A weighty matter

This week's Vogue's 10 best dressed list features a gorgeous Amanda Brooks, Diane Kruger and Thandie Newton, and, unfortunately, a dour Keira Knightley. For such a beautiful girl, Knightley has to put a lot of effort into looking bad, which is what she appears to be doing. She is, without a doubt, too thin, and her heavy black eyeliner and too-dark hair only emphasize how unhealthy she looks. How could someone who soared to fame playing a swashbuckling heroine look so frail and fragile just a few years later?

Fashion faux pas

GOOD GRAVY: In watching the Monday night reviews of Emmy fashion, I heard over and over that Ellen Pompeo's hair was too "editorial" for the red carpet. On "America's Next Top Model" the skinny, awkward girl is often referred to as very "editorial." I wish that people would say what they really mean, which is "not pleasing to the eye." Editorial does not necessarily mean beyond comprehension and unbelievably ugly, so it's really not fair to refer to things as being editorial when what's really meant is fit for no living creature. Which, in essence, is what Ellen Pompeo's hair was. But she wasn't the only one subject to the whims of a sadistic stylist. Her fellow Grey's Anatomy cast members (past and present) didn't fare much better. Kate Walsh appeared to have had her hair styled with her head out the limo window, Katherine Heigl looked matronly and Sandra Oh looked like she'd been stuffed into that dress against her will. She looked dour and depressed, which maybe had something to do with the fact that she was wearing wool in 100 degree weather.

File under huh?

Rachel Zoe was the subject of a lengthy profile in "The New York Times" magazine this week. The stylist talked about her new collaboration with Georgina Chapman to revive Halston, and talked about the bevy of starlets she dresses. She also made one of the most ridiculous statements probably ever made in the magazine. In the middle of the interview, she changed her sunglasses, saying that as the light changes, sunglasses need to change. She really is a designer's dream, pushing conspicuous consumption beyond all reason.

Red carpet style

SMALL SCREEN STYLE: Award shows are good for only one thing really: The fashion. Everyone knows the winners aren't any better than the losers, just better connected. In that spirit, this page appeared in The Examiner on Jan. 31, 2006. Charlize Theron shined brightest that year, along with Portia de Rossi. They had more in common than good style though, both appeared in the dearly departed "Arrested Development." I guess fabulous fashion only goes so far.

Bon voyage

Rest is good for the soul, and visiting foreign places is good for the closet. So I'm off to do both. Back in two weeks!

Vital, vanished

The recent seismic staff shifts at Elle magazine resulted in Joe Zee being named creative director of the magazine, replacing Gilles Bensimon. Elle definitely needed an update, and the news reminded us of Vitals, the folded magazine that Joe Zee last helmed. If you haven't checked out Vitals, try to get your hands on an issue. The magazine's design was beautifully executed; Vanity Fair's departments section was recently updated and looks similar to many of the pages in Vitals. The extinct magazine was an interesting blend of culture and fashion, and strived to be more literate than it's shopping counterpart, Lucky. Alas, publishing is a tough business.

Gwynnie in a mini

This week's Vogue's 10 best dressed list had an ecclectic mix. We loved seeing '90s standbys Kirsty Hume, Amber Valletta and Christy Turlington, and the requisite Katie Holmes selection was one of the best looks we've seen her in. She's wearing a gorgeous trench in Paris, with Suri in arms. But Gwyneth Paltrow looked awful! She's photographed in a sack of a Stella McCartney dress looking as if she did her hair in the car on the way to the event. What's going on Gwyneth? Recently she's looked more glum than glam, with her long, straight, center-parted hair and poor dress choices. Gwyenth, come back, we miss you!

These boots are made for (elephant) walking

This photo from a recent issue of Vogue has garnered a lot of negative attention. Although it's beautifully shot, there is something obscenely extravagant about the Louis Vuitton blanket on the elephant. But what's neither obscene nor extravagant are the boots Keira Knightley is wearing. They're perfect with her outfit, and work with dresses, skirts and jeans. Frye makes the best boots, and their low harness styles are only $188 at www.fryeboots.com.

Pump up the volume

CNN did a segment a couple of weeks ago where they interviewed postal carriers about the weighty issue of the day: the size of the September issue of Vogue. While carting the issue from room to room in my house as I read it, I wondered what the equivalent weight would be. A pineapple? Three apples? A gallon of soda? The answer: A brick. An informal test in my garage revealed the two to weigh the same. Volume is indeed still in.