Better Off Bed

Do not be alarmed, but you've been sleeping on a bed of toxins! Most likely your sheets were made from cotton grown with pesticides, treated with harsh dyes and even flame retardant chemicals. You made your bed of toxins, but you don't have to lie in it. Luxury certified organic cotton bedclothes, like the 460 thread count Bellissimo Italian Linens shown, let's you rest in toxin-free comfort. Of course, luxury organic products don't come cheap, a full size sheet set will set you back ($576).

Pop Ya Collar

Having a Jackie O moment? You will as soon as you slip on this 60's inspired wool jacket. Winter white, with an adjustable collar that can be worn up or down, it's quite posh. Wear to the President's Ball with opera length gloves and formal gown. Or pair it with a high-waisted pencil skirt and secretary blouse to a fancy dinner. And please replace that unfortunate safety fastener with a jeweled brooch, the pin cheapens the look ever so slightly. ($150)

LL Lavender

In the never-ending search for the perfect shoulder bag I've come across this beautiful contender, dubbed "the Morgan." Made for the woman who likes to wear her purse close the body, the 9" long strap is sufficiently wide for weight distribution. Those external zippers aren't just design elements, but functional compartments for easy access to small items like a cell phone or keys. Golden hardware, Italian leather and fine craftsmanship kick this baby up into the luxury bracket. The color is a fine shade of debutante lavender, a must have! ($378)

Show and Pointelle

Add a bit texture to your wardrobe with a pair of cotton pointelle knit tights. The open weave allows for some breathing room during this transtional weather period. Layer a solid hot pink pair of tights underneath the pointelle for a hint of color and interest once it gets really frosty outside. Lovely with an open toe pump too, just remember to tuck those seams under. And always, always hand wash your tights and allow them to drip dry if you want them to last through the season. ($36)

Lonesome Dove

From the red carpet to the after party, this gown is guaranteed to get you past every velvet rope and on somebody’s best-dressed list. Living the glamorous life means having a number of go-to gowns available for last minute events, like this dove gray pin-tucked halter gown from LA-based label Burning Torch. Perfect for the budding ingénue, the dramatic length and careful diagonal pleating of the silk/cotton blend is quite stunning. Minimal accessories are needed; black satin sandals, a sleek matching clutch, piles of diamond tennis bracelets, and hair like Veronica Lake should do the trick. ($275)

Clog Show

Sweden's footwear staple, the wooden clog, has been resurrected from obscurity and transformed into a hip 11" water repellant clog boot. Handcrafted by skilled artisens in the USA, the non-skid bendable heel is based on a traditional Swedish design and the shaft is lined with sheared sheepskin. Brilliant with tucked in jeans and layered tees or go all English countryside and match to tweed skirt and frilly sleeveless secretary blouse. ($289)

Barbie World

Barbie called... and she wants her shoes back! Patent leather perfection has been achieved in the form of an adorable pointy toe pump from Moschino. Embossed into the powder pink Italian leather is a bowtie with "strings" that wrap the entire upper of the shoe. A manageable 3 1/2" covered heel makes life in plastic quite fantastic. Vacant stare not included, matching Ken sold separately. ($379)

Lethal Weapon

Words are not needed for this message tee shirt. With weapons including an iron skillet, rubber bands, nun-chucks and a machete, this original illustration hand screen-printed on an American Apparel tee shirt might as well read "Don't Mess With Me". Get killer good looks by sizing down to an extra-small tee with a pair of skinny jeans and plenty of attitude. Further accessorize with a brass knuckles ring and spiked heels to be in full effect. ($24)

Thinking Cap

Protect your dome this winter with warm and cozy headgear like this bobble stitch knit cap. Knit from wool with a smidge of angora for that soft fuzzy halo affect and finished with a tiny bobble nub at the top and ribbing around the perimeter. Wear like a beret, tilted at an angle, and while you're at it get a few more in one of the 6 other colors because you'll love the fit. Makes a great holiday gift as well. ($28)

Dress Code

The rage for sequined party frocks is still going strong and this piece is a great addition to the fray. The tri-color mini dress begins with a silver sweetheart neckline, dripping sequined stalactites into the gold bodice which in turn gives way to tiny green spangles on the hem. Especially made for those in need of a Beyonce-style freakum dress, like the one she wore to the 2006 American Music Awards. Guaranteed to cause whiplash, so be sure to buckle up — your Manolo's... (£70/$141)

Jimmy Got Sole!

Ooohh la la, ah oui oui. I say Muhammad Ali! These shoes are N-I-C-E. Only Jimmy Choo could make me break into song upon viewing the pump of the future. If you didn't already know, peep toe heels are my absolute favorite; the metallic sheen and the gold zipper detail are the cherry atop my banana split! A little bit rock 'n roll, a little bit dominatrix, the impossible 4.5" zipper heels are perfect for Dita Von Teeseing deserving cads into submission. ($695)

Plaiditude

Toronto based House of Spy is the shiznit! Normally that would be 'nuff said, but why not exult a bit more on this charming plaid dolman sleeve jacket? The teal and chocolate color scheme should match brown knee-length stiletto boots perfectly. A rounded flat collar and contrasting tie-belt with matching covered buttons are simply delightful! Add a pair of elbow length gloves and toque worn rakishly at an angle as the finishing touch. Flossy flossy! ($252)

Punch-Drunk Glove

Having a Holly Golightly moment? Satisfy your cravings for the finer things in life with a pair of gray Marc by Marc Jacobs elbow length merino gloves. The wanna-be socialite would declare the semi-formal length appropriate for both daytime and evening — and she would be correct. Elongated gloves, associated with elegance and aristocracy, were typically worn with evening wear and popularized as daywear with Christian Dior's New Look in the 1950s. Wear with the half-sleeve swing coats, short-sleeve cardigans, and cropped jackets which ruled the runways this season. ($98)

It's a Wrap

Belts seem to become more relevant to daily life as winter approaches. Since most skin is covered to protect from the cold, belts are needed to accentuate a waist hidden by bulky sweater material. This winter, invest in a heavy coat, fine gauge cashmere sweaters and a few interesting cinctures such as this skinny red leather double wrap belt with an unexpected chain detail. The perfect compliment to a clingy sweaterdress, it sits low on the hips to accentuate the midsection and detract from any fabric bulk. A sound wardrobe acquisition. ($275)

Leather Forecast

Mother Nature let the temperature in New York City drop to 55 degrees last night! That's pretty nippy for a Florida girl — like it or not, Fall is here. Pack away those flimsy summer wraps, they won't keep out the chill air like this stylish washed leather blazer will. With great details like cropped sleeves and one button closure, this is probably a jacket you can only wear 3 months out of the year... like that ever stopped you. (£90/$125)

Cave Chic

Dinosaur Designs, an Australian design group, has a marvelous selection of resin jewelry and homewares. All pieces are cast, drilled, sanded and finished by hand like this polished resin cuff bracelet from the Goddess collection. Not entirely out of place adorning the wrist of a stylish cavewoman, the swirl and dot motif is similar to something you might find on a prehistoric cave painting. I'm loving the organic form, it's completely modern but with an ancient sensibility. ($190)

Checkmate

While you're out shopping for chilly weather gear, get yourself a smart chapeau like this tweed trilby hat. A deeply indented crown and short brim effectively feminize the traditional man's fedora. A popular British hat shape since the late 1890's, the large tweed check has been twisted into an interlocking star pattern for a modern take on an old classic. (£22/$45)

Lock You Long Time

Live out your fantasies of becoming a secret agent girl with this Swarovski studded USB memory key cleverly disguised as a lock. Small, lightweight, removable and rewritable, use it to transport and store up to 1 GB of top secret files, photos and songs. Flashy yet innocuous, lock up all of your valuable data and wear it on a long silver chain. ($178)

Off We Glow

Been wondering what to wear with that transparent blouse? Forget the prim and proper tank top and let a fluorescent Chantilly lace bra shine through. Flip the switch on the black-light and light up the night because this set glows in the dark! That's right, your undergarments will give off more neon light than Times Square. Wowee Zowee! ($150)

Happy New Year!

Today is the Ethiopian New Year, but this date also has the special significance of being the Millennium. That's right, it's the year 2000 all over again! The Ethiopian (Ge'ez) calendar is one of the oldest in the world still in use. So if I move to Ethiopia can I shave 7 years off my age? Well I can atleast party down in NYC, and this taupe sequined minidress is proper attire for the occasion. Modest scoopneck and puffy elbow length sleeves give balance to the super short skirt. Hope you got legs like Tina Turner! ($348)

Fancy a Shag?

Recently I got the chance to walk the white carpet. Yep, it was a fashion-week party and instead of a red carpet, the stars (and I) were compelled to walk on a half dozen deep-pile flokati rugs laid end to end. Hand shorn from the long, hairy fibers of New Zealand Drysdale sheep, the wool is then sent to Greece where they've been handweaving the rugs for centuries. Incredibly soft and plush, and oft used as bedding, the rugs are an ancient status symbol of sorts — the centerpiece of a Greek girl's dowry. Quite the affordable luxury methinks. ($250)

Leave It To Weaver

Forget Louis Vuitton, it's too easy to find a copy on Canal Street — venerable brands like Bottega Veneta will do just fine. This handsome woven striped duffle bag is grouped with luggage because it measures 16" high, the perfect carry-on. Made in Italy, the soft, hand-woven leather is crafted with the most strict of quality standards. I personally like the brand for it's refusal to play the logo game. The only initials I wanna wear are my own. ($4550)

Top Five: MyCatwalk

Not only does this Austrailian online shopping destination have a great selection of clothing, including hard to find foreign labels, but they also offer free shipping to the USA. I "spent" $8000 on dresses alone while fantasy shopping the site. One of my favorites is this silk minidress with the plunging back from Melbourne designer Lucy Hinckfuss. Go without the black leggings if you dare, pair with a sleek fedora and chunky gold bracelets. ($286)
2. Maurie & Eve crochet bust singlet dress, $153
3. Manning Cartell silk bowtie dress, $303
4. Sass & Bide cream knit architecture dress, $197
5. Shakuhachi stretch blue denim overalls minidress, $191

Bathing Beauty

Vintage lingerie, pants and bathing suits are way below my radar. Anything which has been worn that closely to someone else's crotch just ain't my bag. But there's an exception to that rule, if it's brand new with the tag still attached I'll take it. That's why I'm loving this never worn vintage Brigitte Bardot Bikini. Most likely sourced either from dead stock, which is typically boxes of unsold merchandise packed away in some old factory, or from a clothes hog who made a purchase and packed it away. Gotta love it! ($98)

Branching Out

I once read that Ivana Trump's monthly bill for floral arrangements topped $100,000! One can reasonably assume she wasn't placing those expensive flowers in a free glass vase from the corner bodega. This porcelain vase, standing 10" tall and sculpted to look like a tree branch, is the more likely choice. Fired by a master craftsman in the famed Nymphenburg Porcelain Factory in Germany, it is individually signed and numbered. Take care of it so future descendants will get a good quote on Antiques Roadshow. ($649)

Flower Power

Flower petal swim caps first became popular during the 1960s. Remember those old saccharine sweet Doris Day movies? She always wore a modest one piece bathing suit and flower bomb swim cap just like this one to protect her dye job. Women with relaxed hair may also be reluctant to enter a pool without protection for an expensive hair do. Keep your locks dry with a guaranteed hit at the pool party; also available in white, blue or rainbow-coloured. ($53)

Cream of the Crop

What's the best body cream on the market? I nominate L'Occitane's Ultra Rich Body Cream. The super-thick creamy formulation has a silky smooth consistency because it contains 25% shea butter! That's a ridiculous amount of tree fat for a body lotion, other brands that tout the ingredient typically contain 10-15%. Exfoliate in the bath or shower with a loofah and then coat yourself from head to toe for glowing, lightly scented skin. ($38)

Smurfection

There's an episode of "The Smurfs" which shows a glimpse of Smurfette's closet. Like Einstein, she never wanted to think about what to wear, therefore 10 identical white dresses, with 10 pair of identical matching white pumps. But that was the 80s, today I imagine Smurfette with some cute white dresses from Anna Sui and Betsy Johnson and these smurfy, blue suede peep toe shoes with mirrored heels from Jean Michel Cazabat. Besides, white shoes are considered unsmurfy after Labor Day. ($495)

It's in the Bag!

Every design house is trying to create the hit new bag that every girl wants and every Canal Street vendor will copy. Gucci's offering for this 2007 Fall season is the indy bag. I must admit it's quite cute in gumetal python, and is offered in a dozen different fabric configurations, including an $8000 mink version. Bottom line, this is an investment bag, the superior craftsmanship and detailing will be relevant in another 100 years. ($3990)

Shocking Stockings

It's difficult for women of color to find thigh-hi nylon stockings in a range of skin tone colors. Secrets in Lace offers their premier French heel stockings in beige, copper and espresso — a downright plethora! Called a "French heel" for the seam which widens into a sharp triangle shape at the heel, it's extra sexy. Browse through the site for a modern take on retro cheesecake photography, featuring curvy models. ($29)