Bull Citizens who need a comback when denizens of our neighbor to the south disparage our town need to check out GQ magazine's rankings of the US' least-fashionable cities, particularly #34.

Here's a little of what GQ writer Andrew Richdale has to say about gentlemen of Raleigh:

"It's a great city to swoop in for the kill at happy hour. Girls in these bars have never seen a tailored anything, so it's easy to turn a head."

(With the bottom 36 posted at GQ's web site, Durham ((ahem!)) hasn't rated a mention.)

Have a look at http://gqm.ag/qEMo9P. Comments welcomed.

Some may dismiss the solar bikini as only slightly more useful than an inflatable dartboard, but it will cover your bare assets as far as charging portable devices.

The solar bikini is made to charge small gadgets like a mobile phone or MP3 player via a USB port.

Check out this 50 second stop motion animation by our own talented Juli Leonard. Juli used over 500 images to create the prelude to spring fashion coverage coming March 17.
 

I've written the 50th Grammar Guide quiz. This one is based on words we often see used incorrectly in fashion and home decor stories. They are common words that are easily mistyped and overlooked. As usual, I have written an explanation for each answer so you will get feedback as you check your answers. The explanations are the same whether you answered correctly or not.

Click here or on the question mark icon to begin. Have fun and post a comment below if you wish.

Sony has launched a designer line of T-shirts sold under the Archive 1887 brand. Their design is comprised of original artwork, photos, and other elements.

This past weekend's Earth Day celebration in downtown Raleigh was a chance to discover some home-grown businesses that are making a difference.

One in particular that looked popular with the crowd was a tent with fashions highlighting Redress Raleigh and Revamp. Redress Raleigh is an annual ecologically friendly fashion show. (It was last weekend as well, but find out more about it here.) Revamp is one of the show's co-producers.

The idea behind Revamp is to re-fashion old clothes so they're stylish now. Her stock includes clothes, jewelry and other accessories.

Revamp is the brainchild of designer Julie Powell, who sells her clothes to vintage stores through her wholesale company, American Vintage Clothing & Classics. We've written about Powell's efforts in the newspaper. See the article here.

There are many other groups and businesses with equal eco-friendly efforts out there. Share your finds.

Trends, guides, sales, sources and more.

Brooks Brothers announced this week that they are introducing a Limited "Mad Men" Edition suit designed by Janie Bryant, the Emmy Award-winning costume director connected to AMC's hit drama. The "Mad Men" suit is inspired by the suits worn on the show by characters Don Draper and Roger Sterling (left), but with a slightly more updated look (and price tag -- the suits will retail for $998).

The Fayetteville Observer wrote a nice article on Tuesday about the suit's launch which connects Brooks Brothers and "Mad Men" back to a tiny town in eastern North Carolina where a Brooks Brothers shirt factory is located. (I happen to know a little bit about this town -- Garland, N.C. population 808 -- and the Garland Shirt Factory which makes those Brooks Brothers shirts. I grew up there, and my grandmother worked as a seamstress in that factory in the 1960s and early 1970s). 

The Fayetteville article gives some nice background on the factory, and indicates that the actors on "Mad Men" wear shirts which are made there. They also reported that the factory makes custom shirts for famous people such as . . .

A softer spirit for spring

With so many styles to choose, you're sure to find the shoe that fits