With all of those much-too-cute dog togs out there, Fido may be even more fashionable than his (or her) owner this Halloween. According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans will spend $43.4 billion (yes, as in nine zeroes!) on their pets this year. Among the big trends is playing dress-up with our dogs. So it should come as no surprise that we’re about to unleash the hounds of Halloween with our hand-picked assortment of dynamic duo “dogstumes”: Dog With the Wind: Rhett Butler ($36) and Scarlett ($48) - above

The Dark K-9ght: The Batman ($19) and Joker ($13)

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No one can accuse would-be First Lady Cindy McCain of having a dull, predictable hairstyle. Over the course of the campaign, she has been photographed wearing her flaxen, shoulder-length hair up in a tight bun, up in a tight ponytail, up in a high bun, up in a soft-sided semi-ponytail (a bit like Sarah Palin), in a loose bun, down with waves, down without waves, down with a flip, with bangs and without.

Most of us couldn’t pull off that many looks in a lifetime, much less in the course of a campaign. She is always elegantly dressed, and we find ourselves wondering which hairstyle she’ll have in the next photo-op.

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Her hair was likely one of the first things you noticed about Michelle Obama’s presence when she strode onstage to greet her husband and presidential candidate, Barack Obama, after the momentous first debate at the University of Mississippi late last month.

She sported a layered page-boy, parted on the side, with soft bangs that looked a bit windblown, an elegant and modern look befitting a woman in such a bright spotlight. 

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Oh, we’ll chatter about who bested whom, Joe Biden or Sarah Palin, during tonight’s vice presidential debate. Let’s leave it to others to ponder the political ramifications.

Let’s talk about how she looked.

Flattering black semi-satin skirted suit, hem modestly to the knee, jacket tied at the waist and then flared. A touch of shoulder padding and relatively narrow lapels, with a solid black skimmed top underneath. Oh, and a very large sparkling American flag pin on the lapel, but we’ve already talked about that kind of thing.

Yea, a little heavy on the cheek color (Hey, you’re gonna be on TV!). And those much-discussed frameless glasses.  (more…)

We’re always keeping an eye out for stylish bargains and great sales. This week we’ve found a handful of handbags, all for less than $50:

1. Kohl’s has a faux snakeskin hobo bag by Relic that’s a bit shiny, with black patent trim, on sale for $33.60 (it was $48).

2. Botkier is that very pricy, hip designer line that has a Target line of bags that look a lot more expensive than they are. The roomy gray faux python satchel even has a cell phone pocket, for $28 (it was $40, pictured left).

3. If you want a splashy colorful statement bag, look no further than Betsey Johnson’s Betseyville canvas tote, complete with pink spotted straps, a wild girly graphic and her signature metal tag. It’s $43.50 at Macys (pictured, right), originally $58. 

4. Piperlime is a great site for bags and shoes, and they also have great sales. This Jessica Simpson Pacha tote was $99, and now it’s $50!

5. Another great site for accessories (and clothes, jewelry, etc.) is Amazon. They’ve got a lot more than books! We spotted a sporty RuthMichael blue Bali slouch purse for exactly $50.

Even before the 2009 spring ready-to-wear shows in Europe have ended, a few trends are popping up: layered colors, sumptuous prints, gorgeous whites and short-to-long hemlines. Add a shoulder pad here and draped fabric there, and you’ve got the look. It seems like nearly every designer has at least one teeny tiny dress on the runway. Oh-so-short and wildly sexy, they dare your legs to look longer:

Stella McCartney, Paris. A little bit of a black dress with a big silhouette.

Balmain, Paris: A mermaid without her tail, with shimmer and shine for miles.

Peter Jensen, London: Check the blazer and portfolio; are we to interview in this?

Dolce & Gabbana, Milan: Be your own botanical garden!

Christian Lacroix, Paris: The man does know how to create a party dress (picture, right, New York Magazine).

Jean Paul Gaultier, Paris: A pretty thing, but a bit too dependent on the illusion.

Jenny Packham, London: Spring brings ruffles, color and a bright orange belt.

Missoni, Milan: A breath of fresh air in teal and gold.

Dior, Paris: If you’re brave enough, it’s certainly an attention getter!

The sass! The pout! The tears! And that was just Kenley, biting and clawing her way through the last elimination challenge before Project Runway’s season-ending finale in two weeks. The reality TV show that can turn designer wanna-be’s into fashion stars is getting dramatic.

Turns out, Kenley could have kept her composure. Runway judges said the competition was too close, so they didn’t kick anyone off last night. The challenge of the evening, for the designers to create evening gowns inspired by nature, left Jerell, Leanne, Korto and Kenley still in the running. Top prizes on Runway  include the chance to show a collection at Fashion Week, a car and $100,000 to start their business.

Here are some sneak peeks from Korto, Kenley, Leanne (above, from left) and Jerell’s runway shows. You’ll see their complete collections on the finale Oct. 15.

Each week, let us call your attention to some of our favorite, fun, entertaining and amazing shopping blogs. They elevate shopping to an art. Or an obsession.

1. Ambika B. of (Into) The Fray shops thrift stores, eBay and designer shops, takes pictures of herself trying on clothes in Anthropologie dressing rooms, and regularly dishes about the boyfriend. September, her blog’s second anniversary, found her rhapsodizing about art, dolman sleeves, crescent necklaces (left), water bottles, Ecoist bags and wildly cool coasters.

2. Slave to Target is a hilarous romp through the aisles of your favorite discount mega-retailer, with a witty person by your side. Blogger Jill waxes poetic about a paprika-colored handbag for $25 (especially wonderful after she compared it to pricey satchels at Bluefly.com).

3. Tara at She Finds must have watched the Emmy Awards, because she’s been trolling through a pretty selection of crystal drop earrings (right). Browse Swarovski at $12 to Calypso for $90, and practice that saucy head turn that makes them twinkle in the light.

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