As far as she’s concerned, blocks above 14^th St. are not part of Manhattan.

As for Los Angeles, she’s rarely, barely there, though she’ll maybe play in WeHo, breeze through MOCA, or get her soy cappuccino on in Los Feliz. 

Call her a high brow about the low brow, a low brow about the high brow, and she’ll just shake her head of carefully dissheveled hair.

Total downtown doll.

So for stuffing her stocking, forget the Starbucks card - I told you, send those to me and I’ll love you like a pair of five-inch Loubies - and start with some overpriced hair product.

American Crew Fiber  “is men’s hair product that works for the girls as well,” says Susan W. “Waxy with a matte finish. Smells like lemons. Share it with your husband—or not.” 

Hmm, not. 

And “If I want my naturally thin and very slightly wavy hair to look like I spent a day at the beach then rolled around in bed for awhile,” says Heather Haber. 

Ooh la love, Ms. Heather.

...continued: Gift Guide: Downtown Doll

It’s you, your BFF, your boy, your brother, a select few friends, and Everyday Italian: 125 Simple and Delicious Recipes, hanging at home for the holidays.

The most fashion analysis you can expect is your baggy-panted brother asking your friend why she can’t afford tights that go over her feet instead of getting cut off at the ankle.

And I’m still not going to recommend rocking flats.

Though I do dig these kind of kitten-heeled Kitara Boots by Miss Sixty. 

“These are just flat-out sexy,” says Lisa Jay, “and that’s always a good thing.” 

Ooh la love, you got it, doll. 

...continued: Holiday Party Outfit: At the Flat

So Ms. Marie has got me on a French kick.

Let’s play Parisian, ladies, starting with something for the gentlemen.

The French House monks purse for men is chicer than your Italiano Gucci belt bag. “A stylish yet unusual way for you men to carry you loose change around hooks to your belt,” agrees Di Overton. “The same purse the French Monks used to carry the alms money.”

You could also rock more obviously chic, but lesser known, un-Louis luxe, via Goyard St. Louis PM tote.

...continued: Ooh La Love: All Things French

Maybe it’s Marc-y Marc Jacobs’ current glam grunge, perhaps it’s just cooling temperatures, but the fashionable are shouting for layers: a tank dress over a mock turtleneck, a solid cami under a thin tunic, opera gloves peaking out of a ¾-sleeved jacket.

Layering can be warmly chic, but you’ll want to avoid bulk in favor of clean lines and clever volume.

...continued: Ooh La Love: Layering Right

While we’re far from pimping and picking only the latest designer duds, oft enough big names are big for good reason: solid quality, detailed design, making and breaking trends -

And drowning in logos means your drowning in cash.

Or credit card debt.

Though I hope you’re only rocking that Hermes Watches H-our watch ‘cause it fits your budget, Ms. Nam Kim.

...continued: Ooh La Love: Designer Ish

With the web promoting transparency and real reviews by real people, with all the talk about democratizing fashion and then some, Carolina Herrera says, “Criticism? No fashion show for you!”

Reports Catwalk Queen:

“No one say anything mean about these pictures from Carolina Herrera’s New York Fashion Week Show. She doesn’t like it, and if you criticise her? Why, you will be banned! Just like famous fashion critic Cathy Horyn of the New York Times, who found that her name wasn’t down and she wasn’t getting into the Herrera show this week.

Cathy’s crime? She criticised Herrera’s last Autumn/Winter collection, and the designer isn’t prepared to risk letting the same thing happen again. No criticism here, though: I’m already lusting over the Mouret-style shift dress in the middle…” 

Personally, I’m digging that number to the left, though I’d prefer the skirt slashed above the knees. Don’ t tell Ms. Herrera.

You could rock Chanel satin black polish like Nicole Mischa Lindsay Barton Richie, or you could tattoo your chic on your digitz.

Blogs High Snobiety: 

“Subpar covers aside, there are always at least a couple of items of interest in the pages of Nylon. The September issue includes a six-page pictorial of “Street Style from Beijing to Berlin,” which is pretty good, and then there’s a feature on nail tattoos, which are just the neatest thing I have seen in a while. The way it works it that a tattoo is etched onto your nail and it lasts until the nail grows out. The trend got its start at New Wave Tattoo in London, but the nails in the image below were made possible by Scott Campbell at Saved Tattoo in Brooklyn.”

Though we’re more about discovering products through real product recommendations than hating on things, constructive criticism can be priceless.

As can be commandments about fashion. Yet Another Fashion Blog has a list of ways you could end up in fashion Hell:

1. Little girls dressed as dolls. OK, I hate this. Mothers, please do not treat your poor children who cannot fight back as they are not yet teens like dolls. I saw a girl today who was about 7 and was wearing this outfit: black polka dotted leggings, pink shift, polka dotted hairband, sparkly ballet flats. That just makes grown girls look ridiclou. Like Mini-Me.
2. Uggs. Please, get over them already. Especially the pinks ones. *shivers* ESPECIALLY girls who will go to fashion hells for wearing tracksuits tucked into them. *shivers*
3. Ponchos. Why are you still wearing them?!
4. People who insist on dressing like it’s hot, even though it’s raining. Take a cue from people with a bit of sense, and wear something other then a flimsy dress. You have no excuse, it’s been raining for two days straight. 5. Clones. Note: style is not dressing like a clone with the tracksuit/Uggs thing. (This is actually a trend. Ick.) It is wearing some fashionable pieces to accentuate your absolutely fabulous style.

She’s just looking out for us.

We love discovering new products, but more than novelty and fresh design we’re about quality.

Style blogger Molly Bloom gets it:

“Precious few things are true classics. Many so-called classics are tweaked toward the trends of an era, with changes to color, size or shape. True classics are dignified and unchanging, like a single string of pearls. A single strand of pearls is timeless — they bring a quiet and respectable touch of glamour.”

We love “Yay or Nay” Wednesdays over at the Shiny Media blogs.

You get to vote on products they blog about, which is similar to what we’re all about - instead of dictating to you what’s in, we’re interested in if you like a product, and why.

So go get your vote on at The Bag Lady - don’t let my opinion skew you, but, le shock, I’m a fan of the furry bag.

We’re believe in individual, personal interpretations of products and their uses.

For instance: some see hyper quilted underwear, as discovered via Bra-making with Bra-makers.

I see a chic summer top.

Why do we loveth thee, bloggers? Let me nameth reason number 82934792837489237:

Because they do not love a product simply because a celebrity rocks it.

Says fashion blog BGlam:

“Kate photographed leaving Geoffrey’s Restaurant in Malibu last week (with Orlando Bloom) - wearing a Topshop dress. Big yay for Hollywood celebs wearing clothes from the UK high street! But what do we think…nice dress or ugly dress?”

Shopping is global recreation, style is universal -

It must be, ‘cause I’m enjoying French fashion blog Pur Style on three years of high school Francais. Looks like Kate Moss’s chic is enjoyed worldwide (along with gossip about her having “sniffer de la coke.”

At ThisNext, while we’re firm believers in quality, gorgeous design, we also firmly believe aesthetics are up for debate.

But we have to go with Fashion Binge on these shoe… things:

This unfortunate footwear had a tragic run-in with an old-school pair of E.G. Smith slouch socks, a pair of orthopedic slip-ons and a Bedazzler. Tragedy.

($91.20 [???????], Irregular Choice — wtf? I usually love them! — the erroneously named Houseofstyle.com)

At ThisNext, we believe style is universal -

It can be found in a cell phone, a handbag, a toothbrush, it transcends mediums and languages -

Evidence? No clue what Annas blog is saying, but its photos of outfits and Audrey Hepburn speak volumes of chic to me.