La Florida Chic

Wednesday

ACCESSORIZE YOUR BAD SELF

Hot weather = less clothes...so that means accessories count that much more. From funky costume jewelry to add-4-inches-instantly wedges, there's something for every style.

Which one suits you???

Tuesday

5 Alternatives to Target, Ikea and Pottery Barn

Is it me or does it seem like all the cute little tchatcke, specialty and doodad stores where one could pick up anything from novelty slippers to handmade Italian salad bowls are extinct everywhere, except major cities and Palm Beach?

Whether it's the shoddy economy (loads of high-end boutiques all over Florida have closed its doors - even affecting the gilded Worth Avenue) or the long shadows of big-box retailers, the shopping landscape has definitely shifted from a decent salad of romaine, a few tomatoes and artichoke hearts - maybe some Feta, to iceberg and carrot shavings. The carrot shavings are convenient stores.

And then there was the I N T E R N E T. Ah yes, cyber shopping - you don't even need to wash your face. You can cover miles of virtual shopping in a fraction of the time it would take you to actually walk to each store. Plus, there's variety. There are housewives in Minnesota who know a guy who knows a guy in Argentina who has a whole warehouse of bathing suits no one in the U.S. is selling. And for $39 plus $9.95 in shipping you can have a unique Argentinian bikini. Without leaving your townhouse in Ocala.

Inspired by all these virtual shops and new-Millennium entrepreneurship, I made up a list of 5 online retailers that deal in the cute and unique. From party supplies to travel goods, each of these shopping sites are loaded with stuff I've yet to see in the more ubiquitous consumer destinations.

Check 'em out, ya'll!

Brazil LOVES Obama, Safe Sex and Older Women

Brazil's annual four-day Bacchan festivities, CARNIVAL, is over tonight - the day before ASH Wednesday, when people are supposed to give up stuff they love - drugs, food, children - who knows.

Anyway, the Brazilians created this ubber-party to compensate for the delicious bubblegum they will foresake for the next long period of time. The tomfooolery in Brazil gets pretty wild, here are some highlights:

Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, threw condoms to the crowd (both racy and totally practical) in an effort to promote his AIDS awareness campaign:

Carnival Queen, Viviane Castro, body painted President Obama on her mostly un-clothed body (she is wearing sandals). Nice.

Departing from their usual youth-obsessed view of beauty, according to the Associated Press, two Brazilian schools chose women in their 40s as "Samba Queens" to lead high-profile parades during Carnival. You know WE love this!!!!

Sunday

DRESSES! REALLY the MOST Important (and Interesting) Thing About the Oscars

The BIG question is: What do women (who have loads of cash and access to any designer/jewelry/hair people on Earth - the ENTIRE friggin' EARTH!!!) choose to wear when everyone's watching?

Check out these ball-gown babes! (Who were your top picks?)

It seems lots of them fancy mermaid tails, chiffon ruffles and belts on ball gowns. This year seemed to be particulalry uninteresting - except for a few. Of the celebs I saw on the red carpet,

These are my top 5 picks:

1. Amy Adams
2. Penelope Cruz
3. Natalie Portman
4. Tilda Swinton
5. Taraji P. Henson

And my least favorite:

1. Sarah Jessica Parker
2. Heidi Klum
3. Miley Cyrus
4. Melissa George
5. Freida Pinto

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK Highlights

New York Fashion Week ended on Friday - closing seven days worth of fairly low-key parties (Prada had a simple cocktail hour, unlike its lavish bashes from years past); celebs making their rounds in support of their fave designers or designers who pay them to advertise (see Eva Mendes at Calvin Klein) and then there was the almost funny battle between the Retro depression-era- and Retro 80s-inspired frocks. Yawn. An interesting juxtaposition...in any event, I'm not sure any of us really want to return to either decade - why can't we just keep the "Green" movement alive or invent some new look that incorporates solar-powered Harem pants???

Here are a few designs that really caught our attention - including Christian Siriano's new line of shoes for Payless! (This IS exciting.)

WATCH & LISTEN: Justin Timberlake at New York Fashion Week

The William Rast show at New York Fashion Week was full of model-esque clothes, simple with a dash of edge - big shoulders, short skirts, leather and fringe. I loved the cut of the skirts - flattering on both skinny and curvy cuties.

See some of the show and hear what Mr. Timberlake has to say about his line:

Friday

Etsy Top 10

Etsy.com - the website for t-shirt designers, jewelry makers, shoe cobblers and anyone who makes stuff and wants to sell it - is the online version of FLEA-MARKET HEAVEN!

Except on Etsy there are fewer stalls selling crystals and incense and more fashion-forward stuff that just might end up in mass-market chains like Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie.

As of this month, here are my top 10 favorite things on Etsy!!! What I love about Etsy is that you can find awesome cute and clever stuff for your home AND also one-of-a-kind (or at least very limited edition) clothes for women, men and kids. It's the perfect place to pick up affordable (and unique) gifts - plus you're supporting independent craftspeople, artists, etc.

C'est cool, indeed.

Let me know if you find anything else to add to the list - I'd love to start an ongoing Etsy roll call. There's just so much stuff to sift through - a lot of incredibly cool things mixed with a lot of "what-the-eff-were-you-thinking?!" crapola, too.

+++++(I've included the name of the shop - so just go to Etsy.com and search the shop name!)+++++