BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 25: Fashion critic Mr. Blackwell attends the 17th Annual Night Of 100 Stars Oscar Gala held at the Beverly Hills Hotel on February 25, 2007 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Chad Buchanan/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mr. Blackwell

If it wasn't for Mr. Blackwell, known world-wide for his annual celebrity best and worst dressed list, I probably wouldn't have a job.

Mr. Blackwell, his first name was Richard, died Sunday afternoon after complications from an intestinal infection. He was 86. Mr. Blackwell released his first list of fashion disasters in 1960. Up until then, he was a little known dress designer.  Blackwell annually ripped into celebrities for committing fashion flops. His list was met with much fanfare. Nobody was safe, not even Princess Diana of Wales, who topped his worst-dressed list in 1982. According to Mr. Blackwell, Princess Diana had gone from “a very young, independent, fresh look” to a “tacky, dowdy” style.  Some of of his other famous zingers include:

Barbra Streisand: “She looks like a masculine Bride of Frankenstein.”

Christina Aguilera: “A dazzling singer who puts good taste through the wardrobe wringer.”

Meryl Streep: “She looks like a gypsy abandoned by a caravan.”

Sharon Stone:  “An over-the-hill Cruella DeVille.”

Britney Spears: “Her bra-topped collection of Madonna rejects are pure fashion overkill.”

Eventually fashion critiques would be key in print and television media and nowadays, everybody is a fashion critic, but Mr. Blackwell was first for doing it with such flare and attitude. What were your favorite Blackwell lines?  Will you miss his annual list?

Photo courtesy of Getty Images. This is the look we are going for! We love Janet in this high-waisted midi-length pencil skirt.

This is it! This is the look I was talking about. Last week I wrote I blogged about fall fashion and bigged up the midi pencil skirt. I also wrote a Mirror Image column last month hailing it. The midi pencil skirt's hem length varies from  just below the knee to mid calf. Many of you wrote back asking, how can curvy women wear that look? You said it was only for thin women! You all got mad! Well, look at Ms. Jackson!  She looks marvelous. She is definitely not a beanpole and this totally works on her. This is what I was talking about. OK, I'm off my style soapbox. In other news, we hope Janet is feeling better And, should she give Jermaine Dupri another chance?  More importantly, what do you think about the look?

Are these shoes hot, or do they promote violence?

... And speaking of heels.  These Chanel pistol heels Madonna rocked to Monday night's premiere of her directorial debut Filth and Wisdom, are hot.  I saw them today in the New York Daily News. But the shoes are $2,200. (Do guns even cost that much?) It also looks like the 80s Material Girl is leaving hubbie, Guy Ritchie.  I hope these shoes don't represent how angry she is. Do you think the pistol-heeled shoes promote violence, or are they simply a fashion statement? Or are they both?

Here are two fashion topics of late tied into one, really uncomfortable, but kinda cute shoe: industrial, exposed zippers on teeter tottering high-heeled shoes. Crazy, huh? Let's tackle the heels first. Are six or seven inches just too high and toe- pinching to walk in? And what do you think about exposed zippers? Are they cute on bags, but not on the back of dresses? When does fashion stop being forward and just become plain ridiculous? Share!

This T tickles me, even though I'm a New York Mets fan. (Yeah, I said it.) Local urban design company 2 one 5, is killing it with their latest screen print design.  The limited edition T is available on-line for $25.  Here is a  product description:

After a brief hiatus from the T-shirt game, our brewing disdain for the Dodgers finally got our fingers clicking and the silk screener pumping out these “Phuk LA” shirts as our home team battles towards the World Series. With the Phils grabbing games one and two before dropping a heated game three, it’s time we let the punches fly like only Philly can. Limited run of only 24 shirts (sizes L and XL).

Last night the home team cinched Game 4 with a 7-5 victory thanks to Matt Stairs magestic, two-run pinch hit home run. So you might want to purchase this shirt before Wednesday night's game. The only stylish thing left for me to say is, Go Phillies!

Philadelphia is ranked as one of the best places to shop in November's Lucky Magazine.

Lucky Magazine rated Philadelphia as one of the best places in the country to shop in its November annual Shopping Awards issue. Yes, you shopping elitists, it's true; so the next time you even think about taking the bus north for a shopping spree, think about perusing your own backyard first. But I digress. Our up-and-coming fashion city is in the same company as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston and of course, New York.  The editors at Lucky picked  Petulia's Folly, located at 1710-12 Sansom Street, as one of  best boutiques in the country. Writer, Carrie Denny hailed the store's impressive collection of contemporary designers including : 3.1 Phillip Lim, Hanii Y and Nicholas K. Congratulations!  Are there any Petulia's Folly fans out there?