
Archive for July, 2006
July 16th, 2006, 1:05 pm by Sam Mittelsteadt
My sister-in-law sent me a link to a site that lets you upload a photo and the imaging software analyzes facial structure and tells you which celebrities you look most like: www.myheritage.com.The good news: According to the site, in one photo I bear a 62% resemblance to both David Beckham and Josh Holloway. I think it’s the squinty-smiley eyes …The bad news: In another photo I look more than 60 percent like Patrick Swayze … and Harvey Keitel. (Note to self: Burn that photo.)
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July 13th, 2006, 2:07 pm by Sam Mittelsteadt
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July 12th, 2006, 11:00 pm by Sam Mittelsteadt
Twenty minutes after the first episode of the third season of "Project Runway," and I can’t tell you whom I’m rooting for. I can tell you whom I’m rooting *against,* however.I’m starting with this guy, MALAN, first only because he was the first guy to show up on the screen, with an oily pompadour-style comb job, a vaguely Eurotrash accent and saying things like, "It’s really, really bad feng shui to have fake plants in your house" and "I’m used to working with better materials." He’s so full of faux, I bet if you scratched him the shiny Euro-veneer would come off to reveal some kid from Hoboken, N.J.(More after the jump.) And THIS guy, with his "I’m so ruff and tuff with my neck tattoos" (and, seriously, what is with that neck? It’s like the same circumference as his skull!) and "I designed for L.A. celebrities and I like to wear my sunglasses indoors" attitude. JEFFREY - hey, there, Jeffrey, real tough guys probably just go by "Jeff" - was interviewed wearing a hoodie over his head, "8 Mile" style to lend him some street cred, which was instantly negated by that lame Vanilla Ice-style shaved eyebrow.Even though he was in the bottom 2 this week, I think the judges will keep him around for a while for Santino-style drama. His "reconstructed" dress smacked of last season’s contestant Santino Rice, too. Meanwhile, VINCENT isn’t long for the "Project Runway" world, I think. He looks like a muppet bred with Elton John, with the least convincing "no, this is my real hair, I swear!" I’ve ever seen on a 49-year-old. His flights of fancy ("I’m digging it!") are going to doom him early on - this episode’s basket hat with lousy chain trim didn’t convince the judges he had any taste to speak of. (Me, either. And the pockets with bad beading were tacky, too.)I hate to place all my bets on one designer now, but I’ve got a few favorites, too: KEITH seems to have his (act) together - he did win tonight’s challenge, which was to use materials found in their apartment to make a garment. Keith stayed true to his original vision - even dismissing mentor Tim Gunn’s advice to add more detailing! - and turned out a winning ultramarine blue dress from sheets with red button details originally used on a duvet. And his own personal style seems pretty tasteful, too - he reminds me of a dark-haired Jude Law in the way he dresses. But my absolute favorite so far is LAURA. Why do I love her? Let me count the ways: (1) She reminds me of a cartoon of a ’40s society dame in Berlin. (2) She’s an architect, which I think means her designs will be clean and linear, like the awesome coat she made with bathroom-rug collar and cuffs (I would have ditched the chandelier mirror paillettes, though). (3) She’s practical, and a mom of five kids, so she’s balanced. (4) She always likes to dress up, so we saw her in an absolutely awesome high-waisted black pencil skirt and crisp white blouse tonight. (5) She showed up with matching hard-case Louis Vuitton luggage. (6) BATHROOM RUG COLLAR AND CUFFS, people! Oh, by the way, this lady got voted off tonight. You’d think after watching poor Marla suffer through last season, STACEY would have learned how to use an industrial sewing machine before she stepped into the Parsons design studios. Is Season 3 too early to start recycling personalities from previous seasons? Because this girl was Marla 2.0 …I did like MICHAEL’s coffee filter dress, and ROBERT’s sassy little sundress with red bows in the back totally looked like something he’d have designed for Barbie at his real job at Mattel.I’ll try to post pictures of each designer’s creations when they’re available, so check back. And I’ll blog my thoughts about each episode if I can, so look for them by the time you roll into work Thursday morning!In the meantime, who are your favorites - and your favorite people to hate?
Posted in: Project Runway | 3 Comments »
July 11th, 2006, 3:17 pm by Sam Mittelsteadt
The third participant in Target’s GO International promotion, in which designers create limited-edition collections available for 90 days at Target stores, is Sophie Albou of Paul & Joe.The collections are designed to attract women in their teens and 20s, but some of the pieces could also translate to an older demographic. Like this silk crinkled georgette blouse ($29.99) — pair it with some jeans instead of above-the-knee bermuda shorts for a look that’s forgiving even if you’ve got a little belly.The collection hits stores and Target.com on Aug.1.More photos of the clothing (and prices) are after the jump …
So it’s a little too hot outside to pop on a wool poncho ($59.99) right now, but come fall it’ll be a cute little option. And paired with something other than silk tap pants, the V-neck sweater at right ($29.99) might even make it to business-casual day at the office. …
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July 10th, 2006, 8:39 pm by Sam Mittelsteadt
OK, so there’s no H&M store in Phoenix — and according to the folks at H&M public relations in New York, there are no plans to open one anywhere in the metro area "at this time" — but since she was just here, I thought you’d appreciate a peek at the new Madonna track suit the store will sell this fall.
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July 7th, 2006, 2:44 pm by Sam Mittelsteadt
To be entered in the drawing to win the six summer shades of Essie nail polish that were mentioned in the July 9 edition of the Tribune, ship me an e-mail by clicking this link and including your name and mailing address, and the words SUMMER POLISH as the subject line. I’ll draw a winner from the entries received by noon Wednesday, July 12.Update: The winner! Congratulations to Shana Rustam of Gilbert, whose name was selected from those who entered.
Posted in: Contests | 1 Comment »
July 6th, 2006, 6:27 pm by Sam Mittelsteadt
"No, I don’t have an eating disorder." — Keira KnightlyAre you sure? Because you’re sure doing a good job of faking one there.
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July 6th, 2006, 10:27 am by Sam Mittelsteadt
Now presented: A dialogue between the two parts of my brain.
(A): "That’s kind of a cute headband. And my co-worker says it’s comfortable — no digging into the sides of her head. You know it’s made out of the same plastic they use to make Tupperware?"
(B): "Really? That’s cool. What does it cost?"
(A): "See, it’s a limited-edition thing, and -"
(B): "Come on, out with it."(A): "Um, $35."
(B): "THIRTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR A PLASTIC HEADBAND?"
(A): "Wait — it’s a designer thing! Tupperware teamed up with Cynthia Rowley to create it! She sells it in her boutiques, it’s not like you can buy it from your Tupperware rep. And Gucci headbands go for like $165, so this is a relative bargain."
(B): "But Cynthia Rowley is no big-name designer — she’s the kind who appears on ‘America’s Next Top Model’ as a judge just to get publicity. She can barely keep the Swell line of home accessories afloat at Target."
(A): "That’s just mean. She’s doing better than you are."
(B): "I’m not a designer. And if I were, I’d remember that I had teamed up with Tupperware, and sell it for Tupperware prices. Like maybe $10."
(A): "Then what’s the point of teaming up with a designer?"
(B): "Uh, you can’t tell that’s a designer item. Her logo is scratched so finely onto the plastic you can’t even see what that says. That is, essentially, Tupperware. Ten bucks, max, and that includes a sassy gift bag or something. Otherwise, it’s a ripoff."
So, what do YOU think? Leave a comment below with your thoughts: Designer vs. value, price vs. desirability, supply vs. demand, etc.
And if you want to be entered to win it for free, shoot me an e-mail to smittelsteadt@aztrib.com with your name and mailing address by July 20, and the subject line HEADBAND.Updated: Congratulations to Barbara Scherer of Elyria, OH, who will receive the Tupperware headband. Her name was drawn out of the readers who entered to win. Look for more contests soon!
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July 1st, 2006, 6:40 pm by Sam Mittelsteadt
Well, that didn’t last long, did it? A whole season, max, since they banished Kate Moss for her drug use? In an industry with such heavy recreational drug use, that’s sort of like moving to Phoenix and then refusing to associate with anyone who uses air conditioning.
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July 1st, 2006, 6:38 pm by Sam Mittelsteadt
All right: If you’ve read the July 2 Style section, you’ve learned that leaving comments can earn you swag, like a bottle of this limited-edition Lacoste Touch of Sun for women.Here’s the irony: To enter, DON’T leave me a comment. Send me an e-mail by clicking this link and sending me your name and mailing address by noon Tuesday, July 4. I’ll pick a winner the next day and mail them their bottle.You can always leave a comment, but it won’t enter you in the contest…. Have a happy Fourth of July weekend! I’ll be at a pool party in north Scottsdale (and in charge of dessert for 20 people — I’m thinking nothing that makes people look too stuffed, since swimsuits are involved).
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