New father Gareth Gates steps out in tatty jeans… and Ugg boots

It’s usually new mothers who look a little bedraggled - so what’s Gareth Gates’ excuse?

After becoming a father for the first time yesterday, the former Pop Idol runner-up emerged from his London home looking a little more than scruffy in ripped jeans - and Ugg boots.

Uggh!: Tatty Gareth Gates leaves his house wearing ripped jeans and Uggs

The 24-year-old was on his way to hospital to see his newborn daughter Missy. His wife Suzanne gave birth to their 7lb 8z child yesterday.

The singer and former lover of Jordan is currently starring in the title role in the West End production of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

The 24-year-old star, who shot to fame in the first series of Pop Idol, said: ‘We are so excited, Missy is beautiful and we can’t wait to spend time together as a family.’

In a recent interview, Gates said of dancer Suzanne: ‘She’s like my mum, really. I always wanted to be with a woman who has the same mindset and wants to look after me like my mum. She loves me, but she’ll never be my mum and she knows that, bless her.

‘She knows that my mum’s the most important person in my life. Because I see my mum and dad as such amazing friends, I think I’ll be a really good dad.’

Judging by Gates’ choice of clothing today, let’s hope little Missy takes after her mum in the fashion stakes.

Exclusive: X Factor stars go on Scottish shopping spree

X FACTOR stars Ruth Lorenzo, Daniel Evans and Laura White went on a shopping spree before they left Scotland.

And big-hearted Ruth splashed out on a pair of Ugg boots for her fellow performer Rachel Hylton.

The stars of the reality TV show were splashing the cash at Xscape, Braehead, near Glasgow, after their two sellout gigs at the city’s SECC.

They will return to the Braehead Arena for two more sold-out shows this weekend.

The singers enjoyed a bite to eat after their shopping, and Ruth put her recent 10k training to good use as she whizzed round shops including designer store Gravity.

The Spanish singing sensation was keen to get her hands on a pair of Ugg Cardigan boots and couldn’t decide what colour to buy.

It turned out generous Ruth wasn’t eyeing up the boots for herself - she was looking to purchase presents for fellow performers Alexandra Burke and Rachel Hylton.

Gravity manageress Paula Strange said: “They just came into the store and it was really funny when we realised who they were.

“Laura began humming away to an Aleisha Keyes song and seemed quite shy, while Daniel was checking out the kids clothes at the front of the shop.”

It was Ruth who was in her element as she checked out a variety of different-coloured Uggs.

Paula said: “Ruth was really chatty and took it in her stride. She said she loved Glasgow and the crowd was brilliant. She even gave me her email address and told me my family and I could meet them all before the show starts next week.

“Ruth bought a green pair of size six and a half Ugg Cardigan boots for Rachel, but couldn’t find any pink ones in a size eight for Alexandra.

She said whenever she, Alexandra or Rachel see something they like, they buy it for each other. She said they got on really well and are all friends.”

The star shoppers only had a few hours to spare in between rehearsals and after thirty minutes in the shop, went next door to Billabong, where Ruth bought a Local Celebrity T-shirt as worn by Robin Williams, Paris Hilton, Justin Lee Collins and a posse of other big names.

Rupert Pedley, owner of Liberance, who are partners with Billabong, said: “Laura bought the white one with Daddy’s Girl and a big heart on it and said she hoped to wear it at the show.

“Ruth also bought a selection with the logos Yes It’s Really Me! Play, Glitz, and Night Owl. They thought they were funny and original and ended up spending about £150 before heading into a taxi.”

Alexandra also managed to spend some cash but she kept tight lipped about what was in her bag. Eoghan had earlier been on a shopping trip with Aston from boy band JLS in a the city centre of Glasgow.

Aston revealed: “Eoghan and I walked all the way from our hotel to HMV and then along Sauchiehall Street.”

Eoghan added: “Yeah, I treated myself to an Apple i-Book.”

Aussie made products vanishing from shops

“THIS is Australian,” says the salesgirl. “See here on the label? It says ‘Designed in Australia‘.”

She is holding a leather handbag and letting me see only the top half of the label. The bottom half is obscured by her red-nail-polished thumbnail.

I look at her. Her thumb moves.

“Made in China,'’ says the label.

She laughs. I can’t tell if it’s a guilty or an embarrassed laugh.

“All our stuff’s made in Australia, to an extent,'’ she says. “I mean, most of it’s made in China - but we’re a wholly Australian company.

“It’s all designed here.'’

We’re in Pitt St Mall in Sydney at 2.45pm and I’m conducting a little experiment: If I wanted to spend my $900 stimulus payment locally, could I find Australian-made goods worth buying?

Will I end up with nine pairs of ugg boots? I hate uggs.

In every shop, I ask if there are any Australian-made goods.

On every occasion I’m greeted with some degree of awkward throat-clearing or defensiveness.

“Oh, yeah, I know what you’re saying,'’ says one saleswoman. “I like to spend my money here too.'’

Staff tell me there’s no Australian content in Hype, Witchery, Nine West, Esprit, Just Jeans, Oroton, Emporio and Strandbags. At Surf Dive ‘n’ Ski, they’re selling green-and-gold thongs bearing the names Surfers Paradise, Bondi, Cottesloe, Maroubra.

All made in Brazil.

How about the flower stall?

“Ah, these ones are Singapore orchids - from Thailand,'’ says the florist, holding up flowers so blue they’re almost neon.

Laughing with an apologetic air, she adds: “Some of the others are from Africa.'’

In the 19 stores I visit, only seven have any Australian-made content - that’s 36 per cent. Only one, Jurlique, is all-Australian.

A shop named Glue has an Australian-made Backstage dress for $119.99.

Portmans has a healthy stack of local clothes and at Soul Pattinson pharmacy, there’s Le Tan, Sukin skin care and Nude by Nature makeup.

At Sussan, everything’s made in Asia except the nail polish and the lip gloss.

Then I get to Borders and it seems a gleaming ray of hope.

Of 28 books on the new-release shelves by the door, only five are printed overseas.

It’s an array of Australian-made words. Even the latest books by British authors Jeffrey Archer and Alexander McCall Smith are printed here. I’m delighted to discover such a beacon of localism, right here in the American chain store that locals love to revile.

Borders can’t be that bad, if even the foreign books are Australian-made, can it?

But that situation exists only because of protectionism: a long-enduring ban on the parallel importing of books, which the Government is now considering axing because it keeps prices artificially high.

So in this little shopping strip we have a perfect encapsulation of the Australian economy.

There’s a bit of manufacturing, a bit of protectionism, a fair amount of free trade - and an awful lot of embarrassment.

“We used to make it here but it’s just too expensive now,'’ one young salesman informs me. “It’s all Australian ideas, though.'’

And that’s the crux. It’s just the reality of our modern economy, right? Australia is no longer really about making things. Manufacturing is 9.2 per cent of our gross domestic product. Mining is 10 per cent.

Agriculture is 2.6 per cent.

We’re a services-dominated nation: retail, finance, law, tourism, education, transport, construction, hospitality.

The Pitt St shop girls are the economy, even when selling Singapore orchids from Thailand.

So why all the bashfulness?

Well, here’s one reason: The shop girls know as well as I do that it’s very hard to be sure about the conditions in those Chinese factories or Thai hot-houses. Are they as good as in Australian factories?

Do the workers get holidays? Are they paid fairly?

AussieBum underwear founder Sean Ashby is still horrified to recall the time he visited a Chinese manufacturer who wanted his business.

The showcase factory was clean, brightly lit and staffed by apple-cheeked employees taking regular tea-breaks.

Then he saw the real factory out the back: dirty, dark and stacked with bunk-beds.

That’s one of the reasons it’s cheaper to manufacture offshore. That’s why Ashby keeps his production in Sydney.

And that should be the issue that concerns us. I don’t care if products are made in Bangladesh or Bankstown as long as they’re made by people treated decently.

We can’t make everything here, or stand alone against the tide of globalisation. Protectionism won’t protect us forever.

But we can be inquisitive about what we’re importing. We can look beyond the embarrassment and think about how things are made.

We can read labels and ask questions in shops.

I haven’t spent my $900 handout yet. Turns out half the ugg boots are made in China anyway. What a relief.

She’s going to be extremely busy over the next few days

On Tuesday we secured our place in the World Cup Final by beating the West Indies by 146 runs. It will be the first time we have been in a World Cup Final since 1993 and is a massive achievement for all the girls.

For me this meant an unrelenting list of interview requests which is phenomenal and showed that all the hundreds of people I have contacted over the past four years have been taking notice and are cottoning on to how good these players are.

First up were rights holders Sky Sports followed by Sky Sports News and then Sky News. We also fitted in BBC, various national newspapers as well as the Loughborough Echo, the Leicestershire Mercury and other regional press. I’m always keen to continue to provide for the regional press as they cover us year in, year out, so it’s great to reward them when things are going well.

By 9.30pm the interviews were just about finished and England had just woken up. Cue 52 more interview requests for the players. This was brilliant even if it did mean a 2am finish for me - a 20-hour day no less! We have managed to fulfil every single one of those requests so hopefully the players and the game are now getting the profile they deserve.

Over the past few days I have had so many messages of good luck to pass onto the squad which has been just brilliant. It’s great to see that people back home are taking an interest and really getting behind us before Sunday. Lots of my friends (who know I’m here, but don’t really follow the cricket) have heard the scores and are emailing, texting and Facebooking me to let me know and wish us well, which is awesome. Even my Dad, who’s in Siberia, has been keeping up to date with how it’s all going and has been sending pep talks via text! All greatly received!

On Wednesday night after training we had a team meeting and Clare Connor and I gave a brief media session to the players in preparation for what could be the biggest week of their lives.

This was made slightly amusing by the fact that Caroline Atkins and I had swapped clothes for the evening as people keep getting us mixed up! I think I’ve got the better end of the deal there - an opening international bat vs a media manager?! While I dressed Shaggy, as she’s affectionately known, in a lovely joules skirt with a white vest top, cardi and white flip-flops, she dressed me in her baggy jeans, a salmon pink polo shirt (salmon is not my colour!) and my running trainers! Needless to say she got the best straw in the clothing stakes!

When the players all saw me there was a deathly silence as they were all too polite to say anything, until one of them started laughing and then they all did with huge sighs of relief that it wasn’t real. This is no slight whatsoever on Shaggy’s clothes as everyone kept telling me - they just look a lot better on her! Caroline, on the other hand, got a lot of compliments and even managed to get served at the bar first that evening!

The win over the West Indies and the fact that India had beaten Australia meant that our game against the hosts on Thursday had no relevance on our place in the final. However, we wanted to win. After winning the toss and batting we were all out for 161 and they knocked off the runs in 34 overs. This was so disappointing but, as Lottie keeps saying, we’re in a World Cup Final so we have regrouped and are now looking ahead to the most important game on Sunday.

Despite the loss, the good luck messages still roll in and everyone is still very much behind us which means so much to everyone here.

Today was a rare day off and after my 1am finish this morning I managed a lie-in until 8am. After a quick visit to the gym I started my first round of interviews with Isa Guha and the BBC. That was swiftly followed by Katherine Brunt with various journalists and then I returned to my computer to reply to the emails that had come in overnight.

Whilst here I am still trying to keep up to speed with things back home like our PR and media plans for this year’s Friends Provident Trophy, the ICC World Twenty20, and anything else that needs doing.

Anya and I then headed out to George Street to find some Ugg boots. Mine were for myself and my boyfriend’s sister while Annie’s were for her sister and her brother’s girlfriend.

We eventually found a shop that sold original Uggs after traipsing round hundreds of shops, much to Annie’s annoyance! We rewarded ourselves with pizza for lunch and then a quick stop back to the hotel to catch up on a few more emails and phone calls. This afternoon we headed down to the Aquarium at Darling Harbour following a recommendation after bumping into my colleague Gill Harris in Circular Quay earlier!

It was then a quick dinner before returning to the hotel to do an hour’s worth of interviews with Lottie. Another late night with training tomorrow and then the pre-final press conference and photo shoot at the SCG with Lottie again.

She’s going to be extremely busy over the next few days!

Levity and catharsis bring fashion festival to a close

SOME things remain constant, even in hard financial times. A fashion festival will attract a certain cast: preening, glossy haired princesses with vacant stares and glistening lips; ageing madams eyeing off the flawless catwalk colts with pursed-lip longing; flashy spectators who have piled on every fashion trend at once — sequinned cape, ruched shiny leggings, trilby hat. Less is more anyone? And, of course, where would any fashion festival be without some multinational exploiting the target audience and spruiking a 97 per cent fat-free product. Skinny Cow anyone? (It’s an ice cream.)

Thank goodness for moments of levity and catharsis — and there were some as the Melbourne Fashion Festival drew to a close at the Docklands yesterday. The festival’s final show, staged by budget department store Target, bristled with the sheer joyousness of acrobatics, dance and youth. If there was a lesson to be had, it was that in the end it’s not so much the clothes that maketh the man (or woman) but his (or her) dance moves. One young break dancer, Aron, busted some show-stealing moves, wearing nothing too directional, a baggy T-shirt, baggy jeans.

The two Target catwalks shows were a mish-mash of styles and influences plucked from bygone eras, and reprising recent trends: ’70s peasant, paisley blouses teamed with denim shorts; shiny leggings with disco-style off-the-shoulder tops; bottom-skimming micro-mini dresses with vivid tights; skinny jeans teamed with tasselled boots and check flannel shirts; ugg boots and trackie-dacks; sexy secretarial looks with pencil skirts and cinched waists; a muted palette of grey and black set off with vibrant accessories.

“The thing with fashion at the moment is diversity, there are so many things happening, so if you’re into all black linear, you’ve got it, if you want bright pop bold you’ve got it, so there are all these counter trends,” festival director Karen Webster said. “But … I’ve noticed most of the week is that fashion is dressing up again. I think this is one of the things that have come out with this whole current economic position, is that people are wanting to feel good and look good.” I like uggs .

Emu Australia recruits VF Corp MD

Emu Australia, the sheepskin footwear company, has named Andy Knowles as CEO Europe with a remit to oversee all European marketing from the brand.

Knowles was most recently VF Jeanswear managing director where he oversaw the Lee and Wrangler brands. He has also held senior positions at Nestlé and Cadbury Schweppes.

Emu Australia entered the UK market in 2006 and has just opened a European head office and sales showroom in London. The company was founded in 1994 and positions itself as a luxury brand with the strapline “naturally Australian”.

The privately owned company is a rival to Ugg boots and has just shot the 2009 autumn/winter campaign at a heritage-listed historical sheep station.

Location: Iraq, Sulaimaniya

It’s been 29 days and 3 hours since I landed in Sulaimaniya. It’s official. This is the longest time I have ever been away from the UK. A time during which I learnt to be an editor, a journalist, a communicator, in both Arabic and English (the Arabic part is debatable), mud puddles survivor, a taxi fare haggler and a Barclays bank plc hater. Home sweet home(s).

My favourite part of the day, and sometimes not, is getting in the taxi to go down town Sulaimaniya. It is my only chance to have a direct genuine conversation with people. ‘I am Iraqi speak no Arabi,’ mocked one of the drivers. ‘I am Iraqi speak no Kurdi,’ I replied. We both laughed.

I learnt that it is considered inappropriate to strike a conversation with people you do not know and that smiling would be an invitation to flirt. But the adorable way Kurds try to communicate in Arabic is irresistible, especially if they are old men who like to reminisce about Iraq’s good days and Baghdad. Could they be talking about the early 70s? The only time Iraq has ever seen some kind of prosperity and not many had to suffer, although peace never prevailed. Not the Monarchy or the British occupation surely. Neither could it be Saddam’s reign. Perhaps they are just ordinary people who just enjoyed being them and living their lives despite the hardships they were subjected to. What I heard and read in newspapers on Kurds and Arabs have almost been non-existent in Sulaimaniya during the past 4 weeks. True, there are more Kurds than Arabs here, but not one so far seemed to consider themselves anything but Iraqi, and sometimes the word Kurdish preceded the word Iraqi. Were they being nice to me because I am a customer? Or perhaps when they realize I had no hand in the gassing of Kurds, and instead talked to them in a civil manner, they react accordingly. Perhaps I am making progress already. Perhaps through me, they believe we are one. Perhaps they will regain their patriotism to Iraq as a whole. Perhaps it’s the politician’s game that makes things look ugly. Or perhaps I am being unrealistic and naive. Who knows!

Sulaimaniya is a modern, up and coming city that has a limited choice of entertainment but a vast history and a beautiful nature. The mountains surrounding it are breathtaking, while trekking the way up to the tips of them is surreal. What attracts me to it mainly is the endless long road it was built around. Salem Street is prefect for people like me who easily get lost. Modern cafes dotted along the street have become my home for the past 4 weeks. I eat, write, make phone calls, shop, edit the magazine and work till dawn while drinking tons of lemon and pomegranate juices. My day is made when Kathem Alsaher, my favourite Iraqi singer, comes on one of the plasma screen TVs in the cafe. Only then I feel I am in Iraq.

I often drift into thoughts about my life in the UK when I see the pen I received as a gift for graduating from university, now the pen I use during interviews. A key ring that became the one for my first home in Iraq. A notebook; my travels’ official diary. My lucky charm necklaces that I alternate everyday. My business card holder that will be effective from tomorrow. My watch, of course, to keep track of time, and yet another one sitting on my desk amongst lots and lots of cards scattered on my messy desk; a reminder that I am loved.

It is quite common to be sitting with a client discussing the latest issues in Iraq, or be having dinner with a friend in the evening, when a power cut occurs. Everyone pauses their activities for a few minutes till power resumes, and they carry on going about their business as normal. Like someone has paused a movie for a few minutes, or seconds sometimes. This happens several times a day.

I noticed that I yawn much more often and my hair needs more regular washing. My chocolate Ugg boots have now become yellowy cream. It never stopped raining since I arrived and the days get much colder at night. Mud puddles became my worst enemy as the city is going under wide construction and development and workmen are everywhere. The only problem is that in Iraq, workmen take eternity to finish a job.

I moved into a block of apartments in a secluded village just outside of Sulaimaniya. Thankfully, Sulaimaniya isn’t a large city so I am able to reach Salem Street in just under half an hour, if a taxi passes by that is. Leaving me stranded on top of the hill for the dust to settle right behind my contact lenses. Taxi drivers often think I am crying.

I will be in Baghdad soon to interview people regarding the magazine cover story as well as a few other stories. I will once again, after many years, visit places in Baghdad I had not been to for almost two decades. Once Zainab the quiet struggling school girl carrying her books to school while adjusting her glasses, now Zainab the editor, the writer, with her dictaphone, pen and notebook, and of course a laptop bag that doesn’t fit my laptop in it properly which often makes me look clumsy.

So here I am, grumbling about mud, dust, rain and Uggs. Having just been scared the devil out of as all lights in my apartment went out whilst in the shower. To crawl my way out and hope someone would call me so my mobile would light the way. Nothing like a power cut during a shower in a secluded home in the mountains of Iraq.

I apologize for the long absence as settling in has not been easy. With no internet at home, I am truly lost.

I am here. I live here. I work here. I am pursuing my dreams here. This is where I want to be and these are only the beginnings of what I want to do.

OK! Interview: Peter André & Katie Price

The former UK glamour model and her pop star hubby stopped by OK!’s Beverly Hills office, and opened up about their life in the US, the Beckhams, and Jade Goody .

Do you live a normal life here in the US?

Peter: In England, it is constant. Here you get some days when they are there, and some days when they are not. You can be normal.

Katie: You think it’s pretty normal to go and have a 13-mile run along Malibu beach and have twelve paparazzi following you around?

The Beckhams attempt to “conquer America,” was short-lived because it looks like they’re now going back to Europe. What are your thoughts?

KP: Well, we never said that we were trying to break America. I don’t know if they said that they were trying to. It’s sad they’re going to be leaving. I’m sure that she loves it here, and her boys love it here. Just — good luck to them!

PA: I think that they are so successful anyway –who cares. It doesn’t matter, and I think –you know, good luck to them! We love them.

What are your thoughts on Victoria Beckham’s style?

KP: Sometimes, I do think that she tries too hard. I would actually like to see her in a tracksuit, and UGG boots going to the shop buying newspaper – smiling.

What are your thoughts and feelings on fellow UK reality star Jade Goody’s battle with cancer?

KP: Oh, it is awful. But I think that it is so brave and I am just gutted for her. We talk about her day and night. I would love to be by her side just the whole way, you know.

PA: It’s really put everything into perspective for us. We are living the American dream but what does it all mean when you think back to someone who can’t see their children after a certain period of time. She will never see them again.

Have the both of you reached out to her?

KP: I’m supporting her.

PA: We’ve sent her some messages, and we have sent her some flowers.

KP: I do say that they need to do a Jade charity, and I would love to be a part of that. I said that next year, I would run the marathon to raise money for that.

PA: Well, I was actually thinking of writing her name across my forehead when I do the London marathon. Buy cheap ugg boots .

MCC members guide on how to dress

The exclusive social club has sent members a two-page illustrated guide of its strict dress code.

Bare midriffs, torn jeans and thongs are banned from the Member’s Reserve.

Men will be refused entry to the Long Room or Member’s Dining Room if they have no tie or wear a zippered jacket and women will be turned away in leggings, denim jackets or three-quarter pants.

In case members don’t know what tracksuit pants and ugg boots look like, the MCC had models pose in the unacceptable clothes.

The latest MCC membership letter warns members they will not be admitted unless they can pass the fashion police.

“To avoid any embarrassment at the turnstiles, please ensure that your attire, and that of your guests, is appropriate.”

MCC chief Stephen Gough said the guide was necessary to inform members, who will this year pay up to $726 in fees.

“It’s come about because we have so many occasions when members might bring guests that are unaware of the requirements,” he said.

“Sometimes members themselves don’t know what is expected of them.

“So we’ve done this because it can be embarrassing for people to get knocked back and a major inconvenience.”

But MCC members said the dress guide was a step too far.

Country member Brendan Carrick said the MCC was pointing out the obvious.

“If you’re a member, you know what you’re expected to wear,” he said.

“You don’t need a two-page guide to remind you to wear a collar or to remind your guest that they have to wear a tie.”

Chaep uggs .

Ugg boots

Wherther you have been flocking to stores around the world in search of the perfect pair of UGGs? Look no further than UGG Boot Central, your ultimate destination for high quality casual foot wear.

UGGs are High Quality Casual FootwearUgg boots are amongst the highest quality casual footwear you’ll ever purchase. Once you have a pair in hand you’ll understand why celebrities and fashion icons from all over the world have clamored to find their own UGGs. 

Every single pair of Uggs we make - whether for man, woman, child, or baby - are hand crafted with a reinforced toe and heel to ensure maximum durability. The soles are made of a synthetic material that varies depending on the type of Ugg slipper or boot you are purchasing, allowing for support or flexibility for both indoor and outdoor wear.

Ugg boots australia make an incredible fashion statement as well. No matter which style you choose, you can dress them up or down to match any outfit. Girls will love wearing their new Uggs to school while women will enjoy showing them off in the office or when they’re out with the girls. Even men have found Uggs to be a classy and sophisticated addition to their casual wardrobes as walmart rumor!

If you have some problems,you can go to search in this adress: http://www.inugg.co.uk/.

Fug Girls: Keep Homeless-Celebrity Chic Off the Runways

After the largely dark, recession-tinged array of clothes shown during New York Fashion Week, we’ve been eager to bask in the dramatic, fanciful quirk of Milan’s collections — the searing-hot pinks at Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci’s polka dots, and the baguette hats and handlebar-mustache dress that only Agatha Ruiz de la Prada could hallucinate. So it dismayed us to discover that the Dsquared2 collection — the same boys currently putting the touring Britney Spears in headdresses and feathered epaulets — looked more like a Walk of Shame than a runway show. Is it possible that the pervasive, sloppy-starlet style we’re most accustomed to seeing in Us Weekly’s “Stars: They’re Just Like Us” section (”They look hung-over!”) actually is crossing over to the catwalks?

For years, we’ve been baffled by otherwise adorable actresses embracing their inner slobs. Homeless chic made for a brilliant parody in Zoolander, but that movie also theorized that you could brainwash someone into committing murder by playing “Frankie Goes to Hollywood.” It was never meant to be taken seriously. When the satire became celebrity street attire, we threw up our hands — and on occasion, our lunches. An untidy aesthetic can be excused when you’re popping out for some groceries, and sometimes, the unpolished thing can be very sexy. But there’s carelessly cute, and then there’s looking like it’s been laundry day for the past eighteen months: Mary-Kate famously pioneered ripped hose paired with mountains of heavy layers (and $2,500 shoes). Lindsay Lohan spent the last two years in leggings and unwashed-looking concert tees. And despite Blair Waldorf’s testimony that tights are not pants, Mischa Barton actually did treat a mangy old pair of brown hosiery as if they were real trousers. Grunge was one thing; what these girls did seemed more like grime.

Which is why it’s alarming to see the ensembles celebrities wear for morning-after coffee runs actually appear, in some form, on the allegedly sophisticated European catwalks — in Dsquared2’s case, complete with real Starbucks cups, in case the point had not been made finely enough. It felt like a derivative cocktail of Olsen, Barton, and Nicole Richie, with a dash of Miss Sixty and an assist from Katie Holmes’s pegged boyfriend jeans.

We hope this is merely an artistic statement on how our collective economic woes may make us all a tiny bit less self-obsessed. Because if Mary-Kate Olsen’s castoffs are hot for fall, then by spring 2010, there may be nowhere left to go but Pam Anderson–style track pants, tank tops, and Ugg boots. At a time when we’re seriously considering stuffing all our money under a floorboard, fashion should be our escape. Who wants to bankrupt herself in order to look … well, bankrupt?

I love uggs .

Boot haul helps stamp out crime

A £2,000 haul of designer boots was found by police during their clean up Cardiff operation.

The Ugg boots were recovered alongside stolen motorbikes and industrial tools, many of which have been traced back to burglaries in Cardiff and Penarth.

Police released the details after the latest leg of their Operation Clean Sweep in Llanrumney and Rumney.

The operation is moving through the city area by area.

Warrants were executed in Llanrumney and Trowbridge and five arrests made for offences ranging from handling stolen goods to burglary.

The Uggs, which may have been fake, have been handed over to the council’s trading standards department.

Boot haul helps stamp out crime

A £2,000 haul of designer boots was found by police during their clean up Cardiff operation.

The Ugg boots were recovered alongside stolen motorbikes and industrial tools, many of which have been traced back to burglaries in Cardiff and Penarth.

Police released the details after the latest leg of their Operation Clean Sweep in Llanrumney and Rumney.

The operation is moving through the city area by area.

Warrants were executed in Llanrumney and Trowbridge and five arrests made for offences ranging from handling stolen goods to burglary.

The Uggs, which may have been fake, have been handed over to the council’s trading standards department.

WOMANS DEATH IN SEA ISLE STILL A MYSTERY

SEA ISLE CITY— The Cape May Co. Prosecutors Office appealed to the public for assistance, on Friday, regarding the death of a Pennsylvania woman whose body was found near a boat ramp in Sea Isle City last Sunday.

Shortly before 8:00 am Sunday morning (Feb. 15) the body of 35 year old Tracy Hottenstein was discovered on a tiny sliver of marsh next to a public boat ramp at the street end of 42nd Pl.

The Conshohocken Pa. resident had been in town for Saturday’s annual Polar Bear Plunge.

According to the Cape May Co. Prosecutors Office, Hottenstein was at the Ocean Drive Bar, on Landis Av. later Saturday night, and was last seen leaving the OD around 2:15 Sunday morning.

Although her body had been in the water at some point, an autopsy has failed to determine how Hottenstein died — furthermore, sources tell NBC 40 that the cause of death is not drowning.

Authorities are still waiting for the results of toxicology tests.

On Thursday and again Friday morning, Middle Twp. and State Police divers searched the bay near where Hottenstein was found.

Described as 5′4″ tall and weighing approximately 135 pounds, she was last seen wearing a pink plaid hat, pink scarf, a black long sleeved top and a black vest, along with dark jeans and tan Ugg boots.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Cape May Co. Prosecutors Office — Major Crime Unit, at: (609) 465-1135.

The Look: Towson’s biggest fashion mishaps

A recent letter to the editor titled “When did North Face jackets become Towson’s official uniform?” got me thinking about some of the groupthink on-campus trends I’ve noticed this winter.

Despite the fact that many of our parents are being laid off left and right, almost every girl on campus can be seen sporting The North Face Women’s Denali Jacket, which on The North Face Web site runs at $165. Pretty pricey for Polartec fleece.

What confuses me about the Denali’s popularity, however, isn’t the fact that so many girls are willing to shell out almost 200 bucks to own the new “in” jacket. What confuses me is their choice in brand name.

Just read the details on the jacket listed on The North Face Web site: “A favorite among outdoor enthusiasts, the Denali Jacket offers straight-forward comfort and warmth in cold weather excursions.”

Ladies, we live in central Maryland.

I’d hardly call trekking to P-tux in that ice storm we had earlier in the semester a “cold weather excursion.”

The true fashion crime being committed isn’t the use of the Denali in place of a winter coat (I hear they are actually much warmer than they appear).

The outfit combination that a surprising majority of the women on campus seem to wear on a regular basis is what makes me cringe.

I submit the revised Towson University uniform for the female population: A North Face Denali Jacket, a black tights and a pair of Ugg boots.

For the ideal winter outfit, I see several flaws in its design.

Flaw one: the black tights are worn in place of pants.

Apart from the risk of what can only be described as “wicked camel toe,” tights used in place of pants can be used to effectively compliment a mini-dress or any article of clothing that reaches well past one’s genital region.

Because the Denali lies just above the crotch, this rule does not apply.

Even though the Denali offers both “comfort and warmth,” winter is not the best season to forgo pants.

Even though your torso and feet may remain warm in fleece and fur, nothing is going to be warming the most exposed part of your body.

Flaw two: no matter what your body type, this outfit does nothing to flatter it.

The Denali is neither form-fitting nor loose and wavy.

For the upper half of your body, it compliments little more than a hoodie or sweatshirt would.

The black tights leave nothing to the imagination, as they hug every inch of the calf and thigh.

And I don’t think anyone really needs another reason to hate Uggs.

And lastly, flaw three: you look absolutely ridiculous.

What makes a lasting style is its versatility.

Scarves have become so popular because of the variety of colors, patterns, styles and ways to wear them.

Layers can be worn by multiple girls on campus everyday because accessories can be used to give a plain outfit originality.

The North Face Denali Jacket, black tights and a pair of Uggboots, no matter if you change the color of the jacket or tights or the design of the boots, will remain unoriginal, unproductive and unforgivable by fashionable society.

Different Types of Uggboots

Ugg boots are available in a multitude of sizes, colors, styles and fabric options. And it is no longer necessary to know someone living “down under” in Australia who can hook you up with a pair. Retailers nationwide and around the globe are stocking these best-sellers. It is even possible for you to own a pair without even having to leave the comfort of your own home. There are countless Internet web sites selling this hot item. Of course, once you receive your brand new pair of Uggs, you will want to get out of the house and show them off!

Uggboots are made in sizes that will fit every member of the family – infants, children, women and men. Full sizes, half sizes, and all sizes in between are available, if you willing to spend the time looking. But don’t worry; it will not take long to find the perfect size. What may be difficult is picking out the perfect color.

Chestnut, black, lilac, blue, pink, brown and natural sand are just a few of the many different color options that you can find for Uggboots. In fact, these trendy boots are so fashionable that you will want to purchase several pairs in different colors. Imagine owning different colored Uggboots to wear to match your different moods. Red is sure to be an attention-getter. Natural give the wearer that casual look. Pink is perfect for that flirty, girly look. And classic black is a color that is sure to go with everything. Uggboots are available in a variety of fashionable styles. You can purchase tall Uggboots or short. If you are unable to decide between tall or short, you can split the difference and get the three-quarter boot length. And if wearing the popular boot by day is not enough for you, they are even available in a slipper style. The latest style to hit the market is a clog style. And more styles are arriving every day.

And there are more. The tall Uggboot style can be found with additional fleece detail on the outside , making this style the ultimate in femininity. When practicality is more important looks, Uggboots are available with a tough molded sole and additional reinforcement in the heel and toe area. This style is great for wearing in slippery areas where traction and resistance can help the wearer avoid potentially dangerous falls.

And the exterior look does not end with color or with sheepskin. These boots are also available in your choice of suede or leather on the outside. A high-quality Ugg boot will with pure Australian merino sheepskin, but imitation fabrics abound. Zippers and straps and elasticized sides are just a few of the other options that will change the look of this must-have boot.

Big, clunky soles or smooth soles, tumbled leather or milky-smooth leather, real sheepskin or an imitation, short, tall, or somewhere in between, Uggboots are the “in” thing to have in your closet this season. And you’re sure to find a pair that fits your budget.

Everything you need to know

Dear Joe,

I know that I go to a tough school, but I can’t take any more whining. I’m surrounded by complainers, and feel as if they’re always raining on my parade. Any ideas on how to change their attitudes, or make me more complaint resistant?

—Whiny in West Wing

Dear Whiny,

You would think that living in a wonderful city, receiving a great education, and having the world at your fingertips make you happy. Unfortunately, Whiny, for those who are always trying to take from the world, nothing is ever good enough. A week-long vacation to a community college in Bulgaria would teach them a lesson in being thankful. As much as we would like to change the wave of negativity that floats around campus, there’s not much we can do. Like sun radiation, or Ugg boots, some experiences simply have to be dealt with. The difference is the protective measures we take against them. Avoid unreasonably negative people. For instance, those who complain about cookies, funk music, and high fives are suspect for investigation.

You should probably note that all people can be whiny at some times. It’s a natural product of being overworked and eating at Skibo Coffeehouse. An important responsibility of friendship is helping friends feel better. When a friend is starting into the downward spiral of misery, try to lift him out before it’s too late. And contrary to popular belief, LEN’s law does not occur. No matter how helpful you are in spreading your optimism, no one will steal your sunshine.

Turn that frown upside down, Joe

Dear Joe,

Don’t laugh at me, but I have a stamp collection. Even for being a Carnegie Mellon student, I get harassed every day for searching through catalogs and the Internet to find that perfect stamp. Why is everyone so hostile toward stamps?

—Posted in Porter

Dear Posted, If you were five years old, I would say that everyone is just jealous of your totally awesome stamp collection. The fact of the matter is: stamp collecting is dorky, even at Carnegie Mellon. Your activity falls into the “classical nerd” category. These are tasks considered “cool” to nerds 40 years ago, but now have given way to blogging, Internet gaming, and hygiene. Examples of classical nerd activities include wearing suspenders, bug or stamp collecting, cartography, and pen pals. Unfortunately, these activities are feverishly fun, which means they’re hard to get rid of when you realize that Eisenhower’s not in power.

Does this mean that you should give up your passion? Absolutely not, Posted. Fight the good fight and defend your quirky and somewhat antiquated hobbies. It’s people like you who tell the world how everything is sorted or what kind of glue goes best with balsa wood for that perfect model plane. Maybe the newer nerds aren’t impressed with your toys, but so be it. At least collecting stamps doesn’t result in repetitive stress injury.

Return to Sender, Joe

Are UGGs Bad for You?

The minute it gets cold outside…the rubber hits the road.

The popular UGG is everywhere.

Mary Schallenhammer has several pair of UGG boots.

She says she loves them and admits she likes wearing what’s “in.”

“Of course you have to have all different lengths,” she said. “Yeah it’s part of what we are into right now.”

But Mary also loves high heels…

Philadelphia podiatrist Edward Chairman says that passion for fashion led to Mary’s surgery for bunions and hammertoes.

He says women looking for relief by pouring their dogs into a pair of UGG boots are in for a surprise.

“They put their feet into UGGs soft roomy they’re happy campers,” said Dr. Chairman.

Women, I bet you have a pair of UGG boots in your closet right now.

Well guess what…a local foot doctor says they could be bad for your feet.

So what’s the problem?

“After a few hours they start feeling tired, their feet are tired they’re aching and they don’t know why. The reason it’s aching is because there is zero support in the arch area,” said Chairman.

Dr. Chairman says that lack of support flattens the arch and puts stress on the foot.

He says even women with healthy feet complain of pain if they wear their UGGs too long.  

The company says UGG Australia has been around for 30 years and has not received a complaint about arch support or comfort.

They say the back of the heel or heel counter offers substantial support and the sheepskin insoles are comfortable.”

They also warn of numerous UGG knockoffs that don’t offer the same features.

And don’t think Dr. Chairman wants you to toss your UGG boots aside.

“Absolutely not! I think they’re wonderful, you should wear them but wear orthotics in them,” Chairman said.

Orthotics are shoe inserts that help align the foot.

He says put them in your UGG and problem solved.

“It’s as if someone is helping you lift your foot while you walk,” Chairman says.

You can either buy expensive custom orthotics or ready-made cheaper ones you can find in any drugstore.

Fug Girls: Keep Homeless-Celebrity Chic Off the Runways

After the largely dark, recession-tinged array of clothes shown during New York Fashion Week, we’ve been eager to bask in the dramatic, fanciful quirk of Milan’s collections — the searing-hot pinks at Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci’s polka dots, and the baguette hats and handlebar-mustache dress that only Agatha Ruiz de la Prada could hallucinate. So it dismayed us to discover that the Dsquared2 collection — the same boys currently putting the touring Britney Spears in headdresses and feathered epaulets — looked more like a Walk of Shame than a runway show. Is it possible that the pervasive, sloppy-starlet style we’re most accustomed to seeing in Us Weekly’s “Stars: They’re Just Like Us” section (”They look hung-over!”) actually is crossing over to the catwalks?

For years, we’ve been baffled by otherwise adorable actresses embracing their inner slobs. Homeless chic made for a brilliant parody in Zoolander, but that movie also theorized that you could brainwash someone into committing murder by playing “Frankie Goes to Hollywood.” It was never meant to be taken seriously. When the satire became celebrity street attire, we threw up our hands — and on occasion, our lunches. An untidy aesthetic can be excused when you’re popping out for some groceries, and sometimes, the unpolished thing can be very sexy. But there’s carelessly cute, and then there’s looking like it’s been laundry day for the past eighteen months: Mary-Kate famously pioneered ripped hose paired with mountains of heavy layers (and $2,500 shoes). Lindsay Lohan spent the last two years in leggings and unwashed-looking concert tees. And despite Blair Waldorf’s testimony that tights are not pants, Mischa Barton actually did treat a mangy old pair of brown hosiery as if they were real trousers. Grunge was one thing; what these girls did seemed more like grime.

Which is why it’s alarming to see the ensembles celebrities wear for morning-after coffee runs actually appear, in some form, on the allegedly sophisticated European catwalks — in Dsquared2’s case, complete with real Starbucks cups, in case the point had not been made finely enough. It felt like a derivative cocktail of Olsen, Barton, and Nicole Richie, with a dash of Miss Sixty and an assist from Katie Holmes’s pegged boyfriend jeans.

We hope this is merely an artistic statement on how our collective economic woes may make us all a tiny bit less self-obsessed. Because if Mary-Kate Olsen’s castoffs are hot for fall, then by spring 2010, there may be nowhere left to go but Pam Anderson–style track pants, tank tops, and Ugg boots. At a time when we’re seriously considering stuffing all our money under a floorboard, fashion should be our escape. Who wants to bankrupt herself in order to look … well, bankrupt?

I love uggs .

Experts reveal how to take the agony out of towering stilettos

EVERY woman understands the power of a pair of sexy high heels.

But we felt Victoria Beckham’s agony as she teetered round a Los Angeles theme park last week in five-inch Christian Louboutins.

She broke the pain barrier while tottering on her tip-toes on a family day out but is not alone with the average woman owning 10 pairs of toe-crunching heel-bending heels.

Here GAYLE RITCHIE asks the experts - what is the best way to survive in stilettos?

THE SURGEON

MIKE O’NEILL repairs the damage caused by high heels on a daily basis - and it’s an ugly business.

The Society of Chiropodists’ surgeon said: “Cramming feet into ridiculous heeled shoes is like a modern day version of Chinese bound feet - a 21st-century torture.

“You squash your foot into an unnatural position, it moulds and eventually takes that shape. Victoria Beckham’s feet are full of bunions but she probably only wears them to be photographed. My concern is for the average woman who wears heels all day.

“Feet aren’t so glamorous when covered in corns, calluses, blisters and fungal infections. Joints can develop all sorts of deformities which not even surgery can correct. It’s ghastly, not glamorous.

“Get the balance right. Wear heels for fashion moments and comfort shoes for everything else.

“And mirror American women by wearing trainers to get to work then change when you get there.”

THE SPECIALIST

PODIATRIST Aileen Kelly says it is important to choose the right shoe.

She said: “Get a shoe that suits your foot shape.

Get measured for both width of foot and depth of toe and visit a podiatrist.

“Make sure your shoes are supportive. uggs support the ankle joint and shoes with straps or laces are good.”

Aileen also recommends regular treatments to keep toes in tip-top condition. She said: “Go for a foot soak, get the hard skin off, indulge in a massage and deep moisturising treatment. Wear Fit-Flops or MBTs and try comfort pads.

Look after your feet as surgery should be a last resort.

“There’s nothing beautiful about limping down the street in agony on a big night out.”

THE DESIGNER

SHOE designer Helen Bateman says the secret to happy feet is to train yourself to wear heels.

The Perth-based independent shoemaker said: “Everyone has their comfort zone. Some women run around all day in two inches but find it hard to step up to three.

“Thankfully it is possible to train yourself how to wear heels. It’s like exercise - you teach your body to get used to the sensation.

“In high heels, all the muscles in your legs, bum and feet work differently. If you’re used to flats, start low and go up a notch at a time.”

Helen says it is worth buying good quality shoes with built-in support and cushioning.

She said: “The balance of the shoe is critical - the toe should be raised slightly when you look at it on the shelf.

“Also check the back. It should be slightly pinched at the top if it’s good quality.”

THE MODEL

FORMER Miss Scotland Nieve Jennings is a dedicated heel wearer.

Her favourites are a pair of 5in Christian Louboutins, similar to those sported by Posh.

She said: “Heels are a beautiful, feminine treat every woman should enjoy.

“I’ve just learned to suffer the pain. After five fashion shoots in a day, the backs of my heels and the arch ofmy foot ache but I’ve never needed to use insoles.

“High heels should never be clumpy - a thin stiletto is best. I give my feet a rest in Gucci trainers or Ugg boots but mostly I’m in heels. I’d tell people who aren’t used to heels to buy only soft leather shoes and get sponge soles.”