Websites of the week: big-media blog roundup
Blogs have been around for the past four or five years (Cheryl Shops will turn four this fall!), but only fairly recently have the big-media conglomerates caught on to their charms--primarily that they encourage daily visits, which in turn drives up the website's overall traffic. So while big media companies obviously have the resources to start up a blog--photos! Flash! actual salaries!--the interesting part to me is whether the blog's writer takes on the more broad tone of the publication, or whether they manage to maintain the individual voice necessary to make a blog truly interesting. So until Style.com's much-anticipated "blogue" goes live, here are the most noteworthy new blogs from established media.

Lucky magazine was one of my major inspirations, and their format lends itself so readily to a blog, I'm kind of amazed they didn't do one sooner. Nevertheless, senior editor Emily Hsieh edits the Lucky Shopping Blog, which is basically made up of various staffers' random product picks. It's kind of like reading a less organized version of the magazine, but with more of the cute anecdotes that make it so charming. Strangely enough, of all the blogs I'm featuring today, it's the one that's the least personal.

Lucky's fellow Condé Nast publication Portfolio has a blog called Fashion Inc. written by Lauren Goldstein Crowe and as befitting a business magazine, the blog is about the money end of fashion. But instead of writing with the typically dry style you'd find in a business publication, Crowe is saucy and even provocative at times. Check out her tell-it-like-it-is post on Tom Ford and you'll see what I'm talking about. The business side isn't always the sexiest part of fashion, but Crowe, with her confident voice, keeps it interesting.

I look up everything from restaurants to nail salons on Citysearch, so it's a wonder I never came across the Fashion Geek blog, which has actually been around since last fall. Written by a team of four editors, Fashion Geek is kind of like reading all of Citysearch, but with a fashion filter. From sample sales and spa specials to where to grab a bite when you're out shopping, the site is full of totally useful information--much like Citysearch itself. They also have a comprehensive list of a links and a well-organized way of browsing the archives. The writers tend to leave themselves out of the posts, but it works. After all, you can read about people's personal experiences in Citysearch's always entertaining reviews.

Speaking of entertaining, nothing beats The Market Girl, Elle.com's blog written by Elle's market editor Carol Han. Not only does Han have a fun, girlfriendy voice, she manages to make her job sound completely glamorous--a never-ending string of parties, fashion shoots, and shopping. Sprinkled among the Elle-related posts, however, are candid celebrity critiques and personal asides about her dating life. Han seems like so much fun, I want to have a few beers then go shoe shopping with her. Current issue aside (it should have been renamed "Elle: We're skinny and you're not"), Elle tends to be my favorite fashion magazine, so I'm happy that their blog captures all that's good about the publication, but with a voice that makes you think that the people who work at the magazine maybe aren't all that bad.

Written by former Elle and Marie Claire staffers, Jezebel isn't a fashion blog per se; it's equal parts celebrity, fashion, women's issues and sex--without airbrushing, as they point out in their motto. Unlike the other blogs here, Jezebel, however, isn't part of a traditional big-media conglomerate: It's the latest addition to the Gawker Media empire. So, of course there's a layer of snark at Jezebel--it wouldn't be Gawker's younger sister without it--but unlike Gawker, which makes fun of everything and everybody (including some personal friends of mine, which is starting to get really old), Jezebel's approach is refreshingly feminist. Instead of obsessing about Nicole Richie's collarbone, they challenge The Man, i.e. women's fashion magazines and the eating-disordered editors who work there, as well as secretly misogynistic fashion designers, big corporations, and anything else that exploits women. It's kind of like Broadsheet at Salon, but with a bit of fluff mixed in, and I now read it daily. I can only hope that its talented writer-editors don't suffer the same level of burnout that affects Gawker's ever-rotating stable of talent. Stay fierce, ladies!
Not so much: the Bloomingdale's lingerie department
I had a wedding to go to last weekend (congrats, MM and KK!), and since my nude strapless bra is from my portly post-college days, I decided to treat myself to one that actually fits. I tend to buy my bras at Bloomingdale's, because I can find my beloved Chantelle Essensia there, and because I get my trusty Federated employee discount. At first, I was really impressed--the fourth-floor lingerie department has been completely remodeled since I was last there, and now includes in-store boutiques from La Perla, Agent Provocateur and Elle McPherson Intimates--way to play with the big girls, Bloomie's! So while finding a frilly demi-cup bra was a snap, finding a strapless bra was not. Granted, there were plenty of strapless bras on the sales floor, however this would only be helpful to you if you were a 38B, a 32DD, or a 40D. Wacoal, Chantelle, Calvin Klein...no matter what the brand, only larger band sizes were available. I had a saleswoman help me, and while muttering under her breath about how they don't stock enough small sizes, she even checked a secret nude-bra stash by the fitting room to no avail. Out of desperation, I ended up buying a Wacoal bra that's a cup size too big--it was one of the few I could find in a 34--and, as I feared, it looks a bit ridiculous under my dresses, so I have to return it. (Although it gives me saggy, flattened boobs, I ended up wearing my old Wacoal bra to the wedding.)

So, Bloomingdale's lingerie buyers, I'm assuming you've never seen the infamous Oprah episode about how 85% of American women wear the wrong bra size. Because if you had (here's a related article), you'd know that most of these women wear a band size that's too big. Add that to the fact that women in New York tend to be on the thinner side, and suddenly all the excess 36's and 38's begin to make sense. Bloomie's: Know your customer! As for me, I'm taking my small ribcage and big rack to to La Petite Coquette, where I may not get 20% off, but at least I'll get a strapless bra that fits.
The week in shopping
I'll be hitting personal favorite Satya for yoga-inspired jewelry at up to 80% off. 6/1-6/3; 10-6; 253 Centre St. (Grand & Broome Sts.).

Guys, your Theory sale is this week; ladies, yours starts on Monday. Don't say I didn't warn you. 6/1-6/4; 10-8 Fri. & Mon, 10-6 Sat. & Sun.; 520 5th Avenue (at 43rd St.), 3rd fl.

Araks' fancy yet minimalist lingerie and swimwear is on sale for 50%-90% off at the Fifty-Two Showroom. Through 5/30; 9-6; 52 Walker St. (Broadway & Church Sts.), 5th fl.

Current fashion editors' fave Phi has stock and samples for up to 90% off ($25 and up). I will be there fo' shizzle. 6/1-6/3; 11-6, noon-5 Sun.; 71 Greene St. (Spring & Broome Sts.).

Quirky Due Farina shoes are 40%-70% off. A must for shoe fetishists. 5/30-6/2; 11-7, 11-5 Sat.; 325 W. 38th St. (8th & 9th Aves.), ste. 712.

Stock up on work-friendly clothing at the Tahari/Elie Tahari sale; pretty much everything is significantly under $100. 5/31-6/3; 2-7 Thurs., 10-7 Fri. & Sat.; 11-7 Sun.; 72 Greene St. (Broome & Spring Sts.).

Paris Hilton loves Mara Hoffman's print bikinis and dresses, but don't let that dissuade you from checking out the sale, where everything is $40-$175. 5/31-6/3; 11-7, noon-6 Sun.; 70 Greene St. (Spring & Broome Sts.).

Score tchotchkes, books, and the like for 20%-50% off at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Store. 5/31-7/4; visit website for store locations and hours.

Battle the ladies-who-lunch for Stuart Weitzman's glam shoes, now 30%-50% off. 5/31-7/1; 10-6, noon-5 Sundays; 635 Madison Ave. (57th & 58th Sts.), the Shops at Columbus Circle.

Anni Kuan's colorful separates and dresses are up to 70% off at this cash-only sale. 5/31-6/1; 10-6; 242 W. 38th St. (7th & 8th Aves.), 11th fl.

Eileen Fisher's comfy basics are 40%-50% off at this one-day sale. 6/2; 10-7; 314 E. 9th St. (at 1st Ave.).

Midpriced Mavi jeans and sportswear for men and women are 40%-65% off. Through 6/28; 10-9, 11-8 Sun.; 832 Broadway (at 12th St.).

Enter code HOT to receive 20% off your order through 6/2 at recent website of the week Barefoot Tess.

Take 40% off any three sale items or 25% off one sale item at Planet Funk.

All the big department-store sales start this week: Think Barneys, Saks, Neiman's, and Bergdorf's.
MasstigeWatch!
I've been a bit out of it lately, so I nearly missed today's arrival of Philip Lim's capsule collection at Uniqlo! Thankfully I read Fashionista's informative post about it and stopped by on my way to my acupuncture appointment. Unfortunately, there were only three styles of dresses and a few skirts left by 6 p.m., but after trying on the T-shirt dress (too short!) and the racerback jersey dress (cute, but a bit too much fabric for me), I settled on the plaid shift, which is so not my usual style, but I love it. The line indeed runs big, but everything is cut amazingly well, and the jersey pieces are, believe it or not, fully lined. I might make another trip to see if anyone has returned the belted linen dress--sadly, today's shipment was the only one the store will be getting.

And while Sophia Kokosalaki (who was just fired from Vionnet) is rumored to be the next Go International designer, Target has posted images from Alice Temperley's line, which hits stores in September (after Libertine, which is next, in July). I've said it before, but I'll say it again: It looks like this is the best Go International collection yet. Here are my four favorite looks.
Website of the week
Ladies, it's that time of year: Time to cut out the carbs, start your course of firming creams, take a trip to the waxer, and treat yourself (ha!) to a new swimsuit. I've found that a stiff cocktail calms my nerves before my annual bikini shopping trip, but shopping online is a great alternative--instead of fluorescent lighting and a three-way mirror, you can be mortified in the comfort of your own home. Thankfully, sites like InStyleSwimwear.com have a wide variety of suits for you to choose from. You can shop by type (monokini, two-piece), by top (halter, D-cup), by bottom (tie-sides, skirted), or by designer (everyone from OP to Cia Maritima is represented here). Since my #1 swimsuit problem is finding a top that fits properly, you can guess where I started looking.

While I'm usually not an advocate of basic black bikinis, you have to admit there's something sophisticated about the Martini from Asha Couture.


Also by Asha Couture, this Dr. No bikini is a modern update of the sexy suit Ursula Andress wore in the James Bond film of the same name.


I love the Wave from Vix--it looks like an Eres ripoff. I just wish it came in colors other than black.


But while I love these sleek, retro-chic styles, I really like to wear a bit of color on the beach--hey, it takes some attention away from my paleness. This Little Palms bikini from Island Company is kitschy but cute, and the bottoms look flattering.


But my favorite is this look from L Space--the mixed print top and solid bottom combo is one that celebs are always wearing in the pages of Us Weekly, and the colors of this suit evoke the Mediterranean, which brings a little sophistication to your beach destination, whether you're in St. Tropez or the Jersey Shore.


Want to subject yourself to several styles? Spend $150 and your order ships for free via FedEx Ground, plus all non-clearance (and non-thong) merchandise is returnable within 30 days. Which is just enough time to shape yourself up after that initial first bikini freakout.
The week in shopping
Save 50%-75% on Cheryl Shops fave VPL, Tucker, and Crumley jewelry at this group sample sale. Through 5/25; call 212-391-4252 for hours; 39 W. 38th St. (5th & 6th Aves), 6th fl.

If you're a downtowner, you probably love Rogan and Loomstate; find their jeans and knits at affordable prices at this sample sale. Through 5/27; 11-8, 11-7 Sat., noon-6 Sun.; 446 Broadway (Howard & Grand Sts.).

Just in time for Memorial Day weekend, J Rosen has swimsuits (Vix, Lisa Curran), jewelry, and flip-flops (by Havianas) for cheapity-cheap. Cash only. Through 6/1; 9:30-9 (closed Sat., Sun., and Mon.); 250 W. 39th St. (7th & 8th Aves), ste. 510.

Malo was one of my favorite Spring 2007 shows; it's your last chance to snag their knits, now at super reduced prices. Through 5/23; 9-6:30 Tues., 9-5 Wed.; 317 W. 33rd St. (8th & 9th Aves.).

For the preggers ladies in the house, Cadeau has non-frumpy maternity clothes for $25 and up. 5/23-5/24; 10-7; 254 Elizabeth St. (Houston & Prince Sts.).

For the vision-impaired (but not style-impaired!), Grueneyes has frames from Lafont, Face à Face, and Chrome Hearts frames for 40%-90% off. Through 5/27; 10-7, 10-6 Sat., noon-5 Sun.; 1225 Lexington Ave. (at 83rd St.), 599 Lexington Ave. (at 52nd St.).

Select spring merchandise from DVF, Vince, Dahl by Alison Kelly, and more is now 30%-70% off at Shopbop.

Cheryl Shops fave La Garconne has select items on sale.
America's Next Top Model recap
It's old news by now, so I'll keep my America's Next Top Model finale recap short. As I predicted, Jaslene won. I am happy about this, because Jaslene was my favorite--well, as far as I could pick a favorite, this being a season of straight-up crazies. Backing up a bit, the girls had to do the obligatory Cover Girl photo shoot/TV spot, and Renee pretty much screwed herself by starting out complaining about how she's a teenage mom. The judges then jumped upon her for looking "too old" (I think her Mom-ish short haircut--which Tyra gave her--deserves at least 50% of the blame for those comments), although I think we all know the true reason she was cut--Renee may have had an interesting back story, but she's way too conniving to represent the wholesome Cover Girl brand. Natasha and Jaslene then had to walk the runway for Sass & Bide, which is by far the most credible label to make a finale appearance since DSquared2 in cycle 2. Jaslene looked a bit zoned out at first, but then she got her groove; Natasha, on the other hand, looked oddly stocky and neckless to me the entire time. There appeared to be much debating, but, come on, we all knew Jaslene was a shoo-in--it was her line of Spanish in her Cover Girl spot that cemented it. Sure, she looks a little drag queeny, but, hey, even queens need to wear makeup!

In related news, Fashionista reports that Samantha Francis--the 19-year-old contestant Tyra kicked off for being too young--has signed with Elite...where Jaslene has a contract. Awkward!
I'm taking the week off...
I'm gearing up for my big return to the stage this weekend*, so I'm taking a break from posting this week, in order to rest and rehearse. There are a ton of great sales this week, so please visit Racked or New York Magazine for listings.

In the meantime, check out my right-hand sidebar: I've added a new search feature from TheFind.com, a recent Cheryl Shops website of the week. It's by far the easiest way to search, from Abaete to zebra prints, so I highly recommend starting your online shopping there.

Also, Cheryl Shops fave shopbop.com is running a sweepstakes to win a $3,000 shopping spree at the site. Click on the link below to enter.




I shall return next Monday, so please check back then!

*In the New York metropolitan area? Come see my show this weekend! It's called "Performance Project," and tickets can be purchased here.
MasstigeWatch!
Patrick Robinson, the latest Go International designer at Target is neither international (he's American) nor a currently employed designer--he was just let go from Paco Rabanne--but his collection is very summery, and he reportedly drew inspiration from Greece, which I've heard is hot but lovely this time of year. Robinson had a tough act to follow after the delight that was Proenza Schouler, and while some items are a little pedestiran--cargo pants, empire-waist tops--there are definitely some things worth ordering. I suggest starting at the looks link, because you can see how the designer intended everything to be styled (you don't have to wear everything that way, obviously).

The item that seems to be getting the most attention is this shift dress, in the wallpaper print that turns up quite a bit in this collection. Word on the street is that it's a bit ill-fitting and that the fabric is stiff, but regardless, it's currently sold out online in everything but an XS.


I actually prefer the open-shoulder dress--the cutout detail is sexy, and the fit is a bit more feminine.


Another cute wallpaper-print option is this bubble skirt; be advised that this kind of tulip shape is not for the big-hipped.


Top-wise, I was a little underwhelmed. I think this vest has potential, but I'd wear it with a flowy tank, not a rigid woven shirt as shown.


Though buying a swimsuit on the Internet makes me nervous, I'm tempted to order this Summer Breeze bikini--after all, together, it's less than what I usually spend on one half of my Shoshanna bikinis. It looks flattering yet modest, and very modern.


My favorite item, however, is this linen jacket. I love the front hook-and-eye closures, and it looks incredibly well-made, especially for Target. And, yes, it kind of reminds me of the white silk Kate Moss jacket--the one that got away, that is. But I think with its more forgiving fit, I might like this one even more.
America's Next Top Model Recap
I was kind of dreading this week's episode of America's Next Top Model because it was the "culture" episode, which always comes across as cheesy and pandering. I will give them credit, however, for spinning the aboriginal dance as "telling a story," much like modeling. And I am slightly ashamed to admit that I teared up during Renee's challenge-winning presentation. (Hey, I'm having a stressful week!) In fact, I was just starting to feel sympathy for Renee when she, Jaslene, and Dionne went out for a night on the town and Renee started to stir shit up again, this time against Natasha (who, yes, totally grossed me out when she started making out with her cell phone--get a room!). Poor Natasha seemed a bit out of it this week, especially at the aboriginal-themed photo shoot, which, I'll admit, was also kind of cool (the photo shoot, not the fact that Natasha was sucking big time). But the judges finally realized that Dionne sucked more, so she had to go--a wise decision, since she never really took a good photograph. I'll miss her colorful commentary, however.

So now we have Renee, Jaslene, and Natasha in the final three. My money is still on Jaslene--Renee is evil at heart, and Natasha, while adorable in her own way, is a mail-order bride, which is not exactly fitting with Cover Girl's wholesome image. And, yes, Jaslene has that drag queen thing going on, but keep in mind she's Latina, and wouldn't she be a great vehicle for Cover Girl to target this country's ever-growing Latin population? I'm just saying. But regardless, Jaslene is my favorite, and I think she's the best of the three girls left. So my fingers are crossed.
Website of the week
On Monday I posted about my discovery of Earnest Sewn's Decca jeans, but I failed to mention where I got them. That's because I've been saving it until today: My website of the week is the online home of Mr. Charles, the State College, PA boutique where I found my new beloved jeans. The irony of finding the perfect jeans in the middle of Pennsylvania--when I live in the so-called fashion capital of the country--is not lost on me, and the fact that State College is, well, a college town, makes it that much more bizarre. State College is home to an Abercrombie & Fitch, a store selling custom screen-print tees, and other college-student-friendly shops, but Mr. Charles, which has been around since 1940, is a bit more upscale and, judging by the other shoppers in the store, is probably where the wealthy undergrads shop. But, hey, now that the store has a website, its clientele can shop there long after graduation. Which is a good thing, because the site has a great mix of premium jeans, cute tops, pretty dresses, and cool accessories.

Dress-wise, a lot of the usual suspects--Vince, Ella Moss, Generra--are represented here, but I love this very bohemian tunic dress from Iro.


I was actually quite surprised to see this Ulla Johnson Oasis dress--it's a bit more sophisticated than what most college girls wear, and the drapey jersey fabric is more forgiving for those of us with less-than-perfect bodies.


It's probably too warm for it now, but this military-inspired Loomstate jacket will be perfect for fall.


Surprisingly, I've never seen this Vince babydoll cardigan before. I think it would be good for battling summer air-conditioning chill.


Another top I totally love but have never seen before is this vest from Clu, one of my favorite knitwear labels. It's no Kate Moss for Topshop vest, but it's pretty awesome.


There are also a lot of large, slouchy bags on the site--chic schoolbags if you're a (wealthy) student, everyday carryalls if you've graduated. One of my favorites is the Cassidy bag from Rachel Nasvik.


But what Mr. Charles does best is what's essential to single girls of all ages: cute going-out tops. My favorite is this Ella Moss halter top--it shows enough skin to be interesting, but the blousy shape looks comfy too.


Since MW drags me to State College several times a year, I now know I have something to look forward to--while he he shops for T-shirts at SBS, I'll be down the street at Mr. Charles.
Cheryl Shops...Kate Moss for Topshop at Barneys
I am going to preface this post by saying that I love Barneys, and, as longtime Cheryl Shops readers know, it is probably my favorite place to shop. However, I think they dropped the ball completely on this Kate Moss for Topshop thing. But I'll get to why in a minute.

9:30 a.m.
I arrive at the Upper West Side Barneys Co-Op and am the 10th person in line. I spend the next half hour congratulating myself on avoiding the certain mayhem at the Madison Avenue store (the Soho and Chelsea branches don't open until 11, so I ruled them out altogether).

9:58 a.m. The lovely salesgirls open the doors two minutes early! Hurray!

10:00 a.m.
Panic ensues. There is one rack of clothing. One. Rack. Some 25 women grab desperately at it; I manage to snag two of the items I had wanted, the sequined gray jersey tee and the posy-print babydoll dress.

10:10 a.m.
I try both items on. The tee is a size smaller than what I'd normally wear, but it looks fine. The dress, a UK 12, is too small on me. I ask the salesgirl if there are any size 14's left. She said the 12 was the largest size. Okay, note to Barneys: US sizes are two sizes smaller than UK sizes, and Topshop clothes run small to begin with. I'm not sure you're aware of this, but many of your shoppers are bigger than a size 6. Topshop goes up to UK 16. Why can't you?

10:12 a.m. I decide to buy both the tee and the dress, figuring if I can't resell the dress on eBay for at least $150 (it was $120), I'll return it within 30 days. The tee is very cute, however.

10:13 a.m. The salesgirl tells me that Madison Avenue was supposed to get "a lot more" than the UWS store. The devil on my shoulder tells me to check it out.

10:20 a.m. I hop on the M72 crosstown bus and head over to the Upper East Side.

10:32 a.m. I arrive at the Madison Avenue store. Trucks are being packed up with velvet ropes, chairs, and red carpets from last night's party. TV reporters are interviewing shoppers. It appears calm on the ground floor, but it's mayhem on the 7th floor. Men are snapping photos. Women are circulating with roughly 12 garments in their arms. More women are circling the racks, hoping aforementioned women put some of their unwanted items back on the racks. I check it out--the posy-print dresses are all gone. There are some chiffon tattoo dresses left, but they're $200. Lots of striped tees, logo tees, and the henley tanks. Some black pants and capri jeans. Lots of sequined-shoulder jersey tees; I take one and don't try it on.

10:35 a.m.
I pay for my tee and hightail it out of the store.

So, my beef with Barneys is twofold: One, they said they'd be carrying the entire line, which was an all-out lie. I didn't see the white dress, the black cutout dress, the long skirts, any vests, or any accessories. Two, they only carried up to size UK 12, which is a small US 8, which totally defeats the point of masstige--which is for the masses, who are not all size 2. Also, don't go looking for any Kate Moss stuff on their website--it's completely sold out.

The silver lining in all of this? Topshop's website has some items still in stock, and they're supposedly gradually rolling out more in the coming weeks. I think at this point, it's that or eBay, where I'll be looking for the things I wanted but didn't get, like the corset top, the cream cropped jacket, and the vests. Now if only Topshop would open a bricks-and-mortar store in NYC...
Coming this week...
I'm going to Barneys (whose site is currently down, damnit!) first thing tomorrow morning to hit the Kate Moss for Topshop collection. I'll try to post a report at some point tomorrow, but if I don't, I highly suggest checking Racked for any pertinent info.

I'll also be reviewing the Patrick Robinson Go International collection at Target.

And, of course, I'll post a website of the week and a review of America's Next Top Model.

Please check back soon!
Costume Institute Gala fashion roundup
When it comes to red carpet events, the Oscars are child's play compared to the annual Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum. Because not only does the event, spearheaded by Anna Wintour, draw designers, models, and fashion cognoscenti, it also attracts celebrities who feel the need to impress all the aforementioned fashion people--so instead of pandering to middle America, as they do at the Oscars, the celebrities take some true fashion risks here. Which, like most gambles, can either be a great success or a resounding failure. This year's major Costume Institute exhibit is devoted to Paul Poiret, the Art Deco-era Parisian designer who took women out of their corsets, lived a decadent lifestyle, and died penniless in the 1940s (the story of which, as Eric Wilson points out in this mega-snarky article, few of the celebrity attendees knew). So while many guests paid homage to Poiret in a vague, 1920s kind of way, others turned up in full-on randomness. Here are the good, the bad, and the fashion victims.

Overall favorites
With Jane Birkin as her mother and Serge Gainsbourg as her father Charlotte Gainsbourg automatically has instant fashion pedigree, but she's cool in her own right--it takes guts to rock this Balenciaga and pull it off as well as she does.



Claire Danes
's striking Prada dress is about a million times better than her "anything you can do, I can do better" Gap boyfriend khakis. Who knew?


She can make a paper bag (uh, or Gap boyfriend khakis) look good, but Jessica Stam, in to-die-for Dior Couture, out-models all the other models. Which is an accomplishment.


Models
If only for wearing a $200 dress when some attendees' outfits cost 500 times that, Kate Moss deserves credit. And the dress isn't bad either.


Breaking up with Victoria's Secret seems to agree with Giselle. Or maybe she's just happy that she doesn't have to wear $49 poly-blend trousers ever again.


Short and long, as only models can do: Lily Donaldson & Daria Werbowy.


Designers
One of my favorite designers and one of my current favorite models: Jean Paul Gaultier & Coco Rocha, whose dress I'm not totally enamored with, but she's just so cute, I had to include her. JPG, on the other hand, gets points for his innovative tuxedo.


The designer of Burberry and the host of "So You Think You Can Dance," Christopher Bailey & Cat Deeley weren't the biggest names at the event, but if they aren't the perfect ad for cool Britannia, then I don't know what is.


I'm just happy to see her in something other than high-waisted jeans or pseudo-bohemian prints, so I'll let the fact that Mischa Barton's dress (with Giambattista Valli) is too small in the bodice, well, slide.


Socialites
Dr. Lisa Airan, who always looks great, wins bonus points for actually wearing something by Poiret (the dress is by Rodarte).


In spite of the fact that she's Donald Trump's daughter, I have to admit, I really like Ivanka Trump--she's smart, she's well-adjusted, and she's not a skeletal socialite. I think she looks fabulous, and she gets props for wearing up-and-coming designer Jason Wu.


Having read this week's New York Magazine, I have a newfound appreciation for Tinsley Mortimer, who actually looks quite sexy in this Versace dress.


Couples
The couple that dresses together stays together (or something like that): L'Wren Scott & Mick Jagger, both in Balenciaga.


Indie-actor couple Alessandro Nivola & Emily Mortimer are so cute and were in two awesome, highly underrated movies--he was the sexy rock star in Laurel Canyon, she was the neurotic actress in Lovely & Amazing. I think their presence instantly makes the gala that much cooler.


Together again...well, Tom Ford & Carine Roitfeld aren't exactly a couple, but their creative partnership produced Gucci's glory years. Perhaps she can give him some pointers on his much-panned new store on Madison Avenue.


Men
I used to say he peaked with The Virgin Suicides, but Josh Hartnett is looking good again. Now if he can just stay out of Lower East Side bar fights...


If Marc Jacobs (with Winona Ryder) looks this good after rehab, perhaps I should develop an alcohol problem. Promises Malibu, here I come!


First he appears in Us Weekly with a totally unexpected six-pack, and now John Mayer, with haircut, shows up at the Costume Institute gala. So hot, I'm almost willing to overlook that awful "Your Body Is a Wonderland" song. Almost.


Celebrities
I'm not exactly sure what qualifies Camilla Belle as a celebrity, but as long as she's in dresses as gorgeous as this one, I don't really care.


America Ferrera and several important tastemakers showed up in one of my favorite new designers, Phi. America's dress is flattering on her body, and for a lingerie-inspired look, not at all trashy.


Say what you will about Mary-Kate Olsen, I think she cleans up quite nicely. Bonus points for wearing feathers, which I think will be a huge eveningwear trend come fall.


Valiant efforts
Which one of these is not like the other? Cameron Diaz's dress was pretty and dramatic, but it didn't quite fit in with the vibe of the event. Still, I applaud her return to blonde.


I know her dress was panned all around, but Kirsten Dunst deserves credit in my book, because she really takes risks on the red carpet. Some, like this, are pretty much failures, but she gets an A for effort.


Sasha Pivovarova's Ungaro dress is short and youthful, and it has a vaguely Art Deco Pattern, all good things. However, just because you're a gorgeous model doesn't mean you can show up at a gala without makeup. A little effort, please.


Blatant misfires
My problem with Rose McGowan is not so much her boring gown but her face. Good god, how much Botox can a woman possibly take?


I love Parker Posey and I love Marc Jacobs, but I don't love the combination here, especially since it looks like Parker's beloved dog got a hold of this dress.


Was Lauren Davis being lazy, thinking she'd wear a chartreuse rendition of Reese Witherspoon's Oscar dress? And then was she not paying attention when she received the gown with mysterious appendages at the midsection?


Absolute worst
Fabiola Beracasa's Givenchy dress reminds me of those cheap paper decorations you hang on the ceiling at a 4-year-old's birthday party.


Julianne Moore's ill-fitting tuxedo dress is missing a top hat and cane, with which she could then bust out a rendition of "Le Jazz Hot." Oh, I get it--she's the evening's entertainment!


I see this picture of Jessica Simpson and the one word that comes to mind is cans. Which is not the word one wants to conjure at a fashion event. This is the Met, not Vegas. Watch it, or you might no longer be worthy of insta-hottie John Mayer!