Week In Review: Met Ball Brings Out Fashion’s Superheroes, Crest Grosses Us Out, And More…

Required Reading:

• Everyone fab and famous absolutely could not stay away from the Met's Costume Institute Ball. We spotted three big trends on celebs shuffling into the party: glam one-shouldered gowns, bold hued party shoes, and fierce red lips.

• Crest's Pro-Health Rinse apparently turns your teeth brown. Yep, brown. As in dirty than they were before you brushed and rinsed. Unbelievable, right?
  

• We show you how, with the right accessories and the perfect oversized tote, you can pull off a cocktail dress for daytime.

• We powerful business women want to be remembered for our accomplishments – not our backless Donna Karan spandex gown. So what do we wear this summer that makes us feel good (and fashionable) while not causing our clients to stare 15 inches below where they should when we're discussing a deal?

Steals and Deals:

• Take an Additional 40% Off Sale Clutches at Bloomingdale's

• Up to 30% Off INC Jackets at Macy's

• An Extra 25% Off Dresses Already 70% Off at Shopbop

Just for Fun:

• Big bold accessories are the name of the game this season, becoming the focus of the outfit rather than the complement. These link bracelets are great for spicing up a work ensemble or pairing with a simple sundress. But one costs a whopping $1380 more than the other. Are your style skills sharp enough to figure out which is which?  
  

• As the weather warms up, it will behoove you to fill your closet with simple summer dresses you can just throw on with no fuss. And the less they cost, the more you can buy. One of these dresses costs a mere $35, while the other is over a $100 more. Can you guess which is the bargain?
  

Blog Round-Up: Heard On The Web This Week

I'm Not Obsessed gives you a sneak peek at Barneys Co-Op Surprise: Rogan Gregory for GO. International.

Dreading swimsuit season? Get your best beach bod with StyleBakery.com's tips for finding the right swimsuit for your figure.

SheFinds comes to the rescue when you don't know What to Wear to Meet the Parents.

The Beauty Brains tell us the story of Emily Skin Soother, a skin salve developed by a father for his infant daughter. 

Girlawhirl's stocking up on fitflops for summer before they sell out again! 

Smarter Fashion gives you MORE great online coupon codes from top online stores in clothing & accessories. They will expire at the end of this month so no procrastinating! 

Top Button is madly in love with light summer scarves. Especially this TDM Design Marino Water Scarf. Ahhh-mazing! 

At Real Simple's Simply Stated, we go on a Single-Item Shopping Spree and discover the skirt that goes everywhere.  

Innovative Undies Offer More Than Just Satin And Frilly Lace

The same old bra and panties routine can get so boooorring. And we're not talking about spicing things up with flashy prints or frilly lace. Below are some innovative lingerie pieces that are pushing the envelope to offer more than just something to cover your bum. They play with new fabrics, cuts, and even pearls (yikes!) to bring us the latest in lingerie design. Which piece do you find the most exciting of the bunch?

The Sassybax Very Bare Bra is like one giant band-aid for your boobs. Weird, yes. But it works.

Why shouldn't your underwear do more than just look pretty? Samantha knows that possibilities are endlessly exciting when you're sporting a pearl thong.

Luxury Liner underwear from OnGossamer puts your mind at ease when it's that time of the month. Just when we've mastered the art of walking out of a restaurant backwards...oh well.

Wires are out - of bras that is. New wire-free bras like the Wacoal Contour No Wire Bra are upstaging their stiffer counterparts.  

Take our poll below and don't forget to check out our Best Underwear and Best Bras Guides.  

You’ll Need A Swimsuit For Memorial Day: Get One That Flatters Your Shape

The official Memorial Day start to summer is a mere two weeks away, which means you don't have much time to score the perfect summer suit. Don't you want to show up all your friends on the beach this year? Lounging poolside in the trendiest suits will prove you can take your fashionista prowess on the go anyhwere anytime. Our SheFinds Swimwear Guide offers top picks of the most figure-flattering suits in the latest styles.

A sexy one-piece like this La Blanca plunge suit ($117) is the perfect choice for ladies looking to cover up the middle but still show off some skin.


This halter bikini by Lisa Curran ($160) creates the illusion of a larger bust with its mod striped pattern.

Tired of going the old bikini route, but not ready to cover up entirely? The Brette Sandler monokini ($163) offers a fresh spin on the old two-piece staple.

So before heading out for barbeques and beach-chair lounging, peruse our Swimwear Guide for suits to bring along.

Freebie Friday: Win A $100 Shopping Spree At Velvet Maven

What: $100 Shopping Spree at Velvet Maven

Why: It's about that time where everything in your closet just looks so drab and uninspiring. While basic black may have been the go-to color of winter, it won't hold a candle to the bold hues and busy prints of spring, so don't you think you should retire the black and go after some color? This week, SheFinds is offering a $100 shopping spree at velvetmaven.com - a hip online boutique that offers the latest spring styles to get you started on that much needed closet overhaul. To enter, read the rules, then go to velvetmaven.com, pick out our favorite piece, and come back to SheFinds to tell us about it.

For starters, we adore this flirty purple V-neck dress by Splendid and these elegant silver bangles by Rebecca Norman. 

1. Post in the comments section your favorite pick from velvetmaven.com.

2. You must supply us with a valid email address and sign up for the SheFinds newsletter.

3. The contest starts now and entries must be date stamped by our server no later than Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 11:59 AM Eastern Time to be eligible.

4. One winner will be selected during a random drawing and will be notified via e-mail to receive the prize.

5. No prize substitutions.

6. You must be 18 years old or older to enter and a resident of the USA.

7. No purchase necessary.

8. Void where prohibited.

9. Click here for the full rules.

And don't forget to check out MomFinds for a chance to win a giant gift basket from Neat Solutions.

Deal Of The Day: Take An Additional 40% Off Sale Clutches At Bloomingdale’s

With warmer weather comes the urge to lighten up. After all, you can't technically frolic through all that freshly sprung grass when you've got a 15-pound brick of a bag weighing you down. Minimize—if only to better enhance your skipping for joy—by swapping your too-stuffed satchel for a cute clutch. There are tons to choose from at Bloomingdale's, where all sale items get an additional 40 percent off bonus through the weekend. Score!


Rafe New York had a hit on their hands when they launched their line of sassy, shiny clutches for Target. Cop this tribal cotton-canvas clutch ($88, was $245) for just slightly more than you'd pay at your favorite discount department store. The pattern is so in right now, and the mod wood frame and buttons only enhance this clutch's cool factor.


Channel your favorite Upper East Side prep school snob with Kenneth Jay Lane's Queen Bee clutch ($90, was $250). Metallic silver leather is so chic, and the whimsical, crystal-encrusted bee medallion lets everyone know you're the leader of your social pack.


Bugs aren't your bag? Maybe you'd prefer something more reptilian. Franchi's metallic frame clutch ($47, was $195) isn't for the faint of heart. A look-at-me embossed snakeskin texture in the brightest, boldest gold shouldn't be attempted by wallflowers. This bad-girl bag should only be carried by the life of the party.


More deals on the web:

Additional 10% off at Ariva.com with coupon code SHEMAY.

20% off at A Little Something with coupon code SheFinds20.

Sexy Wolford bras and panties are 30% off at Bare Necessities.

Go to the SheFinds forum for more sales and deals brought to you by our readers.  

Spend A Hundred Bucks And Get Tons Of Free Swag From Beauty.com

I'm such a sucker for a good gift-with-purchase, especially if the gift-with-purchase comes in a cute makeup bag (seriously, I have more Clinique bags than I know what to do with). So you can imagine my excitement at Beauty.com's latest offer: a free Lela Rose-designed makeup bag packed with samples of some of the site's bestsellers and new favorites. If you're me, the bag alone—a retro, navy-and-camel polka dot number with the most adorable khaki bow—is worth the price of admission (that would be any $100 Beauty.com purchase). But beauty junkies without my particular affinity for cosmetics cases will still find some swag to swoon over here.

Free samples are the best way to experiment with products you've always longed to try but maybe aren't so sure about dropping cash on. Go out on a limb and stick on Vincent Longo's La Dolce Vita lashes , then slick 'em and curl 'em with your new Vincent Longo The Curl mascara. Take Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion for a test drive and see how well your favorite shadow holds up with a dash of this revolutionary basecoat. And get all blushy with super-versatile Tarte cheek stain in Tipsy, a does-it-all convertible color that works on lips, too.

When your night o' beauty is over, clean up with L'Occitane (their Harvest Verbena shower gel and body lotion smell so fresh and springy), Freeze IceSheild's SPF 15 cleanser, and Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash. I'm most excited to try the intriguing Cranberry Toner from Arcona and luxe-sounding Caviar Moisture Shampoo from Alterna.

Having trouble thinking of ways to blow a Benjamin at Beauty? Open your wallets for just one of these products and you've got your freebies in the (need I say it again, gorgeous) bag:

Give your wrists a spritz of Bvlgari Pour Femme Eau de Toilette spray ($125), a pure and timeless floral that evokes luxury and grandeur.


Do something nice for your skin and your fellow women by investing in a Clarisonic Skin Care Brush in limited edition pink for breast cancer awareness ($195). Clarisonic's gentle vibrations clean and prep your pores, so you get the most of the money you've spent on cleansers, toners, and moisturizers. Plus, $10 of your purchase goes towards the fight against breast cancer.


Fire up iTech's Wet-&-Dry Tourmaline Flat Iron ($180) and get your hair dried and looking sleek in half the time. Top vents help excess water in your locks to evaporate, and precious stone tourmaline creates deep-penetrating heat that's not as damaging to your 'do as traditional flat irons.

Solution: Pull A Reverse-Samantha And Conceal Those Nips

The upcoming Sex and the City movie has everyone buzzing about the trailer, the fashions, and, of course, their favorite episodes of the series. I happen to love the one where Samantha attracts a guy (who turns out to be a total manchild) by wearing a pair of fake nipples. The episode first aired in 2001, and it makes me wonder: when did things change?

These days, it seems there's quite the stigma attached to nipples standing at attention. An influx of lined bras and a nip-slip-obsessed tabloid culture make for plenty of incentive to keep your nips under tight wraps. But in a season of built-to-go-braless dresses, you're going to need more—or should we say less—to keep an embarrassing incident from popping up.

Luckily three brands are leading the charge in the no more nip slips war. Bristol6's Nippies Silicone patches ($19.50 for a pair) are lightweight, flesh-toned, and washable and re-wearable up to 50 times.

Hollywood Fashion Tape's Cover-Ups Nipple Concealers ($15 for a pair) are simple silicone stickers you can wear again and again. Their smoothness and paper-thinness makes them ideal for wearing under silky strapless tops or spaghetti strap dresses.

And Pure Style Girlfriends' Smooth 'em Concealers ($17 for a pair) are water and sweatproof, so you can work up a sweat doing… whatever it is you do to get your workout while going sans bra.

I bet sex-crazed Samantha would drop dead before passing a pair of pasties around the breakfast table. But if you're more like prim-and-proper Charlotte, you can now go braless without the constant nagging worry that you'll expose yourself or—gasp!—let the world know you have nipples.

Click here for more SheFinds Solutions.