Iris Apfel has collaborated with MAC Cosmetics on a limited-edition collection. (Courtesy mac.com)

For most of us, the march of time slows our pace. And then there’s Iris Apfel, an increasingly busy, in-demand 90-year-old.

Celebrated for her eccentric style and instantly recognizable in her round, oversized glasses, Apfel is enjoying a higher profile than ever.

In the past several months, she’s teamed up with HSN (on a jewelry line), YOOX (another jewelry collection) and eyebobs (reading glasses). The University of Texas at Austin even made her a visiting professor in its School of Human Ecology.

"I think it’s hysterical," says Apfel, who lives part-time in Palm Beach. "My husband and I sit and laugh all day long. It’s a riot. I have so many careers at 90. I should be out in the pasture mowing, but I have to say it’s lots of fun."

Earlier this month marked the debut of the Iris Apfel for MAC makeup collection – a riot of bright orange lipsticks, teal eye shadows and fuchsia nail polishes.

"How appropriate is that?" said Apfel’s friend, designer Naeem Khan, who recently visited Palm Beach’s Neiman Marcus. "She’s lived her life in such an artistic, flamboyant style.

"She’s a legend."

The fashion world certainly thinks so. Apfel’s personal style – a don’t-try-this-at-home mashup of haute couture, flea-market finds and piled-on statement jewelry that "appears at a glance to have been blended in a Cuisinart," as a writer at The New York Times recently put it – was celebrated in 2005 exhibitions at the Norton Museum of Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Jewelry designer Alexis Bittar considers Apfel a muse. "Iris is one of the most original women of our era, who has not let age get in the way of her beauty," says Bittar, who adds that his friend is "a beacon for women to emulate."

In her typical self-effacing manner, Apfel isn’t so sure. "I never knew what a beacon felt like. I never met a beacon."

Women like older models

But older women relish seeing models closer to their own age than the fresh-faced teenagers typically used to sell foundation and blush, says Lois Joy Johnson, currently working on a sequel to her 2011 book, The Makeup Wakeup, aimed at women over 40.

Johnson, formerly the longtime beauty editor at MORE magazine, points to Lauren Hutton (68) modeling for J.Crew, and Diane Keaton (age 66) starring in Chico’s ads and serving as spokesperson for L’Oreal. Andie MacDowell (53) is also a L’Oreal face, Julianne Moore (51) is featured in Bulgari and Talbots campaigns, and Demi Moore (49) hawks Helena Rubinstein and Ann Taylor.

"Grown-up, sophisticated women want to see their peers reflected in advertising more, and Iris sure takes the fear out of growing older," says Johnson (who adds that the Iris Apfel for MAC lipstick shades Pink Pigeon and Party Parrot "look great on everyone").

"Yes, she is eccentric, rich and successful, but she makes the point that there are no rules anymore when it comes to age," continues Johnson. "You can wear colorful makeup, standout glasses, a collage of clothes and pack on the accessories, and know you don’t have to please anyone but yourself."

That message dovetails with MAC’s penchant for what could be called stunt casting. The company, which has standalone stores in The Gardens Mall and Town Center at Boca Raton, has partnered with drag queen RuPaul, photographer Cindy Sherman and actress Sandra Bernhard, and has built collections around Miss Piggy, Hello Kitty and Wonder Woman.

Apfel says she was "very surprised and I was excited and thrilled and flattered" to join that company. MAC, she says, "is so cutting edge, and their stuff is hip. They’re really, really with it."

And that’s what makes Apfel a perfect fit, says designer Douglas Hannant. "Iris embodies individual style as few ever do," he says. "She has exquisite, colorful taste and an extraordinary eye for the unconventional."

The unconventional style celebrity shows no signs of slowing down.

Neiman Marcus is set to sell pieces from her eyebobs reading glasses line in all its stores, says Apfel. She’s in talks to collaborate on a handbag collection. And, on Feb. 2, she’s scheduled to appear on HSN to sell her latest lineup of jewelry, bags and belts.

"Why not?" says Apfel. "Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you have to put your head in the sand."

Elizabeth Taylor popularized the caftan in the 1960s in the same way Jackie Kennedy popularized the pillbox hat.

The French invented the negligee, but it took Americans to create loungewear for the torpid and tacky.

We’ve got the Slanket, the Snuggie, Pajama Jeans and now the ForeverLazy, a fleece onesie that makes you look like a Teletubby.

The TV commercial touts ForeverLazy as "the one-piece lie-around, lounge-around lazy wear." It was invented by two guys from Wisconsin, the cheese and lazy-wear capital of the U.S.

If Americans can’t stomach the thought of buttoning a waistband, as the boom in sloth togs implies, I suggest a stylish solution: Lounge like Liz.

Elizabeth Taylor lounged like a star. She spent much of the 1960s wearing white, flowing nighties and robes and chilling – both herself and her champagne – in hotel rooms while her husband, Richard Burton, made movies.

One of Elizabeth’s gal pals, Vicky Tiel – a fashion designer who’s stopping in Palm Beach next week for a private book signing – told me so in a phone call from New York, where Tiel was signing copies of her book It’s All About the Dress: What I Learned in Forty Years about Men, Women, Sex and Fashion.

Tiel also confided that since Elizabeth’s hotel frocks were a tad flimsy – see-through, if you must know – she offered to make Elizabeth something comfy that would be sexy but not cause heart arrhythmia in the room-service waiters.

Her solution: A caftan.

"A giant rectangle in matte jersey doubled over with two small slits for sleeves and one large slit for the head," Tiel explains in her book. "Although the rectangle was large, the matte jersey draped sensually, clinging to the body, especially the breasts."

That’s the key to a sexy caftan: At the breasts, cling. Below that, swing.

Otherwise you end up with a muumuu, the signature lazy-wear of Mrs. Roper on Three’s Company.

Ultimately, Elizabeth Taylor did for caftans what Jackie Kennedy did for the pillbox hat – she made something simple incredibly glamorous.

Caftans became her favorite look, and several are among the 950 personal items being auctioned this month by Christie’s. The caftan Taylor wore for her second wedding to Richard Burton has an auction estimate of $12,000 – though it will almost certainly sell for much more.

Tiel recently wrote a piece about the power of Taylor’s caftans for The Huffington Post:

"The caftan was the ideal garment for an imprisoned movie star who loved to eat, and was also the perfect carefree, exotic ensemble to entice her handsome, sensual husband, Richard Burton, into bed or at least to entice him to put down his book."

For women out there with similar seduction plans, Tiel suggests you dump the Slanket and wait patiently until April 19.

That’s when she will be selling Elizabeth-inspired silk caftans on HSN in a two-hour show that promises to bring star glamour back to the forever-lazy couches of America.

And I was even more excited to score an invite to an early screening Wednesday night, where I brought along my friend Chrissy to root for Team Edward. In a nutshell, we both really enjoyed Breaking Dawn and agreed it was by far the best of the Twilight franchise. (And a bonus: R-Patz has never looked so good!)

The entire Twilight gang is looking so grown up these days, especially on the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere earlier this week.

The best beauty look of the night definitely goes to Ashley Greene, who stunned in a gorgeous red Donna Karan frock and a perfect bold, red lip to match.

Makeup artist Vanessa Scali shared her makeup tricks for creating the look. “The statement was the fun, bold lip so I kept the rest simple. Not too much on the eye, a softy flushed cheek and a bright, bold slash of color on the lip.”

To get the same fresh and vibrant look, try mark Lipclick Full Color Lipstick in Cha Cha mixed with mark Lipclick SPF 15 Color Shine Lipstick in Hot Stuff.

And speaking of hot stuff, let’s take a look at the some more of the Twilight-ers at the Breaking Dawn premiere:

Nikki Reed
The newlywed’s (she recently tied the knot with American Idol alum Paul McDonald) radiant skin and wavy hair tucked to the side complimented her gorgeous light green Grecian-style dress by Marchesa.


Kristen Stewart
No one may have been paying attention to Kristen Stewart’s gorgeous eye makeup since her J. Mendel dress with a slit-up-to-there took center stage.But the typical low-key Kristen rocked the carpet with a sultry, smoky look, making her eyes really pop.


Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner
The vamps and wolves were simply dazzling at the premiere. Pattinson wowed in a slim grey suit, while Lautner suited up nicely in a shiny navy number. Both boys looked terrific in the film, leaving me in major anticipation for the conclusion next year.

Halloween is right around the corner — is your costume ready yet? It may be easy to throw on some mouse ears and call yourself Mickey, but if you want to go all out and get creative, October 31 is the best day to do it.

Check out some of these spook-tacular Halloween ideas, beauty how-tos and makeup tips, all inspired by some of today’s hottest celebrities and fictional characters that will leave you looking anything but scary this Halloween. Unless, of course, that’s the look you’re going for.

Dazzle as a Twilighter, fist pump like you’re from the Jersey Shore, or rock out like a superstar!

Check out our Top 8 costume ideas >>

The famous family and stars of Keeping Up with the Kardashians were also there to cheer on Brody Jenner’s girlfriend, Avril Lavigne, who designed the collection. Kylie looked like a pro as she strutted down the catwalk to the tunes of Avril Lavigne. Celebrity guests also included Donald Trump’s son Eric Trump and Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice.

Justin Bieber met fans in a purple leather jacket at Dolce & Gabbana in New York, Michael Kors launched his new Rockefeller Center store with a Rockettes kick line, a Ferris wheel went up over Rodeo Drive and crowds of fashionistas spilled into the streets of Paris Thursday as Fashion’s Night Out entered its third year.

“I’m wearing Dolce & Gabbana head to toe,” said Bieber, who was signing D&G T-shirts ($195 apiece) for fans in Manhattan, one of hundreds of Fashion’s Night Out events worldwide.

Fashion’s Night Out was started in 2009 in New York by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour as a celebrity-studded way to lure shoppers into stores during the recession, but it’s turned into a global shopping party. Retailers ranging from upscale boutiques to suburban malls to websites have embraced the nocturnal shopping extravaganza, which coincides with the start of New York Fashion Week and the important fall fashion season.

Wintour signed September issues of Vogue for fans at an event sponsored by the home shopping channel QVC in Manhattan Thursday night, while Bieber signed shirts at the D&G boutique on Madison Avenue. Nearly every adult shopper at the jam-packed Bieber site had a pint-sized companion, the boys with Bieber hair, the girls with lip gloss courtesy of free touchups to promote D&G lipstick.

Stephanie Steinberg brought her 11-year-old daughter Caroline, who clutched her just-signed shirt after meeting the pop star. “I’ve never seen her speechless until now,” the mom said. D&G donated a portion of proceeds from the event to Bieber’s favorite charity, Pencils of Promise.

In Paris, teenage girls mingled with grand dames in Chanel jackets and pearls inside luxury boutiques in the so-called “Golden Triangle” shopping district. Crowds were so thick they spilled off sidewalks and into the streets, much to the annoyance of taxis snared in the surge. Participating boutiques included Chanel, Dior, Prada, Armani and Ralph Lauren.

“With the Champagne and the music, it’s like a party in here,” said Paris reveler Sandra Pauwels, 35, while sipping a cocktail at Ungaro.

In Beverly Hills, three blocks of Rodeo Drive were closed to traffic for Fashion’s Night Out festivities. A Ferris wheel carried shoppers high above the famed shopping street, where boutiques such Gucci, Coach and Guess held special events. Gucci offered shoppers a limited-edition tote with a $500 purchase, Guess gave guests mini makeovers and Coach celebrated the relaunch of its classic duffle. Anyone who made a purchase along the shopping street could ride the Ferris wheel for free. Stilt-walkers, fire-eaters and 17 gourmet food trucks added to the celebratory vibe.

Milan, Dallas and even Adelaide, Australia, were among other cities participating worldwide. Celebrities at Fashion’s Night Out in London included actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who attended a Vogue party. In New York, Fifth Avenue was packed with throngs of shoppers streaming in and out of stores like Bergdorf Goodman, where crowds came out to see Oscar de la Renta and to get their tarot cards read by jewelry designer Amy Zerner. One of New York’s longest lines was outside an Yves Saint Laurent boutique, where fans waited to meet rapper-turned-R&B star Nicki Minaj.

Florida welcomed Fashion’s Night Out with runway shows, after-hours shopping and cocktail receptions. More than 65 retailers in the Miami area took part, along with venues in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville.

Stylist Danny Santiago, who collaborated on looks from the “Sex and the City” movies as well as “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” styled a runway show at the Aventura Mall for FNO using pieces sold at the mall today that echo influential styles from the past. They included sheaths and beaded dresses inspired by the 1920s; hourglass silhouettes reflecting tailored 1940s looks; psychedelic prints and mismatched black-and-white patterns echoing the 1960s; and graphic patterns and the famous wrap dress look from the 1970s.

“I was inspired by vintage pieces that I actually own,” said Santiago.

Sporty American designer Tommy Hilfiger hailed Fashion’s Night Out as “a big celebration.”

“Anna Wintour came up with such a genius idea, and it actually worked,” Hilfiger told The Associated Press in a phone interview. “I think it’s not just about the shopping that night, I think it’s the idea of getting out there — exposing the fact that fashion can be fun. … It doesn’t have to be this serious thing that’s too expensive. Fashion and shopping doesn’t have to be anything but fun.”

Getting face-time with his customers is another of the event’s positive side, said Hilfiger, who held court Thursday night at Macy’s Manhattan flagship with jazzy singer Joss Stone: “To see them and hear directly from them is pretty cool.”

Last year’s extended hours and blitz of promotions and entertainment provided a measurable sales lift for merchants, said Michael McNamara, vice president of research and analysis for MasterCard Advisors’ SpendingPulse, which tracks cash as well as credit transactions. He estimated that sales nationwide at department stores and clothing chains were up 2 percent on Fashion’s Night Out last year, compared with the 2009 period that was limited to events in New York. Shoes and teen clothing fared the best, he added.

Hilfiger agreed that FNO’s economic impact has grown wildly in the last three years. “People ARE shopping,” he said at Macy’s. “It’s 100-fold compared to any other Thursday. We sell a lot of clothes.” Just as important, “it’s such a good time. People love to come out. … It brings out people from all walks of life.”

Home shopping channel QVC marked its 25th anniversary at a pop-up store in Soho with a live broadcast scheduled for Thursday night. Fashion fans sipped wine and Pellegrino as they waited for Heidi Klum, Isaac Mizrahi, Melania and Donald Trump and others to walk the red carpet and sell their lines.

“Fashion’s Night Out is not for the faint of heart. You have to know how to party!” said Mizrahi.

QVC CEO Mike George said the event was “really about our customers. We don’t get to meet them very often.”

Kris Jenner, among the designers taking part in the QVC event, said she created her line with older women in mind who aren’t served well by mainstream fashion: “I wasn’t ready to give up on myself. We want to feel good, too.”

In Mexico City, which joined the global celebration for the first time, events included the opening of a four-day exhibit called “A tribute to Mexico,” in which 13 international designers, including Christian Cota of Mexico, Nicole Miller, Tommy Hilfiger and Tory Burch, created outfits for the hand-made Maria doll, a ragdoll with long braids adorned with colored ribbons, sold in tourist areas.

“Those designers have to develop collections, their time is limited, but they accepted to do this, and that is a great triumph for us,” Eva Hugues, editorial director of Vogue Mexico & Latin America, said.

Hugues also said she hoped Fashion’s Night Out would promote the work of Mexican designers. “Instead of wearing a cardigan by Tory Burch, I want to wear one by Macario Jimenez. We want it to be affordable for the public, that they can consume it,” Hugues said.

FNO events in Mexico City took place in malls and in the upscale Polanco neighborhood, which houses “Luxury Avenue,” where Tiffany planned to turn its flagship store into a type of Studio 54. On that same avenue, the Salvatore Ferragamo store planned a karaoke party with Latin Grammy winner band Belanova.

In New York, Kors said it was a “fabulous coincidence” that his Rockefeller Center store launch lined up with Fashion’s Night Out. His fans included Fashion Institute of Technology Jamie Vega, who bought a watch and had the designer sign her bag.

“This is so exciting to meet him in person,” she said. “I’m a fashion student after all.”

At Bergdorf Goodman, about 200 people gathered to watch designers including Mark Badgley, James Mischka, Reem Acra and John Barrett trot out their dogs for a fashion contest. Designs ranged from wedding dresses to bright pink feather collars and a fur-trimmed storm coat.

“I feel like I’m in an episode of Sex and the City,” said Ellen Switkes, 58, from Sherman Oaks, Calif., who watched the dog show after picking up a few T-shirts. “This is such a scene.”

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony may be ending their personal relationship, but their professional one lives on.

Anthony and Lopez launched their fashion lines — the Marc Anthony Collection and the Jennifer Lopez Collection — on Wednesday.

Forty-two-year-old Anthony marked the launch with a ribbon cutting at Kohl’s department store in downtown Jersey City, N.J. Lopez did not attend, but Anthony says they collaborated a lot on the work.

He says: “I always had Jennifer as a soundboard and vice versa. I’m really happy about her line and I saw all the work that she put into it.”

The pair announced their split in July after seven years of marriage.

The couple has 3-year-old twins named Max and Emme. Anthony said he’s “really proud of” 41-year-old Lopez.

___

Online:

http://kohlsjlmafallcollections.com/

(Libby Volgyes/The Palm Beach Post)

HEADLINE: Designing woman

THE SCENE MAKER: Sterling Kenan, 32

WHO SHE IS: An interior designer who divides her time between Palm Beach and New York City, Kenan is the creative mind behind Palm Beach’s stylish Buccan restaurant.

“Transitioning into more restaurant work has been really exciting for me as it combines my two passions, design and food,” says Kenan, who’s currently working on the design of Burger Bar, a new concept by Chef Allen Susser scheduled to open in October in Palm Beach Gardens.

FAVORITE DESIGN STORES: “I love to scour Adam & Eve Salvage. I’ve found things from old doors to mid-century sofas and oriental rugs there ­— recently I found a Sherle Wagner sink! On Dixie Highway, Objects in the Loft and C.Bell are my favorites. Last week I found a 5-foot tall, black and white painting of a horse at C.Bell. I also love This N That on Clematis and Circa Who in Northwood.”

Adam & Eve’s Architectural Salvage, 528 16th St., West Palm Beach, (561) 655-1022
Objects in the Loft, 3611 S. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach, (561) 659-0403
C.Bell, 4906 S. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach, (561) 533-6505

This N That, 216 Clematis St., West Palm Beach, (561) 833-5223

Circa Who, 531 Northwood Road, West Palm Beach, (561) 655-5224

FAVORITE SPA: “The Spa at The Breakers is my favorite all-around spa. The massages are amazing, and I love the Guerlain facial.”
The Spa at The Breakers, 1 S. County Road, Palm Beach, (561) 273-2537

MOST VISUALLY INSPIRING WALK: “I really love to walk my dog around Worth Avenue and the via’s late at night, when the streets are empty. I love to peek in the windows of the art galleries and furniture stores. For some reason, this is always inspiring and recharging for me.”

FAVORITE VINTAGE SHOPS: “I love Deja Vu, a consignment store selling high-end, designer clothing and accessories. Last year I found the most beautiful Judith Leiber evening bag there. I also pop into The Church Mouse and Goodwill on a regular basis. Recently, I found a gorgeous Leonard dress at The Church Mouse.”

Deja Vu Consignment Shop, 219 Royal Poinciana Way, Palm Beach, (561) 833-6624
The Church Mouse, 374 S. County Road, Palm Beach, (561) 659-2154 (The Church Mouse will reopen in October.)
Goodwill, 210 Sunset Ave., Palm Beach, (561) 832-8199

FAVORITE PILATES STUDIO: “I love Pilates and have been going to Alyson at Sunset Pilates for years. She customizes a really great workout for me, and I always feel great after a session with her.”
Sunset Pilates, 223 Sunset Ave., Palm Beach, (561) 820-9184

— Staci Sturrock, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

“Alexis, look at my eyebrows! Did they mess them up? Do they look uneven? What do you think?” my coworker exclaimed as she returned from the salon after an eyebrow shaping last week. I assured her they were perfectly symmetrical and she looked terrific — no post-brow shaping panic necessary! But unfortunately, I’ve been there before and it’s not fun. I recounted the tale from a few years back when after trying out a new salon, I was left with brows that were uneven, too short, botched at the ends — basically a total mess. Seinfeld fans: Remember Uncle Leo?

OK, OK it wasn’t that bad, but I think many women would agree that a set of well-shaped eyebrows can really change your overall look. Whether you pay a visit to the waxing or threading salon or take matters into your own hands with tweezers, it’s essential to achieve the perfect shape. Makeup artist Susmta Patel suggests these great tips:

Determine eye set
Work with your own eyebrow shape and frame–not against it. Be sure to take into consideration bone structure and eye set when trying to achieve shapely brows. Patel recommends this trick to determine your eye set: Measure your eye from the inner to outer corner. If your measurement is 7 cm and the distance between your two eyes is also the same, this means you have normal set eyes. If it is greater, you have wide set eyes and if it is less, you have close set eyes.

Spacing
Recognizing your eye set will help determine the best fit eyebrow shape. If you have close set eyes, shaping will require more space between your eyebrows. The brows should begin a little past the inner eye to give the illusion of a normal eye set. If you have wide set eyes, then you should not over pluck in between your brows — less space will better suit your face.

Shaping
The eyebrow arch starts from your pupil and gradually goes up and then down towards the end. The arch shape depends on your bone structure. Opt for rounded shaped eyebrows to soften features. Soft angle eyebrows, look arched and feminine, and usually go well with a petite face. Angled eyebrows have a high arch and work well to mask droopy eyelids, giving a more youthful look. Straight eyebrows work best for those with a longer shaped face, making the face appear shorter and oval.

Designing
Once you understand what shape fits your face best, you can use the following tip to complete your new shape like a pro: Apply a little foundation on the eyebrows, and draw the desired shape with any colored make-up pencil. Look at yourself from a 3 feet distance in the mirror. If the sketch best complements your face, only remove the hair outside of the guideline you have created by tweezing or threading.

See photos of the best brows in the biz >>

Carly Mejeur (left) and Sherry Vargo (right) receive back-to-school makeovers. (J. Gwendolynne Berry/The Palm Beach Post)

On Monday morning, roughly 12,000 teachers in Palm Beach County took their spots in front of the classroom for another school year.

Last week, local teachers Sherry Vargo and Carly McKague Mejeur posed in front of our cameras after spending a long afternoon at the Eau Spa by Cornelia at the Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach in Manalapan.

The Eau Spa team pampered and prettified the two women – the district’s 2011 Beginning Teachers of the Year and, coincidentally, both products of the local education system.
The back-to-school makeovers earned high marks from the teachers. Said Vargo, “I don’t have to look like a mom with three kids. Not that there’s anything wrong with looking like a mom with three kids!”

(J. Gwendolynne Berry/The Palm Beach Post)

SHERRY VARGO, 45 years old, lives in Loxahatchee and works as an Exceptional Student Education teacher of fourth- and fifth-graders at Loxahatchee’s Frontier Elementary.

Her own education: A native of Palm Beach County, she attended Green­acres Elementary, Palm Springs Middle School and John I. Leonard High School. After graduating from Florida Atlantic University, she earned a master’s degree in psychology and an MBA.
Other professional experience: Worked in the corporate health care field for many years before deciding to stay at home when her three children were young.
Outside the classroom: She plays on a touch rugby team.
Best surprise of her first year of teaching: “The gains the kids could make. It was amazing to watch the growth.”
Biggest challenge ahead: Helping 86 percent of students show Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) on their test scores, as mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act. “That’s high, and it’s tough, so for all of us, we’re looking for those numbers,” said Vargo.

THE MAKEOVER:
The hair: Lead hairstylist Michael Rolland cut layers into Sherry’s hair and added brighter highlights to give her style more dimension. A blowout provided bounce.
The face: Makeup artist Michelle Cox’s sultry but elegant look included perfecting the skin with a dewy finish, plus a smoky eye and a shade of lipstick that whispers rather than shouts.
The nails: OPI’s sweet It’s a Girl, appropriate for this mother of three daughters.
The clothes: Dorit Israel dress ($295), IN2 Design necklace ($198), Gypsy bracelet ($600). All available at Eau Spa bEAUtique in The Ritz-Carlton.

CARLY McKAGUE MEJEUR, 24 years old, lives in Lantana and teaches art to kindergartners through eighth-graders at Palm Beach Maritime Academy, a West Palm Beach charter school.

Her own education: The Palm Beach County native went to Crystal Lakes Elementary, Bak Middle School of the Arts and Dreyfoos School of the Arts, then earned a BFA in painting, and a master’s degree in art education from the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Other professional experience: Ocean lifeguard for Palm Beach County for the past six years.
Outside the classroom: She pursues her own artwork and enjoys surfing and scuba diving.
Best surprise of her first year of teaching: Landing at a school that allowed her to combine her passions. “I was like, ‘Really? I get to put art and the ocean together?’ It was a dream come true.”
Biggest challenge ahead: Not knowing how merit-based pay for art teachers will be determined. “There’s still confusion,” she says.

THE MAKEOVER:
The hair: Carly had been growing her hair out for a few months, so salon manager Alison Lutz reshaped her ’do and touched up her roots.
The face: Makeup artist Michelle Cox went for subtle glamour, with a bold lip color and lots of mascara, that wouldn’t overwhelm Carly’s natural beauty. “I don’t want to take her from Point A to Point Z,” Cox said.
The nails: OPI’s eye-popping OPI on Collins Ave.
The clothes: Michelle Jonas dress ($295), Mystique sandals ($175), IN2 Designs necklace ($160), Jordann Jewelry earrings ($220), Bellissima bracelet ($45), Jordann Jewelry ring ($180). All available at Eau Spa bEAUtique in The Ritz-Carlton.

Naked women tell the truth, says designer Vicky Tiel.

They spill it all, literally: their cleavage, their confidences, their hips, their heartbreaks — and their hopes that the perfect dress will transform them.

Tiel has been inside dressing rooms, draping and pinning and listening to naked women confess their secrets, for nearly 50 years.

She has story after story about how these dressing-room confessionals and the clothes they inspired have turned discarded first wives into classy conquerors, insecure second wives into confident ladies and regular women into seduction machines.

"You need power to sell a dress to a naked woman," Tiel says, "and you get it through an understanding of her."

Tiel’s new book, It’s All About the Dress: What I Learned in Forty Years About Men, Women, Sex and Fashion, uncovers plenty about power, starting with the saucy life of Tiel herself – a vivacious dynamo who learned sales savvy from Coco Chanel, writing tips from Woody Allen and sexual gymnastics from Warren Beatty.

In her delightful collection of celebrity stories, sex-capades, life lessons and recipes, Tiel reveals how a natural confidence and love of sewing launched a lifetime of fun.

She made miniskirts before they were "invented" by other designers, popularized hot pants, stitched Elizabeth Taylor’s caftans, and created one of the sexiest dress designs of all time – a draped number so transforming, Julia Roberts wore a red version of it when she morphed from call-girl to girlfriend in Pretty Woman.

That dress – which is still selling and has been worn by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Joe Biden’s wife, Jill – has enough magical engineering in the bodice to rival Stonehenge.

"It usually takes two people to zip it up and only one man to unzip it," Tiel says in an interview from her 40-acre farm on Florida’s Panhandle, next to the Alabama border and about 40 minutes from civilization.

She lives here and in Paris with her second husband, Mike. They met 24 years ago in Key West when he was 29 and she was 43.

"It was heaven," she recalls. "When the door is open, Mr. Right will walk in."

Mike taught her how to "live barefoot" after decades of traveling from New York to Paris and from one Neiman Marcus to another. (She still sells her gowns at the Palm Beach Neiman Marcus every December.)

"To this day," she writes, "my designs have much more to do with pleasing men than with any passing fashion trends."

‘The biggest star in the world was the most natural person’

Before Tiel’s life was all about the dress, she learned the power of undressing.

As a cheerleader at Chevy Chase High School, she distracted the opposing team by doing cartwheels in her tiny pleated skirt – sans panties.

Later, she used her knack for creating excitement to energize the Greenwich Village party scene of the early ’60s, turning heads with her revealing hippie-chick outfits.

"I was never the beauty queen, I was more like Lady Gaga," recalls Tiel, who realized in her teens that packaging counts. "You become who you want to be by how you clothe yourself."

Soon, Tiel’s sassy style attracted the man who would become her first husband – Hollywood makeup artist Ron Berkeley – and led her to one of the most influential relationships of her life.

Berkeley did Richard Burton’s makeup, so Tiel became part of Elizabeth Taylor’s intimate circle.

For 25 years, from the time Tiel was 20, the actress was a mother figure and mentor.

Taylor’s major lesson: Be authentic.

"The biggest star in the world was the most natural person," Tiel says.

Never act stuck up, Taylor advised. Only insecure or fearful people are stuck up.

Taylor and Burton bankrolled Tiel’s first Paris boutique. And Taylor invited Vicky to dinner with Coco Chanel, where the great fashion designer influenced both women to create perfumes.

"If Chanel hadn’t held my hand and sent me a vibe, I never would have had the courage to make a perfume," says Tiel, whose fragrances still sell today. "Because of Coco, Elizabeth lived a life of leisure for 20 years."

‘My grandma’s buried

in your dress’

Tiel didn’t do too bad herself. After 40-plus years of relying on her friend Dorian Leigh’s advice – "Don’t trust your beauty, trust your brains" – she remains successful in business. She is beloved by her most loyal customers, "the women whose husbands own the teams and run the corporations," and by shapely new stars like Kim Kardashian.

It’s All About the Dress – sometimes hilarious and sometimes shocking – lives up to the Elizabeth Taylor standard: Vicky Tiel is an original.

At her farm, she wears T-shirts she buys for $3 at Wal-Mart and decorates with expensive embroideries. She checks on the roosters and chickens and writes columns from the wrap-around porches of her home. She’s mulling writing a book on power.

"Everything is power. Fashion is power. Relationships are about power. I want to bring that out into the open," she says, adding, "Real power is giving up power."

If Tiel needs any more proof of her own staying power, it’s this: Women often wear vintage Vickys into eternity.

"I always hear, ‘My grandma’s buried in your dress,’ " Tiel laughs.

Even on the way out, Grandma wants to look hot.

~jan_tuckwood@pbpost.com

From ‘It’s All About the Dress’:

Three love lessons

Lesson 1: Learn what men like and be good at it.

Lesson 2: Never keep a man who seduces your friends.

Lesson 3: Move on. A new man comes along every 10 minutes, just like a bus.

‘No sex for shoes’

A lesson Vicky Tiel’s dad taught her: ‘If you marry for security and don’t have your own money, you’re going to have to have sex with your husband if you want a pair of shoes.’

Three ways to tell if a man

is in love

He wants to spend his time with you.

He wants to spend his money on you.

He wants to have sex with you.

From her interview with The Palm Beach Post:

How to dress

to snag a man

No. 1, wear lace: Specifically black lace with some skin showing through.

Two, wear spaghetti straps that tend to fall off your shoulders.

Show your best part: For many women, that is the shoulders and the top of the breasts. ‘How do you excite a man or your husband if you look like every other girl? Empower yourself!’

If you have good legs, wear the shortest skirt possible: ‘I saw a young woman in Manhattan recently showing off fabulous legs in very short shorts. She wasn’t that beautiful, her face was so-so, but she’ll get a man in four blocks!’

Richard Graulich/Palm Beach Post

SENECA MOSS REYNOLDS, 34

WHO SHE IS: A Palm Beach Gardens resident with serious fashion credentials, Reynolds is a celebrity stylist whose former clients includes Angelina Jolie, Susan Sarandon and Goldie Hawn. As an editor in New York City, she produced fashion content for Cosmopolitan and InStyle magazines. And when she lived in Los Angeles, she contributed to E! Entertainment’s “Fashion Police.”

Reynolds’ latest venture is ResortChic.com, where she carries Taj by Sabrina Crippa tunics, Pily Q bikinis, TKEES sandals and silk maxi-dresses of her own design.

“My passion is finding things that are unique and attract attention,” she says. “That was one of the main reasons I developed ResortChic.com, so that I can bring the things I love to women who will enjoy them.”

A few of her favorite things:

Lump crab and avocado salad at Pistache.

“My other favorite is meeting for a casual dinner at Entre Nous Bistro. The food is fabulous and well-priced. I highly recommend the Tuna Tartare Tower.”

Pistache, 101 N. Clematis St., West Palm Beach, (561) 833-5090 | Directions, invite friends, more

Entre Nous Bistro, 123 US Hwy. 1, North Palm Beach, (561) 863-5883 | Directions, invite friends, more

FAVORITE KID-FRIENDLY DESTINATIONS: “My 3-year-old daughter and I enjoy different activities daily, so it’s hard to pick one favorite, but our top three would be Leapin’ Lizards indoor playground on Clematis, feeding the fish at Sailfish Marina and the kids/adults clinic at the South Olive tennis courts. They have a great children’s clinic going on while the adults also have one. So we can both enjoy ourselves. The price is $15, and you just can’t beat it.”

Leapin’ Lizards, 416 Clematis St., West Palm Beach, (561) 832-8140 | Directions, invite friends, more

Sailfish Marina, 98 Lake Dr., West Palm Beach, (561) 842-8449

South Olive Tennis Center, 345 Summa St., West Palm Beach, (561) 308-1159 | Directions, invite friends, more

FAVORITE GIFT STORE: The Back Porch. “They offer great gift ideas for every age and price range.”
The Back Porch, 11450 US 1, North Palm Beach, (561) 799-1878

FAVORITE HAIRSTYLIST: “I have tried pretty much everyone in the area and have never gotten more compliments on my hair since I have been seeing Michelle Eldredge, owner of Capelli salon. You know you have one of the best in the industry when you need to book all of your appointments for the next year in advance.”

Capelli Designs Salon, 4050 S. US Hwy. 1, Jupiter, (561) 630-0610

The Duchess of Cambridge has landed a spot on Vanity Fair‘s Best-Dressed List of 2011.

Kate Middleton’s Royal Style Transformation

She first appeared on the list in 2008, but now she’s on it as a member of the royal family.

Middleton, 29, received rave reviews for the succession of outfits worn on her recent North America tour.

See photos of Kate Middleton’s Royal Wedding Dress

The magazine said of Middleton: “A whirlwind of fashion successes since has earned her a nod this year. ‘She’s captivated the world with her signature mix of high and low fashion.”

Joining Middleton are President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, who are making their first appearance together on the Best-Dressed Couples list.

Also on the list are actors Justin Timberlake, Colin Firth, and Armie Hammer – all first-time entrants. Representing the Hollywood ladies are actresses Carey Mulligan and Tilda Swinton. Among the fashion originals, Lady Gaga is joined by singer Janelle Monáe.

Charming Charlie in the Mall at Wellington Green. (Bruce R. Bennett/The Palm Beach Post)

It is, essentially, a candy store for accessories addicts — thousands of trendy bags and bracelets, rings and wristwatches, shoes and scarves — displayed according to color, not category.

On a recent trip, I took home an iridescent teardrop pendant for $7.97, but more importantly, I took a break from the day’s worries, set to an upbeat soundtrack (the Beach Boys, Blondie, REM) and assisted by a disarmingly cheerful sales staff. In short, with almost everything priced between $5 and $50, Charming Charlie provides a brief distraction from the debt-ceiling debate that won’t drive you into debt.

Located on the mall’s upper level next to Dillard’s, Charming Charlie can be reached at (561) 790-2302.

MALL WORLD: Let’s raise a glass to Reva flats! Champagne will flow Friday as Tory Burch opens its third Palm Beach County boutique in Town Center at Boca Raton. … Yankee Candle stores in Boynton Beach Mall, The Mall at Wellington Green, Town Center at Boca Raton and Treasure Coast Square Mall will throw Halloween preview parties from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, to introduce shoppers to this year’s Boney Bunch and Skeleton Crew items. … JCPenney at the Boynton Beach Mall recently completed, and unveiled, its $3 million renovation. The updates include the addition of an in-store Sephora.

Stephen Bonanno with two of his popular sandals: The blue and white Palm Beach Classic starts at $95 and the pink and green Emma Classic Monogram starts at $159.(Richard Graulich/The Palm Beach Post)

If you know Palm Beach style, you know Stephen Bonanno sandals (after all, Jackie Kennedy wore them).

But did you know that Stephen’s sandals have been handcrafted by his family since 1963?

And that Bonanno’s Stuart factory produces nearly 40,000 pairs per year, at prices from $70 to $275?

Stephen’s father, Benny, once said, “The sweetness of low price is long forgotten after the bitterness of poor quality sets in.”

Stephen, who also does shoe repair, keeps the quality of his sandals consistent by using tried-and-true techniques.

- Rose Cohn

1. THE LEATHER INSOLE: Stephen Bonanno sandals start with a vegetable-tanned leather insole that molds to the foot. The leather is cut from cookie-cutterlike dies, which Bonanno designs in various shoe shapes and sizes.

2. THE STAMP:

Bonanno stamps his seal of authenticity on the top of the insole. Bonanno says stores such as Sears and Target are knocking off his company’s sandals. So, remember: ‘If it doesn’t say Stephen, it isn’t Bonanno.’

3. TOP OF THE SANDAL:

Now the leather for the top of the sandal is cut. Customers can choose from 75 different colors and create more than 5,000 color combinations and custom monograms.

4. SECRET TO COMFORT, THE SHANK: This metal support between the insole and the cowhide sole gives comfort and support. Bonanno makes his shanks wider than most, he say s.

5. SIGNATURE STITCHING: Once the sole and insole are glued together, the sandal is lightly sanded to ensure clean stitching. The perimeter stitching is one of Stephen Bonanno’s signatur es.

6. POUNDING: A small yet powerful machine evens the surface, smooths the stitching and seals everything ti ght.

7. THE HEEL: The heel is glued to the bottom of the shoe. Then it is stapled for extra security.

8. HAND-SANDING: Bonanno sands the shoe again to smooth the edges. He hand-waxes the sides to bind the raw le ather for extra security and support. Bonanno makes his shanks wider than most, he say s. He employs 12 workers at his Stuart factory.

9. BURNISHING: Now the sides must be burnished. This process seals all pores, makes the sandals waterproof and gives the edges a glossy finish.

10. HEEL PAD: Finally the heel pad is applied. The pattern has remained unchanged since Bonanno’s father designed it deca des ago.

11. VOILÀ! The sandal is ready for selling, shipping, wearing and loving.

Interested in buying your own Stephen Bonanno sandals?

Order them online at stephenbonanno.com or by phone at (772) 260-3525. Stop by the new boutique at 319 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach, (561) 670-2200; or visit the Factory Boutique at 882 S.W. Enterprise Way, Stuart .

Giving old shoes a new life keeps you from having to buy or break in new ones.

Dan Catalfumo Sr., the 80-year-old owner of Danny’s Shoe Repair, in West Palm Beach, says that the downturn in the economy has definitely helped his business.

"For the past 2 1/2 years, I have seen an increase," said Catalfumo, who has owned this shop for 49 years and has been in the business for 73 years. "People can’t pay for new shoes. Working people can’t afford them. This keeps us going all year."

Catalfumo says he is seeing many more women customers, as he says more men are buying less-expensive shoes and replacing them. "Women pay a lot of money for their shoes and are very concerned about holding on to them."

Catalfumo’s shop is well-known, and he has a large volume of mail-in business from all over the country. In fact, Catalfumo said his shop was featured in Town & Country magazine in January as one of the 39 best shoe repair shops in the world.

However, Catalfumo fears his business is a dying art.

"It’s hard to get the young people to want to work in shoe repair," Catalfumo said. "They try it for a few months and say it’s not for them; they are getting too dirty. I don’t understand. It washes right off. The younger generation just isn’t interested in this business."

In Wellington, Richard "Woody" Wood, the 64-year-old owner of Woody’s of Wellington, a boot and shoe repair shop that has been open since 1987, has shifted his business from shoes to boots.

"Shoe repair used to be our bread-and-butter, but I’d say we have to turn away 70 percent of our shoe business today," Wood said. "The quality of the manufacturing of shoes makes them impossible to repair, even some high-end shoes like Bruno Magli and Gucci."

Wood explained that years ago shoes were handmade and designed to last. Today’s shoes, he said, even some expensive brands, are manufactured in factories.

When these shoes are brought in to his repair shop, Wood is often forced to tell customers he can’t duplicate what was done in the factory.

Wood, who has been in the industry since 1974, has made a name for himself, both locally and around the world, in the repair of riding boots. He says that Vogel and Dehner are two bootmakers that still make footwear the old-fashioned way.

"If you are in the riding business, you have money to spend," Wood said. "Appearance is still an important part of that industry. I have learned to adapt to what my customers want and need."

“I always advise my clients who live here year-round to purchase for the entire year now,” says personal image consultant Susan Bigsby of Boynton Beach.

End-of-summer sale prices are the lowest you’ll find, she says, and as much as we may lust for knee-high boots and wool-blend coats, most of us don’t need the heavier items trickling into stores. In the subtropics, “long sleeves may be the only difference,” says Bigbsy, between summer and winter wardrobes.

Of course, it can be tough to wait for that sales sweet spot between the Fourth of July and Labor Day.

In early June, I patted myself on the back for bagging a $90 jersey dress on my beloved BodenUSA.com for $72 (with free shipping!). Last week, I slapped myself on the forehead when the U.K.-based retailer slashed the price to $49.

In April, in dire need of black pants, I bought a $78 pair at Nordstrom. Now, the same style is $40, and the store included a similar pair in its Anniversary Sale for $50. Double d’oh!

Nordstrom’s sale, in which the retailer spotlights discounted fall merch before the season begins, is a perennial gold mine of fashion goodness. A tradition for roughly 40 years, the sale “is where it’s at for scoring big discounts on this year’s biggest trends,” says Palm Beach Gardens’ Alyson Seligman, who writes TheAverageGirlsGuide.com lifestyle blog.

Agreed. I always find a couple of pieces of office-appropriate tops and bottoms at the sale. And usually a new pair of jeans. Oh, and shoes. This year, I’m eyeing print blouses (to wear with those $78 black pants, g).

Elsewhere, at LOFT and Banana Republic I’ll shop for deeply discounted white tanks and white T-shirts – the ones I’m wearing this summer will be ready for retirement next spring – and Neiman Marcus’ Last Call Sale put a pair of MICHAEL Michael Kors ballet flats within my reach earlier this week. Sale price: $44.

Seligman, meanwhile, is on the lookout for embellished or ruffled blouses. “I have too many cotton tees and casual tops,” she says. “I’m also in the market for classic trousers and pencil skirts to further diversify my wardrobe.”

Wouldn’t you know? The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale offerings include several pencil skirts. One Halogen style comes in five colors, including Florida-friendly hues Green Moss and Yellow Raisin. Through July 31, the Halogen skirt is $45.90.

Starting Aug. 1, it’ll be $68.

THE HEAT IS ON

Celebrity makeup artist, Brett Freedman, is a huge fan of drugstore beauty brands and uses an arsenal of budget-friendly products on country superstars, TV actresses, and other celebrity clients. Brett took a stroll down the aisles of his favorite drugstore and shared some of his favorite budget beauty brands — most under $10 — and others even under $5!

Maybelline’s ColorSensational Lipstick in Disco Pink, $5.49
The fun, pink shade is right on trend for summer. “It’s a true salmon that feels just a touch more interesting than the run-of-the-mill pink,” Brett says. It’s perfect for gals too hesitant to ride the coral wave that’s all the rage right now. “Color aside, the formula is a great combo of gloss and pigmented lipstick, close to a glaze,” he adds. Brett used this shade on actress Brittany Snow and had some terrific results!

Wet ‘n Wild Eyeshadow Trio in Sweet As Candy, $2.99
This trio is a great change from typical neutrals. “I always like a pop of color in shadows, so the soft cherry shade to sweeten the look gets a rave review from me,” Brett says. “My tip would be to use the champagne hue on the lid and brow bone and use the pink on the outer corner to add a bit more subtle drama.” Brett used the trio on Patricia Heaton for a neutral eye look with a bit of a twist.

Physician’s Formula Happy Booster Glow and Mood Boosting Powder in Natural, $11.95
This blush, which Brett used on The Vampire Diaries star Candace Accola, imparts a nice glow of natural summer radiance. Swirl the brush to combine all the sweet pink shades together and sweep on apples of cheeks for a lit-from-within glow.

Milani Color Brilliance Eye Pencil in Green, $4.99
Milani’s line is colorful, full of bling and priced right! Metallic shades are great in the summer since they tend to catch the light and work well paired with a tan. Brett’s tip: Use colored eye pencils with neutral shadows. Apply the pencil very close to lash line and soften/blend with fingers or a cotton swab. Line the entire eye, around the tear duct and on the inner shelf. Brett used this shade on actress/singer Kat Graham to liven up her already gorgeous eyes.

Freeze It Hair Spray, $6.29
Bright, shiny hair is a must for all seasons, but especially in sun-soaked summer. Brett uses this spray on Reba McEntyre’s flame-colored locks for a great hold, sans flakiness. The optical brighteners in the spray leave hair with a gorgeous shine, all for a terrific price.

Check out some more of Brett’s drugstore beauty finds for body, skin and hair. View the slideshow.

To many, the former Kate Middleton’s sartorial choices in Canada and California hit just the right notes – even though she didn’t pack any surprises.

She brought all feminine looks, among them: a pleated lilac floor-length gown designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, a vibrant green Diane von Furstenberg shift with a waist-tie and a silver silk dress with hand-painted flowers by British designer Jenny Packham.

"It’s like our first ladies," said Kate Betts, a contributor editor for Time magazine and the author of Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style. "We’re always going to think of them as role models – people we look to as some kind of example, either by the way they dress or the way they speak."

The duchess eschewed bright colors and bold prints even in sunny Southern California, though she donned the floral Packham for a charity polo match in Santa Barbara.

Repeat outfits

That designer also made a yellow silk dress that the duchess wore in Canada. But Kate is known for repeats: She prefers drapey dresses by the Brazilian designer Issa; the cream Reiss dress she wore in her engagement photo showed up again in Canada; and her nude-colored leather pumps and straw box-clutch from British upscale fashion brand LK Bennett were frequent sights during the 11-day trip.

"She’s repeating things to make sure people understand she’s not overspending in this very difficult economic moment," Betts said. "It’s very age-appropriate. She’s what, 29? People that age don’t have thousands of pairs of shoes. It’s not something someone that age does or cares about."

For the celebrity-studded black-tie BAFTA dinner Sunday, where the royal couple were the honored guests, she wore the McQueen gown and a pair of Jimmy Choo platform sandals.

Avril Graham, a fellow Brit and executive fashion and beauty editor for Harper’s Bazaar, said she wasn’t surprised that Burton, who made Kate’s two dresses on her wedding day, was responsible for the BAFTA gown.

Graham said its simplicity and bejeweled waistband recalled Kate’s wedding reception dress. She praised the duchess for resisting "the temptation to overdress, over-glitz a la Hollywood red-carpet glam."

Betts also declared it a hit, saying that the duchess stuck to her usual "easy and fluid" style.

"It was fluid and beautiful, almost like a T-shirt. It had a very American feeling to it," she said. "When I looked at what the celebrities were wearing at the event, it seemed too uptight and over-done and over-styled compared to her."

Ladylike sihouette

The running theme among the outfits was a ladylike figure-flattering silhouette, in luxurious neutral fabrics with knee-length hems. The dresses nipped in at the waist, either with darts, a waist tie or a waistband, as with the light-gray frock by London-based designer Roksanda Ilincic that Kate changed into during the flight from Canada.

The knee-length dress had asymmetric draping from one shoulder with folds at the collar, a cut that both Betts and Graham loved.

"I love the ease of her style. I love the fact that she’s wearing dresses, which actually when you think about it is a very American thing because if you look back at other royals, they wore suits," Betts said.

Betts noted that even though the duchess primarily wore British labels because "she has to wave the British flag, too," she likely chose the Diane von Furstenberg dress for a reception Saturday "as a nod to American fashion."

"She really has to be a style ambassador for the U.K.," Graham said, noting that William’s late mother, Princess Diana, at first wore British designers exclusively.

Graham called the duchess’ choices "spot on," saying she displayed a "cautious selection that’s worked well in her new role" but that Kate should take away from the trip a learning experience to be more adventurous in the future.

No bad fashion days

But don’t ever expect Kate to dress down, Graham added. Even though the royal couple on Sunday visited Los Angeles’ gritty Skid Row, the duchess stayed prim in navy pumps with a matching crochet blouse and a white pleated skirt – an ensemble that didn’t come from a glamorous fashion house but the U.K. high-street brand Whistles.

As a royal in a senior role, Kate’s not allowed to have a bad fashion day if she’s somewhere representing the crown, Graham added.

Celebrity stylist Robert Verdi said he was fascinated by the duchess and liked that her style "isn’t vulgar," although he thought the McQueen gown at the BAFTA dinner was "a little matronly (because) you don’t get a bust line."

He also called the soft colors of her other dresses "a little mother-of-the-bride … you could see it on a silver-haired mom at a wedding."

But Verdi said they were minor missteps considering "she had been thrown" into the international spotlight yet managed to stay true to her style and respectful of the crown.

The secret, he said, is the blind eye she turns to labels, whether they’re off-the-rack or couture, and instead, consistently focuses on her own natural beauty.

"We don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes in the royal household, but what’s in front of us – which is what all we have to see and believe and understand – it feels positive," he said. "She’s not a desperate housewife of New Jersey."

Under fluorescent lights and a whirling ceiling fan that is no match for the Havana summer morning heat, Emiliano Nelson Guerra traced a pattern onto a bolt of pink cotton cloth and carefully scissored the edges.

Intermittently pulling on a fat cigar, he explained the significance of the “guayabera,” the roomy, collared, four-pocketed dress shirts that Cubans wear to look spiffy on this tropical island where neckties are practically extinct.

“The guayabera is nothing less than the typical Cuban garment,” Guerra said. “It’s our image, so you always have to try to make it look its best.”

Guerra, a 49-year-old with closely cropped hair and a receding hairline, is Cuba’s shirtmaker to the stars. Known as Nelson to his friends, he has spent the last two decades establishing himself as Cuba’s leading designer of the guayabera, which the government last year decreed the official formal attire for state functions.

He has hand-crafted shirts for international luminaries from American singer Harry Belafonte and British pop star Sting to Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela, and Prince Albert of Monaco. E’Nelson Collection designs have exhibited in shows and fairs and been worn by world-renowned Cuban musicians like Chucho Valdes and the late Compay Segundo, of Buena Vista Social Club fame, and they’re also in demand by wealthy foreigners and well-heeled Cubans up to the highest levels of government.

“One time I even made a guayabera for ‘el comandante,’” Guerra said, referring to former President Fidel Castro, known more for his affinity for military attire.

Guerra recalled the first time he met American actor Danny Glover, who has cultivated close ties to Cuba, about a decade ago at a film festival in Havana. He asked the “Lethal Weapon” star about the shirt he was wearing, which turned out to be an artesanal African garment. The shirtmaker soon found himself hurriedly assembling a bone-white, embroidered masterpiece that he gave to Glover the last night of the festival.

“He tried it out immediately,” Guerra said. “He took off the shirt he was wearing, put mine on and said, ‘Excellent.’”

A year later the actor was back in town without the guayabera.

“He wasn’t wearing it. Instead he told me, ‘I want another one!’” Guerra said, breaking into laughter at the memory. He said he has made three shirts so far for Glover.

Working under a Cuban law that lets artists and craftspeople operate independently, Guerra and his three assistants churn out 80 to 100 guayaberas a month.

In a country where official monthly wages average around $20, they sell in hotels and tourist shops for $49 for a casual short-sleeve, and $100 for a formal linen long-sleeve. He’s also taken custom orders up to $229.

Guerra’s most recent project for a high-profile client was making enough shirts to clothe an entire orchestra: 150 short-sleeved white guayaberas discounted at $40 a pop for the New York Philharmonic.

“He showed us a number of designs that were very creative and beautiful and took the idea of a traditional guayabera and brought them into a more contemporary context,” said Eric Latzky, a Philharmonic spokesman who met with Guerra in Havana several months ago.

The group’s plans to perform in Cuba in 2011 were called off for logistical reasons, but Guerra says there’s enough demand for his shirts that he should be able to unload the 90 he’s already made in a month or two.

Still, like any artist, he’s disappointed he won’t get to see the finished product up on stage.

“It’s important to see your work at the end, in the place where it was going to be used,” Guerra said. “To see the whole orchestra dressed up … and even one man from the orchestra who apparently wears a size XXXXXL. I’ve never seen the man, but he must be gigantic.”

Guerra’s currently crafting guayaberas for Miami-based salsa musician Isaac Delgado, who’s been wearing E’Nelson Collection since the 1990s, for his new album cover and upcoming European tour. Guerra proudly held up a demo: white-fronted with the entire back a red, white and blue Cuban flag.

“He’s a tremendous designer with very good taste,” said Massiel Delgado, the singer’s wife and assistant.

Guerra founded his home workshop in historic Old Havana the mid-1990s with 10 initial designs that have today swelled to more than 100.

Cardboard patterns and photos of him with Glover, Sting and Segundo adorn the walls of the cutting table room. In an adjacent space, a painting of a Madonna gazing down at three people at sea in a rowboat hangs over early-1900s Singer sewing machines.

Guerra said Cuban guayabera making fell into decline after the revolution in 1959, as some cuts of fine cloth were in shorter supply and tastes changed. An invasion of Mexican Yucatan-style guayaberas, along with mass-production of shirts he called “barbarous,” meant that handmade Cuban shirts all but disappeared.

“There was a time when there wasn’t much talk about the guayabera. In fact, young people — and many of them still have this idea — thought the guayabera was for old, overweight men.”

Guerra’s on a mission to change that, appearing on radio and TV to promote the shirts as a symbol of the national identity and even writing a tune in the Cuban musical tradition known as “son”: “The guayabera is our national garb,” goes the refrain.

“I’ve seen a lot of work that really leaves a lot to be desired,” Guerra said. “I understand that everyone has to make money, but isn’t it better to make money trying to create something good?”

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Debbie Reynolds is parting with movie memorabilia that she’s collected for decades.

An auction will be held Saturday in Beverly Hills and online to sell costumes and props that evoke some of filmdom’s greatest stars and roles.

Among them: The Marilyn Monroe dress that flirted with a subway gust in “The Seven Year Itch,” Audrey Hepburn’s black-and-white Ascot race scene gown from “My Fair Lady,” and Julie Andrews’ guitar from “The Sound of Music.”

Profiles in History, the auction house, estimates the nearly 600 items could bring up to $10 million in the sale that will also be conducted online. More items will be sold in December.

Reynolds, who starred in “Singin’ in the Rain” with Gene Kelly, was unable to establish a permanent museum to house her collection.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Lady Gaga made history at last year’s MTV Video Music Awards when she turned butcher’s cuts into high fashion.

On Thursday, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will unveil the singer’s infamous raw-meat dress to the public. The dress — made of layers of Argentinian beef — was kept in a meat locker, placed in a vat of chemicals and then dried out by taxidermists in California before being transported to the museum.

Hall of Fame spokeswoman Margaret Thresher says the dress took on a “dark, beef-jerky” look while dehydrating, so it was painted to look “fresh” afterwards. The entire process took several months to complete.

The dress is being displayed as part of the “Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power” exhibit, which runs until February 2012.

Bice, who lived in Boca Raton, first appeared on QVC on Feb. 4, 1995, debuting her line of appliqued clothes and her now-famous “Quack” greeting. Her entire line of clothes sold out in an unprecedented few minutes of air time, making her in instant hit and one of the most beloved personalities on QVC.

Her loyal fan base tuned in not only to buy her colorful, sequined sweaters and jeans, but to hear her home-spun stories. The Wisconsin native turned her Quacker Factory into a multi-million-dollar business.

More: Queen of the ‘Quackers’ turned world on with her sparkle | Online guest book | 2011 notable deaths | What’s all this quacking about? Quacker Factory fans gather (2008)

On the Quacker Factory website, a statement reads, in part, “Jeanne chose to love. She loved what she did — creating Quacker Factory clothes, with ‘sparkle and shine.’ Clothes that made people Happy. She loved QVC. Everything about it. She loved the people: the executives who ran it, and the production people who worked so hard to make every show perfect. She loved the famous stars who appeared there, and had to pinch herself when others considered her one.”

The Fragrance Foundation presented the Black Eyed Peas singer with the honor Wednesday night for new celebrity fragrance of the year at a splashy Lincoln Center ceremony.

Outspoken is Avon’s most successful fragrance launch to date. The prize, Fergie said in a telephone interview, along with the yellow BCBG Max Azria gown she wore to pick it up and all the trappings of fame, are just icing now that she’s realized her biggest aspiration — her success as a solo artist.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think all this would happen,” she said. “My goal was a solo album. It was my dream since I was a little girl, and I went down many roads to get there.”

Fergie, 36, said she enjoys all the glitz, glamour and wardrobing, especially playing around with beauty products to create different looks. At home, though, she tones it down — a lot — and usually doesn’t wear any makeup at all.

Perfume is different. She’s always been a fragrance fan, she said, wearing for a period as a teenager the men’s cologne Drakkar Noir because it reminded her of an old boyfriend, and Dior’s Poison because she linked it to lyrics of a favorite song.

Outspoken is a floral with notes of iced berry, tuberose and a base of leather. A second perfume Fergie has created, Outspoken Intense, will be available in October. One of the key scent notes is kumquat. One whiff and she’s transported to her backyard growing up in Southern California, she said.

“My dad grew them. He taught me how to peel them. They’re very, very small.”

Fergie plans to use her new role in the beauty industry to ask questions of other designers, perfumers and celebrities. “I’d love to know what all their inspirations are.”

Oscar winner Halle Berry and Mary J. Blige were among the other Fifi winners.

“The celebrity category in fragrance is no longer an ‘add on’ as it was once considered, never knowing if it would last or not. Today, it is a major segment of fragrance marketing and our hope is that the celebrities, who chose to have a fragrance or endorse one, take it as seriously as their latest album, film or book by supporting it in the same way,” said the group’s president, Rochelle Bloom.

Hall of Fame nods went to Issey Miyake L’Eau d’Issey and Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male for men, and Bombshell by Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works Twilight Woods received consumer choice awards.

Berry was named the top fragrance celebrity for her work promoting and embracing the “world of fragrance over a period of time,” according to the Fragrance Foundation.

Mary J. Blige and the cosmetics company Carol’s Daughter were honored for their direct-to-consumer approach.

The following were named fragrance of the year in their respective distribution categories: VS Bombshell and Banana Republic/Republic of Men (specialty brand); Halle by Halle Berry Pure Orchid and Herve Leger Homme (broad appeal); Gucci Guilty and Blue de Chanel (luxe); and Balenciaga Paris and Tom Ford Azure Lime for Men (specialty luxe).