the new ankle pant

every season designers re-invent the wheel, and this spring the "wheel" is the classic black pant. after two seasons of watching the harem pant flow down runways, the eventual evolution has led us to the elastic-band, flat-front pant. we love this incarnation because it has the casual feel of the harem pant but is inherently more flattering than its (sometimes dumpy) counterpart. poole shop is excited to be carrying martin margiela's diffusion line, mm6, which has the best representation we've seen of this new style. classic yet fashion-forward; casual yet dressy, you're going to love wearing this pant.
vogue editor sally singer shows off the new elastic-band ankle pant. wear them scrunched with booties for a look that is decidedly casual chic.

and (your) sign says...

it's one of the first pages you turn to in us weekly (after "who wore it best"); you've wikipedia'd it to learn a little more about yourself (or a love interest); you even contemplated calling a psychic friend back in your college days. there's just something about our horoscopes that's fascinating and, strangely enough, true. if you haven't yet met susan miller, than be prepared to lose a few hours of your life as you sort through astrology zone. although we find ourselves cynical at times and would never get caught up in the john edward crossing over hocus pocus, for example, there's something about susan miller's forecasts that we find amusing yet introspective. if you skim over all the "venus in the fourth house" talk that's a bit overwhelming, you'll see why susan has appeared on reputable shows such as 20/20, the view and cnn's american morning. so the next time you have a few minutes to spare, check out astrology zone for monthly forecasts in addition to tips on love, fitness and even gift guides for different zodiac signs. if you find that you can't get enough of susan miller's prediction, there's even a app for your iphone--we consider it $1.99 well spent.

mary kate or ashley?

how well do you know your olsens? it's been 23 years, and we have to admit that we still have a hard time distinguishing between the two (we know, we know--they're not identical!). so we've decided to have a little fun today and test your olsen knowledge: mary kate or ashley?

1. mary kate or ashley?
2. the same girl as number one or her sister?

3. do they still look the same to you?

4. ashley or mary kate?

**************************

answers, please: 1) mary kate 2) ashley 3) ashley 4) mary kate

postcard of india

a postcard of india: that phrase could be used to describe the spring collection from lizzie fortunato jewels. inspired by the craftsmanship, textures and textiles during a recent trip to india, designer elizabeth explains that she had a "grey gardens meets great expectations moment," which resulted in an elaborate grouping that at once represents whimsy and nostalgia. with everything from grown-up versions of our favorite elementary school friendship and i.d. bracelets to the colorful opulent memories necklace ($425, pictured above), we have our spring accessories issues solved. keep clothing simple with flowing, khaki pants and a white tee shirt, and stack mismatched bracelets elbow-deep to channel your inner bollywood star. another variation on the same uniform would be to top it off with a necklace so big and bold it almost wears you. we predict the collection will be a sellout amidst all the casual (and even sports-inspired) clothing we're seeing for spring--get ready to punch it up a notch with some wild accessorizing.

chris & tell

it won't hit stores until february, but the beauty scene is already abuzz about designer chris benz's collaboration with lancome on a limited-edition lipstick. the aptly named pout-a-porter, $29, is a neutral, juicy peach that has already graced the lips of influential starlets like eva mendes and anne hathaway. it's the perfect shade to compliment spring's decidedly neutral palette, and we predict it's going to be a sell-out. to get your name on the wait list at saks fifth avenue, call 212.940.2033.

remember mint?

remember mint? one of our favorite go-to designers for easy day dresses, tops and skirts (one of us even had a "mint intervention" due to the label taking over her closet completely). mint experienced some growing pains over the past couple of years as designer jodi arnold played around with line, but we're happy to say that the line is back and just as great as ever. the only caveat is that it is now called "jodi arnold." if you can remember that, then you'll be pleased to see the new spring styles at recession-friendly prices. stop by poole shop this thursday or friday for the jodi arnold trunk show to get a head start on your spring closet.

and the golden globe goes to:

by now we've all seen the best (drew barrymore) and worst (mariah carey) that the 2010 golden globe awards had to offer on sunday night. instead of bombarding you with another parade of red carpet hits and misses, we've decided to award winners in a few categories that you won't see on style.com. behold, the 2010 poole shop golden globe red carpet awards:

best last-minute stop at the mystic tan: penelope cruz

best arm candy: julianne moore (with designer tom ford)

best saucy (yet sophisticated) red lip: meryl streep

best cleavage (mariah carey--take note): anna paquin


best pop of color on a rainy night: sandra bullock

best cowboy: mickey rourke

best invisible dress: maggie gyllenhaal

best non-conformist: julia roberts (we love the vintage YSL dress!)

calling all fabulous ladies...

we just got off the phone with a casting director from LA who is coming to charlotte looking for outrageous, over-the-top young ladies who are living large. maybe you're a princess or maybe you just act like one; either way--"the good life" wants you for a new television show on a major cable network. for more information, visit the good life casting call online to fill out an application. applications are due january 22nd and the actual casting call will take place in charlotte on january 26th (time and place TBD).

but here's the best part: if you're serious about trying out for the show, we have the name and contact information of the casting director who said she would love to take personal referrals from us into consideration. call us or email us at pooleshop@aol.com to tell us why you're so fabulous...and good luck!

who's that girl?

ladies, if you're ever thinking of plastic surgery, please keep this picture of heidi montag in mind. what happened to her? although we were never really fans of hers, we have to admit that heidi 2008 trumps heidi 2K10. should we blame it on LA...or the media putting pressure on young girls to look perfect...or the doctors who would perform multiple (unnecessary) surgeries on a healthy 23 year-old? perhaps it's just a case of low self-esteem on heidi's part. whatever the reason--and we're sorry to sound preachy--we hope other young starlets realize that plastic is out before it's too late.

who are you wearing?

with the 67th annual golden globe awards airing on nbc this sunday night, we've decided to take a look back at some of the best dressed of the past decade and put your red carpet knowledge to the test: who was she wearing? shown below are five of the most talked-about dresses in recent golden globe fashion history along with a list of designers. can you match the designer to his or her gown? no cheating...

here's the list of designers with winning gowns: valentino, christian dior, nina ricci, oscar de la renta, chanel

1. sarah jessica parker was all smiles when she accepted her golden globe in 2004...who created the slate-grey feathery frock that captured her funky new york "sex & the city" style?

2. a delicate dress for such a delicate frame: keira knightley was a vision in white wearing this designer's white column gown in 2006. 3. her 7-year marriage to ryan phillipe ended in 2006, but reese witherspoon showed up at the golden globes in early 2007 wearing this stunning yellow gown by which designer?

4. drew barrymore's fresh look reminded us of the sweet 5 year-old we all fell in love with while wearing this designer's pale pink incarnation of feminism at the 2007 awards.

5. amy adams was the belle of the ball at last year's golden globe awards in this seemingly simple black gown conceived by which award-winning designer?

and the award goes to...1. sarah jessica parker: chanel

2. keira knightly: valentino

3. reese witherspoon: nina ricci

4. drew barrymore: christian dior

5. amy adams: oscar de la renta

on the road

everyone needs a little getaway now and again, so we present you with the poole shop travel guide 2010: a list of some of our favorites places at home and abroad that offer the best in relaxation, food, wine, shopping and outdoor activities.

panama (and we don't mean "spring break city," florida). this tiny country of just over three million people has successfully dodged the tourism boom that is all too familiar in nearby costa rica, but it is slowly making a name for itself as the next must-see destination in latin america. panama boasts a geography similar to costa rica with rain forests, beaches and mountain villages yet traveling there remains relatively inexpensive. adventurous types should check out isla taboga, the island of flowers, which is an hour-long ferry ride from bustling panama city. on the island there are no cars but plenty of clear waters along with flower-lined paths and nature trails.

hotel vereda tropical, located on a hillside on isla taboga with a spectacular view of panama city is a steal at just $70/night. the best time to visit panama is during their summer, from december to april.

paris. "the chief danger about paris," t.s. eliot wrote to a friend, "is that it is such a strong stimulant." paris has long been a haven to writers, artists and lovers of all things cultural. it is a city that offers something for everyone--from the fledgling fashion designer to an aspiring architect. spend no less than five days in this city to immerse yourself in the parisian way of life. while you're sure not to miss the eiffel tower, notre dame, the louvre and paris opera house, also look into the less touristy side of town. instead of going broke at dior and chanel on avenue montaigne, discover emerging talent in the haut-marais--a newer and edgier fashion and design center. you can stay at l'hotel du petit moulin, which sits in the middle of this burgeoning design scene, where the 17 rooms were conceived by christian lacroix and start around 180 euros for the night.

while in paris, don't miss the marche aux puces st-ouen de clignancourt (or paris flea market). showcasing everything from provencal cookware to oriental rugs, baroque mirrors and creepy 19th-century dolls, the experience alone is worth fighting the crowds through the 3,000 open stalls. the flea market opens around 9am, and it is said 80% of the best stuff is sold in the first 30-45 minutes, so get there early with comfortable shoes and get ready to dig for the treasure of your life.

napa valley. sit back, relax and enjoy a glass of wine (or two...or three...) while nestled among the pines and oaks of northern california's napa valley. take a trip with your special someone and make this one count by checking into the calistoga ranch. all the lodges are freestanding bungalows with outdoor fireplaces. the property has its own vineyard and label and even allows guests to get juicy as they join in harvesting, pruning and crushing. high season in wine country is may - october, when you're sure to be greeted by wedding parties and wine enthusiasts crowding the hotels. a better bet is to visit in march or april when the weather is a bit unpredictable, but the cheaper room rates and smaller crowds are worth the gamble.

of course, no trip to wine country would be complete without a visit to french laundry, where the 100-page wine list will leave you cross-eyed and in a daze. however, the three-hour, nine-course tasting menu at one of the world's hardest-to-score tables will give you fodder for cocktail parties for years to come.

lugano, switzerland. is there anything more picturesque than the crystal-clear lakes and kelly-green mountains decorating switzerland? while visiting, you wouldn't be surprised to find men in lederhosen yodeling on the mountaintops. the italian-speaking city of lugano lies on lake lugano, and its warm summers and recent influx of celebrity visitors have given rise to the moniker the "monte carlo of switzerland." outdoor activities abound with sporting activities on the lake and bike and hiking trails in the surrounding mountains, which make the months of june - september the best for visiting. make your visit postcard-worthy by staying at the villa principe leopoldo, a 5-star hotel and spa just outside of the city.

ice, ice baby

if it was cold where you woke up this morning, just think of the poor revelers on miami's south beach who experienced record low temperatures of 36 degrees. by now we've all seen the picture of the frozen orange in florida, and we're wondering if the price of tropicana will inflate like gasoline did after hurricane katrina. but there's good news on the horizon. according to weather.com, the last bit of cold air from canada will settle over the southeast and northern florida tonight, and a true warm-up begins tomorrow afternoon...whew! so dust off your party dresses and hang your mittens: 50 degrees is going to feel like a heatwave.

good design

congratulations to john patrick, designer of organic, who beat out 25 other semi-finalists and was crowned the winner of the ecco domani 2010 sustainable design award. as someone dedicated to sustainable design throughout his career, patrick has developed a direct relationship with organic farm collectives in peru, and he traveled the county extensively in his early career to learn more about the production of cotton and hand spun alpaca wool. in addition, he has helped increased the use of botanical dyes, recycled fabrics and organic wool yarns.

poole shop is proud to have carried organic over the past three years--we love the depth of patrick's line, which has seen everything from tee shirts to leather shorts. to see how important styling is to organic, click on style.com to view the latest collection (and see that a tee shirt is not merely a tee shirt). we're so excited about our pre-spring shipment that just arrived with this adorable skirt available only at poole shop and barney's. stop in to see it before it's gone, and check out the rest of the collection in person.

new year, new beginning

seven days into the new year, and we've already broken our resolutions (in our defense, it's way too cold to even think about hitting the gym at 7:00 am). so instead of focusing on our own failures to commitment, we've researched to top ten resolutions for 2010 and have assigned a celebrity who needs to take each one to heart this year.

1. stop smoking: katherine heigl. perhaps the real ms. heigl should take a clue from the likable girl-next-door character that made her famous: we're sure dr. izzy stevens would not approve of this nasty habit.

2. get fit: gerard butler. while we admire his devil-may-care attitude about packing on a few extra lb's, we have to admit that we'd rather see the gerard butler from the movie 300 than the 300-pound gerard butler.

3. lose weight: alec baldwin. it's been so long since we've seen a skinny alec that we don't even remember how our favorite of the baldwin brothers used to look (sigh).

4. enjoy life more: jennifer aniston. it's been a rough five years for aniston since her very public split from mr. angelina jolie. let's try and start the new decade with a smile, jen.

5. quit drinking: mariah carey. after her recent slurred speech at the palm springs international film festival awards, we have to wonder about this one. put the bottle down, sister.

6. learn something new: lady gaga. we're a little tired of the costumes and the gimmicks. she may have been the entertainer of 2009, but we'd like to see her a little subdued in 2010.

7. get organized: spencer pratt. or maybe you should just get a job.

8. get out of debt: aaron carter. we hear that as 2009 was drawing to an end, this little pop icon owed uncle sam $1,010,635.00. isn't he, like, 15?!

9. spend more time with the family: tiger woods. oops...maybe it's a little too late for that one since the family is moving to sweden.

10. help others: paris hilton. she's made a life out of promoting herself and has become famous for doing nothing other than making herself famous. we think it's time for her to reach out and lend a hand.

rural chic

leave it to karl lagerfeld to celebrate the simple, country life by creating a chic clog (yes, we said clog) that danced down the chanel runway during the spring 2010 fashion shows. although we've eschewed this matronly style in the past, we may end up eating our words when the wooden wedge and studded styles begin showing up in stores. worn with socks, shorts, or jeans (and juxtaposed against alexander mcqueen's "alien" platforms) the clog may be the singular style that brings fashion back down to earth this spring. even so, we still won't let you get away with wearing danskos.

the color of 2010

we're happy to introduce you to the official color of 2010: pantone 15-5519 TCX, or turquoise to the layperson. in a statement released by the color authority, pantone declares that "turquoise evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of well being." well said, pantone. we think we'll hop off to the islands to catch some rays poolside with a flirty cocktail in tow...