Penny pinchers take note

I was strolling up Broadway from 8th Street toward Union Square the other afternoon and noticed sale signs in almost every shop window. It's been a crazy summer workwise, and with the big move to Brooklyn, this city girl has been holding onto every dime. I realize that I had almost missed my favorite time of year... the Mid-Summer Sale Season. You don't have to live in a big city to make the most of this moment. Manufacturers from coast to coast are peddling their wares at major discounts from now into the next few weeks, to clear out space for fall pieces. And I'm not just talking about beach-y tunics that you won't get any wear out of. Here's some of what I found online. Happy clicking, my little cheapskates!

The Perfect Pant

A bold pocket in front and expert tailoring makes these 3.1 Phillip patch pocket pants a great choice for busy fashionistas. Take them in black from Indian Summer (eyelet blouse) through fall (light cashmere sweater) into the winter (ankle boots, heavier sweater, scarf). Treat yourself to the white and sky blue, too... both of which will look lovely for the rest of this summer and next year, too!

Original price: $395

Sale price: $118

Where to buy: shopbop.com

Last-Chance Bikini

You've watched your diet and done your crunches and you have six more weeks to flaunt that beach bod. Why not do it in a nearly-naked suit from Nanette Lepore? This color scheme and pattern works on all skintones and the top will flatter the flat-chested and support curvier girls too.

Original price: $77 and $79

Sale price: $54 each

Where to buy: bloomingdales.com

Little Black Dress

This A.L.C. "Twisty" knit dress is a wardrobe staple perfect for every circumstance imaginable--from a job interview to a night on the town. Classic, sexy, and chic.

Original price: $390

Sale price: $249

Where to buy: nordstrom.com

A Timeless Classic

Is there anything that makes you feel instantly pretty, polished, and perky like a white shirtdress? Levi's created this one exclusively for Opening Ceremony. Wear yours with bare legs and ballet flats or black tights and chunky platforms.

Original price: $180

Sale price: $126

Where to buy: openingceremony.us

... Or, on the topic of dresses, what about...

Something Sweet

Pale yellow might not be your hue... but pale mustard will work on almost anyone! Check out delightful little printed frocks like this one from Peter Pilotto at Opening Ceremony. This mostly-jersey number has a longer hem in back which makes you look instantly taller and thinner. It offers a hint of sex appeal at the underarm but plenty of coverage for a bra, and the conflicting geometric scheme allover creates a friendly, girly vibe... sans floral. Are you in love?

Original price: $740

Sale price: $296

Where to buy: openingceremony.us

Glittery Sh*t-Kickers

A chunky pump with attitude and glitter? It's love! ASOS is your online go-to for affordable runway styles, but their clearance shoe section is out of control right now. These London Rebel suede-and-glitter numbers are so fabulous you can wear them to dress up (and punk-up) nearly anything. I'm seeing them with a chiffon mini dress and wild hair. But anything goes!

Original price: $103

Sale price: $68

Where to buy: asos.com

Curly You

The oppressive heat and jaw-dropping humidity are enough to throw any girl into a tailspin (or a high pony, at least), but what about those of us with curls? It can take at least two products, one hour, and two high-heat tools to achieve a straight look in this weather, and once you step outside, frizz is a sure bet. My friend Steph has the most lovely natural curls, and for months I watched as she straightened them or tossed the whole head of hair into a high bun. Recently, my curly girly has embraced what's rightfully hers, and all of Manhattan takes notice as she struts down the street.

Steph's words of advice for filling out fine curls: avoid gel. Especially in summer heat, gel can weigh hair down, giving it an unappealing, stringy look. Steph uses two drug store purchases--first a palmful of "Big Sexy Curls" mousse throughout, followed by a quick blowdry on low with a diffuser, and finally an all-over spritz of "Big Sexy Hair" volumizing hairspray. Done!

Total styling time: 10 minutes. Impact: Unforgettable.

My girl with her curls, out on the town mid-summer

Island View



Talk about Bermuda shorts.
Love this look!



Readers, I have deserted you. I was on a brief, much-needed vacation in Bermuda with my mom and younger brother and the WiFi was spotty at best. We have returned with tans and a smattering of natural highlights. We dined on beef carpaccio, super-fresh salads, roasted tomatoes, and gluten-free spaghetti in a variety of seaside preparations. We snapped photos, sipped swizzles (the signature drink of Bermuda), and made dear friends with the entire staff at our glorious resort. And though we didn't shop, not for a single stitch, we were all affected by the lax, island fashions and summer-sweet casual approach to dressing on the beautiful island of Bermuda. Black knee socks paired with yellow shorts and a blazer, anyone?



Little bro lightens up by pairing his navy blazer with a white v-neck

My sister-in-law bought me this headscarf at a Calypso sample sale
two years ago and I never felt cool enough to wear it until yesterday.

Mama pairs her black Magaschoni slip dress with heavy liner, straight hair,
and a high-low mix of jewelry including diamonds, plastic beads, and a fuscia enamel bangle.



Scored these on sale for a mere 5 bucks at Urban pre-trip



The Light in Your Eyes

In middle school, my then-bestie and I wore metallic liquid liner from Hard Candy in an array of colors from simple silver to cracked-out red, electric blue and more. Despite being barely old enough to technically refer to ourselves as teenagers, we were loud and proud and seriously into makeup. This was the beginning of a love affair that will never end. Today, I like to think I'm starting to get it closer to "right."



Metallic liquid liner memories aside, it's always fun to try something shimmering, and summer is a great time to take the plunge. Flipping through the latest issue of Glamour, I found a photo and little blurb about the funky, shimmering new "lash tinsel" by Hard Candy. I became immediately, sight-un-seen, obsessed. The tinsel is a gel-based mascara that glitters gloriously in three shades (gold, silver, and a lovely blue). I'm picturing it with thick black liner and a pale pink lip for evening, or softly standing alone in silver, pool-side with a great tan and an otherwise bare face. Nab yours here.

Some more glittery summer beauty inspiration below. After all, it's time to sparkle... and have some fun!

For those who dare, a dramatic dusting of multi-tonal glittering shadow is divine.

Quieter girls, fear not. You can get a shimmer-y effect with the simple addition
of gold metallic pencil smudged into the corners of your eyes.

Silver liner on top and gold on bottom is ethereal and cool.
Photo borrowed from: Bellasugar.com

Summer Belles

My darling colleague and partner in crime has recently started a fabulous celebrity-looks newsletter, Buzzaratti. Everything she writes about is $250 or less and has a major celeb following. You must sign up immediately so as to avoid spending your summer not looking as cute as you could! That said, I am shamelessly stealing a trend alert from her for this post. It's the hair comb, girls. And it's ridiculously fabulous.

I grew up in a house filled with vintage treasures--antique mirrors with charming cracks and discoloration, hundred-year-old chairs whose velvet had been redone countless times, and even a turn-of-the-(twentieth)-century white lace dress so fragile I refused to take deep breaths while wearing it... but wear it I did, and proudly. One of my absolute favorite items as a child was a gorgeous hair comb from the early 1900's that had belonged to somebody's grandmother's mother or something along those lines. It had been produced at the dawn of plastic, made in an amber-hued, hand-etched heavy grade plastic that I don't even think you can find these days. The comb was to be tucked into an up-do, or used to pull back one side of the hair. There are countless uses for a comb like this, but I honestly thought the trend had died with my ancestors.

Enter Kim Kardashian. Her new Belle Noel jewelry collection seemed cute enough when I saw the pieces flashed around in the weeklies and on some fashion/accessories blogs. Nothing really stuck out though until I received my Buzzaratti newsletter this Sunday featuring the Belle Noel hair combs. Utterly princess-like and incredibly luxe, the combs retail at $45. They are the perfect touch for summer when trying to up the ante on your sweet little sun dress. Yet I have a feeling this is one trend that will move swiftly through Indian Summer and into fall. Pencil skirt and pointed stilettoes paired with palladium comb-adorned ponytail, anyone? Check them out here.

PS. More on palladium later. Intrigued?

The one I had as a kid looked like this!

When in Brooklyn...

We've officially moved to Brooklyn. Scratch that. My boyfriend has officially moved in, 90 percent of the furniture has been purchased and assembled, all of his clothes and about half of mine. But I won't truly be able to call the new spot home until my lease ends in June and the kitty and I hop on the A train and make the final journey from the Upper West to lovely Dumbo. I'll post plenty of photos once everything is perfect; for now, a shopping tip.

I'd heard of Brooklyn Industries before and have glanced in their windows a few times in the past but had no idea what cute, funky basics they offer, and was pleasantly surprised to find prices that feel entirely appropriate. Josh needed shorts and off we went, to the location just around our cute little corner. He found some fantastic shorts, a pair of light and breezy summer pants, and a great Brooklyn Pride tee all for well under $200. Not to be outdone, I nabbed a fantastic floral chiffon headband reminiscent of the fascinators rendered trendy Stateside in this post-royal nuptials season. The hot pink center detail is my favorite part. And yes, I headed out with a Brooklyn Pride tee of my own, mine white with black lettering. I sized up to let it be baggy and am picturing this one with everything from denim cut-offs to leggings and of course, thrown over a neon bathing suit or two sometime this season.

After shopping, wandering around in the glorious 92-degree city heat, splitting a made-to-order gelato and macaron sandwich, and watching kids run around in the park, we headed home to hang more paintings. Already filled with Brooklyn pride, we now have the goods to prove it. You can check out (and purchase) Brooklyn Industries duds here.

Brooklyn Industries chiffon floral headband, $34

Brooklyn graphic tee, $34

Swimming to New Heights

I have a friend from college who is impossibly chic. When we first met I remember thinking how lucky she was to be so slight (yet tall!), so feminine (yet edgy!), and to wrap it all up with hair she allowed to air dry, lashes that rarely saw a mascara brush, and a slew of male devotees to boot. I remember one time we were talking about movies and she remarked that one thing she aspired to obtain was the type of "all-eyes-on-me" pizzazz that Kate Hudson's character in "Almost Famous" possessed. I thought--but was too envious to admit aloud--that she already did.

Anyway, my friend wore high-waisted Levi's in 2002, a year long after the 80's and 90's had flaunted high waists and still before the new hipsters picked them up. The Levi's were the only thing about her personal style that I didn't get, and all of us used to tease her mercilessly as we donned our Abercrombie ultra-low-rise denim and thought we were exceedingly cool. But she insisted that the high waist made your legs look longer and your waist smaller. It's only now that the rest of the world has come on board with my stylish college buddy's look that I have come to embrace the high waist, too. In a denim short, a legging, or a skirt, it's my new favorite thing.


Marc by Marc Jacobs green floral bottom, $98, and
top, $94, saks.com



Recently, I've also become more than a little obsessed with the high-waisted bikini bottom. A little bit retro, a little bit hipster, a little bit coy-girl-next-door-meets-sassy-pinup, I adore the look for what it does to the body and I wanted to share some of my favorites with you.  Bonus: This might just be the first swimsuit season that you pull a pile of bikinis from the racks and actually feel fabulous in all of them. A high-waisted bikini works to cover your flaws whether you have chicken legs that you want to pull the eye away from, a tummy that needs covering... or both! 

Navy blue rib nylon spandex high waist bikini brief, $27, and
triange top, $28, americanapparel.com




My absolute favorite--Rodarte for Opening Ceremony, $345,
shopbop.com



Gaga for Gaga

I am going to preface this one by saying that I really don't like to talk about music with anyone outside of my inner circle. There are a few reasons for this. The main concern is that I feel music is a topic much like religion or politics that can bring on heated debate in a moment's notice, leaving one party feeling wounded, attacked, or on the defensive. When really the whole point of music is to escape these types of feelings. Thus, I try to avoid the topic and just turn up the volume and dance.

That said, my boyfriend and I walked in on a conversation last weekend that truly disturbed me. We were meeting up with friends for some drinks and the girls were discussing their severe disdain for Lady Gaga. Some of the things I heard flying around the room were, "She's an affront to the fashion industry!" [So easy to disprove. Not only does she make everything shine from Chanel and McQueen to the hotly debated meat dress, she has served as fashion muse for such bona fide designers as Nicola Formichetti of Mugler.] AND... "She's such a slut!" [Really? What do you know about her personal life? And what makes her any different from any other pop star strutting her fab abs and dying the locks blonde?] The list went on to include her recent horn implants --"creepy and disgusting"-- the booby-covered top she wore in the recent Bazaar spread -- "gross and crazy" and beyond. However, not once was the music brought up. I was pissed.

Harper's Bazaar, May 2011

Here's the thing. You don't have to go gaga for her. You don't have to love her, or even listen to her. But you have to respect the girl. She writes her own music, she's inspired a generation with her devil-may-care edge, and she is not only living the American dream but turning it on its pretty little head. Gaga's music is honest, catchy, and fun, yet deep. There is this moment at the end of her recent HBO concert special when they reveal a clip of her singing "Born this Way" a capella and it literally brings chills. Pop music hasn't seen this kind of raw, sexy, true talent in a long time. And as for the clothes, I personally tend to love what she's wearing, but even if you don't... isn't it time we look around and realize that not everyone feels comfortable in the mold? It is so important for today's youth to have a role model who doesn't give a crap about pleasing others or living up to stoic standards but instead just does what she wants.

A capella "Born this Way"

And really, at the end of the day, the girl's a genius. She knows exactly what she's doing when she throws on a crazy outfit or flips the bird at a Met's game. I guess my point is this. When Warhol started doing his thing, and later Michael Jackson and Madonna, and earlier Coco Chanel, not everyone got it, and not everyone loved it. But everyone was affected by it. Very few people in history have had the kind of magical, crazy stamp that these geniuses of the past have. I just happen to believe that Gaga is the next one. You don't agree? That's cool, but I'm just turning up the volume.

Happy, Chic, Mother's Day

The mothers of New York could not have asked for a more beautiful day than this. The sun is shining but the heat is not oppressive. There are perfect, white, puffy clouds floating around in a baby blue sky and cherry blossoms--in full bloom--dot the trees throughout Central Park.

We opted to take Mom to the stylish and chic Beauty & Essex on the Lower East Side for a luxurious-yet-worth-every-penny brunch replete with homemade cinnamon buns, ricotta and pear "jewels on toast," communal candied bacon and maple grits, Mexican hangover-special eggs, and even some dessert (butterscotch pot de creme, anyone?). My mother, who eats about 1100 clean, green calories a day and treats herself to a single scotch a week indulged in every last bite of sugar, butter, and carb, even toasting the feast with a sweet, strong, milky cocktail that she sucked dry. It was glorious.

But almost as heartwarming as a morning spent with family was the utter fabulousness (is that a word? It is now) of all the hot mamas in New York City this morning that I couldn't help but observe. Pushing strollers along Houston and Rivington in skinnies and pastel blazers, clinking glasses with their grown kids at brunch, or even fully preggers newbies resplendent in maxi dresses and designer shades. The streets were swarming with beautiful, classy, well-dressed broads and the fashionable, happy broods that love them. My own was decked out with a fresh blowout, Gucci sunglasses, diamonds (and pearls!), a crisp, knee-length, navy blue raw silk sheath recently nabbed at Saks, creamy-beige nubby leather Prada 3-inch platform sandals, and toting a slouchy metallic suede satchel I mistook for Ferragamo. (She whispered, "It's Tahari. I got it on sale," with a wink.) She might be (almost) 30 years my senior, but my mom looked significantly hotter than I did today. She often does.

So this is just a quick shout-out to all the pretty, stylish mommies in this pretty, stylish city. You all look fabulous, and you deserve your moment in the sun. Cheers!

Mama <3

Jello, Summer Weather

It's been a lovely week, and though there are showers in the forecast, this New Yorker is thrilled to have officially made it through the bulk of Spring Showers and into a happier place. Just a brief highlight today on one item that you must purchase. And I'd like to thank my Mini, Monique, who not only brought them to my attention but also gave me free reign to purchase them, even after she already had. What a nice friend.

The word "jelly" probably conjures up some icky images in your mind. There's the sweet stuff spread on bread that we probably shouldn't be eating, the cellulite/sagging flesh connotation (yikes!), and worst of all, the shoes. Remember 1996? I sadly do. I wore my Gap Kids jellies like a mad woman, even when their "clear" color began to yellow. Even when they made my poor, pre-adolescent feet smell like Hell on Earth. Even when my mother went into my room and physically tried to hide them so that I'd forget to wear them. I clung desperately to my jellies until the first day of seventh grade when, thanks to a couple of snickering girls, I realized that they were no longer cool. At ALL.

Ladies, I promise not to scare you... but the jelly might just be back. And at a mere $150, this is one Gucci shoe (or two, really) that you can actually afford to luxuriously enjoy. I suggest you log on to saks.com TODAY and pre-order yours (since most colors and sizes are going fast). Mini and I both have the lavendar. And you are olive with envy...

Gucci, saks.com; $150

Spring into fashion!

The sun was out for a few precious hours yesterday, but Jensy was buttoned up in corporate attire for an event walk-through. That said, it was a lovely day filled with the promise of lovelier days ahead. A friend requested that we talk through some of the upcoming spring trends on Sparkle & Fun, and I think it's definitely time. Here are some staples we all need to purchase:

A super-pretty top

freepeople.com; $98

Nothing spells spring like that fabulous, new lace or silk top you can pair with skinny jeans, a floaty skirt, a leather pant, or a legging. No matter what the moment or the mood, you'll adore throwing on your sweet little top and letting it complete the outfit. I really like this basic white tee with a twist from Free People. It comes in black too for all you New Yorkers who can't lose the black but want to lose some of the edge this season.

A perfect bomber

A leather bomber is one of those items every girl needs to own. I bought mine at Zara in Mexico a few years ago and despite being a little roughed up, it still looks great. I put it back in the rotation a few weeks ago when the bite left the air and I'll keep rocking it until we reach 80 degree weather. Bonus: you can bring your bomber back in September and wear it again until snowfall. This one from Zara's current collection boasts really cute quilting detail. Love it!

zara.com; $79

A short denim short

gap.com; $54.95

What's better than that first day you break out your beloved denim cutoffs? A classic pair of Levi's that you doctor up at home with a scissor is a totally cute option, but if you want something slightly less grunge, check out these from the Gap. The side zipper gives a little something extra, and the wash is just faded enough. I bought them yesterday and am counting down the days till I can throw them on with anything and feel utterly all-American and cute.

An Modern Oxford

saks.com; $425

A lace-up shoe with an classic edge works on everyone. Soften them up and they're adorable with a little sock and a sundress, sock-less with jeans, and so on. I adore these ultra-fem cutouts from Rag & Bone. The color is just neutral enough, with the faintest hint of pink.

A girly-chic dress

Spring is the perfect time for florals, and you have every excuse to go over-the-top girly. Be careful though. Word on the street is that boys really don't like anything too flowy, so if you're looking for a sweet little dress with some swing, aim for a corset-style top that is fitted and sexy, giving way to a looser, dance-around-the-room skirt. Stear clear of empire waists, because no matter how tiny you are, they won't flatter. Guess is mecca for sexier-than-thou frocks and when they throw in a gingham or floral print it just gets that much better. This one is fun and flirty, but still feels like an easy piece that can be tossed over your head and paired with a heel without much planning as you head out the door.

Happy shopping, little pretties!

What a difference a decal makes

Devoted Sparkles & Fun readers, I apologize my absence over the course of the past week. Two very wonderful opportunities have arisen for me to write in other platforms and due to those and my day job, it's been tough to carve out the time for my own blog. No excuse! This is just a quickie to say I am a very tired girl indeed, and off to bed quite soon. But surprisingly, the most tiring part of my day came this morning, when I was tasked with correcting my most recent beauty adventure.

Everyone has been raving about these new at-home nail decals. As you know by now, I am a nail addict and am always up to try the latest and (not so) greatest. Last week I snagged a pack of Sally Hansen's bright pink, sparkling (!) Nail Effects decals and skipped home with them, ready to give it a go. The application was surprisingly easy and mess-free, and I was able to drift right off to Dreamland within minutes of buffing my last one, sans impressions left from sheets on drying nails. They lasted about ten days and could have probably gone on longer if I hadn't gotten really sick of my Pepto-Mirrorball-80s-inspired diva nails by the time I woke up this morning.

They look so pretty all lined up, don't they? $10. Drug stores.

The problem, though, is the removal process. It took five full minutes using traditional polish remover to take off the decal on my thumb. With precious few cotton balls and even fewer minutes left, I had no choice but to resort to full-on pure acetone soakage for the remaining fingers. Most of you do not even own this product and I only do because of my recent obsession with the gel manicure (whose removal is a nightmare of its own tiring, skin-parching variety).

After I finally rid myself of the ticky-tacky decals, my nails were dry and lifeless, even a little thin. I hesitated to put any polish on them and instead opted for a simple buff-and-run. As much fun as it's been playing with the newest nail toys these past few months, I think Jensy is going back into the wonderful world of plain old polish. At least until I remember to finally schedule that Minx appointment...

The Great Extension Debate

Yesterday my colleagues and I were strolling towards the subway at the end of a long day and the topic of hair came up, as it's wont to do among three image-obsessed twenty-somethings. One of us was moaning about her hair--curly but thin--while the other two tried hopelessly to convince her that she's adorable the way she is. Try as we might, we could not dissuade her from her determination to seek out hair extensions. The problem with girls is, once we have a new beauty solution in mind, it's tough to kill the lingering hope that it might be the one answer we need. In other words, it was impossible to dissuade our young comerade, but even as we tried, I wondered why we should be. Friends, some thoughts from either side of the fence:

PROS


Beautiful long hair always rocks the runways

Hair extensions will make you feel prettier. Nothing gives a girl confidence like long, bouncy hair. And nothing makes a boy swoon like it either.

CONS
Extensions can be pricey, damage your hair, and become a nightmare to keep up. Then there's the fact that you have fake hair on your head.

This is downright creepy, no?

SOLUTIONS
We convinced our little cutie that while she might covet long and luscious locks, there is no sense in spending the time and money, or causing the damage necessary for traditional extensions. However, here is a super-cute alternative that can be inserted for a night--or a weekend. First-date ready, without the regret!

Clip-on extensions are cheap, quick, and cute!

Some Brightness on a Dreary Day

I had honestly hoped to be posting photos of all my cute spring outfits by now. But here we are on the last day of March with rain and even snow in the New York City forecast! I'm bereft, I'm over it, and I'm dreaming of sundresses. Until the day comes, though, here is a bit of bright and fun inspiration.

As you know by now, this bleek, depressing weather makes Jensy so very sad. I find the only way to perk things up is to go all-out with bright colors, fun accessories, and anything that makes you beam. This week's photos (and again, I know I've been lacking in the weekly photos) are of my newest fashion/beauty icon, Miss Nicki Minaj. It's not just that we share the same best asset. I admire Nicki for her screw-convention, turn-heads, vaguely psychotic approach to fashion, men, and the whole crazy industry of which she is part. It seems to me that beneath all that bubble-gum pink pleather, there's a whole lot of class and smarts to boot. And that giant, grateful smile she always wears is the very best part. Cheers to you, Nicki Minaj. You and your bad-ass outfits. Oh, and your bad-ass hair, too.

Katy, You're a Firework...

Celebrity beauty product lines always give me the creeps. I don't care if it's Kim Kardashian or Sean Combs--no matter what you're famous for, I don't think you should be putting out a fragrance unless there is a real reason. Like... you are a descendent of one of the great noses and you have a keen understanding of the business, have traveled the world researching ingredients, and your perfume is actually going to make an impact on the industry. Clearly, very few singers/actors/models can say any of the above is true of themselves. Putting out a fragrance, or a lipstick, or whatever random cosmetic initiative it is, tends to be simply one more way for "celebs" to rake in dough off slapping their name onto a product. (Sarah Jessica Parker, I understand, can be excused from the above generalization as she actually did the proper work to put out a product worth standing behind--even if the scent itself is eh).

For the most part, if there is a celebrity name attached to any cosmetic product, I won't go near it. The same can't be said for clothing and accessories (under the right circumstances!) but that is a topic for another post, on another day. However, when my friend Christie recently posted on her Facebook wall that she couldn't get enough of OPI's new polishes by Katy Perry, I was intrigued.

I googled the line and found a refreshingly adorable collection of colors. Named after Katy's catchy hits from the past year, each one packs major girl-power punch. From the iridescent, silvery, salmony pink of "Teenage Dream" to the mellow, opalescent mint green of "Not Like the Movies." A friend who's bought all of them reports that "the crackle sucks." That would be the black shellac that can be applied over any of the shades to create a fun pattern. But, I'm happy to skip the crackle anyway (who needs chipped chunks of black polish obscuring the view to her lovely shimmering nails?) and just go for the colors. For whatever reason, this is one instance where the celeb cosmetics line gets away with being downright cute and fun. Here are the colors--get them before summer hits and metallics give way to flourescents!

My Love Affair With Elizabeth Taylor

I know I wasn't the only little girl in pearls who grew up loving Elizabeth Taylor. The dark hair, the shocking blue-violet eyes, the voluptuous figure that actually looked like it belonged to a woman, not a starved preteen. The glamour, the eccentric nature, the jewels. I devoured every page of her famed book, "My Love Affair With Jewelry," wanting nothing more than to grow up to become as chic, as beautiful, as bedazzled, as the inimitible Ms Taylor. Tough luck, Jensy.

I don't possess the esteemed knowledge or multitude of facts that her many internet and print biographers in the coming days surely will, nor do I feel that being merely a fan entitles me to say much on her passing. But I will say that this girl is very sad today at having lost a personal hero--an icon of beauty, style, and class. I'd like to share a few of my personal favorite photos with you. May the lady live on in our glamorous little hearts forever. Rest in Peace, Liz Taylor.

Flaunting the Krupp diamond (33 Karats!) 1968



The BODY.

Book Cover: My Love Affair With Jewelry





Accepting one of her two Academy Awards