Former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova recently showcased a prototype dress designed to light up when the wearer's cell phone rings, MSNBC reported a few days ago.

The dress, designed by a 20-year-old British fashion student whose assignment was to incorporate new technology into fashion design, said that the dress could alert the wearer of calls, especially in noisy areas where the ring might not be heard.

"When you're in a pub or a bar, you can never, ever hear your phone," designer Georgie Davis told Reuters.

Instead, you would know that you were getting a call by the translucent white scales that move and light up along the right side of the dress.  

We think that if we were "in a pub or a bar" and our dress suddenly started lighting up, we would probably gather a bit of unwanted attention!

What do you think, ladies, are you for or against this kind of integration of technology and fashion!?

--Venus

We're so glad that fashion doesn't discriminate--or, at least, that fashion is taking the steps to reach out to women of all sizes!

After recent reports that stores like Old Navy and Ann Taylor were cutting down on their plus-size divisions due to slow consumer spending in the economic recession, the New York Times reported that the momentum is returning and that fashion is increasingly reaching out to the plus-size community.

With the recent launches of Forever 21's plus-size line, Faith 21, and Target's collection, Pure Energy, the mass-market that Forever21 and Target cater to just got even better. The affordable merchandise that both stores offer now reaches an even wider audience, as the stores follow in the footsteps of Lord and Taylor and KMart, among others.

Another outlet for plus-size fashion arrives early next month: Beth Ditto's line for Evans, Topshop's plus-size counterpart. The New York Times reported that Ditto, the plus-size singer of punk band The Gossip, was asked to perform at the Topshop flagship store in London a few years ago and refused, allegedly because she found it unfair that she should be Topshop's mascot if she could never wear the clothing it offers.

After suggesting that Topshop allow her to create a "big girl" line for the store, Topshop's parent company Arcadia Group took note, and a few years later, Ditto's line is set to launch in July at the Evans store online.

Pictured: Faith 21 Dress ($24.80 at Forever21.com)

--Venus

No doubt about it - the economy is in a pretty dire place currently.

What we may not all be fully appreciating is that there is a delicious flip side to this problem.

All the time, I will get calls from friends, hearing about sudden crazy sales at our very stores. Why is this? A less-than-stellar holiday shopping season paired with the recession has people hesitant to shop - meaning it's the best time ever to! (Think back to those economics classes in high school. It's all an issue of supply and demand.)

For instance, yesterday I read about a "wardrobe bailout" sale going on at Mandee. This is a store that has been a staple since I was a kid and needed that quick date-night accessory. They are offering you a 20% discount with promo code BAILOUT throughout their site.

Clearly, buying a hot new belt will not fix the economy. But it will go a long way toward making us feel good despite what is going on.

-- Aly

Wow, 2007 was a whirlwind year of fashion, wasn't it? From leggings to ankle booties ... then tent dresses. Half of us were just one accessory away from being extras in Tron. But some flawless ladies were up on their game, and gave us the top three dresses of 2007.

Reese Witherspoon at the Oscars
Right off the bat in February, Reese made our list. Nina Ricci's Olivier Theyskens had a vision for Reese's award show season. First, in that yellow strapless dress, then in this purple chiffon number. The perfect contrast with the hair, the color's connotation of her as a reigning queen on the event, the pre-trendy ombre, and gentle cascading of the fabric—we're at a loss for further words to describe its beauty. Reese always looks classic, but this is one for the record books.





Katherine Heigl at the Emmys
Vintage-loving Katherine Heigl was sure to make a splash in this Zac Posen gown. With her classic looks at the 2007 Emmys, Katherine strolled the red carpet with her Mary Norton clutch and matching lips and nails. A nice prelude to her December nuptials, Katherine looked every way the hot new thing on the movie scene, after her whirlwind year going from supporting cast member of Grey's Anatomy to big-screen leading lady.





Halle Berry in Versace
She may be preggers, but nothing could compromise fashion for the flawless Halle Berry. At the London premiere of her movie Things We Lost in the Fire, the mom-to-be looked stunning in her floor-length Versace gown with embroidered back and draped panels. It was so gorgeous, it's said that Halle felt she had no choice but to wear the gown despite the chilly weather. We say yes on all counts.

I'm not even kidding.

Courtesy of my new best friend (a generous publicist who sent me free boots), I shopped for Christmas gifts in comfort and style this past weekend. I stepped into my ECCO Supreme High Boots not knowing what's to come. Behold, a revelation that I've been killing my feet in other pairs of shoes when I could've been wearing these.

Not to take anything away from the glorified Uggs and Crocs — yes, I know you're super-comfortable, too — but these boots are freakin' awesome. They're lightweight, provide excellent sole support and — best of all — easy on the eyes. They don't have holes in them and aren't colored bright green. They actually match outfits unlike some sheepskinned footwear I know. I rocked them with black leggings and a chunky, knit sweater and within minutes, there was a woman chasing and flagging me down at the mall to find out where these boots came from. I swear! True story.

So here it is, gals. If you want your heavenly pair (they come in both black and brown), they're $160 at www.eccousa.com and at ECCO stores worldwide. Enjoy!

Amy Dubois Barnett's "Get Yours! The Girlfriend's Guide to Having Everything You Dreamed of and More" (available on www.amazon.com) shows women how to harness fear and accessorize with empowerment.

Hey, you. Do you suffer from benchmark syndrome? Waiting for the Prince in Prada to jumpstart your life? Disregarding achievements so that you can comfortably dwell on what you have not knocked of your to do list?? Honing your self deprecation skills as if you were studying for the SATs? Women of all ethnicities and social standing are afraid to push through the roadblock of inner critics and take those first few steps out of the (dis) comfort zone. In search of some out-of-the-box tools to catapult me into the realm of self appreciation, I whipped through Amy Dubois Barnett's book with the zeal of a crack addict.

A dynamic, type A (Barnett is a currently deputy editor of Harper's Bazaar and was one of America's first African American female editors to helm a mainstream magazine, Teen People) working mom, Barnett weaves anecdotes from her own obstacle ridden life with inspirational tips designed to help women shut off the negative voices (fueled by anxiety, self consciousness and people pleasing) looped in their psyches. She also includes tales of empowerment from celebrities like India Arie, Venus Williams and Gabrielle Union. Her secret? A simple set of tools concocted by tapping into the very fear that many women find so paralyzing. Explains Barnett, "Fear is a sign of personal growth, it motivates adventure. When I accepted who I was, it was like a drug — empowering me to appreciate the world and how I ran my life."

ATK: What motivated you to write this book? Why is fulfillment so elusive to women?
ADB: I was motivated as a journalist by women who want to change but don't know how to take that first step forward. We spend so much time cutting ourselves down; trying to live the paradigms of loving wife, mother, caring daughter, that we ignore what we really need to be complete. My trick? To accept how we are and love the core. Then, map out a plan and begin to own your life. When I funneled my fear into ambition and spiritual generosity, the despair dripped away.

ATK: When was the turning point when you decided to make changes and get out of your rut? Why is this so hard for women??
ADB: I lost my mother in my twenties, became depressed, gained weight, hated my job in finance and couldn’t figure out what I wanted to do with my life. It suddenly dawned on me that nobody was going to swoop in and take charge of me. This epitome was life altering. I began to accept the ups and downs. The highs and lows of life teach us values. I became grateful for the range of experiences. Happiness takes a lot of work.

ATK: How do you get rid of old messages which demonize?? Any tricks?
ADB: You must ignore everyone's opinion of who you should be and own your life. Accept yourself. Become productive. Start a journal. Express your goals, professional and spiritual and tackle them. If you feel heavy, get to the gym and make a plan to get in shape. If you want a better job, figure out what you are good at and where your passions lie. If you feel bored, sign up for cooking pr painting classes. Have faith in yourself. Take charge. Invite challenge. Success is a mindset

ATK: Did books like "The Secret and Creative Spiritualization" impact you at all?
ADB: Not really. I always embraced the notion of living a life with intention. You get from the universe what you put out. If you walk with your head down, depressed, you will not invite happiness. If you walk with authority, even when you are crumbling inside, you are more attractive physically and spiritually. You will invite positive experiences.

— Amy Tara Koch

The ABC's of holiday dressing? According to party dress guru Nanette Lepore, it's all about sparkle, shine and sexy. "You don't need to invest in a new wardrobe," explains Lepore. "You need a dress or shirt with sequins or paillettes, something with a satin sheen and a blouse or jacket in a bold, sexy color like turquoise or coral." Other must haves? Lepore is a big fan of sparkly jet costume jewelry (head to H&M or Target!) in the form of earrings, cocktail rings necklaces. A sweater accented with feathers or gold embellishments provides holiday verve. And, a great 3/4 length jacket with a shiny patina will amp up a basic dress. And, sparkle is not just for the holidays. This fall, I have been wearing sparkly clothing like satin and sequins for daywear. That embellished top can go to the office and straight out to dinner or holiday party. Perfect for the gal on the go.

Here are my faves:

Masquerade Dress

Pailette Tunic Dress

Sequin Block Dress

Feathered Sweater Jacket

Silk Knot Top

— Amy Tara Koch

I love me some Shia LaBeouf. He's come a long way from being bratty Louis on Disney's Even Stevens. Anyone see Bobby? Kid has got himself some acting chops.

Everyone who knows him swears he's a stand-up guy. He's best friends with one of my friend's best friends. His friend calls him Shi. My friend calls him Beef. (Uhhh, no friends are telling why.) She's talked to Beef on the phone, and apparently, he's pretty cool. Heck, he even apparently is dating Rhianna ... or was, until that whole she-met-Josh-Hartnett thing. Apparently, for Rihanna, Beef is no longer what's for dinner.

Poor Beef's prob? He's in that awkward "Do I need a stylist?/Do I not?" phase -- celebrity career middle school, if you will. This was more apparent at a recent award show appearance.

Since he's playing Indiana Jones' son in the upcoming movie, he presented the Spike TV Scream 2007 Award for Best Hero to Harrison Ford. And, I get it, Shi: You're hip. You're young. You've got a good bod. But acid-wash jeans went out for a reason! Or if you’re going to rock them in a they're-so-uncool-that-they're-ironically-cool kind of way, at least gets ones that, er, fit.

So while I applaud your courageous fashion effort, go ahead and spring for the stylist -- I'm sure you'll have America's full support. Because we love Beef!

Last week, the Wicked Witch of the East Village (a.k.a. Mandie) and her flying monkey assistant continued to spread the hate, making fun of the new girl Laurie and her last-last season Gucci mules. That lady has watched Mean Girls one too many times!

This week, with Jane mag dead and gone, Rachel and Andrew interview and land new jobs at CosmoGIRL! all in the same day. Believe me, it's not that easy folks! And for her first assignment, Rachel got to oil down some hunky "Eye Candy" during a photo shoot. Lucky girl!

At the store opening for celeb-fave Charlotte Ronson ("don't ever call her C. Ronson"), the FLIRT! gals teamed up with the Seventh House chicas. Who didn't love watching Bridget and her new BFF Laurie clean the storefront -- while wearing trash bags?? Would Mandie approve?!

Coming up: The gang heads to the Hamptons… and the claws come out between Bridget and Janjay. Did you tune in? What'da ya think?

Lindsay Lohan.

Chanel.

What do these two names have in common? They both went to rehab in spring 2007.

Behold Emma Watson, 17, crisp of Harry Potter stardom at the movie's U.S. premiere in July. Cute girl, pretty smile, lots of pills on dress. Hmmm, one of these things is not like the others. And she's not alone: Both Natalie Imbruglia, who formerly suffered from depression, and Fergie, who was formerly addicted to crystal meth, have worn similar versions of the offbeat dress less than two weeks apart.

But then again, Hollywood glam has always been intertwined with excess -- one that almost-always seems to involve bottles of something (and any viewer of E!'s "True Hollywood Story" can attest). I just don't know if medication should be worn like so. In a world where Nicole Ritchie and Kate Moss are revered as style icons, it almost seems natural for a fashion line to follow suit.

Who knew?? OK, so I always thought of Lela Rose as clothing for ladies who lunch. Her velvet low-back dress which goes for $1,850 at Neiman Marcus is something my wardrobe strives for. Dream on, Fashionator, dream on. (FYI, I'm watching what I spend these days as I just moved into a new apartment that I must furnish. Last night, I ate on the floor, "picnic" style.)

Anyway, I just discovered I can snag a look from Lela Rose (in shoe form) for $20 (maybe less). The fancy footwear arrive at Payless ShoeSource tomorrow. I'll be the first in line for these T-strap heels (which I presume will go fab with my black, wide-leg trousers). Lela Rose's affordable shoe line pairs tweed materials with patent accents (so classic but with a funky twist, don't you think?).

Besides this one, other Lela Rose shoe styles at Payless include another pair of pumps, a pair of flats, T-strap sandals and ankle-boots (coordinating handbag sold separately). For more info, surf www.payless.com. Check them out and let me know what you think!