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Okay, so not many celebs excite me all that much truthfully...

I have been apartment hunting in NYC with Janet Jackson, stood there while a tipsy Drew Barrymore dropped her wine glass and it shattered among our feet in LA, joked with Will Smith on both coasts, etc., etc., etc...

But, there are rare moments when something excites and entertains

Enter Beyonce and Lady Gaga.





I love Beyonce's post-Ghetto fab gum-chewing and Gaga's Marilyn-meets-Sylvester soul.

These are two pop stars who get it. They play with image, attitude, sexuality and fame with a seriousness in execution, but always with a wink in meaning.

Many people are criticizing Bey for supposedly jacking Rihanna's style (the sharp blond swoop).

Whatevs.

Gaga says she wanted to pay homage to Beyonce and this is why she is dressed like her, hair down and flowing and she is singing like her if you listen to the vocals.

This video is visually striking (thanks to veteran music director Hype Williams) and just plain fun.

P.S. Beyonce, we see you swiped Leomi's (of "America's Best Dance Crew" group Vogue Evolution) signature back and forth head swag. It's okay though. ;)

Isoul H. Harris
Managing Editor Atlanta
Twitter: isoulharris

Written by: Isoul H. Harris

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

Dear Paris, France:

Merci beaucoup for hosting me this last week! Wow! What a stunning, history-rich city you have! Kudos!

Although you don't need any extra feedback at this point, especially from an American, I thought I'd throw some out there for the hell of it, based on my four days there last week. Take it or leave it. I'm assuming you'll leave it, as that appears to be your style. After all, you don't need anyone telling you what to do or how to be. You're Paris, after all! City of Lights, effortless fashion and chain smokers! Plus you're, like, way older than any city in the U.S., so it's not like you're gonna change now. You're kind of like a beloved 95-year-old grandma who “outs” her gay grandson and boozes it up daily because, hey, she's earned the right to at her age, eh?

Pros:
The Louvre, the gargoyles at Notre Dame, Restaurant Georges on the rooftop of the Centre Pompidou, pretty much everything about the La Marais neighborhood, the Salade Paysanne at Cafe D'Olympic in Vendome, that efficient Metro system of yours, the views of the Champs-Élysées from the Arc du Triomphe, and the green garbage bag-lined trashcans on every corner (tres environmentally responsible!)

Cons:
The snippety wait staff at the overpriced Cafe Marley at the Louvre, the bitchy chick at the billet window at the Metro (though I fully suspect her shoes were on too tight, which would make anyone grumpy), the asshole driver from the taxi service who took us to the airport (didn't even return my smiling “bonjour!”), the cattle-call-like organization of the elevators at the Eiffel Tower, and the Bastille (WTF, just a pole more or less?)

Feel free to shoot me any thoughts on the above. Thanks again for having me!

Best regards,


Sarah Daoust
944 Magazine
San Diego Managing Editor

Written by: Sarah Daoust

this past weekend i had the honor of attending carnivale du vin, sponsored by the emeril lagasse foundation.

700 guests gathered for an evening of food, wine and music for children's causes on november 13 and 14 at the venetian and palazzo hotels in las vegas.

chefs emeril lagasse, mario batali, daniel boulud, wolfgang puck, charlie trotter and other top chefs and winemakers participated in the tasting. batali was recognized as the 2009 carnivale du vin honoree. proceeds support programs such as the three square food bank kid’s café in las vegas and edible schoolyard in new orleans.

the best dish of the evening was wolfgang puck's macaroni and cheese and michael mina's shrimp po' boy.

i had seconds on the mac.

it is a rare occasion to see so many amazing chefs in one place for a good cause. throw in the vintners and it was an all around amazing night.

Written by: Melinda Sheckells

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

Everything I Ever Needed to Know, I Learned from Diddy

1.Have lots of “people.”
Diddy has a LOT of people. He has one person schedule the interview, another person to confirm the time, a different person to call and push back the time, a guy to meet everyone at the door and walk them into the room and most importantly, one super intimidating dude to throw hard looks at the people wandering into the background of Diddy's on-camera interview. I've watched "I Want to Work for Diddy" on occasion, and from what I saw today, it looks instead of just narrowing it down to one person, he should have just hired the whole lot of them. Except for that Poprah person, of course, because she is thoroughly disgusting.

2.One can never be “too sparkly.”
This particular stop on the press junket was held in a dark night club illuminated only by a few candles scattered around on tables and the approximately 8000 carats of diamonds that Diddy was sporting. I thought about asking him if they were real, but the mean-look giver (see above) was still nearby and frankly, Diddy doesn't really give off the “Hey let's joke around and have some fun” vibe. He looked really pretty and twinkly though, and I would too if he would just let me borrow that damn necklace.

3.Vodka is not a replacement for water.
As you may or may not know, Diddy is the spokesman for delicious Ciroc vodka, makers of the amazing nectar that is Coconut Ciroc, for which I have been patiently waiting to hit store shelves for far TOO long. It's taking TOO DAMN LONG, people. Anyway, I thought it would be fun to ask the Diddy if he had any hangover tips or tricks, because it's basically a chronic condition I suffer from. I sort of expected him to say, “gargle with diamonds,” or “Try resting your head on a 400 ounce London Good Delivery gold bar,” but he said something way more shocking. He said, “Responsible drinking means more than just not drinking and driving, it means not drinking too much in the first place.” Whoa, what? Maybe if I spent less time nursing hangovers I could be iced up crazy and hire a mean guy to give people dirty looks on my behalf.
Maybe I'll try it. At least till that Coconut Ciroc gets delivered.

(oh, in case you wondered- I didn't get close enough to smell him.)
Written by: Laurel May

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

Whatever you do, please don’t drink water from plastic bottles on a daily basis. Especially not bottles that have been sitting around for god knows how long. If they are exposed to heat they will have a high concentration of BPA, a known hormone disruptor and suspect in Type 2 diabetes. Even cancer survivor Sheryl Crow blamed leaving plastic water bottles in hot cars on a regular basis for her cancer. Think about it, you know you've tasted it. When you think your water tastes like "plastic", it's probably BPA. So what to do for water on the go? There are two very good options that are not only better for your health, but easier on your pocket book and the environment. The best being to use a glass bottle filled with filtered water from home. The best part is you don’t even have to buy it. Just clean out a car of juice or other food product and re-christen it as your water bottle. Of course there will be a degree of care you must take, but it’s worth it. The other option is to buy a refillable water bottle like the KOR One Hydration Vessel. They come in four colors and are $29.99 on www.kor.com. Oh and if you have a baby, go retro, be safe and get glass baby bottles. Written by: Hadley Henriette

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

ROBB, the first OPI Concept Salon will be introducing the Immortal Facial that will literally bring skin "back from the dead." It's an oxygenating treatment featuring hemoglobin, which delivers oxygen quickly and effectively in order to kill free radicals and bacteria. A solution of active ingredients such as hydrogen peroxide, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid and retinyl palmitate follow the hemoglobin mixture. Some of the benefits of these treatments include: the promotion of healing and the rejuvenation of tired stressed skin that has been drained by toxins, unhealthy diets and sun damage. Next, micro needle rollers are then swept over the face, allowing for maximum absorption of the products. In addition, the microscopic pricks stimulate the body's repair system and instantaneously produce natural collagen. After oxygen is drawn to the surface, a rosy flush and a rapid warming sensation is produced, resulting in a radiant healthy look that lasts up to ten days.

12246 Ventura Blvd., Studio City | 818.287.6107 | www.robbsalon.com Written by: Kira Coplin

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

Everybody goes on a diet after the holidays, but what about before? Most people may not think it’s worth it to get it in gear, go through the adjustment and work their butts off in the gym just before the holidays, only to see their hard work go down the drain at the Thanksgiving Dinner table or when tempted with a Christmas cookie or the neighbors homemade peanut brittle. But it’s a very smart move. You’ll make wiser choices when faced with temptation and when you do indulge, you’ll enjoy each morsel like a sex-deprived prisoner on a first date. And after the last confetti settles on new years day, and you’ve finished the last bite of hangover grease, it’ll be much easier to get back in diet mode. Instead of forcing yourself to get to the gym and get out your juicer, you’ll be excited to do it. The two weeks we've got before Thanksgiving is plenty of time. Ready, set, go! Written by: Hadley Henriette

Eiffel Tower? Check.

Notre Dame? Check.

The Louvre? Check.

Mastering the underground Metro train? Only got lost once. That’s a check.

Butchering my high school French? Cheque. (Desole, Parisians.)

Yes, I’m plowing my way through the City of Lights for the first time, and I gotta say, it’s lovely. Beautiful buildings, beautiful language, not a rude local encountered yet (except for those chicks who work the billet window at the Metro; they’re salty as hell, but I can’t blame them; how many ignorant, clueless Americans can one take in a day?). All in all, so far, so bon.

Ok, I’ll let up on the choppy Francais. My high school French teachers, Monsieur Fellows and Madame Ellis, once told me when I have my very first dream in French and can understand it, that means I’m officially bi-lingual. I had such a dream spring of my senior year, but haven’t uttered a word of it in at least 12 years. Perhaps with a touch-up course or two I could be back in action? Could the French even stand it?

Because I have got to figure out why I’m getting so many stares and whispers everywhere I go here. And no, I’m not dressed like a harlot. I think its the whole blonde American in the Britney-esque chapeau. So I’ll take it. I just want to be able to banter right back.

On second thought, not being fluent in French may actually be good for me for now. Even opinionated editors need to shut up and be humble once in a while.

Thank you, Paris. Thank you. Written by: Sarah Daoust