Naked people have little or no influence on society.

I've always been a detail person. The smallest things have always caught my eye.

Shoes make the outfit. Jewels make the girl. Clothes make the man. Etc.

I love softness these days. I'm all leggings all the time. I'm cashmere and cotton. The softer it is the more I'm apt to become addicted to it.

Softness makes this climate tolerable. And I'm not just talking about winter in NYC. Softness is love. I am soft, outside and in.

I'm also in deep smit with my new stripey scarf from Old Navy that I got for $12.50.

For those of us who veer away from striped garments for their boldness, a striped accessory is a wonderful way to wear a nautical stripe.

My scarf is light as a feather, generous in proportion and 100% rayon.

I want to wear it every day. At least for part of the day.

So when I get home I put on my grey sweater and my stripey scarf and drink tea. It makes me feel warm and good.

Don't forget your leg warmers!

Does political correctness apply to chocolate?

I bought these M&M like chocolate candies for M. for his Christmas stocking--he likes English chocolate.

And come to find out, so do I.

Minstrels are larger than M&M's and they are all one color--brown--dark brown.

I am considering buying a pack or two for tonight's football festivities.

Minstrels are made by Galaxy, who also makes Malteasers (malted milk balls) and is the Mars company.

The company used the slogan "Melts in your mouth, not in your hands," like M&M's but recently changed their slogan to "Sophisticated Silliness."

A girl in a hat is so...Vogue.

Another hat. Yes, another one.

Perfect for the snowy days like today. Fits comfortably under my hood.

This chunky knit beret from the Gap for $20 is the tops. It's a Waldorf salad, it's a Gershwin ballad.

I've been wanting a grey hat for some time. You know grey is my favorite color. (I felt so symbolic yesterday.)

I'm all about the lyrics today.

At any rate, this rates a ten on the slouch o' meter.

My friend J. pointed out a post from Isaac Mizrahi's blog in which he points out comfort dressing as a means to comfort oneself during these trying financial times.

Big sweaters, baggy jeans, slouchy hats, soft fabrics. Oh yes!

Huh?

Since when does the high end fashion designer rip off Steve Madden?

Steve's always done the ripping.

Spring '09 Balmain collection from designer Christophe Decarnin features the studded sandals I got 2, count them two seasons ago in the flat version.

Does Decarnin not keep up with what's out there? I specifically remember Michael Kors on Project Runway telling the designers that they have to be aware of who's created what, and when.

Even more irritating/weird, is that Bazaar magazine featured the collection with a "Balmain's Back" editorial featuring the sandals in 3 photos in fewer pages.

Someone should let Christophe know about his faux pas. Non?

Old school.

When I was a kid, my mom was a waitress at Skyline Country Club in Tucson.

It was there that she was introduced to Neutrogena products--her favorite being their glycerin soap. She has very sensitive skin and appreciated the light scent and mild formula.

She got samples from house keeping, I believe. Not sure.

Anyway, in the old days, Neutrogena was relegated to soap, Rainbath shower gel and body oil.

That was it--unlike today, as they are a cosmetics powerhouse.

M. bought me the Body Oil, light sesame formula for Christmas, and I love it!! It is such a low maintenance moisturizer. You just put a little on before you dry off and Voila, super soft skin.

Plus the smell is delightfully beachy/hippy/baby oil/suntan lotion-y deliciousness.

$10.49 at www.drugstore.com.

Dry is the new wet.

I'm happy to report that I have been approved on the beret, the new, black, shawl collar sweater, both shirt dresses and the jeans. I cut my list down, yes, but got most of the important items. Thanks M.! Plus, they were having a promo where you save 30% on full price Gap items and 15% on sale. Woohoo!

In other news, I finally bought the Oscar Blandi Pronto dry shampoo and it is awesome!

Say you put a little too much shine serum in to tame the frizzies--say your hair looks best day four after you wash it (read: me)--either way you are set with this powder formula. It absorbs oils immediately.

A little goes a long way, so use it sparingly--just put a little in the palm of your hands and rub your fingertips into it. Then rub it into your part and work it down to the ends.

It has a citrus scent and works like magic.

$11 at http://www.sephora.com/ or at Sephora stores.

Old Navy does it (for me) again.

What is it with me and the shirt dress? This ruffle front shirt dress is $29.50 at oldnavy.com. I want it in Earl Gray as well.

I currently have 10 items in my gap.com shopping bag for just over $200.

I want it all. I'll get rid of stuff, I promise.

Just let me have 2 shirt dresses, one chunky knit beret, on pair of gloves, jeans, another shawl collar, waffle weave sweater, 3 pairs of undies and a pair of leggings. Please.

I also need another pair of boots in cognac from Steve Madden. Please.

I have to pitch this to M. during our weekly budget meeting tomorrow before we take our Christmas tree to be mulched at the farmer's market. I hope he says yes.

But I still have to save for Tessa!

What a conundrum.

Tessa, my love.

This is for real.

I opened a new ING Orange savings account yesterday specifically to save for this bag.

I am going smaller, black, messenger all the way.

No regrets.

Gryson, Tessa bag, $425 at http://www.revolveclothing.com/.

Dear John Frieda,

As most people who know me know, I am a die-hard DIYer.

When I was 8 years old I told my mom I wanted to be a cosmetologist. I would practice painting her nails, give her facial treatments with Clinique samples and style her hair (read: brush for hours.) I honed my skills impeccably.

My dreams of endless hours of blow drying were shattered when my mother advised I go to college and then if I still wanted to be a hairdresser, I could.

Somehow, in college, I decided that writing was definitely my bag and I forgot about cosmetology to be a poet.

My mother still asks me to do her nails sometimes, less frequently now that we live 2,000 miles apart from each other.

The point is, I do everything as far as beauty maintenance on myself, by myself, to myself.

Haircut, hair color, waxing, tweezing, manicure, pedicure, micro-dermabrasion, exfoliation.

I wish I could massage myself, because I could really use one.

Anyway, the main focus of my endeavors is and has always been, perfect highlights. I am entirely vain about my hair (length, color, texture, etc.) The color must be honey/caramel/beige with a concentration of lighter blond at the tips.

I buy a very inexpensive highlighting kit at the beauty supply store (read: $3.99) and do four sets of foils.

This process can be terrifying--even now--after doing this process myself for nearly 10 good years. I started practicing on my BFF, N., in years past and then moved on to my own head.

I digress.

What I'd like to let you know is that if you want to do your highlights at home, or if you want to get highlights at the salon--if you want them to last longer--John Frieda has a color glaze that is just lovely.

The bottle of Luminous Color Glaze is $10 at the drugstore and comes in several colors, including clear (for shine)--I chose the Honey/Caramel color (the package instructs buying the color that best describes your highlights.)

You wash and condition as usual, then smooth the glaze on from root to tip. The glaze doesn't lighten or have peroxide in it. It just tones your highlights beautifully.

That's all.

Camelicious.

I love my new coat from www.gap.com & I got it for $41.25 while they were having a super online sale. It is listed as the soft trench and comes in black, light heather gray, and camel.

M. says it looks very New York.

I'm excited about it for the following reasons:

1. The color is very sumptuous.
2. It looks like a very expensive camel hair or mohair. (It's a wool blend!)
3. It's not black!! (No fur from the kitters to disguise or frantically lint roll in the a.m.)
4. It goes well with my new caramel highlights.
5. The fit is great--I can layer a big sweater under it and it's still body conscious.
6. It looks great with black.

Yahoo! http://www.gap.com/. You are my fave right now.

I'm a big sweater.

I love a grey sweater. I love one so slouchy, it doesn't need buttons.

Who needs buttons?

My new sweater is a thermal weave, cotton, heather grey, shawl collar with pockets. It hits me mid thigh and looks great with a short dress and tights or leggings and my new black boots.

It was $58 at http://www.gap.com/ and I knew it would be worth every penny from the moment I opened it's clear packaging. I'm considering getting it in black, too.

Maybe when it goes on sale. Some of us are on a budget, you know.