All I want for Valentine's Day is...Barbie?

Every Christmas, my mother-in-law gives my daughter a holiday Barbie. We keep them in the box to remain in "collector" condition and place them on the shelves around her room like museum pieces. She wants to rip them open and play but we never allow it.

Now, with the release of the Barbie Basics Collection, I can barely suppress the urge to rip open Barbie boxes myself. The collection features 12 different Barbies, each in a different, stylish, little black dress. There are also four accessories kits so you dress up your Barbie in uber fashionable looks. The kits feature belts, heels, boots, magazines, laptops, scarves, sunglasses, and jewelry. Everything a Barbie Diva could want. Each doll is $19.95 and each accessories kit is $14.95.

That is just the tip of the iceberg. Twelve members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America have teamed up with Mattel to create special editions of these stylish Barbie dolls. The special editions will be auctioned off on ebay starting January 28th and ending February 7th. Bids start at $100. Proceeds from the sales benefit CFDA’s educational initiatives and scholarship program. Check out some of the designer dolls to be auctioned on ebay above.

So honey, sweetheart, lover, if you are reading this, all I want for Valentine's day is a CFDA designer Barbie doll from Ebay or all of the Barbie Basics dolls and accessories kits and I promise I won't ask for anything else ever, ever again! If not, I guess I'll settle for jewelry.

Fashion Inspiration: The Book of Eli

I went to see The Book of Eli recently. While I was a little disappointed in the movie, I couldn't help but be mesmerized by Denzel. Ok ladies; get your minds out of the gutter. I know Denzel has major swag and we've been in love with those lips since Mo' Better Blues, but that's not what I meant. Sure, Denzel is a nice piece of chocolate eye-candy, but my eyes were fixed on that jacket.

That old, green, worn, dusty jacket. It seemed to carry him through his day, no matter what the challenges. A constant companion, protecting him from the heat, shielding him from the dry winds, moving with him while he lops off hands and beats up bad guys, this jacket did it all. I had to have it. Sure, none of us have that eventful of a day, but this jacket is stylish, functional, and perfect for casual wear. It is ideal for picking up the kids, playing games, hitting the store, or running errands.

Get your own Book of Eli jacket from Ann Taylor Loft for $98. For a more feminine look, this Long Ripstop Anorak has an inset waistband with interior drawstring and button tabs for cuffing or scrunching the sleeves.

Jean Paul Gaultier and Zac Posen are coming to Target

Mark your calendars: Jean Paul Gaultier and Zac Posen are coming to Target!

Zac Posen’s collection for Target Go International is full of fun, flirty frocks and coordinating pieces. A decidedly more cohesive offering than Gaultier, the Posen Go International collection has a formal wear aspect including a floor-length gown, two-piece ruffle dress, and a tuxedo, but far less formal than the one Posen designed for Target Australia in 2008. Prices for the Go International line usually range from $14.99 to $149.99. The Posen Go International collection will be available April 25th. The timing couldn’t be more perfect as Posen’s Z Spoke line, exclusively for Saks Fifth Ave will launch this spring. View the Posen lookbook at Fashionista.com.

Jean Paul Gaultier is the newest addition to Target’s Designer Collaboration, which focuses on more established designers like Alexander McQueen and Anna Sui. Gaultier’s collaborative collection with Target offers a variety of styles, ranging from prim and proper dresses to bad-girl tattooed leggings and leather jackets. While the collection has little cohesiveness, it does have something for everyone. Many designers are moving away from the hard looks seen in recent seasons to softer, more feminine styles. The Gaultier collection shows the entire spectrum. While I am a fan of most of the outerwear in this collection, the must-have item is the trench coat. An essential item for any wardrobe, the Gaultier trench has a relaxed style with dark, contrast buttons (like Burberry and Christian Dior) and stripes for $59.99. The Gaultier collection will be available March 7th.

Essential item:The trench coat

The trench is an essential item in any fashionable wardrobe. Created by Burberry for the WWI soldiers hammered by bad weather in the trenches, the trench for 2010 has been cut, cropped, and clipped to fit every lifestyle. I absolutely love this Christian Dior trench. It is as stylish as the classic versions but is a jacket length. The dark buttons add contrast. There are so many great trenches being offered in Spring 2010. Click here to view.