Uh, generally we laugh at attempts by actresses to 'design' bags but in this case, I have to say not bad! Maybe I'm biased towards Leos but the logo is not totally obtrusive and the fun colors are making me excited for the holidays. I am loving the blue and red and am looking forward to seeing the hot pink. I love the price point as well, $295 is reasonable for Italian calfskin with 24 carat gold plated hardware. I've never been into Dooney and Burke-- too conservative for me; but this collection may just change my mind. What about you, what do you think of the Hayden clutch?

Instead of looking at this time of transition as a time as a hindrance, embrace the possibility to freshen your look! There are many opportunities to change not only the way you display your holiday spirit, but the way you present yourself as well. Follow these tips for a more contemporary stance on the upcoming holiday season.

Color Palettes

Given the time of the season, everyone chooses to wear red and green. Traditional? Yes! Ground-breaking? Certainly not.

Even though red and green are an annual favorite for the holidays, doesn’t mean you have to keep up with the norm. Other hues can be just as interesting, and will certainly set you apart from the rest of the pack - after all, who wants to be clumped together in a stampede of red and green at those seasonal sales?

White, while classy and sophisticated is generally under-used unless you’re around snow. It’s the general consensus that this color (or lack thereof) blends too much with the surrounding environment, and usually is strayed away from. Don’t! Try white on for size, it could be the winning color that gives you an ambiance of refined elegance, all while allowing you to look modern as well as in style.

Blue, the color of melancholy, allows a lot of leniency on an outfit. Blue is very easy to coordinate with other colors, and is versatile as well. While others wear red and green, show them a side of your originality. I’d suggest something in the form of royal blue, periwinkle, sapphire or a subtle teal.

Purple is another color that is not as predominant around the holidays as it should be.  Once a color reserved only for the royalty is now a color that can be used to show enthusiasm and passion for the Holidays. Not only is purple usable for many different purposes, but it exudes an air of intricacy and innovation. Being complex is never a bad thing, especially when you are wearing a shade of deep purple. Remember: the richer and deeper the tone, the better!

Casual or Refined?

It’s not unusual to dress up for the holidays. This is a time of the year to spend time with those you hold most dear. Special occasions, important events and festive parties are extremely abundant and typically require more exquisite attire. Up the classiness factor! Carefully decide where and for what you will be dressing up for - a family dinner is one thing, a Christmas party with your boss generally requires something with a little more substance.

When in doubt, go business-casual. A suit jacket with a t-shirt underneath is fantastic, not wearing those worn jeans with the elastic waistband is even better! Remember: this is the time of the year to impress others with your impeccable taste. Why risk an uncomfortable situation where you end up the only one not dressed up? By putting in a little more thought to your holiday wardrobe, you’ll dazzle others with your passion and zeal for such a special time of the year.

Go Crazy!

Well, not really - I actually mean that you should be unique. As each day of the holiday season passes, people will get closer and closer to that favorite holiday look: something resembling what would happen if Santa exploded.

Even though this is the time to dress to impress, it’s always nice to mix it up… and there are two ways you can do this.

1) Buy a ‘Flair’ item

Splurge. Indulge. Treat yourself! Even in these tough economic times, buy something expensive and extravagant that you can wear for a very long time that works with a variety of outfits and circumstances. Think of the ‘buy-now wear-forever’ aesthetic. The logic behind this is simple, if you buy something that makes you happy that you’ll be able to wear forever, you’ll have something that adds to and complements each outfit you wear. The benefit is two-fold, you’ll enjoy it and you’ll always have a piece for an outfit that will make you feel comfortable.

2) Do something crazy

It’s always nice to do something that nobody else is expecting or even considering. My current seasonal favorite: Gap’s idea for their 2008 Winter collection: use a scarf as a belt. It seems unconventional, because it is. It adds a little spice to a previously boring accessory.

Images Courtesy: The Gap

Give Some Holiday Cheer! We can always use a little more merriness in our lives! May the holidays find you merry and joyous!

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Keeping with the American tradition of Black Friday, Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens were spotted doing a little day-after-Thanksgiving retail therapy yesterday (November 28).

The “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” co-stars were spotted getting the royal treatment as they arrived at a Los Angeles mall to get their shop on.

Isn’t it a little early to announce yet another designer collaboration with H&M? I mean didn’t they want Rei Kawakubo to bask in the glory of her collection? It seems like the announcement of Matthew Williamson coming onboard for a Summer collection seems to sort of eclipse or steal her thunder. Her collection did go on sale only a couple of weeks ago. Btw, there are still some pieces left at the downtown Montreal location if you’re still vying for a piece.

Not to say I’m not excited for Williamson, in fact, I’m very thrilled to learn this news. I’ve been watching his collections for a couple of seasons now, and what I love about this British designer is his mosaics of color in his work. Not to say all of his clothes are great, but I certainly think his attention to detail and color coordination are to be admired. I’ve been eyeing this royal purple (blue?) cashmere sweater on Net-a-porter since the fall, but can’t find a good reason to spend over $1000 to acquire it. I’ve also been fancying his rainbow colored Chapelle weave coat. I would certainly wear it on bright occasions and the colors make me smile. But because he works with such detail, most of his pieces run far over $1000, hardly affordable to collect.

I see him as a spring/summer designer anyway, vivid colors always make me think of warmer days. So I definitely expect to see an array of colorful silk dresses, and hopefully a few embroidered pieces.

Williamson’s collection will arrive at H&M stores on April 23rd, 2009. Though Williamson may gain a few more fans of his work, they will have to save all their pennies to purchase one his regular pieces, and in this economic slump, they will certainly be a hard sell.

Image credits: Style.com

The opening of I.M. Pei's Museum of Islamic Art, something of a Cubist Xanadu, in Doha, Qatar, certainly seemed to carry the newfound sense that the Bush-era "Clash of Civilizations" might be coming to an end. Guests at the lush (if alcohol-free) weekend-long opening event included Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, delegations from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, the Louvre, auction-house heads, and Robert De Niro, who was seated with the nation's royal family. James Snyder, director of the Israel Museum, was one of the first through the building's doors, racing to sign "the golden book," the official record of the opening night's guest list. Scribbling his name, his museum, and "Jerusalem," he said, "I wouldn't miss this opportunity; to be here, this is historically significant." At the entrance, he hugged Sandi Pei, son of the architect, and the two did a little dance. Jerusalem and the Arab world have more "aesthetic and cultural similarities" than differences, he said.

For the auction-house heads and artists, attendance was good business as well as good diplomacy, as the ruling emir has been splurging to fill this museum and a National Museum of Art being built by Jean Nouvel. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani was the buyer of the Rockefeller Rothko for $72.8 million at Sotheby's in 2007. So Bill Ruprecht, CEO of Sotheby's, and Stephen Lash, chairman of Christie's, both showed up. "The art world is a big world, and this is an important museum," said Lash. "Plus, they invited me." The sheikh also paid $19.2 million for Hirst's Lullaby Spring, a sculpture of pharmaceuticals, in 2007. Hirst lounged on a red velvet sofa on the sand alongside Ron Wood, Rolling Stones bassist guitarist, and dealer Jay Jopling.

The Met sent a contingent, including Philippe de Montebello, president Emily Rafferty, and incoming director Thomas Campbell, who walked largely unrecognized through the crowd as De Montebello was stopped at every turn. Campbell praised the museum's "incredible objects." Isn't it the Met's competitor? "No, the kind of money they are spending, we're not competing with them." Jeff Koons, surrounded by fans at a tented buffet, said he was there looking to Islamic art for inspiration and, amid the evening's feel-good mood, was even seeing the sunny side of the recent plunge in the art market. "Life's a cycle. There will clearly be good things that come out of this for artists and some good art."

Read more posts by Alexandra Peers

Filed Under: damien hirst, emily rafferty, i.m. pei, james snyder, jean nouvel, jeff koons, museum of islamic art, phillipe de montebello, robert de niro, sandi pei, sheikh hamad bin khalifa al thani