The other day at Pilates class, the lady to my left, the lady to my right, and me each sported a pair of thick-soled, bright-colored plastic slip-ons. “How long have you had yours?” asked one. “Do they work?” asked the teacher. These aren’t Crocs we’re all wearing. They’re FitFlops.

You’ve probably seen or heard of them by now– these “biomechanically engineered” sandals that promise benefits from improved posture and leg muscle tone to reduced cellulite. Something maybe you didn’t know is that the flops are the brainchild of Go-Getter Girl Marcia Kilgore, who founded Bliss Spas… and sold it to LVMH for a reported $30 million. It’s safe to say this gal is a marketing genius.

So, do FitFlops actually work? The website does feature some positive study results from “The Centre for Human Performance” and scores of testimonials.

My unscientific analysis: I think the actual Pilates classes are doing much more for leg toning in my life than the shoes I wear to and from the gym! However, having worn mine for many months, FitFlops are extremely comfy and tons more supportive than the average Havania-flat flip flop. They can be worn all day running errands, hitting up the mall, etc., without arch or ankle discomfort. That’s something.

One little quibble with the shoes: Can’t they make them just a *wee bit* cuter?!

Let it be known, the fourth hour of Today– starring Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford– is quite entertaining. Hoda and Kathie Lee’s off-the-cuff banter is undeniably fresh and appealing — at the same time that its tendency toward zaniness is clearly SNL fodder.  In short, these ladies do funny, campy stuff not often seen on network television. Like last week, when Kathie Lee revealed some of her favorite things– which included one of my favorite things: Clean & Clear Oil-Absorbing sheets.  On the show, Kathie Lee pressed the little blue sheet onto her T-zone, to shamelessly reveal a smattering of indelible oil marks. Ewwww, her co-host and crew cried (but obviously, the sheets worked!).

The Clean & Clear blotting sheets, which feel made from a synthetic-type material, gobble up more grease than most others on the market– all while leaving your makeup completely intact.  And, unlike some of those prestige (yet  less effective) rice papers out there, they’re cheap: just around 5 bucks at your local CVS. 

Pop them in your purse for year-round shine control.

They’re all over the place this season– from the beach to the barbecue to the night club. I’m talking about rompers. 

If you’re a trend-savvy woman who has taken note of rompers– but not yet taken the plunge– you’re not alone. Fashion bloggers all summer long have contributed to the great debate: Can I wear a romper– and if so, how?  Well, since we’re about halfway through summer/romper-appropos-parties, time is running out! It’s now or never– or at least until this 70s inspired trend comes round again. Here are a few tips:

With one-pieces, there’s a fine line between glamorous and babyish. For as much as we gals think they’re sexy, I’ve heard more than one guy refer to rompers as “adult onesies.”  The cardinal rule of rompers, as one Go-Getter Girl pointed out to me, is that they absolutely cannot be too tight.  Starlet Blake Lively– though we applaud her general sartorial flair– appears to be making this mistake each time she wears a jumper (see left). Too tight and you look like you’re wearing a bathing suit in public . . and let’s not even discuss camel-toe potential.

You want the fit to be “flouncy” (for more organic fabrics like cotton, rayon and silk),  and at the most, “fitted” (for more structured fabrics like denim, gingham, etc.). Subtle sexiness can derive not from showing shape, but rather from showing a little skin: e.g., slinky spaghetti straps or a swooping low back that show off your great shoulders; a short length to highlight your gams. For the shoes, proportion is key: you want to balance the weight of the romper. A silky romper needs a light shoe (strappy sandals), a heavier romper needs more substance (organic wedges are great; rounded patent heels work, too). Flat sandals are okay, but these will likely only flatter on a very tall, leggy woman. 

From there, since you’ve basically got an all-in-one-outfit, all that rocking a romper requires is… confidence! I know, easier said than done– not to mention the annoyance of completely undressing each time you have to go to the ladies room.  But I think, it’s a fun summer trend that’s definitely a “do”!

Photo credit: Diane Cohen

It’s summertime and things loosen up around the office, but what’s advisable when it comes to footwear? First, take a peek at your office dress code; it may say something as simple as “no open-toed shoes!” But even if they are allowed, exercise caution when wearing them in any office environment– however ‘non’-traditional that office.  Something about florescent track lighting, conference rooms, and totally bare toes (however prettily-polished) just don’t mix. 

 If you do dare to bare, here are some Go-Getter Girl guidelines: 

• Basic flip-flops are a no. Exception: your feet are hidden underneath your desk and you are (obviously!) only wearing them until you slip on your pumps to so much walk to the bathroom. Ditto for any type of thong sandals, even if they are the fancy, leather/stone/sparkly flat sandals seen all over the stores this season.  
• No lucite heels, ever (stripper territory). 
• It’s still footwear meant for work, so think structured instead of strappy– and for that matter think shoe, not sandal. Coverage is key.  A peep toe or d’Orsay  pump is perfect.  And, if your office code says absolutely no toes to be bared, change out your typical black heel for something nude (patent, that is). It’s a fun, lighter look for summer that happens to go with just about everything. 

Above, my fave summer sandal purchase (Beverly Feldman), which, though supercute, is not appropos for the office!

When it comes to clothes shopping, I’m a big fan of the idea of cost versus “cost per wear”– that is, dividing the price of a potential purchase by the number of times you will wear it. A ‘good deal’ generally is something that has a low cost-per-wear.  A recent experience reminded me that this formula can pertain to other purchases as well, including computers. Let’s call it cost versus cost-per-click.

On Sunday, my HP laptop died, and yesterday I bought a Mac. I’d long been a Mac fan, having used them through college and as a magazine editor. In law school, lured by stylish new models like VAIOs and their more economical pricetags, I hesitatingly switched over to PCs. Two laptops and a lot of headaches later, I’m switching back to Macs. My recent HP failed the “cost-per-click” test.  

A few days ago the barely 1.5 year old machine started locking up. We chatted online with the help desk rep, she ran some tests, and then informed us that my hard drive had failed. “I do not recommend replacing it,” she wrote, “because the machine is very old.” Very old? I don’t think so.  A good pair of jeans last more than four seasons– and so should a computer.

Of course, I can’t speak for PCs in general. I’m sure there are lots of reliable and affordable options out there, and it may be my own fault that my PCs didn’t last so long. I probably should have updated the anti-virus software more, or stored less pictures, etc.  But the bottom line is that when you consider “cost-per-click” my two PC purchases didn’t turn out to be such a bargain.  The MacBook Pro (shown below) was more pricey, but I have a feeling that like the Macs I had in college, it will prove to be a much better deal. 

And, it sure is pretty, too!