Most women's personal nail polish collections contain only shades of pink—you know, mauve, pastel pink, and if you're feeling adventurous, maroon and scarlet. This summer, however, bright polishes most women usually stray away from are now in style in a whole new way.

Candy pinks, eye-popping turquoises and even yellows are a fun, easy way to incorporate color in the wardrobe if you're a color phobe like me.

While my pick for a good summer pink is OPI's "I'm India Mood For Love" (I know, but it's a nice color, promise), Chanel doesn't disappoint with their limited edition nail polish created in celebration of the opening of the new Chanel boutique on Robertson in Los Angeles.

The line comes in four colors: Rodeo Drive, a warm pastel-y, shimmery, grape hue; LA Sunset, a bold grapefruit or melon orange; LA Sunrise, an uncomplicated shade of lemonade yellow; and the least noteworthy color in the collection, Melrose, a cotton candy pink. And before you complain about the $25 a bottle price (I don't blame you), remember these lacquers apply flawlessly, dry quickly and you could get away with a single coat. However, a cheaper bright polish collection with similar shades and equal in quality is Essie's summer neon collection, which will only cost you $7 a bottle.

The Chanel Robertson Boulevard collection Le Vernis Nail Colour is still exclusively available at the Robertson Chanel boutique, but if you visit Chanel.com, you can sign up to be on the waiting list when the polishes are finally available to everyone starting July 2008.

I don't usually approve of the Cobrasnake/Dim Mak/Steve Aoki thing at all, or at least, definitely not fashion-wise, but the hipster beacons will be hosting a yard sale in conjunction with RVCA over at RVCA's Costa Mesa headquarters. And we love RVCA. So here you go:

Cobrasnake (sometimes along with Cory Kennedy) has been known to host these successful and popular "yard sales," AKA chances to unload pricey T-shirts to unsuspecting fans of his party photography website, in locations all over the world. Tomorrow's yard sale will feature items from Brian Lichtenberg (responsible for many of M.I.A.'s flashy diggs), pro-surfer/artist/Japanese Motors singer Alex Knost, Akram, Velvet Leaf Clothing, Hippo Gorilla Giraffe, Heartschallenger and more.

It's open to all ages, and the flier doesn't specify whether or not they'll be accepting credit cards, so be sure to bring some cash just in case.

The sale promises to have "tons of DJs, surfers, homeless" on hand in addition to hipster T-shirts and clothing and hipsters.

So go check it out if you've got nothing else to do on a beautiful Saturday afternoon—I mean, if you're into that kind of thing.

More info and full flier after the jump.

Politics and pantsuits aside—the Obamas are even making their mark in the world of fashion.

It's Milan Fashion Week and Donatella Versace has decided to dedicate her Spring/Summer 2009 collection to the U.S. Democratic nominee, citing that Obama was the "man of the moment."

Versace, who took over the fashion house in 1998 after the murder of brother Gianni, went on to explain that the pieces were meant for a "relaxed man who doesn't need to flex muscles to show he has power."

The collection, which was showcased on the runway to a soundtrack provided by the Ting Tings, truthfully doesn't look too much like something Obama himself would wear—man sandals, suits with shorts and pink neck scarves, anyone?—though there is an undeniable confidence that's required when wearing half-unbuttoned shiny silk shirts and pastel yellow-colored Members Only-inspired jackets.

Michelle Obama, in the meantime, has been making her own waves when it comes to style: After making an appearance as a co-host on The View last week, the $148 black and white leaf print dress she was wearing from White House/Black Market sold out almost instantly and is now on backorder until mid-August. The purple shift dress/black waist belt/white pearl necklace ensemble she wore when Obama clinched the Democratic nomination also seems to be a favorite—perhaps we have another Jacqueline Kennedy on the horizon.

As a final note, however, Donatella Versace did offer a piece of advice for Barack Obama: "I would get rid of the tie and jazz up the shirt."

See Versace's entire men's Spring/Summer collection here.

I'm cheap, you're cheap, we're cheap—so we can all (well... almost all) benefit from all these large chain stores ripping off designs from unaffordable labels. Right?

This silk Bernard dress from Vena Cava retails for $549 (but is currently on "sale" for $274.50). It features a highly recognizable Vena Cava navy wicker print pleated skirt with a drawstring neckline. Cute.

The shameless rip-off from none other than Old Navy, pictured left, is near identical. Sure it's 100% polyester, but it's also $34.50 and comes in two equally appealing color schemes.

Shameless, Old Navy. Really. But summer's the time to stock up on inexpensive, simple and stylish sun dresses, so you can be sure that I'll be heading into my local Old Navy anyway. Puh on artistic integrity. I've got a budget to work with here.

Also be sure to check out Old Navy's ruffle cinch waist dress ($34.50), ruffle hem dress ($29.50), ruffled chiffon top ($24.50) and the button-front linen blend dress (on sale for $12.99!).

In memory of Yves Saint Laurent, who passed away last week from the effects of brain cancer, I bring you some of the most sought-after—and affordable—baubles YSL has released in the past few years.

All the pieces of the Y-Mail collection resemble an envelope, with the postmark as the YSL logo, and is addressed to the house of Yves Saint Laurent on 7, Avenue George V in the 8th Arrondissement of Paris. It's a cute homage to the man who popularized and made safari jackets, pantsuits (see: Le Smoking), and androgyny in general, an absolute staple of both high-end and mainstream fashion. He was even the first to use black models on the runway.

With the death of Yves Saint Laurent went the last of the old High Couture houses (which includes Chanel and Dior)—while the couture house of YSL was closed in 2002 due to health complications, the company still lives on with its prêt-à-porter line and chief designer Stefano Pilati.

The Y-Mail series includes tote bags ($1295), boxy handbags ($415-$495), a long wallet ($415), a tri-fold wallet ($350), and my favorites, the coin purse ($175—which may seem steep for a coin purse, but it's actually the size of a small wallet and perfect for stashing away IDs, credit cards and cash into that ooone tiny purse we all own that doesn't fit much of anything) and clutch ($395). The items are available in a black patent, gold and silver—buuuut I'd suggest sticking with the black patent.

The Y-Mail series is available in YSL storefronts and their online boutique.

Put down that wallet and don't walk into that Nordstrom. Why pay full price for all that lovable RVCA and Paul Frank gear when you can just plan on heading to their respective summer warehouse sales to stock up?

This Friday and Saturday, both Paul Frank Industries and the RVCA warehouse in Costa Mesa will be open to the public. Tons of crap will be on sale for dramatically slashed prices—just get there early to avoid the crowds as much as possible

Paul Frank and RVCA are also offering their own versions of Disneyland's Fast Pass—pay a couple of bucks and jet to the front of the line, no questions asked. See rvcaclothing.com and paulfrank.com/SUMMERSALE for more info.

You know the rest: Cash and credit card (VISA/Mastercard only) accepted, no bags, all sales final, no returns or exchanges, etc., etc. Paul Frank's even offering a free gift for all purchases over $100!

Flyers with all the info after the jump.

Even more summer sales for you to waste that stimulus check (am I the only one who hasn't received hers yet?) on: Original Penguin locations everywhere are now hosting their annual summer sale, with discounts ranging from 30%-50% off retail prices.

While Penguin's always been good for classic "suburban leisure" (their words, not mine), I've always preferred Penguin's men's line of sweaters and polo Tees over the women's clothing—though there are always a few pieces that reek of an Anthropologie-esque and even a Ben Sherman or Fred Perry retro vibe that I can't help but fall for.

Some of the highlights of the summer sale for women include This Segment dress (marked down from $179 to $119), the Shorely Dress ($79.99) and the Dunbar Secretary (from $250 to $49.97!).

Don't let the distinctively preppy feel of the label scare you off—Penguin is also thoroughly mod... as long as it's on the right person. Mix and match the pieces from your own wardrobe to avoid looking like you're vacationing in the Hamptons. It's okay. Even Urban Outfitters, particularly their UK division, carries some Penguin items. Whether or not that's a good thing is up to you to decide.

Original Penguin's Orange County location, Fashion Island, 231 Newport Center Dr., (949) 720-1560, Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.- 9 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sale in stores and online through July 31st.

Once again, the OBEY Giant warehouse in Santa Ana will be hosting its ultra popular sample sale.

The sale will run from today, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., until Saturday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. The flier promises diggs for days, tunes selected by OBEY Records, babes provided by you (!!!) and grubbabge by the Crosby.

Remember to keep in mind the usual sample sale protocol: cash, VISA/Mastercard accepted; all sales final; no returns/exchanges; no bags; no backpacks; and don't wear any OBEY items to the sale. Oh, and be sure to show up early, as lines will be wrapping around the block—you don't want to forego premium selection, do you?

Flier with location and further info after the jump.

Founded in 1991 by Wendy Mullin, Built by Wendy has become a staple must-see boutique and personal top five favorite while shopping in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Los Angeles. The label first gained some popularity through her custom made guitar straps that were photographed on everybody from (former) Orange County gal Gwen Stefani to everybody in Sonic Youth. The straps are still for sale online and in stores for $40 and are now available in a range of patterns: plaid, striped, ultra suede, tweed and canvas.

But soon after, Mullin drew attention with her charming Americana designs that ooze a DIY sort of mentality. Season after season, Built by Wendy doesn't fail to impress, with their madras dresses, button-up blouses and some of the best non-skinny jeans you can find around for $135. The fit is key with BbW apparel: never too tight, always flattering.

In a way, the designs are reminiscent of Marc by Marc Jacobs, but less expensive and sans all the obnoxious trendy stuff Marc sometimes succumbs to.

Built by Wendy's latest boutique location is right in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles, but, of course, you can peruse the latest collection and on sale past season items on the official website here.

Pictured left is my pick of SS08, the Madras Smocked Sundress ($200) in navy/white.

Usually only available in specialty stores like HSS in Huntington Beach and not-so-specialty stores like Fred Segal, RVCA has finally launched an official online storefront to fulfill all your shopping needs.

While HSS, Fred Segal, Nordstrom and such reliably carry a few logo shirts at all times, it's pretty much limited to just that. The online store offers a wide range you won't likely find elsewhere in one place: men and women's accessories, hats, swim trunks, purses, even gift certificates. My favorites include this Ben Horton-designed men's hoodie and the women's nylon Marsea bag.

Visit RVCA's online store here. Free shipping on all orders over $100.

If the Half-Yearly Nordstrom Sale isn't your thing (...it should! Yours truly purchased an Anna Sui blouse-and-skirt ensemble at something like 58% off), then the Memorial Day sales going on at the Lab this weekend might be what you're looking for.

Everyone's favorite, Urban Outfitters, will be hosting a sidewalk sale where everything will be on sale for $9.99. Harlow's Summer Sale will also take place Friday through Sunday at both their Lab and Camp locations: purchase any item in the store and receive 20%-50% off on your selected item of equal or lesser value. They'll even have premium denim from favorites like Sass & Bide and Earnest Sewn on sale for $75-$100. And finally, Carve & Blends will have selected items on sale for 50%-60% off, while Habit will be hosting their own sidewalk sale.

Avoid the masses at the mall down the street, score some cool crap for 50% off and have an iced banana mocha at Gypsy Den while you're at it.

The Lab is located at 2930 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, (714) 966-6660; www.thelab.com. Open Mon.-Sat., 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Want to send a message to dad that you think he's a steroid-abusing drunk? Got twenty-five bucks? Boy, do we have the gift for you.

In the embarrassing tradition of John Cena valentine T-shirts for women, and "Get Lit for the Holidays" tees featuring the company logo in Christmas lights (yes, I'm the proud owner of that one), Vince McMahon's marketing gurus once again try to go the Hallmark route. So you have a T-shirt that says you're the WWE's best dad, and a six-pack cooler so you can get drunker than Stone Cold to celebrate that fact.

Listen, if I had a kid, I admit, I'd be prouder than hell to get this as a gift. But here's the problem: guys who wear wrestling T-shirts like this one have enough trouble getting dates, let alone having children. Trust me, I know.

My mom's always told me that yellow's one of those colors I better make sure to wear lots of while I'm still young—older women, she says, just can't pull it off as well.

I still haven't really taken her advice, seeing that I am reeeally attached to my LBDs, but if you don't mind standing out in a crowd, mustard yellow seems to be a popular approach to brighter colors. The hue popped up all over both the SS 08 shows (in the form of mod swing frocks and maxi-length dresses) and as an accent color in the FW 08 runways in otherwise very fall, very drab color schemes that brightened things up just enough.

Old Navy's Ruffled V-Neck Dress is an ultra cheap solution to adding some color into your wardrobe: the ruffles give just enough of the prairie gal effect to go along with the free-spirited, carefree hippie look that we've all too often discussed. Pair it with some boots that hit mid-calf or even some minimally strappy flat sandals and you've got a quick, easy outfit that's much cheaper and more flattering than this cankle-accentuating Urban Outfitters atrocity.

There's probably one handbag and one brand that has made a legend of itself. The Hermès Birkin was named after British-born actress and singer Jane Birkin (after she complained about her impossible search for the perfect weekend tote), but it's come to be known as the ultimate status symbol of wealth and luxury in pop culture today. Which makes sense, seeing that the bags go for anywhere from $7500 to six-digit price tags.

On an episode of The Gilmore Girls (not that I watch it or anything), Rory Gilmore was given a pink Birkin by her boyfriend—only, she didn't realize the significance of it at the time, while the rest of us hopefully did. A conversation between Rory and her grandmother:

Rory: Logan's very nice, he bought me this terrific gift just completely out of the blue.
Emily: Is that so?
Rory: Totally unexpected. It's called a Birkin bag.
Emily: A Birkin bag? Oh my God. A Birkin bag?
Rory: You've heard of it?
Emily: Of course! That's a very nice purse.
Rory: Oh, maybe I shouldn't use it.
Emily: Oh no, a Birkin bag is meant to be used. And seen.
Rory: I had no idea.
Emily: Well, well, well, a Birkin bag. A Birkin bag, a Birkin bag for Rory.
Rory: Grandma..
Emily: I'm just saying. I mean Richard never bought me a Birkin bag. Oh, this is exciting!
Rory: I guess it is!
Emily: A Birkin bag! I'm gonna remember this day.

The older, more petite version of the Birkin is the Kelly bag, named after Grace Kelly. Kelly, the then new Princess of Monaco, was photographed carrying the leather Sac à dépêches and madness ensued—Hermès then renamed the bag accordingly.

Though much smaller in size and not quite as discussed (but close), the Kelly bag isn't so affordable, either. There's a ridiculous long standing debate between the Kelly and the Birkin, but to be honest, I'd much rather take a Kelly myself. Or, rather, I'd take the Kelly, resell it, then pay off my student loans.

Anyway, Hermès has jumped onto the paper craftin' bandwagon, a recent phenom of print-out DIY printable crafts, with their own cut-and-paste Kelly available for free on their website. Sure it's not the same, but how else are you supposed to ever get your hands on a Kelly?

The first time I spotted heart-shaped sunglasses outside of Lolita was during Moschino's SS 2006 runway show. And for some inexplicable reason, I loved them, as silly as they seemed. The collection consisted of flirty dresses, full skirts, throwback 1950s swimsuits and, yes, heart-shaped sunglasses. In fact, the entire show pretty much reflected what seems to be today's style mantra: completely classic and vintage, with just enough modern detail thrown in for some originality and flare.

But of course, the Moschino sunglasses retailed for about $295, and who wants to spend that much on such a bold accessory? The sunglasses have since popped up in numerous editorial spreads since, and Girl Props has come to the rescue for $9.99, as they usually are the go-to place for fun-but-cheap jewelry and other such accessories. I first happened upon the zebra-striped storefront and their loads of inexpensive trinkets on Prince Street in Manhattan's SoHo. It's a great place to check out for gaudy accessories that will be out of style within a season, like door knockers, Kanye West shutter sunglasses, charm necklaces and more that you don't want to spend lots on.

Cute purveyors FredFlare.com also offers a slightly more cartoonish version, available in pink and red here for $10. My favorites, and your safest best as far as heart-shaped sunglasses go, are available on Fun and Funky's Amazon store for $9.95—and come in crystal purple, crystal blue, crystal pink, white and a glittery red. The wide shape of the hearts are inconspicuous just enough... or, at least, I think so. The style available for purchase on Amazon is probably the closest in similarity to the ones on the Moschino runway and as featured in this editorial with model Georgia Frost (pictured left) that appeared in Tank Magazine (Volume 5, Issue 3).

Be brave! And, if anything, try 'em on for the opinion of a really, really honest friend—just prepare yourself for some second glances when you're walking down the street, good and bad.

For almost a year now, gladiator-style flats and heels have been seen on eeeverrry celebrity taste maker that matters. Thing is, stars like Courtney Cox, Mary-Kate Olsen and Nicole Richie were all sporting the Gladiator wedge style by Balenciaga—while the rest of us normals just gawked on in envy. And even if we had the cash, the wedges sold out at retailers everywhere and were impossible to find.

Nine West has since uh, "adapted" the design to fit into the everyday budget of the everyday gal. The "Heech" is a good alternative for those of you who shied away from the ultra flat Gladiator sandal trend. The shoe features a 4" wedge heel (always easier to walk in than normal heels) and a contrast buckle-detailed design... though I would have preferred if the buckles blended in with the rest of the shoe more.

But for $89 why be picky?

The Nine West "Heech" wedge heel now available in black leather, brown leather, gold reptile and silver reptile at NineWest.com and Zappos.com (for $89, but free shipping!).

New Zealand designer Karen Walker started her clothing line with NZ$100—material for a T-shirt. Thirteen years, eight London Fashion Weeks, four New York Fashion Weeks and three successful storefronts later, her customers include Sienna Miller, Madonna and Björk.

Her latest Spring '08 collection looked ready for a day at the Derby (which, actually, is this Saturday), with wide-brimmed hats, floral dresses and argyle vests—and just a touch of that effortless 1970s Laurel Canyon, free-spirited Hippie child look that's still raging hard on the runways and on the streets.

You can purchase her clothing at stores like Milk, Traffic, Creatures of Comfort and Tracey Ross in Los Angeles, but her eyewear (available at Barney's Co-op in South Coast Plaza) is especially noteworthy.

If you're stuck in a sunglasses rut like me—you're totally over oversized sunglasses and aviators and Wayfarers are just too prevalent—Walker's eyewear line might just be it for you.

Offered in a fun variety of colors like grape, ice blue, light pink and tortoise shell, the sunglasses are all simple but offer just enough of a twist on a tried-and-true classic to make you stand out, like these Wayfarer-but-not "Trixie" sunglasses with just enough of a fun cat-eye shape pictured here.

Karen Walker sunglasses can be purchased at Barney's Co-op in South Coast Plaza or online at KarenWalker.com (watch out for that overseas S&H fee!), letrainbleu.com. Visit Karen Walker for a complete list of stockists.

American clothing detergent companies have only just recently caught onto the fact that we like our dark clothing to stay dark—with household names like Tide and Woolite releasing special formula color safe detergent made especially for items like denim and your favorite black T-shirt.

But! I've tried it. Actually, I've tried them all. And it just doesn't perform quite as well as I'd like—even when I try things like doing my laundry in ultra cold water or throwing in a cap of vinegar with the wash. My black jeans still turned gray, my navy cotton skirt a bizarre cadet blue.

Once only available in Europe, Fewa Black Magic is now finally available here in the U.S., and from the reviews I've read online, it's supposed to be the real thing. Fewa Black Magic is actually made to help intensify dark washes, rather than simply prevent them from fading.

Am I going to try it? Sure. But you first.

Fewa Black Magic available in stores and online now at Village Home Goods, $10.99.

Target announced today their next guest designer for their highly successful GO. International line: American Rogan Gregory, a designer known for his socially conscious collections for labels like Loomstate.

While I don't find myself craving too many of the pieces from the official look book—I don't really dig the beachy safari vibe—it is impressive that all cotton used in the Rogan for Target collection is 100% certified organic, something unprecedented for Target.

Highlights include a giraffe print shift dress subdued by a sheer white slip, a simple plaid jumper with an empire waist, long vest swimsuit cover-up and a deep-V little black dress complete with cheetah print tie belt. The most noteworthy, though, appears to be a black onesie romper with multi-hued buttons.

Rogan Gregory for Target will hit stores nationwide May 18, and will be available through June 28.

More photos after the jump.

Now, I'm not one that typically falls for the latest gadgets—MacBook Air? Cool, but I'd probably break it. And I'm probably going to need a CD-ROM drive. iPhone? I'd probably break that, too... not to mention I'd rather stick with my much cheaper T-Mobile plan.

I am, however, a sucker for cute things. Cute things like these ridiculous GIANT EARBUD SPEAKERS from FredFlare.com, home of ridiculously cute things. I'm sure they don't sound as good as your schmancy $800 Bose sound system, but they're definitely a whole lot more adorable. Just imagine pulling these things out at the office and hooking it up to your ol' compy to listen to the latest edition of This American Life. Ira Glass never sounded so good.

500XL GIANT earbud speakers available at FredFlare.com, $60.

I've somehow managed to acquire several backless numbers—blouses, dresses, T-shirts—this past year and I still have trouble deciding what type of undergarments to wear with the things. Those adhesive backless bras never really worked for me—they itch and, worst of all, they shift.

But there's hope yet: the Breakthrough Backless Bra by Maidenform promises to provide a natural shape while remaining undetectable underneath clothing. The bra was invented by single mother Elaine Cato and was first seen on ABC's American Inventor. The Breakthrough Backless is now finally available for purchase on Maidenform's website for a reasonable $25. No word yet if it actually stays put, but it seems a lot more promising than double-sided tape, band-aids or uh, no bra at all.

Just as I was about to shell out the cash for the real thing, Forever 21 comes to the rescue—again. If you loved Luella's feminine, flirty, young and slightly awkward Spring 2008 collection as much as I did (as discussed in this week's Trendzilla!), you'll be glad to know about the discovery I made last night during my insomnia-induced web meandering.

The tiered short skirt pictured to the left—which I haven't even seen in stores yet—modeled by the ultra frightening Ukranian model Masha Tyelna has been knocked off and is available online for $17.80 at Forever21.com. No word yet on the quality of the 100% polyester skirt (it is Forever 21, after all—a gal's gotta be careful), but it seems to be a pretty good knockoff based on the detailed shots.

And if it falls apart after a season's worth of wear? That's fine with me—it's a tiered floral skirt, it probably won't be wearable past September.

Holding a gun with both hands sent sensations racing down his spine to a semi-firm point between his legs. Gordon Dillow wanted to moan—purr, really—like he did in the privacy of his home. But he’d been warned twice before about fondling weapons inside Orange County Register headquarters. There was also the problem of his co-workers: in his mind, a bunch of unapologetic liberals, women, homosexuals, Jews and "gooks."** He knew they didn’t sympathize with the depths of his love for men in uniform, weapons, badges, boots, steel neck collars and cop domination techniques—particularly ones performed on young brown people who haven't yet learned to quickly salute state authority.

Dillow’s memory flashed to the time in the men’s room when he had reached out to another Register employee in hopes of finding an ideological soul mate. The man flushed, called him a “sick douche bag” and stormed out. Weeks later the Pentagon’s PR unit sent Dillow to Iraq under the ruse that he was an independent embedded journalist. Men. Uniforms. Weapons. Heat. Torture. Dead civilians. He felt so blessed he tried to stay indefinitely.

But that was several years ago. Dillow gripped the gun tightly, squeezed his eyelids and recalled his favorite photograph: a smirking, erect Heinrich Himmler, dressed spectacularly in a Nazi uniform and surrounded by shirtless males ready to obey. He sighed and let his mind wonder about the possibility of a master race.

A tingling returned. He rolled his chair over to his office door and quietly locked it shut. Deadline for his next column was 15 minutes away. What could he write about? Cops? Soldiers? Cop/soldiers? A coin flip wouldn’t help.

His eyes searched his office in hopes of sparking an idea. A Donna Summer song played softly in the background. There--partially hidden underneath his prized copy of a My Lai massacre movie (actual footage!) and a stack of photographs he’d secretly taken of men entering an Army recruiting station in Stanton on successive Saturdays--he found inspiration: a Register crime story. I’ll let him tell describe his excitement:

“It happened earlier this month in Irvine,” Dillow wrote for today’s column. “Police were looking for a man suspected of raping an 18-year-old woman in her home. As the cops searched, the fleeing suspect, a 27-year-old L.A. gang member, tried to hide by breaking into another home. Inside, the homeowner, a man who had recently undergone defensive firearms training, heard the commotion, grabbed a handgun and confronted the suspect.”

Men. Uniforms. Gun. Action.

Dillow swiveled repeatedly in his seat, purred and looked over his shoulder. Yes, the office door remained shut. In the distance he heard Tony Saavedra snoring, Frank Mickadeit bragging about his own popularity and Martin Wisckol slowly repeating a series of orders from GOP boss Mike Schroeder. Even for Dillow, those noises were troublesome. He re-focused his attention on the rapist article.

“Well, I don’t have enough space to go into all the Second Amendment arguments,” he wrote. “But to me it’s obvious that a homeowner in Irvine or any other law-abiding citizen has a constitutional right to have a firearm.”

Dillow finished typing and smiled. His left hand dropped to his lap region. Nobody—not a single person on the entire planet—had argued that this homeowner wasn’t legally entitled to possess a gun or use it in self-defense. The 57-year-old columnist marveled at his ability to produce imaginary dilemmas. And get paid! For the first time since the California Supreme Court strengthened police secrecy and lethal force laws, Dillow laughed out loud, packed up and went to CVS to buy more hand lotion.

-- R. Scott Moxley / OC Weekly

**In a column, Dillow once admitted "there was a time when I called [Vietnamese] gooks without so much as a second thought." Repentant? Nope. Later, in 1999, he defended--imagine this!--caucasian police officers in Orange County's Little Saigon calling Vietnamese Americans "gooks."

Sure they're ugly as sin, but these Smart Goggles could make searching for your keys, phones and ipods a thing of the past!

Imagine those frantic last-minute searches for mislaid car keys and mobile phones could soon be gone forever thanks to Professor Kuniyoshi at the University of Tokyo who invented these spectacles in an effort to end "senior moments."

The glasses come with a built in camera, display screen and computer brain. According to the Daily Mail, they work like so:

"To use the glasses, the wearer first wanders around a house or workplace for an hour or so, looking at the objects he or she may later want to find in a hurry.

The glasses search its video memory and show its last known location on the display."

The future is here, everybody! Let's get drunk and lose stuff!

Good news for all you bargain shoppers out there: DSW, short for Designer Shoe Warehouse, is opening a location inside the Metro Point shopping center adjacent to South Coast Plaza.

While I've never had much luck at discount stores like DSW, there might be some prime selections during their grand opening. I've seen plenty of great kicks at DSW, ranging from Marc by Marc Jacobs and Prada to Miu Miu and Cole Haan—just usually not in my size. But I have girlfriends who tend to avoid the giant warehouse store at all costs, lest they want to leave with three shopping bags of shoes in hand.

DSW opens Saturday, March 22, Metro Point at South Coast, 901-B South Coast Dr., Costa Mesa. For more info, see www.DSW.com.

The lady-like runways of Marc by Marc Jacobs' Spring 2008 show are finally showing up in your local mall—not in the department stores, but in stores often criticized (and praised) for designer knock-offs.

If you liked the stewardess/Biba-like frocks in the MbMJ collection, then you'll be glad to know that ever reliable Forever 21 has stepped up with their take on the $338 Indigo Sweater Dress, with its notable contrast denim trim and patch pockets. The $29.80 tunic, pictured left, isn't any where as cute as the original, but it's a nice attempt: it still features that cutesy yellow-and-denim color scheme, but has replaced the crew-neck with a denim collar. I hate the almost comical big yellow buttons, but those can be easily replaced for ones similar to the original.

Your choice: Marc by Marc Jacobs or Forever 21?

Sure, LA Fashion Week has nothing to do with Orange County, but one show did have an open bar, so OCW's Erin DeWitt and Amanda Parsons headed up to the City of Angeles for some cocktails and criticism.

Plus, Kara Sahn from Project Runway (season one) was there representing Botox (Amanda needs that), so as avid fans of the show we were there in no time. The GenArt event was held at the Park Plaza hotel; a sprawling decadent venue with two separate rooms featuring designer showcases, an outside tent area with a DJ, an Acura car (sponsors!) and a smoking section that was located in the parking lot.

Not a traditional runway show, the models simply struck and held poses on elaborate stages, while press, photogs and fans could get a three-minute eyeful. But after the first two minutes, we were more than ready to see the next designs.

Le Sang Des Betes was the first designer in the prominent downstairs ballroom shown on a four-sided Escher-esque runway. Unfortunately, no one fell in their stilettos because that would have been a hell of a lot more entertaining than the clothing was.

The Art Institute is seriously starting to become my favorite place to visit in Santa Ana - every time I'm there for some event or other I wonder why my USC education couldn't have had the kind of cool events these folks seem to put on on a regular basis. Rock the Runway, this past Saturday, was a fantastic fusion of almost everything cool: a hipster fashion show, gourmet catering for all, skateboarding demonstrations, live bands, live art demonstrations, and free Mountain Dew. Admission price? Zero dollars. A.I. hopes the event will pay for itself by encouraging some of the kids in attendance to sign up for their new fashion design programs.

On first arrival, there was a long line to get in, and none of the volunteers seemed to understand the concept of a press list. Until one finally registered the name of "OC Weekly," but rather than taking me to sign in, led me to our promo booth, which was nice, but not what I was looking for. Turned out the entrance line was almost entirely unnecessary, even for non-press types, as all the good stuff was happening out in the parking lot anyway, accessible by all and from all angles.

But there was a VIP room, and I did get to have access to that. The perks of being a VIP were the open bar, which had a nice variety of options, and first shot at the free food courtesy of 2 Dudes Catering, which included gourmet cheeseburgers, clam fritters, fancy grilled cheese, mini baked potatoes, lamb tartare, and mini canollis.

Y'know, I'm not one to advocate shopping at Urban Outfitters in the first place. It always seems to be the second to last stop for trends on their way out of style (the last being your local mall), it's overpriced and worst of all, you run a high risk of seeing a dozen other people wearing the same outfit as you.

Of course, they do carry some things I like. For instance, this, this and this.

But this shirt. This shirt pictured to your left? I don't really have much to say about it, other than if I ever see anybody wearing it in real life, I'd slap them in their big dumb faces. Just sayin'. The Truly Madly Deeply Collegiate Crew promises to be a "vintage-washed soft and shrunken crewneck sweatshirt with old-school faded graphics at the front" and it'll only cost you $38 to look like you're trying way too hard. Grey not your color? Don't worry: It also comes in black. But that one reads "Motor City Wildcats." Sorry.

According to the U.K.'s Telegraph, Giorgio Armani had some rather snappy things to say about Vogue editor Anna Wintour.

During a press conference for the upcoming Metropolitan Museum of Art fashion exhibition "Superheroes," which the two are co-chairing, Armani said he could not understand why so many people dislike Wintour, claiming he was "indifferent" to her.

The Telegraph article stated: Not content to leave it at that, Mr Armani detailed what he thought sparked this dislike, referring to her championing of the US and French fashion industries and alleged lack of support for Italian fashion.

Meow!

Read the full article here.

Again with the weird collaborations: Last year it was Jay-Z unveiling his new design for Cherry Coca-Cola cans and Pharrell, Big & Rich and the All-American Rejects designing for Pepsi cans. Then Christian Lacroix devised gorgeous holiday bottles for Evian. Now French fashion house Paul & Joe has joined in on the trend of what people have dubbed as "fashion water."

The ever glamorous Sophie Albou launched Paul & Joe in 1995 with a menswear collection. But people didn't start paying attention until 1997 when she released a womenswear line. Paul & Joe is whimsical, feminine, playful and excellent for emphasizing femininity—without being too feminine.

And now, Paul & Joe have designed cans and glass bottles for Perrier that reflects just that. The sparkling French water now showcases yellow, brown and green containers splashed with retro comic-style graphics. It's all very... French. Cute.

I guess it makes sense—the fancy fizzy water probably shares the same clientèle and appeals to the same demographic as the French fashion house anyway. Or something.

Either way, it sure makes for a pretty bottle.

Paul & Joe Perrier bottles now available in stores.

Got an extra three grand lying around the house? How about spending it on the Vivienne Westwood Opus, one of the largest fashion books ever. The book, which costs a whopping $2,700, was published just this week (only 900 copies are available). It weighs in at 55 pounds and is filled with pictures of famous faces like Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Sir Bob Geldof, Jerry Hall and Helena Bonham Carter. The tome chronicles Westwood's fashion designs throughout her career and comes with nine different covers, all signed by the designer herself.

Sure, $3K might be better spent feeding cancerous orphans or helping to cure AIDS in the jungles of Africa, but then you wouldn't be able to flip through pretty pictures and contemplate developing an eating disorder. So it's really a no brainer.

Online shopping's about as easy as it gets, but it just got a whoooole lot easier. ShopStyle's a website that pulls together all your favorite online destinations to buy clothing, accessories and shoes and makes it all conveniently available for viewing on a single page.

Not sure what you're looking for? You can search by label, category or even by "district" (SoHo, "College Town," 5th Avenue, "Main Street"). The website clearly lists sale prices and will have competing websites' prices (for the same item!) right next to each other, which makes it easy to buy that Chloé jacquard skirt you've been eyeing for the best price possible. Hover your mouse over the photograph of the item of your choice and ShopStyle even lists if there are any special codes to enter in at check-out for further discounts or free shipping.

Within five minutes, I was able to find the Jovovich-Hawk sundress I saw at Barney's some time ago—for 50% off. And here are a bunch of Marc by Marc Jacobs day dresses on sale for 20% off (or more)... It really is that awesome.

Remember that Jovovich-Hawk GO International line for Target we discussed earlier? Well the official look book has been released. Verdict?

I'm not too impressed. Not that it's not cute. And not because I wouldn't wear any of the outfits.

Nope. I found the bohemian/folk rock/hippie/granola '60s-inspired collection unremarkable simply because you can see looks like this on any given girl in any given gentrified "hip" urban mecca all across America—Williamsburg, Silverlake, Los Feliz, whatever.

It's been done.

But for Target prices, I miiiight just be able to overlook that. More of my favorite looks after the jump.