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PIPpy L

PIPpy L’s weekend web round-up

Sick of getting e-mail notifications about sales you don’t care about? New service Shopittome lets you set up a personal profile to tailor any notifications sent your way to your liking! Read more at The Haute List at The New York Post.

Crack is back, y’all! Read about it at The East Village Idiot.

Man purses are cool again. The ladies at Fashionista said so. I’d get one for my man if I wasn’t 1000 percent positive he’d call it retarded and chuck it out yonder window.

New York magazine reports that the Steve & Barry’s chain may never open in downtown NYC—because the company’s broke! (Frankly, it serves them right for that godawful line of bargain rags designed by Sarah Jessica Parker.)

Attention Kate Moss freaks: A German paparazzo has put a piece of one of Kate's hair extensions on eBay, Bella Sugar reports. Proceeds will go to an anti-drug group.

Style Bakery approaches the short shorts trend with honesty: As in, you better have great gams, girlie or fuhgedaboudit! See My Life in Pink Leopard’s similar tackling of the buttcrack jeans look here.

Rest in peace, Ruslana.

The New York Post reported today that Russian supermodel Ruslana Korshunova took her own life at the age of 20. With a hugely successful career that began when she was a teen, one has to wonder what drove this young woman to want to say good-bye to the world. I won't start talking out of my ass about the pressures models today face about staying skinny and beautiful, and how it's the fashion/beauty industry that killed her. I don't, after all, have any idea what her personal life was like. I'm just sorry this happened and hope anyone else who's been considering doing something similar, will choose to reach out and ask for help instead.

For information on suicide hotlines in your state, visit this website.

Not going on vacation? Just fake it with the right duds.

It’s going to be a long summer, especially if your plans don’t include traveling somewhere fun and exotic for at least a week or two. Still, even if you can’t go on vacation, that doesn’t mean you can’t dress the part, and remind the world (and yourself) that there’s still some fun to be had at home for those who want it.

The most effective way to look like you’re on holiday is to leave your fashion comfort zone, just for a while, and put on a hot dress, perhaps even with a seasonal theme going on. That famous boob-tape J. Lo dress for example has nothing on this tiki number from Pinup Girl Clothing, $72. (Do the outfit justice by going out and drinking something involving an umbrella!) A cute pair of shorts would also evoke a holiday in the sun mood, like these Betsey Johnson sailors, $240.

Of course, looking all girlie also means ditching the trusty summer sneaks or flip-flops in favor of heels or wedges. But don’t worry. You don’t have to sacrifice comfort for summer chic. You are after all “on holiday,” at least in your own mind.
Aerosoles is probably the best place to go for comfy footwear that isn’t totally orthopedic, thanks to the shoes’ cushiony footbeds. That means these patent leather sandals with a three and ¼ inch heels, on sale for $30, only look like they kill.

If you don’t feel like dressing for the (non)occasion at all, no problem. You can still get the “feel” of vacation-wear through accessories. Something as simple as an oversized flower clipped in your hair can also instantly give you some beach bunny glam. Pinup Girl Clothing has some really pretty ones like this red rose clip, $12. (I've also found some just as nice on eBay for a buck each.)
The best part is these flowers don’t require styling your hair into some vintage ‘do. They work in anyone whose hair is an inch or longer.

Fast forward to fall: Plaid for work and play

It’s always hard to think about fall fashion when it’s still roasting out—with hotter days ahead, at least in NYC-but it seems that at least one upcoming trend is a classic and easy seasonal choice: Plaid.
However you want to wear it, preppie, punk or posh: there are plenty of choices available. If you see something in plaid you really like, I’d recommend snatching it up rather than some other trendy thing, since as my grandma (and probably everyone else’s) used to say, the classics never go out of style.

Before shelling out the big bucks for a skirt, though, check out the options on eBay, thrift stores and even in catalogs. There are way too many choices out there, like this cute mini, to justify spending all too much.


Here are some other cool plaid items that won’t evoke images of Catholic school (or icky Catholic schoolgirl fetishes!)




A bow-back skirt suit, Topshop, (in U.S. currency, jacket about $90, pencil skirt about $70)


Ivy ruffled button down, Intermix Online, $185


Sloucher boots, Anthropologie, on sale for $70


Nick & Mo long jacket, Overstock.com, on sale for $57



Xhilaration Sophie plaid high-tops, Target, $23

Native American: The latest culture exploited by the fashion industry

Just as Gwen Stefani turned bindis into the accessory du jour while she dated a No Doubt bandmate of Indian descent and Memoirs of a Geisha made kimonos into “the” dress of the moment when the movie came out, this season we have Native American chic. This means tees with graphics of tribal chief profiles, raw edged tops and dresses and even beaded moccasin-style shoes everywhere from Forever 21 to Intermix.

Personally, I don’t find the muted color palette and nature-based designs of traditional Native American style to be particularly exciting, but I love the delicate feather patterns I’ve been seeing.


Whitehorse Navajo summer halter top, Intermix Online, $65 (The purple keeps this top from looking too earth mama.)


Navajo print tunic, Forever 21, $15.80 (The batwings on this tee keep the look floaty and feminine.)


Truly Madly Deeply feathers tee, Urban Outfitters, $28 (An unexpected seasonal alternative to flowers or stripes.)


Be prepared to see lots of shoes like these beaded fringe thongs,Urban Outfitters.com only, $48. (Not sure that’s a good thing! This is just a friendly reminder not to get carried away with this—or any—trend.)

Teach those old clothes some new tricks

It’s funny how shamelessly I can walk up to celebrities and ask for interviews and photos, but when it comes to approaching mere mortals like myself I get attacks of pointless shyness. A pity, too, since it would have been lovely to take a photo of the outfit I saw on one woman today as she passed me on the sidewalk.

Words don’t do it justice, but here goes: A black, knit mini-tube-dress with an empire waste over a crisp, white button down shirt, cute wedge heels and a shiny, red Louis Vuitton bag. She looked as though she had just come from her job at an art gallery and was on her way to a dinner party with equally chic friends. At least that’s what I’d like to imagine!

But it just got me thinking about great outfit “recipes,” or how a little extra thought and fearlessness can turn a couple of basic pieces and a standout accessory or two into a truly inspiring look. Yeah, yeah, you all know this already. But hey, it takes a lot for me to admit that any outfit that’s office appropriate and involves a logo bag is fabulous!

While I’m still riding vicariously on some other chick’s fashion high, here are some other fashion recipes that might be fun to try this summer:

* With the leggings trend not going anywhere any time soon, a basic black pair of leggings could be livened up with a patterned scarf tied around the waist and hips. Wrap it around evenly so it appears to be a short skirt rather than draping it loosely, which would make it look more like a sarong.

* Short pants with high heels. And no I don’t mean tight capris with pumps, although I do like that look, too. Clamdiggers, the loose version of the capri tend not to be sexy looking unless paired with something tight and very flattering. Match a pair of clams with some sky-high heels and you don’t even need to put on your slut shirt to be cute. This outfit works best if one of the items (whether it’s the pants or shoes) has a striking material or pattern. With the pants, think stripes or camouflage. With the shoes, think patent leather pumps or peep-toes with bows rather than the expected sandals or wedges.

* Short shorts with a feminine, long-sleeved top whether it’s rouched with bubble hem sleeves or retro-looking with buttons and a tie bow front. Then throw on a string of pearls around your neck or pearl earrings. While there’s nothing “new” about a desire to go retro it’s not generally matched with a casual look that shows a lot of skin like shorts. Just channel Marilyn Monroe and you’re on the right track: Golden glamour, but done in a way that seems effortless and natural.



Pic found on Angry Pink Cupcake

The Human Stain: How to prevent summer grossness

There are some men who will charmingly say that women do not sweat. No, no, we “glow.” Sounds lovely, as most statements that are bullshit have a tendency to do.
But no. When the mercury hits 80 degrees and 90 and higher, we do sweat.

Throw something other than sitting on the sofa surfing YouTube into the equation, and then you can have real perspiration in that heat. That’s why we have deodorant. And deodorant stains all over our outfits. If you want to avoid this look, then you’ve got to avoid certain kinds of deodorant or antiperspirant, namely anything that doesn’t go on clear. Of course, with the clear roll-ons, there’s sometimes a grease factor to consider. What to do to avoid getting greasy? Well, stay away from your man’s deodorant for one thing! I swear those sporty sticks are made with snail juice. Personally, I like Tom’s of Maine, since it’s the only clear deodorant I’ve found that feels dry going on but still applies smoothly. And it always smells springy.



Besides deodorant/antiperspirant, there are other sneaky little white mess makers to watch out for before you get dressed in the summertime. Those are: whatever make-up you put on your face, whether it’s powder, foundation or dabs of concealer and suntan lotion or sunblock.
If you use more than one of any of those products and are concerned about clothing stains, your best bet may be to cut down on usage or make sure your top or dress is already on before you start applying your make-up.

If you still have an attack of the white streaks after that, well, what can I say? Every woman for herself!

Want to get rid of that pesky deodorant stain? I found some helpful tips on this website.

PIPpy L’s weekend web round-up

Enter this contest for a chance to win Lucky’s Ultimate Summer Closet.

America’s next top male model was discovered by his prom photos on MySpace. See video at The New York Times style section.

Naomi Campbell was racially insulted at British airport, Perez Hilton reports.

Courtney Love revives her ghostly Miss World look. See photos at Dlisted.

Karl Lagerfeld even looks dignified wearing this yellow vest for a French PSA.

Steal this look! (Actually, don’t. The fun is coming up with your own.)

As always, the revelers at the annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade have proven it’s about the nautical look with pirate hats, sailor dresses and plenty of glitter! And the best part? This look won’t cost you landlubbers a bundle, because those who rock it best are the ones who make their own outfits! Too hot out to bother with clothes, you say? No problem. Just stock up on stage make-up (especially in blue and gold), fishnet tights and strategically placed accessories.

See more photos at the Village Voice.

Short MC jackets: They actually go with a lot!

Whether or not these are going to be the next big thing I have no idea, so, unlike some fashion writers, I won’t pretend to be psychic.
I couldn’t resist the idea of wanting to wear something sexy and leather, though, once I read the latest Nylon magazine, a music issue with features on rock star style featuring everyone from Billy Idol to 80’s metal girl band Vixen. Seriously, how could I be in the mood to do anything else right now?

So… now I’m fixated on short MC jackets. Since they’re tough looking pieces in and of themselves thanks to all the zips and metal accents, I find that they look best matched with girlie pieces like dresses rather than one’s standby dress-up jeans.

Here are a few I found on the web:
Red biker, (also comes in white and black) Angry Young and Poor, $100 with free shipping


Side lace crop biker, Jamin' Leather, $89

D&G Dolce & Gabbana, eluxury.com, $1,985

Distressed cycle jacket, Wilson's Leather, $100

Streetside style

Who says all New Yorkers wear black? Pals Steph and Danny, both part-time models, say it’s all about color and patterns.
With both clad in striped Tripp jeans from Trash & Vaudeville, Steph explained, “It’s just a coincidence. We think alike.”
“We never wear blue jeans,” added Danny. “Color is better. We’re not actually wearing that many colors—just three colors and black and white and patterns. If you’re not using colors, use patterns to bring out what you’re wearing.”

Why I photographed them: Because it's nice to see that some people in the East Village are still dressing up.

Forget trying to “steal Carrie’s look” already. There are plenty of other options courtesy of Pat Field.

Enough with Eiffel tower purses and gladiator sandals. There are other looks, people.

When I reminisce about the good old days, fashion-wise, it’s not when SATC was on the air, although I was a fan of the show. It was a few years before those days when super-stylist Patricia Field made her living as the owner of various funky clothing boutiques. She still has the one shop on the Bowery with the “Pat’s Kitchen Equip.” sign, but one would guess that’s just a hobby for ol’ Pattycake now. Back in the day, Patricia Field could often be seen behind the counter of her West Eighth Street boutique, along her fun-loving staff of drag queens and club kids, who would man the dressing room, make-up counter and wig salon. For a while there was also a Sixth Avenue boutique, also in the West Village, and a Soho shop. It was in the earlier run West Village stores that that I got to witness the amazing transformation of would be transvestites and drag queens from men into… well, girlie men, with the mere application of pink eyelashes and a filmy negligee. Fortunately for me, they had plenty of things in regular girl sizes too, from baby tees with vulgar words on them to fringe covered minis. I couldn’t always afford the stuff, but I did so love to try things on the dressing rooms that were decorated in paintings of long-lashed, pouty-lipped divas.



That’s why I nearly squealed like a peeg upon finding this t-shirt design on the Patricia Field online store. For those who haven’t been to the site, or been to it lately, it’s now got a nice—not huge but nice—selection of clothes and accessories for sale—and not just things that scream Carrie, although there is a nameplate accessory here and there as well as a studded belt. Like the brick and mortar boutiques and like SATC, there are misses as well as hits happening, but that’s part of the fun.

Besides the painting tee, here are few things I liked:

The diamond-look makes these sparkle star earrings, $35, look luxurious, but the stars make them funky enough to dress down as well as up.

This leopard onesie, $140, is more biker babe than baby.

There’s no not looking mysterious and glam in this Stop Staring purple Katrina dress, $242.

The site also has selections from the Patricia Field for Payless line and section for Pat’s personal picks.

PIPpy L.’s mid-week web round-up

Does anyone even use the word Fashionista anymore? The folks at Style.com don’t think so and are more interested in the new breed of fashion devotee: The recessionista. You know the kind of gal who loves her designer labels—that is, as long as they’re from Target, H&M or Kohl’s. (Hey, ain’t no shame in it.)

Black is the new black. Italian Vogue proves it with a new issue that features all black models. Read more at The New York Times.

The soon to open stateside Topshop goes punk/goth. See some of the fashions including shiny black coats, lacey dresses and plaid everything at Fashionista.com or the Topshop site.

Nostalgic for early 90’s fashion? The button-fly jeans, the MC Hammer pants… me neither! But if you’ve got some time at work to kill, check out this amusing video of a 1992-inspired party at NYC club Lotus, at Papermag.

Jezebel weighs in on plus-size model Velvet’s quest to diversify beauty in the fashion world.

The Naked Truth: Why I hate summer shoes

Here’s a fact: Most people’s feet are unattractive. Granted there are some lovely people out there with perfect piggies that have none of the blemishes that affect us mere mortals (calluses, corns, cuts from shoes that were supposed to give us that “SATC” look, etc.) But they are more the exception than the rule.


Yeah I like their shoes, too, but "the girls" are still somewhat blamable for the pressure many women these days now feel to go all out (designer and uncomfortable) or not even bother (flip-flops or other effortless footwear).

The majority of the feet I see on the streets and on the train come in the following varieties:
*Squished into too-small shoes, usually flip-flops or wedges with long toenails peeking out over the edges. The feet vary from gnarly to attractive—at least they would be if it weren’t for the ghetto fab pedicure in varying stages of freshness.
*Covered in cuts and discolorations, also squished into uncomfortable looking shoes—undoubtedly one of many pairs that hurt the wearer’s feet in different places. But hey ya gotta suffer for fashion. (Yes I tend to fall into this category too often. It isn’t cute, although I keep trying to tell myself it is.)
* Healthy looking other than the flaky dry skin and overly long toenails, framed in Birkenstocks or some other I-don’t-care look type shoes. Leg hair will frequently accentuate this style.
And then there are “mandals,” shoes men shouldn’t wear but do, with a look that is also often finished by too-hairy legs and short pants.

While these looks are certainly not without their entertainment value (assuming you’re not the one wincing in pain in an attempt to break in a pair of stilettos) they are still nasty and make me long for fall. And lest you think I’m just ripping people with unattractive feet, that’s not what this is about. It’s also about protecting feet, which can get pretty beat up in summer shoes, because a) you don’t usually wear socks or tights with them and b) most of us do more walking this time of year.

So what’s the moral of this story? Just treat your feet right, people. If you’re addicted to sky-high heels and don’t want to be seen in anything sporty, just stash a pair of sneaks in your desk at work and change into your not so comfy footcandy as needed. Or just don a pair of colored tights, which will help prevent friction. Just don’t give up and resign yourself to Birkenstocks or other cat lady type footwear. There are other comfortable options to choose from; mainly it’s just a matter of trying on lots of different shoes from different brands to see which one best fits your feet and lifestyle.

Decolle-derriere: Can you ever get away with wearing buttcrack jeans?

Photo from this site, as reported on by Back in Skinny Jeans.

Answer: Well, I wouldn’t wear them—on purpose, anyway. That said, there are some girls who know how to get away with showing a little butt cleavage.

One chick I saw recently who rocked the buttcrack look was a rollerderby girl. Keep in mind those girls train three days a week over more, so their bods are pretty sculpted. In her case, she was wearing your standard, hip grazing skinny jeans—ideal for a little plumber chic. She was sitting casually and at least didn’t appear to be blatantly showing off her ass. (This may have been why it was cute and not nasty.)

Want to try this one at home, kids? Like with any other body baring style, you just have to look in the mirror, well technically two mirrors, since you’re checking out your own backside, and be very honest with yourself. Then, you need to ask yourself if you’re comfortable with giving everyone a lovely view of the moon every time you sit down to text someone or drink your tea.

Cool with this? You may not end up on The Sartorialist, but at My Life in Pink Leopard, PIPpy L. gives you two thumbs up... and you know where!

Taste the rainbow!

Yeah I’ve gotten the memo. It’s all about tropical-hued nail polish. Cotton candy pink. Banana yellow. Electric blue. I wanted to hate this trend, but having just painted my nails with Sephora brand pink, I actually feel totally cute and summer-appropriate.

Here’s why this dopey look works: It forces you to leave your beauty comfort zone. You won’t be worrying about if these colors complement your skin, because they certainly won’t. You won’t worry about matching your nails to your make-up or outfits all week, either, because, well, if you actually somehow managed to succeed in doing so, you would look pretty crazy, wouldn’t you? And the idea here is not to look totally crazy. It’s just to have a little something cheery to divert yourself with when you’re clickety-clacking away at work.

Yeah I know the colors remind you of grade school and wearing them would make you feel kind of silly. That’s the point. Don’t overthink it.

The pink color I chose from Sephora seems to be temporarily out of stock, but there are plenty of other neato neon colors out there. I’ll only list affordable brands, since there is really is no need to pay a lot for a color you’re probably going to be sick of in a week.




Essie, Mod Squad, $8, salons, Drugstore.com

Dashing Diva, Stellar Ella, $8, NYC Dashing Diva salons ($15 Australian through website)

OPI Mod About Brights, The It Color B66, sale price $5.45, Nailsalonsupply.com

Summer bags for groceries and more

This summer, instead of carrying around those plastic or paper bags from the supermarket to tote around stuff like your lunch or your dry cleaning, consider using one of those cloth bags from the supermarket. Most big grocery places have already gotten into the environment-friendly practice and offer the cloth bags at next-to-nothing prices. Some just say the names of the stores on the sides (like Whole Foods), but others have semi-cute patterns of things like flowers and butterflies if you don't mind paying an extra couple of bucks.
If you intend to use your cloth bags for more than just filling them with groceries, however, obviously you'll need to find a style that won’t annoy you after you’ve carried it day in and day out.



Here are some that I like:

Pretty nylon tate in pink by Marc by Marc Jacobs, $158

Fossil Weekender tote, $118 in pink floral canvas (comes in different colors)


Cherry Pickin’ in checker canvas, Betseyville by Betsey Johnson, $115

OR, if you just want some cool-looking grocery bags, you can design your own for no more than what they charge at the supermarkets. The folks at The Cloth Bag Company will transfer a design of your choice onto any cloth bag for $2.25.

Etsy.com: One million served

Congrats to DIY craftster/artisan/designer buying and selling mecca, Etsy, which just hit the one million registration mark. The online marketplace for all things handmade also now has 170,000 individual shops.

PIPpy L.’s weekend web roundup

Topshop to open in Brooklyn, NY, in October: Read about it at Fashionista.com.

Glam-a-rella shares her method to great gift giving.

Jerry Hall auctions off her wedding dress: Read more at Fashiontribes.

See Fashion Indie’s funny pics of celebrities before their stylists took over. From Justin to Miley to… Strawberry Shortcake?

Also at Fashion Indie: Mariah Carey releases another bad smell.

Q: Is it lame to wear the same exact thing a celebrity has?

A: Depends.

Personally, I can’t help but roll my eyes when some fashion editor or blogger pronounces some article of clothing or accessory a trend just because Rachel Zoe threw it at some unfortunate celebrity. I also don’t think it’s necessary to “find out how you can steal this look for only $9.98” or whatever. Newsflash: Not everyone wants to look like a junkyard version of SJP as Carrie.

That said I will admit: I scoured the web for the exact same Cry-baby fitted tee I saw Amy Winehouse wearing on a candid photo on Perez Hilton. That’s right, Johnny Depp’s character from the John Waters movie that’s since been turned into yet another soul-less Broadway musical. The semi-moral dilemma of whether or not it’s acceptable to copy someone else’s style is what kept me from buying the tee.

Now looking back on it I think I should have just gotten it, because it’s not like the reason I wanted it was because I needed my own taste validated by a famous crackhead. I just loved the shirt.

This brings me to my next question? What kind of person buys something, particularly something expensive, just because a celebrity has worn it? I ask because while surfing eBay for Catherine Malandrino stuff, I found a “charity” auction for clothing worn by Kim Kardashian.



A “portion”—it doesn’t say how much—of the money from the winning bids will go to charity, but likely 95 percent of it will go back into the reality show “star’s” pocket. So again, I ask, who on earth is actually interested in copying this chick’s style when the only reason she’s famous is a onetime friendship with Paris Hilton? I dunno, but I guess we’ll find out later today when the auction ends.

Just a warning for anyone tempted to bid: Numerous items being offered are being offered in sizes ranging from 2-6, items that are made by the same designer. This makes me just a wee bit suspicious that not all of these items were pre-owned by Mizz K, as she doesn’t appear to have ever lost or gained a lot of weight.

Update: Apparently they'd pay $77 for this dress.

Reasons to pray for rain

While I normally think wellies are pretty stupid looking, the fact is we all need them sometimes, if we don’t want to get our good shoes soaked during those inevitable summer thunderstorms. And after seeing this hot fleur-de-lis patterned pair available at Target, ($20) I’m actually finding myself looking forward to the next muggy day. Because before ya know it—downpour!



Other options, all $20 a pair at Tarjay:

Basic black makes this rainboot feel like more of a motorcycle boot (which is always fun to match with a feminine frock.)

Pink wedges like these look like something you’d find an expensive shoe boutique like Otto Tootsi Plohound.

An orange flower plattern makes this boot interesting, but the colors are muted enough to make it versatile. (It also comes in black floral.)

This striped style is very Carnaby Street. Nah, never mind that. That's what everyone says about anything with thick black stripes, right? These vertical stripes are very, uh… calf slimming.

What the hell is ear candling, anyway?

Ever walk past beauty salons and glimpse at the signs in their window displays to get an idea of what they charge for routine stuff? You know, mani-pedis, blowouts, eyebrow threading, ear candling…

What, you do know what ear candling is, don’t you? No? Well, neither do I. At least I didn’t until I searched a few websites devoted to the subject. After all, I wasn’t actually going to go and ask… because, well, because I was afraid the answer would be something vile and worse, that I’d be talked into doing something vile for an equally vile price by an overzealous sales rep.

And well, I was right to be suspicious. Turns out ear candling is the practice of removing ear wax and other impurities, by lighting one end of a hollow candle and holding the other end of it up to the ear canal, according to Wikipedia.

Now, while I don’t underestimate the importance of earwax removal, I personally think this sort of thing is best left to someone like, oh, an ear doctor, rather than an employee at some salon or spa. Actually, I think I’m going to skip this particular “beauty trend” altogether, along with other fun fads like colonics, diet drugs and labiaplasty.

Animal tees: Strangely cute!

I’m a sucker for anything animal print. But the truth is even that can get boring when overdone, which I admit it is, at least for me. Fortunately, there seems to be a new wildlife-inspired trend that’s just as interesting: Shirts with animal graphics on them.

Animals from raccoons to moose to wolves have found their way onto fitted tees this season, which is a refreshing change from all those ironic saying shirts—yet another played out trend. Ex: “Rehab is the new black,” “Save Britney,” “I drink your milkshake.” Har. Besides, these animal shirts are plenty ironic if you consider the fact that they were rocked, first and foremost, by that really nerdy kid on the first season of Charles in Charles, before the whole family was ditched in favor of a cuter, blonder crew.

But I digress. Behold the animal tee:




Stella Neptune Pink Elk, $36

Other wild options

Torn by Ronny Kobo Kissing Zebras, $64


Stella Neptune Squirrels Gone Wild, $36


Rogan for Target Tiger Print, $17

Q: Do you really need to get your boobs measured by a professional?

A: Yes.

Yeah I know you don’t wanna. Letting some strange lady wrap her tape measure around your girls while she lectures you about how flattering that padded bra is a lot like having a stethoscope pressed on your back while you fake cough. Nothing weird about it or anything, but still not fun. And if you’re like most people, you don’t like being given the hard sell, which salespeople at certain unmentionables shops have a bad habit of doing. (Victoria’s Secret, I’m talking to yoooouuuuuuuuuu.) This naturally is even more annoying when you’re partially undressed.

So, this begs the question: Should you find out what your bra size is from a professional? Yeah, honestly, you should. Most girls and women don’t even realize they’re wearing the wrong size bras. Often, the problem is that we wear smaller cup sizes than we ought to be wearing while the bras are too big inch-wise around.



How do you know if you’re wearing the wrong size?

Here are some tell-tale signs:
* Frequent costume malfunctions. If you're prone to nip slips (and you haven’t just run up several flights of stairs), your bra is probably too small.
* You always close the clasps on the tightest or loosest setting. Ideally, a bra should fit best when the middle of the three clasps is used.
* Uniboob! If your boobs are smooshed together, making your cleavage look like a tushy, you might want to go up a couple of inches.
* It just doesn’t look good. If your bra makes you look droopy, it could be the wrong size. If, after you attempt to tighten the straps, the back rides up on you, you might want to go down a couple of inches.

Still not convinced you need the assistance of a professional? Fine, but at least check out some helpful tips on this here website.

This public service announcement has been brought to you by the number 32 and the letter D. Yeah that’s also Pretty in Pink Leopard’s bra size, not that I knew that until recently!

Sexy scissor: Leviticus Jewelry

Normally I wouldn’t think to describe a particular necklace or some other piece of jewelry as “sexy,” but that is honestly the only word that comes to mind when I look at some of the seriously glam pieces by Leviticus Jewelry.

Normally I’m not the type to declare any item a “must-have”—accessories are not food, clothing or shelter and we can, in fact, live without them—but these are realistically priced on top of being cute.
Check out the $35 silver scissor necklace!



Perfect gift for a hairdresser you love or just keep it and scare your man with its danger-implying cuteness.
I also liked the elegant swallow in gold-tone and sterling silver cuckoo clock pendants.

(See more bird poop in this post.

Richie Rich to design a line for Hot Topic

Fashionista.com reports that the next designer for Hot Topic is none other than Heatherette partner Richie Rich.
I’m sure this partnership will be an improvement over the one with Perez Hilton for his line of tees and accessories, as Rich is an actual designer. (Sorry, P, your own wardrobe is still fierce. Especially that Hello Kitty tie. Hey maybe next time you can team up with Sanrio.)

But moving on, while I personally think the Heatherette line has been a bit overhyped thanks to its numerous celebrity fans, the brightly colored 90s-inspired threads are still a lot of fun to look at, and really what’s fashion for, if not to inspire us? As always, I just hope this new affordable line, Celebutante, will be as true to the style of RR as his luxury one and not dumbed down and drenched in logos.

Perez Hilton debuts line of tees and accessories at Hot Topic

I wish I could say I liked the new line of hot pink and skull covered goodies designed by Perez Hilton, but I couldn’t find a single thing that didn’t look like it belonged in the children’s section of Target near the Disney princess stuff.
I’m actually a huge fan of the laptop samurai and his daily jabs at celebs who do and do not deserve to be on the receiving end of his venom. I also like Hot Topic. Yeah I admit it. Granted there was a time when I would steer clear of this online and mall retailer, which was marketed as goth but really just a mill for oversized jeans, random spiked stuff and “Mean people suck” patches. Lately though they’ve had some cool stuff. (See their offerings of skinny jeans and pants if you don’t believe me.)

Sadly, the Perez Hilton for Hot Topic line is not one of them. The 17-item line includes “Gossip Gangstar” tanks, pins and bracelets. There’s also a girlie-looking journal with a skull logo and flip-flips with a gun pattern. Like any other celeb-fronted products, pretty much everything has a prominently placed logo on it, from the gun-shaped zipper pulls to the striped knee socks.

Like some of his rantings on his website, the designs are amusing but also pretty juvenile. If you have a young teen or tween in your family, you might find something that would make a cute gift (the journal comes with stickers), but (sorry P-Nasty) I don’t know who else would want to wear this stuff.

Crowned skull hoodie, $44-$46



Gossip Gangstar tank, $22-$24



Gossip Gangstar four-pack of bracelets, $8

Pretty in pink haircolor

I’m such a sucker for crazy hair colors and pink has always been one of my faves. (Well, duh.) I have often found that chicks who go pink or other technicolors tend to do so when they’re depressed and hope that the I-don’t-care-about-your-rules haircolor will cheer them up. It’s an interesting theory. Since I don’t speak from personal experience—my only fake hair colors were various shades of red from copper to cherry, which I admit made me feel sexier—I don’t know if the pink = happiness plan actually works.



Lily Allen (seen in pic above taken from Dail Mail Online) has had a rough year thanks to a broken engagement and a miscarriage, so for her sake, I sure hope it does.

Thoughts?

Hermes wins in court battle over counterfeit merchandise on eBay

Yesterday, according to this article in WWD, Hermès International won a major victory against eBay France and eBay International, for committing “acts of counterfeit” and failing to monitor the authenticity of the goods being sold on its website.

What I’d like to know is… why aren’t there more court successes like this one stateside?

Everyone I know who uses eBay has been screwed doing so at least once: Sometimes it’s because the item never comes. Or, other times it does come but it sure doesn’t look the way it appeared in the photo or description. Very often, however, the problem is phony luxury goods being hawked as the real thing.

I’ve been tricked, more than once actually. A few years back, I bid on and won a fake Tiffany dog tag necklace. Hey, who didn’t? In fact most Tiffany necklaces you see adorning people’s necks these days aren’t even actual Tiffany designs, as I recently learned from a company insider. Call them Tiff-on-eBay. I’ve also been sold a set of bootleg DVDs and a fake Anna Sui top through eBay.

But I digress. The point is, while the online auction giant’s policies regarding things like false advertising and customer satisfaction have improved over the years—it used to be a simple “we believe people are good, so odds are you won’t lose your money to a con artist—good luck!” there is still an abundance of sellers dealing in counterfeit goods. Sometimes it’s obvious, like that $18 Louis Vuitton bag with the logos on backwards. Sometimes, it’s not so obvious, like the $1800 Louis Vuitton bag from the seller with over a thousand glowing comments listed from happy customers.

Over time, I learned what questions to ask before bidding or what kind of auction to stay away from altogether, but eBay gets new users all the time. There are still too many peddlers of counterfeit crap taking advantage of new buyers. eBay seriously needs to stop shirking its responsibility on this issue and make more of an effort to put a stop to this slimy practice.

HIPSTER VITTLES! Kat Von De-Lovely

I admit it: I'd been dying for the chance to check out the new Sephora line of make-up fashioned by Kat Von D and was relieved to discover how true to her persona the line was, not to mention how high in quality.
Then again I'd expect no less from KVD, even if this is yet another celebrity-driven product line-and reality show celebrity at that. (Normally a concept that makes me vomit a little in my mouth, but not in this case. Kat Von D is no "Hills" whore and has obviously worked hard to put together a line of cosmetics grown women would actually want to wear.)
The lipsticks ($18) are all different shades of red, suitable for various skin tones but only for those who aren’t afraid to go seriously matte and bright. The two eye shadow palettes in the line (at $34 each) include complementary shades for lid, crease and brow bone. And the darker colors are incredibly sparkly! Judging by the packaging, which is very Anna-Sui-ish, as in luxuriously goth and flowery, the products would also make great gifts.

Check it all out at Sephora.com.



Speaking of the make-up mammoth, what's up with the whole pin-up look they're pimping? Not that I mind, but it's not exactly a mass marketable summer look. Or if it is, what else did I miss? Is Dita doing a lingerie line for Hanes Her Way?

A bird-brained idea for summer

One really cute pattern that’s been fluttering about on retro-looking dresses and cardigans for years—yet still somehow manages to stay fresh looking—is anything with birds. And I’m not just talking sailor-style swallows, either although I like those, too. They sure were a welcome substitute when nautical and rockabilly clothing designs became overwhelmed with cherries and anchors.

Plus, the birds I’m talking about don’t have to look like they hopped out of somebody’s tattoo. They can just be dainty and cute, like the one on this sleeveless top from Anthropologie.

But, if you’re not feeling Anthropologie’s prices—this top is $90—there are some other sweet as a tweet options available from the company’s kid sister, Urban Outfitters. Just check out the accessories section with lovebird earrings ($18), this “birds in Paris” scarf ($24)and this bird-in-a-cage necklace, a bargain at $10.

Stud muffins

So apparently the trend for studded stuff is here to stay, which for rock girls just means that now is a good time to stock up.
I'm not sure how studs gained mass appeal, although it looks like the popularity of grommets going the way of the tent dress is probably a factor. And studs, with their punk rock chic, will probably sell a lot better than the other logical substitute for clothing embellishments—rhinestones, the day of which has come and gone too recently for a comeback.
Meanwhile, I’m drooling over these skinny jeans with studded pockets
from Urban Outfitters.
I’m also spying with mylittle eye accessories like cute clutches in fun rainbow colors and these drop earrings.



For stud-lovers with no money to spend on trendy clothing or accessories, now is the time to get DIY and crafty with the clothing you already have. Just add studs, using pliers and your imagination to make stuff like skinny jeans and pumps more interesting.
You can buy silver-tone studs in bulk at Punkutopia.com. or Punkandpissed.com.
Gold and other color studs can be found at Studsandspikes.com.

That scarf is the bomb!

So much has been made of the now-yanked Dunkin Donuts ad that featured Rachael Ray wearing a paisley scarf that resembled a keffiyeh, admittedly an accessory worn by those who want to show their solidarity with Palestinians. (Well, at least in certain neighborhoods in Brooklyn they do.)


Late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat rocks his signature look in some online photo I swiped, date unknown

Now I don't want to turn this post into a political debate, but I can safely say that a trend credited to Yasser Arafat isn't a symbol I'd want to be associated with. Still, I also don't think it should mean that anyone who likes the look of checkered or houndstooth patterned scarves should have to be afraid to wear them in fear someone will mistake them for a terrorist sympathizer.

This is especially an issue right now, because these patterned scarves are everywhere--and in some very spring-friendly color combos, I might add. There’s pink and black, blue and green, lavender and white, not to mention black and white of course.


A Manhattan street vendor's rainbow-y display of houndstooth scarves, my photo

Personally I love the look of a casual patterned scarf. The houndstooth ones out now are comfy and easily work for summer or winter, in that they look just as great over a faded tee as they do draped around the collar of a leather MC jacket. Line your eyes with some smeared kohl and you’re done. Then again, you may be literally done if someone on the street decided you’re making a political statement and attacks you for it. Granted, in culturally diverse NYC I don’t know how likely such a thing is to happen, but I also don’t know if, given the current political climate, I’m willing to risk being mistaken for something I'm not in the name of fashion.

How about you?

Welcome to My Life in Pink Leopard. Come in, won't you?

Welcome to my blog, My Life in Pink Leopard.

This isn’t a blog about me, although it will offer plenty of personal opinions on style. Read them if you want. Ignore them if you don’t.

To give you a little background, I’m not at all wealthy, but I’ll always try to find creative ways to shop; buying new things on eBay while selling off the stuff I’m bored with is probably the main way. Fashion-wise, my looks change as often as my underwear, but my top style muses are Dita Von Teese, British songbird Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Winona Ryder and the random chicks I see on the streets of Manhattan and Jersey City who build their outfits around skinny jeans and vintage-looking scarves. I wear some designer labels but refuse to build my entire wardrobe around them or believe that I need to blow all my rent money to look stylish. I’ve been accused of being a closet goth, (including once by Isaac Mizrahi as he filmed an episode of his show on Fifth Avenue.) I suppose I can’t deny that, but I wouldn’t call this a goth fashion blog—and I promise, no more celeb name dropping.

Feel free to pipe in with your own musings on fashion and beauty whether you agree with mine or not.

Exes and ohs,
Pretty in Pink Leopard