Red....Without the Dread

Gwen Stefani rocks — in more ways than one.

Girl's got style, and as much as I love and admire her over-the-top glamor with the platinum hair and fire-engine red lips, it's just not something I — a journalist, soccer mom of three in Tucson, Ariz. — can do. On those occasions when I do a red lip, I feel like a little kid playing dress up. Plus, it's fairly high maintenance, making sure the red's not feathering or wandering onto parts of my face it shouldn't.

Even if you can't pull off straight-from-the-tube MAC Russian Red, you can rock a more natural-looking red that gives extra polish but doesn't make you feel like you're 5 and playing in your mom's makeup.

Suggestions:

• Rather than applying red straight from a tube, try dabbing it on with your pinkie. You can even use a lip brush. Both methods will give softer color that won't be so saturated and Joker-ish.

• Use a stain. TheBalm has this Stainiac potion in "Beauty Queen" ($17) that is perfect. It's just a good, natural wash of color. The Q-tip-type brush makes for easy application. Then, you can just swipe some gloss over. Easy-peasy.

• Buy yourself a tube of Medieval by Lipstick Queen ($20). My newest favorite lip product (I gushed about it here), this gives the most natural, perfect flush with a hint of glossiness. Think cherry Popsicle, but way more hydrating. A friend was lamenting her inability to do red (the inspiration for this post), and I handed her Medieval to try. She marveled at how it stayed on for so long and didn't make her feel clownish.

One Shoe, Two Shoes, Red Shoe, Blue Shoe

Dr Seuss wears Converse.

The sneaker giant has a collection of cool kicks featuring Seuss characters or Seussian designs. Stylenotes says you can get 20 percent off — sneaks range $35-$60 — and free shipping until today with "20offnow."

Not all styles are available in adult sizes (frickety frak!), but there are plenty of cute options. Oh! Just think of the places you'll go in those shoes!

O Booties, Where Art Thou?

The hunt is on.

I'm looking for the kicky lace-up Circa Joan & David booties in this photo. Have you seen 'em? I sure haven't. Lucky claims they exist, though.

In the past several months, I've lusted after things spotted in Lucky magazine. There was the infamous peach DVF "Brady" jacket, featured in the summer of '09 (see original post here). Turns out the company never made that exact jacket (although it did make a less-attractive silver one guaranteed to make its wearer look just like a baked potato).

A Topshop scarf with pom-pom fringe was a recent lusted-after item from about three months back. That never popped up on the website either. In September's issue, I have to find the Circa Joan & David "Alisha" wedge booties. I'll be darned if I can find them, and I've looked. Oooh, have I looked.

So, what the hell is that all about?

I know magazine deadlines are crazy early, which means if companies want their stuff included, they're probably sending samples that may or may not go into production. Still, when it's in a freakin' national publication and is guaranteed to get you insane amounts of exposure, then make it! You've already created a built-in audience chomping at the bit.

And that includes my bitter Sunday rant.

Absolutely Real Military Belts

So, here's a website you wouldn't expect to visit on a fashion quest: The Sportsman Guide. Turns out it's a great source for — no kidding — military belts. They're authentic, too.

My dad gets credit for this one. I had an epiphany one day while scouring the web for the perfect, double-holed olive-drab military-style belt: Steal one from my father, who's retired military. Sure enough, he had a stockpile. Of course, since he's Air Force, the belts were navy blue and hole-less, but that's OK. I'll make anything work if it's free.

After I told him why I wanted them and how the belts are part of a huge military trend, then he started poking around the Internet. Did I mention he's retired?

This site was a link from the Base Exchange, and it has all these cool belts — my fave is the striped Hungarian military officer's parade belt — for way-cheaper-than-Michael-Kors-charges prices. They ring in at $12 or less, and quite often, that's for two. Plus, how neat would it be to tell someone who's just complimented you on your accessories that you're wearing an Italian military handcuff belt?

That Ol' Friday Shoe Thang

There was a time when
Used shoes gave me the heebies
No more — they're good deals

Shoe 'n Tell: Meet possibly my riskiest purchase ever — Stuart Weitzman "Woodstock" boots, bought off eBay. Never tried 'em on. No returns. Bought them in a 7 despite the fact that all my Stu sandals are 7.5. Lady Luck was on my side. Price tag: $50, which is much cheaper than the usual gazillion dollar price tag. I figured it was worth the shot. After all, I could always sell 'em on eBay.

For years it was taboo — for me — to even consider shoes worn by another. Now that I've been regularly doing swap parties with my friends, I completely see the validity: Someone else's tootsies have anguished through those initial wearings. Then I get 'em perfectly broken in.

Outfit: H&M leopard-print blouse from last year; Splendid asymmetrical cardi also from last year; Forever XXI necklace; DIY J Crew cutoffs; gray Target socks.

What Comes After Jeggings....

Sweggings, apparently.

While it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, I'm not ruling this sweatpant/legging hybrid out just yet.

Weird but oddly intriguing. As I'm typing, the idea is starting to grow on me. But that name...sweggings. Raise your hand if it doesn't sound like it ought to be a saying from "Saturday Night Live" a la Alec Baldwin and the NPR Delicious Dish spoof "Schweddy balls."

DIY Denim Vest

Nylon's August denim issue got me searching for a denim vest. Then I realized, I could make one. Now this is my kind of DIY — some minor snipping and all done.

The candidate was an old Gap denim jacket that I realized I rarely wore because I have a denim hoodie that's much softer and chicer.

After amputating the sleeves, I had a much more wearable denim vest. It's edgier than a jacket and better for our more temperate climate.

The outfit: thrifted dress (thanks, Jenni!), Michael Michael Kors clogs (thanks again, Jenni!), Forever XXI necklace (artfully stuck on a button) and a 5-year-old denim Gap jacket.