I love Jamie Lee Curtis

Jamie Lee Curtis is my new idol. She's so comfortable in her skin, so stylish in her honesty.

She's featured in AARP The Magazine, and was recently on the "Oprah Winfrey Show" to talk about her journey to self-love and acceptance.

On "Oprah," she spoke of her role as the beauty myth buster (besides being "topless" on the cover of AARP, she posed for untouched photos in More Magazine), saying that women are craving truth and honesty, especially in advertising.

The article in AARP says Jamie Lee is letting her freak flag fly as she nears 50 (her birthday is in November). I dream of a world where a woman speaking frankly and living purposefully isn't considered an anomaly, but the norm.

What do you think?

My latest fashion crush

Designers branching out with lower-priced lines at mass retailers is nothing new. But the quality of the lines have been stepped up considerably since Isaac Mizrahi blazed the fashionably cheaper trail at Target back in 2003.

I've got two recent faves for quality, style and price:

The Gryson handbag line in stores now at Target. My obsession with the green woven bags (above) has cooled a bit since the look book arrived at the office a few months ago, and I've now moved on to daydreaming about the blue drawstring tote.

The Abaete line at Payless by Laura Poretzky is sophisticated, cute and apparently in demand -- the Davis Tote is sold out. The sexy, strappy Betty is on sale right now for $19.99!

Which cheap-chic line is your fave?

Crocs are mutating

I was so hoping we'd see the end of Crocs sometime soon.

Instead, the shoes that many mistake as acceptable for wearing in public keep mutating. Among the latest transgressions? The Croc Sassari and Cyprus (above) -- a wedge sandal and 3-inch strappy heel, respectively.

I'll admit to owning a pair of knockoffs I bought out of desperation at the beach last summer. I will also admit that I still wear them, but never out of the house.

Yes, they're moderately comfy, but buoyancy and being able to hose them off are not selling points I often consider when buying shoes at any price.

What is the attraction?

CLT love in Town & Country

Two local women recently scored major pub in prestigious glossies:

Laura Vinroot Poole, owner of Capitol and Poole Shop at Phillips Place, is featured in the April issue of Town & Country. No stranger to national mag love (she and her home were featured on the cover and in the pages of Domino magazine in February 2007), Poole was profiled about her personal style. She’s pictured wearing a Thakoon dress and names Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz as her favorite designer.

Former Charlottean Jane Pope, the designer of Balboa and Jane Pope Collection jewelry, was featured in Vogue’s spring fashion issue in March. Pope, who now lives in Charleston, is pictured in the mag in front of historic Drayton Hall Plantation in a J. Mendel dress and her own bangles. Details: www.janepopejewelry.com.

Checking in from Charleston

Models make their final pass on the runway during the debut
at Charleston Fashion Week of the Clewis Reid line
from former Charlottean Ashley Reid.

Charleston has a fashion talent pool that is surprisingly deep and definitely unexpected.

The Emerging Local Designers show at Charleston Fashion Week featured six designers who were chosen by a panel that included Laura Bennett from Season three of "Project Runway" and Lacoste CEO Bob Siegel.

Among the designers who showed a spring line in the tents at Marion Square was Ashley Reid, a West Charlotte (and UNC and Savannah College of Art and Design) alum.

Some 900 people packed the tent for the sophisticated event on Friday, including "Project Runway" season four designer Jillian Lewis and boyfriend Lewaa Abdulkhalek (above right) and Lacoste's Siegel.

Disappearing Lotus?

Two of three Lotus boutiques have closed recently, leaving shoppers wondering what was going on.

The closing of the stores at Birkdale Village in Huntersville and on Central Avenue in Charlotte are the result of a few things, co-owner James Funderburk (right) said via e-mail this week.

Funderburk, who recently had a hand in opening nightclub HOM and developing condo complex Celadon, says he's had to deal with some family illnesses and needs to refocus.

As for the mini-chain of clothing stores that included three Lotus locations and Civilian at Phillips Place, he says business partner Effie Loukas is buying out his share.

They chose not to renew the Birkdale lease, and ran into some building issues with the landlord on the Central Avenue space, he says.

"Pairing down the retail business will allow Effie to develop the wholesale business and expand the Lotus product offering," he said in the e-mail. "Civilian is remaining and may undergo a face lift and name change."

Funderburk is also selling his share of ownership in HOM.

Great T-shirt expectations

I'm on a seemingly eternal quest for the perfect T-shirt. I don't think my list of requirements is too long -- do you?

I need a T meet the following criteria:

• Cotton, as close to 100 percent as possible
• Full sleeve
• Neckline that holds its shape
• Minimal shrinking lengthwise (this is a biggie -- I'm not tall. At all. If I have issues with length, how do people who aren't 5' 3'' deal?). I need to be able to wash and toss in the dryer.

My passionate love for Gap Favorite Ts is faltering. Where do you buy Ts? Why do you love them?