Gotta Problem with Gossip Girl? Uh, Yeah....

So I'm a newbie to watching Gossip Girl, and the recent plot twist on la G.G. irked moi.

All these straight guys and girls have been outing gay guys on latest episodes. What the hell? Not only is this not cool, it's also an incredibly dangerous activity when you're in high school. Especially in less tolerant parts.

Don't get me wrong. Gay men are very squeezable and huggable. But in areas that are less tolerant and open-minded, especially when there are angry adolescent boys who often have both violent and homophobic tendencies, outing someone could place this most wonderful gay person in a really unsafe situation.

Even in Manhattan, and I know the show has gay writers, homosexual folks are attacked on the streets for their personal choices. It's okay to come out of the closet. It is. But every gay man should decide for himself and gauge carefully whether they are in a situation where it's safe to be out in the open.

Recently, a young gay teenager was killed after expressing a crush on another male classmate. Also, a queer female friend once got a glass bottle thrown at her for kissing a girl in high school.

Because of these kind of situations, it's really messed up for straight teens to out gay peers. One person's decision to come out of the closet shouldn't be made by anyone else.

Pls fwd to Gossip Girl: so not LOL.

Happy Birthday To Me

Dear amigas,

I guess I took a vow of silence on beauty product commenting/verb-ation/chatter for the weeks preceding my birthday, but that was kinda a mistake. Now that I'm "72" backwards, I feel like I need to make up (ouch, bad pun) for all the lost time with even more frolicsome activities and scandalous times. Why should all the people on Gossip Girl get all the fun?

Thank goodness for rhetorical questions that I can answer. They don't!

My latest obsession isn't lipstick, but surfing. Any trend that spurs the mass production of bikinis, keeps you glued permanently to the beach, and incites all manner of fun kookiness--i.e., Brian Wilson, helloooo--is my kind of sport.

Also, girls shred at surfing. Girls are always the best.

But what about you landlocked ladies? I'm thinking of you too. And well, this is one step in the right direction. Philosophy has unleashed a special Surfer Girl set. The scent of tropical papaya, kiwi and sugar cane moisturizer helps everyone feel beachy keen, even in Kansas.




I'm also way psyched about the new limited Christopher Kane-designed Lancome Juicy Tubes lip glosses. That was a mouthful, but these tend to land lightly on the lips.




Buy it: Surfer Girl Set by Philosophy ($35) and Juicy Tubes Lip Gloss ($18) by Lancome, Sephora.

Pick of the Day: MyChelle Fabulous Eye Cream

MyChelle Fabulous Eye Cream is like the double-stuffed Oreo of protective eye treatments. To moisturize, this potion has shea butter, and olive and almond oil. On the soothing side, the cream has chamomile and cucumber, aloe and lavender oil.

When I picked it up at Whole Foods, women were swooping in like vultures to get their MyChelle eye cream bottles, but I escaped intact.

TIP: When applying eye cream, gently dab it on, taking care not to stretch the skin under your eyes. The skin under your eyes is very sensitive and doesn't like to be tugged.

$800 Manolo Blahnik Shoes I Want

I feel a bit dumb whenever I want $800 shoes, but these are actually just $805, which is causing my brain to rapidly melt. Before all sense disappears, these are so--hot--pink. And beautiful.



Also, my friend offered me a spot of her Cargo lip gloss today when I realized I was sans lipstick. After dipping my finger into the second lightest pink shade in the Oceania lip gloss quad, my smile nearly swam away. Love it!



Buy it: Manolo Blahnik Satin Ankle Strap Sandle ($805), Bergdorf Goodman; Cargo Lip Quad in Oceania ($24), Sephora.

60 Seconds to Chic

Encyclopedia Britannica of Wonderfulness: Simon Doonan's Gotta New Book

Simon's book release party hosted by Elle has coincided with a swirl of rumors that Nina Garcia has ceased to be the fashion director of the magazine. We'll keep you posted.

In the meantime, click here for an excerpt of Doonan's blithe tome. I think he is encouraging us girlies to dress like Pat Benatar, Simone de Beauvoir or Annie Lenox! The book is very refreshing for its anti-plastic surgery/Botox message:

"Many of your peers have opted—with the help of liposuction, collagen, and a great deal of sass—for the Eva route. As a result, they now resemble a bunch of aging Bratz dolls. That boobs 'n' bleach 'n' Botox makeover is standard for any woman seeking to reinvent herself.

Call me crazy, but I believe that there might just be more to being a woman than prancing around dressed up like a Stepford blow-up doll."

Marimekko H & M Rhymes With Swinging Toes and Bouncing Hems

Dilemma! Blog about Marimekko at H & M or buy Marimekko at H & M? The new line was just released today! To all girls with a day job, it's only 1 hour and 40 minutes away from 5:00 in New York--that is, if you ever get out your office that soon.

I read that the collection is not flying off the shelf today like, uh, Lagerfeld for H & M.
It is really cute though and multicolored. I'm a believer in retail therapy, and these bubbly items definitely seem like a week-long vacation you can wear.

See below for suggested makeup and beauty products to wear with these items (Shu Uemera's sparkly lipstick trio, Escada Beaute Sunset Heat eau de toilette with hints of coconut, Pop Beauty Cheeky Cake for a hit of sun-kissed bronze).




Photos: H & M.