apparel

Little kids love to play dress up and pretend to be whatever their imaginations can inspire. Sometimes dress up play extends beyond an indoor-at home activity and your little one wants to continuing being a ballerina or an astronaut even though it's time to grocery shop, go to the doctor or run the other millions of errands that parents must accomplish during the day.

I know that some parents don't mind what their little ones wear outside the house – they are just fun loving kids, why stress about what they have on? But there are other parents, myself included, who would rather keep dress up play at home. That's why I was excited to come across Morfs Brand Children's Tee Shirts ($78).

They allow your little one to continue with pretend play all the while looking more appropriately dressed. No more ballerina outfits with tutus or yellow fireman coats and matching red hat. Each short sleeve tee shirt is made from cotton. The appliqué fabric is from recycled tee shirts while striped sleeves are made with socks. What a great way to use all your fabric and avoid being wasteful.

Browse through the gallery to view Morfs Brand wide selection of tee shirts.

Have tips or suggestions? Contact me @marsha712

You know you've been browsing Zappos on your lunch hour under the guise of holiday shopping for friends and family, but admit it, you always see a little something you'd love too, and you slip it into your cart. I do the same thing. You've learned that whether you're shopping for yourself or for someone else for the holidays, or any time, Zappos is your go-to place. Much more than just shoes, the easy-to-shop (and fun-to-shop) site also offers clothing, bags, housewares, and watches, and even beauty products, eyewear, jewelry, and sporting goods, for men, women, and kids. You can't beat the free shipping and free 365-day return policy, either. Check out the Holiday Gift Guide for ideas!

Here's some more good news. Luxist wants to make things easier on you and your wallet this month. Our great friends at Zappos offered us one $100 gift card to give to a lucky reader selected at random. To enter, follow the instructions below.

* Leave a confirmed comment below telling us what one item from the site you would love to buy for yourself or for someone else.
* The comment must be left and confirmed no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 14, 2010.
* One entry per person. Multiple entries will be disqualified.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing and notified by e-mail.
* One winner will receive a $100 gift card for use on Zappos.com, to be delivered by postal mail.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.

See the complete rules here.

The contest is closed. The winner will be notified by e-mail by December 17. Thanks for participating!

Purveyor of preppy style J. Crew has agreed to a $3 billion takeover by two private equity firms. TPG Capital and Los Angeles-based Leonard Green & Partners say they plan to work with J. Crew Chief Executive Mickey Drexler, who will remain in that role and maintain a "significant equity investment" in the New York-based company, the Wall St. Journal reports. Drexler, the former head of The Gap, has doubled sales to more than $1.5 billion during his tenure and will personally pocket $150 million from the deal, the San Francisco Chronicle notes. The offer of $43.50 a share in cash represents a 16% premium over J. Crew stock's closing price of $37.65 on Monday and will require shareholder approval. Despite having gotten a boost courtesy of big fan Michele Obama, who wore their designs at numerous public appearances, the company's fortunes have oscillated with the economy. In May 2009 my colleague Deirdre Woollard reported that J. Crew eliminated a number of jobs in an effort to reduce its annual budget by $40 million.

The classic beige trench coat is completely revamped with the magical touch of fashion design star Thakoon. His Draped Collar Coat ($1090) takes the essence of a traditional trench coat and infuses it with a modern and unique twist that is very appealing.

Made from a mix of virgin wool, mohair, alpaca and a hint of nylon, the Draped Collar Coat boasts a dramatic and oversized relaxed collar (which exposes reversed twill), a curved hem that drops in the back, and crochet lace trim at the collar, opening, sleeves, hem and along the belt.

Contrasting colors of grey and white make for a stand out of a coat that still exudes a timeless elegance. I especially liked the hints of reverse twill scattered throughout the coat.

While you won't be able to wear Thakoon's coat on rainy days like the typical trench coat, it will provide some warmth and serve well as a chic and effortless accent to your outfit.

Stella McCartney is no stranger to designing children's clothing. Her collaboration with Gap produced child-friendly yet fashionably designed clothing that appealed to both children and their parents. It was an opportunity for children to showcase their own personal style (with a little assistance from mom and dad of course) without having to be a walking billboard for mass marketed cartoons. Needless to say - it was an instant success.

Ms McCartney has taken the plunge to produce her own children's line – fittingly named Stella McCartney Kids. Scheduled to launch on 11.3.10, the line will include styles for both girls and boys ranging from newborn to 12 years old. According to The Cut, the price range's from $20 t-shirts to $155 coats. The line exudes a clean and ultra modern aesthetic creating timeless pieces for fashionable hand-me-downs.

Be sure to sign up for an exclusive e-lookbook here that will be available to you on 10.27.10.

View some of McCartney's Kids Collection below.

Chole's Punto Milano Pants unexpectedly infuse the casualness of sweatpants with trousers. While that description sounds pretty unflattering, creative designer Hannah MacGibbon, actually translates this look quite well into a wearable ensemble. Granted, it seems wearable for someone who is tall and pretty slim, but nonetheless, it is wearable.

The Punto Milano Pants ($1495) are made from a cashmere/camel/alpaca mix and features a ribbed high waist, harem style legs with ribbed banded cuffs. They look best with its matching jacket and then paired with a pale colored blouse, preferably something silky, as shown above. I love the contrast between a dressy material like silk against a casually styled suit. The whole outfit has a definite 70's chic vibe to it that celebrates a woman's seductiveness without putting her body on full display.

Oversized collars add intrigue and depth to a sweater and jacket. It makes for an interesting and stylish touch that goes beyond trends. And it's this particular element in Stella McCartney's Renee Sweater Jacket ($1195) that made me take notice. The oversized collar can be zipped up and folded over for a very structured look, or wear slightly zipped up and have the collar fan out over your shoulders. The majority of the coat is in a ribbed sweater knit with camel wool around the chest and midriff. While the collar is voluminous, the sweater jacket's silhouette is rather slim and close fitting making for a balanced look of contrasting cuts.

A sweater can't get any cozier and stylish than Stella McCartney's Zip Up Cardigan ($1635). It is slightly bulky in the bodice and roomy in the arms. The oversized neck - when zipped up - can either fold beautifully around your shoulders creating a cocoon effect or hang in excess at your chest. McCartney's warm and luxurious sweater has a banded hem and wrists completing its oversized yet sleek silhouette. And the pockets are perfect for snuggling into your sweater during those spine-bending-cold Fall and Winter days. Pair with leggings or jeans and tall flat boots for a casual yet chic outfit.

Although the weather as of late has shifted us into wearing jeans and pants, we still can't help but find a way to wear are pretty little dresses before the real cold weather hits. The Mcq Cowl Neck Dress by Alexander McQueen ($689) screams summer time fun with its pale pink, brown and black artistic print, and luckily, given i's hint of black splashed everywhere, this could totally work for the Fall. Pair with opaque tights, funky black ankle boots and a light leather jacket or blazer for a timeless and stylish transitional look. The Cowl Neck Dress falls mid-thigh and features ruched sleeves with button accents of the same print as the dress.

Featuring a leather skirt now that Summer has officially ended and while designers and retailers are getting us ready to shop for the Fall may seem untimely, but the Tibi Leather Skirt ($585) is an eye catching transitional piece. Although the calendar may say Summer is over, we still have a few more weeks of 'showing-off-my-toned legs' left and nothing grabs people's attention like a leather mini skirt. But be sure you're not inviting the 'pay for services' kind of attention and pair with flats rather than super high heels – your legs will still look great. And once the cool weather arrives, a blouse, well fitted blazer, opaque tights, and heels would be a complementing ensemble.

Leather shorts sounds a bit like an oxymoron, but it doesn't prevent me from wanting a pair. Helmut Lang's Leather Shorts ($750) have a loose fit allowing for some extra comfort and has subtle details – a cuffed hem and a jersey knit waistband – that sets it apart. I love the extra large front pockets, which make them seem suitable for casual looks. Pair them with open toed flat sandals, a slim but loose fitting tank, an extra long mixed metal necklace and skinny hoops for an effortless but chic outfit. Lang's Leather Shorts would look just as sharp with heels, any one of Valentino's Tops and finish it off with jeweled bangles for some sparkle.

Fashion designer Devi Kroell is stepping away from the company that bears her name. WWD reports that Kroell told her staff on Tuesday the she is resigning as the CEO and creative director of the company but will remain a shareholder and a member of the board of directors. The interim CEO is Ralph Bartel whose family has been the silent financial partner behind Kroell's business since 2008 and bought the majority stake several months ago.

Kroell began the company with a line of luxury handbags in 2004, branching out into other accessories and finally showing ready to wear in 2009. Devi Kroell opened a Madison Avenue flagship in New York last fall. Although the announcement was just made, Devi Kroell is already said to have other projects in the works. She's far from the first designer to leave an eponymous company behind, others include Jil Sander and Helmut Lang.

Rockers and film stars aren't the only ones who trek down to Mott Street to spruce up their wardrobes. SEW, the acronym for Scott Evan Wasserberger, is a magnet for just about any high-profile man who wants the best quality and the best fit. This season that means a lightweight cashmere jacket, totally hand-stitched and tailored, that feels like a second skin but looks high-bling. No surprise that some clients have ordered several in spite of the hefty $3400 tab. Wasserberger has worked in the biz for 20 years, moving to his intimate boutique two years ago.

SEW is also a hotbed of hipsterdom. The anti-preppies favor his flamboyant smoking jackets in velvet paisley or silver-gray sharkskin blazers with sky-blue lining. Equally popular for warm weather are his custom-made shirts in assorted bold plaids with spread collars, about $225, and cotton blazers in solid colors, $1650-$2300. For women, the choices are slim, but irresistible: men's style shirts in light blue with white collars and cuffs. Passersby are so intrigued with SEW they stop in regularly. Most prefer Wednesday night (5:30-8:30) when drinks and music are on the the house and browsers can check out what makes SEW so popular with the sartorial savvy.

SEW menswear boutique is at 229a Mott Street: 212-686-1630;www.sewnyc.com

In just a handful of years, Tory Burch has gone from a a single store in Manhattan to a global empire. Businessweek has a profile of Burch that says that the designer, who now has 25 locations, is planning another additional 100 namesake stores worldwide in the next three to five years. She is also working on creating a cosmetic and fragrance line.

What makes Burch's line so popular especially at a time in which the mid-range luxury market to which Burch's line is targeted has seen consumpion plummet? Part of it is that Burch's line is highly versatile and wearable, including pieces that are comfort-friendly and yet fashionable like her Reva ballet flats and her embellished tunic tops which hit a chord with Oprah. Part of it is Burch herself who at 43 represents the type of woman that her customers identify with, it doesn't hurt that she is a beautiful working single mom. She spent years working in marketing and public relations with Ralph Lauren and Vera Wang which also helped her learn what this type of customer desires.

As the economy lumbers back to life and shoppers began to return to the stores, Burch is primed for big success. There are some concerns that the Tory Burch line is expanding too rapidly but Burch happens to have a sound business partner in her ex-husband Chris Burch who is quoted as saying that they are conscious of not getting ahead of themselves.

Winter can be a bitter, miserable season if you're not equipped with the right essentials to stay warm. Coat? Check. Gloves? Check. Scarf? Sure, check. Hat? No way, not on this hairdo!

Don't freeze, try earmuffs! Often the butt of jokes because they've been known to look a little silly, investing in a stylish pair that you love can not only spare you some freezingly unpleasant winter outings but also help you make a fashion statement. Shown here are Fox Unlimited Fox-Fur Earmuffs ($75) and check out more of our picks in the gallery below.