Good luck!

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    • Lily Allen is the new face of Chanel: Has the iconic label lost its class?

      Like many women, I grew up loving Chanel. Not that I could afford anything the label had to offer aside from a high-priced lipgloss, but I have fond memories of my mother dabbing on some Chanel No. 5 before going out with my dad. I viewed Jackie O. in her tweed suits as a style icon and longed for a handbag adorned with the double-Cs to call my own. I liked what Chanel represented and daydreamed about the lifestyle associated with the brand. Here in Manhattan, Chanel bags, sunglasses and ballet flats are in abundance, and if you're anything like me, you look at them in awe.



      When I got my first big promotion, I saved up and bought myself a present: a black quilted Chanel bag. I rationalized my expensive purchase by remembering how "classic" and "iconic" the item is in the fashion world, and insisting that I'd get loads of use out of it. Well, I still use it daily. But one little bit of fashion news I stumbled upon today has tainted my vision of Chanel just a smidge. And that is their

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    • Poll: How do you collect items left at your ex's house after a breakup?

      Everything you own in the box to the left!Everything you own in the box to the left!When you and your ex break up, no matter how amicably, it's still awkward retrieving the personal items you left behind. Some opt to meet up at a mutual location with a box of things to swap, while others may send a friend to pick up their stuff, unable to face the jerk in person. Personally, I am a fan of cutting my losses and never seeing them--or my DVDs, books, and sweater--again.

      When Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo broke up she left more than a few toiletries behind. It was more like 37 boxes full of stuff! (Does anyone even own 37 boxes worth of anything?!) Obviously she wasn't about to part with her things, so she paid $19,000 to overnight her belongings from Dallas to Los Angeles. Yikes, that's one expensive breakup!

      What do you do about the items you've left behind? Do you:

      • Go get them yourself
      • Have a friend pick them up for you
      • Forget about them
      Have you ever done anything bad with the items your ex left at your place?Read More »from Poll: How do you collect items left at your ex's house after a breakup?

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