Blog Posts by Joanna Douglas, Senior Fashion and Beauty Editor

As part of our ongoing partnership with Amazon's flash sale site, MyHabit, we're bringing you an exclusive preview of their deeply discounted designer clothing and accessories. This Friday at 4 p.m. EST MyHabit is launching a huge, site-wide sale, and almost all items featured are up to 80% off. Crisp white slacks, a chic striped top, and comfy flats are just a few of the covetable luxury items up for grabs this Friday. Click here to sign up for MyHabit and mark your calendars to land yourself a great deal on spring fashions.

Click through our slideshow for this week's must-have items.

By Joanna Douglas, Shine Staff

We love flats. They're cute, comfortable, and practical--how can you go wrong? With the first day of spring just two weeks away, we're rounding up the most stylish flat shoes in a variety of colors, patterns, and textures. From loafers to ballet slippers to sling-backs, scroll through our slideshow of the season's best slip-ons and prepare to go sockless.

We know "The Hunger Games" is a young adult book series, but we loved all three novels and are as excited for the March 23 movie debut as the next teen on team Peeta. It's clear the merchandising team believes "The Hunger Games" is the next "Twilight," because they are going overboard pushing Katniss t-shirts, mugs, clocks, baby clothes... you name it! While we admittedly might buy one of the tees, some of the "Hunger Games" gear is a little over the top. We browsed though about 1,000 items in the Cafe press official Hunger Games store to find 18 items only rabid fans could love. Let us know if you think "Hunger Games" is being over-hyped or if you'll be seeing the movie on opening night.

Related links:
"The Hunger Games" Nail Polish Collection

Hairstyle Secrets from the Set of the Hunger Games
Just Launched! 'The Hunger Games' Fashion Tumblr, 'Capitol Couture!'

The $2 million Hermes handbag. Photo courtesy of Financial TimesHermes Birkin and Kelly bags are some of the priciest handbags on the market, often selling for upwards of $50,000. And now, despite the recession, designers at the French fashion house have challenged themselves with creating some of the world's most expensive handbags. The asking price: $1,980,034.

Check out the best spring bags under $100

According to the Financial Times, Hermes enlisted jeweler and shoemaker Pierre Hardy to help recreate their iconic handbags using precious materials. Together they crafted four different styles, which took two years to develop. One (pictured above) is a solid gold Kelly bag designed to look like crocodile skin, and has 1,600 diamonds covering the handle. As if this isn't outrageous enough, Hermes didn't want the bags to be too heavy, so these lavish purses are actually miniature sized. The Financial Times says that while they do work like a handbag, the tiny purse strap actually works as a bracelet.

Find out why Hermes is recession-proof

Because

Be the first to scoop up designer shoes at a discountAttention Shine fashionistas! We've partnered with Amazon's flash sale site, MyHabit, to get you an exclusive early look at their deeply discounted designer clothing and accessories. Each week we'll post the best items from their Friday sales here on Shine so you can preview the deals before anyone else. Like what you see? We'll provide direct links to these highly covetable styles, which go on sale Fridays at 12 noon EST. Click here to sign up for MyHabit and mark your calendars, because these designer deals sell out fast!

Click through our slideshow for this week's must-have items.

Related links:

Spring Bags Under $100

6 Spring Work Wardrobe Essentials
Fashion and beauty essentials for spring

Duchess Catherine, Duchess Camilla, and Queen Elizabeth all dressed in blueThe Duchess of Cambridge had a ladies day out with grandmother-in-law Queen Elizabeth and stepmother-in-law Duchess Camilla of Cornwall. On Thursday, the three women took the Queen's Bentley to London's Fortnum & Mason department store and each wore various shades of blue.

See where to buy Kate Middleton's recent bird print dress and boots

Duchess Catherine wore a fall-winter 2010 Missoni coat pinned with two small daffodils (a Welsh national emblem) in honor of St. David's Day. Queen Elizabeth wore a pale blue skirt suit by Angela Kelly, while Duchess Camilla was dressed in a navy striped crepe coat by a favorite royal designer, Bruce Oldfield.

Kate Middleton brings new life to London Fashion Week

According to AP, Kate Middleton has rarely made a public appearance with the Queen without Prince William at her side, but the outing was part of the Diamond Jubilee schedule, celebrating the Queen's 60th year on the throne. First on the day's agenda was a plaque unveiling ceremony for the

New must-have spring handbags all under $100With spring rapidly approaching we're on the hunt for playful spring handbags to inject some color into our wardrobes and brighten our moods. Whether you're looking for a cute clutch, a preppy tote, or a chic weekend bag, we've tracked down something for everyone and included click-to-buy links. Let us know which ones you like best. Happy shopping!

Related links:

6 Spring Work Wardrobe Essentials
Fashion and beauty essentials for spring
The Best Spring Sandals Under $50
Coach Handbags New 2012

Nearly half of women feel unattractive without using cosmeticsMany women prefer "natural-looking makeup," but would you consider skipping makeup altogether? A new study found that 44% of women hate being seen without a full face of cosmetics. The Harris poll, conducted on behalf of the Renfrew Center Foundation, is the latest in a series of studies that show our increasing dependency on products to boost our self esteem. According to The Globe and Mail, surveyors asked the cosmetics-addicted 44% why they can't go without makeup, and they gave these answers:

-16% of women polled felt unattractive when not wearing cosmetics
-14% felt self-conscious without makeup
-14% felt naked without makeup

For many this is a lifelong habit that's hard to break. One in four women polled have been wearing makeup since they were 13 or younger. We understand the desire (and on early mornings, the need) to use concealer, mascara, and lipstick to look your best at work or for a big night out, but what about forgoing makeup on the weekends and letting your skin