Did you watch Rihanna’s revealing interview with Diane Sawyer last night on ABC’s “20/20″?  I was glued to my tele and have a new respect for the pop superstar, who has recently stirred up controversy with her questionable new single “Russian Roulette.”

Rihanna doesn't play "Russian Roulette" with love anymore.

A blonde Rihanna, flaunting yet another cutting edge haircut and wearing a sharp, white sweater dress with big shoulder pads and stilettos, spoke about her humiliation because of her abuse at the hands of ex-boyfriend Chris Brown and her regret over reuniting with the singer only three weeks after he assaulted her.

“This happened to me….it can happen to anyone,” she told Sawyer. The 21-year-old also says she wants to be an example to other young women not to stand for domestic violence.  And she revealed she doesn’t hate Brown, but wants him to act like a man and take responsibility for his actions, not feel sorry for himself, and “grow up.”  Right on Rihanna!

Image credit: Newscom.com

In these pre-Oscar and Grammy  months, there’s been a lack of fabulous fashion to critique.  So I jumped at the chance to share photos of a few of Hollywood’s cutest couples at recent red carpet events.  
Tell me which couples you think are Hot and which are just lukewarm? 
 
I still don’t get Mariah Carey with Nick Cannon.  And it’s not because he’s younger; it’s because he seems so immature.  She’s a superstar glamazon and he’s…well, he’s Nick Cannon. But I have to admit Mariah seems truly in love and looks great in this body-hugging black gown at the premiere of …read more

I’m on a constant quest to find the right product to solve my natural hair’s “shrinkage” problem.  And since I can’t use all of the products I receive, I recruited my friend Keisha to test drive Aveda’s Be Curly Curl Control gel.  
 
Keisha had been growing out her relaxer for about a year. Recently she took the plunge and had her hair cut into a chic, short-cropped natural style that when blown out reminds me of the Nola Darling character from Spike Lee’s “She’s Gotta Have It.”
Be Curly ($18) is supposed to define curls, reduce frizz, and boost shine. Keisha’s review? She …read more

The boyfriend blazer is a must-have fashion item for the fall/winter season.  I’m about to show my age (again), but I remember the first time this trend was hot in the ’80s. Back then, the style was typified by a single button and huge shoulder pads.
The boyfriend blazer I sported in high school came from the Limited, and was grey with a plaid pattern, double-breasted, and had shoulder pads so big I felt like a linebacker.
The new version of the boyfriend blazer seems less tomboyish and a little sleeker. I found these two great jackets on Old Navy’s website.  Better yet, …read more

At Target you really can expect more, and pay less. In the tradition of Anna Sui, Isaac Mizrahi, and Jean Paul Gautier (his hush-hush line will debut this month), the latest high-end designer to hock his wares at Target is Carlos Falchi.  The Brazilian designer’s luxury handbags retail for about $3000 at upscale department stores like Neiman Marcus and Saks.
So ladies get ready, set, and go stock up on holiday gifts, because Falchi’s authentic-looking, faux snakeskin bags are available at Target ($19.99 to $49.99) through December 27.
Thanks to the generous folks at Target, I already have my large, patchwork satchel in …read more

I spend an inordinate amount of time at my local CVS/pharmacy. Primarily because of all the store’s super sales and the CVS ExtraCare Reward bucks I rack up; and secondly because the lines are usually super long.

During Fashion Week, I visited the CVS/pharmacy Reinventing Beauty event, where I found out the store’s beauty aisle shelves are lowered to 5′0″ so products are easily accessible for the average height woman (5′4″), and was introduced to the latest beauty trends and products for the Fall/Winter season. Here are a few highlights:
DIY: Sally Hansen Hair Remover Wax Strip Kit ($5.99 for 44 strips) is …read more

Have a beautiful day in Hell!  No, I’m not trying to be rude.  I’m just sharing the cheeky catch phrase for Moxie, a new line of girly feminine products that may make “that time of the month” a little more pleasant.
Packaged in a pretty peach, candy-striped boudoir box with a satin black bow on top, Moxie adds a touch of glamour to picking up your monthly supply of sanitary napkins and panty liners.
And each box of Slender Pads (daytime pads), Slenders Panty Liners (for light period days), and Scanty Panty Liners (everyday use between periods) comes with a discreet, reusable …read more

While doing my periodic Etsy check, I came across this unique engagement ring that makes me want to get married all over again; or at least give my husband a major hint come anniversary time.
 
 
This modern and luxurious 18 karat Gold, Silver, and Chocolate Diamond Ring ($585) by JesseDanger features a band hand-crafted from recycled Argentium Silver, and the 18kt yellow gold bezel holds a beautiful .25ct round chocolate diamond.
 
 
 
For those not going to the chapel, the Vermont-based designer also makes eye-catching cocktail rings like this Silver Asymmetry  Ring with Quartz ($85) made with recycled Argentium Silver and a lovely, …read more

Happy Halloween!  In celebration of the spooky holiday, here are a few of my favorite, scary celebrity fashion moments.  Are they Tricks or Treats? You be the judge:
I absolutely love Grace Jones.  She is a bold, beautiful avant garde fashion muse and music icon. But I can see how some folks would be more than a little scared of the 60-year-old glamazon.
Lil’ Kim has taken her tribute to Michael Jackson a little too far.  I can’t decide what’s scarier — her botched plastic surgery, crazy blue contacts, or this horrid, lime green stripper dress.
This mix-and-match outfit would be passable if …read more

If you’re like me, you go to bed each night with good intentions to wake up early and get to work on time.  And unfortunately, if you’re like me, this doesn’t usually happen.  And I know why.  I spend too much time each morning sifting through my cluttered closet looking for what to wear.
So I came up with these five-time-saving tips to getting dressed and out the door each weekday morning:
1) Organize your closet.  If your clothes are easy to find, they’re easier to put on.
2) Pick out and iron your clothes for Monday on Sunday night, and continue this the …read more