Material Muse

image via Rent the Runway. It was really only a matter of time before savvy shoppers thought to build a women's retail platform on the beloved Netflix model. Invitation-only shopping groups have made the act of purchase feel exclusive and somehow competitive, but there are still women who have trouble justifying the cost of an item - even at 50% off - when that item may only be used a handful of times before it goes out of season. People are shopping for classics but still paying attention to trends - and for those, Rent the Runway, founded by Harvard Business School grads Jennifer ... Read Full Story

Images via Karmaloop. Blame it on Michael: I want these Swarovski-crystal embellished black oxfords in the worst way. They're the perfect shoe for the looming Northern California winter: flat, sparkly, and 100% waterproof. All Melissa shoes are made of rubber, see. While they're not high enough to completely protect the wearer from getting wet, they're infinitely cooler than most rain boots on the market - and in such a classic shape. Alas, at $293 (on Karmaloop ), the Melissa Joy + J. Maskrey shoe is considerably more expensive than most other Melissa shoes (a similarly-shaped oxford in fuschia runs $99). But just imagine how ... Read Full Story

Actress Stacy Haiduk attends the 36th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards at The Orpheum Theatre on August 30, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images) more pics » The woman pictured above is actress Stacy Haiduk of The Young and the Restless . For those of you not in the soap know, she plays a psycho who has conversations with her stuffed cat (a creature she killed, no less). See the clip below: In light of Ms. Haiduk's day job, her choice of accessory is actually pretty novel. I do hope, for Haiduk's sake, that her evening bag is not a magnificent feat of taxidermy, ... Read Full Story

Singer Rihanna shows off a new bleached streak in her bangs as she leaves lunch at Da Silvano restaurant in Greenwich Village. (Bauer Griffin) more pics » This week, Rihanna - who has become an unquestionably fashionable figure in the past year - has been spotted wearing skin-baring crop tops on several occasions. These tops are not quite like the ones sported by Britney, Christina, et al around a decade ago, when belly jewelry was also at its zenith. Rihanna tends to make hers look a bit more demure by covering up: with high-waisted pants, a trendy denim vest, and so forth. So are ... Read Full Story

Getty Images. Don't Miss: Anna Wintour to Appear on 'Late Show with David Letterman' Anna Wintour Told Oprah to Drop 20 lbs for 'Vogue' Cover This fall's Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York will be different from all others, thanks to an initiative conceived by Vogue editrix Anna Wintour : Fashion's Night Out. On Thursday, September 10, about 700 stores throughout New York will remain open until at least 11 PM, with in-store performances and events planned for the public at most locations. Cindy Crawford will sign autographs at JC Penney. Isaac Mizrahi will perform a cabaret act at Bergdorf Goodman. And Anna ... Read Full Story

Getty Images. Karolina Kurkova's striped peplum Topshop dress is so flattering, you can't tell she's six months pregnant in it. Check out this week's best Topshop frocks: Considering the number of dresses in Victoria Beckham 's collection, it's unlikely that the singer-turned-WAG-turned-fashion designer will ever have need for fast fashion. But if she did, she'd probably gravitate towards a piece like this 'Cosmic Shoulder' jersey dress ($80). With a fierce pair of brightly-colored heels, this would be perfect for a night out. This 'Lace Block' Poplin dress ($90) would be fabulous for daytime, especially with a pair of chunky boots. It's kind of Courtney ... Read Full Story

"Beverly Hills 90210" star AnnaLynne McCord and her two sisters, Rachel and Angel, get dolled up for a girls night out at Chateau Marmont. (Bauer Griffin) more pics » I might want to hate on her high-waisted, buttoned denim skirt, but I love AnnaLynne McCord . My understanding of her - based entirely on the pictures I see on a daily basis for this site - is that she's like that sloppy best friend a lot of girls make during their first week of college, the kid who already knows what all the flavors of Boone's Farm tastes like and probably bragged about unwrapping ... Read Full Story

Getty Images. Who, exactly, is Hofit Golan ? According to the trusty Internet search, she's an Israeli socialite. According to her commenting fans, she's "stunning and a TV presenter and spokes model [sic]" who "looks classy and sexy." Well, I'd beg to differ: Uh, I could knock the head petals, but I don't even have to. This garishness doesn't even fit well. But it did get her picture taken, so mission accomplished, probably. And her shoes are great, which is probably why she wore them to yet another film premiere last month. This looks a little like a figure-skating-dress-turned-venus-fly-trap. But neither of these outfits ... Read Full Story

Getty Images. Beyoncé Knowles is still touring behind her latest smash-hit album, I Am...Sasha Fierce - she's got to keep pulling in more than $80 million a year somehow. This past weekend she performed at Madison Square Garden, where New Yorkers were treated to fabulous stage costumes by Thierry Mugler. Beyoncé performed in this sparkling leotard, replete with sculpted hips and a bustled behind. She looks like a total goddess in this design, does she not? Thierry Mugler also designed the majority of the pieces worn by Lady Gaga in her video for "Paparazzi." Read Full Story

Getty Images. Fabiola Beracasa is frequently pictured on the red carpets of New York wearing ensembles worthy of a quirky Hollywood starlet (a very quirky starlet, indeed), yet to those of us outside the bubble of the New York glitterati, she remains an enigma. Who is this woman, who dares wear gigantic hairy coats French Vogue editrix Carine Roitfeld probably covets? According to socialite diary Park Avenue Peerage , Beracasa was born into privilege in Caracas, Venezuela to the daughter of a Princess and a leather goods magnate. She's apparently always had an interest in fashion; she's interned for Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel and ... Read Full Story