Fall/Winter trend alert: gloves to go gaga for

Get ready to give a hand to Fall/Winter 2007's most multitalented accessory: the glove.

Sure, few of us pass through an entire fall/winter season without donning digit-warmers for purely practical purposes. But this year, the humble mitt has gone from functional to fabulous, a fashion statement in its own right that can effortlessly "make" an outfit.

“Gloves are a bit old-school glam, but for fall they have a more contemporary edge when you play around with materials,” Donatella Versace recently told W. Look for fun combinations of textures and embellishments—including quilted leather, faux fur, metallics, beading, buckles, and sassy studs—as well as colors ranging from classic to candy-hued.

With so many colors and styles to choose from—at a variety of price points—you're sure to find one that fits you like a ... well, you know.

(Hat tip: W Magazine)

Fall trend alert: the return of the cocktail ring

Any stylist/image consultant/fashion guru will tell you that everyone needs one signature piece: a standout accessory or jewelry item that just screams you.

This fall, the it item for making a statement is definitely the cocktail ring. First made popular in the 1940s and 50s, they're back in a big way this season. And with a plethora of styles, shapes, and colors to choose from, you're sure to find one—or more—that fits your personality to a T.

(Image source: kayjewelers.com)

Festive false fringes

As we've noted before, the bombshell look is hotter than ever for Fall/Winter '07 ... and we can't have Old-Hollywood glam without long, flirty lashes, can we?

According to Debbi Hartley-Triesch, Nordstrom's National Beauty Director, false lashes are the "little black dress" of eye makeup: they're perfect for a party, and the choices available range from subtle to show-stopping.

Debbi has a few additional tips to help make the most of your falsies:

• Use an eyelash curler to add lift and help false lashes blend in.
• Apply mascara before putting on your falsies to avoid clumping.
• Look down slightly, then wiggle and set lashes as close as possible to your natural roots.
• Apply liquid eyeliner for a seamless finish.

Then get ready to flirt the night away!

(Hat tip: The Thread at Nordstrom.com)

Treat yourself to something one-derful

No sooner did our romper make Tyra's Must-Haves for Fall 2007 list than we got back to the drawing board and created another hot all-in-one, the Graffiti Pink One Piece.

Made from 100 percent cotton modal, this smooth, sexy body-hugger is perfect under fall's cozy sweater dresses and wool jackets. It's designed to move with your body in total comfort, whether you're running around town or curled up by a cozy fire.

And it comes in black, pink, and purple solid as well as two of this season's hottest animal prints, cheetah and zebra.

So if you want to treat yourself to a sweet little something before the holiday madness sets in, this is definitely the one!

Fall trend alert: sweater dresses

Everyone loves a great sweater. And everyone loves a great dress. Thanks to one of fall's hottest fashion trends, we can have the best of both worlds in one sharp, versatile piece.

They've been away for a while, but sweater dresses are back in a big way this season, and they're more varied and versatile than ever. Shorter, tunic-length styles are terrific over skinny jeans or leggings, while longer variations, like this one from C&C, go perfectly with textured tights, another hot fall trend.

Speaking of textures, you'll find everything from chunky wool to whisper-thin cashmere, in colors ranging from subtle neutrals to eye-popping brights.

If you're looking for a wardrobe addition that combines au courant style with cozy comfort, look no further.

(Hat tip: Glam Guide)

New for fall: La bella Cosabella

If that long dreamt-of trip to the Italian Riviera continues to elude you, our new fall collection offers the next best thing.

European elegance meets body-friendly comfort and ease in the Soire Red Zebra Babydoll from Italian design house Cosabella. Animal prints continue to be hotter than ever, and this fun, flirty piece kicks it up a notch with a splash of sassy red. Hand-made in Italy, it features adjustable straps and ruching under the bust for added support.

And if you just can't get enough, check out the matching bra and panties.

Now that's amore!

New for fall: chocolate delight

Deep chocolate is a terrific color for fall—and not just on the outside.

Sweet and sumptuous as a cup of hot cocoa, our Honeydew Chocolate Lazy Daisy Lace Bralette and matching boyshort are the perfect feminine foundation to wear under this fall's menswear-inspired styles. The lace bralette features whisper-thin adjustable straps that disappear under clingy sweaters, while the boyshort is lined with baby-soft cotton. And both pieces are elasticized throughout for luxurious comfort all day long.

Luscious, chocolatey, decadent, ... and completely calorie-free.

Fall refresher: Trick-or-Tini

It's just not Halloween without candy corn, and YumSugar shows us how to bring this classic confection to a fun, festive cocktail: the Trick-or-Tini.

1 part coconut cream
1 part tangerine-flavored mixer
1 part banana liqueur
Splash of white rum

1. Chill ingredients in fridge or freezer.
2. Pour the first three ingredients, in the order listed above, slowly over the back side of a spoon into a martini glass.
3. Top with a splash of white rum.

Quite a treat for your Halloween guests—and nothing tricky about it!

Fall trend alert: red lips

We all know that the bombshell look is huge this fall, with big curls, dramatic eyes, and, most importantly, bold, red lips.

But with so many to choose from, which crimson shade is the look? The experts agree that for Fall 2007, Lancome's P.S. Kiss is all you need.

This limited-edition shade was on everyone's lips—figuratively if not literally—throughout New York Fashion Week, and now it's available for the rest of us. Check it out at your local Nordstrom or click on over to their website to get this season's must-have beauty item!

Autumn sleeves

For Fall 2007, designers are being more creative than ever in their sleeve designs. From blouses to dresses to coats, unique sleeve shapes are becoming as ubiquitous as jailbird celebutantes.

Can't tell a bell sleeve from a lantern sleeve? (Hint: the latter is pictured right.) No worries. Cynthia Nellis of About.com:Women's Fashion has a quickie tutorial that not only explains the new shapes, but gives timely tips on how to wear them—for example, a balloon sleeve is a "perfect way to add softness to a small upper body and draw the eye away from a thick waist or any lower body problem areas. "

Click on over today—when it comes to fall fashion, you'll have a real ace up your ... well, you know.

(Hat tip: fashion.about.com)

New for fall: Onyx Currant is the new black

As the weather turns cooler and flirty sundresses give way to cozy cashmere, our taste for floral and citrus aromas begins to fade, and we crave spicier, darker scents to warm our senses.

With our new Onyx Currant collection from Mor Cosmetics, you can embrace the season by enveloping your whole body in the aroma of black currant and exotic spices. The triple-milled soap and luxuriously rich body butter will leave you feeling royally pampered, while the enticing fragrance evokes an air of 17th century ornamental decadence.

Try it today and get in touch with your inner principessa.

Fall trend alert: rose gold

An old Greek proverb tells us, "If you are truthful, you will have as much gold as you want." Well, we must have been visited by the truth fairy this year, because gold is back in a big way for Fall 2007 ... only this time, it's blushing.

Rose gold is the hot metallic this season, popping up in everything from eye shadow to jewelry to handbags, like this stunning Jessica McClintock Chevron clutch. Richer and deeper than its paler cousin, rose gold radiates warmth and richness, a perfect complement to fall's muted colors such as gray and aubergine.

On the makeup side, look for this subtle shimmer in shadows, lip glosses, and nail lacquers. Bobbi Brown has even released an Exclusive Rose Gold Collection, available at Neiman Marcus.

So when you're looking to brighten up your look this fall, look to rose gold for a subtle, sophisticated shine.

Get cozy with new fall styles from Free People

Now that fall's officially arrived, we can all expect some nippy nights ahead—but facing autumn's chill doesn't mean resorting to tired old sweats or your boyfriend's lumberjack shirt! With Graffiti Pink's hot new styles in flannel and thermal knit from Free People, keeping toasty has never been so stylish.

You'll love curling up in this Ivory Deer Knit Thermal Henley Slip (yes, those are little Bambis in the print), which can be paired with matching leggings when Old Man Winter comes to call.

Or bring a little spring into your fall with this colorful Green Flannel Floral Babydoll Set—who ever thought flannel could be so feminine?

And this is just the beginning of our exciting Fall 2007 line. Check back for more featured products here, or if you just can't wait, visit our What's New pages to get the scoop on all our fall fabulousness!

Clinton Kelly represents at Macy's

What Not to Wear co-host Clinton Kelly is on a mission with a message to America's petite women: don't sell yourself short!

He's embarked on a whirlwind tour of Macy's locations around the country to host fashion workshops just for petites, and yesterday's stop found him at Houston's Willowbrook Mall store.

After a brief introduction, attendees ranging from curious passers-by to diehard fans were treated to a fashion show (petites only, of course), followed by an extensive Q&A session with the man to whom history can accredit the quip "That sweater looks like you killed and skinned a Muppet."

Turns out the Clinton who appears in person has much in common with the Clinton we know and love from the tube: boyish charm meets barely controlled manic energy, with an edge of snarkiness that's tempered by big-hearted compassion. Instead of reading questions from pre-submitted index cards, he breezed (and occasionally sprinted) through the audience, deftly addressing queries ranging from the insightful ("How can I mix patterns without looking garish?") to the downright bizarre ("How do you shop for a man who refuses to try anything on?").

Of course, the evening’s main theme was how women 5'4" and under can dress their best, upon which our host had this to share:

• To create the illusion of a longer leg, go with an empire waist and a pant leg that touches the shoe (it should just skim the floor in back).
• Your best skirt length is just above the knee, and the lowest you should go is just below the knee. Full-length skirts make you look like you’re welded to the floor.
• For blouses and jackets, your best length is mid-hip.
• Jeans can be hemmed by a good tailor and still look like they came off the rack. Make sure your tailor uses the same color thread as the rest of the jean; then apply a light rubbing of sandpaper to the seam until it matches the others, thus avoiding the "my mommy just hemmed my jeans" look.

...plus a few tips that we can all take to heart, regardless of your shape or size:

• Try on, try on, try on: On average, each WNTW transformee tries on no fewer than 21 pairs of jeans (!) before she finds the right one, and even that pair may require tailoring to fit perfectly. Speaking of which...
• Find a good tailor and make him/her your friend. Very few items fit perfectly off-the-rack. Even little alterations like a waist-nip or a narrowed sleeve can make a piece look like it was made for you.
• Get a professional bra fitting (the first step in every single WNTW transformation) once a year ... then head to Graffiti Pink and go wild. (Okay, we added that last bit.)
• Wayward belts can be kept in place with a bit of double-sided tape.
• To make your eyes stand out, wear a contrasting color near the face: orange for blue eyes, plum for green eyes, etc.
• Yes, you can mix patterns; just make sure that one is dominant and the other more subtle, and that there's a common color to tie the two together.

...as well as a heads-up on what's hot for Fall 2007:

• Colors and prints: gray (the neutral this season), orange (which will really hit big in Spring '08), bold patterns, black-and-white with pops of bright red, unusual animal prints like giraffe
  
• Shapes: shirtdresses, tunic tops, blousy sleeves, swing jackets, wide-leg trousers
• Textures and trim: quilted jackets (one model sported a stunning quilted leather creation—talk about sophistication with an edge!), sparkly or shiny embellishments (beading, sequins, etc.)
• Accessories: patent-leather belts and shoes, opaque tights
• The one absolute-must-have item: Short trenchcoat in a hot color (raspberry) or a funky print (leopard)

Oh, and Clinton's answer to the question of how to shop for the man who won't try anything on? "Don't—send him to a personal shopper."

(Photo: tvguide.com)

Fall trend alert: bright bags

Time to give those old standby black and brown purses a rest, ladies—this season's bags are positively bursting with color.

From dainty clutches to satchels to totes big enough to swallow an SUV, our favorite accessory is sporting every color of the rainbow this season, including primary brights like candy-apple red and sunflower yellow as well as traditional fall hues such as cool sage and vibrant rust.

Fashionistas such as Rachel Bilson, Sienna Miller, and Katherine Heigl (pictured left) have all been recently spotted spicing up their understated, neutral fall looks with eye-popping purses, like Ms. Heigl's red stunner from Valentino.

Find one that speaks to you and make your own colorful statement.

(Photo: Couture Avenue)

Fall refresher: Cranberry and Vanilla-Bean Mimosas

As the nights turns cooler and the days get shorter, your summertime standby mojito might feel a bit out of place. After all, fall is a time to change your wardrobe, your makeup, your skincare—why not your cocktail?

If your palate is as ready to embrace the season as your fashion sense, try this delectable concoction courtesy of Epicurious:

Cranberry and Vanilla-Bean Mimosa
Cranberry juice, chilled
Ice cubes
1 vanilla bean
Sparkling wine
Garnish (optional): sugar and halved vanilla beans

Combine a few cups chilled cranberry juice and ice cubes in a cocktail shaker. Scrape in the seeds from vanilla bean. Shake well. Strain into champagne glasses, filling only halfway. Top off the drinks with sparkling wine. For an extra-special touch, rim the glasses with sugar and garnish with halved vanilla beans.

Serve and enjoy with friends—perfect for lounging on the deck on a crisp fall afternoon!

Tyra hearts Graffiti Pink!

Our Graffiti Pink Cotton Candy Romper was just featured on The Tyra Banks Show as THE must have lingerie item for the fall.

Watch as Tyra and her panel of style experts—Jacqui Stafford of Shape, Suze Yalof Schwartz of Glamour, and Dannielle Romano of Daily Candy—show you how to use this and other sweet buys to create your own hot looks for fall.

We're blushing pink!

25% off Nap leggings

Leggings are totally hot again for Fall 2007, and now Graffiti Pink gives you a leg up on your fall fashion shopping with 25% off all Nap leggings.

Perfect under tunics, dresses, or miniskirts for a night on the town—or alone for lounging on a lazy Sunday morning, Nap leggings are the ideal combination of comfort and style. And at 25 percent off, you can pick up a pair to go with each outfit.

Don't forget, you also get a free Graffiti Pink booty short with a purchase of $50 or more.

So shake a leg and get yours today!

Fall beauty trend: Dark (not black) nails

Remember last fall’s run on Chanel’s Black Satin nail polish, which led to $200+ eBay prices and even the occasional theft?

While things probably won’t be quite as extreme this season, the dark nail is definitely back—this time with color. Instead of black, think inky purple (Blacker Laquer from Revlon’s Dark Pleasures line), navy blue (Russian Navy from OPI), deep burgundy (Material Girl from Essie), espresso (Hard Edged from Rimmel), and even deep aqua (Las Vegas from NYX).

To perfect the chic look (and to avoid scaring small children), keep nails short to medium in length. And keep your lacquer handy for touchups, as chips will be much more obvious than with lighter shades.

Pick up your fave shade and get in touch with your dark side!

The look for fall: bombshell!

As Labor Day weekend approaches, the fall beauty buzz is spinning up to a fever pitch. Get ready to say "buh-bye" to the au naturel beach babe--the hot look for fall is pure bombshell.

For inspiration, we'll be looking to the screen goddesses of the 1940s and 1950s--think Rita Hayworth's sensual curls, Marilyn's sultry eyes, and Audrey Hepburn's flawless crimson pout.

Even though the thermometer tells us it's still very much summertime, this hot fall look is already rocking the red carpet on celebrities from Jessica Alba to Isla Fisher to Mischa Barton.

So if you're ready to make a big impression this fall, just keep three little words in mind: Va. Va. Voom!