Couture with Heart

Serena Williams' design for Stuart Weitzman.

Joy Bryant, Jada Pinkett and Janet Jackson also designed a pair for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

Who knew Hollywood had such untapped fashion talent? Stuart Weitzman annually asks some of the hottest celebrities to design shoes for the Stuart Weitzman Annual Celebrity Shoe Auction. It’s an online auction, so anyone can bid! September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Stuart Weitzman is doing its part to attract publicity in order to raise money to support ovarian cancer research. The celebrity designers include Serena Williams, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Joy Bryant, Eva Longoria Parker, Janet Jackson, and Jessica Alba. The shoes also come with an autographed glossy photo of the star. Head to Stuart Weitzman's special site to start bidding - prices start at a mere $200!

Super Hero Steampunk

I'm working on steaming up several comic book characters. Technically I guess I'm trying to Ren them down but you know what I mean. You'll have to please pardon the rather quick/sloppy photo. The corset is not quite positioned on me where it should be but the misalignment is probably also due to my poor posture (my shoulders are very uneven). I use zippers on my corsets for now because grommets and I do NOT get along. I figure for steampunk, zippers work fine.

I tried to make it reversible with having Rogue's green in place of the black on the other side but my lack of reversible zippers of the right length made it difficult; then I nicked a tiny hole on the Rogue side so for now, it's just fancy lining. I'll make a separate Rogue one later on.

Cash, Check or Charge?

Cash: Perlina Croc Wallet, $7.50, www.forever21.com

Check: Reptile-Print Clutches, $19.50, www.oldnavy.com

Charge: Isa Lizard Emboss, $295, www.loreleinyc.com

Croc clutches are all the rave right now but don't be predictible and buy a bright red clutch. Other colors to consider would be sunlight yellow, plum purple or sea aqua (like Selita Ebanks in a recent post). If your on a budget, the "cash" or "check" options are right up your alley but for those of you with a little more money to burn opt for this gorgeous Isa Lizard Emboss clutch. It's perfect with a cocktail dress or jeans!

Effing EBAY! @#&^%^%$@@^#!

For some reason, the all mighty Powers That Ebay decided my account was associated with some other ID which has been shut down; therefore, my account was suspended. Luckily, it appears that my order for theatrical white makeup has already gone through and shipped. Why? Because I pay as soon as I "buy it now" or win a bid. I think I'm a damn good customer and a decent seller. I have sold things at a loss because I donate portions of sales to charities which is a service through ebay that has a $5 minimum. I'd say that's pretty damn nice of me.

If anyone has ever had some sort of issue which they believed was with me, please let me know! I have one ebay ID (scotchbroom) and one email account associated with it (njcabot at yahoo dot com). If you believed you were dealing with me and screwed, contact me and ebay.

I realize the ebay interface for contacting them is not the most user-friendly but please do what you can if this involved you.

I will be continuing to grow my shop through Etsy since they have opened up to vintage items as well as home made. I don't know if things like beanie babies are considered vintage though. I'm always open to conducting private sales through Pay Pal and avoiding all the fees anyway.

Hair Stories: Rock It Out

Rihanna, Tamyra Gray and Sylvia Rhone punk out their short crops to give them each a new look.

1. Kizzi Stay-Put Hair Pomade, $9.50, www.carolsdaughter.com; 2. Moisturizing Silkening Liquid-Gel by Miznai, $13.96, www.just4beauty.com; 3. Bumble and bumble Sumo Wax, $21.95, www.folica.com; 4. Color Brilliance SilKomb 50, $4.99, www.sallybeauty.com; 5. Tool Science Nano Silver Paddle Brush, $6.99, www.sallybeauty.com; 6. Dirt Texturizing Paste by Jonathan, $14, www.sephora.com; 7. Elucence Extended Moisture Repair Treatment, $15.99, www.culmart.com; 8. L'Oreal Color Rays in Red, $10.99, www.drugstore.com

Long hair is so overrated. Yes, it's versatile but there's nothing more endearing than a woman who can wear her hair short with confidence. For those of you already sporting a cropped hairstyle you might consider trying the spiked looks above. Rihanna's hairstlye is especially fabulous - it has a hard edge but is soft enough to wear on an everyday basis. The products above can help you achieve these looks. The most important is hair wax and the stay-put pomade. If you want your style to last all day, carry the pomade/wax with you so you can retouch when needed.

Harley Quinn slippers

I have bragged about my addiction to etsy.com before. I'm sure I'm not the only one either. Etsy is such a wonderful place that I opened my own shop there (elizabethamber.etsy.com). Well, I'm so excited that I'm practically jumping out of my chair about the new Harley Quinn slippers I just ordered.

Designer Laura was sweet enough to work with me to get one black and one red slipper from her collection (mommayaya.etsy.com) and make them a custom order just for me. She got them done so quickly that it makes me feel a huge amount of relief as I am scheduled to appear in my Harley Quinn suit on October 25th at Comic Fusion's Superhero Weekend. It will be my suit's debut and after having a lot of trouble with the ruffled cuffs and diamonds, I was worried that I'd look just terrible. I didn't want to invest any more money in the suit and my two attempts at booties were a disaster. Laura's prices were great, especially for it being a special order. Thankfully I didn't have to resort to buying a pair of ankle boots and painting one or worse, buying two pairs of boots to get the two colors I need.

Looking for Photographer

I help organize fundraising events at Comic Fusion in Flemington, NJ. I appear in costumes for these events and would to have some nice pictures done. You don't have to be professional just someone who knows how to take a decent shot. I bring my own camera and we have one for the shop (both are point & shoot). We can't pay for this but do provide lunch to anyone volunteering.

Charities that have benefitted from our events: S.A.F.E in Hunterdon (local family services shelter) and Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

Cool online shop

Thanks to the arduous bloggers of steamfashion at LJ, I just had the pleasure of perusing the Fabric Horse website. I'm pretty sure I've stumbled upon this before but it's a lovely sense of renewed interest now. There are the spunkiest variations of accessories that will truly make anyone stand out from the pack. Why carry stuff in a bag when you can strap on your own urban utility belt? Be like Batman! It's cool.

The plastic astroturf backpack isn't really my thing but you sure would be the only one to have one. I'm more partial to the adorable spats! Thanks to steampunk for causing a resurgeance in the spats (and goggles) market.

What Say We?... Yay or Nay?!

Solange arrives at the "Late Show with David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theatre on August 25, 2008 in New York City.

How hard must it be to have an older sister who's considered by most to be more talented, beautiful and stylish than you? Gotta suck, huh? Well, Ms. Solange Knowles doesn't think so. She's finally making a name for herself on the music scene and the red carpet. While some my call her style somewhat 'contrived', I think her eclectic taste is refreshing and endearing. She's not afraid to take risks and puts her own twist on the latest trends. What do you think of her outfit above worn at a recent appearance at the Late Show with David Letterman. I'm going to say 'yay'! Whilst most of us would look mentally unstable in such an ensemble, Sol-Angel and her glamorous lifestyle pull it off. All hail the underdog!

A very different Wonder Woman

An interesting product of the 70s is this version of Wonder Woman that I have never seen before. I was just alerted by a friend of mine about this nice website, Wonderland, which has information on a blonde non-superpowered Wonder Woman. Her outfit isn't bad considering that it does seem more "practical." She was played by Cathy Lee Crosby and according to the site, was an all around bad production with awful scripts and direction making it a complete WW failure.

I have seen writer/legend Denny O'Neill speak a few times and one of the subjects of his discussions are more like confessions. He not only "killed Robin" (aka, Jason Todd which was left up to the readers, not him) but he also depowered Wonder Woman in the 1970s comics. At the time, he believed that it would make more relatable to the female comic book audience and actually show her as being a powerful woman because she was just human with major martial arts abilities. His experiment failed miserably and feminists like Gloria Steinem were outraged by the depowering of our Amazon Princess.

In today's comics, Wonder Woman has a choice (sort of). Her nemesis Circe, a powerful sorceress, cast a spell on Wonder Woman so that she has to actually transform into her WW persona to have powers; otherwise, she is able to remain in human form as Diana Prince, with only top-notch human abilities like martial arts, fighting, marksmanship, etc.

Kerry Washington Covers Page Six

On the cover of this week’s Page Six Magazine, actress Kerry Washington opens up about her new job as a director, leaving a three-year engagement and the first time she met Barack Obama.

Kerry spent her 31st birthday in January watching a Clinton-Obama debate at LA’s Kodak Theater. She gets giddy recalling their backstage introduction, saying when the Illinois Senator said he recognized her, she remembered, “It was a great moment.”

Back in Tinseltown, Kerry is awaiting the September 19th release of her latest flick, Lakeview Terrace, where she stars opposite Patrick Wilson as a couple terrorized by police officer-neighbor Samuel L. Jackson. Having already helped former co-stars Jamie Foxx (Ray) and Forrest Whittaker (Last Kind of Scotland) land their own Academy Awards, Kerry jokes about her lucky charm status: “It’s just been my ploy to get more work in this town. I tell men, ‘If you hire me, you might get an Oscar!’”

The 31-year-old Bronx-bred actress is all about taking on a new craft. “When Spike Lee found out I was directing Common’s latest music video, he called me and said, ‘So, you’re transitioning?’ And I said, ‘No. I’m not leaving acting for directing. I’m just expanding!’”

Kerry doesn’t stop there. She is the current spokesmodel for L’Oreal and Movado watches and has testified before Congress on behalf of the National Endowment for the Arts. But being lauded for her looks still surprises her. “I have not always thought of myself as beautiful. Growing up, I never felt like the pretty one, which is good because I felt it was important to become the smart one. I wouldn’t say I was an ugly duckling but I never felt like I had an exceptional physical appearance that was going to make life any easier.”

Engaged for three years to actor David Moscow (most famous for playing Josh, the kid portrayed by an adult Tom Hanks in Big), Kerry walked away. “Weddings are like red carpets for normal people. I do so many gowns and events in my work. I have that. Coming out of an engagement, I don’t even try to guess what my life is going to look like in the future anymore. No one has to feel sorry for me. I'm not lonely. I have my dog.”

For more on Kerry Washington, check out this week’s issue of Page Six Magazine, free inside the Sunday edition of the New York Post and online on Monday at www.pagesixmag.com. For a preview of this week’s magazine, click on www.nypost.com/pagesixmag/upcoming.

CGS Supershow

I just wanted to extend a quick thank you to everyone for making the Comic Geek Speak Supershow a wonderful success! Sales were decent. Lots of fun! It was a relaxing comic show where I felt safe to leave the table unattended if I had to but that didn't seem to happen as was sharing the table with a lovely and very talented artist, Eliza Stockfisch (comicspace.com/eliza).

Thank you, Geeks!

Style Inspiration: Floral Delights

Iman attends the 7th Annual Tribeca Film Festival Vanity Fair Party at the State Supreme Courthouse on April 22, 2008 in New York City.

Ashanti and Zoe Kravitz flourish in their floral print garments at recent red carpet appearances.

Black Floral Dress: Rosalie Dress, $44.50, www.delias.com; Sandals: Børn Begonia Sandal, $84.95, www.nordstrom.com; Earrings: Green Anamel Disc Earring, $8.10, www.alltherageonline.com; Corsage: Cabbage Rose Corsage, $20, www.topshop.com; Pink Shirt: Crossover Chiffon Top, $22.80, www.forever21.com; Halter Dress: Fray and Flowers Chiffon Dress, $42.99, www.shoprcuhe.com; Yellow Shirt: Rosette Raceback Shell, $128, www.maxstudio.com; Scarf: Floral Print Pashmina by Roberto Cavalli, $990, www.net-a-porter.com; Necklace: Flower Medallion Necklace, $4.80, www.forever21.com; Ring: Enamel Lily Flower Rings, $9.50, www.oldnavy.com; Skirt: Floral Satin Pleated Skirt, $20, www.oldnavy.com; Pink Dress: Jasley Strapless Floral Dress, $24.80, www.forever21.com; Clutch: Whiting and Davis Leather Flowers Clutch, $185, www.endless.com; Hairband: Silk Flower Headband, $3.80, www.forever21.com; Heels: Adele I Flower Sandal by Ralph Lauren Collection, $574.95, www.endless.com

The last days of summer are upon us so it's only fitting that we say goodbye to the season donning floral pieces that conjure up memories of days gone by. If you really want to make a statement, choose bigger more defined floral prints in bright colors such as neon pink, bright yellow and metallic blues (like Ashanti and Zoe Kravitz). If you just don't have the heart, pick pieces with smaller floral prints in demure colors like red, white, beige and pink. These classics that will last long after the season has gone. Prepare to blossom.

Coverage at ComicVine

One my favorite websites is ComicVine.com. I quickly became a contributor there because it's just so damn addictive! Once you start surfing around getting tangled in the vine (a wiki for comics), you'll definitely agree. It's better than your average wiki in appearance. You really feel like you've tapped into a comic book.

That being said, I was SO excited today when I was notified that main man Red L.A.M.P. actually gave me some props regarding my geek crafts. Red and G-Man really keep things running over there so having them take a few minutes out of their schedules to put up a blog post about me and send a note really meant a lot.

Sanaa Lathan

Sanaa Lathan arrives at Verizon Wireless' exclusive launch party for the Blackberry 8330 Pink Curve at Intermix on August 27, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

Who says beauty is pain? Well, rarely does dressing sexy evoke feelings of comfort. Between the 4 inch heels, tight skirts that won't stop riding up and double-sided tape that fails to adhere, your night can quickly turn into a test of the wills. That's why I adore this look! Sanaa Lathan looks sophisticated and confident and I'm loving the fact that she doesn't kill this outfit with too many accessories. Full-length jumpsuits are all the rage right now (see Victoria Beckham). Scroll down to see how to duplicate Sanaa's style.

Steal Sanaa's Style...

Jumpsuit: Strapless Stretch Wool Jumpsuit, $450, www.intermixonline.com

Heels: Martiny, $149.95, www.stevemadden.com

Clutch: Prezzo Metallic Snake Clutch, $49, www.endless.com

Earrings: Gold and Black Fringe Earrings, $25, www.shop.guess.com

This jumpsuit from Intermix is the actual jumpsuit Sanaa wore. Note how the waist of this jumpsuit is nipped-in but the hips have a little bit of volume to create the illusion of shape (not that Ms. Lathan needs it). Jumpsuits are meant to be extra long so you can actually get away with wearing comfy and perhaps not so elegant heels underneath. A trendy clutch and statement earrings complete the look but I would have probably opted to wear my hear slicked back into a perfect ponytail - hair off you face gives the look a sharper edge.

Best of the Rest...

Left to right: Karen Millen Jumpsuit, $320, www.asos.com; One Shoulder Jersey Jumpsuit, $60, www.asos.com; Halter Jumpsuit by Alice Olivia, $440, www.shopbop.com/

Left to right: Bandeau Jumpsuit, $90, www.topshop.com; Wide Leg V-Neck Jumpsuit, $29.80, www.forever21.com; Sea Pleated Front Jump Suit, $197, www.pinkmascara.com

Jumpsuits for every budget! Just be sure to pick a pair that's long enough for you and tight in the appropiate places.

Ohio museum exhibit

One of my friends from the League of Heroes tipped me off to another great museum exhibit; this one in Ohio so I am unable to attend to it sounds fantastic. The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage is hosting "ZAP! POW! BAM!" highlighting the Jewish community's contribution to comics, and hence all American folklore.

From their website:
September 16 - January 4
Zap! Pow! Bam! immerses visitors in an interactive world of Super Heroes, and illuminates the creative processes that drove their originators to provide America with timeless icons such as Superman, Batman, Captain America and Wonder Woman.

In addition to rare, never-before-displayed comic book art and memorabilia, Zap! Pow! Bam! features 1940s serials, video interviews, a vintage, child-sized Batmobile ride, an interactive phone booth, a drawing studio, and costumes for visitors of all ages to enjoy.

The Maltz Museum presents this exhibition with a proud nod to the prominence of Jewish artists and the importance of Cleveland (home of the creation of Superman by a pair of Glenville High School students) in the development of comic book art.

My Etsy Shop is now open!

This week I launched my latest endeavor to expand the exposure of my handmade creations. I have opened an Etsy shop which is a huge online shopping center for people like me who are small scale creators, designers or collectors. Some of the bags that I have been blogging about are now available through ElizabethAmber.Etsy.com.

After my appearance the Supershow this weekend, I'll update the listings because I do have a few that utilize quirky fabrics. Hopefully I'll just sell out of all the bags and have to create a new listing for everything.