Need a hard-to-find Chanel bag? Try Chic to Chic on Black Friday

For the most fabulous handbags-Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and many more, you have to discover Chic to Chic in Gaithersburg. This locally owned consignment shop has top-quality designer clothing, handbags, shoes and fine jewelry--some with the original tags still in place. Try them this Friday--Black Friday of course!

From inlaws to outlaws

Bloomie's take on spring 2010 is all about unconventional pairings and good girl/bad girl combos. Find feminine ruching and pleats as well as classic designs updated with bad-girl cutouts. Innerwear and outerwear mix and match in sheer, sexy layers by Alberta Ferretti and Jean Paul Gaultier. Say goodbye to slouchy blazers as Chanel edges its classic structured jacket back in, this time with fringed trim. The hottest shoes? Menswear oxfords by Stuart Weitzman and Pour la Victoire and clogs--yes--clogs by Chanel. As far as jewelry goes, find it in jeweled belts. Ladylike wrists are to be adorned with oversized watches and chunky bangles. So there.

Dress at left: Aqua $98.

Spring in January at Saks

Visit the Chevy Chase Saks today (Friday, Jan. 22) to preview the Armani Collezioni Spring 2010 collection from 10-5. On Tuesday, Jan. 26, see a CHANEL spring 2010 Ready-to-Wear and Accessories Trunk Show until 5. Informal modeling from 12-3.

Fashion Week Education

Just coming off the high of Fashion Week, which actually inspired me to part with a few pennies and shop, I got this timely notice from Amazon.com about some books to further enhance my fashion education. Because I go by my sometimes errant eye and instinct, I'm eager to peruse what the experts have to say. Here are a few Amazon chose to highlight:

Glamour: A History The Sartorialist Louis Vuitton Avedon Fashion: 1944-2000 Underneath It All Model, Incorporated Bag and Shoe Design: Hester van Eeghen Cartier I Love You

Waxing Poetic on Fall Fashion

This fall, the ruffle is back and the best looks seem to be the old ones--really old ones. Styles that harken back to the 1920s--skimpy, droopy, filmy skirts, tights, lace-up shoes, rows of pearls. Or take it back to the romantic 1820s, high ruffled collars and jeweled jackets mixed with modern edge--thigh-high boots with a ruffle. Designers--Armani, Bottega Veneta and Isabel Marant-- are coming up with spare dresses with delicate ruffles, billowy scarves and new/old shoes. Make the look a modern reality a la Lagerfeld with high, skinny trousers and lace-up ruffled booties, rows of Chanelesque baubles, a fitted boyfriend jacket over an ebullient Ralph Lauren ruffled blouse or scarf. (If you don't want to keep the poetic-era "shadows" under your eyes, don't worry. La Mer is coming out with concealer in September to take care of that. There ARE benefits to modernity.)

Two great looks as shown in the September Elle magazine