TIPS TO BEAT THE HEAT

August is in full force and so is the heat wave. As we yearn for cooler weather and anticipate the upcoming fall season, we also know that our summer days are fleeting. In this most awkward of months where you feel that the best option to keep cool is simply to stay inside in the AC, here are some tips to get you out and about in heat wave style! (These are in no particular order of importance, hence why shopping comes before hydrating.)

1. Avoid pants -opt for a casual lightweight dress perhaps jersey or linen.

2. Keep your hair off your head and go for the updo - whether you sport a pony tail (tip for you office girls: a low pony tail looks more professional) or a low positioned bun also does the trick and for anyone with long hair this is simply a matter of tying your pony tail in a knot.

3. Do not wear leggings - I know we are eager for fall but leggings in this weather look ridiculous and are not a good idea.

4. Avoid too much makeup - go with a lightweight tinted moisturizer with an SPF because the last thing you want is for your makeup to melt down your face.

5. Get By With a Little Shopping - Out and about? Duck into those boutiques you've been dying to check out to cool off.

6. Hydrate - Water is one of the best things for your skin so when you want to hydrate reach for the H2O and now we even have the option of flavored water.

7. Avoid Hot Drinks - for all you coffee lovers, try iced coffee. Starbucks even has a new no fat, low sugar Italian Roast Iced Coffee in a can.

8. Make a Statement with Footwear - Even though you may not feel very fashion forward with your attire or sweat on your forward, you can always step out in style with a fab pair of heels or sandals.

9. Wear White - Even though fashion magazines push wearing pure white in the fall, most of us Southern Belles know not to push the envelope too far after Labor Day. With summer fleeting and the sun beating down wear white, you will feel so much more comfortable.

10. Wear Shades - There is absolutely no excuse for not having a pair of sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection. Make the splurge and your eyes and skin around your eyes will thank you.

11. Escape - As the last days of summer approach, make your plans for that last summer getaway. With the nice sea breeze and water abounding, the beach is always a nice option for cooling off and it's within driving distance for most of us.

YOU VOTE FOR BEST DRESSED AT MANHATTAN SOUTH

Manhattan South hosted an opening night soiree Friday, August 3 at the new Cahaba Village complex next to Whole Foods. Just as you would suspect, the fashion boutique launch party boasted the most stylish fashionistas. For a fun contest My Scoop is asking you to VOTE for the BEST DRESSED - your vote will determine who wins a fabulous package with a gift certificate to Manhattan South, great fall finds and tickets to Birmingham Broadway's The Wedding Singer! Contest ends Wednesday August 29!


Jennifer Hyde wearing Diane Medak Dress from Manhattan South, Tara Thrasher in a Sky dress from Manhattan South, and Brooke Parker wearing a Public Library top worn as a dress from Manhattan South.












Caroline Williams in a 'toga' inspired dress from Swank 35223.







Emily Israel
Dress from a Vintage Store.
















Jena Ogiba and
Katie Causey wearing a polka dot top from Turquoise in Bluff Park(featured on My Scoop!) and Hudson jeans from Saks.










Shannon Mayock
BCBG dress and Vintage belt from her mom’s closet.









Brittany Caston in a blue Limited Dress and Nancy Carnes BCBG dress from Parisian’s and Chinese Laundry shoes.









Addie Mancus wearing BCBG pattern dress and Christine Harpole in a black dress from H&M.









Michelle Hornberger wearing a Bread and Butter top from Gus Mayer.









Pam Ledbetter in a lovely teal dress with ruffle sleeves from Swank 35223.









Jennifer Wilson
Blouse from Las Vegas and Tahari Jeans.









Manhattan South owner Lesley DeCastro pictured in the middle wearing 213 Industry! Visit her cute boutique with such a cute name at Cahaba Village next to Whole Foods.

ART ON THE ROCKS BEST TOGA CONTEST

Get ready for The Best Toga Contest at Art on the Rocks August 24th judged by yours truly! Design a fab toga and you could go home with a fabulous shopping package from My Scoop! Make sure to buy your tickets in advance at http://www.artsbma.org/- don't be a plebian and wait until the last minute that is so faux pas! See below on How to Make a Toga!

OUT WITH THE BLUE, IN WITH THE NEW COLOR JEANS

Have your jeans gotten a little boring? Are you looking for a little more excitement in your denim? All well-styled fashionistas must add color jeans to their wardrobe this fall!

I tried these fuchsia jeans on for fun and after one glimpse in the mirror knew I had to have them. Tag Jeans fit so well and to own a pair of bright jeans is just fun. They go great with white, black, gray, navy and so many patterned tops. Tag Fuchsia Jeans available at Swank 35223. (Also available in red, imagine how fun that is for a Tide football game this fall!)



Gray is hot for fall so these True Religion jeans are a nice addition to your wardrobe. True Religion Joey Stretch Stern Green $196 at Saks Fifth Avenue or Doree Denim at Soho.








Black jeans in this cigarette cut are so flattering and look very retro. Pair these with a great blousant sweater or just throw on with a tank and long cardigan and you will look so urban chic. Joe's Cigarette Ankle Jeans $159. Joe's Jeans are available at Soca Clothing in Homewood.







Taverniti So dark gray Janis jeans $187. Taverniti So are available at the new Manhattan South at Cahaba Village.







If Duff can do it in a poncho and fringe boots, what have you got to loose! Go for it - you will make color jeans look so chic. Just throw on a pair of heels and a cute top and consider yourself a trendsetter!

GET A LEG UP FOR FALL

Now back to us girls and our must haves for Fall. One of Fall's hottest trends are colored leggings. The best place to buy and the only place I know that carries leggings in almost every color imaginable (including gold lame), is American Apparel. Here are some of Fall's fave colors, now we just need it to cool off a bit so we can look oh-so fab wearing them!


Raspberry great with black, beige, gray or navy $26.




Evergreen great with grays and browns $26.




Orchid great with black, gray, navy, or gold $26.




Sea Blue great with maroon, gray, dark reds, creams or tans $26.

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.