Dear Caprilee,

Patricia

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Dear Patricia,

Didn't you get the memo?

Tape.

Scotch tape. Your office is bound to have a roll stashed away somewhere. Rip off a strip, apply to the hairier parts of your sweater and rip off. Apply. Rip. Repeat...until hairless. It's much like waxing, but far less painful.

This is a handy trick I picked up on my own one day when I spent a little too much time cuddling my pup before work, and it's proven just as valuable as using a matchbook to file my nails in a pinch. Besides, what do you think women did back in the 50's before they even invented lint rollers?

Just try to be a little inconspicuous. I wouldn't recommend faux waxing your chest in the middle of a board meeting.

That would be tape tacky.

We all wanted to be Jennifer Beals back in 1983. As Alex Owens, the Pittsburgh welder /exotic dancer who has dreams of becoming a prima ballerina, we watched her dance around in her eighties leotards and legwarmers...brazenly wearing a men's tuxedo vest to dinner. She was bold, reckless, and fashion forward back then.

Times have changed.

Jennifer Beals is no longer dancing like she's never danced before. Instead, she's taking a cue from Katy Perry's summer hit: I Kissed a Girl, kissing girls like crazy on her Showtime series The L Word.

Flashdance still lives in our hearts, but thankfully, the style has evolved a bit.

Then, the gray sweatshirt was torn and worn with one peekaboo shoulder revealed. Now, it's worn as a dress and belted for a flash of chic genius as shown above with this unisex flex fleece American Apparel Sweatshirt.

Then, red heels were sexy. It's fair to assume red heels will never go out of style, but why settle for boring red pumps when now you can update Jennifer's red shoes with a hot metallic version like these ultra sexy Chinese Laundry Red Mileage Pumps? They'll certainly add a little pump to your pump.

Then, she was a maniac, maniac with that permed hair. Now, lose the curls and sleek your hair down with a ceramic Straightening Iron and you'll be looking like a new and improved Flashdancer of the new millennium in no time.

Hear the music...close your eyes...feel the rhythm.

What a feeling.

If you didn't know already, the critically acclaimed series Mad Men is back for it's second season on AMC with sixteen Emmy nominations under it's Brooks Brothers' belt.

Whether you're interviewing for a new job or running a Fortune 500 company, dashing men everywhere can spruce up their work wardrobes and dress just as sharp as those sixties bad boy ad execs at Sterling Cooper, with just a few key accessories...

1. For starters, top off your Mad Menswear look with a sleek Foldaway Fedora from Menshats.com. It's old school chic, and if you're a Mad Man on-the-go, you can roll it up and carry it away in it's very own crested cardboard tube during the train ride home. One of the best inventions since sliced bread if you ask me.

2. You'll fit right in with Madison Avenue's finest with this schnazzy Wall Street Tie. Or if you're more of a bowtie man, this White Tiger Bowtie will surely make a statement when you follow your animal instincts at that next board meeting. Rawrr.

3. You lost a client and your mistress in the same day, that doesn't mean you can't have a little fun with your wardrobe. Exhibit a fine sense of humor while keeping those cuffs closed with a pair of novelty cufflinks from Belisi. Luck be a lady tonight with these Ace of Spade and Casino Cufflinks that scream out Vegas baby, Vegas.

4. For the finishing touch, add a touch of class with a set of 3 Irish Linen Handkerchiefs that will take your pinstriped suit from drab to debonair. Plus, you can whip it out the next time you make your poor secretary cry.

P.S. Don't forget to save the little woman at home from having to iron those crisp white dress shirts to perfection with some No Iron Dress Shirts.

It's a Mad Men's world out there, embrace the madness.

dis·mem·ber /dɪsˈmɛmbər/
–verb (used with object)
1. to reduce, reorganize, or discontinue the services or parts of (a company, government agency, etc.): Our business was dismembered by the conglomerate that bought it.

My dad used to have a Members Only jacket. So did my mom. My brother and I were Members too. Mine was a pink one. Or was it gray? Come to think of it, I might have had two. Back then I thought my family was part of some exclusive underground clothing club. We could get into VIP rooms everywhere, all thanks to that little black tag on our front left pockets. Membership had it's privileges. We were unstoppable. A secret ring of jacket sporting superstars. Then all of a sudden the 90's came along and alas...our Membership was no good.

Members Only was dismembered and put to rest in exchange for grungy flannel jackets that didn't hold a candle to the Members Only sleek standard of sex appeal.

Then, like a gift from the heavens above, Members Only was licensed in 2004 by Kirtie Regan, who resurrected the brand and developed a new, even sexier line of apparel.

Dismemberment clearly works for some. Members Only is back with a vengeance, with a new line of Classic Bomber jackets that are in a word...the bomb. Making appearances in fashion rags everywhere, be prepared to catch glimpses of shiny metallic gold, silver, pewter, and traditional black Members Only Jackets that are more than a step above their 80's counterparts.

Membership is still exclusive. These jackets retail for $685.

My dad would not approve. He wouldn't buy one for himself, much less pay for Membership dues for the entire family...and I definitely wouldn't own two.

Should've held onto that pink one.

Celebrities are just like us. Us Weekly tells us this. They buy toilet paper, just like us. They dig out their occasional wedgies when they think no one is watching, just like us. They order venti mocha frappuccinos from Starbucks, just like us. And they get breast cancer...just like us.

Christina Applegate, best known as the quintessential dumb blonde bombshell Kelly Bundy from the 90's cult comedy Married With Children, and now starring in the perky title role of the ABC Emmy and Golden Globe nominated hit SamanthaWho? has seen better months...but her television career isn't the only thing making a celebrated comeback.

After recently being diagnosed with breast cancer, Christina is now 100% cancer free after bravely undergoing a double masectomy. She will undergo reconstructive surgery over the next eight months and has maintained a healthy sense of humor while exhibiting grace and a sense of optimism that is beyond admirable.

Several A-list, Academy Award winning actresses have joined forces over the years to raise awareness for the fight for a cure - Renee Zellweger, Hilary Swank, Glenn Close, Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and the 2008 ambassador for Saks Fifth Avenue's Key to the Cure campaign - Gwyneth Paltrow. Purchase this exclusive Karl Lagerfeld designed tee and over $35 of the purchase price goes to the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Women's Cancer Research Fund.

Next month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so whether you're shopping for a new pair of undies, nail polish, a new fragrance or any other stylish staples, think pink and put your money towards finding a cure. There isn't anything more fashionable than that.

With 182,460 women diagnosed with breast cancer and 40,480 breast cancer related deaths reported in 2008, we're coming to terms with the fact that breast cancer touches our mothers, our sisters, our best friends and our co-workers, as well as the stars we idolize.

Yes, Christina is just like us.

*Help fight for a cure and shop for more pink ribbon gifts here.

dear caprilee,

i just arrived at work and realize i hate what i'm wearing!!*! i don't think i can last 8 hours of this. what can i do?

becca

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Hi ya Becca,

Hmmm, you didn't leave me many details, so I'm not sure what I'm dealing with here. Your outfit may not be that bad, or...you may be wearing a tutu. Who knows? You also didn't mention where you work. If you work on a construction site, a bright yellow hard hat works out just fine...if you're a perfume spritzer at Saks, not so much.

Since I don't have any specifics, I can only offer you a few blind suggestions on how to get through the day:

1. Don't get up from your desk all day unless you have to. Cover your top with file folders.
2. Find a co-worker your size who's wearing a cuter outfit than yours and give her twenty bucks to swap clothes with you.
3. Tell your boss you have cramps and go home.
4. Go shopping for a new outfit at lunch.
5. Hang out in the bathroom with a few fashion mags. When asked where you've been, tell them you had Taco Bell for lunch.

And...to avoid being a fugly Becca in the future...

1. Reserve a section of your closet with easy, no fail pieces. Think classic trousers, pencil skirts, solid tanks and form fitting button downs that you can mix and match and not mess up.
2. Lay out your work outfit the night before (make sure you're not intoxicated when you do it).
3. Keep a crisp fitting blazer in your car or at work. If all else fails, at least you can cover up your top half.
4. Ask your most stylish girlfriend to help you shop for a whole new work wardrobe.
5. Quit your job and work from home.

Work it.

Tina Fey is my hero.

She's more of a hero to me than Claire Bennet, Peter Petrelli, Hiro and the entire cast of Heroes.

Why, you ask?...Why not?

1. She was the first female writer to ever serve as Head Writer at Saturday Night Live.
2. She's been nominated for and has won numerous heavy statues of naked people for her unparalleled wit.
3. Her show 30 Rock is the funniest show on television...next to Flavor of Love.
4. She made fun of her doppelgänger Vice Presidential hopeful Sarah Palin with a brilliant impersonation last weekend on SNL.
5. She's made eyeglasses hotter than low rise coin slot jeans.

Yes, Tina has given women everywhere a reason to toss their tired old contact lenses and wear their glasses with pride.

We all know Hollywood has an aversion to glasses. I like to refer to it as the She's All That syndrome where the ugly duckling female is deemed hideous until she undergoes a transformation... a transformation mainly consisting of removing her glasses. Once the glasses are tossed our heroine magically becomes babelicious and ready to be shot for a cover of Maxim. Like a 4 inch mole being removed from her face, the transition is that powerful.

Tina has pooped on this Hollywood stereotype. In fact, she's even making girls with perfect 20/20 vision wish they were nearsighted so they could don a pair of her sleek signature frames. She has singlehandedly proven that smart is sexy, and being smart and funny is even sexier.

Be proud of your crappy vision and show the world you've got Tina Fey's special brand of chutzpah with your own pair of designer Versace, Prada, Calvin Klein or Coach frames.

And remember the old saying... People who wear glasses shouldn't throw stones at other people wearing glasses.

*Check out even more sexy specs right here.

When I was little, I liked to play with dolls. Not the life-like ones that pooped and cried real tears. Not even. I adored the tiny itty bitty ones that lived in miniature ice cream cone or cookie houses that i could wear wrapped around my wrist instead of a watch. That's right, even at that young age I found time to accessorize...with dolls.

My favorite one lived in a chocolate sundae and I named her Chocolattie accordingly. I cut her hair, gave her makeovers, told her all of my playground secrets, and wherever I went...Chocolattie went.

I've never been able to find a suitable replacement for my purple haired confidante. At my age, it would seem peculiar to wear a doll around my wrist, albeit one with fried hair from the time she got sucked into the hairdryer.

Well my dear Chocolattie, I've got news for you...there are some new girls in the neighborhood.

Meet the Harajuku girls. They're like the Japanese Spice girls of fragrance.

Inspired by the eccentric, cutting edge Harajuku shopping district in Tokyo, the Harajuku Lovers fragrance collection features five rocking fragrances housed in the most adorable doll-decanters. Inspired by music/fashion icon Gwen Stefani. There's Love, Lil' Angel, Music, Baby and G. It's no coincidence that the girls are named after L.A.M.B., the anagram of Ms. Stefani's fab fashion line, with the fifth girl serving as Gwen's namesake. Gwen knocked it out of the ballpark with her first fragrance- L, and these five just take it up a notch. Choose the girl, or scent that best fits your personality- with notes of coconut, jasmine, creamy vanilla, sweet pea, candied violet, orange flower and more decadent aromas, you're sure to find your perfect signature scent, plus fragrance playmate. Buy a .33oz doll for $25 or a 1oz girl for $45. If you can't choose, get all 5 girls in solid fragrance form.

The best things about it is, I don't have to be embarrassed about playing with dolls anymore. It's not juvenille, it's fashion forward. I can't wear them strapped around my wrist, but I can keep them tucked away in my purse for a burst of cuteness throughout the day.

The next time you're in Sephora, do yourself a favor. Stop and smell the Harajuku.

Or fragrance shop 'til you drop at FragranceNet.com.

Pam loves Pepper.

Not cayenne pepper.
Not the orphan Pepper from Annie.
Not the female rap act Salt and Pepa.

Pam loves Dr. Pepper.

For as long as I can remember, this dear friend of mine has been hoarding tubes of Dr. Pepper Lip Smackers from Bonne Bell. Her pout always looks properly moisturized and nourished, and I'm always wondering what lip glosses she's toting in her makeup bag before I remember. No thirty to fifty dollar Guerlain or Dior lip glosses for Pam. She knows a good deal when she sees one and only goes balmy for the classic root beer taste Dr. Pepper leaves on her perfect pink lip smackers for only a buck and change per tube.

How excited was I when I happened upon a few choice Dr. Pepper themed products during my last trip to the mall? I picked some up so I could proudly join Pam on her Pepper crusade.

1. Dr. Pepper Berries and Cream SPF Lip Conditioner is a little more expensive than Bonne Bell's version, but your extra seven bucks buys you SPF 15 protection, Dr. Pepper Berries & Cream soda scent, and a cute silver retro tube that looks like one you picked up at the corner drugstore.

2. There are two kinds of people in this world: Peppers, and Non-Peppers. Have some Pepper pride and let the world know where you stand. Be proud to be a pepper with this Dr. Pepper Logo Tee.

3. Nowadays we have a choice in the Pepper we partake in. There's Diet Dr. Pepper, Caffeine Free Dr. Pepper, Caffeine Free Diet Dr. Pepper and Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper. Sometimes you've just gotta kick it old school and enjoy Dr. Pepper classic. If you're not a fan of soda pop, pick up some Dr. Pepper flavored Jelly Belly jellybeans from CandyFavorites.com.

4. Like it's Pepper predecessor listed above, Dr. Pepper Original Lip Balm is more expensive at $10 a pop, but once you pop, you can't stop. It comes in a sleek silver tin and did I mention it's organic?

Wouldn't you like to be a pepper too?

A hot, steamy, McDreamy season of Grey's Anatomy returns Thursday September 25th and boy am I excited.

Will Meredith and Derek build the house of their dreams together, or will McDummy's rebound nurse ruin it all with a McBun in the McOven? Will Lexy and George become more than just roomies? Is Callie really a lesbian? Will Katherine Heigl finally realize she's lucky to be on a hit award-winning show and keep her trap shut? Will Isaiah Washington return to make more homophobic slurs?

I know this isn't a TV medical drama blog, it's a fashion blog. Relax, I'm getting to it.

I've considered contacting the costume designer on Grey's and suggesting that a cool unexpected addition this season for the Seattle Grace residents would be a new and improved wardrobe. Rather than the dingy blue washed out scrubs that make the cast look like every other Tom, Dick, nurse or orderly in the OR, why not mix it up a bit with some cutesy scrubs and hospital uniforms with an edge from Lydia's Uniforms? In Lydia's closet, scrubs are sporting fashion labels from hot designers like Dickie's, Baby Phat, Happy Bunny and more. And with Izzy Stevens herself featured on their cover, you know they must be stylin'. Your patients and viewers will thank you for it. You might even get nominated for an Emmy next year for costume design.

What's up doc?!&*! I just realized Katherine Heigl has her own smokin' scrub collection!

She should be talking to the costume designer at Grey's, not me.

Monday was the first official day of Autumn, and it's time to start dusting off those old sweaters you packed away last Spring. That is if you live someplace other than Miami. I'm still wearing a bikini top to work.

Treat yourself to a sweater spree and choose from a warm, fuzzy stock of sweater dresses, cardigans, cowl necks and argyles just waiting to keep you snug.

Just stay out of Heathcliff Huxtable's closet...unless you're looking for a Jello Pudding Pop.

If you haven't caught the first few episodes of the much anticipated 90210 spinoff, relax. The show is getting press alright, but not because it's groundbreaking television.

Entertainment, gossip, and fashion rags alike are all headlining stories highlighting the 90210 Skinny Girls in all their flesh and bones glory...stress on the bones rather than flesh.

Shown here on the cover of Nylon magazine, these Skinny Minnies are being compared to their 90210 foremothers- Jennie Garth, Shannen Doherty and Tori Spelling, who were considered skinny back in the 90's, but times have changed. The old 90210'ers had some twenty to thirty pounds on this new crop of California girls. Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty have both reprised their roles as the legendary Kelly Taylor and Brenda Walsh respectively, and have given these young'uns a run for their money. They may not be teenagers any more, but they look Beverly Hill-icious with sexy curves, insulation and health on their side.

Sadly for the new class of West Beverly, scale readings and weight estimates are being flashed left and right. Personally, I'm tired of seeing these numbers thrown around for shock value. I could care less what the scale reads, you can tell by just taking a look at these girls and their gangly arms that there is a problem, a problem that has apparently escalated to the point where the 90210 Studs are planning to step in and stage an intervention. I'd love to see their strategy. Cheeseburgers in one hand, Gucci bags in the other.

My advice for these Beverly Hills babies? Stop guzzling Red Bulls and maxing out your credit cards on Rodeo Drive and head to the Valley. Not the Los Angeles Valley, head to Valley Naturals and pick up some Weight Gain powder.

Pronto.

With a country amidst the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression, it seems fiscally irresponsible to spend a gross amount of money on an accessory... but that still doesn't change the fact that if I won the lottery, I'd loosen the purse strings and buy this Coach Mirrored Julianne Bag for $1,100.

Call it an eleven hundred dollar bailout.

My boyfriend ran a 5K race last weekend. I ran up my credit card bill shopping.

I hate working out.

I don't like to sweat. I don't even like the recording artist Keith Sweat and only run if I'm being chased in order to save myself from dying a sad, untimely death. I was wondering why I have such an aversion to the gym, and I came to a startling conclusion... I don't dig the clothes.

Most of the time, if I venture to the gym or attempt to work out outside of the house rather than in the comfort of my own loft with my Yoga for Beginners DVD, I'm wearing a baggy T-shirt that I no doubt got for free at some radio station giveaway, and a pair of sweatpants that have a hole in the crotch.

Okay, the pants aren't that bad, and they're comfy, so I'm not giving those up just yet...but my upper half needs work (which ironically is the opposite when it comes to muscle groups).

Here are a few noteworthy workout pieces that will make me feel like I'm really workin' it the next time I go to the gym.

1. I have bangs. When you work out, there's nothing worse than sticky bang syndrome. For a cool alternative to bobby pins that will keep your fringe off that forehead, this Prince Cushion Headband does the trick (although I'd rather it said Princess).

2. This sweet yellow Reversible Hoodie is cuter than Tweety bird and is two hoodies in one with a cool black and white striped print on the other side. More for your money, and the folks at 24 Hour Fitness won't laugh at you for always wearing the same thing every day.

3. If you want a tough, edgy gym look that says biker babe through and through, try on this charcoal Biker jacket that looks as comfortable as it is cool. Don't be surprised if some dudes with Harleys parked outside try to pick you up. It comes with the territory.

4. American Apparel has some great workoutwear that makes me want to work out, just so I can wear the clothes. This Unisex California Fleece Hood is one of the items on my wishlist, and since it's unisex, my guy and I can trade off...as long as I don't get my normal extra-small. No way those guns are fitting into my sleevies.

5. Last but not least, these Champion Wristbands make me feel like I'm as hot as Wonder Woman with her golden cuffs, and my cuffs have special powers too, they soak up the sweat and keep me looking dewy fresh rather than soppingly stinky.

Make room on the treadmill baby, I think I'm ready to sweat it out.