Sexiest Man Alive Seduces with Tinted Specs

By Jackie Burns MSN Shopping Contributor

Justin Timberlake may brag about bringing sexy back, but Johnny Depp fans know it never left. (It was just hiding out for a while in the French countryside.) And while JT may be the famous face of geek chic glasses, the Sexiest Man Alive of 2009 has been making women young and old swoon over his specs for years. Most recently, the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star has been rocking the tinted glasses look, which is an eyewear trend most suited for those with big personalities, says Jenny Harvey, communications manager at Clearly Contacts. (Tinting can be added to any glasses when choosing your prescription.) "Clearly Johnny Depp has a lot of personality and can pull anything off but if you want to go for a milder version of his blue tint, you can try grey, which is the most popular tint colour,” she says. “It’s important to choose a pair of frames that show off your personality. They are one of the first things people see when they meet you.”  For guys hoping to piggy-back on Johnny's "je ne sais quoi" the first place to start would definitely be some Depp-inspired eyewear like these Giorgio Armani specs, this Birka model or these Dockers glasses. 

Related links:

• Browse for men's and women's glasses
• People's sexiest men through the years
• Depp and Jolie set for steamy sex scene

(CP Photo)

 

Stocking Stuffers for the Kid in Everyone

By Jackie Burns MSN Shopping

Children aren't the only ones who hang their stockings with pride, in hopes that cool presents will appear inside. There's a child in every one of us and it often comes out on Christmas morning as we dive into our socks to see what surprises are waiting. If you're playing Santa this year, here are some suggestions that will have the stockings on your mantle overflowing with thoughtful treats!

For kids: Books, Sudoku puzzles, action figures, miniature cars, High School Musical DVDs, Dora movies, playing cards, crafts, painting accessories, fan gear for toddlers.

For women: Mini perfumes, bath soaks, shower gels, candles, lipstick, facial masks, manicure accessories, makeup brushes, tweezers, eyelash curler, socks, underwear.

For men: Action-adventure movies, comedy DVDs, gourmet coffee, shaving accessories, massage oil, styling mousse, keychain, fishing lures and bait, boxer shorts, socks. 

Related links:

• What do your gifts say?
• Cool gift ideas for under $50
• Buy the right gift for your man
• Holiday Shopping Guide 2009

 

 

5 Must-Have Christmas Books for Kids

By Jackie Burns MSN Shopping Contributor

'Tis the season for spiked eggnog and hanky panky under the mistletoe but let's not forget about the kids! The holidays are filled with magic at every turn for children; they spend weeks dreaming about the elves working away at the North Pole and then fight to stay awake in hopes of catching a glimpse of Jolly old St. Nick on Christmas Eve. There's no better way to encourage their enchantment with the festive season than through some of the best Christmas stories of all time. Here are five must-have classics for your child's holiday collection:

1. The Night Before Christmas

2. A Christmas Carol

3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

4. The Polar Express

5. The Nutcracker

What are your favourite Christmas books?

Get Kristen Stewart's Look in Five Simple Steps

By Jackie Burns MSN Shopping Contributor

"Twilight" actress Kristen Stewart has been glamming it up on European red carpets leading up to Friday's North American premiere of "New Moon," but the 19-year-old starlet's personal style is far more casual in nature. This is great news for the Twihards who want to replicate Kristen's look because it doesn't take much time and effort getting ready and it certainly won't break the bank either! Here are five pieces inspired by Bella's real-life wardrobe:

Skinny jeans: You'd be hard-pressed to find a photo of Miss Stewart in her down-time wearing anything other than a pair of denim pants. Skinny jeans definitely appear to be her bottoms of choice.

Casual t-shirts: We doubt this girl has ever worn a blouse, unless maybe for a movie role or when her mom still dressed her. These days, it's all about the casual punk-inspired t-shirts.

Loose-fitting sweatshirts: Of course, K-Stew almost always covers her t-shirts with loose-fitting sweatshirts, as the cherry on top of her grungy look.

Flannel patterned shirts: When she's not rocking the sweatshirt over t-shirt combo, you'll almost always find the '90s loving star in a flannel patterned shirt.

Converse running shoes: Robert Pattinson's rumoured main squeeze never leaves the house without first slipping on a  pair of Converse or Keds-style running shoes, so ditch the heels if you're serious about becoming Bella.

(CP Photo)

Related links:

• Gallery: "New Moon" red carpet style
• Sneak peek at "The Twilight Saga: New Moon"
• Director spills details on Rob & Kristen's romance 

Why Men Are Clueless About Their Own Underwear

By Jackie Burns, MSN Shopping contributor

The next time you ask a guy if he's into boxers or briefs, don't be alarmed if he doesn't know the answer. According to a study conducted by UK department store Debenhams, men relied on their mothers to select underwear throughout their childhood and teenage years and then tended to leave all buying up to the woman in their life from age 36 onwards. In fact, it seems that men only selected their own tighty whities during a 17-year period, between the ages 19 and 36. Even then, the survey found they only did so because they believed wearing new underpants was an essential pre-requisite for beginning a relationship. It also found underwear buying peaked among males at 23, when they bought up to 31 pairs annually. Women were found to be far more hands-on, starting to buy their undergarments at age 13 and never looking back.

Guys, do you buy your own undies? Or are you more hands-off like the men across the pond?

Related links:

• Shop for men's underwear
• 5 tell-tale signs you're a metrosexual

Ruffles Running Rampant Among Glitterati

By Jackie Burns MSN Shopping Contributor

One could have made a great drinking game out of last Sunday night's episode of Desperate Housewives. However, if you took a swig each time one of the women of Wisteria Lane appeared wearing ruffles, it would have made for a very messy Monday morning. The set of the ABC hit drama isn't the only place ruffles are running rampant. While they've been on the radar for a while now, the popular style appears to have reached fever pitch for the 2009 holiday season. R&B star Rihanna, who has been rocking ruffles for a couple of years, proved she's still a loyal fan of the uber-feminine look when she appeared in a white floor-length ruffle-infused gown at Glamour magazine's "Women of the Year" event last night in NYC. Ruffle dresses, skirts, blouses and handbags are all fashion-forward options that will allow you to play the style card while embracing your inner girly-girl this festive season.

Related links:

• 4 Rules for the Office Holiday Party
• Stylish fall fashion for under $100
• What message are your clothes sending?

(CP Photo)
 

Hottest Holiday Handbags

By Jackie Burns MSN Shopping Contributor

Not treating yourself to a new purse for the festive season is like expecting a child to open up their old toys on Christmas morning - just plain cruel. Half the fun of the holidays is getting to play dress-up and thankfully this season more than ever it's all about glitz and glam, especially when it comes to handbags. "Purses in gold lamé or any other type of metallic fabric are very much in this holiday season," says Angie Miller, principal proprietor of The Little Black Dress. She says that if you want something a little more subdued, but still current, opt for a purse that shows a more feminine side. "A purse with any ruffle detailing will get a lot of attention this season," she says. "To avoid looking too girly, pair it with an outfit that’s sophisticated in its simplicity." Of course, there is always the option of making a statement with one outstanding piece that makes the whole outfit come alive. "The best way to do this is by complementing a classic all-black outfit with a colourful retro '80s-inspired purse," she says.

Related links:

• Office party makeup rules
• 5 hot handbag styles for fall

Office Party Makeup Rules

By Jackie Burns MSN Shopping Contributor

With Halloween safety behind us, we can now turn our attention towards the next dress-up party! While it's all about making clowns of ourselves on Oct. 31, that's precisely what we want to avoid for the office holiday party. As well as drunken close-talking with the company CEO, we should also resist the urge to lather on too much makeup. Angie Miller, principal proprietor of The Little Black Dress, Toronto-based personal shoppers and image consultants, says that while it may be tempting to go all out with our cosmetics, they should be applied in moderation when partying with co-workers. Miller says that while deep, berry-coloured lips and purple-toned smokey eyes are the hottest makeup trends for Holiday '09, she warns against applying all of them at once. “You want to make sure that if you are doing a very strong coloured lip that you’re taking it down a notch with everything else,” she says. “You aren’t wearing the heavy blush or the heavy eye with the very strong coloured lips.” Despite wanting to look more natural for the office party environment, at the same time you want to appear as if you've put a bit of effort in, she adds. “Doing it in moderation that will keep it tasteful is key.”

Related links:

• Browse for your favourite makeup products
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Does Your Bra Wardrobe Stack Up?

By Jackie Burns MSN Shopping Contributor

We've all been guilty of performing one bra faux-pas or another at some stage in our lives. Whether it's the white bra under white t-shirt no-no, the "wow it must be cold in here" no-no, or my own personal favourite where you realize your trusty undergarment wasn't so trusty upon uploading the X-rated photos no-no. Tamara Glick, founder of Trademark Image Consulting, says you can avoid many of these all-too common brassiere blow-ups by maintaining a basic but well-stocked bra wardrobe.

Here are Tamara's suggested bra essentials:

Three to four regular day bras: These are bras that are seamless and very plain. You should have one or two seamless bras in black and two in a flesh tone that matches your particular colouring. This can range from a blush colour if you're very pale to a cocoa colour if you've got a really rich skin tone. They would be suitable under any regular t-shirt, blouse or even a sweater and provide no lines that would be detected outside of your clothing. A slightly moulded cup will ensure you won't be a walking temperate gauge when you enter a room!

A push-up bra: Like a sexy pair of jeans, every woman needs at least one push-up bra. Opting for one with a lower front will come in handy when wearing a top with a lower décolleté. Plus, who doesn't like a little added lift now and then?

At least one athletic bra or sports bra: Depending on how often you're active, you may need an entire wardrobe worth of sports bras that provide enough support while you're sweating at the gym.

A strapless or convertible bra: Most strapless bras nowadays are convertible; they come with detachable straps and those allow you to create a halter neck, one shoulder or criss-cross back. It also gives you the opportunity to feel secure in having straps that match whatever neck line you are wearing.

A long line bra: This style of bra is one that most people today don’t give much credit to but they can be really handy in creating a very smooth look under a dress or a tight-fitting top.

A sexy bra: No explanation needed for having a bra that is strictly for fun!

Editor's note: Some of the early commenters on this entry have mentioned that they have trouble finding bras in larger sizes, no matter what the style. Our bra section has many bras in larger sizes, particularly those being sold by The Shopping Channel. A few commenters have mentioned finding out that they were wearing the wrong size of bra, and found much-better fitting bras after learn what their real bra size is. According to some experts, close to half of women wear the wrong size of bra. For more on this topic, you can watch the following report on MSN Video: Bust a move: Expert tips for the perfect fit. --f

Related links:

• Browse most popular bras
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• Tips for reinvigorating your closet

Fergie Joins Famous Faces Who Peddle Perfume

By Jackie Burns MSN, Shopping Contributor

It's a smelly job, but many celebrities are willing to do it. The fragrance industry is big business, so big that a signature scent can often bring in more money for the celebrity than the very craft that made them famous in the first place. Fergie is the latest A-lister to announce she would be releasing a perfume with her name on it; her collaboration with Avon comes out in Canada in August next year. Whereas the "Glamorous" singer has had incredible success with both the Black Eyed Peas and as a solo artist, she likely wants to make up the money lost to a generation of fans who rarely buy CDs. Jennifer Lopez on the other hand, has steadily built a multi-million dollar perfume empire despite a string of failures in her day job. In 2006, Lopez's net worth was about $110 million, according to Forbes' list of the 20 richest women in entertainment, despite her career as a singer and actress being in the dumps. It was thanks to her fragrance sales - $77 million that year alone - which ensured she was still a power player. And while Sarah Jessica Parker's career success may appear to start and stop with "Sex and the City," she has been busy smelling the sweet scent of success, with         Lovely and Covet often listed as the top-selling celebrity fragrances. While Parker's offerings are currently among the most sought-after scents on FragranceX.com, reviewers also voted in favour of the following celebrity fragrances: Unforgivable by Sean Jean, White Diamonds by Elizabeth Taylor, Paris Hilton by Paris Hilton, Believe by Britney Spears and Glow by Jennifer Lopez.

Related links:

• Top 10 most popular female fragrances
• Top 10 most popular men's perfumes
• Find your favourite fragrance brand

(CP Photo)