ANYONE FOR TEE?

Contributing Writer: Rick Wallis

So you think Golf is all about equipment and skill? Well, it is also about the clothing. A golf shirt is not your typical item of clothing. A golf shirt is about performance and technology, from special wicking to keep moisture away from the body to UV protection, brands like Ashworth, Cutter and Buck, and Nike develop shirts that are so much more than just clothes. So when shopping for your guy or yourself, here are some great choices that combine style and performance.

Ashworth Men's EZ-TECH Perfect Performance 50's 2-Bar Shirt with 'Moisture Wicking' as well as easy care 100% cotton, breathable, wrinkle resistant, shrink resistant, fade resistant, no pilling and has a buttery soft finish. The choice of Premiere Golf Professional and Lifetime PGA Tour Member Fred Couples. Open sleeve, two button shirt with contract vents, neck tape and signature 2 bar knit collar. available at $59.50 Belk-Parisian.




Under Armour® presents the essential golf shirt. HeatGear® moisture transport delivered in a performance upgrade to the traditional cotton polo. Every round, all season long.Performance $44.99 Edwin Watts Golf.






Rosanen Lucky Striped Polo 100% Cotton Mercerized Pique 4-color engineered stripe polo in Rosasen's Trim Fit. Self fabric collar & chest embroidery $85 Fairway Styles.







Cutter and Buck Pendelum shirt with double faced collar, half zip placket, pieced front and back body, seaming detail, drop tail hem, side vents, self fabric cuff, heat transfer print $69. Sunbelt Golf Birmingham (205)942-0444, Jeff Copeland Golf Ship Birmingham (205)967-5324, Shoal Creek Golf Club Birmingham (205)991-9001, Greystone Golf Club Birmingham (205)980-5207, Old Overton Golf Club Vestavia Hills (205)972-9001, United Men's Store of Birmingham (205)822-1530, Capstone Club of Alabama (205)462-0590, North River Yacht Club Tuscaloosa (205)345-0202, Farmlinks Sylacauga (256)208-7600, Limestone Springs Oneonta (205)274-4653.


Performance fashion is the ability to introduce technical fabrics and innovative material construction to apparel that is beautiful in design and style. The Dri-Fit fabric quickly pulls moisture away from the skin for rapid evaporation. Nike Dri-Fit Body Mapping Polo $54.95 Edwin Watts Golf.




The legendary Bobby Jones also has a top notch line of golf apparel. This X-H2O short sleeve tech polo with self collar and open raglan sleeve has contrasting double stripe collar tipping and inside placket $98 Bobby Jones Golf nearest store At Lenox Square in Atlanta.


Ralph Lauren Polo long sleeve zip up with mercerized cotton jersey for a smooth hand, half-zip placket, ribbed cuffs, even-vented hem, 100% cotton $89.50 Belk-Parisian, also check out Watermark Outlet and Tanger Outlets in Foley for discounted golf polos.


Lacoste Pique striped polo 100% Cotton, classic Fit,signature pique fabric, two-button placket, ribbed polo collar and armbands, vented hem, narrow stripe detail at front top half and back top half of shirt $85 Saks Fifth Avenue at The Summit.





Greg Norman Play Dry striped Fall 2007 Collection 60/2 Double mercerized with anti-curl collar, color fix resists pilling, low shrinkage and of course signature teeth marks representing the 'Shark' of Golf $54 Shopatshark.com.


Cutter and Buck CB Drytec Lyndon Polo with self-fabric collar and cuffs, metal mesh eyelets at back yoke, debossed print at side body, side vents. 100% Polyester Pique with wicking finish $59. Sunbelt Golf Birmingham (205)942-0444, Jeff Copeland Golf Ship Birmingham (205)967-5324, Shoal Creek Golf Club Birmingham (205)991-9001, Greystone Golf Club Birmingham (205)980-5207, Old Overton Golf Club Vestavia Hills (205)972-9001, United Men's Store of Birmingham (205)822-1530, Capstone Club of Alabama (205)462-0590, North River Yacht Club Tuscaloosa (205)345-0202, Farmlinks Sylacauga (256)208-7600, Limestone Springs Oneonta (205)274-4653.

FASHION FABULOUS WEEKEND

August 3rd and 4th, get ready for two fashion events that you must check out. August 3d 6-10pm, Manhattan South the newest Birmingham boutique hosts its opening soiree. Enjoy refreshments and wine By Whole Foods and champagne. Be among the "Best Dressed" at the soiree and you could win fabulous prizes. Manhattan South will be introducing Birmingham to an array of new brands from Oh Deer shoes to Taverniti. Oh Deer shoes are oh-so fun because they have the red sole like Christian Louboutin but at a fraction of the cost.

All Saturday on tax-free weekend, Saks Fifth Avenue will host Back to School Blues with music, refreshments, drinks, and of course the hottest jeans for fall. Whether you are going back to school or simply want the latest denim for fall, this event is a must.

PUCKER UP

Beauty this fall has oh so much to do with the lips. "Either pair a bold lip with an understated eye or an overstated eye with a toned down lip for a simple, yet glamorous look," advises Arlene Goldtsein Belk's top trend spotter. Whether you are going for a great red sheen or just a plumper pucker, check out these top products for that perfect pout. Have a favorite product you would like to share or advice on lip service? Post a comment and you will be entered to win a goodie bag full of beauty must haves like Lancome's Fever Gloss, MAC eye pencil, Bobbi Brown eye shadows, Lip Venom, Definicils Mascara, and much more!

Lancome Destiny Cube inspired by an 18th century Chinese secret box Gucci received as a present, this multi-faceted cube that holds eye shadow on one side and a lipstick and gloss on the other. Throw it on the table as you would a pair of dice and let the symbols and words on box set the mood of the day for you: coquette, mysterious, jealous, a star, an angel, the Lancôme rose…According to the sign, you can have fun selecting your colors inside. Available in two, limited-edition color palettes Charisma (light pink lip products with brown and violet shadows) and Deep Fascination (red and burgundy lip products with light green and pale pink shadows)Saks Fifth Avenue or Parisian-Belk $50.


The next generation of lip plumpers has arrived. LipFusion is a clear lip treatment gloss infused with revolutionary technology to plump lips instantly -- no kidding. Tiny, dehydrated, marine collagen microspheres are instantly absorbed by the lips, and seek out the body's natural moisture. As soon as the spheres become re-hydrated, they plump and hold onto the moisture they've collected, creating a mild "swelling" of the lip tissue. The result is fuller, smoother, perfectly plumped lips in seconds. Results can last for up to 48 hours Sephora at Riverchase Galleria $36.


Shu Uemura's delectably sweet lip glosses in transparent, translucent or semi-opaque glossy shades are inspired and flavored by fruity jams Gus Mayer at Colonial Brookwood Village $18.



Tarte Rise and Shine lip stain, the ultimate wakeup call for lips, one end of this dual-ended wand contains a waterproof pink stain that imparts a natural rosy glow, while at the other end, a plumping lip gloss that stimulates collagen on the cellular level Sephora at Riverchase Galleria $21.






Chanel's Glossimer gives intense frost and shine to lips. Gel texture imparts a shimmery, ultra-glossy look. New shades add extra sparkle and shine Saks Fifth Avenue at The Summit and Gus Mayer at Colonial Brookwood Village $25.





Ripen lips with Just Bitten Lip Stain! Juicy, water-weight formula made with real fruit extracts stains lips for a sweetly seductive pout. Each shade features its own succulent, fruity flavor and scent. Rollerball tip precisely applies color. Available in 4 fruit-inspired shades available at drugstores $11.50.





Lancome Color Fever Gloss has the perfect wand for application that curves to your lips and perfectly accents the heart shape of the upper lip. Fever gloss has a nice sheen that adds moisture to your lips but is not too glossy Saks Fifth Avenue and Parisian-Belk $22.





Bare Escentuals Lip Glossary is a fresh mix of six sumptuous shades paired together to create the definitive collection. Lavish your lips with options. The lightweight formula nourishes with moisturizing shea butter and soothing vitamin E as it adds shine, moisture, and sensuality to lips without stickiness. Set includes six .11 oz glosses in Rose Radiance (rose glow), Gazebo (pink pearl), Allure (golden coral), Sugar Cookie (sugared peach), Classic (taupe berry), and Glee (silver plum) Sephora at Riverchase Galleria $32.


Lip Venom is a spicy, tingly gloss that enhances the natural color and shape of the lips by increasing circulation with a blend of essential oils including cinnamon and ginger. The result: shiny, bee-stung lips. The Trio includes original Lip Venom (clear), Venom Flash in Gold (clear flecked with gold shimmer), and Venom Flash in Silver (clear flecked with silver shimmer), packaged in an adorable little canister Sephora at Riverchase Galleria and Urban Outfitters at The Summit $19.

MAC Moonbathe LipGlass is four shades of special edition Lipglass capped in the signature ivory and iridescent gold pearl finish of the Moonbathe collection Saks Fifth Avenue at The Summit $14.



Nars has a fabulous color palette with colors like Dirty Shame, Foul Play, and Boogie Nights. Nars lip gloss will bring out the little devil in you Parisian-Belk $23.

BEST DRESSED AT YOUNG, HOT BIRMINGHAM

Once again the YP crowd came dressed to impress. Young, Hot Birmingham which was held at The Wine Loft showcased Birmingham's notable young people and as always these stylish yps put their best chic forward. If you've got it - flaunt it!

Always stylishly dressed, Cherie Fields wearing a dress from Little Five Points in Atlanta with yellow necklace and earrings and yellow belt.







Young- check, hot - check! Brittany Maness chose an orange halter dress from Banana Republic and Jessica Hill chose a Juicy Couture strapless long dress from Saks Fifth Avenue.









Young Queen of Birmingham Sara Schilleci wearing a pink and tan dress from Laura Kathryn, Ginger Clark wearing a white BCBG dress from Susan G. Matthews, Erin Leon wearing Banana Republic.













Michelle Dubois wearing a flouncy gray top with a cardigan from The Limited with Julie Chancellor wearing a black sheath dress from Ann Taylor, jewelry from Francesca's Collection and Coach purse.














Shannon Sheperd wearing a halter dress from Soca Clothing, Mary Cash wearing one of fall's must haves the geometric print dress, and Courtney Hodge wearing a dress by Free People.







Ellen Gober breezing in a crisp summer blue dress from H&M with a double strand pearl necklace.







Jennifer Wallis wearing Cynthia Steffe and Leah Fuller wearing a top from Petite Sophisticate.











Katherine Blackmon wearing a black dress from BCBG and Janie Mac Dixon wearing a black embellished dress by Nanette Lepore from Saks Fifth Avenue and shoes by BCBG.









The fabulously dressed Summer Wells has combined an Ann Taylor suit with chic blue top from Francesca's Collection with chunky bead necklace from Francesca's Collection and shoes by Bebe.









Stephanie Harper wearing a red and white dress with Tiffany blue flowers from Wet Seal, Tina Brandon wearing a purple jersey dress from Urban Outfitters, and Abby Morehead wearing a geometric strapless dress with heart shaped neckline from Anthropologie.

PAJAMA PARTY

Lately I have an obsession with comfy yet stylish pjs and to my delight I have found some very posh finds for getting your winks. So whether you prefer to sleep chic or get fashionably frisky at night, cozy up in style.


So chic, so pretty this 60's inspired cover up screams fashionista Anthropologie at The Summit $58.





Amanda Rich brings back classic elegance in this loose fitting lacy nightgown Her Room $75.





Fernando Sanchez's night shirt is comfy and prissy Her Room $55.







Simple Pleasures is an oh-so cozy brand from Murphreesboro, TN which can be found White Flowers in Mountain Brook Village, Ivy Cottage in Mobile ivycottage@bellsouth.net, Sweet Dreams in Orange Beach http://www.sweetdreamsbathandbody.com/.




Barefoot Dreams is One of Oprah's Favorite Things and mine too! It doesn't get more soft than this! Callie Allie in Huntsville and online at Nordstrom $139.
















Betsey Johnson is known for her funky doll-like dresses but also designs sleepwear. This baby doll nightie is perfect for a pillow fight Saks Fifth Avenue $68.











A lightweight choice for fall is this sapphire and plum robe with flared sleeves from Anthropologie at The Summit $68.











Another fashionable find from Fernando Sanchez is this sexy little chemise. Be so stylish and feel like you are wearing nothing at all Her Room $50.





Hanky Panky's exclusive cross-dyed stretch lace bodice is shaped to accent your curves Saks Fifth Avenue $84.

ATTENTION BAGAHOLICS!

Attention Birmingham bagaholics this just in from our friends at Bag, Borrow, or Steal! Did you ever think your obsession with designer handbags could land you a job? Bag Borrow or Steal, the largest online "luxury on loan" retailer allowing women to borrow designer handbags and jewelry, today launched "America's Ultimate Bagaholic Contest," a search for the country's most handbag obsessed woman. Bag Borrow or Steal asks women of Birmingham to submit a creative video showing their passion for handbags and explaining why they are America's ultimate bagaholic.

All entrants' videos will be judged based on creativity, audio/visual quality and, most importantly, expression of purse passion. All who enter will receive 20% off any luxury handbag they borrow at bagborroworsteal.com. One grand-prize winner will be selected from five finalists and receive her "Ultimate Dream Job" as Bag Borrow or Steal's Chief Bag Officer. She will be the first to carry and critique six of the Fall's hottest must-have bags; document her experience in her own dedicated blog on the Bag Borrow or Steal website, and receive free handbag rentals for a year.

All participants can enter the contest by logging onto www.bagborroworsteal.com/bagaholic and submitting the required contact information. A complete list of rules and eligibility requirements are also available on the site. The deadline to enter the "America's Ultimate Bagaholic Contest" is August 10, 2007.

"We understand the joy of a beautiful handbag and share the obsession women have for their favorite bags," said Lynn Ridenour, senior vice president of marketing for Bag Borrow or Steal. "Through this contest, we're celebrating their love of luxury and giving them an opportunity to spotlight their passion for handbags. We're constantly looking for creative ways to actively engage our members and also introduce the concept of 'borrowed luxury' to bagaholics everywhere. This contest allows us to do both in a fun and interactive way."

DRESSING YOUR HOME

I was delighted to find out that this weekend at The Pepper Place Farmers Market on Saturday, metal sculpture and jewelry artist Julia Peerson will have works on display. Why is this so exciting? Well, Julia creates beautiful metal a sculptures of dresses. Check out the photos and judge for yourself. These sculptures are of course perfect for any fashionistas' home. Julia also designs jewelry inspired by her dress sculptures.

Julia is one of Birmingham's most talented artists and will also be at Artwalk 2007.
Birmingham Artwalk tees just went on sale. The tshirts are designed by Leisa Cole and Tony Rodio. These will be on sale at Pepper Place this weekend and also at the Artwalk Preamble August 9.

GET BITTEN

Sarah Jessica Parker's new line Bitten is exclusively sold at Steve and Barry's and is top notch. Nothing in the line is over $20. The line is not very fashion forward, but has super cute basics. I am told that the jeans are fabulous - very soft and a nice fit and for under $20 who can beat that! Fortunately for us Bama belles SJP's Bitten can be found in the following cities:

Madison Square Mall
5901 University Drive NW
Huntsville,AL 35806
T:256-382-0961
Mon-Fri: 10:00am-9:00pm
Sat: 10:00am-9:00pm
Sun: 12:00pm-6:00pm

Montgomery Mall
2925-A Montgomery Mall
Montgomery,AL 36116
T:334-281-8024
Mon: 10:00am-8:00pm
Tue: 10:00am-8:00pm
Wed: 10:00am-8:00pm
Thu: 10:00am-8:00pm
Fri: 10:00am-9:00pm
Sat: 10:00am-9:00pm
Sun: 1:00pm-6:00pm

Pepperell Corners
2310 Pepperell Parkway
Opelika,AL 36801
T:334-749-3097
Mon-Fri: 10:00am-9:30pm
Sat: 10:00am-9:30pm
Sun: 11:00am-7:30pm

IT DON'T MEAN A THING IF YOU AIN'T GOT THAT BLING

I'm not talking about huge rocks - although those are nice. I'm talking about great, unique jewelry. You need to go beyond the basic gold hoops and find signature designed pieces that people comment on because of their uniqueness. You need pieces that speak to you and exemplify your style. Here are a few haute jewelry designers who are raising the bar.

Melanie Lynn's Rings are so fresh, unique, and of such great design they are a must have. Visit her website Rings Eclectic for all designs and contact her directly or visit Anthropologie and Nordstrom for her fabulous goods.



Candace Ang designs very posh earrings, bracelets, and necklaces - her vintage style is anything but traditional.
Earrings made with kilt pin $145.


Candace Ang Cameo Key necklace $236, you can shop online or in Atlanta at Blue Genes. Candace Ang is one of young Hollywood's favorites and Paris was even seen wearing this necklace.




Bridget Troup is a Bama girl and her designs are located throughout the South. This pair of earrings was spotted on American Idol's Jordin Sparks. Bridget Troup Designs can be found at Carriage House in Decatur, The Loft Decatur, Etc in Mountain Brook Village, and H.L. Hood Orange Beach, AL.


Savannah based designer Mary Millsaps creates stylish pieces like these filigree earrings with tiny dove charms in the center $21. Mary Millsaps can be found at Ladies First Boutique in Huntsville.





I just discovered this jewelry designer, Sonya Renee, from Style Me Pretty. These earrings are gorgeous and so intricately designed $105. Sonya Renee can be found at Dragonfly in Mobile.

The mini collection by Sonya Renee. $50 each or $230 for the set of 5.


Feaured in People's June/July Style Watch, Amrita Singh just keeps getting hotter. Her bangles are fantabulous and can be found locally with prices at $75 and up at Jane Simon in Mountain Brook Village.

Verdier jewelry is one of my favorites, I am always so impressed by her cutting edge designs. This Sword Je T'aime necklace could represent 'Love/Hate' struggles or perhaps that 'Love' cuts deep. Verdier is available at Lara at Patton Creek and The Clothes Tree off Acton Road.