So the Golden Globes was an hour long "press conference" ...  we can still critique what celebrities wear right? Of course! Here is my list of the best-dressed actresses:

Katie Holmes

Nicole Kidman

Reese Witherspoon

Lucy Liu

Jessica Alba

Rachel Bilson

Give yourself a mini fashion makeover

Resolutions take on many forms; the good news is that they don't all have to include giving up cheesecake and your morning lattes.

Now is the time to set your fashion New Year's Resolutions, and start 2008 with your best (and most stylish) foot forward.

1. Clean out your closet. As the nights get colder, you need something to do right? Why not get a jump start on Spring cleaning? Donate, consign or give away clothes you haven't worn in a year or are too big/small.

What to wear to a holiday party

It’s that time of year again: holiday parties. Love ‘em or loath them, you still want to be the center of attention. With the holidays right around the corner, now’s the time to snag the dress of the season.

Here’s a list of my favorites. From the little black dress to glittering gold and demure earth tones, there’s a dress here for every taste and budget.

The shoes that keep on giving

What could top finding the perfect pair of shoes? Besides winning the lottery and discovering the Fountain of Youth that is. Say you have a killer pair of mules but want to make sure they stay on your feet this winter. Heelstraps are an ingenious new product that not only transforms backless heels into sexy strappy heels, they give you several new ways to wear your shoes. Available in a variety of colors, Heelstraps cost only $10!

Belisi Fashions, Jupiter, Florida

Oops! Telltale white marks on a black dress, out of control static, gaping blouses and embarrassing “tic tacs” in a cold room. They happen at all the wrong times. Well, I guess there never is a good time to suffer a fashion meltdown.

If you were a bit nervous splurging on a silver handbag or a pair of strappy silver Jimmy Choo heels, you can put your pretty little mind to rest. Silver is still going strong and it’s hotter than ever. Expect to see lots of silver accessories (handbags, belts, shoes, and jewelry), blouses, and dresses. Silver outerwear is in for fall and winter but I’m not sure if this trend will stick--there can be too much of a good thing.

What to keep and what to toss, donate, or relegate to the back of your closet

Leggings

There are a lot of trends floating around, and some of their staying power is surprising. Like leggings. They look good on virtually no one and yet the trend has persevered despite much backlash and skepticism. How can a style that so blatantly accentuates the calf and calls attention to ankles and the true height of the average American woman have endured for this long? Finally, the end is near my friends.

If you haven't heard, letting it all show is the in thing right now (and I'm not talking about all those super short skirts and daisy dukes). Clear bags, bangle bracelets, shoes and shades are accessories you can't live without for spring and summer. While plastic may have seemed cheap before, it's now the chicest accessory in Hollywood. Lucite (crystal) jewelry and shoes are especially hot. 

Stars like Sarah Jessica Parker (will she every wear anything non-trendy?), Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and other leading ladies are wearing their transparency proudly.

Maybe it's not as much voyeuristic as it is the desire for others to think we're open and approachable (no secrets or scandals here). Lucite and acrylic jewelry/heels are not new-they were hot in the 60s, so the rerun fits in nicely with other mod trends for spring.

Instead of talking about this trend, I thought it would be better to offer a pictorial guide:

Lucite jewelry

Lucite bangles by Perfido Design

Lucite bracelet by Kara Rossney

Lots O' Luck green crystal necklace at Krimson and Klover
Lucite Bangles with Austrian Crystals as featured in InStyle Weddings and W Magazine

Lucite 3 choker necklace by Tarina Tarantino
Watercolor Bangle by Solange

Lucite shoes and totes

Lucite sandals in metallic pink (two of this season's hottest trends)
Juicy Couture Colony Beach tote

Predictions

As cute and playful as this trend is, I doubt it will stay strong for long. While Lucite can transition from spring and summer into fall and winter, it scratches easily and it's just one of those looks you get tired of quickly.  

Jill Hennessy got this season's trendy look right at the Catch and Release Premiere in LA. Here she rocks the shift dress with black tights and satin platform shoes. She can take this dress into spring by losing the tights and heels for a pair of comfy ballerina slippers.

Shoes, shoes and more shoes!

For the past few seasons we've seen a battle for dominance among divergent trends, namely post-grunge edgy rocker, ubran prep, modernized romantic, bohemian free spirit and ghetto-fhab-ulous. They've all held pace but with Spring comes change and a desire for a softer look. I think people simply get tired Fof in-your-face fashion after a while, or maybe the designers stop and shake their heads at their own creations. Surprisingly metallics are still going strong but collections are promising a more subdued line of golds, pewter and bronze footwear. So, if you just bought the most embellished pair of pointy-toed slippers or sequined platforms, you might feel a little like the shiek of Dubai at an Eddie Brickell concert or Tina Turner (circa 1984) amongst Kelly Clarkson fans.

One recurring trend is the flat shoe and ballet slipper. I know a lot of women, myself included, who groaned at the thought of wearing flats. At just a little over 5 feet tall, I need all the help I can get. But fortunately the styles have come a long way--to the point even a die-hard stilleto wearer like me has added a couple pair of flats to my notorisously teetering shoe collection. I guess that's a good thing, since celebrity stylist Misa Hylton, who is gearing up to launch her own online boutique in Feb. '07, says they're here to stay for a little while longer.

"Women need a break from wearing those four-inch stiletto's!" she says. "Designers have also stepped their game up with the variety of designs offered in the flat shoe, making them interesting and allowing women to still feel sexy and not like the soccer mom." So not even the "I-never-wear-flats" woman could resist buying a few pair.

"From ballet slippers to dress shoes flats will be all over the pages in fashion magazines," says Frank Patryn, president of Top Industries, a licensee for Playboy Footwear.

If you're all about comfort, you'll love this season's flats, which have a markedly preppy and comfortable feel, like the Espadrille ballet flats from Banana Republic. Some of the more tailored flats are appropriate for the office, like Banana Republic's Bedford' o-ring driving moccasins.

White is the new black

You read correctly. If you don't believe me, take a look around. It seems a lot of fashion-forward gals are breaking the no-white-after-Labor- Day rule, sporting white coats, pants, skirts and accessories all through fall and winter. Go figure. While it's nice to have the freedom to wear white whenever you want, let's face it. It's not the easiest to keep clean--especially if you're dodging slushy snow puddles.

White accessories are an easier way to wear this trend. To minimize the appearance of dirt, try patterned pieces with textured detail like lace or ribbon. Crisp, clean whites in cloth ballet slippers, espadrilles and flats with tortoise upper treatments are also big sellers, according to Patryn. Just don't forget to coat them in fabric guard. White is showing up in all styles, however. Like these super cute white pumps by Ruthie Davis.

Bootie-licious

Transition your sleek, modern boots to spring and beyond. "The overly embellished boot has faded," Misa Hylton says. "I don't expect a come-back anytime soon. Sleeker, more modern boots are in." 

Channel your inner Greek goddess

80s inspired styles are still clinging on, metamorphosis into more subtle variations, like the new Grecian sandal. The Linea Paolo Blaze Sandal would look great with a flowing skirt on a spring or summer day.

Wedged in

Wedge sandals are a welcome alternative to the spindly-heeled sandals of springs/summers past. These '70s-inspired heels are comfy and stable and at the same time totally stylish. The KORS by Michael Kors Kasbah Wooden Platform Wedge is a perfect example of the right combination of trend and function.

Science Meets Sexy

We've all felt the pinch of gorgeous heels that hurt like h-e double hockey sticks. Your calves may look sculpted and sexy but your toes look like they've been chewed up in a blender. Blisters, corns, callouses and back pain are just some of the ugly repercussions of wearing sky-high I'm-the-hottest-thing-since-Paris-Hilton sillettoes. Leave it to a group of scientists to create a solution for shoe addicts everywhere. Insolia offers shoe inserts that shift weight off of the ball of the foot back to the heel by placing the foot in the optimal position for high heels, so you can look forward to many more years of wearing high heels.

For on-the-go shoe emergencies, throw some Foot Petals in your purse, so you're always prepared. Through a virtually invisible cushion shaped like a flower petal, these life--or rather foot--savers prevent calluses from forming, and cushion the sensitive ball-of-foot area. Seriously ladies, you don't have to suffer to be beautiful.

A. Covington for Belisi Fashions, Inc.

Laces out: do shoes really make the outfit?

What came first, the chicken or the egg? The sexy black dress or the strappy stilettos? One way to look at it is that even if you blow your house payment on the sexiest dress on the planet, if you wear a pair of shabby shoes—or the wrong shoes—you might as well have worn a flour sack. On the other hand, you could wear a so-so dress and a pair of hot heels and bam! Insta outfit. But seriously, it doesn’t really matter which one pulls more weight, what matters is that neither can pull off a fabulous look with the other.

This season, platforms, knee boots, ballerina flats and ankle boots are accessory must-haves (or outfit makers, however you want to look at it). Here’s how to pair each style, courtesy of Faryl Robin Morse of Faryl Robin Footwear:

The knee-high boot: Wear with mini skirts and knee length skirts, skinny jeans. The ankle boot: Wear with skinny jeans and skirts with tights. Platforms: Wear with everything! Dress them up with A line skirts and tweed jackets, or go for casual with jeans. Ballerina flats: Wear with skirts and tights or skinny jeans.
A. Convington for Belisi Fashions, Inc.

Looking good is one thing but if you can't hold your own with all of those urban wine snobs, not even the hottest Jimmy Choo heels will carry you. This is the first in a series of wine entries to bring you up to speed fast, so the next fundraiser, dinner party, etc. you attend you can hold your head up high.

Wine 101: Wine Varieties and Regions

Chardonnay	France	A popular grape originally grown in France; now produced all over the world. It is one of the most available and versatile white winesÑand because of this finding a Chardonnay you like takes patience. A good Chardonnay can be creamy or dry, oaky or crisp. It all depends on your personal preferences.
Riesling	Germany/France (Alsace)	Found in sweet wines from Germany and Alsace. Also widely planted in Austria and Australia. Riesling is a sweet standalone wine as well as a component of many dessert wines.
Sauvignon Blanc	France (Bordeaux)	Generally produced in Sauternes and Barsac regions, this grape makes a light, pleasant white wine.
GewŸrztraminer	France (Alsace)/Germany	Literally meaning, "spice from Tramin", this sweet grape is also known for its spiciness. Mostly produced in the Alsace region of France but also in Germany, New Zealand, California, New York, Canada and Australia.
Chenin Blanc	France (Loire Valley)	This is a classic French variety used in some of the world's best and longest-living sweet wines.
Pinot Gris	France	Widely planted in France, this variety is light-bodied, lean, crisp and acidic. This grape is also planted in Italy, Germany, Hungary and Oregon in the US. It is frequently referred to as Pinot Grigio in Italy and the United States.
Viogner	France (Rhone Valley)	A full-bodied, aromatic white grape variety that is growing in popularity in the US.
Red Table Wine Varieties
Cabernet Franc	France (Bordeaux)	Found in Bordeaux blends and Loire Valley reds.
Cabernet Sauvignon	France (Bordeaux)	Grown throughout the world to produce well- structured, full-bodied red wines. It is a main component of Bordeaux reds.
Malbec	France	This wine has done well in Argentina and in France among Bordeaux blends. Wine stewards and wine drinkers have varying opinions of whether this variety is distinguished enough to be labeled a fine wine.
Merlot	France (Bordeaux)	Originally planted in France, Merlot is readily available worldwide. A good Merlot features great softness and richness, however; its widespread availability can make selecting a quality Merlot challenging. Understanding the region and climate where the wine is produced will help in selecting a stable Merlot.
Pinot Noir	France (Burgundy)	A light skinned, aromatic variety, most famous as the variety of red Burgundy. Successfully grown throughout the new world.
Sangiovese	Italy (Tuscany)	Widely planted throughout Italy. It is the principal variety used in Chianti but also can stand on its own.
Shiraz	France (Rhone)	A powerful variety, highly renowned in the Rhone region and more recently, Australia.
Tempranillo	Spain	An important component of Rioja, with growing popularity as a stand-alone wine in America.
Zinfandel	Italy	Substantial plantings in both California as well as Italy, where it is known as Primitivo.

Check back for more wine edification, including how to taste wine, store wine, and pair wine with food and much more.

You know a good glass of wine when you taste it--the only problem is getting a good glass happens purely by chance. On occasion you get a recommendation that pans out, other times you close your eyes and point ay the wine list or grab the first bottle with a high Wine Spectator rating at your local liquor store. Learning how to choose wine according to your personal preferences, as well as how to pair it with food and select a wine to please a crowd is not as intimidating as it seems.

We're going to take you on a wine journey. The first lesson is wine varieties and their regions. Once you learn what's out there, you can begin your journey into the world of fine wine.

Wine Basics

There are many different types of wine, grape varieties, wine regions and vintages. Vintage is the easy one: vintage simply means the year that the grapes were harvested. Even the world's best wines have "off" years when the picking conditions are not ideal, resulting in a sub-par "vintage". Where vintage gets complex is determining which wines have aging potential and which ones should be drunk young. We'll touch on that topic later.

Wine grape varieties represent only a fraction of the more than 600 kinds of grapes. Each grape variety has unique characteristics such as color, size, skin thickness, acidity, yield per vine and flavor. There are many grape varieties used to make wine but only a few grapes are suitable for making fine wine. Below is a chart listing some of the most popular fine wine varieties, where they come from and their notable characteristics.

Grape Varieties and their Regions

White Wine Varieties