Mirror Image

Phillies red is about to replace Eagles green as the city's most fashionable color.

As The Phillies cinched the National League East title Sunday and the Eagles lost their third game of the season (16 to 3) securing an 1 and 3 record for the season, bright red has become a happier color. Not to mention it can move easily beyond the boring uniform sweats we see here in the bull pen.

And that makes us happy because fire engine red is such a better color than Hunter green. A girl has so many more fashion options from the red long sleeved T-shirt she can layer underneath this season's trendy storm cloud grey jumpers to the cute little red baseball caps she can wear with sweats on the weekend. She can carry a shiny patent leather bag and claim her love for the Phillies (even if it's really a love for Kate Spade

But there are still fashion pitfalls.

Here are a few tips:

1. Please don't use as face paint, chances are you'll look more like a flushed clown and there is nothing tough about that. (Phillies roar.)

2. Those sparkly Target ballet flats are not technically Phillies Red. Sparkles aren't appropriate for sports fans. Sorry girls. Go for the matte version.

3. Yes, matte red lipstick is (the rage for Hollywood glamour) back but that shade won't work for all of us. Please try out different shades before you smear your kissers with Phillies-shade red. You could end up looking more like you have a fat lip than a trendy Phillies fan.

4. Please refrain from dying your hair Phillies Red under all circumstances.

Do you have any Phillies red fashion tips you'd like to share?

You said it, J Roll, the Phils were the team to beat and the Mets didn't. Jimmy's red sunglasses are superb. He opts for equally awesome white-frame wraparounds when he assumes the infield. Jimmy Rollins is definitely our MVP for ballpark style.

From a purely objective and disinterested view, this team is the best-looking roster in memory.

... And I'm not sure how I feel about it.

But I think I like it.

Yet and still, I've noticed it out on several occassions. I heard it was coming back, but I didn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes.

It's one more grown up look that's trickled down from the stars to the streets from Jay Z to Justin Timberlake. (Although I have to credit R&B artist Donnell Jones for originally taking the fedora casual back in 1998)

Recently I was at North by Northwest in Mount Airy for their Friday night old school get down, shake down and I counted at least four dudes in the brimmed hats cocked to the side. (One man had used the hat to accessorize a very boxy black and white pinstriped suit, but that is another blog)

Then last night, I was watching the season premiere of Girlfriends and The Game and in both episodes the lead characters wore the hats quite casually. Maya's husband, Darnell, wore the fedora with a polo shirt and fitted slacks at an outdoor picnic. (Very cool) and Derwin wore the look 50 Cent style with a doorag underneath. (Not particularly my cup of tea, but whatever.)

Anyway, at a time when legilslators are complaining about ultra oversized baggy pants, it's nice that men are dressing up even when they are dressing down. It may not be as dressed up as the kilt. (See Karen Heller's story in today's Inquirer) But it's so classy dude like

What do you think?

Or so she told us on Oprah! Tuesday

And I'm so happy for her.

The 41-year old actress is proof that one can can have a string bad relationships and still get what they want in the end: In Halle's case that's somebody who loves her and a baby. ) The father is 31-year-old model and her boyfriend Gabriel Aubry.)

Go Halle.

But let's talk about how great the Oscar winner looked. Her reddish hair was curled into a soft below the shoulder bob. (Oprah was rocking red hair too. I guess my loc styist Anika Thompson called that one.) Her red heeled sandals were hot. The floral print chiffon dress with the bell sleeves was great - her pregnancy bump barely showing as she was just three months pregnant.

Halle always looks great, but this is the best I've seen her look since she left Eric Benet. In usual Oprah manner there was lots of gushing. She was there to promote her new movie What We Lost in the Fire which is getting Oscar buzz already. Oprah and Halle couldn't seem to get enough of her supporting actor Benecio del Toro.

But I digress.

As one of my favorite style icons (Remember that Halle Berry short hair cut back in the day?) I can't wait to see her rock stylish maternity clothes. We've got six months to go in this pregnancy. I can't wait for the Oscars! Between Halle and J-Lo the maternity gowns are sure to be hot!

What do you think?

Spotted Tuesday evening at a South Street nail salon: 3 women in their mid-50s, getting mani-pedis together. Their color of choice? Phillies red. It's started, folks. Get ready to paint the town - and possibly yourself - rouge.

Many women my age (mid-30s) have a love-hate relationship with Sex in the City. Yes, the characters were flighty and man-obsessed and made questionable fashion choices. Sure, some aspects of the show were completely unrealistic (no freelance writer could ever affrord all those shoes and dinners out).

But sometimes it was just really fun to see women on TV say and do some of the same things that were going on in our own lives. Carrie gets broken up with by a Post-It note? Try a break up by text message! Miranda has issues with her downwardly mobile boyfriend? So do a lot of (higher-earning) women I know. And anyone who doesn't believe that women can get as down and dirty with their brunch talk is hanging out with the wrong people.

Personally, I loved the show - and I generally identifed myself as a Carrie, with Miranda rising. And I'm excited about the movie. But I'm appalled by the dress that Sarah Jessica Parker is apparently wearing to seal the deal with Big. What's up with that green feather? It looks like a parrot landed on her head. And you could fit half of New York under that pouf. Not to mention SJP's makeup makes her look really old - a softer hair and makeup palette would definitely help.

Edited to add that more photos from Carrie's wedding day are on the NY Post website here. It's been posited that perhaps this is part of a dream sequence. For the sake of that feather, I hope so.

What are your thoughts on SATC? Excited about the movie? Or do you wish Darren Star and Co. would have let the series end?

Coming this Sunday in Image: a look at the deals that you can get when you go through schools in the area. I've been a big fan of using schools for my beauty and spa needs: I have a gold card membership at the Massage Arts Center of Philadelphia, which gives you 10 percent off their already low prices ($35 for an hour massage). And next weekend, I already have a facial scheduled at the Jean Madeline Aveda Institute at 4th and Bainbridge. (at $33, I'm a regular - where else can you get spa service with all Aveda products that cheap?) The story also gives tips for reduced car maintenance, dog grooming and eye exams. Check it out.

Ah, Spa Week. It's a marketing creation, to be sure, but who are we to argue when $50 spa treatments are on the line? Here's the deal: next week (Oct. 15 through Oct. 21) numerous spas around town are offering $50 specials on some of their treatments. Everyone from Spa Viva in Jenkintown to Pileggi on the Square is taking part.

I always use Spa Week as a time to try a treatment that I wouldn't normally do (and, in the case of the "alpha relaxation session" I received at Pure Bliss Wellness Center last spring - where I spent 20 minutes curled up a weird white pod - perhaps would never do again), If I were to pick one treatment to try this time around, I'd go for the 60-minute aromatherapy massage at Spa Terme di Aroma in Old City.

For details, go to www.spaweek.org to register for the listings. Then make your appointment ASAP!

The number of fashion books out there is ridiculous.

Everyone from Project Runway guru Tim Gunn to Kimora Lee Simmons to Elmo (That's right) from Sesame Street - (Don't for get to tie your shoelaces...) has a fashion tip, or two, or three or four...

But how many of them are acutally applicable?

Forever Cool (Clarkson, Potter Publishing, $22.95) by Sherrie Mathieson is.

This 256-page soft cover by costume designer and fashion consultant is targeted to the over 50-set. And it's soo funny. The book came to my desk about a month ago and I like to thumb through it in between writing paragraphs when I'm struggling with writer's block.

There are the obvious no-no's: oversized T's and grandma skirts, tiny mins and form fitting shirts that show the rolls, Hawiaan T-shirts for guys and oh we are so tired of it sportswear for every occassion pieces. She calls these unfortunate ensembles Never Cool, and she's so right.

On the opposite page she shows us all how to put together crisp looks that really work and fit within anyone's budget. Fashion just takes a little imagination and confidence. And we all should (could) have that.

All of us can be Forever Cool.

Was in New York Friday to see the Grace Kelly exhibit of more than 500 of her objects which opens today and runs through Oct. 26 at Sotheby's. Normally, it's required to wear gloves while handling such objects but I was allowed to pick up her wonderful eyeglasses -- she suffered from an astigmatism -- that she wore so much better than some of us will ever do. Then again, she looked better in everything.
And then one of her Kelly bags appeared, brown and a tad nicked, which made it all the more wonderful. She had used the bag, most likely loved it, unlike today's stylish women who seem to sport this season's model for a few weeks then move on. This never happens, of course, with an Hermes Kelly or Birkin, perhaps because they're timeless and the women they're named for were authentic in their style.

What is it about weddings that makes otherwise sane women go -- how to put this delicately? -- absolutely insane? Americans are not alone in the absurdity. Take a look at this lovely bride from Guangzhou, China, courtesy of jezebel.com (a terrific site) which found this in the UK Metro. The bride is trying to set the world's record for longest train at 219 yards and who knows how many friends in waiting to hold the business. That's almost two football fields. Will she hand it down to her daughter who, someday, might try doubling the thing? How did she get into the limo after the festivities? Very, very carefully.

Fashion is nothing if about inverting logic. For instance, it's quite easy to buy a nylon puffer coat that costs more than a fur. The one above is from Moncler, which makes fetching winter outwear. This champagne number is a mere $2,396 at bluefly.com, marked down from $2,995. On the same site, there's a black organza Moncler for $4,795 (a steal from the original $5,995). It's a jacket, which translates into half the material for almost twice the price. The rise in stylish puffer jackets was a welcome antidote to women who wanted warmth but didn't want to wear fur. Now, Michael Kors has gone one weirder: He's designed a puffer coat in sheared mink. It's orange, at Saks in Bala Cynwyd, and kind of wonderful in its own bizarre way. For you, $14,000.