Best Jeans for Every City

With each new season, we've got to know what's hot in jeans, especially since at least one of your JSG's wears jeans almost everyday of the year. We were super fortunate to get the scoop from Tracy McWilliams, author of Dress to Express, and frequent style contributor to the Tyra Banks Show, People's Style Watch, and In Touch. Tracy believes looking good begins with feeling good about yourself, finding your personal style and reflecting that in the way you dress.

These great tips for what's hot across the U.S. apply if you live in that city, you're on your way there for your own girls' getaway, or you just want to look like from one of these places!

Miami:

Miami is hot and humid so a cooler, thinner fabric seems to be the leading trend for Miami denim. Miami is all about glitz, glam and skin: cut-off jeans and short denim skirts are seeing a revival as are black denim shorts retailing under $60. Looser, boyish cuts are also popular in lighter fabric. The light wash and pink stitching on this skirt are totally Miami. (Seven For All Mankind at MilkShop.)

New York:

New York style is class and sophistication so dark denim and dressy jeans, skinny jeans, high- waisted and trouser jeans are still in. NY is always looking for up and coming new labels check out Degaine launched in 2007. Also, DVB has been popular as well as dark green denim. JSG Anne has been eyeing this pair of Grace jeans from Earnest Sewn, available at Shopbop, for months.



Chicago: Boyfriend jean

Current/Elliott and Levis Boyfriends are always the classic. Girls are wearing their boyfriends jeans, the looser, the baggier, the better. Prps has a popular boyfriend jean shown with the latest trend hems being rolled up. This relaxed, casual look suits the Chicago lifestyle. Brown Label also does a sexy pair of boyfriend jeans great with rolled up hem and heels. We could see Katie Holmes in this pair of Levi's Boyfriend jeans.

Vegas:

Sexy Jeans, Low-Cut with or without Studs or embellishment. Glitz, glamour and instant gratification is Vegas baby and jeans are no exception. Rhinestone jeans are the rage, True Religion rhinestone jeans are sellers. Sheiki (below) is perfect for the Vegas market, fitted and flattering but great for curves.

Los Angeles:

The jeans capital, anything goes on the jean front: skinny jeans are still hot, anything fitted to show off that hard worked body or boyfriends jeans are in. Divine Rights of Denim are well priced and perfect for the LA market. Casual, distressed jeans are in. LA is all about staying hip with jeans fashion. Audrina Patridge (pictures from People) wears hers three ways. Find your own at Charlotte Russe.



To learn more about Tracy McWilliams, her philosophy and her line of women's wear, Designs by Tracy McWilliams, visit: http://www.tracymcwilliams.com/ .

Review MD Skincare EZ4U

Earlier this summer we freelanced at Sephora, which as you might imagine gave us a lot of good insight into new fall products. We marked our calendar for one skincare launch, in particular: the new EZ4U Facial Treatment Wipes from MD Skincare. It washes, tones, treats and moisturizes all in one easy to use & oh-so-portable towelette. This baby will have no problems making it through security at the airport. We've also stashed some in our gym bag for on the go pick me ups and will certainly have them on hand as we run around NYC during fashion week. They would also come in handy when you have an unexpected night out. Wink. Wink.

The only thing it's missing? SPF But that's where the MD Skincare Powerful Protection Sunscreen Pads come in to play.

Both products are available at Sephora.com.

How to Dress for New York Fashion Week

JSG's Annie at L.A. Fashion Week (a totally different animal than New York's), with Kristen from TotalBeauty.com, Tammy from A Mom in Red High Heels and Laurie from Beauty's SPOT.

Planning what to wear for fashion week is somewhat similar to packing for a trip. It’s the way we usually dress, but taken up a notch and we think about our outfits in advance. We always aspire to be in style, not just during the first week of September or in Miami or Vegas, but for FW we do add a layer here or a layer there and might wear an extra strand of pearls or a gold belt instead of our trusty black one. We fret about having the right bag, the right pair of shoes.
We can only hope our new Marc by Marc Jacobs Dr. Q Groovee bag that we ordered from Piperlime gets here in time (thanks to Hope for turning us on to purple) and we’re still obsessing about those damn Nanette Lepore shoes ($400 just seems like a lot for such a trendy pair, but you may spy us in them yet).

As for planning in advance, well, we know once we’re in the thick of things, getting home at midnight only to go to a 9 am show, if we’ve styled our whole outfit the week or day before, we’ll be in much better shape when it’s time to roll back in the tents.

We do try to wear a designer’s clothes to his or her show, which is always a nice nod to the designer. But in reality, we don’t have many designer pieces hanging in our closets for the shows we get invited to. This year, we’ll be able to do this at BCBG, Tracy Reese and Rebecca Taylor.

Full disclosure: While we’ve been going to Fashion Week for too many years to count now, we’re not really experts. We’ve never been invited to the Marc Jacobs’ show (the Holy Grail of FW) or had Bill Cunningham take our picture for the NYTimes, though a girl can always hope. But we do know a secret of dressing for FW: Just have fun and let your own style shine on through. That’s the point of true fashion in our book.

Update: We wrote this post on Monday, before our fabulous friend, Felissa (to whom we've promised our first born), at About.com's Celebrity Style channel invited us to the The Red Thread party Samsung is throwing in honor of Valentino tonight.

Since Valentino won’t be sending us over a dress to wear, we know we don’t stand a chance at being among the best dressed at the party. (We’re seriously hoping for a Tom and Katie sighting. She is in town for rehearsals for All My Sons, so it’s quite likely. Fingers crossed! Should we get close enough to talk, we definitely plan on complimenting Tom on his dancing in Tropic Thunder. He still has it!)

Needless to say, the invite threw us into a tizzy, especially as it states “Formal Dress.” We were unable to concentrate at our day job as we mentally dug threw our closet all afternoon and thought about when we could stop by Bergdorf's for an emergency pit stop that surely wouldn't be kind to the old Amex. Then, we remembered our own advice, just to have fun and let our own style shine through. What will we wear? Stay tuned. We’ll try to post pictures (and the dish on the party) tomorrow!

Photo of Valentino with models and actresses from http://www.worldtempus.com/ taken in 2007 in Cannes.

Natural Sleep Aids

You think it would be easy: no kids, no responsibilities and a few cocktails every night, but between all the stress of travel, changing timezones and occasionally loud roommates, falling asleep on vacation isn't always as easy as you might think. We've recently stumbled across two natural sleep aids that really work, even for chronic insomniacs like us.
First up is Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Sound Sleep. It contains lavender and chamomile essential oils to encourage restful sound sleep. You roll a little onto your wrists before bedtime and you'll be asleep before your head hits the pillow. It sells for $10 and Bath & Body Works' stores and online.



For a solid one-two punch at counting sheep, partner it with a spritz of Sprayology's SleepEase under your tongue. This homeopathic remedy includes valeriana (valerian root), passiflora (passion flower) and our old friend chamomile. It's available online and at J.W. Marriot spas.

When you order it, you may also want to put Sprayology's Party Relief Spray in your basket. It has activated charcoal to ease those dehydration headaches; dandelion plant for upset stomach and nausea and St.Mary's thistle to protect the liver. (We're buying this one, in bulk!)

Gossip Girl Fashion

If you're like us, you were glued to the season premiere of Gossip Girl last night. (Is it just us, or is Chuck getting a lot hotter?) The show is totally addictive, not only for it's over-the-top story lines, glam NYC and Hamptons' locations and gorgeous cast--it's those killer clothes that draw us in. Remember how in Sex and the City, New York was frequently called the fifth main character, well, the wardrobe is like that in GG.

We love Blair's dress she wore to the white party. It's sexy without being trampy and innocent without being prudish. The halter neckline is totally flattering and the eyelet is young and fun. Thanks to the folks at InStyle, we know it's Marc by Marc Jacobs, paired with killer Chloe shoes and a Jennifer Behr headband. For more looks from last night's premier, click here.

As any fashionista worth her salt knows, it's the accessories that make an outfit. Blair, Serena and Jenny certainly have that down. One trend we saw a lot last season and are set to see more of this upcoming season is the headband.



Fortunately, unlike the Chanel bag and Jimmy Choo shoes, this is one trend we can afford, thanks to the Glamarama and Iconoclass collections from Goody.



Available at drugstores everywhere, the most expensive item will only set you back $5.99. Now that's a bargain Jenny Humphrey would surely approve of!

Our Thoughts Are With You, New Orleans and the Rest of the Gulf Coast

New Orleans is more than one of our favorite travel destinations, it's also the boyhood home of our pops. Our hopes and prayers are with the people and city of New Orleans and all of the Gulf Coast. May you weather Gustav without damage to your health or home.

Williams-Sonoma and NYC Cocktails

If you're hosting the Labor Day party at your house this year, try these new mixers from Williams-Sonoma created with Gramercy Tavern and Eleven Madison Park, two restaurants well known for their great food and libations. Our pick is the Gramercy Parksider with sweet basil, lime and a touch of sugar- we'd mix this with vodka, but gin would work too. There is also the Cranberry Daiquiri (we're saving this one to shake up Thanksgiving), the Spiced Pineapple Cooler and the Remedy with honey, ginger and fresh lemon. Cheers!