There was plenty of buzz when J. Crew first announced it was coming to Canada. Lovers of the US-based retailer, whose shelves are lined with classic all-American wears, were anxious to have khaki pants and cable knit sweaters so close within reach. Since opening its doors at Yorkdale mall, however, J. Crew seems to have lost its allure.

It likely has something to do with the fact that Canadian prices have been increased by approximately 15% (so much for our strong dollar), but I also believe there is a psychological factor at play. 

Lady Gaga in her new Bob Dylan-meets-Elvis style flanked by Nicki Minaj (left) and Katy Perry who both looking to succeed Gaga's eccentric fashion rather unsuccessfully if you ask me.

There is a big difference between "fun" and tacky, but clearly the pop stars attending last weekend's MTV VMAs didn't get the memo. In a presumed attempt to keep the red carpet light-hearted and MTV-esque, artists like Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj,  Kreayshawn, and Jessie J ended up looking downright ridiculous with colour, shine, and tricked out cartoons popping out of everywhere. In fact, they've been looking consistently silly over the last few months as their attempts to chase after Lady Gaga's fearless fashion crown have begun to reach desperate measures. Even Gaga herself has moved on recently, sporting not only pants, but a full-blown cross-gendered look.

Makeup guru Diana Carreiro recently enlightened me with loads of new beauty tips. I listened closely since the woman looks nowhere near her age and has made hundreds of models and celebs sparkle with her magic wand, or rather her makeup brush (same thing).

As Diana spoke, I could barely keep up with my notetaking. "Exfoliate your cheeks before applying blush" reads one. "Generationals" I can make out of another…shoot what does that mean? Is it a Dermalogica product? She swears by their skincare and I'm telling you she has the skin of a 16-year-old...g-e-n-e-r-a-t-i-o-n-humph, oh well.

How serious are the Hells Angels about their brand? I had to read and accept a disclaimer before purchasing this picture of the Death Head patch stating that the file would not be used for commercial purposes. They mean business.

Danger holds a certain allure. That's why fashion designers have been marketing their goods with motorcycles, cigarettes, and forbidden affairs since the very first stitch. But there is an exclusive club to which danger truly belongs and often this clever commercial scheme plays insult to the people at the heart of it.

No one is less enthused about summer's end than I, but it became an inescapable truth today: my sister, a wonderful teacher, spend the morning at school dusting off her shelves.  And so the end is near.

The excitement of fall clothes is typically the only thing that numbs the pain, but in this Canadian climate, sometimes it's tough to put those summer buys into storage after wearing them for only 3 short months. Luckily it's easy to transition many summer pieces into fall with a few simple accessories. Here's how:

Beauty trends can be tricky to follow. Colour schemes aren't exactly universal and depending on your skin, 'au natural' may not be an option. Luckily this season there are a few major stories that flatter across the board, like bold red lips, full brows, and tons of blush. The trick to making them oh-so-fall-2011 is in the application.

Celebrity makeup artist Diana Carreiro shares a few of the techniques:

Newlyweds Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries at LAX departing for their honeymoon.

In case you haven't heard, Kim Kardashian got married this weekend. If you were within five feet of a computer or television, however, you've no doubt already been subjected to the news, as well as the live updates throughout the ceremony, leaving nothing sacred in her union to NBA player Kris Humphries. She's klassy isn't she that Kim?

Since Saturday's full-on Kardashian assault I've been bemoaning their inability to keep anything in the family as they truck along the E! cameras to every photo shoot, sacrament, and doctor's appointment. But where I take issue with Kardashian's lack of tact in turning her wedding into a media circus, many others are calling her out because of another decidedly tacky move: apparently the pint-sized reality star demanded that all of her wedding guests be dressed in either black or white. The request caused internet outrage with one unhappy Huffington Post reader commenting: "Who does she think she is…the Queen of England?"

When the gossip rags put two celebrities up against one another in the same outfit and ask who wore it better, there is always a clear stand-out. I'm not applauding their judgment game, but there is a definite winner each time and apparently the same goes for real life.

She greets you every morning, offers friendly reminders throughout the day, and guides your nightly routine. She's comforting. The (wo)man in the mirror, reassuring you that everything is in order.

We seek our reflections often throughout the day, so what if yours went missing for an entire year? Could you save yourself from stray eyelashes? Smudged eyeliner? Crooked hemlines? Or would you simply break down and look for any shiny fork, spoon, or knife to set you straight?

I'm not gonna lie, I watched the season premiere of Jersey Shore in Italy. I was curious to see how badly the gelled-up, fake-tanned Americans would embarrass themselves amongst European sophistication. Oh how right I was.

As I've written several times, I find the Jersey Shore cast and their style atrocious. The fact that several of them have been offered clothing and footwear lines continues to boggle my mind. That's why I'm so pleased to hear the latest bit of news: in light of Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino's affinity for brightly coloured Abercrombie and Fitch sweatpants, the retailer has released the following statement: