Joe Zee popped up on Oprah this week and after a very embarrassing handbag intervention with innocent women walking through the city, he was back in the stupid to tell us the five handbags that every woman needs. Really, Joe? Five? It’s clear he’s a man, isn’t it?

A workhorse bag doesn’t have to be bland.

Here, Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively rocks a functional Mulberry Bayswater tote.

Photo: Zuma IMage

Joe says we need:

• An every day bag, which would be your workhorse bag. A neutral shade like chocolate or black is best and it should be a tote, so it can comfortably fit all over your every day items and then some.
• An oversized clutch, which can go from day to night. Honestly, day clutches are hot, but they’ve only become so in the past couple of seasons. I can see how they don’t suit everyone’s lifestyle, however if you don’t carry around a ton during the day, they can be very functional.
• A dressy clutch, preferably in a metallic shade. If gold and silver are too loud for you, opt for bronze or pewter. Joe suggest sequins, but I think that sounds hideous.
• A weekend tote. This is also often known as a “mommy bag,” as it has the space to hold juice boxes, coloring books and the like. If you go for a weekend tote, opt for cotton or nylon. Something that can be thrown in the washer or wiped down with a damp cloth to get clean.
• The novelty bag. An It bag or a bag sporting of-the-moment trends such as studs.

I think this is a great list of bags that are functional for the modern woman’s wardrobe, but I personally don’t think you need all of them. A workhorse bag, a clutch and a trendy bag are ideal. The weekend tote is useful IF you have children, but many workhorse bags can function as the same purpose. The separate clutches are a pipe dream as most women don’t use clutches in the day.

Tell me about your must-have bags. Do you own all five that Joe suggests?

Post from: Style Television

After yesterday’s interview with White Collar costume designer, Stephanie Malansky, I started thinking to myself – are there some TV shows I watch just for the fashion? The answer would be yes. While I like Gossip Girl, I’m not in love with the plot lines and don’t find myself running to the television like I did during season 1. These days, I record the show and make jabs at Serena’s saucy outfits, many of which resemble a ’90s hooker.

Photo: Zuma Image

When it comes to reality television, I’m the same way. Kristin Cavallari and company bore me to death with their mundane lives of partying and hooking-up, but you can bet money I’ll tune in to The Hills and see Kristin’s casual chic California girl style. Ditto for The City. I have no investment in Whitney Port’s ultra boring “social life,” but I am glued to the set to see Olivia Palermo rock the prettiest dresses, coolest shoes and flawless hair and makeup that she’s known for. Thanks to shows like Sex & the City, fashion has become incredibly important in television. Malansky talked about everyone in the world of costume designing for television has upped their game. Designers also have to be on their mark, creating pieces that are wearable for everyday life, but with that wow fact that still warrants them being on television. In order for the costume designers to pull from designers, the clothes should be modern and functional, just as the character would want in their day-to-day lives.

Are there any TV shows you tune into just for the fashion? Don’t worry…we won’t tell!

Post from: Style Television

Airing on USA is a new series called White Collar. The series follows a topic we’ve heard a lot of in the media in the past year – high end crime. A chat with costume designer Stephanie Maslansky. Since this week’s upcoming episode centers around Fashion Week, you can bet the characters of White Collar are impeccably dressed.

Photo: Zuma Image

Thanks so much to Stephanie for taking time out of her day Tuesday to talk to us! Here are a few tidbits of what goes on behind-the-scenes of bringing the White Collar characters to life with their “closets.”

• For the character of Neil, Stephanie loves Thomas Pink.
• The cast members merge ideas with Stephanie to create “closets,” which build the characters.
• This upcoming week, Luca Luca, contributed many looks for the New York fashion week episode.
• Burberry, Prada, Hugo Boss, Stella McCartney and Armani are all high on Stephanie’s list for the sleek pieces her characters wear.
• Throughout the season, Stephanie pulls from each character’s “closet” and gradually adds to them as each script is released and she knows that the character needs a specific look.
• Since Sex & the City over a decade ago, costume designers have had to up their ante. Stephanie says costume designers have to work to create a distinguished look that is recognizable on the street, sleek enough to warrant being on television and wearable enough that folks will want to try the look in their real life. She went on to say that shows in New York seem to have a slick, elegant, more refined look. These shows would include White Collar, Gossip Girl and Mad Men (the latter doesn’t shoot in NYC, but takes place there).

Post from: Style Television

According to the New York Daily News, Mary-Kate was in talks to star in a vampire-themed show on the CW Network!

The show, titled Blue Bloods was about trendy socialite vampires in New York. Mary-Kate was slated to play Schuyler van Alen.

The show was going to be based on the series of the same name and author Melissa de la Cruz personally chose Mary-Kate to play Schuyler. However, the network couldn’t get Mary-Kate on board, even after months of negotiations.

It didn’t help that the show would be very similar to Gossip Girl and the now-defunct The Beautiful Life.

The network then opted to go with The Vampire Diaries, which is now one of their most successful shows.

I don’t know how much truth there is to this, but I think it was for the best MK didn’t go on the CW Network. It’s not really in line with the type of actress she’s trying to become.

Besides, having a big name attached to a television project doesn’t usually pan out. It didn’t for Mischa Barton and The Beautiful Life.

Image via image.net

Post from: Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen

Tyra Banks made her Gossip Girl debut last night, playing a movie star diva, Ursula. Serena is hired to essentially babysit the star during her press junket for her new movie. Everyone’s been talking about how Tyra had seven hairstyle changes throughout the show, but very few are talking about her performance.

Below is a video of all of Tyra’s scenes put together, thanks to With Love Tyra! What did you think?

Do you want to see Tyra act again? If so, on what show?

Post from: Top Model Gossip