Verena von Pfetten

'The City' And The Mysterious Case Of Mistaken Identity

2010-05-05T14:34:41-04:00

Let's start with the truth: this episode was so uninspiring. I watched it last night, and then re-watched it idly while working this morning, and as I sit here and think of all the OMG DRAMZ points I want to bring up, I've got nothing.

But that can't be true! The City takes up an entire 17 minutes (if one shrewdly skips commercials) and so something must have happened! And then we remember: something happens. And it involves Shakespeare.

The beginning: Whitney "Nice Girl" Port got some pretty nice reviews of her line, though Kelly "Best Advice Giver In The World" Cutrone told her that the bad ones are more important because you can learn from them. Whitney then held her press and market appointments and Kelly helpfully walked her through exactly what she was supposed to do. If you've ever wondered what happens in a market meeting, here you go:

"Basically, this is like clothes waitressing. So we have a menu, OK? And we're gonna go through and show them what's gonna look good for their publication. And you have to kinda, like, give them ideas. Like with Ladies Home Journal, the person that reads that magazine is a mom between the ages of 23 and 45 and lives in the middle of America. She's probably not going anywhere in this. [Holds up what appears to be a pair of neon patterned shorts.]"

The most important thing to do, though, is that as soon as an editor touches something, Whitney should hold it up and away from her body. She remembers this part very well. Good for Whitney.

Anyway, the point of this segment is for Kelly to look at the RSVP list and see that no one from Elle (gasp!) is attending. This is a travesty and also, well, strange, because half the people that work at Elle are on this show and I get the whole suspension of disbelief thing but I really feel strongly that if MTV could just once, maybe even twice, acknowledge that we're all not idiots and are well aware that this is only nominally fiction, I'd feel a lot better about the fact that my DVR dedicates a full 50% of its capacity to recording the network's programming. But maybe that's just me.

So, naturally, Kelly has Whitney's not-at-all-trusty sidekick Roxy call Olivia because, you know, that's the one contact they have at Elle and Olivia does her villainous best to be, well, a total bitch. Except here's the thing: Roxy claims that she sent the fashion people at Elle an email weeks ago and she never heard back, which is why she's calling Olivia, the fake-accessories-editor-turned-fake-internet-reporter, an hour before the appointment and asking her to show up. This is ridiculous. Roxy, if she was actually doing her fake-job, should have sent at least another follow-up email, and then called, all of which should have happened days in advance, so, unfortunately, Olivia has a point -- though I have a hunch she didn't really know she was making one.

Olivia shows up, flopsy-handedly browses the clothes and talks pointedly about how she's interviewing lots of new and upcoming designers. (Hands up if you smiled gleefully when Whitney, all innocent and wide-eyed and blonde, says to Livsy, "So you're like a little journalist! That's so cool.") Whitney stares expectantly and Kelly does her publicist job and says, point blank: "You should do Whitney." Livs either doesn't respond or MTV expertly edits it to look like she doesn't respond and there you have it: dramz.

NEXT: Roxy's very own storyline and the mysterious case of mistaken identity on which the very hinges of this episode rest...

'The City' Season Premiere: Kelly Cutrone Makes Us Cry

2010-04-28T12:28:16-04:00

If it's wrong to find yourself in tears at the end of a docu-drama produced by MTV, well, then I don't want to be right.

The second season of "The City" made its epic return to the small screen Tuesday night and with it came Whitney Port's perfectly honey-colored ombre hair, Oliva Palermo's over-enunciated Connecticut clip, and the softest side of Kelly Cutrone we've ever seen; it was the Mama Wolf's tears that begat my own.

But let's start at the beginning. Following hot on the 5-inch heels of its sister series "The Hills," "The City" should be given immediate and extensive credit for at least pretending to focus on the work life of Port and the rest of her sun-kissed-despite-Manhattan's-skyline crew.

Whitney has been given the once-in-a-lifetime (unless you're not on a reality show and then it's the never-in-a-lifetime) chance of showing her very first collection at Bryant Park during New York Fashion Week. The dramz: she's been given less than two weeks notice and her collection is only two-thirds complete. Whatever will she do?!

Well, according to MTV, she'll take her underminey best friend and lover of red lipstick Roxy Olin to Mood Fabrics -- talk about reality tv branding! -- to idly wander the rows of materials while discussing everything she needs to do. The model casting! The hair and makeup looks! The run of show! And, of course, the music, which is the only thing Roxy not-so-helpfully offers to help with. Onwards! -- to a windowless space in the Garment District where Port has employed a small staff of Asian women to actually make her clothes. She'll check in on them throughout the episode, telling them to hurry, asking them to drape, and providing them with non-stretch material for a pair of lace leggings. The deathstare Whitney receives in response to her legging request is priceless. But, it does seem like she's actually working, if at a slightly more expensive and fully-staffed level than any other first-time designer we've heard of. So, go Whitney!

In the meantime, all is still awry in Elle's glass-walled tower. Palermo and scowly Erin Kaplan still hate each other and Joe Zee is tired, very tired of all of this. In one of the friendliest and least-angry reprimands in the history of fashion magazines, Zee tells Olivia to make nice with Erin and placates her by giving her a new fake job at Elle.com. Olivia invites Erin for coffee and the two of them grit their teeth and pretend to be friends and blahblahblah but let's get to the good stuff: Robbie Meyers is on TV! I can't remember if this is her first cameo on the show, but I love it and I hope she and her sexily-mussed beehive hairdo stay on it forever. She looks like she keeps a dirty martini and a pack of smokes under her desk and I cannot get enough of her.

Whitney goes to meet with Kelly and all the other "up and coming" designers in this special People's Revolution fashion show she's in and they're all surprisingly nice to her even though someone like swimsuit designer Mara Hoffman has been around for longer than Whitney's been on MTV and I can't help but assume they're thanking their lucky stars that Port has joined them in their show because it means people will probably show up. Anyway, I think this part of the episode was supposed to show how woefully unprepared Whitney is, but she actually kind of seems like she's handling it.

NEXT: Whitney learns a deep, dark secret of the modeling industry and Kelly Cutrone makes me cry...

The City Season Premiere: Kelly Cutrone Makes Us Cry

2010-04-28T12:26:54-04:00

If it's wrong to find yourself in tears at the end of a docu-drama produced by MTV, well, then I don't want to be right.

The second season of The City made its epic return to the small screen Tuesday night and with it came Whitney Port's perfectly honey-colored ombre hair, Oliva Palermo's over-enunciated Connecticut clip, and the softest side of Kelly Cutrone we've ever seen; it was the Mama Wolf's tears that begat my own.

But let's start at the beginning. Following hot on the 5-inch heels of its sister series The Hills, The City should be given immediate and extensive credit for at least pretending to focus on the work life of Port and the rest of her sun-kissed-despite-Manhattan's-skyline crew.

Whitney has been given the once-in-a-lifetime (unless you're not on a reality show and then it's the never-in-a-lifetime) chance of showing her very first collection at Bryant Park during New York Fashion Week. The dramz: she's been given less than two weeks notice and her collection is only two-thirds complete. Whatever will she do?!

Well, according to MTV, she'll take her underminey best friend and lover of red lipstick Roxy Olin to Mood Fabrics -- talk about reality TV branding! -- to idly wander the rows of materials while discussing everything she needs to do. The model casting! The hair and makeup looks! The run of show! And, of course, the music, which is the only thing Roxy not-so-helpfully offers to help with. Onwards! -- to a windowless space in the Garment District where Port has employed a small staff of Asian women to actually make her clothes. She'll check in on them throughout the episode, telling them to hurry, asking them to drape, and providing them with non-stretch material for a pair of lace leggings. The death-stare Whitney receives in response to her legging request is priceless. But, it does seem like she's actually working, if at a slightly more expensive and fully-staffed level than any other first-time designer we've heard of. So, go Whitney!

In the meantime, all is still awry in Elle's glass-walled tower. Palermo and scowly Erin Kaplan still hate each other and Joe Zee is tired, very tired of all of this. In one of the friendliest and least-angry reprimands in the history of fashion magazines, Zee tells Olivia to make nice with Erin and placates her by giving her a new fake job at Elle.com. Olivia invites Erin for coffee and the two of them grit their teeth and pretend to be friends and blahblahblah but let's get to the good stuff: Robbie Meyers is on TV! I can't remember if this is her first cameo on the show, but I love it and I hope she and her sexily-mussed beehive hairdo stay on it forever. She looks like she keeps a dirty martini and a pack of smokes under her desk and I cannot get enough of her.

Whitney goes to meet with Kelly and all the other "up and coming" designers in this special People's Revolution fashion show she's in and they're all surprisingly nice to her even though someone like swimsuit designer Mara Hoffman has been around for longer than Whitney's been on MTV and I can't help but assume they're thanking their lucky stars that Port has joined them in their show because it means people will probably show up. Anyway, I think this part of the episode was supposed to show how woefully unprepared Whitney is, but she actually kind of seems like she's handling it.

NEXT: Whitney learns a deep, dark secret of the modeling industry and Kelly Cutrone makes me cry...

Michelle Obama's Dress: In Defense Of Her Decision

2009-11-04T00:34:22-05:00

Editor's Note: In honor of the one year anniversary of Barack Obama's election, we thought it would be fitting to re-publish this defense of Michelle Obama's controversial election night dress. It originally ran on November 5th, 2008. Read designer Narciso Rodriguez's thoughts on the frock here.

Good morning! Happy Wednesday! Happy Hangovers!, etc, et al. I know it's a good day because everyone's favorite candidate won and people were dancing in the streets like it was 1964 and you're probably nursing a hangover that for the first time in your life you're actually happy to have. So, congratulations!

But I've got some bad news. There are some Debbie Downers out there that in spite of all that is good and in spite of all that is finally, truly, hopefully right in this world, have found something - gasp! - wrong with last night.

Namely: Michelle Obama's dress. (And that right there is a handy link to our Election Night PDA slideshow which -- as it happens -- does a nice job of showcasing both the presidential love the newly-elects have for each other and Michelle's garment quite nicely.)

PopCrunch gives it an "Eh.", Half of Tumblr is calling for the head of Michelle Obama's stylist, and I am clearly prone to exaggeration.

So, what's the big problem? Well, as a friend so eloquently put it: "It looked like someone puked spaghetti on it."

Images: Getty, Imaxtree - via NY Mag

I politely disagree. The dress, which is from Narciso Rodriguez's Spring 2009 collection and which, incidentally and according to NY Mag was "one of the most critically acclaimed of New York Fashion Week" is abso-effing-lutely stunning. At least NY Mag's fashion sense is still decidedly sane.

But all of this begs the question: if the dress was so popular on the runway, why is it now causing the blogosphere such grief? Is it that we are so unaccustomed to a presidential wife and/or political female wearing anything other than the infamous pant and/or skirt suit that we lose our heads over what I would argue is not even a chance-y choice? (Which, while we're on the topic, is yet another barrier Barack broke on his way to the presidency: a rogue, if you will, dresser of a wife!)

The dress was utterly flattering with it's black criss-cross waist (Helpful Fashion Tip: Darker colors around your midsection give the nice illusion of a whittled waist, not that Michelle needs any help in that department!) and the elongating blend of red into black delightfully accentuated her statuesque stature. And mostly, it was interesting to look at. Which is something to be said with regards to the usual wallflower role to which First Ladies are usually relegated - a role to which I'd imagine Michelle Obama would not take kindly, dress or no dress. God, I love her.

And so, that's all there really is to say. While I respect the voices of dissent (to each their own, to-may-toe, to-mah-toe, etc), I felt it was my civic duty to defend Michelle's dress - and defend it I have. The Style page has already devoted plenty of coverage to the sheer genius of Mrs. Obama's wardrobe (Thakoon, anybody?) so I won't blather on. Which brings us to the most important question of all: What do you think?

PS. One last thing! Did you see how well they all matched? Swoon.

Who Is The Ultimate Game Changer In Style? VOTE NOW!

And follow HuffPost Style on Twitter and become a fan of HuffPost Style on Facebookwhile you're at it.

7 Lessons In Life From Lauren Conrad

2009-06-19T12:44:32-04:00

Originally published at Air America Media.

Though she is arguably one of the least interesting characters to ever grace the screen of a reality TV show, Lauren Conrad -- star of MTV's increasingly vapid and increasingly fake, "The Hills" -- has managed to weasel her perfectly groomed, throaty-voiced self into my heart.

There are many reasons I love that girl, most of them embarrassingly superficial, but the main one is that contrary to most people's opinion and probably better judgment, I think she's a wonderful role model for young girls.

Bear with me.

Yes, she's on a reality show. And yes, said reality show features mulitple jobless 20-somethings who have fake breasts and/or fleshbeards, depending. And yes, said reality show is quite possibly the least "real" and most "fake" reality show to ever get funneled into your living room via the boob tube. But! Amidst the absolute dearth of worthy role models on television and taking into consideration the world's absolutely bonkers obsession with reality TV, as far as I'm concerned, Lauren Conrad gives good lesson.

1) Stand Up For Yourself. If there's one thing Ms. Conrad is famous for doing, it's sticking up for herself. Lauren doesn't mess around. You're her best friend but your boyfriend is a jerk who spreads rumors about non-existent sex tapes? She'll cut you out of her life so fast you'll spend the next 4 seasons (er, months) wondering what hit you.

2) Stand By Your Decisions. Having already made the decision to cut toxic people out of her life, Lauren is not the type to go back on her choices. And it's not about being stubborn; it's about sticking to your guns. A Heidi-Lauren reunion would have been ratings gold, and there's no doubt that producers begged for it, but LC wouldn't budge. The closest MTV got to a "Let's-Be-Besties-Again" episode was Lauren's most famous declaration: "I want to forgive you. And forget you." Which brings me to my next point.

3) Be Honest. Gotta give her credit, girl does not mince words. For example:

Heidi: You think I'm making a really big mistake [marrying Spencer], don't you?

Lauren: Yeah. I do.

Ooh, snap.

(Also, while on The View yesterday, she pulled the plug on MTV's whole "reality" racket. Remember that "apology" from Spencer? Turns out Lauren wasn't even on the other end of the phone!)

4) Keep Your Personal Life Personal. For the main character on one of the world's most famous reality shows, Lauren did manage to keep some modicum of privacy. After learning the hard way that docu-drama dating doesn't lead to much, Lauren made sure to keep her love life off-screen, and it appears to be working out in her favor. The MTV star has been reportedly dating "My Boys" star Kyle Howard for almost 9 months.

5) Avoid Drama. She's considered boring for a reason. In fact, I'm pretty sure the show itself gave up on her. When was the last time a story line (not involving Heidi and Spencer) had anything to do with her?

6) Don't Overpluck Your Eyebrows. Man, oh man, I love her Lauren's eyebrows. The prominence! The arch! The color! The definition! I could go on, but suffice it to say, they're perfect. And while we're on the topic, I've said it before, and I'll say it again: ladies, keep 'em lush. And lastly...

7) Never Choose A Man Over Your Career. It was the decision heard 'round the world--and the one that left Lauren forever known as the girl who didn't go to Paris. And all for who? Jason Wahler?! Sigh. At the very least, LC learns from her mistakes. Let's do the same.

In Honor Of Bo Obama, HuffPosters Share The (Puppy) Love

2009-04-14T09:25:42-04:00

This is it, people! Today is the day. Bo Obama is coming home! We've all waited breathlessly for every little leak -- It's a portuguese water dog! His name is Bo! Oh, look! There's a photo of him running with Obama! Squee!!

Even Dr. Patricia Fitzgerald, our resident expert on just about everything, took time off from her Obama Garden Watch to keep an eye on the Obama Puppy Watch, while simultaneously giving us a rundown of all the amazing benefits of animal companionship. (Talk about multitasking! Whew!) As an animal lover myself, I could have told you that my dog does wonderful things for my psyche, but it's mind-blowing (and enabling!) to know that there are hard scientific facts behind my happiness. Turns out I wasn't the only one who's mind was blown.

We asked you -- the readers, our community, the nuts n' bolts and lynch pins of this fine site -- to share stories of how your pets have touched your lives, and the response was overwhelming. With almost 300 comments, we had a lot to cull through -- but can't help considering it one of the most heart-warming activities we've ever had to do. (We highly recommend it!)

And so, without further ado, let the animal love begin!

From TazoWolf:

My dog, Rigel, was a life saver. Twice he rescued me from potential injury/death. Once was when I was doing some free climbing, and another time was when my cousin and I got caught in a freak snow storm when hiking and became lost. Rigel passed away last summer, and I still miss him sorely.

He was my most faithful friend during one of the most difficult times of my life, when I faced potentially terminal illness. He was permitted to visit me in the hospital. When I was home, yet too ill to go out, he would pick up my groceries for me. I'd call the store down the street so someone could meet him. Rigel would go there, wearing his backpack. The person who met him would put my groceries in his backpack and send him home.

Dogs are highly intelligent. There are some that can sniff out cancer. We use them in search and rescue. Dogs help the blind, and they help people with seizures and other medical issues.

I am a medical student. I hope that my next dog will be able to help in my work as a therapy dog, search and rescue, perhaps even sniffing out cancer.

Rigel was a rescue. He may have been a Shiloh Shepherd, or a shepherd/malamute mix. Whatever he was, he was my hero and my best friend.

From SFreeBorn:

I make up songs and sing to my kitties, Teaser & the Firecat. For me, it seems that Firecat was the big red kitty that I had wanted since I was a child and he sits on my lap for hours and purrs and purrs. Its way more satisfying than winning an intellectual argument. If I had known I would have this much fun, I would have gotten two kitties at once long ago. Watching them race around together and learning the way that they communicate has been a lot of fun. I had dogs before, but kitties are really fun too.

From JoandeV:

Seven years ago I decided to adopt a dog. I decided, for reasons I'm not yet sure of, to try to adopt a disabled dog. I found a sweet little poodle mix at the pound whose back legs were paralyzed. Before making a decision, I asked a friend of mine (who is a veterinarian) about caring for him. I also discussed this with a woman who had a website about disabled dogs.

I finally decided to get him. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life! Happy is just that! Happy. His paralysis turned out to be temporary, although his back legs are still weak and he has occasional back problems. The thing is, Happy was never disabled. I learned from Happy that disability is largely a value judgment, and Happy valued himself and his own life very highly. I was going through a severe depression during this time and Happy's example, as well as his unconditional love, really helped me survive.

From CR46:

2 of my rescues visit hospitals and nursing homes on a regular basis. I have seen over the years that these visits are so important to and the highlight of the week at the 2 nursing homes we visit. The dogs always know who needs "extra" attention on different days.

Though they drive us crazy...

From Clarabell:

We had a wonderful yellow lab, named Luke. He had been trained for the "hearing impaired," but for some reason he flunked (something about his bark -- maybe he didn't bark at the right time). Well anyway, we got him at the SPCA and he was a wonderful pet. But if we took him camping, he managed to tangle with a skunk (and we had to head for home), or he would get in some poison oak -- more problems. And if we left him in a kennel, he came home full of fleas. Yes, we loved him dearly, he's gone now, but I don't want any more dogs.

And leave us prone to exaggeration...

From attyrose3:

I have two bulldogs that are about 14 months old. Since getting their puppy shots and being out and about in public, there has not been one instance where strangers come over to the puppies smiling and delighted to have a visit with Mamie and Bandit. The puppies very presence brings joy to me, my partner, and eveyone who encounters them. I was out with them at a shopping center a few weeks ago and literally several hundred people took time to come over, pet them, and ask about them.

They'll never forget us...

From VOTER:

I was once away for 3+ years and when I returned home, our family dog, Frisky, sat by my side for 6 hours straight. Wouldn't let me out of her sight. Wouldn't leave me.
And to think I had worried she had forgotten me.

And, sometimes, they even save our lives...

From chibbles:

No matter what time I come home from work my dog is always at the door to great me. The husband and kid are fast asleep by my black lab is standing there tail wagging as if to say hello, I missed you, I'm glad you're home. Our American Eskimo that passed away woke the family up in the middle of the night when a tornado was about to touch down a few miles away. We had no idea what was going on.

One thing though Mrs Obama may want to keep her shoes out of sight until little Bo is acclimated to his new home. Both dogs we've had always went for my shoes until they were trained. Never the guys shoes, just mine.

Please keep the stories coming -- and we'll keep posting them! And if you have any photos of you and your pets, send them to submissions+dog@huffingtonpost.com -- we'd love to see them and, in turn, share them with the rest of you!

7 Lessons To Be Learned From Carla Bruni

2009-04-04T11:00:55-04:00

So here's the thing. There's no shortage of articles dedicated to that certain je ne sais quois of French women. You know, like how they eat more, but weigh less. Shower less, yet get laid more. They have accents, we have Billy Ray Cyrus and though we undoubtedly crush them in dollars spent at department stores (recession be damned!), they undoubtedly look better.

Now, while there's certainly nothing I like better than the grandiosity of a good sweeping statement, it's also, more or less, a bunch of garbage. (See also: a gross generalization.) But that doesn't mean we don't have anything to learn from our Francophilic* counterparts; they have plenty to offer in terms of fromage, fashion, and, most importantly: First Ladies.** If there's one thing the French have going for them, it's the seemingly inimitable Carla Bruni. (Though, let's be clear: this is by no means a criticism of Michelle -- as far as we're concerned, Ms. Obama can do no wrong, other than her eyebrows, that is. In fact, a comparison between the two is downright impossible: it's apples to oranges, pommes à oranges, Brunis to Obamas.)

So, what do we stand to learn from Ms. Bruni? Well, first off, her love of flats. By no means the originator of the trend, she is, by far, one of its greatest champions -- followed closely by our own First Lady, of course. Though she may be the only woman able to pull off a tea-length pencil skirt with flats, that shouldn't stop the rest of us from trying.

I'm a huge advocate of comfort over cosmetics, and so is France's first lady, with her thanks, but no thanks stance on make-up. In an interview in last month's Vogue, Ms. Bruni decreed that "it takes forever and doesn't make you look better after 30." We, of course, wholeheartedly agree.

Which brings us to the laissez-faire attitude of her love life. France's First Femme Fatale has famously declared monogamy "terribly boring" and made no bones about her preference for polygamy and polyandry. It's not, however, her sexual peccadilloes that we find admirable, but rather the justification for her aforementioned liberal decrees. "I am faithful... to myself," she claims and I say: truer words have never been spoken.

Speaking of, well, speaking, I can't get enough of Ms. Bruni's voice.

(And neither can David Letterman -- she had him at "Bon soir...")

A former supermodel with over 250 magazine covers to her name and an heiress in her own right, Carla Bruni also had two best-selling albums and the French equivalent of a Grammy before marrying the President of France, none of which stopped her from releasing a third album and going on a subsequent press tour. How amazing is it that the wife of the President of one of the world's most powerful countries devotes her time to not only his causes but her own career?

And I don't doubt that most other women with her looks and/or heritage would have long succumbed to a life of content consumption, but not this one. "Objects, clothes and jewelry" give her "no pleasure" -- a fact illustrated by her generally ascetic style choices. Clean, crisp lines are her cut of choice and I'm not sure I've ever seen her in a pattern, aside from her runway days, of course. There's something about her understated elegance that makes me green with envy; my clothing choices are as erratic as my eating habits -- another thing to learn from the French, I suppose.

This is a woman who makes coy seem positively cutthroat. (And, yes, that's a good thing!) Though she rarely raises her voice and seems as content out of the limelight as she is within it, there's a feline ferocity to her that I, personally, can only dream of having. I certainly don't doubt her when she claims to have an "austere temperament." The thing is, I have a sneaking suspicion that it all goes back to her mantra of being faithful to herself -- a lesson every woman, whether French or Floridian -- should learn.

* It has been kindly pointed out to me that Francophilic does not mean, as I have used it here, a French person, but instead connotes someone with a strong interest in and/or admiration for French culture. My bad.
** Also, I'm well aware that Carla Bruni is not by birth or nature French -- she is, quite obviously, Italian. She remains, however, regardless of country of birth, the First Lady of France.

*Follow Huffington Post Style on Twitter and become a fan of Huffington Post Style on Facebook*

Brow-O-Wow: Bushy Eyebrows Make A Comeback (PHOTOS, POLL)

2009-03-30T14:48:46-04:00

Eyebrows. They're the most under-appreciated feature on your face with arguably the most impact -- a good brow can make eye makeup a moot point or take an ordinary look extra-ordinary places.

While there's no right or wrong way to shape your eyebrows -- every face is different! -- there is absolutely nothing worse than an over-plucked arch (something most of us have learned the hard way.) And in light of that fact, we hereby proclaim that the bushy brow is back!

First off, we're huge advocates of anything that supports our case against make-up and what better way to lighten the cosmetic load than to let your luscious brows be front and center? Toss the eyeliner, drop a coat of mascara, boldly bare your lips and let your eyebrows do the talking.

But secondly (and arguably more evidentiary), we're not alone! It started last week, when W.'s niece, Lauren, debuted her not-quite-eponymous fashion line. She may have dropped the "Bush" in her name, but her eyebrows were nothing if not full. And from there we started brainstorming...Ashley Olsen! Hilary Rhoda! Beyonce at the Oscars!

And there it was: a case in point; if there's one thing these ladies have in common, it is a bountiful brow bush paired with an au naturel visage. Even the red carpet-ready looks made liberal use of earthy tones with a minimalist lip. And for you lazy, er, low-maintenance ladies -- the unplucked brow is a veritable gift! You'll save yourself oodles of time not plucking, painting, and puckering -- because in this case, bigger really is better!

[Which reminds us...we hate to say it (and, to be honest, we never thought we would!), but this is the one instance where Michelle Obama's pluck is not a good thing. Ah, well -- the woman had to have some fault.]

See?

What do you think?

Lastly, advice! If you're like me and have been cursed with a barely-there and/or blonde brow, I recommend taking the seconds you saved in your morning routine to fill them in. (I'm also gonna go ahead and take the liberty of recommending Benefit's Bow-Zings kit -- the wax lets you get some color on every last spindly hair you've been blessed with in ways that no ordinary pencil ever could. Look at me! I'm nothing if not service-y.)

Join the revolution, ladies! Let your (eyebrow) bushes be free!

*Follow Huffington Post Style on Twitter and become a fan of Huffington Post Style on Facebook*

HuffPost Review: The Decemberists -- The Hazards Of Love

2009-03-24T01:44:40-04:00

The Decemberists make for a particularly twee-tolerant type of fan. If you like them, it's likely you've made peace with the somewhat self-indulgent (which is not to say unwarranted) baroque lyricism and folklore narrative-as-album frame technique. And there's even a certain level of pretentiousness that one comes to expect (and often value) from this Portland-based ensemble; references to mariners, dirigibles, and the ghosts of babies birthed in dry ravines are not only par for the quirky course but also part of what makes the band so lovable in the first place.

So it should come as no stretch nor any real surprise that The Decemberists' newest album, The Hazards of Love takes the form of that vaunted exercise in musical construction: the rock-opera.

[Before we get any further, let's clarify: I've heard of Tommy and "Pinball Wizard" has a recurring place an almost all of my party playlists but the rock opera is a musical genre with which I have very little experience.]

The 17-track album is good, definitely, and left me with the sneaking suspicion that in the (hopefully) long and future history of rock operas this particular one will go down as a success. But that doesn't mean the album isn't without it's extraneous eccentricities. The three-plus minute long instrumental and organ-heavy "Prelude," while undoubtedly a useful scene-setter in performance, feels a little unnecessary on the album itself and is likely to become a full-fledged annoyance when trying to lazily set the iPod on shuffle. In the same vein, the children's choir on "The Hazards of Love 3 (Revenge!)" is a discordant and over-indulgent choice that could and should have been avoided.

The story itself is typical Decemberist fairytale -- starring two star-crossed lovers, an injured white fawn, the vengeful rake and the audibly terrifying queen -- with guest stars Becky Stark (from Lavender Diamond) and Shara Worden (from My Brightest Diamond) -- two bands I have never heard of! -- voicing Margaret and the Queen, respectively. And the lyrics make the liner notes a worthy read, though you can certainly enjoy the album without following the storyline.

Once again, though, it's what frontman Colin Meloy did so well on past albums -- marrying an infectious melody with his lyrical and instrumental peccadilloes -- that makes this album listenable and loveable. Singable standouts are: "The Wanting Comes in Waves" (both "Repaid" and "Reprise"), "The Rake's Song", "Annan Water", and "The Abduction of Margaret", while "A Bower Scene" gets extra points for it's soaring rock opera crescendos and "Margaret in Captivity" for Meloy's lyrical and alliterate genius that is perfectly encapsulated in the line "limber limbs akimbo." Swoon.

I suspect strongly that The Hazards of Love is a wonder to behold in performance, which is a good thing because I've got tickets to their June 10th show at Radio City Music Hall.

The Decemberists' fifth studio album "The Hazards Of Love" comes out today, March 24th.

HuffPost Readers, Hit It Home: Submit To Us A Poem That Inspires You During Hard Times

2009-03-17T18:30:32-04:00

We spend a lot of time on the Living page focusing on all the different ways we can work on improving and bringing more meaning to our lives. And one of the oldest and most effective ways to do this is through art -- whether you're a veritable artiste or someone whose most famous work is still hanging on your parents refrigerator.

The best thing about art is that there's a genre for everyone; we've got a little bit of a soft spot here on Living for poetry. From the early days of the Living section, poetry has always been an important part -- starting with John Lundberg (see archive) who's remarkable ability to link poetry to current events has kept us constantly inspired, to Elizabeth Alexander, Obama's inaugural poet.

(Speaking of which, tomorrow night the Huffington Post is hosting Elizabeth Alexander at Arianna's home. We'll be sure to give you plenty of updates!)

But most of all, art - and poetry in particular - has a way of uplifting us, particularly during darker days. And we want to know which poems and/or poets do that for you? Is there a favorite poem you turn to when you need cheering up? Please let us know in the comments! We'll pull them together and share them with all of our readers on a later date -- everyone could use a little poetic love now and then.

And feel free to check out John Lundberg's posts if you're looking for some inspiration.

Calling All Readers! What's Your Favorite Charity?

2009-03-17T08:49:59-04:00

On Wednesday, Arianna will be a guest editor of Metro, the free daily newspaper delivered all over New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia. Metro is giving Arianna space in the paper to promote a charity of her choice -- so we'd love your feedback on your favorite service not-for-profit.

As readers of her blog know, Arianna is passionate about the need for service, now more than ever. Given the current challenges the country faces, helping those that need help will, as Arianna says, "take more than soaring rhetoric and online calls to action."

That's why we would love your suggestions on those charities about which you feel most passionate. Please send your suggestions to darcy@huffingtonpost.com.

HuffPost Readers: Share Your Random Acts Of Kindness!

2009-02-06T14:35:14-05:00

Madoff, bailouts, layoffs, and subprime mortgages. I don't think you need me to tell you that the news as of late has been nothing but doom and gloom, and if you're anything like me, well, then, it's all getting a bit heavy. And let's be honest: though things aren't great, they most definitely are not all that bad. (Really!)

Though money is tight and everyone is holding on to their paychecks like they'll never see another one (a statement which, sadly, rings all too true for many), people have also never been so giving, so compassionate, and so focused on rolling up their sleeves, digging in and digging deep to help both themselves and those around them.

Don't believe me? How about the Gainesville couple who sold everything they owned on eBay in order to pay for their children's medical bills? They found a buyer -- for $20,000, no less -- but with one small catch...

The winning bidders assured Brittiny and Gregg that they will honor the terms and send the money. But...

"They informed us this morning that they do not intend on taking possession of the things. They're basically purchasing them and giving them back."

The purchasers, Keith and Donnia Blair of Fort Worth, told the Associated Press, simply, "We've been blessed," and "we saw an opportunity to help."

Or, how about the anonymous donation sent to a recently laid-off father who couldn't afford his daughter's gymnastics lessons? According to KWCH, CBS' locale Wichita affiliate:

A little girl will still get to go to gymnastics, despite her dad's recent lay off. It's all thanks to an anonymous donor.

After our story aired someone called the gym and offered to pay for the next nine weeks, about $90. The donor says things are going well for her family right now and she wants to share what she has.

There's no shortage of communities around the country who have rallied around a hard-up neighbor, such as the Hearne family in Camarillo or Allen Stice, whose house burned down in Lake Wildwood, California.

But here's the thing, I'm certain that those aren't the only stories out there. I'm certain that each and every one of you has seen this sort of unity and compassion on an individual level in your very own communities. Maybe you've been the Good Samaritan to your neighbor's bad luck, or, maybe you've even been the recipient of someone else's blessing.

So e-mail us! Send your submissions to submissions+living@huffingtonpost.com. Tell us exactly what goodwill you've witnessed and what charity you've taken part in.

Then sign-up here to be notified when your pieces are published and to find out about any future citizen journalism initiatives.

We want your stories.

We want to put a spotlight on all the good hard work that's going on in your communities around this country, and we want to share it with the rest of our readers.

These stories are a much needed counterpoint to all the doom and gloom; let's help change the conversation -- we can't do it without you.

Dear Kate Hudson: Please Stop Wearing Wigs In Mediocre Movies

2009-01-09T08:55:41-05:00

Editor's note: We first posted this in late July, back when Kate Hudson was still dating Lance Armstrong and before he was expecting a baby with another woman. We just thought it would be fun to re-post this plea on the opening day of her new movie "Bride Wars," for which she again committed the very crime we discuss below.

Dear Kate Hudson,

Now that you won't be spending all your time playing tennis with Lance Armstrong, I thought you might have time to consider something that's been bothering me for quite a while. I'll get straight to the point: can you please stop wearing really ugly wigs in your relatively mediocre movies?

Don't get me wrong. I'm a fan. A huge fan actually. I own Almost Famous (which is kind of a big deal, since the only other movie I own is Labyrinth), think that How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days was kind of genius, and I'm pretty sure I was conned into buying Mukluks because of a photo of you wearing them with a grey hoodie. If that doesn't make me a fan, then I don't really know what else there is to say.

But here's the thing, you seem like a pretty cool girl, and I generally place you high on the list of famous people that I think I could actually be friends with (see: Jennifer Aniston, Natalie Portman, and yes, Kirsten Dunst). Also, your little brother went to my high school and I know that either you or your mom wore ripped jeans to his graduation ceremony and that it did not go over well with some of the parents, but I secretly applauded you for it and so I kind of feel like we have a connection. (Do I sound like a stalker yet?)

So. I really think you should listen to me and take my word for it when I say that the wigs are not doing anything for you. In fact, they kind of make you look terrible. And trust me, if there's one thing I know how to do, it's judge people by their hair.

You have really pretty hair. You're an A-List actress. Heck, your mom is an A-List actress. I think it's about time you start standing up for yourself.

There is no need for the wigs. If the bigwigs (pun probably intended) tell you to to go brunette, just dye your hair brown. And if, for some reason, you don't want to dye your hair brown, then don't dye it brown. You're an actress, tell them you'll act like a brunette. (From one blonde to another, it's totally easy -- just act less fun! Oh, and more smart.) Same goes for short hair, bangs, and book-ish bobs.

Oh, and one more thing. Although I'm really looking forward to all of your new movies (four!), and even though I know I shouldn't be, I have to admit, I'm mildly perturbed that you're starring in a movie called "Bride Wars". Oh well, I know how it is; pick your battles, a paycheck's a paycheck, etc, et al. Just don't wear a wig.*

Yours Faithfully,

Verena von Pfetten

*Like this one...

UsMagazine.com

My Election Makeover

2008-10-31T09:00:09-04:00

Hi everybody! Some of you might remember me from such illuminating and hair-related posts as Frizzy Is The New Fabulous, A Blogger's Guide To Judging People (By Their Hair), Dear Kate Hudson: Please Stop Wearing Wigs, and my infamous Adventures With The World's Worst Makeover. And if you don't, all you need to take away from these posts is that I'm seemingly obsessed with other people's hair and I cannot resist a makeover site.

So. You can imagine my sheer burst of joy when a fellow co-worker pointed me in the direction of InStyle's Hollywood Hair Makeover.

And then you can further imagine my head exploding when I saw that they had a subcategory titled "Election." Yes, you read that right, election. As in, campaign hair. As in Cindy, Sarah, Hillary, and Michelle's downright delectable (see what I did there?) 'dos dutifully framing the blank canvas that is my face.

Yowza!

Also, just to lend this whole experiment that much more gravitas -- it is Halloween, after all -- I went to great lengths (including some co-worker-assisted facial gymnastics) to really channel each particular hair muse. I think you'll find I was beyond successful.)

So, without further ado, I bring to you: Verena von Pfetten, color-chameleon and campaign copy-cat extraordinaire. I don't think I have to tell you which is which.

Pardon the blank background on this one -- my portrait of Cindy required the aforementioned co-worker cooperation in order to accurately emulate her, um, tautness.

And lastly, I think it's enormously important to point out that InStyle's technology puts Clairol's Try It On Studio to downright shame.

Take a look!

You can move the little dots and lines so that they perfectly frame your face, which is mighty handy especially for someone like me whose face has a, how shall I put it?, slightly oblong shape to it. This is great because instead of just plopping an unsightly computer-generated mop on the top of your head, it allows the magical elves inside the internet to crop and size the hair to fit your own personal face. (Clairol -- you better be taking notes!)

Which reminds me! I'm not sure I ever mentioned this, but I actually received an e-mail from Clairol's Digital Branding person -- turns out they're just as embarrassed with the site as I am. It read:

Hi Ms. Verena,

Thank you for your feedback regarding Clairol's Try It On Studio (in your 6/3 and 7/29 posts: "My Adventures with the World's Worst Makeover"). We tried unsuccessful to reach you via phone following the initial posting to discuss your experience with Try It On Studio, and wanted to try again now the blog has been re-posted.

Clairol speaks with more than one million women every year regarding their hair coloring experiences and we take everyone's feedback very seriously. We understand your concerns about our Try It On Studio and agree the application needs an upgrade. You'll be happy to know this is in the works and will be launching soon - we'll certainly contact you when it goes live.

Thank you again for your feedback.

Best,

[Redacted]
Clairol Digital Branding

I have yet to hear from them.

I'm just sayin'.

Anywhoosle, just thought I'd share! It really brightened up my afternoon and thought it might just do the same for you.

What'dya think? Should I quit my day job?

7 Hipster Fashions We Love To Hate (SLIDESHOW)

2008-09-26T14:37:39-04:00

It's mid-September and it's getting harder to deny the fact that fall is just around the corner. Or maybe it's here already. (When's Daylight Savings, again?) Anyway, fall is a new season and new seasons mean new trends, and while, in general and as a rule, we hate trends, new trends mean that, God willing, we can finally say goodbye to old ones.

While everyone falls victim to the trend every now and again (Yes, even yours truly -- I own some skinny black jeans that I more or less never take off and I may or may not have a pair of purple knock-off Ray Bans, though, to be fair, I tell myself I have them only because, um, hello? They're purple. But I digress.), no one group of people have ever so succumbed, so embraced, so clutched on to trends for dear life with cold, pale, smoke-yellowed fingers as that so-called creative counter-culture: The Hipster.

Am I generalizing? Probably. Am I aware there are exceptions to the rule? Absolutely! Am I going to clarify shortly? Let's hope so.

From what I can tell, the hipster depends, nay, thrives on irony, but the problem is that in doing so, they've a) diluted and deserted any formal definition that irony may or may not have once had and b) they've only served to create a fashion version of The Blob in which once they adopt a "trend" -- usually historical and always ironically, of course -- it feeds on itself, and it grows and grows until frat guys are wearing it and the cast of "The Hills" are designing it, and then someday Rachel Ray will star in a Dunkin Donuts commercial while wrapped in it. Or maybe it's the other way around. (As Meryl Streep can attest, it's all so very, very complicated.) Whatever, moving on, because there's a c).

And so: c), though they initially drench themselves in these sartorial affectations in a (soon-to-be proven misguided) attempt to show how very unconcerned they are with what exactly it is they wear and though it would seem that their entire image hinged upon the sheer disinterest they have in other people's opinions and the exquisitely cultivated and the desperately disdainful, "What, this? I picked it up off the floor and pulled this out of the garbage and stole this from my myopic maternal grandmother!," the very act itself is contradictory. In attempting to embrace something so patently unflattering so as to prove how patently unimportant such flattery is, they are -- in fact -- acknowledging their concern, and therefore, their endorsement.

Too complicated? Don't worry. To put it simply: these trends, these accoutrements, these god-awful outfits are fugly. And yet, they are everywhere. And somehow they just never seem to go away.

And so, without further ado (since there has been so obviously more than enough): I bring to you, seven hipster looks I love to hate. And I do mean hate.

So, what do you think? Agree? Disagree? Think I'm a judgmental brat who has no taste in clothing? Let's have at it! Share your favorite (and least favorite) trends and non-trends in the comments below.