Nancy's Whereabouts In 2008

Hieu Tran is an occasional contributing writer to Ten Pretty Girls, freelancing and living in San Francisco.

You may have noticed that Nancy Lichtenstein has been MIA of late. Readers who are used to a more frequent stream of articles from her may have pondered her absence, perhaps speculating the reasons for it. Did she have an accident? Did she find something better to do? Did she run out of ideas?

Rest assured, Nancy is doing just fine. She did not have an accident. She did not find something better, because there is nothing better. And she did not run out of ideas, since writers don’t actually come up with ideas; they merely watch the world around them then lie about it.

The reason for Nancy’s absence this year is fairly simple: this year has been very involving. The world is changing fast, and not just the fashion world. From the controversial Beijing Games to the first African American president-elect, Nancy has been getting involved in an attempt to bring just a bit more to her articles in the future.

Here is a snippet of her 2008 travelogue:

January 9--India’s Tata Motors releases the Tata Nano, the world’s most inexpensive car. Nancy negotiates the starting price of the car to $2,000, making it a standard accessory for every Hermes "Birkin" handbag.

February 4--Nancy prevents scandal at the Super Bowl. The New England Patriots are kept from illegally taping a New York Giants practice. Unable to cheat, the Patriots lose the Super Bowl and their perfect season. Humanitarians around the world rejoice over the outcome and over the fact that another Super Bowl has passed without a “wardrobe malfunction.”

May 30--The “Sex and the City” movie releases. Nancy would like to think that the Carrie Bradshaw character is based on her and not Candace Bushnell.

July 4--To celebrate the nation’s birth, Nancy takes out a second mortgage on her home and sells a Prada bag in order to pay for a tank of gas at $4.59 a gallon so that she could drive to the New Jersey shores to see fireworks.

July 18--Comic book fans rave over Nancy’s Kevlar-suited stunt work in “The Dark Knight” as she begins her campaign to sink “Titanic” as box-office king. Kevlar, by the way, is the new leather.

August 8 – 24--The Olympics is held in Beijing. Nancy, having trained in LA for months, takes home silver in the low-profile but dangerous breathing event. Four other contestants suffer critical injuries in the competition. On a side note, gas masks and surgical masks become items of high fashion all over China.

August 29--John McCain chooses former beauty pageant contestant from Alaska, Sarah Palin, as running mate over Nancy, making Palin the first vice presidential candidate to be able to shoot wolves from a helicopter and model swimsuits.

September 15--The economy tanks. Nancy has nothing to do with this.

October 4--Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama confirms charges that he’s “palling around with Nancy Lichtenstein.” Obama cites that Nancy has good fashion sense.

November 4--Nancy, peeved at being passed over as GOP running mate, single-handedly elects Barack Obama as the first African American US president in the form of a landslide. Obama cites that Nancy has good political sense to go with her good fashion sense.

December 14--Nancy throws her Gucci shoes at President Bush at a press conference in Baghdad.

Whew! So, as you can see, Nancy has been all over the place. Understandably, she hasn’t had time to write about everything just yet. But the year will be turning over soon, and next year promises to be a good one for the world at large and for, of course, the frocks, scarves and shoes that make the world go ‘round.

Screamer of the Week: Why The "It Bag" Craze Is Over

Doomsayers have been reporting the end of the "it bag" craze for a couple of years now, but I think the end is really here now. Attempts to be edgy have pushed the boundaries of good taste and fakes have blurred with real so much that Neiman Marcus is selling this Fendi bag at the extra special price of $2,985.00-- 25% off. Great, except it's ugly as sin and looks like something that would be worn to the local bingo hall by someone who also has a Chanel scarf on, only it's spelled "Channel." I am never one to begrudge anyone their fashion purchases...but in this case, please, save your money and go buy some gas cards instead.

Wishlist: Africa by Chantelle Lingerie Set From Bra Smyth

I am not always a good girl or a practical one. Recently I made the mistake of telling my alt.fashion friends I like to change into lingerie as soon as I get home from work-- hopefully not too bad of a mistake because the only guys in that group who aren't gay live in Canada. The reasons for this are actually practical: lingerie is as comfortable as a tee shirt and shorts, helps me keep cool, and makes me feel glamorous. But the price of good lingerie is hardly ever practical (although my mom did find some Wacoal bras at TJ Maxx last week for $7), which is why this week's Wishlist item is from Bra Smyth:

This Africa Three Quarter Cup lingerie set by Chantelle is truly a knockout. The underwire bra offers more coverage than a demi cup, important for us Jayne Russell types that sometimes spill out of our cups, but still shows enough skin to be extra sexy. The matching brief features lace that looks like it was hand-embroidered by nuns who have spent their entire lives in a cloister in the Alps. And the price is enough to give you altitude sickness: $95 for the bra and $58.00 for the briefs.

Making It Work-- Dealing With Wardrobe Malfunctions

Ten Pretty Girls is back after a two-week hiatus due to my sister's wedding, but as you'd expect, I have a lot of great fashion stories to tell. Friday night was the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, and I waited until the last minute to decide what to wear. I'd picked up a black matte jersey v-neck faux wrap dress from Tahari at Annie Sez for $58, marked down from $200, and I threw it in my overnight bag, figuring an LBD would be perfect for the twilight-in-the-garden party at Bergen County's best French restaurant, Chez Madeleine.

I changed into the dress about 10 minutes before we were due at church for the rehearsal, only to find that the V-neck was cut down almost to my navel-- NOT acceptable attire for a Catholic church at any time, never mind when you're part of a wedding party. My choice was to change back into the shorts and print top I was wearing, make an impromptu cape out of a hotel towel, or emulate Tim Gunn and find a way to make it work.

I untied the faux-wrap self-belt, criss-crossed it over the bodice and tied it at the back of my neck like a halter top and I was good to go. The amazing thing is that I got more compliments on this last-minute emergency wardrobe malfunction than anything else I've worn all year. Everyone thought it was a clever, complicated and chic art deco neckline. I promise to post real pics of me in my salvaged dress when they come back (I lost my digital camera and have to resort to disposable Kodaks), but in the meantime, here's a similar dress from Studio M for $69.98 from amazon.com.

LBD From Lauren Ralph Lauren, only $134.00

Here's the perfect little black dress to wear all summer to cocktail parties, rehearsal dinners and outdoor weddings. Its wrap style is figure flattering for almost everyone and its matte jersey fabric means it's even easy to pack and take on vacation. Come fall when Fashion Week comes around you can wear it to swag parties at Henri Bendel too. It's available online from Nordstrom, and though it's full priced, it's so useful and quality that I'd call it a bargain at $134.00. And even though color and bold prints are supposed to be in, don't ever let anyone tell you there's anything chicer than black.

Screamer of the Week: Couture For Clowns (Spiegel Scarf Tank)

This scarf tank from Spiegel is another one of those "what where they thinking?" garments. It's a regular scoop neck tank ruined with the addition of a giant black and white polka dot scarf sewn on for a "new, easily dressed up" look. I'm thinking my kids would have loved to have this when they were playing circus this weekend. It's marked down to $17.99 from $34.00, and is available in sizes XS-M (which kind of scares me because it means people bought decent quantities of it in L and XL).

One Dollar Makeup Fixes From E.L.F.

Yes, you read that right-- one dollar makeup fixes! On the E.L.F. (Eyes Lips Face) website every single makeup item is the same price, one buck. Try the duo eye shadow cream pictured above in every color without breaking a ten, or pick an all over color stick that's the equivalent of department store lines for 1/30 of the price! Quality is excellent, packaging is minimalist but tasteful, and you can even hop on board some trends like custom compacts and mineral makeup here, so if you go completely crazy, rest assured that shipping is free over $75. Put together a travel makeup kit and be set for summer.

Deal Of The Week: Too Faced Fantastic Plastic Set On Sale At Sephora

This Fantastic Plastic set from Too Faced is plastic surgery in a box! It includes Lash Injection (a mascara alternative that creates virtual lash extensions), Wrinkle Injection (a line filler that, contrary to the name, has no needle required) and Lip Injection (one of the best lip plumpers on the market). It's a $64.50 value that normally retails for $38.50, but right now it's on sale at Sephora for a mere $29.50. I would have called it Doc In A Box!

Blog Carnival: A Trip Around With Worldstock From Overstock.com

I've shopped at Overstock.com for shoes before but I never noticed their extensive jewelry selection until the Blog Carnival pointed me in that direction. Not only do they have great prices on regular fine jewelry, they also have an extensive collection of unique handcrafted pieces from around the world inside a section called Worldstock, which also features home decor. While a few of my friends are going on foreign jaunts starting this Memorial Day weekend, I'm stuck here in New Jersey with unseasonably cold weather, so I'm going to have to get my travel fix from surfing the web with my Blog Carnival buddies.

Stevie from LA Story selected a gorgeous amethyst Roman glass bracelet (it also comes in turquoise) that fills me with longing for the sea glass I would normally be at the beach searching for this weekend if the weather were cooperating. Stella from Well Above Average picked a coolly modern freshwater pearl necklace from Israel that is elegant, simple and versatile. Tami from fête à fête chose a beautiful pearl and carnelian sea treasure necklace that truly is a treasure (and sigh, there go those sea references again).

My pick is this "Muse" pearl and tiger's eye matrix necklace from Thailand, and not just because I'm so behind in my writing that I could really use a muse right now. There's just something about the hardware on it that's so appealing to me...it looks like something a princess in a fantasy novel would wear that would turn into a magic key when she most needed it, and I can wear it to my local Thai restaurant for a little much-needed heat right now.

Sandra from Debutante Clothing is up next and I can't wait to see her choice!

Vintage Crocheted Vest From Rice And Beans

Here's a beautiful handmade vintage crocheted vest from Rice and Beans Vintage. The construction is perfect and at $80 it's a steal (trust me, I crochet, the woman-hours are worth much, much more than that). It's a one of a kind piece that will fit extra-small or small. If you're going to follow the crochet trend you might as well make it a work of art.

Sustainable Cotton Top From Convoy Apparel

Sustainable Collective by Convoy Apparel is a line of certified organic clothing that uses recycled material. It's also made in the USA by fairly-paid workers, and 1% of the profits go to 1% of the Planet, to help Global Green USA, Children's Village in Haiti, and other worthy charities. Beyond all that, it's cute, comfortable and fashionable. Check out this Bluebird Tunic Top. At $80, it's more expensive than the stuff we usually feature at Ten Pretty Girls, but it's worth it.

The Wedding Gifts I Wish I'd Asked For

Besides this blog I write for a number of other places, including guest blogging on LA Story, features on Zappos, and a column for Jamsbio, but one of my favorite places to write for is Associated Content because they pay you upfront and still give you a page view bonus. Here's an article I wrote shortly after my sister's bridal shower suggesting some truly useful wedding presents for a new bride:

Yesterday I went to my first bridal shower since my own thirteen years ago, and it got me thinking about the wedding gifts I wish I'd ask for back then. When I got married I was in my mid-20s and still living with my parents; I had never cooked a meal on my own, let alone managed a household.
Registering was fun but I ended up with lots of beautiful stuff that stayed in boxes in the attic for years. Meanwhile, I spent lots of money on the things I learned I actually needed.

To read the rest of this article go to my Associated Content page.

Super Staying Lip Gloss from Soft Surroundings Outlet-- More than Half Off!

Here's another great beauty bargain from the Soft Surroundings Outlet-- Morphos Super Staying Lip Gloss. Marked down from $22.00 to $9.99, this lip gloss gives you staying power for shine and color while plumping lips naturally with mint extract. It's available in three sweet and savory colors: Papillon (pale pink with silver shimmer), Nabi (sheer nude-brown with gold bronze shimmer), and Kabakaba (nude with silver shimmer). At this price you could buy all three and have your summer lip wardrobe all wrapped up.

Deal of the Week: Poppy Bedspread from Urban Outfitters

When I bought my new house a year and a half ago I had a lot of bedding to buy. My interior designer tempted me with tales of custom-made bedding, but carpet was our first budget priority, so the custom stuff had to go on the wish list and I had to find a way to make do with what I could find at the stores. Marshalls, TJ Maxx and Home Goods (all the same company) are excellent sources for designer bedding at low prices, but it's hit or miss-- if you need something immediately they may not have the size or color you want.

Here's a better place to search for chic but inexpensive bedding when you want a designer look but need something right away-- Urban Outfitters. This Asian Poppy Tapestry bedspread is so cool I wish it went with the paint in my master bedroom, and at a full price of $32 it's not only a deal, it's a steal.

In Honor of Mother's Day, Forget MOTB-- My Mom Looks Hot!

I've been having issues lately with the fact that I'm about to turn forty, but seeing my mother the other day in the gown she bought for my sister's wedding swept all my worries away! Shopping for a mother-of-the-bride dress is hard. The styles tend to veer towards two extremes-- short and skimpy for women who hope to be mistaken for their daughter's teenaged sister, or long, heavy and voluminous (I would call it grandmother of the bride but my grandmother had way more style than that!).

My mom found a gown by Junnie Leigh that is a true knockout while still being classic and elegant. It's a navy-blue hourglass shape with a halter bodice and discreet silver sun blast detailing on the front. It comes with a bolero jacket for upper-arm coverage, but I'm still trying to convince her she doesn't need the jacket; the gown is amazing with or without. She's a modest person so when she asked me what I thought I told her she was beautiful in it, but my honest gut response was, "Wow, Mom, you look hot!" Her gown isn't pictured on the site, but I promise to post pictures of the real thing after the wedding. In the meantime, check out this similar look in silk shantung with beaded v-neck bodice.

Screamer of the Week : It's A Skirt! No, It's A Top! No, It's Both!

I like Newport News, I really do. I went to a Redken hair showcase on Park Avenue yesterday and I wore these wide-legged jeans from them, which got me a lot of compliments (mine were in a dark rinse, of course). In fact, I'd venture to say that 1/3 of my wardrobe is from there, with the other two thirds being from Nordstrom and designer sample sales/consignment stores/outlets at Woodbury Common (contrary to popular belief, there's no "s" on the end of that name). But sometimes they go really, really wrong, and today is one of those days. Yup, it's Screamer of the Week time.

When I was a little girl (bear with me, it's relevant) my cousin Dana and I used to play Barbies for hours on end with elaborate melodramatic story lines that usually revolved around rich women who had maids that they slapped around, verbally abused and made sleep in the basement on a concrete floor. The maids would have their day in the end when it was revealed that they were having affairs with the rich Barbies' husbands. (I have no idea where we got such ideas from, except maybe that our mothers let us stay up late and watch Dallas.)

Since virtually all Barbies looked identical back then, how could you tell which one was the maid? Easy...they had bad haircuts (the maids were the dolls we'd experimented on), and their sole uniform was a longish Barbie skirt pulled up around the bust line to make a pathetic strapless dress.

Imagine my hysteria when I found out that Newport News actually makes such a garment! There it is above shown as a top and if you click on the large photo on their website you can see it as a skirt too. It features smocking and a handkerchief hemline and is on sale for $39.00. I have to admit, it doesn't look terrible as a skirt, although the picture is so tiny you really can't tell, but the mere existence of this item has me screaming this week.

Ladylike Croc-Look Tote From Bloomie's-- over $100 off!

I've been craving a good everyday bag that doesn't cost a fortune but looks expensive-- I stopped carrying my Louis around on a daily basis since my five year old took to chewing gum and doesn't understand yet that you have to wrap it up before throwing it away! This tote fits the bill perfectly, is marked down to $159.99 from $268.00, and comes in a number of different colors so you can buy a few to go with different outfits. I'm so glad there's a red one, as I have a killer pair of red Stuart Weitzman shoes that needs a red bag to go with. (Yes, I know that's matchy-matchy and stylists frown on it, but I don't care, I like matchy-matchy!) The Bloomingdales store line is always good for quality bargain accessories like this.

The Chocolate Path: Treats For the Discriminating Chocolate Palate

I'm lucky enough to live a short drive from this store, but good news for the rest of the world: The Chocolate Path now has a website where you can order the world's best dark chocolate in every format imaginable. Their mission statement is "to provide dark chocolate lovers with a wide selection of pure products from the best small manufacturers," and fulfill that mission they do! Chocolate Path's wares include premium exotic dark chocolate bars, artisan hot chocolate, and a variety of unbelievable truffles. I can't wait to try the Chocolate Moderne Caramel Caresse bistro bar, filled with soft pear and caramel, but you may want to start with one of their gift assortments that allows you to sample their fine chocolate fare. Oh, I hope someone gets me one for Mother's Day!

Cino Polka Dot Summer Dress From Willow St. On Sale

This metallic polka dot empire waist dress from Cino is ingenious because the straps are bare enough to be sexy but wide enough to cover bra straps. The cut flatters many different body types and the dress is versatile, going from day to evening with a change of accessories. It's on sale for $136.50, marked down from $182.00, at Willow St., one of Summit, New Jersey's most fashionable boutiques.

The Blog Carnival Continues with More Unique Vintage!

A week or two ago we featured a girlfriend shopping trip to Unique Vintage, one of the best vintage and vintage-inspired retailers on the web. Stella from Well Above Average picked a modern-looking but vintage-inspired top with a splashy pattern that's perfect for lunch at a 5 star hotel, and my pick was a vintage-inspired 30's style gown that's now on the home page of Unique Vintage.

Today we catch up with Stevie of L.A. Story, Sandra of Debutante Clothing and Tami of fête à fête to see what's in their virtual shopping carts.

Stevie's keen editorial eye managed to look past the dresses, as gorgeous as they are, to find some hot red-carpet worthy shoes. I'm thanking her from the bottom of my heart for this because my spring, summer and fall are full of black-tie weddings and the parties surrounding them. I can totally see those leopard print shoes on her and I'm going to have to buy the red ones for myself for all the rehearsal dinners in my future.

Sandra, our resident vintage guru, picked out a hot LBD that will bring out the Dita Von Teese in all of us, and Tami found this 1920's style flapper dress that will break hearts on the dance floor. Thanks once again to Stevie to turning us on to this amazing store, and stay tuned for the next installment of the blog carnival, which features jewelry at eye-dropping prices from World Market!

Congratulations to Contest Winner Agatha Craxie

The first "Screamer of the Week" contest is now officially over, and congratulations to winner Agatha Craxie. She correctly identified the phrase as coming from WLIR, the East Coast's greatest independent radio station. I'm jumping for joy today because while the station's frequency was sold back in 2004, I just found out it's streaming on the internet at www.wlir.com. Long live Larry the Duck, Donna Donna and Malibu Sue, and congratulations to Agatha once again.

Screamer of the Week: "Artistic" Jacket from Coldwater Creek

Coldwater Creek has its ups and downs. Some of their outfits are downright frightening, while some are tasteful but shout, "Woman of a certain age." Other times they have cool stuff, which is why I prefer the store to the catalog (I have a hot pink suede jacket from there that is truly rock star).

Today is Wednesday, Screamer of the Week day, which means it's not one of those times. For just about a hundred bucks you too can look like a bad painting in your local pizza place if you buy this printed paradise jacket. It's a linen blend that claims to be machine washable, which I can't even imagine-- the print is bad enough but it's going to look even worse if it flakes off in the wash. Forget it-- I can go to Russillo's and buy a painting like this off the wall for under $30, and have money left over for a pizza party.

Note on the contest from last week's Screamer: the origin of the phrase "Screamer of the Week" can also be found by googling. One more hint: think radio.

Charlie K's Ideas For Mother's Day Gift Certificates

My cousin Gina is doing the impossible this week-- meeting her future mother-in-law for the very first time and volunteering to entertain her while her son is at work. This wouldn't be a problem except for the fact that the mother-in-law doesn't speak a word of English, and Gina doesn't speak a word of German!

Her dilemma makes my mom dilemma-- what to get my mother, my MIL and my SIL for Mother's Day-- look like cake. Especially now that I've seen one of my favorite writers on Associated Content, Charlie K, has published a guide to the top ten gift certificate ideas for Mother's Day. Here are her thoughtful and creative suggestions:

Fewer names conjure up the feelings of warmth, love, and humility than that of "Mother." She is often inspirational, always educational, and for many years the center of her child's life. She has the power to mold a strong, independent, and courageous human being simply by being a role model herself.

While many believe that Mother's Day is nothing more than something dreamed up by the greeting card companies and florists to make money, nothing could be further from the truth. The day remains as strong now as it was in the beginning for one reason and one reason only. It is a day well deserved!

Because that is true, most of us want to make certain that the gift we choose to give mother on her special day is every bit as unique, loving, and selfless as the many gifts she has bestowed over the years. Sometimes that can be a difficult task to complete. However, here are my top ten certificate ideas that most mothers are sure to enjoy:

Top Ten Gift Certificate Ideas for Mother's Day by Charlie K

Deal of the Week: MD Skincare over 50% off at Soft Surroundings Outlet

One of my favorite ways to scoop up bargains is to find great products that go on deep discount in because they're not a good fit for the merchant. MD Skincare is one of the best lines around for active ingredients and noticeable results, but it's sold at a number of beauty and skincare stores and website: Sephora, Beauty.com, Dermstore, etc. I'm not sure why Soft Surroundings, which is mostly a clothes and bedding e-tailer, decided to carry it too, but apparently it's not selling too well there because people think of other places to buy it first. So now MD Skincare is on the Soft Surroundings Outlet website, which is great news for you and me.

These sunscreen pads and towelettes are marked down to $14.99 from $30.00 and $17.99 from $38.00 respectively-- I can't think of any better items to carry around in my purse over the summer for those "whoops, lunching outside took so long I'm not in the shade from the umbrella anymore" moments. Both of them are SPF 30 and contain vitamin C to help with existing discoloration. They each contain 60 units, which is more than generous-- buy both and you can use one a day over the summer and not run out! And don't forget to check out the Soft Surroundings Outlet for other great beauty buys; they've also got DuWop, Cargo, Hamadi and Dermadoctor on deep discount right now, among others.

CSP Ecume de The $30 off at Luckyscent!

I am one of those annoying people that isn't happy with something unless it's perceived as rare and exotic, which explains why I live half an hour outside of New York City and yet I order most of my fragrances and beauty products from stores in L.A., even when many of them are available at my local mall (the world class Mall at Short Hills).

Part of this is the continued influence of the late, great alt.fashion, which taught us the whole world was our playground (one of my favorite parts of participating was the international swaps for products that weren't locally accessible), and another part is my own personal quirk of needing to be seen as unique. At any rate, this habit has led me to some great stores, like Beautyhabit and Luckyscent (I'm not so crazy about the trend of smushing words together like that, but that's the residual influence of my mother the English teacher). CSP is definitely available at Short Hills, but how much more fun is it to get a package in the mail from L.A., especially one that includes free samples? Besides, Luckyscent has this fragrance that sounds perfect for spring and summer on sale now at $80, marked down from $110:

Ecume de The has notes of bergamot, lemon leaf, hibiscus, lotus, orange pekoe tea, mate, and tea wood. Just reading the description reminds me of a couple of my happiest summers, when I worked at a day camp in the country (wisely choosing an office position there because it was air-conditioned, but I had any number of reasons to go outside and walk around the beautiful grounds several times a day). There was a local deli that had a delicious custom blend of iced tea that I drank every day, and this fragrance transports me back to that time and place like Proust and his madeleines. I can't think of anything I'd rather wear for summer, and the sale price makes it all the more attractive.

8 inch heels at more than 50% off from Starlets and Harlots

There's something a little disconcerting about Gmail, which is how they use Adsense to "target" ads to you based on keywords in your private e-mail. Stevie and I had an exchange yesterday about the Screamer of the Week that featured the word "hooker" several times. Now, to my astonishment, today the ad space around my Gmail screen features a store called Starlets and Harlots. (Follow the link because harlots is spelled wrong in the actual URL.)

The Google bot at least deduced that I was purposely writing about catalogs or sites where you could buy hooker-wear, so it could have been worse-- they could have served up ads for escort services, I suppose. Anyway, I thought I was the queen of high heels (I have a pair of 5 inch platforms I wear all the time) but this site has stuff I've never seen before: a large selection of 8 inch heels. The photo above shows one of them, but they go on for pages and pages, and all of them are more than 50% off. (They seem to be marketing them to strippers and drag queens but I just had to write about this because I've never seen anything like it; I promise to go back to writing about cute things tomorrow!)

I'm a little afraid to post this and see what this post does to the ads around my blog, but here goes nothing! Seriously, though, this site also has a good collection of rockabilly clothes, punk rock wear, and Bettie Page tee shirts, so don't write it off just because there are a few scary items on there.

Screamer of the Week: Short City Romper from Metrostyle

Somehow I started receiving the Metrostyle catalog recently-- I think it had something to do with placing an order from Boston Proper, otherwise known as the catalog for women who favor low-cut tops. I flipped through it distractedly while waiting to pick my daughter up from the bus, and found most of the items to be cute and cheap-- an H&M for the catalog set, if you will. However, there was one piece that really stood out, and not in a good way.

This "Short City Romper" is truly a one of a kind piece. Where else can you find a bustier-bodiced unitard in black eyelet lace, no less? For a mere $59.99 you too can look like you made a combination hooker/workout outfit out of curtains from a Goth baby's nursery. The ad copy in the catalog trumpets that it has a removable waist tie for two different looks! (Exclamation point theirs, not mine.)

"Screamer of the Week" will be a new regular feature at Ten Pretty Girls, so in honor of the first post in this category (which is going to be a hard one to top!), here's a contest to get us started: the first one who can tell me what the origin of the phrase "Screamer Of The Week" is will win a $25 e-gift certificate to Sephora.com. Here are a couple of hints: (a) the phrase was originally meant in a positive way and (b) the place where it came from can be found on my Facebook profile. Place your answers in the comment section and be sure to include your e-mail address.

Lugano Candelabra-- 80% off from Red Envelope

This stylish candelabra from Red Envelope is hidden in the clearance section, but at $19.99 marked down from $98.00, it's worth digging for! This piece is unique in that it's actually made up of four separate candlesticks. You can display them together as a centerpiece or separate them and use them individually around a room, making this clever item two gifts in one. It's a chic modernist piece that will make a great impression on the recipient and look like you spent a lot more for it than you did.

Alexia Admor Dress 65% off from Bluefly.com

This robin's egg blue sheer stretch floral lace tank dress from Alexia Admor is perfect for all those spring events-- bridal showers, graduation parties, weddings, etc. Available from Bluefly.com in sizes XS through L at 65% off ($61.99 marked down from $105.00), this dress manages to be simultaneously sweet and sexy. It's also fully lined and hand-washable, making it a lot easier to wear and care for than it looks. Bluefly has it in rose as well, and also carries a number of her other dress designs. At these prices you can stock up and follow my mother's rule-- never be photographed in the same dress twice-- even if your schedule rivals Agyness Deyn's.

Deal of the Week: Botkier Stevie Satchel, $405 at JC Madison

This Botkier Stevie satchel in glazed taupe is a roomy but lady-like all-purpose bag. Available from JC Madison, it's marked down to $405 from an original price of $675. The color is perfect for spring, summer or fall, it's got gorgeous gold tone hardware and it's designed with all the storage pockets you need to keep organized. If you buy one designer bag this year that you really expect to work, this should be it. Oh, and it bears the name of one of my very best friends!

Wishlist: Vintage Claude Montana Leather Jacket

Around these parts I used to be known as "that girl with the red leather jacket." Said red leather jacket was a store brand from Lord and Taylor and cost $300, which was a lot to me at the time and is again, considering the current economy, but it was worth it because whenever I had nothing to wear I could just throw it on over anything, put on a pair of gold hoops and look put together instantly. I literally cried when it got so worn out I had to put it to sleep, but this will happen if you wear something virtually every day through three seasons of three years.

I admit it, I don't have $1,250 to spend on clothes for the year right now, never mind on one leather jacket, but a girl can dream, can't she? If I did I'd be the proud owner of this vintage Claude Montana leather jacket from Katy Kane Vintage and Couture Clothing. If that little department store number did so much for me, imagine what life would be like in this figure-flattering and attention-getting one of a kind designer piece? I'd feel like Emma Peel...I can't imagine anything better for catching criminals or breaking hearts.

Katy Kane Vintage is a sponsor of the upcoming Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show on April 25th and 26th at the Metropolitan Pavilion. You can bet I'll be buying a lot of scratch-off lottery tickets between now and then in the hopes of walking away with this one.

Coral Beach Collection from Latasia Jewelry: $67

Here's a gorgeous set from Latasia that looks a lot more expensive than it is; for a mere $67 you can get the 2 inch dangling earrings plus the 15 inch necklace (which also comes with a 3 inch extender so you can wear it with different necklines, or you can buy them separately for $18 and $49 respectively. This set features pink coral beads on gold mesh. It's intended for evening and would look perfect with a strapless gown, but I think it goes equally well with a casual summer dress for that glamorous model sipping a latte at a beachside cafe in Mykonos look. All Latasia jewelry is 100% nickel-free, which means it is hypoallergenic and won't irritate sensitive skin, a big deal to me when a lot of earrings irritate me or turn my skin black. For more information on the Coral Beach Collection and other Latasia jewelry, contact Kaye Smith at klsjax@comcast.net or 904-223-5906.

Black And White Graffiti Bag Handmade From Etsy

Here's a breezy and fun handmade bag on Etsy that will stand out from the crowd while standing up to wear and tear. It's small enough to be comfortable but big enough to carry around your necessities, made of the finest Italian fabric, is fully lined for durability, and closes with a magnetic snap for convenience. This arm candy is a bargain at $59 and fits in perfectly for the trend of black and white for spring.

Movie Star Sunglasses For Less Than $6

My family suffers under the influence of a bizarre curse: we make trips to South Beach or Boca Raton once or twice every year, and every time we go, one of us either loses or breaks a pair of sunglasses or regular glasses, ensuring that we spend one day of our vacation visiting our favorite local optician. I'm not kidding one bit about this; we're on a first name basis now, and we've Dmitri so much business he no longer charges us for the shipping back to New Jersey. Last year I didn't even make it to Florida with my sunglasses; I lost a pair of white-framed Chanels that I LOVED in the fitting room of Bloomingdales at home the night before the trip.

This year I'm getting smart! Here's a pair of movie star style sunglasses from Forever 21 with full UVA/UVB protection that cost $5.80 a pair! At this price I can pack four of them and break the curse, or at least not worry about it anymore. Sorry, Dmitri!

Deal Of The Week: Wendy Glez Plam Cami-- 66% off!

Here's a deal of the week straight from my neighborhood-- the fabulous Bella Dawn boutique has a cute Wendy Glez Plam Cami marked down to $23.00 from an original price of $78.00! (Not exactly 66% off but close enough; my talent is finding bargains, not math!) This soft silk cami has a flattering empire waist and adjustable straps so you don't have to fiddle with your top all day. Not to mention that it happens to go perfectly with the Iris bangle I posted the other day. Wendy Glez is a line of lingerie designed to be worn as outerwear as well, and has been seen on Kate Hudson, Ali Landry and Michelle Kwan, among others. Supplies are limited so act quickly on this one! Don't forget to check out their other great bargains as well.

Girlfriend Shopping Trip To Unique Vintage (A Blog Carnival)

Now that it's springtime there's nothing I'd like more than a shopping trip with a bunch of girlfriends, but what can you do when some of the people you like to shop most with live on the opposite coast? Shop online, of course! My friend Stevie of www.la-story.com came up with the ingenious idea of a blog carnival where a bunch of us could visit outstanding online shopping sites together and post our favorites...all the fun of a girlfriend shopping trip without the fluorescent lights and "does this make my butt look big?" Our first stop is Unique Vintage, a site that mixes true vintage with vintage-inspired clothing for the ultimate selection of glamorous retro dresses in a wide range of styles, sizes and prices.

Stella of Well Above Average has gone first and picked a retro satin print blouse that would look equally gorgeous in the Hamptons or Miami as it does in L.A. Sandra of Debutante Clothing and Tami of fête à fête will also be posting, and I can't wait to see what they and Stevie pick out. As for me, I went nuts over this 1930's style bias-cut silk satin gown. It totally fits in with the 30's vibe from New York Fashion Week Spring 2008, is a dress that will allow your beauty to shine rather than calling attention to itself, is supremely flattering due to the bias-cut, and features seriously high-end material and construction. Wear this and you can glide across the floor with a martini (a real one, not flavored) like Myrna Loy as Nora Charles without worrying that you'll see three other people in the same dress. The gown is on sale right now for $350 for prom/wedding season but a comparable gown in a department store could easily cost upwards of $1,000.

Smitten Fragrance from A Beautiful Life

A Beautiful Life is an outpost of urban chic in New Hope, Pennsylvania. New Hope is fun to walk and browse, but it's got much more of a hippy vibe, except for this one little store where they carry Bond No. 9, Mario Badescu and T. Leclerc, among other fashionista favorites. They also have one amazing bargain product under their own label: Smitten Huile de Parfum by A Beautiful Life.

If you can't make it to New Hope, Smitten pure perfume oil is available on the website www.abeautifullife.com for $38.00 for a 5 ml bottle. That may not sound like a lot, but perfume oil is much more concentrated compared to alcohol-based fragrances, meaning it should last through the summer. Smitten has top notes of tangerine and white pepper, heart notes of creamy white florals, and base notes of wood and patchouli. I can't think of a better fragrance to wear in the soft summer breeze.

Iris Handpainted Bangles From Lord and Taylor

Lord and Taylor is one of my favorite fashion secrets: a lot of hip people won't shop there, thinking it's a grandmother-type store, but it excels in certain areas, especially costume jewelry. This Iris Blue Dot and Rose Motif Bangle retails for $85, which may sound pricey but is understandable when you hear it's a hand-painted work of art imported from Israel. It fits in perfectly with the ladylike flowery vibe this spring. Check out www.lordandtaylor.com for other styles, including the garden white motif bangle and the raised butterfly motif bangle.

Unique Hostess Gifts Under $15: Flowering Tea

Here's a truly unique hostess gift for under $15, courtesy of www.violet.com: flowering jasmine tea. Regular jasmine tea is light and refreshing, perfect for the spring palette, but these buds bloom when added to boiling water, making a morning cup of tea a true event. Spend the same amount as an ordinary bottle of wine or supermarket bouquet of flowers and impress your hostess with your taste and savoir vivre!

Jordi Labanda Products 40% Off At Unicahome.com

Jordi Labanda is a genius fashion illustrator based in Barcelona, Spain, who may be best known for his notebook cover designs for Miquelrius. Target currently has a series of them themed as fashion magazine covers that are a steal at $9.00-- they're so cute I bought every single one of them up.

His illustrations are instantly recognizable for their carefree insouciance. Besides stationery, they also grace such products as handbags, makeup cases and mouse pads, and right now www.unicahome.com is running a 40% off sale on all Jordi Labanda products. A small vertical zip bag in the Capri print (pictured above), excellent for carrying a passport and other travel necessities, costs less than $30, including shipping and handling. This print is also available as a backpack or pencil case, but act quickly, as quantities are very limited. I wish he'd make full-sized luggage; it would be the cutest thing ever and impossible to miss on the baggage carousel!

Deal Of The Week: Materia Prima Stacked Heel Slides, 75% off!

Foot Candy Shoes (www.footcandyshoes.com) is one of my favorite places to scope out bargain designer shoes online. Their sale prices are unbeatable, as witnessed by this deal in the "Bargain Basement: $50.00" section:

These Materia Prima stacked heel slides originally cost $200 and are marked down to $50. It couldn't get any cuter for springtime, they come in an equally hot denim blue version, and best of all, they're still available in whole and half sizes from 6 through 11, though I don't expect they will be for long. Foot Candy Shoes has 8 other styles of shoe marked down to $50, including one that originally retailed for $355. I think I just solved my what-shoes-to-wear-to-my-sister's-bridal-shower problem!

Ugly Betty Returns April 24th!

I've spent my clothing allowance for the month already (on a pair of 19.99 jeans from Target that look and feel great but are going in the garbage because they still smell like burnt rubber even though I've washed them twice), so I'm in search of a free fashion fix, like something fashionable to watch on TV. The good news is, Ugly Betty is returning with a new episode on April 24th! The bad news is, I can't even remember where the story line left off.

If you're like me and you've lost the thread of the plot during the writer's strike, here's a reminder: in the last episode, which aired back in January, Amanda tracked down Gene Simmons, her biological father; Betty was assigned to write an article about a guy who wrote a book on how to pick up women by insulting them; and Daniel hooked up with the gorgeous Renee, and then was shocked to find out she was Wilhelmina's younger sister; Christina was employed as a surrogate mother by Wilhelmina in order to get the money for an experimental operation for her husband; and Claire Meade had just decided to start her own magazine.

The new episode of Ugly Betty is called Twenty Four Candles, and there are two more fresh episodes planned for this season, both of which will air in May. One of these episodes will include guest stars Christian Siriano and Nina Garcia, according to www.tvguide.com.

10 Ways To Become A Fashion Flare

Today we feature a guest post by an up-and-coming blogger, my favorite 9 year old, Ana Lightstone:

10 Ways To Become A Fashion Flare

Everyone loves to have great style. But have you ever thought that you would become a trend-setter? Here are 10 tips to lead you to success in the fashion world.

1. Any pair of jeans are fashionable and comfy. But if you buy designer jeans you could leave anyone speechless! Be creative and Bedazzle an old pair for fun!

2. A mineral-based cosmetic product is so awesome! It makes you happy and healthy-looking because minerals are good for your skin.

3. A wrap dress with a pair of sheer pantyhose can make you very stylish! Wrap dresses in pastel colors like lavender, spring green, petal pink and robin's egg blue are really nice in the spring.

4. The new Nars spring collection, Shanghai Lily, is the most dramatic new spring makeup. It looks good on almost all skin tones.

5. Any hoop earrings are wonderful.

6. Any jewelry with your birthstone will look very stylish.

7. Try to find a color that looks great on you. Then try to find a style of clothing that you like and looks good on you.

8. Accessorize wild size! Find a spacious purse or a pair of sterling silver stud earrings at the mall.

9. Ross Simons' watches are very beautiful and stylish.

10. Be creative and have fun!

Beauty GWP Time at Nordstrom!

Neiman Marcus may have started the trend for bi-annual beauty GWPs with designer totes filled with high end deluxe beauty product samples, but Nordstrom does it best! Right now www.nordstrom.com is giving away a pink and white tote filled with the following with any $100 beauty or fragrance purchase:

Bare Escentuals® RareMinerals™ Facial Cleanser (0.05 oz.)

Bliss The Youth as We Know It Moisturizer (0.1 oz.)

Clarins Advanced Extra-Firming Eye Contour Serum (0.1 oz.)

DKNY Delicious Night Eau de Parfum Spray (0.05 oz.)

Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Body Lotion (0.2 oz.)

Erno Laszlo TranspHuse Topical sample

GoSMILE AM/PM Whitening Protection Toothpastes samples

Juicy Couture Royal Body Crème (0.25 oz.)

Kinerase® Cream with SPF 30 (0.1 oz.)

Lancôme Rénergie Double Performance Anti-Wrinkle and Firming Treatment (0.5 oz.)

Lancôme Rénergie Night—Night Treatment (0.5 oz.)

L'Occitane Shea Hand Cream (0.3 oz.)

Missoni Acqua Eau de Toilette Spray (0.07 oz.)

Narciso Rodriguez For Him eau de toilette spray (0.04 oz.)

Origins Modern Friction™ Nature's Gentle Dermabrasion (0.17 oz.)

philosophy hope in a jar eye & lip cream (0.25 oz.)

Prescriptives Lash Envy Volumizing Mascara (0.08 oz.)

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light (0.5 oz.)

This is about as generous of a beauty GWP as you can get anywhere, it's filled with stuff you'll actually use, and if you spend the $100 on foundation, lip gloss and blush, you'll have a fully packed travel beauty kit ready to go for Spring Break! The offer is good online only, while supplies last. I think I'm going to follow my own advice and buy a Nars Lip Gloss/Lip Stain Lip Duo, Nars The Multiple Stick, and Nars Oil Free Foundation. Then I can pack my beauty bag and head to...well, I'm not going anywhere this Spring Break, so I guess I'll head to the Nordstrom cafe to sip a latte and pretend I'm at the News Cafe in South Beach!

Buy Jeans & Save 20% While Helping the Environment

The prettiest girls have Earnest Sewn jeans in their fashion arsenal; while we're all about bargains around here, sometimes you have to spend a little money to make your butt look good. Now, thanks to National Jean Company, you can have your Earnest Sewn at 20% off while helping the environment too.

National Jean Company and Earnest Sewn have joined forces for the fashion show "Make An Earnest Difference," a fashion show featuring Earnest Sewn denim, Madison Harding shoes, and other contemporary brands available at National Jean Company, including Rory Beca, Alisha Levine, Splendid, Robert Rodriguez, Charlotte Ronson, and Geren Ford. To get into this event you must bring an old pair of jeans; the old jeans will be donated to the COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN.™ campaign, where they will be turned into UltraTouch environmentally safe insulation for homes that will be donated to communities in need.

In exchange for bringing the jeans and helping the environment, you get a 20% off coupon that's good through April 13th. The fashion show will be located at Slate Lounge (51 W. 21st Street); doors open at 8 pm, with an open bar from 8-9 pm and the fashion show immediately following. To attend this event, RSVP (required) to rsvp@stylehousepr.com.

In short, there's no better time to buy a pair of Earnest Sewn jeans, but don't fret if you can't make the fashion show. National Jean Company will also collect denim donations in all of their New York stores through April 13th in exchange for 15% coupons too. They're also planning exciting in-store events for the weekend of April 12th and 13th, so stay tuned!

Ten Pretty Girls

Ten Pretty Girls was a beauty contest in Jersey City, New Jersey in the 1930's. My grandmother once won the contest and got to ride on a float in a parade and it was one of the proudest moments of her life. Despite the fact that she grew up in the Depression, was one of 9 kids, and lived on a fixed income for much of her life, she was the most stylish woman I've ever known and will always be an icon of glamour for me.

This blog is in honor of her and will deal with living a stylish life on a budget. I'm hoping the economy won't get so bad that we'll all have to learn to be stylish on a Depression-era budget, but I'll save those fears for a political blog.