Let me just start by saying that I am a huge SJP fan.  The proportions of her body, the sinewy nature of her appendages and her chameleon-like tresses have always left me breathless.  However, sometimes she does things so perfectly that it arouses within me a new level of geek fashion fandom.

At the ShoWest awards (where Ms. Cynthia Nixon also dazzled in Cavalli and Carolina Herrera) SJP donned a confection from Marchesa’s Fall/Winter 2010 collection.  While I usually find Marchesa a tad contrived, a bit too obviously-created-for-red-carpet-exposure, this dress is a winning exception.

The shape of the dress is unique and while the star adornment could be cheesy/tacky, it isn’t due to the expert tailoring and fit of the garment.  What I especially love is how happy SJP looks to be wearing it.  Fashion is supposed to make you feel good about yourself and Ms. Parker is clearly experiencing some absurdly-high self esteem issues right about now.

It’s always funny to talk in office lingo.  I can’t get enough of idioms like “nose to the grind stone”, “burning the midnight oil”, “circle back” and “EOD.”  However, in fashion, where everything is covered in Swarovski crystals and feathered peplums, the verbiage has gotten downright absurd and yes, idiotic.  If I had a dime for every time I heard one of the following nonsensical sayings, well let’s just say I wouldn’t need “petty cash” to “expense” these “stipends”… “jargon.”

Ridiculous (& Ubiquitous) Fashion-ologies:

“It wants a…”:  Usually said by a stylist who is trying to define that which is lacking in a particular outfit.  Ie. “This cardigan wants a belt…. and maybe a shearling turban.”

“It’s about a…”: Similar to “it wants a…“, but more a guideline regarding a hypothesized look.  After the creative of a shoot is established, a stylist might explain to his/her underlings: “It’s about a mini skirt, blousey top and giant ‘We are #1′ foam fingers.”

“Major.”: When something is cool, good, decent, horrible, satanic, quirky, but most off all, fabulishous!

“Too much look.” When a look is entirely “too much.”  Every time this phrase is uttered, somewhere a stylist loses her wings (and is told to pack up her prop apron).

Some photos I took today wandering around the West Village with Baxter on this gloriously sunny day.  The all-white dog gang was particularly intimidating.  Ferris Bueller, eat your heart out…  ”Never had one lesson!”

Tonight is one of the first nights in weeks that I have been able to sit down, have a glass of iced white and devote myself to the art of blogging.  I have been incredibly busy with work (not complaining!) and have had tons of stuff to share, but nary a moment to write it all down.  Immediately after popping off the red eye from LA, we began doing market for Jessica Simpson’s media tour on behalf of her new show “The Price of Beauty” — which premieres tonight, by the way! — as well as some press events for Cynthia Nixon.   I think Jess’ top look of the week (which consisted of body-hugging L’Wren Scott, funky Dolce & Gabanna and splashes of YSL and vintage) was a column dress with flutter sleeves from Giambattista Valli.  She looked elegant and timeless and more specifically, like fashion napalm.  Cynthia looked sophisticated and modern in vintage Thierry Mugler and Fred Leighton jewels.  Is that an oxymoron?  Like jumbo shrimp?

A little birdie just snuck me a copy of Washington Life magazine in which my Mom is lauded for the California flare she lends to the inimitable DC fashion scene.  While I think she is much more than just a fashion maven, her chartreuse Lanvin gown has seriously made an impact on the powers that be in District fashion.  But let me just tell you, this woman is not a one trick pony.  You should see some of the amazing things of hers I have appropriated over the years.  Some really special pieces have even made their way onto clients!  Case in point, Ms. Jessica Simpson donned a bohemian-style belt I snagged from my Mom at a photo session for Marie Claire magazine last week.  Keep your eyes peeled for the May issue in which Ms. Simpson appears as a guest beauty editor.  A guest beauty editor with the sickest belt of all time.

So as trends go, I actually like the army trend.  I’ve been told I dress a little masculine and one reader went so far as to repeatedly grab my “balls” on Saturday night when I wore slouchy khakis. However, I am majorly lusting after Marni’s military-inspired jackets from Pre-Fall.  The first looks like the lining of a men’s jacket and the second is cropped and quilted.  Two uniquely fabulous takes on a trend that keeps marching on.  (Get it?  Military trend?  Marching?)  On that note, have you heard the joke about the jump rope?  No?  Skip it.

I am just watching the red carpet coverage now and am gonna just shoot from the hip and say what I think as I watch.  In my head the result will be a stream of consciousness a la “The Rules of Attraction.”  Vera Farmiga went with the weakest magenta, Marchesa gown of all time.  I refuse to believe that dress is even from a recent season as it has seemingly made an appearance on every major red carpet for the past two years.  I just watched Vera in “Orphan” and contrary to what I thought was an unremarkable turn in the critically-lauded “Up in the Air”, she killed it in “Orphan.”  I like:  Maggie G, Sandra Bullock  and Diane Kruger.  I don’t love Amanda Seyfried.  Carey Mulligan played it safe, but looks cute.  I’m not naming names, but an anonymous youngster in the room just suggested I give an award to Giuliana DePandi’s rack.  So, blue ribbon for that.  Sandra Bullock was just a dickhead to her publicist and it was majorly awkward.  I will forever think that how she is in “Crash” is how she is in real life.  Amanda Seyfried’s Armani Prive dress makes her look really flat, but she looks clean and I am sure that it will photograph neatly and look elegant.  My cohort’s review of Faith Hill’s ensemble?  ”I like her body.  And her face.”  Rachel McAdams looks beautiful.  The dress looks dope with her highlights.  Those earrings are major.  Miley Cyrus: good bod, bad hair, bad earrings.  Elizabeth Banks’ dress is a nice shade of grey and fits nicely in the bodice, but is too ruffly at the bottom.  Matthew Broderick looks like he’s having a hard time.  I think SJP looks amazing.  I love the hair.  It’s really special and she may be one of the only throw-back stars who makes indelible fashion statements that will truly stand the test of time.  Peanut gallery said her hair “looks like a butterfly.”  I don’t like SJP’s fly-aways at the hairline.  I really, really like SJP’s dress from the back.  Not sure I “get” the rosettes on Charlize’s rack.  But the contrast between the lilac of the dress and her red lip  is sharp.  Just cracked a beer.  Writing juices now flowing.  George Clooney is rocking douchey frat-boy hair.  J.Lo’s hair looks kind of rough.  Is it humid or something?   Why is everyone’s hair askew?   Good dress for Meryl Streep.  Hair is weird on top and I think she is wearing way too many diamonds.  Demi Moore!  Sick color on her and I like the hair!  J. Lo’s dress cuts a beautiful silhouette, but I think the sheen cheapens it.  Keanu Reeves has pubes on his face.  Kristen Stewart looks good.  Cut to Taylor Lautner posing like an action doll on the red carpet.  You were in “Twilight”; You’re not Sean Connery.  Stop posing like that, nerd.  Gabourey Sibide just gave Keanu Reeves a fist pound.  Ryan Seacrest just told the cameraman to “widen this thing out”  in order to catch Gaby’s full look.  Is that allowed?

Who is the hunk of love beneath the letterman sweater? We're not telling!

The Rolling Stone shoot is now complete.  We spent all day yesterday working at the lovely Smashbox Studios in West Hollywood capturing extremely fun and authentic Rockwellian images that will appear in the April 2010 issue.  While I don’t want to reveal the subjects just yet, I thought I’d give you a teaser and show off an amazing sweater I pulled from Southpaw Vintage in NYC that will be on the cover!  The cover and the inside spread feature some really amazing one-of-a-kind vintage pieces.  Most notably, a Boyscout sash (complete with badges) lovingly made by my friend, and most helpful stylist assistant, Schuyler.  Thanks again, Schuy!

[Editor's note:  The following post was written on Saturday, February 27th, but due to a hectic schedule was not published until today.]

Wowza, this has been a crazy week.  On the tail of wrapping a job for Jessica Simpson, I have had to kick it into high gear for an upcoming cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

The time was tight, the shoot concept highly detailed and the budget nearly non-existent. The ridiculous weather in New York also proved to be a serious hurdle in the completion of this job.  Messengers were moving at a snail’s place, PR houses took snow days and planes all over this great nation were cancelled. In order to accommodate all of these obstacles, the job was moved to Sunday.  Now, aboard a sturdy JetBlue vessel, I am confident that we have some really great options for all twelve of our subjects.

The concept for this shoot is a hybrid between sporty characters and a Norman Rockwell 1950’s vibe.  The palette consists of warm tones like red, dark blue, golden yellow and taupes.  While I have seen tons of Rockwell’s images, I never realized how specific his aesthetic was.  Upon further research, I now realize that his specific color scheme is often emulated in pop culture.  What the warm tones, paired with warm-hearted, Depression-era images emote is a vibe that is purely nostalgic Americana.   When coupled with a tongue-in-cheek scene, the vibe is very Rolling Stone and very Mark Seliger, the legendary photographer with whom I will be lucky enough to work tomorrow.

My favorite looks for this shoot are an amazing nude body suit and matching skirt with gold grommets from Alexandre Herchcovitch, sporty resort looks from Miu Miu and the tremendous football-inspired looks from Alexander Wang’s Spring/Summer 2010 collection.  Other amazing pieces were culled from Southpaw vintage in New York and costume houses in Los Angeles.

I have never done a shoot that incorporates so many different influences, references and sources so I am very excited to see how it all comes together.  Stay tuned for the finished product, which will appear on newsstands the middle of next month.   So please, go and buy five copies for ya motha.