While perusing a recent issue of Entertainment Weekly, I practically squealed with glee to discover their list of 50 Pop Culture Moments That Rocked Fashion. Some important background information: I love lists. They complete me. In fact, my love of lists is surpassed only by my love of chocolate, Christian Louboutins and man cardigans.

In keeping with their tradition, I thought I would compile a list of my very own, only it would combine two of my passions, television and fashion, into an amalgamation of awesome. I would call it something innovative like, The Best Dressed People on Television Since the Dawn of Time.

But here's the thing - there are many such people on television, past and present (the short list: Charlotte York, Denise Huxtable, Seth Cohen, Carrie Bradshaw, the cast of Mad Men, Sonny Crockett, Stacy London, Blanche Devereaux, Lorelai & Rory Gilmore, Alexis Morell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan, and of course, Chuck Bass). How was I ever to boil such a list down to a paltry few?

I thought about having a poll - really, I did. I even contemplated having a countdown, followed by a really suspenseful unveiling of the winner. But in the end, there is only one top dog, one crowning achiever, one blue ribbon recipient, and she goes by the name of Blair Cornelia Waldorf.

She of the plaid skirts, double-stranded pearls, and ubiquitous headbands was a no-brainer for best dressed. She also happens to be devious, shrewd and utterly charming, so a wicked fashion sense is really just the icing on the already delicious cake.

To celebrate Gossip Girl's triumphant resurrection on September 1st, I present to you some of Blair's most dazzling ensembles from the past season:

Surgeon General's Warning: Please do not attempt to recreate any of these looks at home without the aid of a trained professional. Blair's over-the-top clothing may look fabulous in the scandalous world of Manhattan's elite, but transported to real life, people may start to confuse you with the girl on the corner who systematically plots the world's demise with her taxidermied army of squirrels... otherwise known as "that crazy chick".

1. I can tell you firsthand the horrors of wearing an unbecoming uniform day-in and day-out, which is why I want to draw your attention to Blair's panache for punching up her own school wares. She isn't afraid to mix patterns, wear bright primary colours, accessorize with coordinated hair ornaments (flowers and bows, naturally) or shroud herself in a $3000 Balenciaga blazer. I only wish my own drab uniform had sparkled with this much style and finesse.

2. The very notion of the decorative headscarf is lost on the modern set. Nowadays, they are used almost exclusively as a functional way to keep warm or as a festive way to prevent flyaways. But Blair, ever the revolutionary, has summoned an outfit reminiscent of Edith Wharton's Old New York, filled with afternoon tea, carriage rides and romantic diseases like consumption and yellow fever.

3. Okay, seriously, do these two not look like the most adorable geriatric couple ever? Can't you just picture them sitting on the sidelines of a polo match, sipping their delicately aged port and bickering about whose turn it is to accompany Serena to her bi-weekly game of bridge? Sigh.

4. Aw, it's Blair's Ode To A Russian Princess. Let's pretend her pseudonym is Tatiana and she's a sinister spy from Moscow sent to procure classified information about the US gymnastics team's top secret uneven bar routine. And look, there she is again moonlighting as an ice dancer in preparation for Vancouver 2010. That Tatiana is pretty multifaceted. PS I would sell my spleen for the coat and one or both of my kidneys for that bag.

5. This may be my favourite outfit in the history of ever. It's even possible I'm wearing an exact replica as we speak. It's so crisp! So clean! So sophisticated! So coordinated! And check out the adorable polka dot gloves! The red patent bag! The sunhat! The nautically-inspired footwear! As an aside, the number of exclamation points in the previous paragraph should be indicative of my overwhelming adoration.

So to sum up, well played, Waldorf. Well played. And a toast to many more glorious and trailblazing fashions in the weeks and months to come!

Images courtesy of:
http://www.gossipgirlonline.net
http://www.blairandchuck.com

Posted by KATHERINE

Remember the first time you saw the horror movie 'The Ring' or am I the only one that recalls seeing the flick I thought was going to be a romantic comedy? Needless to say, I was bombarded by images from a video so disturbing that I think I found my first grey hair after the film ended.

I never thought I would see something that could match the utter horror of this video, but alas - I WAS WRONG. The name of the girl in THIS film is not Samara (from the Ring) but Heidi...Heidi Montag from 'The Hills'. This video is the ultimate horror film, THE scare of the century. As Heidi catterwalls clad in workout clothes attempting a poor man's version of Olivia Newton John's 'Physical', you have to wonder if the greatest horror of all is that this girl ACTUALLY thinks she can sing.
I keep waiting for the phone on my desk to ring and when I answer, someone in a ditzy blonde voice whispers...'seven days.'

Posted by JESSE

JustOneFrickinDay.com is the website launched this week by Elettra Wiedemann (BFF of Chris Benz and daughter of Isabella Rossellini) to raise money for a solar-powered hospital in Burundi. The idea is that if people would donate just one day's salary (hence the name of the site), Wiedemann will raise the $450,000 USD needed for a YEAR's supply of electricity in no time. Then, some 60,000 Burundians get access to free energy and quality health care.
So, how did this land on FF's radar? Because Elettra has called in favours from all of her cool fashionista friends (Rag & Bone, Rogan, Chris Benz, Giambattista Valli, Phillip Lim and House of Diehl, to name a few) who have signed on to design limited edition t-shirts to sell from the site. Sorry Bono, but that's WAY cooler than an 'inspi(red)' t-Shirt from the GAP...

Photo: Rag & Bone limited edition t-shirt available at JustOneFrickinDay.com

Posted by SAM

Vanity Fair special correspondent Matt Tyrnauer premiered his documentary on Valentino today at the Venice Film Festival. The film is titled "Valentino: The Last Emperor" and apparently follows Val for the last two years of his career - right up until his retirement in January.
I can't wait to settle in with a bucket of popcorn for two hours of decadent living, quarreling in Italian, and ridiculously fab clothes.

Photo courtesy of AP Photo/Joel Ryan

Posted by SAM

These are some recent shots of the PUMA Ocean Racing Team leaving Newport, Rhode Island for their final warm-up before the Volvo Ocean Race.

PUMA announced their entry into the sailing category in May 2007, when they officially entered into the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009 with the PUMA Ocean Racing Team. The around-the- world race will extend over 9 months and visit 11 port stopovers. In addition to their Volvo entry, PUMA is also the official supplier of the merchandise for the 2008-2009 Race and will carry a full line of performance and lifestyle apparel, footwear and accessories available at sailing specialty stores and select PUMA Concept stores.

For more information about the race, team and the PUMA Sailing collections check out
www.pumaoceanracing.com

Posted by JESSE

I bought these patent mary-jane wedges almost 2 years ago at Nine West on sale for something like $30. I wore them once and never thought about them again since then, until recently when I laid my eyes on these Dries Van Noten beauties at the Holt Renfrew Last Call outlet. Of course with my luck, they only had one pair, and not in my size.

Enter, the forgotten Nine West wedges...

With a pair of tone-on-tone socks they now vaguely re-create the block-y silhouette I loved about the Dries pair. Amazing how the addition of the socks changed the look of the shoe completely - a shoe made cooler by adding a pair of $6 socks!

Posted by HAZEL

Does it strike anyone else a little bit strange that the world's least hug-able individual has designed a teddy bear in his likeness? Apparently, German toy maker Steiff has issued a bear wearing KL's signature sunglasses, lean black suit, and unapproachable attitude. Sadly, it seems that fingerless gloves don't work on paws. There are only 2,500 in circulation, and they retail for the very designer price of $1,500 USD.
So what's next for the man who already stars in a video game and has his own figurine? My money is on an talking action figure that tells Barbie she dresses like trash...

Photo and sketch by Karl Lagerfeld

Posted by SAM

So I have a confession to make. I might have purchased a CD which some may say is questionable, in the taste department at least. Yes, I am talking about Girlicious' Debut Album. Maybe it was a choice inspired by the current season of Project Runway in which one of the designers (trying to create a Siriano-esque catch phrase) calls everything 'Girlicious' or maybe it was a decision based on the strength (you are shaking your head in judgment at this point) of their first single 'Like Me'. They're fun, okay!?! But I felt even less justified in my purchase when I got to track 12 - the somewhat hoochified remake of Barbra Streisand's 'The Way We Were.' What the...?!?! First off, was this a song that really needed a remake? And secondly, if the name of your musical act is 'Girlicious' should you really be re-making a song by Barbara Streisand? She's kind of a big deal vocally, no? But don't take my word for the somewhat randomness of this remake (you're still judging me for having bought the Girlicious Album, aren't you). You be the judge.

Babs Version

Hoochified Version

Posted by JESSE

Grace Jones is set to release a new album called 'Hurricane' on October 27th, 2008 and her first single is 'Corporate Cannibal'. I am IN LOVE with the look of this video - it completely affirms the artistry of Ms. Jones and her status as a Fashion ICON.

The video led me to Grace's website which is a series of amazing images and Grace quotes. My favourite?

'I WAS BORN TO BE A STAR. ONCE I DECIDED TO ACCEPT THAT RESPONSIBILITY I WOULD NOT BE PLACED IN ANY MOLD THAT WAS LIMITING AGAIN.' -Grace Jones

Posted by JESSE

Italian socialite and swimwear designer Maria Buccellati is a bit of a favourite around the FF offices: she's gorgeous, she makes beautiful bathing suits, she's ridiculously well-connected, and she's the nicest person you'd ever want to meet. What's not to love?! So, when she sent us a preview of her new collection of knitwear in partnership with Rock & Republic, we couldn't wait to share it!

I think my favourite feature is the denim comes stitched in four corresponding colours!

Posted by SAM

In an earlier post, I said I was a little unsure of Victoria's Secret touting Behati as their new Gisele. However, after seeing her in The Virgins video for their song Rich Girls, I may be eating my words... Be-hottie!

Posted by JESSE

The newly-crowned "World's Fastest Man", Usain Bolt, is getting all the attention in Beijing now that Michael Phelps - aka, Last Week's News - skipped town on a worldwide promotional tour. And with all the cameras turned on him, one can't help but notice that Bolt has a tendency for some bizarre behavioural tics: a) the 'lightening bolt' pose he strikes every time anyone glances his way; b) the way he always seems to be dancing to some tune only he can hear (on the starting block, at the finish line, in front of the crowds); and c) within seconds of finishing a race, the boy has his shoes off and in the face of anyone wandering by! I'll admit that they ARE eye-catching gold spikes...

Photograph from shoeguide.co.uk

...Puma's Complete Theseus II, for those of you hoping for a little residual shoe karma - but not exactly my preferred gold spikes this season. I give that distinction to these bad boys:

Givenchy Shoes, Photograph from barneys.com

And I'll admit, that if they were on my feet, I'd probably be using them to flag down photographers too!

Posted by SAM

Take a look at James Franco in the new Gucci by Gucci Homme commercial. Music is fashion favourite Roisin Murphy covering Bryan Ferry's Slave to Love.

Posted by JESSE

Additional proof supporting my talent crush on stylist Nicola Formichetti can be found on the cover of the inaugural issue of Vogue Hommes Japan. Formichetti worked with photographer Hedi Slimane and model Ash on the cover, which is available September 10th.

Posted by JESSE

...But I AM going to the film The House Bunny when it opens this Friday, August 22nd. Before you judge me I must point out that it IS from the same writers as Legally Blonde, and Anna Farris is AMAZING. You are saying 'this is a film based on an 'over-the-hill' 27 year-old playboy bunny that finds her true self as the den mother of a sorority, and that is lame" and I am saying "how can you not love a movie in which characters (including Rumer Willis and Katherine McPhee) go from drab to fab set to a soundtrack of J.Lo songs?" Rounding out the cast are Hugh Hefner and Colin Hanks (son of Tom). This might not be a film destined for greatness, but I am hoping it will be destined for goodness at least. See you in line! (If there is one...)

Posted by JESSE

I started to write this blog yesterday, but it was late, and I was tired and when it started to veer into the pervy-er side of things, I abandoned ship and went home. However, with the news today that Christian Siriano is designing a maternity line for Spring 09 called - what else - Fierce! for Moody Mamas, I decided to take another crack at it. My point is this: what's most 'fierce' in Hollywood these days are the CRAZY curves/cleave that the new and expectant celeb moms are rocking everywhere from the grocery store to the red carpet! It seems that having a baby is doing more for Hollywood bodies than silicon ever did! Makes you wonder what Victoria's big Secret really is...

Photograph from metro.uk.co

Photograph from justjared.com

Photograph from superficialdiva.com

Posted by SAM

Someone once told me that if my shoes don't hurt, they're ugly - and this couldn't be any truer! I believe in the power of what shoes can do for one's mental and spiritual well-being and as a result, lusting after/buying/trying/looking at shoes has become my own form of therapy. I'm usually not one to e-gloat, but Associate Producer Jesse threatened me with a lashing if I didn't agree to let him take photos of my shoes today:

Purchased at Zara, $125 Canadian
Modeled by: Hazel
Photography/Art Direction: Jesse

What came to mind when I first saw them...
Woolly Mammoth-awesomeness

Why I Bought them...
Because they were different and I was sort of sure that I wasn't inadvertently purchasing a Zara designer knock-off

Comfort Level...
8/10

Posted by HAZEL

Photograph from Style.com, Photography by Daniele Oberrauch / imaxtree.com

We aren't all blessed with eyes like Masha Tylena a la Fall '08 Christian Dior, but thanks to the innovativeness of our clever Japanese friends, you can achieve that puppy dog-eyed, anime character look (albeit, a little less creepy than Masha's) using contact lenses. These lenses have a tinted outer ring that extends the circumference of the iris and are available in many different colours. The result:

Photograph from the-coveted.com/blog

Super-kawaii!!

Posted by HAZEL

Cindy on people's perception of the Supermodel lifestyle:
"They think that we have this great, glamorous life - and you know what? We do. I love my life, I have a great life."
-Cindy Crawford to Fashion File in 1992

So this weekend I caught the old film Gilda starring Rita Hayworth and there was one moment in the movie that pretty much changed my life. It's the first time we see Rita and it involves one major hair flip. Post watching the film, the remainder of my weekend consisted of tossing and flipping my hair a la Hayworth - nevermind that I am a boy and my hair is kinda short. When I was cut-off while walking on the street I developed what I am calling the 'angry hair toss'. Why flip the bird when you can flip your mane (albeit imaginary in my case) to a much more model-y affect? Besides developing a slight pain in my neck, all this constant hair flipping got my head thinking about the Top 5 Hair Flips of All Time. Obviously Rita as Gilda gets the credit for pioneering this beauty maneuver, but others have pulled it off with equally stunning effect.

Number 5 goes to someone named 'Kushboo' for a video I found on Youtube when looking up Hair Flips. Even though I am not familiar with her work, this video wins the award for sheer volume of hair flips. Girl knows how to WORK. (ps also the most 'Erotic Hair Flip' Award)

Number 4 goes to my favourite, Beyonce. Maybe it's her work for L'Oreal or maybe's it's just because she loves to 'Work it Out' but I can't recall a performance in which Miss B doesn't flip her hair for all it's worth. Evidence? This Essence Awards Performance which is basically one giant hair toss...and Queen Latifah is front row and LOVING every second of it...

Number 3- When you think 'hair flip' you have to think of Cher. MY fav Cher-flip is this battle from Will & Grace...

Number 2- Speaking of battles, which Disney character has the prettiest hair and hence will achieve the best hair flip? Though some might say Pocahontas, as in this youtube video montage - I would argue that Ariel aka The Little Mermaid wins hands down. Hello, who among us hasn't used the side of a pool to flip our hair and spray water like Ariel? I rest my case.

Number 1- Rita as Gilda. The hair flip that started it all.

Posted by JESSE

...You know I love you. I love your shiny, extravagantly-produced covers and the celebrities that you change out of leggings and flipflops and into overwrought, uncomfortable clothes. So pretty. So please, explain to me, WTF with Kiera Knightley's head?!!!

(As an aside to Kiera: if you start the day wearing a hat, you END the day wearing a hat. I know, you probably thought some Vogue hair stylist would fix your raging hat head, but what's that saying about "when you assume..."? I think we both know who was made the ass here.)

Keira Knightley in September Vogue 2008
Photograph by Mario Testino

Posted by SAM

Shorts. Let us discuss.

Shorts [shawrts]
- noun
1. trousers, knee-length or shorter, usually worn during the warm summer months. See also: capris, pedal pushers, short pants (spants).

Shorts were something I used to associate with basketball players, beach holidays and British prep school uniforms. However, it has recently come to my attention that shorts have made a typhoon of a comeback. Sitting in Starbuck's this morning, I counted no less than 14 people wearing this particular article of clothing. Nothing unusual about that - it was hot, the less fabric touching one's skin, the better. Completely understandable. But - and this is a big but - short shorts are not shorts! They aren't even faux shorts. They are bloody hot pants and should not be masquerading as anything else! It's not 1977, people - I should not be able to see the area wherein your upper thigh morphs into the curve of your derriere. Ever.

Adding insult to injury, guilty parties are determined to pair this ghastly garment with those blousy, loose fitting tops that hit somewhere around the mid-hip area, making it look like they are either pioneering some sort of bottoms-option style or have just stumbled, bleary-eyed, out of someone's darkened apartment and were too hungover to bother searching for their pants.

So next time you decide that it is absolutely imperative that you sport hot pants in public, please do a quick butt cleavage check as a courtesy to the people walking behind you. Thank you. Class dismissed.

Image courtesy of www.shopbop.com

Posted by KATHERINE

I have a new crush that gets my heart pounding and my face all flushed and sweaty faster than Michael Phelps does these days, and his name is Nicholas Kirkwood. I have just found out about this London-based shoe designer (I'm fashionably late to this party), and his Fall 08 collection had me gasping with pleasure at my computer all morning. The entire collection is made up of beautiful materials, sexy details and sits on a perfectly-shaped HIGH heel and a pervy little platform. Perfection. And probably easier to get my hands on than a member of the US swim team.

Image from Nicholaskirkwood.com

Posted by SAM

Okay, so I am NOT the first person to notice that American Vogue seems to have an affinity for making Brazilian model Caroline Trentini jump in nearly every editorial she is featured in. I think she was lying down in a recent spread, but I figured it was as a result from having just finished jumping - perhaps OFF camera. So you can imagine the less-than-impressed look on my face as I opened my newly purchased September Vogue to find Caroline Trentini jumping for dear life. I don't know if it's restless leg syndrome or just plain over-zealousness, but that girl needs to settle down already. I was going to post loads of photos of Trentini mid-air, but I found this video on Youtube of all of her jumping work which actually made me laugh out loud. What goes up must come down sometime Anna.

Posted by JESSE

I have pretty much spent the past five days glued to the TV watching the Olympics in Beijing. I have cheered Canadian rowers, developed a full-on crush on Michael Phelps (and several other members of the US swim team), and strategized from a horizontal position on my couch on the quickest way to a beach volleyball body. However, I have a serious rant brewing on the subject of women's gymnastics. WHAT IS UP WITH THE SCRUNCHIES?!!! Most girls I know lost the scrunchy around the same time they got their braces off and, well, 1997 happened! But no, with the glitter hairspray and the coloured barrettes pinning back their bangs, gymnasts' hair the world over is frozen in 1989. To add insult to injury, there is the matter of the frosted pastel eye shadow on the Chinese team last night that stings like a stick in the eye.
To correct and prevent further offenses, I propose slick buns as the official Olympic hairdo, and hiring Gucci Westman to do makeup in the Olympic Village. That way, even if you fall on your ass, you'll still be gorgeous in the highlights reel and that, my friends, is better than any gold medal.

Image from Getty Images

Image from Los Angeles Times

Posted by SAM

Image from BlogCleveland.com

Madonna - wearing Jean Paul Gaultier's cone bra in her 1990 Blonde Ambition tour. It's now nearly two decades later, but this image is no less iconic. Her Sticky and Sweet tour starts in a week and a half - maybe this time she'll be a little more yummy mummyesque? Of course not! Bring it Madonna - only you could rock into your fifties (hard to believe, but google tells me so - in 3 days Madonna will be 50!). Who said 50 isn't the new 30?!

She starts with gangsta pimp and art deco looks from Givenchy... Then she continues onto Throwback/Old School looks from her New York days - with vintage prints from friend Keith Haring:

Sketch from WWD

Working with phenom Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy again for a stunning gypsy inspired look:

She ends her show with a futuristic, Japanese inspired section.

Sketches from WWD.com

Drawing a who's who in fashion, Madonna's got two outfits from Riccardo Tisci, bespoke suits for her band by Tom Ford, custom made shoes from Miu Miu, thigh high boots from Stella McCartney, sunnies from Moschino and a little bit of everything from YSL. Yes, she may be turning 50 - but Madonna is STILL a 'material girl.'

Posted by JACQUIE

My lithe and lovely colleague Jesse has just returned from NYC, looking VERY leggy in a pair of A.P.C. 'hipster' raw denim jeans. We all cooed as he twirled between the desks in his new look, but seconds later I was EEEWWWWW-ing very loudly at his announcement that he would not wash these trousers... ever. The lovely and talented intern Hazel then offered the helpful suggestion that if they start to smell, this can be easily remedied by a night in the freezer. EEEWWWW again. Listen, I am all for suffering for fashion and have literally been carried by strangers through NYC's meatpacking district when my bleeding and bruised feet refused to go on in tortuous Jimmy Choos, but stinking for fashion is another beast altogether. The first whiff I get from those things and I'm getting the hose. Don't say I didn't warn you....

A.P.C. Hipster Jeans 'Modeled' by Jesse

Posted and Photograph SAM

Lauren Conrad, star of MTV's The Hills, has confirmed that she will be designing a dress for the Emmy Awards next month. The dress will be worn by the "trophy girls" who bring the awards to the stage. LC also designs her own line of clothing entitled the Lauren Conrad Collection, which didn't exactly get the best reception, and for good reason (see for yourself). Given what the LC Collection looks like, I'm guessing the Emmy gown will be boring, dull and made of cotton jersey.

Photo from www.fadedyouthblog.com

Posted by HAZEL

The 2008 Olympic games are underway and just as retailers everywhere are creating Beijing Olympic-inspired memorabilia of various sorts, designer brands are taking part as well. Here's our Olympic presentation for the Best Olympic Inspired Fashion:

Bronze Medal - Prada released this series of nylon totes, key chains and tee's all adorned with a cute little bear playing Olympic sports including the swimming bear, the judo bear and the golf bear.

Photos: nitrolicious.com/blog

Silver Medal - Gucci's Frida Giannini designed this special limited edition accessories range called 8-8-2008 Limited Edition. The range features 8 different pieces, each emblazoned with some sort of red. In Chinese culture, the number 8 and the colour red are both considered auspicious. The collection includes a $3,420 bicycle, a stuffed leather panda bear for $1,050 and a $3,150 mah-jongg set.

Photos: Gucci.com

Gold Medal - Ralph Lauren, the only official sponsor out of this bunch, is outfitting the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams (who better?). In addition to the team athletes, the complete collection including cardigans, hats, shorts, and even canine fashion is available to the public on his website.

Photos. Ralphlauren.com

Posted by HAZEL