>> It was scandalized in the twenties and patriotic in the forties -- the dramatic red lip is having a moment in my books (and Miuccia's too, apparently, from looks of the Fall 2006 Miu Miu show -- right).   I love the hint of demure mystery and the punch of colour the dramatic lip adds to dreary winter days.  Plus, it stands out in the sea of this fall's nude lip.  The two shades currently on my rotation?  Scarlett Empress and Shanghai Express, both by Nars -- they give a great dark stain. 

>>  When you take the sixties and the nineties and mix them up together, what do you get?  This fantastic Qui etes vous, Polly Magoo?/Smells Like Teen Spirit reprise starring Jessica Stam, photographed by Tom Munro for the November 2006 Vogue Italia.  I'm always a fan of the vivid black and white photo, and Stam posing with her mile-high Barbie doll ponytail throws me over the top. 
Notice the combat boots -- word is your favorite ol' grungy Doc Martens are trying to make a comeback.  I'm loving them paired with a very feminine chiffon dress, a look that's been seared into my brain ever since I saw the movie Brick last summer and one of the characters wears a pink tutu with untied Docs.  Perfect contrast for a modern look.