Running With Scissors: Opening Ceremony Cutout Dress 1/2 Off

I've been a little bit obsessed with Ugly Betty lately. I've had a thing for Eric Mabius way back since Welcome To The Dollhouse, and call me a sucker, but the season three reluctant bonding between Amanda, Marc and Betty is really getting to me. The main reason, however, is Vanessa Williams' incredible wardrobe, which keeps getting more and more over the top as the season goes on. Barring a few missteps (the silver dress she wore in the roof party episode looked like it had a board nailed across the bodice), she's the most stylish villainess since Cruella Deville.

If your trend watching is limited to following Wilhelmina Slater, as mine has been of late as I catch up on some other areas of my writing, you'll notice that cutout dresses are making a comeback. This is a trend from the 80's, but unlike some other similar trends that are making me break out in hives just thinking about them-- stirrup pants? JUMPSUITS? If I ever see Wilhelmina wearing a jumpsuit I'll eat my right hand-- this look is actually wearable and sexy.

Here's a great version from Opening Ceremony at Twenty Thirty Forty, my new favorite online boutique, on sale for half off and a true bargain at only $138. The reason this dress is killah is because it's subtle, timeless, and could serve as an LBD. Even better, it truly could be worn in all four seasons, even summer, depending on how you accessorize it and how much air conditioning there is in the places you hang out. I would buy this dress for a power lunch at NINETHIRTY, pair it with some big black glasses and strappy sandals, and feel like the movie star my mom always told me I was.

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.