It's All About...

Street Scene, Lex's new vintage shop.

::waves::

I'm home!

Let's get down to business.

Like many of my neighbors and cohorts, I mourned the loss of Jonk when it closed several months ago. The little vintage store off Third Street was the source of many an accessory and clothing item for me, and scads of gifts for others. Where else could you pick up a set of NASA glasses, a wicker purse and an X-Girl album in one stop?

So, I was thrilled -- giddy, really -- when my friend and I stopped in at Street Scene this weekend. Located at 2575 Regency Road, oh-so-conveniently next to Coffee Times. (It's open Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. Noon-5 p.m.) The shop has been open about a month, we heard, and had a steady stream of visitors while we were browsing.

And browse you must. Because aging luggage, absurdly heavy costume jewelry, melamine dishes and psychedelic afghans demand that kind of attention. It felt a bit like an Urban Outfitters, except, you know, real. And friendly. And reasonably priced. The whole place is designed in rooms, showing the design-inept how the turquoise fridge goes with the yellow saucers and the purple apron.

My choice loot for Trip #1:

Star earrings. Obviously, a necessity.

It's a nice addition to some of the smaller boutiques and resale stores we've already got in town. If you've got a favorite shop, or a tale of a good find, post it in the comments.

Don't be embarrassed. Love your star earrings.

Tim Gunn's fashion advice, applied to Derby.

The best thing to come out of Bravo’s Project Runway isn’t the show, its official star and clearly not the fashion. No, it’s Tim Gunn, fashion guru and wise man to Heidi Klum’s pretty host.

Now that the What Not to Wear formula has gone beyond stale, try relying on Gunn’s new book for fashion advice. A Guide to Quality, Taste & Style gently demands that you consider who you really are, what fit — not what number size — you ought to wear and what fashion icon might work for you, based on those conditions.

Best of all, Gunn and co-author Kate Moloney offer the inspiration and aid to help you purge your overstuffed closet, leaving you lighter and with fewer bad options in the morning. (My closet has never been happier.)

All of this is written with that pithy Gunn-esqe lilt, as if he is speaking directly to you through this stylish little volume. Who else (other than your mom, if she's got a sense of humor) will give you perfectly reasonable advice like “Your underwear drawer should be like a Boy Scout, always prepared.” Because he trusts and respects his reader, he qualifies with this knowing line: “That simile is rather strange, but we trust you understand.”

Now, remember, it's Derby Week, which can be Kentucky’s most elegant and egregious day in fashion.

Let's turn to the book for some simple fashion advice, shall we?

Gunn on glamour: “We would like to see a return to a subtler form of glamour, a less sparkly form of glamour. Think of it as less Marilyn, more Lauren Bacall.”

Gunn on “the very real problem of flip-flop-induced waddling”: “This gait not only looks ungainly from the front, it does terrible, terrible things to the view from the back.”

Gunn on perfume: “Just because you happen to be ready for another round of gimlets does not mean that you must wear a fragrance that evokes the same.”

Gunn on black tie for women: “Depending on how often you attend the types of events that call for black tie or one of its relatives, you may be better off with a fabulous — read: black — cocktail dress that can be ‘garnished’ with beautiful accessories.”

Gunn on royalty: Should you get an invite to a royal wedding, (maybe after you bump into the queen at the Derby?) “e-mail us. We will respond.”

No mention of hats, but why do we need his advice? We know when we're fabulous here.

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Read: Henry Clay High School opens High School Musical.
Now you know why I can't stop with the singing and the dancing...also, there's video and multimedia with scads of beautiful photos.

Aww: Kentucky native Phil Stacey was one of two booted from American Idol.
Chris Richardson made his exit, too. (Look at me, writing as if you hadn't already heard this.)

oscar night: fashion and foibles

'Twas a long night for movie lovers, TV watchers and bloggers, but at least there were some surprises. (Hey there, Alan Arkin!)

One non-surprise: Jennifer Hudson won, and looked great doing it once she removed that harsh little gold jacket. Notice George Clooney back there, in her dust. She flew past him like he was the guy who hands you a Dixie cup of water after you get off stage and not George Freaking Clooney.

Can you blame her, though? She just won an OSCAR!

For a play-by-play of fashion and foibles from the night, check behind the cut. (It's there where you'll find the best dressed, the worst dressed and the first-ever unattractive photo of George Clooney.) If you're looking for film analysis, check out Copious Notes. And if you really didn't catch any of it, here's a complete list of winners.