StyleSpy with Katrina Szish

Maxi dresses aren't a new phenomenon.  Not only do they hold a solid place in fashion history, but Nicole Richie made vintage and boho styles her uniform well over a year ago, pairing them with face-obscuring shades.  Angelina Jolie followed, selecting Rachel Pally sundresses as her latest pregnancy wardrobe essential. 

The viability of floor-sweeping hemlines is still strong, yet while this summer's maxi maintains bohemian flair, it's lost its Kumbaya vibe in favor of sleek elegance (something to keep in mind when choosing your accessories; opt for rich gold jewelry and a blazer rather than a sloppy hobo bag and a head scarf).  Think rooftop party in Marrakesh rather than muddy feet at Woodstock.

Katie Holmes wears it right
Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage

Before heading to Miami last week I hit Henri Bendel's on Fifth Avenue in search of wardrobe options.  It wasn't until I stripped in the fitting room that I realized every piece I had pulled off the rack was a long day dress.  I tried on a strapless, ombre column; a bright silk skimmer from Alice & Olivia; and a Hawaiian-inspired floral number by Tracy Feith.  I ended up buying not one but two Diane von Furstenbergs, each with a totally different attitude:

Shop now at DVF.com

A slinky retro halter and a breezy multicolored wrap, which I didn't top off with a hat (sidenote: Molly Sims has been snapped wearing a similar dress).

The best part about these dresses is that with a speedy accessories switch they can go from brunch to a beach wedding -- both of which I have coming up on my calendar.

Cheers to the maxi dress!

I'm not stumping, but I am stumped...or at least fascinated.

The typeface used for Senator Barack Obama's CHANGE campaign signs has been widely discussed by design blogs and news magazines, but no one has yet to point out the remarkable similarity the CHANGE logo bears to the iconic CHANEL typeface.  So let me be the first...

I'm not referring to the trademarked interlocking C's, of course, but rather to the typeface used by the fashion house when the Chanel name is spelled out. 

As mentioned, I'm not the first to put the font discussion out there.  Back in February, Newsweek.com identified Obama's font as Gotham and delved into the finer points of campaign branding.  In their May issue, GQ magazine proudly quoted the Newsweek.com article and reiterated the claim that the Gotham typeface was first created for their men's monthly.  Simple, uncontrived and classic, the Gotham aesthetic has understandably become popular. 

Yet every time I see Obama's "CHAN.."  my pulse quickens.

This has nothing to do with my political views; it's purely Pavlovian.  When a fashionphile sees a Chanel logo (or a Chanel-esque logo), her drool reflex kicks in.  Or she at least does a double take, particularly when said logo isn't attached to a quilted handbag but to a podium. 

I sent an email query to Senator Obama's campaign headquarters, but as of post time I had not received a response.   I'm pretty sure they're busy with more pressing matters, so I'll let them off the hook.

What are your thoughts?  Do other fashion-loving voters have such visceral reactions?!  Fashionable voters want to know!

Screenshots: NiemanMarcus.com and Barack Obama's MySpace page

Tawny, trim tennis ace Maria Sharapova turned 21 this week.  In addition to a star-studded celebration hosted by Tag Heuer complete with a red (er, black) carpet, Ms. Sharapova was decked out in Lanvin for her candle-blowing bash. 


Neil Rasmus/PatrickMcMullan.com/Sipa Press

The press release from Lanvin reads: "Tennis superstar Maria Sharapova looked beautiful at her birthday party last night in a cocktail dress by Lanvin.  For this special occasion, Maria selected Lanvin’s turquoise washed silk gazar ruffle scoop back dress accented by a black elastic belt with a flower enamel buckle."

Yes, there was actually a press release.  Celebrity "special occasions" (whether birthdays or bridal showers or baby showers) have become viable alternatives to the traditional red carpet scenario.  Celebrants are now asked "Who are you wearing?" by reporters rather than "What did you get?" by friends.

But this decadence and indulgence isn't just for starlets.  Birthday parties for adults -- whether or not said reveler is a celebrity -- are getting increasingly sumptuous. 

I've recently been invited to a fete at which the guest of honor has planned "a vignette performance of Swan Lake" in honor of her birthday.  Another gentleman recently celebrated his 40th at a chic downtown bash masterminded by the exclusive Supper Club of New York.  And yet another requested that those lucky enough to be on the very short guest list at his Bungalow 8 soiree donate a specified sum to his favorite charity.

In addition to the location, the guest list and the entertainment, the wardrobe selection -- just like it is for celebs -- is of the utmost importance.  There will be photos taken, of course, most likely by a paparazzi-esque snapper hired specifically for the event.  There will be stares, perhaps even gawkers, as the birthday girl steps from her car and takes those few precious, public steps into the restaurant, club, theater or ice-skating rink. 

The adult birthday party has become an opportunity to be fabulous and to remind everyone else how fabulous you are.  Who doesn't want to be a star for a day?  And then again for another day the following year?!  I'm kind of loving this concept.  It's like being a kid all over again, when that big day was so deliciously all about you.  The only difference is that now you can have champagne with your cake instead of milk.

What do you think of these over-the-top celebrations of self?  What would your dream birthday bash be like if money were no object?  Dare to dream...

I'm thinking private island, pina coladas and horseback riding with about thirty of my nearest and dearest...Oh, and Magnolia chocolate cupcakes with pink frosting, of course.

And you...?

I just got back from Miami Beach (work and play), and during my visit I stumbled upon an amazing boutique on Ocean Drive: TAJ by Sabrina.



Shop owner Sabrina Crippa not only stocks sweet, summery pieces by Tibi and Milly, but she is also entering the second year of designing her own label -- and her collection alone is worth a trip to the shop. 



Beautiful cotton and silk tunic tops, dresses and leather sandals embellished with the most dazzling beads, gems and stones reflect Sabrina's globally-inspired aesthetic. 



Sabrina (above, showing one of her designs) grew up outside Milan, and regularly visits Morocco, Africa and India, but Miami has been her home since 1999.

In a season in which global-inspired items should be at the top of your shopping list, Sabrina's collection will make you look and feel as if you've traveled the world and brought back one-of-a-kind treasures.  I'm just happy I got to bring back one such treasure (which was definitely not enough!) from Miami.



Shop for Taj by Sabrina at HeidiKlein.com OR call 305.761.6883 for more information.

Check out my complete Miami Beach wrap-up on CNN.com where you can also check out my weekly show "Inside InStyle"!

Like last week's Louboutin cork/patent combo, this straw/patent juxtaposition downplays the dominatrix vibe of these Bruno Frisoni stilettos.

Go on, indulge your love of the natural textiles trend!  $1,045 at Vivre.

I love denim.

I have at least as many pairs of (meticulously-selected) jeans as Eva Longoria Parker (50+).  I also have a keen denim radar. 

I usually fall in love with different silhouettes from different labels (skinny from one, wide leg from another), but I can't say that I've ever fallen madly in love with an entire collection.

That is, until I fell for MiH.

MiH's designer, Chloe Lonsdale, comes from a family who also fell madly in love with denim. 

In the early 70s, Chloe's dad Tony Lonsdale bought a van packed with old denim and tried to sell the contents to several chic London boutiques but was laughed out of the shops.  Resolute to succeed, he opened his own outpost on King's Road and filled it with the stock from the van.  "He figured if he sold it within three months he would be ok," explains Chloe. "He sold out within three weeks."

London's Blue Jean King was crowned.  Lonsdale was not only the first person to bring jeans to the British market, but he is also the man behind the legendary chain of Jean Machine shops.

He soon met his Blue Jean Bride (as she was nicknamed in the press), model Chekkie Maskell, when she was modeling jeans for him from a new denim collection called Made In Heaven.

Turns out this match was made in heaven.

Blue Jean Baby Chloe was born a few years later.  By then Jean Machine shops had taken over almost every high street in the country.  Made in Heaven was the hottest denim brand around -- thanks to its retail success in Lonsdale's stores -- and worn by fashion icons Farrah Fawcett, Jerry Hall and Twiggy.  Tony and Chekkie had become close friends with the creator of Made in Heaven, so they named him as Chloe's godfather.

Fast forward to now: Chloe Lonsdale -- all grown up with a degree in fashion -- has brought the Made in Heaven brand back to life.  The modern incarnation? MiH Jeans.

Touted for it's leg-lengthening, derriere-lifting qualities, MiH has recreated many of the original styles from the 70s.  The Berlin (worn by Chloe's mom, upper left) was beloved by Jerry Hall and Twiggy, both of whom now wear the MiH version.  Scarlett Johansson and Kate Moss count the Berlin among their favorites:  You'll see Scarlett wearing a pair in the upcoming film "He's Just Not That Into You."

For summer, Chloe has created a limited edition version of the Marrakesh (below), inspired by a pair her mom customized roughly three decades ago.  Patchwork details, handsewn stars and patterned lining decorate these super-soft, leggy numbers.   The special Marrakesh will be sold at Neiman Marcus, Ron Herman, Bergdorf Goodman and Net-A-Porter.com for $280.

If retro-chic isn't your style, MiH has loads of other cuts (skinny, cropped, high-waisted, full-leg, classic 5-pocket straight-leg) in a variety of washes and colors (dark, white, washed, yellow).  Some even come in corduroy or velvet.  Chloe has also introduced tops and shorts (keep an eye out for the denim sailor shorts with gold-plated buttons).

And rest assured these jeans look good on a range of figures, as evidenced by the long list of A-listers who love MiH.  In addition to Kate, Scarlett, Jerry and Twiggy, the list includes Elizabeth Hurley, Keira Knightly, Sophie Dahl and Catherine Zeta-Jones. 

Check out the entire collection at MiH-jeans.com.

The bottom line?  Chloe Lonsdale has great jeans...and great genes.

Leave it to Richie Rich and Traver Rains, the glam duo behind the kitsch-cool Heatherette label, to convince one of the world's biggest cosmetic companies to change their iconic black packaging to near-neon pink for a limited-edition collaboration.

That's right, Heatherette made MAC Cosmetics blush.

And I couldn't be more excited.

I was so inspired, I even staged my own product shots (above and below).

Richie gave me the scoop on the collaboration at a dinner party about a week before the debut (check out his self portrait taken avec Style Spy's camera)...

He was rocking killer Chanel boots and glittery eyeliner; he wore a Judith Leiber rhinestone-encrusted owl minaudiere around his neck like a pendant...

and proved his prowess for lipstick with his spectacular ability to pout for pictures (Mr. Husband and I tried to keep up).

I was obsessed with the make-up line, sight unseen...with the lipstick especially, because the only shades I've been wanting to wear for this spring and  summer are intensely-pigmented pinks.  Electric, hot, shocking, neon, peony, fuschia...every last one of them.  Thanks to the Heatherette boys, the perfect stash exists with names like Hollywood Nights, Melrose Mood and Lollipop Loving.

And they look even better once applied -- creamy but bold, light but not sheer.  Perfection.

Don't even get me started on the lipgloss (Bonus Beat is the perfect nude hue), the eyeshadow palettes and the double-sided eyeliner pencils...

This line gets Style Spy's ultimate endorsement: Run don't walk (especially because it's selling out fast!)

Available now at MAC Cosmetics stores and MACCosmetics.com -- click here to see more products and watch the video.

I have a very cool job.  Not only do I get to do tons of TV appearances, go to fashion and awards shows, interview celebrities and designers and share all my Style Spy musings with you, but I also get to wear incredible clothes, often straight from the runway.

And just last night, it was straight from "Project Runway."

Specifically, a Rami Kashou dress.  Rami already has a huge celeb following (Jessica Alba, Fergie, Lindsay Lohan, Ashlee Simpson), so I was beyond thrilled to don one of his gorgeous creations for the event which benefitted New York City's Women In Need organization on its 25th anniversary (and also honored InStyle's Managing Editor, Charla Lawhon!).

The dress was a megahit.  I got tons of compliments in a room filled with celebrities and the fashion elite.  In addition to Charla, attendees included Vera Wang, Isaac Mizrahi, Peter Som, Mark Badgley and James Mischka, John Varvatos, Meredith Viera, and Kristin Chenoweth (who dazzled us all with an impromptu serenade).

According to Rami: "This dress symbolizes movement and stillness at once. The construction and shape of the dress is firm, bell shaped, yet the bias strips and flowers outline different directions that express
movement; almost like a drawing."

According to StyleSpy:  "I think it's more like a masterpiece."

THANKS, RAMI!!!!
XOXO

So my apartment (read: home) is possibly going to be scouted for a feature film tomorrow morning, reportedly starring an actress with whom you are all familiar.   My digs would be said actress' on-camera home (decor and all!  the location scout spied us through an unshaded window from the street outside and liked the modernist vibe.  Go me!)...before she gets committed to an insane asylum.  Seriously. 

Yes, of course Mr. Husband and I consented -- because how cool is that?! -- but then I started thinking about the privacy factor.  As in, "Hello!  Welcome to my very small NYC abode, packed to the rafters with lots of stuff and then some more stuff and occupied by two humans, four furry mammals and one amphibian.  Oh, and if you hear a strange banging on the floor, that's just our supermodel neighbor knocking her broomstick on her ceiling because she can hear us talking."

The glamorous life, baby!  That's me.  You betcha.

Anyway, I just thought this was a fun fact to share.

Will let you know how it goes.

And that's it for another day in the life of your trusty Style Spy, this time in the unique role of having been spied on...

Christian Louboutin shoes always stop traffic, but these sexy architectural-heeled babies are so rubber-neck-worthy they just may cause gridlock.   I love the mix of the natural cork with the red patent leather.  Plus, as far as I'm concerned, the higher the heel the better.  These boast a 4 3/4-inch stiletto wedge.

$835 at Neiman Marcus

Disclaimer:  The Shoe of The Week is chosen because it is either beautiful, artistic, fantastical or otherwise lust-worthy in my eyes.  Comfort, potentially dangerous heel heights, price and practicality do not factor into the selection process.  Remember:  fashion is fun!