SATC: What'd ya think?

Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) in Vivienne Westwood

Now that "Sex and the City: The Movie" has debuted on the big screen, I'm anxious to hear what fans think.

Here's my take: I liked it, but didn't love it. It was too everything - too long, too much over-the-top product placement, the dialog was too forced.

Before you accuse me of being too hard on the film, check out what some of my fashion colleagues had to say here.

On the flip side, the couture wedding gowns alone are worth the price of admission. The accessories worn by the girls really shined. (I'm already on the hunt for Miranda's over-sized squared-circle loops.)

What was your take on the movie? Your favorite thing? Least favorite?

Letting go of the fashion crutch

I'm not sure when a pair of sunglasses perched in my hair became my fashion crutch, but it's time for it to go. It's not as dire as kicking cigarettes to the curb, but this is going to be one hard habit to break.

I choose glasses on their ability to stay on the top of my head and hold my hair back. The cheaper the better -- that way I can stash a pair in the car (just in case), and when they stretch out, I'm not too sad about retiring them.

I can't even tell you when I started my glasses codependency; back in the flannel filled days of the late 1990s, my fashion security blanket was a beat-up denim shirt, tied around my waist at all times. I still have that shirt, but haven't worn it in at least 10 years. So why can't I extract those glasses from the top of my head?

I recently saw a pic of me that was horrifying on many levels, but those H&M sunglasses doubling as a headband really bugged me. Taking the glasses out of the pic wouldn't have changed my posture, my facial expression or the death grip I had on that glass of chardonnay, but it would it have helped me look less ... dated. Ugh.

Starting right now, I'm going to use sunglasses for only their intended purpose: shielding my eyes from the sun.

What's your fashion crutch?

'Sex' Movie: Labels and Love

I was one of the lucky to catch a sneak preview of "Sex and the City: The Movie" on Tuesday night in Ballantyne.

It was great to see the Fashion Fab Four back together -- Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte looked great. Older and basking in some very kind creative lighting, but still fierce.

It should shock no one that the movie is an endless feast of couture, label-worship and killer shoes. There were reportedly more than 300 wardrobe changes in the film.

Fashionistas will see some familiar faces: photographer Patrick Demarchelier makes the scene, as does Vogue's Andre Leon Talley, among others.

I'll hold off on sharing my opinion of the film until Friday at least. I don't want to spoil anything.

Be sure to check out the Style section on Thursday -- we'll help you figure out who you are: Carrie, Samantha, Miranda or Charlotte.

LISTEN UP! I'll be on the Matt & Ramona radio show around 4 p.m. Wednesday dishing on fashion, including the movie. Be sure to listen at 107.9 FM or online.

Intermix open at SouthPark

I chatted with Sari Sloane (right), Intermix vice president of fashion merchandising, at the recently opened store at SouthPark mall.

As Sari walked me through the high-end chain boutique (which debuted in NYC and has set up shop in Atlanta, Florida and Washington, DC among other cities), I was repeatedly distracted by shoes, bags and dresses.

The store carries 200-300 designers, some emerging and some more established. Price points are as mixed as the clothing -- the store is grouped by lifestyle: nightlife, ready-to-wear, casual wear, etc...

About 25 percent of the merchandise they carry is exclusive to Intermix, Sari says.

As for summer trends, she says you can't go wrong with maxi-dresses and strong colors.

New line at new Lotus

T-shirt designer Nod Norkus and Effie Loukas, owner of Lotus

Effie Loukas, owner of Lotus on East Boulevard and Civilian at Phillips Place, celebrated the launch of her mens line, Private, with a party at the East Boulevard store recently.

Partiers navigated the puddles in the parking lot and left their umbrellas by the door to also help Loukas celebrate her sole-ownership of the locally-owned collection of stores.

The new Lotus mens' line, Private, has a edgy, rocker vibe, and is complimented well by deliciously soft organic Ts from Nod Norkus.

Fashion on pit road?

Fire suits, like those worn by the No. 10 Scott Riggs crew,
are the height of style (and safety) on pit road.

I made my first trip to pit road at Lowe's Motor Speedway for Saturday's All-Star race.

I've been to the speedway before, but have never been this close to the action -- it was pretty impressive. I tried to keep my golly-gee-ness in check: I was there on a fashion mission.

Just how did folks in the pits keep their fashion sense when battling heat, dirt and long hours (my patient photog partner Davie Hinshaw started his day at the speedway around noon, and the main race wasn't scheduled to start until 9 p.m.)? You'll have to check out Thursday's Style section to see for yourself.

In the meantime, visit my Facebook page for a look at who and what I saw.

Shiny shoe adoration

I am smitten with patent shoes.

Red, black -- color doesn't matter. Give me a shoe with sheen and a heel, and I'm in heaven.

So, when I recently picked up a pair of black patent platform heels from the Simply Vera by Vera Wang line at Kohl's (right), I knew the shoes were perfect -- pointy toe, big heel, comfy.

But I was unprepared for the reaction they'd get when I wore them in public. Apparently, my deal of the day shoes (they were marked down to $36 from $68, and I bought them with two loud toddlers in tow) where much sexier than I anticipated or even thought about.

I bought them to help ease the wear on my beloved Via Spiga patent heels. Turns out, Vera's 4 1/2-inch heels are attention-grabbing and super flattering.

And, as an added bonus (or two), everyone who asked about the shoes was floored that I got them at Kohl's. And, the oatmeal version of the shoe is even more on sale online.

What's your shoe weakness?

Fab Finds: Reusable shopping bag

Going green doesn’t have to mean going plain, and Loop de Loops is here to help.

The Charlotte-based accessories company has recently launched a line of reusable shopping bags that are sassy, stylish and incredibly functional.

The zebra print Companion bag is 100 percent cotton and deceptively large and durable – they expand to hold more "stuff" than you might think. $30, www.loopdeloops.com.

LISTEN UP! I'll be on the Matt & Ramona radio show today around 6 p.m. today sharing tips for dressing for job interviews on a budget. Be sure to listen at 107.9 FM or online at www.mattandramona.com.

GG love: Oooh Georgina!

Can you believe the "Gossip Girl" season finale is next week? Already!

I'm a relative latecomer to this deliciously cheesy (but incredibly well-wardrobed) show, but I am obsessed with Serena, Dan, Blair, Chuck and the rest of the swanky cast.

I may be dating myself, but not since the days of my beloved "Beverly Hills 90210" have I been so ga-ga for primetime teen angst. Not only are the clothes better on GG, the villains are too: the sinister Georgina Sparks (right, played by Michelle Trachtenberg) puts 90210 bad girl Valerie Malone to shame.

Check out this New York Magazine article on the impact of "Gossip Girl" and be sure to tune in to the CW at 8 p.m. next week to see if Lily really marries Bart Bass.

Fab Finds: Boots Body Scrub

In these uncertain economic times, finding ways to trim expenses is paramount.

That doesn’t mean, however, that your skin should pay. With Boots Brazil Nut & Vanilla Body Scrub, you’ll get the feel of a swank spa treatment at home. The scrub - with a blend of brazil nut oil, organic vanilla and natural exfoliants - sloughs and moisturizes at the same time.

We found that it’s especially delish for your tootsies: a quarter-sized dab on each foot at the end of a shower helped extend the appearance of just-pedicured-smooth soles. $9.99, Target; http://www.target.com/.

LISTEN UP!

I'll be on the Matt & Ramona radio show today around 6 p.m. sharing tips for last-minute Mother's Day gifts. Be sure to listen at 107.9 FM or online at www.mattandramona.com.

SATC: The countdown is on

It's been four years since we've last seen them (all those horrifically sanitized re-runs on TBS don't count, really), and the anticipation is in overdrive.

Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte are back - "Sex and the City: The Movie" hits theaters May 30.

The cast of the show, including Big (Chris Noth) were on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" recently, kicking the frenzy into high gear.

Rumors are swirling -- there was talk of "dream sequences" during filming to throw fans off, and just this week, producer and writer Michael Patrick King publicly shot down the notion that a character dies in the film.

Fans of the fashion shouldn't be disappointed, according to Oprah - there were reportedly more than 300 wardrobe changes for characters in the film, with Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) having more than 80.

What was your favorite SATC fashion moment?

Science experiment or jewelry cleaner?

Jewelry designer Gina Nigrelli shared a secret for cleaning tarnished jewelry in a recent issue of Lucky magazine, using only hot water, tin foil and baking soda.

I had to test it out, and it just so happened I just picked up an excellent gold necklace from Value Village that was in need of cleaning.

Nigrelli, designer of the Jules Smith line, said her grandmother shared the tip with her. Line a glass casserole dish with tin foil. Place the jewelry on top of the foil and sprinkle liberally with baking soda. Cover with boiling water and let it all soak for 10 minutes.

I lost track of time watching the soda bubble and fizz.

The result? A clean necklace, fabulously free of harsh chemicals.

What kind of secret cleaning recipes do you use?