Over Thanksgiving weekend, we made a pilgrimage to what shall be henceforth known as the mecca of all budget fashion shopping destinations: The new XXI Forever at Old Orchard shopping mall in Skokie, Illinois.

Old Orchard is definitely one of the best malls in Chicagoland, with anchors like Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Lord & Taylor and Macy's - and just about every specialty / accessory store imaginable in between. But it's never had a reputation for being a budget-friendly place to shop - that is, until now!

When you add a Forever 21 store to a chichi mall like Old Orchard, the result is sheer magic. First class all the way! (Let's face it, not all retail stores are created equal - so much depends on location, location, location.) No piles of clothes to sort through, no disorganized shelves - just a gorgeous layout, astounding selection, and plenty of sales associates to help a girl out!

Funky decorative elements, pleasant lighting, and loud music (good or bad, depending on your pref) creates the ultimate shopping atmosphere. They even have a separate section for the "couture" collection TwelvebyTwelve (stunning!), an entire room devoted to jewelry and accessories (super fab!), and a men's section (loves it!).

We felt quite literally like a kid in a candy store and shopped til we nearly dropped. It was glorious. Word to the wise: shop early or at off-peak hours because even this humongous store managed to get packed full of voracious shoppers. Dressing room started to get a little chaotic, me-ow!

Clearly, Forever 21 is doing something right and business is booming. Meanwhile, nearby Bloomingdale's was barren - we walked through on our way back to our car, and it was so quiet and empty you could have heard a pin drop. Hmmm, wonder where all their customers were... oh, that's right - Forever 21!

So pack light the next time you visit the Chi - which, btw, is one of the best cities in the world for shopping (no joke) - and be sure to hit up the biggest, bestest Forever 21 EVER! Scroll down for lots of pics. (Sorry for the photo overload, we got a little trigger happy!)

A friend recently invited me to join HauteLook, a free site that offers members access to exclusive on-line designer sales. While it's too soon to tell if this site will prove useful, upcoming sales for December - which include fashions from LaRok, Rock & Republic, and Ya-Ya - look promising.

Here's what they say: "HauteLook is a private club which organizes exclusive 48 - 72 hour on-line private sales for its members. Held only for the top designer brands in the fashion industry, HauteLook provides an exclusive platform where these brands can reach their customers directly. As a result, HauteLook members are able to receive discounts of up to 75% off of retail prices on the latest fashion merchandise from the comfort of their home or office."

Join HauteLook Today!

UPDATE: Victorya's winning designs - both priced under $20 - are now available in Steve and Barry's stores nationwide. This includes the necktie trapeze dress in black or burgundy and a plaid shrunken vest. Click here for more info.

We take a certain amount of pride in going against the grain when it comes to reality TV critiques - and so it was with some reluctance that we found ourselves in full agreement with the judges who picked Victorya and Kevin as the winners of the second challenge in Episode 2 of Project Runway. We, too, thought Victorya's design was the best: simple, modern and feminine - with a twist.

Some more interesting take-aways...

• It's amazing what you can do with $15. Granted, the designers moaned and groaned about the funds they were given, but in the end, didn't they create some amazing looks? Goes to show that great fashion is truly about great design.


• Chris (our fave designer from Episode 1) is such a sweetheart - when Sarah Jessica Parker was introduced as the surprise guest, he actually started crying (with joy). Can't blame him - when we saw Sarah Jessica debut Bitten in person on The Oprah Show, we shrieked like a Beatle-crazed schoolgirl.


• SJP proved she can spot a good design when she sees one, so why is the real Bitten SJP collection such a letdown? Victorya's design will definitely give it a boost when it goes into production, but that line seriously needs a complete overhaul.


• Crazy Elisa and Sweet P actually produced a fabulous outfit despite their creative differences. We loved how it moved on the runway, and the cape would make a welcome addition to any woman's winter wardrobe.

Global Girlfriend is one of our favorite places to shop for unique gifts, great customer service and that warm, fuzzy feeling that comes from knowing your dollars are actually doing some good - from stylish jewelry to handknit handbags, all items are women-made, eco-friendly and fair trade. Here are a few of their fabulous offerings...



[1] Velvet Flower Coin Purse, handmade by women in Vietnam, $10.00
[2] Mod Squad Knit Bag, handknit by women artisans in Nepal, $28.00
[3] Recycled Glass Necklace, women’s co-op in Ghana, $42.00
[4] Button Book Marks, women's craft co-op in Boston, $12.00

Diamonds are a girl's best friend - but do they lose their luster if you buy them for yourself?

By now we've all seen ad campaigns for the "right-hand ring" trend with such taglines as "Your left hand lives for love / Your right hand lives for the moment," and "Your left hand declares your commitment / Your right hand is a declaration of independence."

In my humble opinion, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a gal who buys herself diamond jewelry - but it's just not for me.

Call me old-fashioned and sound the women's lib alarm, but I can't bring myself to buy diamonds for my own person. (Then again, I don't have the money to do it anyways!) This hopeless romantic would sooner buy diamonds for her mom or a dear friend than for herself.

Perhaps I've just been brainwashed by the diamond industry - after all, they're the ones who led me to believe that a diamond is a symbol of eternal romantic love. Now in their efforts to grow sales, it's ironic that they should be the same people who are trying to convince me to declare my self-love and splurge on diamond jewelry for myself.

But what do you think? Should fine jewelry like a diamond ring only come into your possession as a special gift from a special someone - your husband or your boyfriend? Or is it OK to treat yourself and indulge in the real deal when you're in the mood and have the means?

Featured above: The diamond Ah Ring was originally created for confident and joyful single women to show the world they're available (A) and happy (h). $295 at www.ahring.com