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SPOILERS BELOW! STOP READING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHO WON PROJECT RUNWAY!

The Project Runway season finale was last night, and there were some truly amazing clothes in the show. All three ladies did an amazing job, but of course there can only be one winner.

Carol Hannah's collection was dominated by the dresses and gowns she loves so much and makes so beautifully. The gold gown that her model, Lisa, wore was stunning and fit like a dream. The dress with the upside-down-triangle tulle skirt was a great showpiece, and the teal goddess gown was gorgeous. There were a lot of beautiful pieces in her collection, but the problem was that there was no cohesive color story or through line. It looked disparate, and that's why Carol Hannah was the first designer "aut."

Althea's outing was definitely more successful in the "collection" department. You could tell she was designing for a specific women, and some of the pieces echoed her best work from the season. As the judges said, Althea is really clued in to what hip, cool girls want to wear. She sent out a collection of wearable separates/sportswear, but in the end, there wasn't enough of a "wow" factor, so Althea was out.

Leaving Irina the winner!!! Her collection was the strongest in every sense. There was vision, it was styled impeccably, and the clothes looked new, and I would wear almost every single piece she sent down the runway - leather leggings, amazing oversize sweaters, a hooded faux-fur vest, and so much more to covet. Almost everything was black, which got a little criticism from the judges, but overall the collection was the clear winner. Congrats, Irina! Written by: Rebecca Stevens

Fashion favorite Zac Posen is premiering a new line, Z Spoke, at Saks Fifth Avenue this spring. It has just as much style as his signature collection, but will retail for a fraction of the price! WWD has all the details:

http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/zac-posens-new-venture-2375111 Written by: Rebecca Stevens

Christopher Bailey's work for Burberry Prorsum, the runway collection of the British brand known for trench coats and that plaid print, is amazing. Season to season, he always creates something new and fashion forward while honoring the lines 150+ year history, and the 2010 resort collection is no exception.

It's cloud-like and delicate, in a palette of the softest pastels and neutrals. It's also full of fabric innovation, something Burberry has been known for since introducing gabardine in 1880. For example, a jacket that looks like it is made of tulle at first glance is actually leather with shaved "eyelash" trim. Overall, there is a dream-like quality to the collection that takes your breath away.

www.burberry.com

(For more on Resort 2010, check out the December issue of 944 Detroit, on stands December 1!) Written by: Rebecca Stevens

Oliver Peoples put a bit of an odd duo together to model their new Resort/Spring 2010 Collection. Their line of eyewear definitely has a classic feel with modern influence and the photography by Autum De Wilde provides an interesting look at rocker Shirley Manson and actor Elijah Wood. I have no idea how these two came together on this shoot, but it certainly accomplishes its goal of catching my attention.

Written by: D.B. Mitchell

I was watching Gossip Girl last night (laugh if you want, but the clothes are amazing and the soapy plot lines are delicious), and I was distracted by an awful dress worn by the Serena character, played by Blake Lively (the Alice+Olivia dress above in the bottom row). It was like it was trying to be too many things - short, and draped, and slinky, and strong shouldered. My biggest problem was honestly the shoulder pads. They were huge, and I could clearly see their outline because the dress was made of jersey. The poor girl looked like a linebacker.

The current strong-shoulder trend caught fire when Christophe Decarnin sent his spring 2009 Balmain collection down the runway. Jackets, dresses and tops with padded, peaked shoulders were paired with jeans and studded skirts for an undeniably cool futuristic rock star feel. Beyonce was seen wearing the white jacket above, and Rihanna wore a version of the lace top. Bal-mania had begun.

As with all trends, the following season there were a slew of imitators, some more successful than others. There's a fine line between a power shoulder and a Dynasty flashback or football gear.

If you're going to try out the trend, the trick is keeping the proportion right, which is the trickiest part of strong-shouldered silhouettes. The Torn leopard top and Herve Leger dress above in the second row succeed because the silhouette is more peaked, whereas the Donna Karan and Herve Leger coats in the bottom row are cut more straight across, making the look too broad - you don't want your head looking like a pin standing on a table. And the studded William Rast shirt in the bottom row is just a disaster - it looks like she's wearing a denim box. The Donna Karan red dress in the middle row works because the shoulder is subtle, and the William Rast coat works because the shoulder is subtle and coat's skirt brings balance.

So remember: proportion, proportion, proportion if you're looking the try to the strong shoulder trend. Written by: Rebecca Stevens

If you are a woman, make a mental note to look at the eyelashes of your guy friends and/or boyfriend. Typically, their lashes will far outshine that of any woman past the age of 18 despite their attempts for long, luscious Bambi-inspired lashes. Why?

All that mascara gooping, eyelash curling, eyelash extensions, fake eyelashes and glue has essentially made eyelashes quite lovely in the short-term while damaging them in the long-term. According to Alan Rockoff, MD, of The Rockoff Dermatology Center in Brookline, Mass., “In general, traumatizing follicles won't destroy them, but they can thin somewhat over time of you keep messing with them.”

Short of giving up the eyelash curler and tube mascara, which sounds pretty much like the worst idea I’ve heard all day, or opting for LATISSE that was just approved for lash growth by the FDA, is there a more natural way to improve appearance and length?

If I can keep up with the consistency of adding a new product to my nighttime regime, I think neuLash might do the trick. After receiving a tube of it ($150.00 for a three-month supply), I decided I would do a 30-day trial and see if I notice anything. Skin Research Laboratories out of Chatsworth created the product, and it’s chock full of ingredients for all elements of long, fuller lashes. By December 16, I hope so.

www.neulash.com
Written by: Katie Pegler

The venerable blog A Continuous Lean posted some pretty sweet panoramic photos from the early 1900s today. They picked them up from the Library of Congress archive (I believe, anyway), and are definitely worth a look.

www.acontinuouslean.com Written by: D.B. Mitchell

Finding the perfect pair of jeans can be frustrating at best, depressing at worst. So when you find something that works with your body, stick with it.

For me, that's Joe's Jeans.

The brand has 12 signature fits to choose from, including The Chelsea (ultra slim and my favorite jean in the line), The Cigarette (straight and narrow), The Provocateur (petite), The Rocker (lean flare) and The Starlet (slim leg bootcut). There's also a jean called The Honey that's cut specifically to flatter curvier figures.

Joe's also has ridiculously cool washes and details. I'm dieing for the Chelsea with the seamed knee details - so motocross, right? - and my current favorite pair is a black ankle jean with zippers up the back to about mid calf.

The best part is, as premium denim goes, Joe's Jeans are really reasonably priced. So they fit my booty and my wallet. Imagine that.

www.joesjeans.com Written by: Rebecca Stevens

When I first found out about Corona-based Radii Footwear from a friend and then saw them at Attic in Buena Park, I was immediately obsessed. So infatuated, in fact, with the street sneakers that we featured them in the September Fall Fashion Issue. Owner and designer Casey Arisohn puts my fancy for sneakers to shame, however, considering he actually designs a line and can’t have a regular conversation without discussing the aesthetics of shoes.

Yet my bonus with finding this line was when I realized they actually had a women’s line. Dancing shoes! It was my first thought when I browsed the Web site figuring out which shoes would suit me best for a night of dancing and drinking at The Crosby or Proof Bar in Downtown Santa Ana. DTSA is, of course, my favorite place to dance to up-and-coming DJs in Orange County and this line has that city written all over it.

After not being able to find the 420 Top in black from the Fall 2009 line, I begged Arisohn to send me a pair. “I need to take them out dancing …” was my essentially my request �” that, and the fact that I couldn’t find them in OC and I also knew a few guy friends who would be jealous that my kicks could outshine theirs. After Radii being out of stock in 7.5 and me not being able to pick another pair when my heart was set on the black 420 Tops, I forgot about the shoes for a bit.

And something magical happened this morning: I got a box from Radii with my shoes. I ripped them out, velcroed them up and instantly smiled. So comfortable, so shiny … and I already had plans for a night in Santa Ana tomorrow.

Browse away: www.radiifootwear.com
Written by: Katie Pegler

One of 944 Detroit's fabulous interns, Val, showed up at the office today rocking some killer footwear, and they reminded me of another of my favorite fall trends: open toe boots.

When you live somewhere like Michigan, having an open toe shoe that is usually worn in the colder months seems counter intuitive, but they are super fierce, and your toes won't suffer too much if you wear tights. And if you're really tough, it gives you a way to flaunt your pedicure all year round.

1. Korset Boot by Steve Madden, on sale for $119.96, available at www.stevemadden.com

2. Lola Boot by Elizabeth and James, $350, available at www.piperlime.com

3. Kelsey Boot by Luxury Rebel, $275, available at www.shopbop.com

4. Open Toe Boot by Givenchy, $1,195, available at www.shopbop.com.

5. Robot 120 Boot by Christian Louboutin, $1,295, available at www.net-a-porter.com

6. Leena Boot by Rock & Republic, $325, available at www.piperlime.com

Written by: Rebecca Stevens

One of my favorite local boutiques, Phoenicia Association, just relaunched their website yesterday and it's a minimalist's dream. The clean design puts the focus on local photographer Greg Gainor's photos, which show off Phoenicia's outstanding streetwear. Stores like this are fairly common in spots such as LA and NYC, but this local version stands out against more traditional boutiques found throughout the Valley.

Check out the site and, better yet, check out the spot on the southeast corner of 3rd and Garfield in Downtown Phoenix.

821 N. 3rd Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004
602.441.3385
www.wearephoenicia.com Written by: D.B. Mitchell

As the weather gets colder and colder, there's reason to celebrate, gents. Barneys has a fresh crop of Moncler for men. The Italian line makes some of the warmest down jackets in the world, but they won't make you look like a marshmallow with legs. Barneys has an exclusive jacket that's extra sharp, and the high-fashion retailer also carries Gamme Bleu, the masculine counterpart to the uber femme Moncler Gamme Rouge collection.

www.barneys.com Written by: Rebecca Stevens

The two-part Project Runway finale kicks off tonight, and it’s the first time ever there has been an all-female final three. Althea, Carol Hannah and Irina, the final three designers who will show in Bryant Park before finding out who wins the title, are all incredibly talented. I’ve really enjoyed watching their work on the runway this season. The competition is close, but here are my thoughts on the possible outcome:

Althea has shown a lot of creativity and ambition in her designs, so it will be interesting to see what she accomplishes with more time to work on her collection. Her ideas have always been there, so if her execution can catch up, she’s a strong contender for the win.

Carol Hannah’s strongest pieces this season were all dresses, and most of them were long. She had a few pieces that missed the mark, but overall her work was gorgeous, andher Matrix-inspired outfit for the movie genre challenge was amazing. If she’s going to win, she’ll need to branch out and do more than dresses for her final collection.

Irina’s taste and craftsmanship are impeccable, so she’s a strong contender and might even be the statistical favorite. She’s just as good with separates as gowns, and she can accomplish a lot in a short amount of time, so her collection should be pretty impressive.
Written by: Rebecca Stevens

The third season of Mad Men came to a close on Sunday night, and there is now a void in my life. What will I do without Don Draper!?

Not to mention, now I have to go who knows how long without my weekly vintage fashion fix.

To ease my pain, I took a moment to reflect on all the amazing fashion moments that happened this season:

1. Anytime Don Draper, played by Jon Hamm, wore the fedora. Swoon.

2. Don and Betty, played by January Jones, on vacation in Italy, looking glamorous while playing a game of cat and mouse.

3. Trudy, played by Alison Brie, and Peter, played by Vincent Kartheiser, at the Sterling Cooper dinner. I love love love the dress Trudy is wearing - it makes me thing of Reem Acra.

4. Betty's sailor dress. A little too literal for modern everyday wear, but she makes it work, and I love the pleated skirt.

5. Betty's incognito look on a rendezvous with Henry Francis. But there's no way she wouldn't be noticed in that get up (probably her intention, though, right?).

www.amctv.com/originals/madmen Written by: Rebecca Stevens

Written by: Katie Pegler