Alice Caroline Bags; Lulu Frost Trunk Show @ Bendels May 5-7; Helen Chased's Hot Denim; New Online boutique Mayandree NY; Store your boots with The Bootleg - WEEKLY FASHION FILES PODCAST

WEEKLY FASHIONTRIBES FASHION FILES PODCAST: Alice Caroline Bags; Lulu Frost Trunk Show at Bendels May 5,6,7; Helen Chased Denim; Hot New Online Boutique Mayandree New York; The Bootleg insert for Great Boot Storage: MP3 File

WELCOME to our new WEEKLY FASHION FILES PODCAST & BLOG. Instead of my usual haphazard method of randomly posting stuff I get excited about - the second I find out about it - my handlers are forcing me to get organized, grow up, and post everything in a more orderly fashion. Hence, the weekly podcast schedule thing. Hmmmm.

With color on every runway and in every fashion outlet, an easy way to break out of all-black - oh come now, you can do it! - is with a groovy new bag. Alice Caroline handbags couldn't be more on-trend. Made in England with prints such as Gypsy Spring, Party Shoes & Gossiping Geishas, they're fun for the fashionista-about-town (or beach!).  The Helen bag, named for co-founder Helen (who started the company with sister Alice) is a chic day-to-night bucket, that is fully lined, has reinforced handles & is under $100. The Ruth clutch - named for a pal - could easily become your go-to summer evening bag. www.alicecaroline.co.uk

If you haven't gotten some Lulu in your life yet, you're doing your inner fashionista wrong. Get thee to Bendels this Thursday, Friday or Saturday - May 5-7 - for the Lulu Frost trunk show & pick up some new earrings, a necklace, or a ring already. www.lulufrost.com/. By the way, she's a finalist in the prestigious Gen Art Styles 2005 contest - the winner will be announced 5/17....oh, the suspense....

For some flat-out sex appeal, surf on ova' to the new Mayandree New York boutique for a hot sequined tank or a curve-huggin', bod flauntin' stretch dress that should come with a warning label. Meow. http://www.mayandreenewyork.com/

You've stashed the sweaters, revved up the warm weather gear, gotten your sorry-ass feet back into fightin shape with a much-overdo pedi....yes, it's spring again. This time, make a pledge to not just toss your boots into a big box till Fall (er, of course I'm guilty of nothing of the sort, thankyou). A fellow fashionista, Tamara Nowakowsky, has come to the rescue with The Bootleg - boot storage-trees made out of black satin for around $23/pair. So show your boots some love & do the right thing. http://www.creativequeen.com/

Who doesn't need more denim in their wardrobe? A girl always needs more-more-more. Helen Maher, who designs as Helen Chased, has hot black denim. She experimented with flat-felled seams - the seam on the inside leg of your jeans - curving, widening and stretching them. Some of the garments are asymmetrical; according to the designer, they were inspired by "pre-evolutionary man crossed with teenage delinquents." If that's not fab, what is? Email octogogirl@ntlworld.com