If you are anything like me, you are absolutely obsessed with your iPhone, but hate having to remove your gloves during the winter to use it.

Well, during Black Friday I walked into North Face and discovered the E-Tip Glove which solves the problem of using my iPhone without having to remove my gloves, but presents an entirely new problem, this time one of style (click here to see what I mean). While the X-Static material on the E-Tip works remarkably well, the high-tech, Spiderman-ish styling of the rest of the glove will simply not work with my Prada coat.

I’m not usually one to sacrifice style for comfort, but I really love my iPhone and have been thinking about ordering a pair of the E-Tips…until just a few moments ago when I stumbled upon the Dots Gloves seen here. Not only are these more normal looking than the North Face ones, but they cost half as much ($18) and are probably warmer. I have a feeling that the dots won’t work as well as the X-Static patches of the E-Tips, but I plan on personally giving them a try and will let you know what I think soon enough.

“You are being such a tool!” - a mother to her 3 year old daughter in Starbucks
Seriously, who says tool anymore? And who calls a child one – let alone their own child?!

I don’t know exactly why I’m so happy reading The New York Times this morning, but I am. I just finished all of the stories in the business section, many in the arts, and a whole bunch from the front. I’ll post links to my favorites later this evening (as I’m still sitting in Starbucks and have half of my coffee left), but if you are taking a break from shopping this Cyber Monday, visit nytimes.com and read something.

Update: Some of the stories I found interesting this morning include: Media and Retails Both Built Black Friday, David Carr | World Falls for American Media, Even as It Sours on America, Tim Arango | Local TV Anchors Signing Off, Brian Stelter | Reveling in Winter in All Its Warmth, Alastair Macaulay

And if you can’t read them because you aren’t signed in, just register – it’s free and gives you access to the best newspaper in the world.

P.S. the painting above is Anthony Ulinski, Coffee cup and newspaper, 2007

Elizabeth and James, the everything-I-want label created by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, will be launching a footwear collection, reports WWD. And it should be good especially since Ashley has engaged in some serious conversation with shoe master Christian Louboutin (see image).

Now I’m predicting styles inspired by the super feirce Alaia and Givenchy ones the twins seem to love so much…I’m also predicting that I’ll want at least one pair. Expect to find them in Barneys, Saks and Intermix boutiques next year.

In other celebrities-make-clothing news: Bloomingdales is saying that Lauren Conrad has the hottest selling celeb line to ever hit the store. I bet ‘the Hills’ are alive with music tonight!

Somehow in today’s sweltering heat, I managed to make my way past 7th avenue…past 8th…and all the way to 11th for a runway show of the FORM Spring 2009 Collection at The Atelier Skylounge at 635 West 42nd Street.

Even if it was a fairly long walk down one of Manhattan’s trashiest streets, it was worth it: the show took place on the roof of the relatively new Atelier building against striking blue skies and a breathtaking cityscape.

After spotting Miss J. Alexander (yes, Miss J. Alexander from America’s Next Top Model), we grabbed lemony drinks before heading to our seats to soak in a little sun. Seats were arranged over the entire roof and it was a good thing we had sunglasses as we were seated facing downtown.

It was actually incredibly relaxing and the show ended up providing a calm in my otherwise fairly crazy day. And there were none of the crazy theatrics I was expecting since Tara Subkoff was involved.

But on to the clothing – Georgette, chiffon, twills, and various knit pieces were created by designer Jerry Tam in warm dessert shades of ochre, sand, grey, khaki and soft sky blue. The collection featured everything from short spring trench coats to bright white swimsuits layered with encircling clouds of delicate gauze. I feel like this is another collection equally suited to the spring as it is to the fall, but this could be due to my own personal mindset or simply because a lot of the looks were shown with boots.

The pieces all have a deconstructed romantic rocker-chic element to them and while I’d love to own many of the looks shown, I do feel the collection could have been edited down. The torso-chain jewelry was also a bit overused and sort of odd…Click below for more images from the FORM Spring 2009 Collection and scene below.

This season, there is a major return to costume jewelry. Balenciaga’s dazzling bling has been included in practically every fashion magazine’s September issue. Alexander McQueen’s maharajah worthy gems dripped off models as they strutted down the catwalk. Vera Wang’s girls had crystal encrusted snakes slithering around their necks and super-oversized crystal cuffs locked on to their wrists (created in a collaboration with Philip Crangi).

About 3 or 4 years ago, brooches seemed to be everywhere and I couldn’t leave the house with out wearing one – so needless to say I’m very excited at the idea of piling them on my capes and coats this coming fall.

Believe it or not, fabulous faux jewelry is (sort of) in my blood. My parents are ballroom dancing instructors and over the past ten or so years, my mother has amassed quite a collection of costume jewelry (her favorite place to shop is Hello Beautiful in Honolulu, HI). My mom and I actually went through a Swarovski phase together, buying delicate crystal hat pins and exotic bird brooches that have long since needed to be repaired and are sitting in my jewelry box.

I also began my career in fashion as an intern for Showroom Seven where I had my first taste of the crazy fashion jewelry that is Erickson Beamon…and I after several sample sales, I’ve gathered quite a little collection of my own. And although my jewelry box is already overflowing, I’d gladly make some room for pieces by Tom Binns (he actually has a ridiculously gaudy necklace at Moss right now called, ‘Now This is a Fucking Necklace’) or the House of Lavande.

No collection to call your own? Well, there’s never been a better time to start your own collection of brilliant baubles…Begin with Kenneth Jay Lane, Banana Republic, HSN, or at any vintage shop and bling it up. Don’t be afraid to wear more than one piece at a time – after all, it is costume jewelry.

There are many occasions worth celebrating: birthdays, new jobs, new babies, big moves, a fabulous haircut, meeting mr. right, etc.

The next time you’re celebrating one of these fabulous occasions, look to Tina Tang for a great gift. She has a ton of adorable charms available so you’ll find just the right one.

Several years ago I moved to new York with nothing but 16 boxes filled with tissue-wrapped shoes and clothing. When I first moved into my studio in Hell’s Kitchen the only thing I had for entertainment was my Mac. I watched season after season of Sex and the City, until one fine day when I got hold of Woody Allen’s movie Manhattan.

Manhattan is so ‘New York’, although a very different one than I experienced with SATC; There’s no Dior Saddle Bags. No G-Spot. No Valentino ‘lipstick’ skirt. Just Woody Allen, a young girl and the city. I’ve now seen Manhattan over 10 times and enjoy it a bit more with each view.

I started watching his other films and love them all (even the ones other people seemed not so impressed with). That being said – I am extremely happy that Vicky Cristina Barcelona is opening today. I’m rather over Scarlett Johansson and have never really been into Penelope Cruz, but have a feeling I’ll be loving them after this movie. I’m also super excited that Javier Bardem is in this flick as well. I hope it has the dark edge of Match Point, the heart of Manhattan, and the biting wit of Mighty Aphrodity…anyway, check back for my review soon.

I have been a Thakoon fan since the day his line first debuted and am excited that he will be designing the next GO International collection for Target…although, I must admit that his capsule collections for both Nine West and the Gap were only so-so.

Thakoon’s runway collections are always smart, serious, and intellectually pretty. He has an extremely good eye when it comes to prints and can mix them as well as Dries Van Noten. With each passing season, I find that I’m looking forward to his collections more and more.

It was obvious early on that this editor-turned-designer was one to watch and in August 2006, I was fortunate enough to interview Thakoon for a feature article for Nikki Style magazine. He was soft spoken, very articulate, extremely thoughtful, and had a delicate yet pensive personality. I thought he was talented then and I think he is even more so now. For my full article on Thakoon from Nikki Style September 2006, click below to continue…

I’m on Style.com a lot and have basically seen everything they’ve ever pushed. When they first created the LookBook feature I was hooked, but for some reason it never really stuck with me although it is a feature I enjoy.

Anyway, they currently have one LookBook featured on their homepage that is truly worth looking at – one “inspired by The Costume Institute’s Party of The Year, some daring, dangerous and bold looks from the runway for Villains.”

I love this take on villains and can tell this LookBook editor has either seen or read the Chronicles of Narnia, Sleeping Beauty and Legend. It’s fantasy based, very beautiful, and worth checking out.

See all of lindaluau’s lookbook picks for villains here >