All mySimon Clothing and Accessories Shopping Picks

It seems the hit TV show Mad Men (set in the early 1960s) is having quite an influence on women's fashion, because pencil skirts are back in style. Not that they ever went out of style - they're timeless - but department stores are making a big deal about them; Nordstrom says pencil skirts are one of "ten things we love about fall." We love the skirts for their versatility, since you can... more

You'd think, after browsing through the September issue of Lucky magazine, that a good fall tote bag costs at least several hundred dollars. Nonsense. You can get this patent "Palazzo" tote bag from Crate and Barrel for $24.95. The bag is right on trend for fall (patent! purple! contrast! boldness!), has magnetic closure with an interior pocket, can be cleaned with a damp cloth, and comes in several color combinations. So you can... more

What happens when a popular tattoo artist sells his name to a French fashion designer and entrepreneur? This happens. The line of Ed Hardy clothes and accessories has expanded so far, that - if you wanted to - you could dress yourself head to toe in Ed Hardy tattoo imagery caps, sunglasses, shirts, watches, pants, shoes, bags, and yes, even underwear. (But people would probably laugh... more

How do you carry your lunch to work/school? Leaky Tupperware containers? Multi-knotted Safeway bags? Make leftovers/soggy tuna sandwiches more fun with a lunch tote from Lands' End. There are several plain adult totes that look pretty useful, but our favorite is the kiddie "character" lunch tote, shown here in "dog" but also available in "horse," "ballet slippers," and "polar bear." The totes are insulated to keep food fresh for hours; have enough room for... more

"Naked shoes for naked people." That's how Terra Plana describes their Dopie thong sandals, even though the models wearing the sandals are fully dressed. The company set out to create the most minimal footwear possible. The result is this sandal, made out of recycled materials, that molds to your foot. There's one piece that folds up between your toes to provide control, and apparently the strap is "optional." Dopies come in men's and women's... more

Paris Hilton for President?! In response to "that white-haired dude" using her in a campaign spot, Hilton and Funnyordie.com made this hilarious spoof political ad, in which Hilton lets America know that she is "like totally ready to lead" and even presents a surprisingly coherent "energy policy." Show your support for Hilton (and her VP candidate Rihanna) with this funny t-shirt.

Who knew John McCain was such a fashion plate? Yesterday we saw a TV news story about McCain's Salvatore Ferragamo "Pregiato" calfskin moccasins. He's been spotted wearing them on multiple occasions, including walking alongside the Dalai Lama (who was - and we're not making this up - wearing Prada flip-flops). If you'd like to walk a few miles in McCain's shoes, you'll need a spare $520. Maybe that's how McCain spent his economic... more

We groaned out loud when we heard that Converse had released a "grunge collection." We thought, are designers so creatively tapped out that they need to bring back a trend from the early '90s already? Is Courtney Love having trouble paying her legal bills again? But it turns out "grunge" just means "plaid" in the case of these Chuck Taylors. Some styles have plaid exteriors, while others use solid colors with plaid linings. We... more

You know how there's been an explosion of handbags in stores recently? It seems the same thing is happening with backpacks. And some of them are outrageously expensive. All the average college student these days needs is a backpack that 1) holds a laptop and a lot of other stuff, 2) is built to last, and 3) doesn't cost a month's tuition. Which is why we like the Samsonite University backpack. It's got a... more

What's even harder than traveling with kids in tow? When those kids you're towing are in turn towing their own suitcases. Enter Trunki kid suitcases. Made from the same hard plastic as adult-sized luggage, Trunki suitcases not only have enough room for all your kids' clothes and toys, but they also double as sturdy and safe ride-ons for kids ages 3-6. So you can grab the long leash strap and pull both kids and... more

Cute, warm, comfortable, and on sale! These UGG Cardy knit boots regularly cost $140, but you can get the at the semi-annual Nordstrom Anniversary Sale for $99.90. The boots fold up and down (they're down in this photo), so it's almost like getting 2 pairs of fall boots for $100.

Sometimes when given a choice of A or B, you pick C. For example, our answer to "Who's better, the Beatles or the Rolling Stones?" is "The Who." And now, when someone asks you "Paper or plastic?" you should reply, "I brought my own." But if you don't already have a pile of ugly canvas tote bags left over from conferences, we suggest using Envirosax. These cute, waterproof bags hold up to 44 pounds... more

If companies can sell push-up bras to insecure women, then they can probably sell padded underpants to insecure men. Either one is better than implants, right? Go Softwear's line of padded butt briefs is, to quote the company, "an innovative solution for men who want to enhance their rear view" and "perfect for guys who want to look good both coming and going." Well, at least you no longer have to take that stadium... more

New from New Balance: Sesame Street sneakers for kids! They're basically smaller versions of the classic New Balance 574 running shoes, with leather uppers and rubber outsoles, except they're decorated with Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Oscar the Grouch, complete with peeking eyeballs, fuzzy tongues, and inside designs. Yet another reason we want to be kids again.

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