Moscot, the 93-year-old Manhattan based eyeglass firm made famous by clientele such as Johnny Depp, has commissioned designer Chris Benz to do a bouquet of classic frames in spring pastels. The firm's also-new Moscot Spirit line updates cat-eye and rectangular frames from nerdy to now. $149 to $189.

I'm away this week (for a little adventure with the family) so I thought I'd post some popular posts from the past.

Summer shoes have high expectations of your feet.

Open-toe slingbacks, sandals, wedge heels. Not to mention that you’re footing the bill for weekly pedicures just to stay presentable in them.

But what do you demand of your shoes? Not much, by the looks of yours... but shouldn't you? If you could request that your shoes make your legs leaner (and your ass for that matter). Wouldn't you?

Sound crazy? This summer tone your thighs, your calves and your glutes with Fitflop, the UK's hottest new fitness shoe. This unique line of flip-flops was dreamt up by a woman who specialises in coming up with things we just didn't know we needed. Marcia Kilgore is the former personal trainer who came up with the concept of Bliss the Mecca for spa hoppers on both sides of the Atlantic ­ and then surpassed herself with her next project, the gloriously tabloidish "Soap and Glory" skincare range.

This time she went one step further (literally) and designed a shoe (rather a flip-flop) that exercises your legs while you walk. The FitFlops cleverly designed midsole creates an uneven walking surface which challenges core calf, thigh and butt muscles to maintain control while you walk - you are literally working out while strolling down the high street!

That’s more than I can say for the shoes in my closet.
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Have you noticed how the simple sneaker has transformed itself?

Stylish? Yes. Comfortable? Yes. And, in the hands of some of the world’s top designers, expensive.

But these, well, these are not your trusty old gym shoes. Or those ugly white things that Seinfeld wore. These are the new symbol of cool (for both men and women) and they don't just look good, they perform!

Somewhere between a 100m sprint performance shoe and a classic dress shoe lies the new Puma Usan ($90). The casual sneaker features UNI construction (the upper is stitched to the outsole) for a lower profile and less material waste. The Usan also features forefoot and heel traction pods for added support.

If nothing else, look like a world class sprinter even if you've never stepped one foot on a track.

Some say polos are back. Others (like myself) say they never went out of style. Whichever side you fall on, make sure the polos you don this spring and summer are bold (but classic) with a fresh attitude that stays true to tradition.

And, because classic style is hard to achieve while still trying to get a modern vibe; try one of these:

Abercrombie & Fitch $50 (pictured)
Polo by Ralph $65
Original Penguin $49
Le Tigre $48

Let the games begin!

Here are three of my favorite do-it-all sports watches for you athletic women! Not only are they tough enough to withstand arm-pumping runs and the occasional whack, each also features the season's hottest trend: a frosty white band. And, like every great sports watch, these are water-resistant ... so go ahead and sweat.

The catch... to look good you've got to pay the price. These watches aren't cheap.

MATERIAL GIRL: With Subdials that record 1/10 of a second allow you to time runs with extraordinary precision-but it's the pearly, ceramic link band that transforms this Swiss timepiece into high-priced bling. TechnoMarine Diamond Chrono Ceramique. ($3,250.00, technomarine.com)

HIKER'S HELPER: When you're exploring the Rockies, you'll be psyched that with just the tap of a finger, this leather-banded watch can tell you the altitude, temperature, and likelihood of a storm (thanks to a built in barometer). Bonus feature: a compass! Tissot T-Touch ($695, tissot.ch)

COMPETITIVE EDGE: Trying to beat your own record? A metallic face with dials that clock fractions of a second, plus oversize knobs and stopwatch buttons, makes tracking time a pleasure. And the wide leather strap is extra-sturdy. Zodiac Women's Chronograph ($350, zodiacwatches.com)

“Ooh! Pick me! Pick me!”

Ah, the traumas of gym class. The humiliation of being the last one standing.

Maybe it wasn’t about your weak athletic skills. Maybe it was your uninspiring sneakers. If only you’d been able to get the hippest most sought after original pair.

Make up for that unhappy childhood (hey, every little bit helps) by choosing a unique custom made shoe from PUMA. Now that PUMA and W hotels have teamed up to launch a Mongolian shoe barbeque, you can do just that. Inspired by the tradition of creating personalized meals from a variety of ingredients, Puma's collection for W Hotels enables guests to become involved in the art of shoemaking; you can pick from a wide assortment of pre-cut materials (in the privacy of your own room) to design your own individualized pair of shoes and have them delivered right to your home.

Now no one can ever walk in your unique shoes. And you’ll never be the last one standing.

Can't make it to W ? I feel your but pain, but now you too can get your hands on these special shoes at Mongolianshoebbq.puma.com.

Source: [StyleDash]
Related Post: [Puma's Train Away Kit]

Hugging is healthy. It helps the immune system, cures depression, reduces stress and induces sleep. It's invigorating, rejuvenating, and has no unpleasant side effects. Hugging is nothing less than a miracle drug.

Not receiving enough hugs? You might want to try a virtual embrace.

The Hug Shirt, a high-tech garment that simulates the experience of being embraced by a loved one was recently named by Time Magazine as one of the top inventions of 2006.

When a friend sends you a virtual hug, your cell phone notifies the shirt wirelessly, via Bluetooth and then the next thing you know is that the shirt re-creates that person's distinctive cuddle, replicating his or her warmth, pressure, duration and even heartbeat. And, yes, the Hug Shirt is fully washable.

Availability: Not yet for sale.
To learn more visit cutecircuit.com

What I really want to know: Do they make this in pants?

Underwear. Can’t live without them. And if you do, frankly, we don’t want to know about it. There are just certain fashion faux pas that are never acceptable: deodorant stains, nude panty hose, and going commando.(Well -- maybe there are times -- but again, that's a secret you need to keep to yourself.)

But by following that rule, there’s one fashion don’t that you can't stop avoiding: Visible Panty Lines.

Enter: C-String Invisible Underwear -- just when you thought you've seen it all -- these babies were made to wear with outfits that might show a panty line, or even as swimwear so that you don’t get tan lines across your ass.

In theory that may sound great, but truthfully I don't think you'll catch me or any other sane woman wearing this wanna be headband to the beach or in the bedroom for that matter! However, with that said, it might actually make a good item for the tanning booth (and that's as far as I go with that.)

To learn more, watch a video about the C-String.

NBA star challenges the industry with a $15 sneaker.

Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury skipped the typical endorsement deals and teamed up with retailer Steve & Barry's to promote his "Starbury" basketball sneakers. What makes them so special isn't as much the design or even the name attached to the shoe, but Marbury's idea to sell them for $14.98. And far from just a product endorsement, Marbury is putting his money where his feet are. In addition to waiving endorsement fees and only receiving a percentage of actual sales, Marbury has also worn the shoes on the court since the start of the 2006 NBA season, and both the shoe- and Marbury- have held their own against a shoe ten times its price.

Source: Best Damn Sports Blog

If the seasons held a popularity contest, spring would win hands down and today marks the first day of spring. The blooms, the skip in your step, the thoughts of spring break, blah blah blah.

But it’s not all fun, games and cherry blossoms.

Take that moment you first glimpse at yourself in the mirror and realize with horror that you simply don’t have the muscle tone — or skin tone — for any of it. Basically spring break (and summer) poses a slew of fashion dilemmas for guys, so here are a few tips to help you avoid those so-scary warm-weather faux pas.

Sure, if you're an Adonis, you can opt for a snug Speedo. But for most guys, board short styles are a better swimwear solution. They're pretty foolproof: loose enough to draw attention away from the extra pounds, but with enough coverage to mask chicken legs! My favorite designer is Vilebrequin. They have the best 'father and son' collection. And, another favorite of mine is Vineyard Vines.

Oh, by the way, for you men who need even more help...Sandals are a good warm weather footwear option, but it is never okay to wear them with socks. Pair your shorts or swimwear with flip-flops, sneakers and ankle socks (no kneesocks, please), or loafers with no socks. For some reason, I feel I need to repeat this. No socks with sandals, it's not a pretty sight!

To prove my point, please visit this very funny website I found dedicated to the subject. Sandals & Socks. -- It's a hoot.