It’s the eve of Mother’s Day weeend, and shopping/fashion/beauty blog SheFinds found it’s time to…

» Be driven.  “Derek Jeter is expanding his presence in the grooming industry. His fist hit, the fragrance Driven, is now the basis for a three-part skincare regimen that is meant to be complete, yet easy for the average Joe to understand.”

» Buy a Band-Aid Active Flex Blister Block Stick for your Jimmy Choo boo boos. “For the first time ever, I’m able to wear even my cutest shoes—no matter how new, tall or painful they might be—without an ounce of pain.”

» Go for Balancing (Conditioner by JOICO). “Over the years, I’ve definitely noticed a clear difference between the quality of pharmacy shampoos and salon shampoos. One such high quality brand that I’ve used through the years is called ‘JOICO.’ ”

» Wrap things up.  “This BCBGirls ‘Leanna’ jersey wrap dress is dark enough to set off my [pale] skin without making me sallow, while the low-cut blouson top means I’ll still stand out in a sea of color”

»  Get bent.  “Benefit Cosmetics Get Bent Mascara does it all: lifts, curls, lengthens and separates. It’s kind of like a push-up bra for your lashes. “

It’s the first Friday of May, lovelies, and beauty/fashion/shopping super blog SheFinds found its time to…

»  Brighten up. “This spring, I’m brightening up my face with Youngblood Pressed Eyeshadow Quads. The names, Mermaid and Purple Majesty, may appeal to my childhood Disney aspirations (“I wanna be where the people are…”), but the look is totally grownup goddess.”

» Buy a boss lady bag. “You’re a busy woman, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be a stylish one, too. Check out actress, mom and trendsetter Sarah Jessica Parker and her Givenchy Bettina satchel”

» Get under control. “Every time I buy a new tube of mascara, I secretly cry a little (on the inside, of course), knowing that my last tube would still be half full if not for the constant tissue wipe-downs necessary to keep me from looking like a lady of the night. But no more, since the geniuses behind Lash Control mascara are apparently just as sick of banishing half their beauty booty to the trashcan as I am.”

» Enjoy summer time. “Your leather-band winter watch shouldn’t be strapped to your wrist for the next four months. You need a watch that’s light, bright and ready for summer. Enter this slink, silver Sisley.”

» Be colorful, sans salon. “If you’re not a fan of highlights, but you want to give your hair some pizazz, then check out Sunsilk Beyond Color Boost, available for both brunettes and blonds alike.”

In the middle of March Madness, SheFinds found it’s time to…

» Lighten up your nine-to-five. “Spice up your work look with the new Banana Republic criss-cross front dress in ‘cactus flower.’ “

» Go Bardot. “Your shoes shouldn’t be an afterthought and these Bridget Bardot, retro wedges will have you planning entire outfits around your footwear.” 

» Mix a ‘tini for your skin. “Since harsh winter winds can wreak havoc on your skin, causing redness, dryness and sensitivity, consider trying Bobbi Brown’s Brightening Facial Water.”

» Thaw out, sans getting cold. “Stock up on some great layering pieces, like the Gap 3/4-Sleeve smocked voile top.”

» Detox, un-Hollywood style. “Widely used in Japan for decades and based on reflexology, these distilled bamboo vinegar patches actually extract toxins such as nickel, arsenic and mercury from your system while you sleep.”

While our Sean gets his e-grub on at least three times a day, your K is busy virtually voguing and devouring fashion and beauty blogs—

Instead of eating.

Though my questionable (non-)eating habits are mostly due to my self-imposed diet of soy lattes and a mini fridge full of vintage fur, versus food, I’m considering passing the buck and maybe blaming steady consumption of Vogue and glammy glossies for my breaking up with myself if I grow past a size two. ‘Cause it can’t be your K’s fav fashion and beauty blogs, as they’re hardly shrines to twiggy, super duper models.

Chat with Shiny Shiny’s Catwalk Queen, and instead of worshipping at the altar of Kate Moss, or daily dishing Prada Pucci Gucci gear—ahem—the Oprah of fashion blogs is talking to you like your BFF. ‘Cause—

“If you’re like me, then exercising can be a real drag,” blogs Catwalk Queen’s Helen Lee.

...continued: Virtually Vogue

It’s the first Friday of  March, dolls - inches away from spring, SheFinds found it’s time to…

» Let your winter wardrobe come to a halt(er). “Warmer temperatures mean it’s time to finally show some skin. Heads may have turned for Jessica Biel in her hot pink halter at the Oscars, but because I can’t afford de la Renta, it’s the Ella Moss ruffle halter top that’s getting me excited to do a few extra bicep curls.” 

» Smell like Beckham. “So, maybe I am a tiny bit jealous, and that’s why I really wanted to dislike his cologne. I was hoping for some lame Rico Suave scent that I could mock with all my hipster friends. This is not the case, and I’m not quite bitter enough to pass up an awesome new cologne just because I’m insanely jealous of David Beckham.” 

» Gift yourself some pretty. “Every girl has that pair of earrings… that dress… the necklace that makes her feel oh-so-pretty every time she wears it. And  Amy Bengtson’s designs do it for me.”

» Go back to the future, a la Geren Ford’s retro kimono top. “Though both the kimono style, and the sparkly midnight blue color are trends this season, you won’t look like you’ve been hit with the trend truck.”

» Save face. “Feeling lucky?  If you’re gearing up for a hot date with someone so special that you’ve shaved your legs in preparation for the evening’s potential adventures, then be sure to tuck a little life-saver into your tote.  Benefit, by Benefit Cosmetics, is a one-product-wonder that will take your morning-after face from freakish to fresh in the blink of an eye.”

Happy Friday, ladies and fellas.  Three weeks into a fresh double-oh-seven, and SheFinds found it’s time to…

» Observe a happy marriage, a la Nike+’s sleeveless seamless top.  “The latest (and likely the sweatiest) partnership between the iPod and its many adoring followers has spawned a line of tanks and short- and long-sleeve shirts by Nike that is designed with pockets to fit iPod Nano.”

» Moisturize, to the third power. “My mantra has always been “moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!” but sometimes my dry skin needs even more than my ritual morning-and-night slathering of moisturizer. Enter Natty Girl’s Neroli Face Serum, the hearty drink my parched skin craves.”

» Consolidate. “Sometimes, we get lazy with our skincare routine.  Who really has time or patience to squeeze out gels and scrub her face every time she ‘glows’ or walks through a cloud of exhaust? Thankfully for us can’t-be-bothered types, one pump is all you need to get the benefit of this all-in-one cleansing foam [MD Skincare All In One Cleansing Foam].”

» Lounge, lovely lady style. “Downtime doesn’t have to mean sloppy sweatpants day. The frilly plunging neckline and short hemline [of this Anthropologie Zoey lie-a-bed v-neck] will make you feel like an elegant, feminine lazy bum, which is much better than feeling like a plain old lazy bum, which we’re all entitled to be once in a while.”

» Enjoy the laptop of luxury. “You didn’t spend beaucoup bucks on college, scour the globe for the perfect job, and endure a grueling interview process only to have to schlep your business gear around town in just any old carrier. At least that’s the thinking behind Violet May’s line of luxurious, for-women-only laptop bags.”

It’s the first Friday of January, and SheFinds found it’s time to…

» Keep pouring the bubbly, a la OoohLaLa of Beverly Hills Cocktail Hour Bubble Bath. “This bubble bath is far more soothing than a cosmo, and won’t lead to late night calls to your ex.”

» Get your boy beautiful on his go, with MALIN + GOETZ Travel Kit.  “It contains everything a guy needs for travel – from face cleanser and moisturizer to body cleanser and lotion to shampoo and conditioner. (And you may recall that we’re already big fans of their Peppermint Hair Shampoo.) Plus, there’s extra room for your guy’s must have personal items.”

» Fall in love with denim that’s pure S-E-X, know Fidelity denim.  “It’s not all that different from falling in love. When it’s right, you just know. You don’t need advice from your girlfriends, and you don’t have to tie a shirt around your waist to hide your insecurities. It just fits.” 

» Resolve to love your skin, let Von Natur’s Balance Facial Creme Cleanser give you some counseling. “This year I have promised myself that I would take better care of my skin. Living in Chicago, I experience tropical highs, Artic lows, and brutal blasts of wind- sometimes all in the same day. As a result, there are times when I feel like my skin is taking on a “Tales from the Crypt” look.”

»  Get your meow on, kitty cat. “Snow or no snow, it’s still an urban jungle out there. Go on the prowl in these [cheetah-print BP. ‘Deluxe’ boots].”

One more Friday until C-day, and shoppinistas SheFinds found it’s time to…

» “Be a really good friend this season and introduce someone to Burt’s Bees. If you can find someone who’s not already a fan of the natural, nourishing line. Give them a taste of all the goodies with Buy Burt’s Bees Essential Body Kit.” 

» Get your homework on in business class. “If you’re headed to boardroom battles, be inspired by Agrippina’s political savvy, which landed her a spot as Empress and the only woman in Rome to have the honorific Augusta. (Rome eventually demonized her; contemporary accounts paint a lifestyle that would make Paris Hilton blush.)”

» Prettify your passport, a la Passport Panties. “Passport panties set off in search of ‘Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Panties’ and touched down with three main panty products – the Playful Panty, Predicament Panty, and Primping Panty, each featuring a stylish set of ‘emergency equipment’ for the situation.”

» Be a pedi princess, and go UGG-ly.  “Bootie Pies are suede, UGG-style boots you take with you to the nail salon whenever you’re feeling the urge for a pedi during the snowy, slushy winter months.”

» Update your RAZR or stock a stocking with e.l.f. “The Hypershine Mini Cell Phone Lip Gloss Charm ($5) is a great holiday surprise, but maybe advise your friends not to talk on the phone while applying the new lip gloss, you wouldn’t want them to look too smart.”

Less than three more weeks to C-Day, and SheFinds found it’s time to…

» Get your moisturizer on, love your skin with satin sheets hand and body creme by Melba’s Paradise Potions.  “In the winter I become obsessive about keeping my skin—especially my hands—moisturized, and I’m always hunting for a lotion that’s strong enough to soften my skin without leaving a greasy film. So far Satin Sheets Hand and Body Creme has earned a coveted place by my computer.” 

» Buy your best cocktail party date: high heels. “Every holiday season affords us another opportunity to search out the perfect pair of party shoes.” Like these Seychelles “Mesmerized” peep toes.

» Stop and smell the designer gardenias. “Bring a little garden glam into your home without getting your hands the least bit dirty.  Fans of Marc Jacobs Perfume are scooping up this collector’s edition Gardenia bottle.”

» Invest in a vest. “Warm up to the idea of a vest this winter. Perfect for jumping in and out of the car, or running errands, it’s the perfect item for pulling off this season’s layering trend, or for wearing your new, bell-sleeved sweater without crushing the bell. This J.Crew goosedown puffer vest has the added bonus of fleece-lined pockets “ 

» Enjoy a cheap date: another pair of party heels, a la PayLess. “I once read that you should spend more money on daywear than eveningwear because it’s darker at night (clearly a nuclear-physicist developed this theory), thus you can get away with wearing cheap shoes. Good to know for future reference, but these Payless “Lady” pumps will pass muster under the universally unflattering glare of fluorescent lights.” 

Get your holiday hustle on - it’s the  first Friday of December, and SheFinds found it’s time to:

» Shop hard, shop charitably, “shop the Charity Christmas Sample Sale at YOOX.COM. Starting today, and running through December 5, YOOX.COM partners with Amnesty International to host its biggest sample sale ever.”

» Treat your boy like a boy, stuff his stocking with Clubman Country Club shampoo enriched with panthenol. “This shampoo looks like it’s made for A Man. A Man who buys seven of the exact same shirts so that he doesn’t have to bother with laundry. A Man who will muscle open jars, paint your living room and kill icky crawly things. A Man who wants to look and smell good, without being all frou-frou about it.”

» Glam up your face while loving animals more than PETA. “Fyrinnae eyeshadow doesn’t test on animals, doesn’t use excess packaging, and doesn’t use any animal products. What it does, is provide pigment with a capital P. Choose from over 130 eyeshadows, and never worry about buying something too Flash Dance.”

» Be a shape shifter, a la Newport-News shapewear. “Thanksgiving is over, but that turkey is still making its way to your hips, thighs, and middle.  And with Christmas just around the corner with its own delicious, yet waist-enhancing indulgences, this holiday season is taking a toll on your figure.”

 » Invest in a little black watch, like Coach’s “Madison” watch. “Every month a different glossy magazine does a page on the Little Black Dress. Why? Because it’s the one wardrobe staple that will take you a very long way. But think of this: the small, skinny, simply perfect black watch. It’s the little black dress of watches. “

With the first week of November, SheFinds found it’s time to…

» Go royal without going into the red. “If royal purple is the “it” color for fall 2006, as seen at recent award shows on numerous celebrities, then what would be better than a multiple-thousand-dollar designer gown? Well, for those of us who can’t afford to blow several thousand bucks on a dress, how bout a more affordable item, like a purse.” Check this Satin Bow Tie Clutch by Chinese Laundry.

» Moisturize more than those pre-winter chapped lips. “You highlight. You blow dry. You straighten. You’ve even permed (admit it, already). Yet still you lather, rinse and repeat the vicious cycle. I tried Biotherm Nourishing Shampoo for Dry and Damaged Hair on my uber processed hair, and my damaged strands actually felt…soft.”

» Invest in a dress you can rock 9 to 5, 5 to 9. “If you don’t already have a wrap dress in your work outfit circulation, it’s time to get one. Get yourself this uniformly flattering, Boden Jersey Wrap Dress.”

» Travel pretty and protected, with Ultra-Lightweight 29in. Wheeled Packing Case. “Holiday season is almost here, and with holiday season comes holiday traveling. Once in a while when I’m at the airport waiting for my flight, I’ll peek outside at the baggage carts hoping to see my luggage make it on the plane safely. Usually, when I do spot my bag, it’s unfortunately situated at the bottom of the stack of luggage. Who wants crushed luggage, squished bath products, and wrinkled clothing?”

» Buy comfy heels, because Oprah says so. “Prepare to be Oprahsuaded that you NEED a new pair of shoes.   Gordon Thompson III, Executive Vice President/Creative Director of Cole Haan will be on air explaining the inspiration and design behind the state of the art high heel, the Nike Air Dress Collection,” which includes these Cole Haan Collection ‘Afina Air’ Pumps.

Fella fashion blogger Lesley Scott is the “New York City-based Editor-in-Chief & Publisher of Fashiontribes.com, five fashion & lifestyle magazines customized by fashion personality or ‘tribe’, a daily blog, podcast, and even the occasional videoblog.” Podcasting daily for the Podcaster News network about the fashion industry, penning a weekly column for the Fashion Designers section of Suite 101,and Blog Editor-at-Large for Glam.com, a popular online fashion & shopping media site with an extensive network of influential fashion, beauty, lifestyle & celebrity blogs —

She must drink as many soy lattes as I do.

Check Fashion Tribes’ shopcast here, and read on as I play Q&A with Lesley.

...continued: Q&A with Lesley Scott, Fashion Tribes Editor

Gi-Gi’s the genius behind Want Need Have, a fashion blog that reads like a wishlist of mine.

It was when I saw this Kenzie cape on her blog and this Rebecca Taylor coat on her shopcast I had to play Q&A with Gi-Gi.

...continued: Q&A with Gi-Gi of Want Need Have

A magazine beauty editor at Elle, Glamour, Lucky and Teen People, in 2005 Tia Williams said tah-tah to the glossies to “focus on my writing career. My first ‘chick lit’ novel, THE ACCIDENTAL DIVA, debuted in April 05, and also I co-wrote Iman’s beauty book, THE BEAUTY OF COLOR (Oct. 05).”

And Tia also runs  SHAKE YOUR BEAUTY, where she chats honestly about beauty for all ladies of color.

Check Tia’s beautilicious shopcast here, and read on as we play Q&A.

...continued: Q&A with Beauty Blogger Tia Williams

If you gloss over fashion blogs, you know Shiny Media and its bevvy of bloggettes  - Shoewawa, The Bag Lady,  Catwalk Queen, Trashionista, Kiss and Makeup - are like the Oprah of beauty/fashion blogging: more than dictating ice cool vogue, they’re girlfriends who want to dish with you.

So I had to dish with Gemma Cartwright - shopcast here - “fashion editor for Shiny Media, Europe’s leading new media publishers.” Gemma Cartright “joined Shiny in 2004 to launch Shoewawa.com and now look after and write for most of our women’s titles. I also help present Shiny TV and the One Minute Reviews, and spend lots of time surfing the web for new ideas, new writers and interesting stuff!” 

...continued: Q&A with Gemma Cartwright, Fashion Editor of Shiny Media

Maybe you’ve checked Mighty Marce’s Fantabulous! makeup blog, which I discovered via her shopcast, a list of lovely everything from gorgeous MAC Cosmetics | Fluidline stickered “awesome” to body beauty BODYGLIDE / Anti-Friction Skin Formula stickered “superb.”

When I spotted her Look of Love Eye Pencil pick, I knew a woman after my own smoky-eyed heart, I knew -

We had to play Q&A. 

...continued: Q&A with Mighty Marce

Urban Socialite serves up her fav ways to follow New York fashion week:

Best Fashion Week Commentary:
Robin Givhan’s Washington Post Blog “Off the Runway” is my favorite place for fashion week commentary. Not blinded by the glitz and bling, Ms. Givhan gives it to you straight with unrivaled humor and insight!

Best Behind the Scenes Coverage:

Fashion Week Daily is the source for the best behind the scenes coverage. Don’t let The Daily Front Row’s size fool you either. This fashion tent staple is packed with exclusive photo’s, interviews, and dirty little fashion secrets. Plus, the powers that be at FWD are nice enough to let us download the magazine for free in PDF format for instant browsing.

Check her other fashion week favorites here. 

The post looks like a shopcast, it talks like a shopcast… When are you playing with us, Urban Socialite?

Shopcasting products works because we’ve all got different reasons why we love the products we love.

Check it -

Here’s foxy fashion blog Crafty Like A Fox’s comments on New York Fashion Week jewelry: 

“Upon first glance, I am struck by the boldness of jewellery this season. From the enormous chain-and-bead extravaganzas seen from Marc Bouwer to the thick bangles from Ashish N Soni, the chunkiness that has graced jewellery stores this year does not seem to be leaving anytime soon, much to my chagrin. While I am an advocate of the ‘more-is-more’ philosophy for jewellery, the big plastic bracelets and what looks like corsages from Verrier, seems too clumsy for my liking. Ghetto glam designer Baby Phat has also exhibited a few geometric shoulder-sweeping earrings that I am hoping doesn’t catch on. While I could be a bigger fan of their jewellery, I am loving the clean cut looks of the Ashish N Soni collection…”

Here’s what KRiSTOPHER DUKES would comment when shopcasting this jewelry:

“Ooh la love.” 

Just like ThisNext isn’t only about the most pop blog Bridesmaids Gifts celebrates weddings as events not just about the bride:

“Your attendants have enough to worry about on the big day: squeezing into their bridesmaids’ dresses, avoiding underwear lines, choosing comfy shoes. They shouldn’t have to worry about bridesmaid jewelry too! Simplify your girls’ life when you get them these ingenious bridesmaids’ gifts: hand painted jewelry trays with cute compartments for each jewelry genre. Cheeky illustrations signify “rings,” “bracelets” and “earrings” so every lovely accessory is in it’s place and fully accessible. No rummaging necessary! Maybe this will make up for those chartreuse bridesmaids’ dresses…”

Because September means back to school.

Because autumn still feels like the beginning of new year even though I’ve never dug school.

Because a designer messenger bag is also an easy chic laptop bag, especially if you live in LA.

I dig this Juicy Couture messenger bag, as discovered via Luxist Handbags.