Fashion's Night Out was all about the Alcohol

It's Fashion Week in NYC and last night was Fashion's Night Out, the kick-off to the week of glamour where the stores stayed open until 11 p.m. and boutique owners entice shoppers with music and liquor.

My girl, Shani, and I had five stops to make last night - three were fashion related. The plan was to visit J. Crew, because the store on Prince Street was unveiling its fall fashion line. Next on the list was Intermix, just because they have great shoes, bags and clothes and the last fashion stop was to be Rachel Roy's Pop Up Store, so we could get a look at her new line - Rachel Rachel Roy.

We were armed with cash and credit cards. I haven't charged anything all year, but was willing to make an exception last night because it was Fashion Week and I have had a few items on my wish list for a while. I was hoping to find a gray bag, black clutch, black leather motorcycle-style jacket and leggings that don't make my thighs look fat. I could have been easily persuaded to spend more than I should have last night.

We made it to J. Crew, looked at the jewelry and drank champagne. The accessories line was great - love that cluster of necklaces on the mannequin - but we didn't see anything that we just had to have.

Onto Intermix next. Now, I've been stalking this Juliette Jake clutch at Intermix since March, but can't bring myself to pay $595 for it, even if my heart melts every time I see it. I was hoping that this beauty would be on sale. But the folks at Intermix removed everything from the store, except for a couple of racks of clothing. The merchandise was replaced with a DJ and open bar. It was like the club in there. Mad crazy! So, rather than shop, we drank Patron.

Disappointed that I still hadn't purchased a single thing, I couldn't wait to get to Rachel Roy's Pop Up store because her Rachel Rachel Roy collection is amazing and so affordable! That jumpsuit is only $129. Her collection is also available at Macy's. We get there, see the velvet rope and insane line and immediately know there's going to be an issue. The crowd may have had something to do with the Estelle DJing inside. So, we waited about 10 minutes - on feet that were already screaming - and decided to leave.

The night ended at The Mansion nightclub, where the BMI awards after party was taking place. Because of Shani's connection, we got into the VIP, where the drinks were flowing. Hennessy Black was a sponsor, so that's what the bartenders were serving up - all types of drinks made with Hennessy.

Boris Kodjoe and his wife Nicole Ari Parker, Janelle Monae and BJ, who worked at Baby Phat when "Kimora: Life In the Fab Lane" was being shot, were also in the VIP. Sweet!

So, while the only thing we spent money on was cab rides, we enjoyed all of the free liquor.

Matte Finish

I've noticed that one of the latest nail trends is using polish with a matte or dull finish. So, I bought a bottle of OPI matte polish today. The color is "You Don't Know Jacques," which is a grayish, brown color, which is great for the fall.

The polish came with instructions - Do not use a base or top coat, drying products or hand lotion. The first three will be pretty easy, but I have to lotion my hands. There's also a warning that the matte polish doesn't last as long as the regular OPI polish, I guess that's because you can't use a top coat.

I just used the polish at and first glance, I didn't like it. I missed the shine. But 10 minutes later, I love it. It's different and completely fashion forward. I painted my toenails, too, and was thinking I would put a top coat on my toenails because they needed something extra. But I have since decided against that, too.

I'm totally lovin' the matte finish. What's your favorite nail look?

OPI matte can be found at Trade Secret for $8.50 a bottle.

Communicate with Clothes

The message you send through your personal style may have nothing to do with your bag, boots or bangles, but it has everything to do with your confidence, panelists said at an event, “Fashion Statement - How Dressing for Success Makes You a Better Communicator," that I attended last night.

“True style is having the outside match the best of what the inside has to offer,” said Bobbie Thomas, TODAY’s Style Editor and author of the Buzz Column for “In Touch Weekly,” who served as moderator for the event sponsored by New York Women in Communication, Inc., an organization that supports writers, public relations, marketing and branding experts.

Panelist Nancy Berger, founder of Grace Group, an individual and corporate branding firm, said what’s on the inside counts more than what’s on the outside. “It’s all about the confidence. What’s going on in your brain is more significant,” she said.

But to be confident, it doesn’t help to wear a great dress or belt and to put on a bit of makeup, the experts said.

Some of their style tips include:

• “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have,” said Suzy Yalof Schwartz, panelist and Executive Fashion Editor at Large for “Glamour” magazine. “Collect dresses, then you only have to worry about shoes.” This Banana Republic dress will always be in style. Get it for $142.

• "Understand your audience...if you have an important meeting, don't wear flip flops," Berger said.

• “You wear your hair 365 days a year – that’s the best investment you can make,” Thomas said.

• Don’t believe the hype. “Celebrities wear Spanx and get facials to their heart’s content,” said Panelist Amy Odell, Editor, The Cut, NYmag.com.

• “Wear shoes you can walk in. If you don’t, it will show,” Berger warned. “Belts add a pop of color. A leopard belt is totally acceptable in a corporate environment.” This wide haircalf belt is available at Ralph Lauren for $450.

• “Add a third element – one piece that doesn’t have to be there,” Yalof Schwartz said.

• “Buy a good bra,” said Eve Pearl, panelist and Emmy Award winning celebrity makeup artist and consultant. “And learn how to put on eyeliner and basic lipstick. You are worth it.”

• “It’s not about size. It’s about shape,” Thomas said. “It’s about proportion and balance.”

• If you’re not sure how to dress during an interview, ask HR. It’s a fair question, advised Berger.

• If you have cleavage issues, draw attention way from the problem with a statement necklace or scarf, Thomas offered. This Emilio Pucci cotton and silk scarf is at Nordstrom for $120.

• Berger said everyone should have five go-to outfits.

• Thomas suggested that women should invite over a friend to put together outfits from your closet. “They will put together things you never thought to wear together,” she said.

• Odell suggested that everyone “invest in a tailor.”

• And Berger said she always keeps three items in her desk at work: static guard, which she said is great for winter mishaps, a lint brush and a hand steamer in case you have an unexpected after-work event.

High/Low Fashion

I love the idea of high/low fashion - where you pair something pricey with something not so expensive.

That's what I did for church today. I paired a $165 skirt, that I snagged for $79.99 from Anthropologie, with a $6.99 T-shirt from Target. My shoes were $90 from Aldo and the pearls, about $7, from Forever 21 - clearly, they are not from the sea.

Just because you spend an arm and a leg on one article of clothing, doesn't mean you have to pair it with another piece that's just as expensive. According to a New York Post article, some tips to work high/low fashion include:

• Buy from Ebay, vintage and thrift stores.
• Educate yourself about fabrics, so you can intelligently buy cheaply-priced fabrics that have the look and feel of expensive ones.
• Spend your money wisely - no need to pay $100 for a cotton T-shirt, when you can get it for $9.99.
• Accessorize, accessorize and then accessorize some more. A great bag can elevate the cheapest outfit!

What's your favorite high/low outfit?

The Women's Shoe Suffering Movement

These are the shoes I wore last night to Delta's in New Brunswick.

No matter where I ended up last night, I was wearing these Betsey Johnson Reese shoes because they have been in my closet for about a year and have never seen the light of day. In case you're wondering, this is a sure sign that one has too many shoes, when you buy them and seriously take your time getting to them.

I saw them last fall in Nordstrom and like I do with all things fabulous, I instantly fell in love. I mean, look at them! Who wouldn't be a victim of love at first sight? The bow. The deep blue body with bright red trim and the added elegance of suede. I wore them with Theory dark skinny jeans that I cuffed into the boyfriend-jeans look and a short, red double-breasted jacket from Anthropologie

My friend Raven and I bought the shoes at the same time after we saw them individually (she lives in the D.C. area) and realized that we had to have them. Even with my infatuation, I was slightly hesitant because of the price - $165. I knew this was not going to be a shoe that got a ton of wear, but I also knew when I wore it, they would be show stoppers.

And they were show stoppers.

While I received several compliments, they hurt like heck. I'm praying that it was because it was my first time wearing them and not that they are just going to be shoes that hurt all the time. I have shoes that have never broken in no matter how many times I've worn them.

So, the situation begs the question of why women torture their feet (mine were still hurting this morning) for great shoes?

Post your answers in the comment section.

The Hunt for the Perfect Red Necklace

That's my boring red necklace that I've bequeathed to my five-year-old neighbor when I find a replacement. This little girl fell in love with the necklace when she saw it earlier this summer. That's how boring it is that a five-year-old would wear it.

I've been on the hunt for a new red necklace for more than a year, but I just can't find anything that catches my eye. But part of the problem is that I don't really know what I'm looking for, but I hope when I see it I will know that THAT is the necklace.

I have these sexy Jessica Simpson Brenda heels in Scarlet and when I wear these shoes, I'd like my jewelry to be just as fabulous. I've paired the two in the past and my feet were saying "hotness" but my neck was saying "yawn."

If you have a red necklace that you're in love with, post a link to where you bought it in the comment section.

Say It With Fashion

If you know me, you know that I don't hold back. I say what's on my mind. Basically, I'm not shy.

So, when I saw this "Legalize Gay - Repeal Prop 8 Now" T-shirt, I had to have it.

I first saw it on Kathy Griffin's reality show, "My Life on the D List," when she was campaigning for people to repeal Proposition 8, the measure that was on the November ballot in California that goes against gay marriage. The wording, however, was so confusing that if you were in favor of same-sex marriage, you voted against Prop 8, and if were against same-sex marriage, you voted for Prop 8. That can confuse the smartest person, right? Anyway, the measure passed 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent.

Since I own and publicly wear the shirt, you can guess how I feel about same-sex marriage.

Whether you agree or not with Prop 8, clothes are a great way to get your point across. There are some great T-shirts out there with hilarious, cute, political and religious messages. A good website to start with is Good To Go Tees.

If you're interested in the "Legalize Gay" tee, it's at American Apparel for $17.

How do you say it with fashion?