Wimbledon #6? It's a cinch

Tennis world number 1 and Wimbledon top-seed Roger Federer had naysayers (who are pointing to Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic as this year's projected winner) talking about something else for a change -- Fed's yearly fashion splash on the grass court runways.
Fed retired the taped blazer of tourney's past and debuted this cream cardigan dream (de riguer!), But as most fashionistas know, the beauty is in the details, as shown here with Fed's tonal D-ring waist cincher. Game. Set. Matching canvas belt. Fab!

On the lam ... Milan Shop Report

After three days at the MICAM Shoe Show in Milan this past week, I was able to (literally) sneak away to city center and visit a few shops. It's been almost 9 years since my last visit, and suffice to say, everything is still pretty malltastic these days (H&M? Check. Zara? Check.) However, two stores were a must on this trip...

10 Corso Como just oozes insider cool, with its tight edit of everything from books to housewares, and, of course, fashion. Overall, though, I was kind of underwhelmed. Perhaps I'm jaded as a New Yorker, but seeing Commes des Garcons and Alexander McQueen on the racks doesn't quite have the same allure as it once did. After all, it doesn't take an 8 hour plane ride to get to Jeffrey and see the same stuff (No worries, the staff-inflicted passive-aggressive bitchiness is still free). The one unexpected takeaway from the shop is that all clothing has a "10 Corso Como" tag sewn below the designer label (even on the 25Euro t-shirts!), which makes for a lovely, brag-worthy Milanese souvenir.

The highlight of my runaway journey was certainly my visit to the Viktor&Rolf boutique in the quad. The Dutch duo's flagship embodies the quirky house to a "T" -- and that "T" is short for Topsy Turvy. I know I'm about 3 years late on this one, but seeing is believing, as everything is turned on it head -- the ceiling is the floor, the floor is the ceiling, and even the signage is upside down. Absolutely brilliant. Now only if the exchange rate between the Euro and US Dollar were inverted, then I'd really have something to blog about!

[10 Corso Como, Milan. (www.10corsocomo.com)]
[Viktor & Rolf, 14 Via Sant'Andrea, Milan. (www.viktor-rolf.com)]

If I had a dollar ...

for everytime someone at the gym asked my opinion about The Perfect Pushup, the exercise gadget featured on television and sold at (seemingly legit health-minded places like) GNC, I'd be able to rely on hiring a personal trainer instead of buying stuff like this. Considerably, I'm very skeptical about anything hawked on the tele, and plus I didn't want to be that loser at the New York Sports Club, feeling the burn on my Thighmaster with that glittering dash of hope for a Suzanne Somers ass. That contraption didn't get Suzanne Somers anything but a mansion in Malibu.

But, here's my biased review after almost two months of use: The Perfect Pushup delivers on what it promises. With proper technique, my wrists sustained less strain and my range of motion increased considerably. Both these qualities add up to visible results. But at 5 lbs, the set is somewhat bulky and cumbersome to carry around. However, if I'm lugging these things to the gym, then I'm definitely justifying the bag mark imprint left on my shoulder and using them.

Really though, how did Suzanne Somers get that ass?

[Perfect Pushup, about $40. (www.perfectpushup.com)]

Best foot forward (Fall 2008)

I'm about ready to proclaim the Shoe of the Season for Fall 2008 (Seven months ahead of schedule!) ...

Band of Outsiders's Fall 2008 presentation featured these anti-cool, but somehow drool-worthy Sperry TopSider/Boot hybrids. These are certain to replace my LLBean shearling-lined duckboots as my staple come next fall.

A few seasons back, I heeded the return of Sperry with the original docksiders in an updated bright kelly green. I would slip on my Lacoste polo shirt and dream about days of 80s yore, listening to The La's, and hanging around the boat mall. Flashforward and Sperry now goes for annual domination with the introduction of this new shape. And still, no boat necessary.

[www.bandofoutsiders.com for info]

Shoe In

This spring, I'm obsessed with the Samba -- whether it's the Latin American ballroom kind displayed on (White Cheddar Cheese Alert!)ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" or the forever-classic Adidas Samba sneaker.
Me and the samba have a fantastic past. There were the countless pairs of childhood worn until the heels fell apart, or got so pebble-strewn within the little grids of the soles that they no longer proved pliable. There was the pair that put the "pleasure" in Janet Jackson's "Pleasure Principle" video that made me ask Mom and Dad for a new pair, get rejected, and hoped they would magically appear in the clearance section of Marshall's (definitely pre-DSW days, folks).
My latest resurrection of the Samba is the all-white pair as pictured here. Pristine white with the iconic black stripe and funky large soccer-style tongue, it don't get more Spring 2007 than this folks. Imagine them paired with a straight leg jean or a pair of tailored mid thigh shorts. Better yet, imagine them strapped to your feet as you dance and tumble your way through an abandoned warehouse. Oh, Janet!

[Adidas Samba Classics in White, about $45, (www.shopadidas.com)].

Bringin' down the 'house

I know I've been blogging about music fairly often lately, but this is my latest obsession: Meet Amy Winehouse.
Her jazzy, bluesy, 60s tinged album "Back to Black" is so soulful, you'll be calling C.Thomas Howell and asking him what kind of tanning pills he was taking in that movie just so you can hang.
It also doesn't hurt that the British Ms. Winehouse puts the "wine" in "winehouse." Girl is drunk on the tele like every other minute. And she doesn't deny it. Her single "Rehab" announces, "They tried to send me to rehab, but NO NO NO." Take that Destiny's Child. AND she's besties with Kate Moss. Dear Hello Magazine -- White Hot Mess Alert!
Lately, it seems the British ladies are reclaiming the neo-soul genre from Americans. Between Corinne Bailey Rae's subtle debut and Amy Winehouse, the Stateside gals better get it together before the Brits steal what us Yanks invented!

[Amy Winehouse, "Back to Black," available soon to US Markets].

Singled out

Two singles receiving mucho rotation on my iPod are Mika's "Grace Kelly" and Paolo Nutini's "Last Request."
Continuing my seemingly neverending anglomania, these two artists are accomplished successes across the pond in the UK, but now are just hitting ashore here in the USA. Mika's style harks back to strong stroytelling-within-a-song, much like a 70s Elton John. It may sound like a hokey musical approach, but for some reason, its bubblegummy tongue-in-cheekiness all works.
On the other hand, Paolo Nutini is a more traditional alterna-pop singer/songwriter. Thankfully, he won't have an annoying hit a la James Blunt's "You're Beautiful" and that's a good thing. Let's keep him a secret. At least until Grey's Anatomy uses "Last Request" for some overly dramatic musical montage featuring soft focus shots of medical residents.

[Mika, Life in Cartoon Motion, www.mikasounds.com]
[Paolo Nutini, These Streets, www.paolonutini.com].