Congratulations, Johanna Cox

Johanna Cox is Elle magazine's newest Junior Editor. She has a one year contract with Elle, an apartment in NYC, and a shopping allowance at H&M. Ah, the sweet life. 

How did Cox win the coveted position at Elle? Reality TV, of course, where all nobody's get their beginning. She recently beat out other, more qualified candidates on the CW's reality show, Stylista. 

Cox took a leave of absence from her Chinese military analyst job to pursue her passion for fashion and creative writing. Cox was put down for over-intellectualizing certain story lines and concepts at Elle. I guess Anne Slowey, fashion news editor at Elle, doesn't think the average Elle girl should have to think too hard or read too many words. Better that our heels work harder than our brains, hmm?

Personally, I believe that second runner up Megan Johnson should have won. The single reason she didn't, in my opinion, is because she sent her interview with Elle's Editor in Chief, Robbie Myers, straight to hell in a designer handbasket.

Mistake #1: She said she had become bored with her owning and operating her boutique, Addict. So she sold it.

Mistake #2 and the nail in her stylista coffin: She didn't have any questions for Myers at the end of her interview. Tisk tisk. Every interviewee knows to ask a few questions when the interviewer turns to them and asks, "So, do you have any questions for me?"

Dear Megan, 

Careerbuilder.com Editor Kate Lorenz suggests asking, 

What do you see ahead for your company in the next five years?

How do you see the future for this industry?

What do you consider to be your firm's most important assets?

What can you tell me about your new product or plans for growth?

How do you rate your competition?

What happened to the last person who held this job?

What were the major strengths and weaknesses of the last person who held this job?

What types of skills do you NOT already have onboard that you're looking to fill with a new hire?

What is the overall structure of the company and how does your department fit the structure?

What are the career paths in this department?

What have been the department's successes in the last couple of years?

How do you view your group/division/department?

What would you consider to be the most important aspects of this job?

What are the skills and attributes you value most for someone being hired for this position?

Where have successful employees previously in this position progressed to within the company?

Could you describe a typical day or week in this position? The typical client or customer I would be dealing with?

What are the most immediate challenges of the position that need to be addressed in the first three months?

What are the performance expectations of this position over the first 12 months?

How will I be evaluated at XYZ company, and how often?

What are the next steps in the interview process?

So that's covered. Rest assured Stella Stylista will never answer, "Nope, I think I'm good" when an interviewer asks her if she has any questions. And I'm sure Megan has learned her lesson.

Happy styling,

Stella Stylista

Reasonably Priced Regalia

The good news: The rumors are true. Alexander McQueen will indeed collaborate with Target to produce a line of throne worthy threads priced for the prudent pauper.

The bad news: We have to wait until March, 2009 to line up for the dream come true debut. 

Sage Baker said it best on the CW's Privileged last week, "The best way to feel like a queen is to wear Alexander McQueen!"

Tweedle Dee-licious

Alice in Wonderland is making a comeback. According to a giant slice of pepperoni pizza at a Halloween party, there's even a new Alice moving motion picture in the works. If the pizza's right, then my Halloween costume was right on the money this year. I have to give credit to my friend, Taryn, who came up with the Tweedle Twins idea. I also have to give major credit to Kirk, the Visuals genius at the Berkeley American Apparel, who designed our custom fairytale outfits for us.

Party City: Beanie/Propellor $4.99, American Apparel: Shiny Ruched Front Tube Bra $14.00, Cotton Spandex Jersey High-Waist Skirt $28.00, Interlock, Pencil Skirt $32.00, Sash Belt $16.00, Urban Outfitters:Multi Bangles Set of 50 $18.00

Not only was our Alice in Wonderland themed garb a smashing hit at the party, the magical kingdom has been inspiring threads on a certain South Korean runway, as well. Designer Ha Sang Beg says of his fashion week designs, "My inspiration was Alice in Wonderland. I was imagining what would have happened if she fell in a pond and encountered a world of creatures, from flowers to dinosaurs" (Style.com).

Happy Halloween to all and here's to you finding inspiration to win "Best Dressed" at your Halloween haunts this year. 

Party City, 4922 Dublin Blvd, (925) 556-6141, www.partycity.com, American Apparel, 2301 Telegraph Ave., (510) 704-1838, www.americanapparel.net, Urban Outfitters, 1530 Olympic Blvd, (925) 932-5046, www.urbanoutfitters.com

That's Hot: Beaded Detailing

Fall is in full swing with a sweet showing of beaded detailing on delicate vests and minis. This menswear-inspired, updated for the modern classy lady, trend comes just in time for making a splash in the classroom or turning heads at holiday soirees. Layer up and pair with blue jeans under boots to keep warm in the crisp fall air. 

Find these delicate pieces at www.urbanoutfitters.com or an Urban Outfitters location near you. Be on the lookout for beaded detail on more than just vests. If you're feeling up for a challenge, take a class or ask grandma to teach you how to bead. DIY is very in this season.

It's Raining Uggs.

Ah, the first rain of fall. With it comes the fresh scent of wet pavement, the changing of the seasons, an increase of Pumpkin Spice Latte sales, and unfortunately, the inevitable crowds of preteen-way past teens very excited to break their uggs out from under their beds, where they have been hiding (as they should stay) all summer.

It's like riding around in your tricked out Hummer. We're not in a third world country. Our roads are nicely paved. No need. Have I missed the recent avalanches in Southern California? Do we live in a below 32 degree climate? No. The sun is out. Set your feet free.

Rules of the Ugg game: okay to wear with your sweats when you won't be in public for more than an hour, not okay to "dress up" a pair of designer (disgrace, people) jeans and your favorite bedazzled hoodie. Lastly, please please please do not throw on your low cut, one too many buttons left open A&F see through long sleeve, and your favorite frayed Hollister denim skirt with your extra tall camo or paisley Ugg boots. If you do live in an unfortunate environment plagued with torrential winds and snowstorms, be my guest. Go with black and keep it classy.

Feeling lost without your furry legwarmers? Try Steve Madden's Intyce boot here: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2956230?Category=&Search=True&SearchType=keywordsearch&keyword=intyce+in+All+Categories&origin=searchresults

They will change your life. 

Save yourself the embarrassment and save your warm cuddly, i know they're so furry, but still not ok to wear on purpose, Ugg boots for your morning trip to Starbucks and then, for all our eyes' sake, take them off and tuck them neatly away under your bed with your 7th grade cheerleading uniform.

Thank you,

S. 

Disclaimer: yes, I wore them religiously in high school over my tucked in jeans. But I have since made amends with the fashion gods for my sins. 

Thanks for the photo, flickr.

Style Icon: Shayne Lamas

(photos courtesy of www.abc.com)

This Malibu soap star had the best style on ABC's The Bachelor: London Calling. Matt Grant was the easy to love bachelor with an irresistibly charming British accent. Shayne wore huge baggy tshirts lounging around the mansion, oversized white watches, lots and lots of full scarves, and bold, look at me headbands.

Inspired, I grabbed an oversized, crystalized white watch from B.P. and had my goddess hair stylist, Nicole Briana, give me similar white blonde, layered locks.

She won the grand prize on the show: Matt Grant. He proposed with a gawking $65,000 2.85 carat diamond ring. They split up. Pause for a not surprised eye roll. She said she plans to keep the rock "safe and clean and in a glass box- like a glass slipper" (www.thehollywoodgossip.com).

Here's to a not so successful, yet totally glamorous, Cinderella story.

Plain White Tees

Simplify your life. Minimize the clutter. Get back to the basics. One of my foolproof must-have items is my plain white tee.

A couple years ago, one of my brilliant best friends told me to go to Target and pick up a pack of men's Hanes Classics ComfortSoft V-neck tees. They are so cheap, last forever, and have gotten me through countless seemingly hopeless wardrobe situations. You can literally wear them with everything. It's not even weird shopping in the men's section. You can pretend you're picking up some skivvies for your bf or just enjoy the pictures of the half naked underwear models on all the packages.

I've been wearing these tees with every outfit for years now. Under high waisted skirts, with wide leg jeans, atop shorts with hard-to-match seersucker patterns, to the gym (ha), plus they're great to use for craft projects if you have nothing else lying around. Buy XL and transform it into a strapless dress (thanks, Val). Everything.

So if I wasn't already convinced of the gold I had struck in these tiny packages of 3 for $12, I received even more confirmation during the first week of school. Like all good shopping tips, I passed on this treasure trove of knowledge to my bffs at school and got them all wearing them. Anyway, three of us showed up proudly donning these little miracles, totally coincidentally. We all accessorized them differently, highlighting their versatility. 

Now go get some lifesavers of your own. Go to Target or get em here: www.hanes.com. I usually buy smalls, but next time I think I might pick up mediums. Beware: wash before wear. Shrinkage factor: 9 out of 10.