The Age of Robotic Chic is Upon Us. Here's What to Wear.

SHOP THE LOOK: Catherine Malandrino playsuit; YSL "Tribtoo" pumps; Lanvin "Amalia" shoulder bag; Giles & Brother gold and leather bracelet

As part of a $500 million package designed to combine the resources of the government, educational institutions and the US manufacturing sector to boost "critical enabler" technologies like nanotechnology, getting new high-tech products to market more quickly & competitively, President Obama recently announced a new $70 million National Robotics Initiative. "You might not know this, but one of my responsibilities as commander-in-chief is to keep an eye on robots," he noted in a speech at Carnegie Mellon University's National Robotics Engineering Center. "And I'm pleased to report that the robots you manufacture here seem peaceful. At least for now."

And, for some, there is more at stake than just the futuristic science. "Investing in robotics is more than just money for research and development, it is a vehicle to transform American lives and revitalize the American economy," adds Helen Greiner, president of the Robotics Technology Consortium. "Indeed, we are at a critical juncture where we are seeing robotics transition from the laboratory to generate new businesses, create jobs and confront the important challenges facing our nation."

However, the important question remains: when everything goes truly Space Age & high-tech, what will be considered high style?  Although many a vintage 60s comic book and TV show portrayed both sexes in sexless Star Trek'y tunics and androgenous performance-wear, we think that fashion will probably go the route of architecture. Compare a really old city like Istanbul or Jerusalem with one that is much newer. While all the neighborhoods in the newer city look fairly alike, in an ancient city, each neighborhood is different and distinct, and the various neighborhoods combine to create a varied and textural urban mosaic bursting with individual expression. 

Similarly, the more our environment becomes industrialized and homogeneous, the more people will wanna express their individuality and not look like clothing clones (fashion-obsessed girlie-girls in particular). The best part of having a robot to take care of the drudgery and to do your bidding? You have the time to wear a playsuit for actual play, and the luxury of rocking limousine shoes 24/7 - like these towering YSL metallic "Tribtoo" beauties!

- Lesley Scott

(source: PCMag.com via Shelly Palmer Digital Living; vintage 60s robot image)

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Forget Being a Stick Figure When You Can Have Dangerous Curves to Dress Instead.

Plus-size fashionistas know that curves are fabulous and meant to be celebrated!

However, when you get dressed for the day, be sure to draw the eye away from the bits you'd rather not highlight in order to emphasize what's va-va-voom. Here are some tips to keep you turning heads for the right reasons:

Rule 1: Shape Up! When you want to make a big-time style statement, start with your silhouette. A wrap dress is a timeless & trendproof way to emphasize your waist and highlight that hourglass.  For larger figures, A-line frocks skim and streamline, and instead of a less-flattering short hem-length or too-long maxi (can make a girl look squat), try the leg-elongating calf-length. Showing an appropriate peek of cleavage is always a "do" (with emphasis on "appropriate"), which means investing in a really good, supportive bra and smoothing out any lumps and bumps with shapewear. And when it's date-night or time to paint the town red, be sure to stock your closet with plus size evening dresses that complement every curve.

Rule 2: Ban All-Black Yes, black is "slimming" but being more endowed doesn't mean a living with a closet devoid of color. Try a frisky print or pattern - just avoid any that are either ginormous or too teensy, and choose a silhouette that emphasizes your slimmest point. Also, chunky horizontal stripes can make a girl look similarly chunky, while sleek vertical lines are more slenderizing.

Rule 3: Be a Material Girl Cheap, flimsy fabrics are no way to go through life - they highlight rather than hide lumps and bumps. The two hardcore offenders to avoid are lycra and nylon; instead, choose natural fibers like cotton.

Pick Your Trend & Party in Style this Summer

Garden parties, summer weddings, and those all-important BBQs. It's time for some fun in the sun, but what are you planning to wear? Here's a handy primer on the trends to aid & abet your shopping:

Lovely Lace: Traditional white and black laces have gotten an update in neon brights by designers like Christopher Kane. For a girly-cute look, choose a classic silhouette, such as a shift.

White Dresses: White is right when it comes to showing off your tan, especially in a sheer fabric or broderie Anglais. Some of the classiest catwalk examples were at Rick Owens and MaxMara.

Floral Frocks: Flowery prints are perfect in summer, whether caszh in the daytime or all dressed up for a night out. Just remember: you don't wanna be a shrinking violet, so be sure to go bold & bright.

MAXI-mum Style: For the past few seasons, the 70s revival - in particular, the floor-sweeping maxi - has turned out to be a trend with legs.  Sexy choices include vibrant, bold prints and loose, flowing fabrics.  For inspiration, look at the glamorous, romantic styles at Valentino and Ralph Lauren.

Color Blocking: One of the best ways to stand out in a crowd is with color. Why not try the season's huge color-blocking trend by combing a neutral hue with one that's crayon bright?

For more fab party dresses, check out Very's range of party dresses - where they carry a great selection for any occasion worth partying about.

Monte Carlo, Mistaken Identities & a Mother-Daughter Summer Bonding Opp at the Movies

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Monte Carlo for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Selena Gomez plays Grace who's long dreamed of visiting Paris. When a trip to La Ville-Lumière with her bestie (Katie Cassidy) and uptight stepsister, Meg (Gossip Girl Leighton Meester) proves to be a major disappointment, they ditch the lousy tour they're on and duck into the lobby of a luxury hotel. Where Grace is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress, Cordelia, played (naturally) by Gomez. Mistaken-identity hijinks ensue, plus charming misadventures as the trio jets to Monte Carlo, posing as wealthy socialites accustomed to lobster by the pound, champagne by the bucket, and shopping!

Summer is the perfect time for some lighthearted laffs (and shopping), hijinks in high places (and shopping), and superlative shopping (not to mention shopping). Monte Carlo will be in theaters July 1, and tix will be available starting 6/29 on Fandango. Nicole Kidman is one of the producers, the trailer (below) looks fun (how much do you LOVE the towering pile of LV luggage?!), and if you want to share the amour - here is the link to their Facebook page so you can LIKE them.

We say: "C'est bon!"

- Lesley Scott

Get Your Own Set of Yummy Fergie-licious Abs.

Flat, sexy abs are always a "do". Odd doo-hickeys sold on late-nite TV promising a washboard midsection in minutes a day...just don't.

You'll hate yourself the next morning, you'll hate yourself even more when the charge shows up on your credit card statement, your loathing will reach epic proportions when the gadget arrives in an enormous box, and when you unpack it and start to assemble the behemoth...well, consider yourself warned. And all you get for all that tummy-churning drama?

A bellyache.

Instead, if you want to get a flat tummy and need a gadget for motivation, check out Flatten Belly - a resource for everything to help you get fab ab'd. We raised an eyebrow upon learning that Cheryl Burke's "Disco Abs" DVD costs $60 + $12 S&H (!) (couldn't you just cue up a "Studio 54" mix on your iPod or create a special Donna Summer station on Pandora while you crunch & plank?). Kim Kardashian's "Fit Into Your Jeans by Friday" is a much more reasonable $15 + $3 S&H. And although the Stairmaster Stepmill SM916 resembles a "strange little escalator," has no clinical trials to back up its claims, and costs $5,500, it is judged well-built and effective at replicating endless flights of stairs - hands-down, one of the best ways to get everything from the collarbones down, abs included, in fabulous shape. Flatten Belly also gives a big a thumbs up to a small handful of select tummy-flattening belts that use tiny electrical impulses to contract your muscles repeatedly, fooling them into thinking you're at the gym doing a gazillion crunches while you're actually going about your day and on your merry way.  Electric Muscle Stimulation (EMS) technology is a legimate part of physical therapy, and as long as you stay away from any belts that are too cheap - they recommend investing around $150 to $200 - you'll be rewarded with a product that received FDA clearance, is backed by clinical trials & a warranty - and delivers real results.

- Lesley Scott

Dress for a Life of Casual Luxury, British Style

In the early 90s, young Alastair Parker-Swift wintered in France as part of the England freestyle ski team, followed by summers in Devon, where his thriving windsurfing school provided him not only with an idyllic life, but a fab entrepreneurial opportunity.

He sourced some navy and white rugby shirts locally, and created the 93 patch shirt and when stock sold out in mere days, he decided to capitalize on the upcoming Cowes Week, one of the longest-running regular regattas in the world held on an area of water between southern England and the Isle of Wight. The trickiness of the strong double-tides on the Solent is part of the appeal of Cowes week, named for the small town on the Isle of Wight from which it is run; it was started in 1826, and has grown today to become the largest regatta of its kind & includes 40 daily races, approximately 1000 boats, and 8,500 competitors ranging from weekend water-warriors to Olympic & world class sailors.

With a week to go until Cowes week, Alastair found a space being renovated, encouraged & cajoled the builders in completing work ahead of schedule, sourced more polo shirts...and just manage to open in time, generating sales that exceeded all expectations. Crew Clothing Co. was officially launched!

Fast forward 17 years. The initial hand-drawn catalog sent to 2000 customers has been replaced by one mailed to 3.2 million people annually, and the staff has grown to 400+, tending to more than 60 stores across the UK. They now sponsored sports events like The Whitbread Round the World Race, the England Polo Team and Masters Tennis at the Albert Hall, have been the official clothing supplier to the England Polo team for over 5 years, providing all of the kit for National and International matches including the pinnacle of the polo calendar: the Cartier International Event.

The underlying appeal of Crew? The freewheeling life of "casual luxe" it references combined with high-quality design and fabrics. Preppy-fabulous picks include ladies jackets, ladies shirts, and cute (meaning not too short-short or booty) ladies shorts.

Rodarte at Pitti. Molto Bene.

The Mulleavy sisters were invited to bring their molto active imaginations to Florence by Yoox.com's TheCorner.com, which features fashion-forward brands in exclusive "mini stores" accompanied by special multimedia-content to provide fans with a peek into a designer's world. The online component helps bridge the Online World with Ye Olde World, like this video interview with the sisters behind Rodarte about the installation which was inspired by the art-drenched history of the city, and showcases pieces created specifically for the show space. "It's about this idea of permanence and art that can't really be moved," they explain. "About creating these serene, contained compartments - they were the building blocks of what we wanted to do here."

- Lesley Scott

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Shop Like a Chic Middle East Fashionista Without Leaving Home

By the glamorous beachside of The Walk in Dubai, it covers 3 floors and 30,000 glamorous square feet of fashion and enough eveningwear to outfit an entire awards show, while at the Mall of Emirates in the Fashion Dome, it's all about understated luxe for both fashionistas & fashionistos.  And whether you're out and about in Mirdif City Centre or on perusing Park Avenue (in Beirut!), Boutique 1 specializes in everything exclusive, luxe, and lovely...be it full-on showstopper evening gowns or just a tasty lil' casually-chic treat you seek. (And should your shopping-mojo start to flag, be sure to stop by the cafe, or, for a more serious pep-me-up, head directly to the Tilia and Finn beauty lounge for a massage, facial, body treatment using organic & biodynamic goodies, or a mani/pedi with Butter London polishes.)

This summer & early fall, we're all about their selection of colorful Erdem dresses, structured & ladylike dresses by Victoria Beckham, a glam gown from Elie Saab or something smart by Lucy in Disguise (because we love the name) - or maybe a sartorial statement by Carolina Herrera, Jason Wu, Azzedine Alaia, or...

Choices, choices.

- Lesley Scott

The New Filofax APEX Comes in Fun Colors to Inspire Fun Fashion. Plus, a Chance to Win One!

In an age of digital everything, it's fun to write down life's important To-Do's on honest-to-god paper, especially if bright, cheery colors are involved! The new Filofax APEX is inspired by linear, geometric shapes and features a clever, wrap-around elastic closure; it comes in hot pink, gemstone green, bright blue & fashionista-approved black. We choose pink, which inspired this outfit; in addition, you could use your Apex for an on-trend color-blocking outfit, because bold hues look simply smashing paired with animal prints and abstract florals in black-and-white.

Wanna win an Apex?

To enter, "Like" Filofax on FB, and be sure to vote for our ensemble, which is part of a Blogger Style-off of outfits inspired by the Apex. The blogger who styled the outfit with the most votes will get 12 Apex Filofaxes to give away to 12 lucky readers.

- Lesley Scott

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A Delicious Look Inspired by THE Iconic $5 Million Marilyn Monroe White Subway Dress

SHOP THE LOOK: pleated-chiffon halter dress - Laundry by Shelli Segal; earrings - Oscar de la Renta; Tom Binns "Noble Savage" bracelet; satin "Mini Loubi" clutch - Christian Louboutin; YSL suede "Tribute" sandals; a classic red lip (you can't go wrong with YSL)

Although she was a bookworm and dedicated autodidact, Marilyn Monroe relentlessly built her brand on a sexy shade of not-found-in-nature bottle-blond contrasted with an oddly girlish-yet-breathless "pillow talk" voice. And yet, the provocative images from her last photo shoot with Bert Stern, just weeks before her death, show her adrift, anesthetized, and broke, not just metaphorically, but literally - she died with a mere $2000 in her bank account.

So when the gavel recently fell on the now-iconic white halter dress Marilyn Monroe wore above the "breezy" subway grate in 1955's "The Seven Year Itch", the $5 million pricetag obviously included more than simply a classic, Grecian-inspired design by legendary movie costumer (William...but known-by-one-name-only) Travilla. Rather, it not only represents one of the most tangible & instantly-recognizable symbols of modern sex appeal, but is a trophy from the battle of the sexes.The fact a modern collector would pay such a vast sum for a sexpot's most famous frock brought to mind an insight made by cultural critic Camille Paglia in a piece she wrote for The Sunday Times Magazine about Generation Gaga: the death of sex.

Which Marilyn personified.

She was "utterly mean" and "yet utterly fabulous" (according to "Itch" director, Billy Wilder), she was loving, devious, smart, wicked, condescending, and alway, always looking for love.

She was real.

Unlike the pop stars which rule Generation Gaga, including the Mama Monster herself, which Paglia amusingly compares to a "plasticised android." How, Paglia wonders "could a figure so calculated and artificial, so clinical and strangely antiseptic, so stripped of genuine eroticism have become the icon of her generation? Can it be that Gaga represents the exhausted end of the sexual revolution? For Gaga, sex is mainly decor and surface; she’s like a laminated piece of ersatz rococo furniture. Alarmingly, Generation Gaga can’t tell the difference."

Perhaps.

Nonetheless, tears of relief aside, actress Debbie Reynolds (who, rumor has it, was paying a few bills by putting the Marilyn dress up for auction) remarked about the surprisingly high price her treasure went for: "I'm thrilled beyond words. This first auction shows that our great stars were loved by the world."

Along with the white Marilyn dress, other gems from the Reynolds collection included:

- Charlie Chaplin's bowler hat (which went for $132,000)
- a pair of Judy Garland's red "Wizard of Oz" slippers ($612,000)
- a suit worn by Rudolph Valentino in "Blood and Sand" ($252,000)
- a dress worn by Grace Kelly is "To Catch a Thief ($540,000)

The auction was held in California at Profiles in History, a leading dealer in guaranteed-authentic original historical autographs, letters, documents, vintage signed photographs and manuscripts - in particular entertainment memorabilia. Previously, auctioned off the "Cowardly Lion" costume from The Wizard of Oz ($805,000); a full-scale model T-800 Endoskeleton from Terminator 2: Judgment Day ($488,750); Marilyn Monroe’s “Diamonds” dress from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes ($356,500); Luke Skywalker’s light saber from Star Wars ($240,000); Margaret Hamilton’s “Wicked Witch” hat from The Wizard Of Oz ($230,000); and The Invisible Man 1933 one-sheet movie poster ($230,000). 

The second Debbie Reynolds Collection auction is scheduled for December 2, 2011.

In the mean time, even if you don't have $5 million to spend (not including the $1 million auction-house fee), you can certainly look like a million in your own a classic white halter dress, accented with nude or champagne heels & clutch - but NOT white...too matchy-matchy and bridal'y - rich red lips, and since this is Marilyn, the ultimate FOD (Friend of Diamonds) we're homaging: don't forget to bring on the bling, bling, bling!

- Lesley Scott

(images: Travilla sketch; Marilyn with diamonds)

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