I adore Amy Adams, she stars in my two favorite movies of the year (Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day and Enchanted) and is flawless in both. Here she is at her latest premiere for the film, Doubt. While I don't doubt I'll love her performance I seriously doubt her choice of dress. I love a bow as much as the next girly girl but this particular dress has about a hundred bows too many for my taste. It looks sloppy and ruins the simple lines of the dress and the color does nothing for her gorgeous complexion. I do love the VBH clutch, however, and the black cherry Louboutins are divine.

What do you think of this dress? Snob or Slob?

Image via inStyle

Gwyneth Paltrow rocked a sexy strapless Stella McCartney dress at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami this weekend. Get the look for less with VOOM by Joy Han's Elle tube dress. Call me crazy but I prefer the Voom version over the Stella McCartney dress, look at Gwyn's bustline, it's so low cut and doesn't fall smoothly on the chest. Fans of VOOM by Joy Han include Eva Longoria Parker, Jessica Alba, and Eva Mendes to name a few. The silk Elle dress with bow detail can be purchased at www.voomonline.com for $284.00

Just in time for holiday shopping and the release of the new line of Hayden-Harnett boots, the chic Brooklyn-based design duo are currently taking 30% off any item purchased on their website when you enter the code "hugme" at checkout (seriously how cute!). Don't forget to look at the Hayden-Harnett accessories page and at their handbags! And, while your at it click to see some of their latest clothing designs -- if you can't already tell I love their stuff:) For some post holiday shopping, pictures of the Hayden-Harnett for Target line were just released and the pieces go on sale December 28th. I was able to check-out a few of the line's pieces (including the lovely umbrella!) when I was last at their boutique and they're unbelievably well-made for the prices. Happy early holidays!

I hope you all practice restraint here and read about this dress without pulling out your Amex but I fear you will fail (as I always do when it comes to Alexander McQueen). When I go shopping, I generally prefer to be alone, but sometimes a trusted friend is good to shop with because the ooooooooing and ahhhhhhhing is not as fun when you're alone in the dressing room. Now this is one of those dresses that needs an audience when being tried on, even if for fun. It looks like a simple little dress, but then you turn around and see the back slit pockets lined in hot pink satin. So unexpected and fun! I don't know if you're actually supposed to put anything in those pockets but if you're lacking girth on the backside, you can stuff your back pockets and give yourself a boost. $1,795 at Neiman Marcus.

I went to Bergdorf Goodman yesterday where two wonderful things happened. One, to my pleasant surprise they have racks and racks of clothes and shoes that are already marked down as much as 60% and two I came across Yves Saint Laurent Tribute Platform T-Straps ($995). They come in an array for colors including a pair in fluorescent yellow which look very fun in a Giambattista Valli-like way -- anyone else love Mary-Kate Olsen in those neon pink platforms from all those months ago (pictured above)?! I tried on two pairs of the Yves Saint Laurent Tribute Platform T-Straps yesterday -- a pair of black suede woven leather ones with gold leather piping like the purple ones pictured above and the leather fluorescent yellow ones. The heel is very, very high -- over 5 inches -- which would be fine if the shoes themselves were more comfortable. Unfortunately they're rather hard and I could tell, given how much I always end-up walking, that if I wore them out I'd probably be left with a few red marks from the straps cutting into my feet. That said, given the heel these shoes are clearly not meant for walking and for a dinner-party or anything that doesn't entail too much moving around -- I absolutely love these! Also given the choice, the suede ones are more comfy than the purely leather pairs.

A few weeks ago Couture Snob Tina asked if anyone was mad for plaid and it seems that most people are plaid averse. I've always thought there was something ugly-chic about a touch of plaid though and I myself actually have a plaid short-sleeve blazer that I got when I was still at Cornell at Target of all places!! I wear it every so often to spice-up a simple outfit and I almost always get complemented on it (and no one can ever believe it's from Target!). Vanessa Hudgen was recently photographed in this Elizabeth & James Women's "Ivy Buffalo" Plaid Blazer ($395), and even though I don't actually like the blazer I think there's something stylish, fun and eye-catching about it! Not to mention that in my book, there's next to nothing that I don't love from Elizabeth & James and The Row (both Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen lines).

Heidi Dillon is the Founder of The Fashionistas

I adore cocktail parties and while I have hosted more at my home than most people, it's not every day that I have an opportunity to entertain Hip-Hop royalty. Russell Simmons came to Dallas to launch his inaugural event, Dallas Rocks, which benefited his beloved charity, the Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF). Russell founded DEF in 2007 with a mission to raise money to support education initiatives that empower economically disadvantaged people in Africa where diamonds are a natural resource.

I took a break from blogging last week to view Gilan jewels from Istanbul. The collection is worthy of a Queen-- actually, it was initially created for royalty! Gilan's design inspirations are reflective of the tastes of the Ottoman court and are a historic link to the city's cultural and artistic past. In 15th century Istanbul, the Sultan's court attracted the empire's most talented artisans. Through a system of apprenticeship, generations of craftsmen were taught distinctive techniques created by these master jewelers experimenting with forms, materials and processes. Hundreds of imperial artistic societies were administered at the Topkapý Palace. These "communities of the talented" grouped artists both from the Eastern world and recently conquered territories in Europe resulting in a blend of Oriental, Turkish and European culture that today inspire Gilan's workmanship.

Let's forget for a minute that everyone is depressed and on a budget, my job is to entertain you and offer a quick respite from the pile of work on your desk, right? So go on, indulge your eyes on these amazing jewels.  The ring on the right is made of a giant 12.5 carat rose cut diamond, the color is very clear and the stone is amazing.  Rose cut diamonds are not graded as traditional diamonds so don't bother asking about the 4 C's.  In this case, it's all about the design.  I love the look of old jewelry, it's subtle and has an aura of old world chic that shiny new bling can not match. (jump for more!)

Prices furnished upon request. Call Gilan 212-949-4350

Frugal fashionistas with champagne taste will be able to indulge in one of my all time favorites, Alexander McQueen, when his line for Target hits 1,658 stores in March 2009. McQueen stresses the collection he's designing for Target is entirely his own, no holds barred.

"I can't work with any kind of restraints," said the designer. "You can't give me any boundaries."

Nor does McQueen see any irony in the fact that his gowns cost thousands of dollars while his clothing for Target, which operates 1,658 stores in 48 states, will be priced under $129.99. That's because McQueen knows what it's like when money is tight. "I was brought up on this," said McQueen, the son of a London taxi driver. "I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth."

source: WWD

There is much debate over a NY Times article about how we should dress and live in hard times.  I really don't think people want to start wearing potato sacks to show their frugality, do you?  I mean, why can't you look fabulous and save money?  And by fabulous I don't mean logo emblazoned counterfeit goods; many luxury designers offer bridge lines or capsule collections via Target, Kohl's, and Wal Mart.  There is nothing wrong with buying from one of these lines, you are getting a designer piece at a fraction of the price.  So the fabric won't be as good but when the difference in price is thousands, I think you'll live.  Simply Vera by Vera Wang is just as chic and cool as her high end collection.  Like this little faux fur jacket above in grey, the design is fabulous and you can say you are PETA friendly as this is made of modacrylic and polyester.  I love the little waistband on the back, it's a Vera Wang signature and I'm glad she is not compromising on the details in design even if she has to use lesser quality fabrics to keep the costs down.   On sale for $126 at Kohls.com