I have not been one with my new purse. At Cheyenne Frontier Days in late July, I searched through every booth and shop, looking for a replacement for the tooled leather number I'd picked up a few years before at the National Western Stock Show -- a bag now held together with safety pins. And although I clearly found the very best purse in all of Cheyenne, an Ariat drawstring model with the admirable name "Up in Flames" (and a half-off price-tag at Just Dandy's, where the rodeo queens shop), and had it vetted by actual fashion mavens who know that I am style-impaired, once I got it home, things just weren't working.

I liked it that I could fit my laptop in the purse. But I didn't like it that when I emptied the purse down to just my keys and wallet, I had trouble finding either. No, I was not one with my new purse.

Until it came under attack -- by an inside-the-Beltway type.

It makes not a whit of difference to me whether or not Michelle Obama wears pantyhose. She is beautiful and poised, looks good in those jewel tones, and I love her. And I’m especially fond of this political pin-up girl’s collection of Erickson Beamon flower brooches, which she’s been seen wearing in precarious clusters at her neckline throughout the Democratic National Convention. They are stunning and original and just plain cute, and they send a message that the wearer is anything but status quo. Pin one on Michelle. –Susan Froyd

Slide show

The Cat's Pajamas was at last night's final installment of the Riverfront Park Fashion Show at the foot of the Millennium Bridge keeping an eye toward the hottest looks for late summer and fall. Check out the slide show with photos by Aaron Thackeray.

Macy's, the venerable department store that originally opened in 1858 as a fancy dry goods store in New York City, is celebrating 150 years by releasing celebrity prints from famed Rolling Stone photographer Mark Seliger. Cat thinks Christina is looking beautiful, fashionable and classy in this pic, which was inspired by the Macy's Flower Shows.

This Friday and Saturday, August 8th and 9th, you can shop online at express.com and save 20% by entering the promo code 4567 at checkout. That could save you a good chunk of change on all your fall basics like the punk-meets-preppy blazer pictured above. Normally the pink piece retails for $88, but you can grab it with the promo code for only $70.40. Happy shopping!

Slide show

With these oppressing temperatures it’s hard to leave home, let alone put on heels and clop down to Santa Fe. But that’s exactly what I did on Saturday night, and despite the heavy air and clammy conditions, I did it happily.

Why? Because I love supporting local designers and that is exactly what the Forever Darling event is all about. To just call it a fashion show doesn’t do the annual affair justice; it is a culmination of local talent and passion that not only promotes community businesses and artists, but assists non-profits by donating a portion of the proceeds. This year’s recipient was Dress for Success, an organization that furthers the economic independence of disadvantaged women. A fitting and worthy cause I must say.

Hosted by Space Gallery at 765 Santa Fe, Forever Darling presented a runway show featuring eight local designers and then a fashion market. Flowing wine and champagne helped the crowd get comfortable and when the show started it was just one big happy group of sweaty fashion lovers. The models were gorgeous with impeccable make-up and hair rivaling anything you would see at New York Fashion week. The clothes were amazing and the level of talent this city’s designers contribute blew me away.

The avant-garde winner was Beck Bickel with her line La Rencontre. The piece itself was constructed of a fabric that to me resembled an unfortunate tapestry but that’s why they call it avant-garde and it was certainly an innovative aesthetic.

All in all, the occasion was a success and I can only imagine what Forever Darling III will present.

For more information on this and other upcoming events, visit the organizer’s website at www.letemhaveit.net and share the local love.

-- Rossy Kay

A few weeks back we received a press release introducing us to the wonders of the "fresh, new color from KitchenAid." This color, while called "pear," looks decidedly more like the pukey green avocado color that was all the rage in the '70s. Even if this new green shade is a little, tiny bit yellower, I don't think the name change justifies unleashing this color on the public. No word yet on if any one is actually buying any food processors, blenders or mixers in the new color, which has been on sale since June.

-- Aubrey Shoe

Slide Show

Last Night's Lingerie Party at the Chateaux Mansion at Fox Meadow had the men channeling their inner Hugh Hefner and the women showing plenty of skin in the summer heat. Check out photos of the fashion show and flirty guests in this slide show with photos by Jim Narcy.

As an honorary deputy of the Global Grammar Police, I’ve always taken issue with the “Buy Local Bitches” sign displayed on the front door of the Fabric Lab (3105 East Colfax Avenue) and in the windows of other Bluebird Beat businesses. “Where are all these local bitches for sale?” I like to joke with Tran Wills (co-owner of the FabLab) and Suzanne Magnuson (co-owner of Big Hairy Monster, located in the back of the FabLab) every time I go in for a haircut or a $30 T-shirt. This, of course, is not the semantic effect Tran hoped the signs would have when she created them, and I’m sure most passersby understand that she’s encouraging them to buy local wares, not local women. Still, she’s calling us all bitches, and now that I’ve seen the chalk-scribbled sign in front of Babooshka (3225 East Colfax Avenue) encouraging drivers or walkers with wind in their bowels to “Honk If You Think Our President is A Bitch!” well, my feelings are kind of hurt. If the head of our own Evil Empire is a bitch, what’s that say about the average Colfax crawler being urged to purchase local clothes, art, toys and other accoutrements? Am I to understand that this once-derogatory term has become so ubiquitous that, in effect, we’re all bitches?

Think about that. Bitch.

-- Drew Bixby

Click here for a slide show of the event. Photo by Jim J. Narcy

The ominous rain clouds and wind couldn’t deter the crowd at last night’s Riverfront Fashion show. The theme of the event, Yellow Sun, was evident in the clothes worn by the guests. There was so much, in fact, it could have been pouring and no one would have noticed with all the yellow swirling and stomping by.

With almost two hours of free-flowing booze before the models hit the catwalk, it’s a wonder anyone could even watch, let alone concentrate, on the show. But as soon as the first thin leg hit the runway, it was a flurry of movement as women grouped together to comment on everything being presented.