out with the old...

I'm a huge fan of Target's Go International capsule collections. Because of Target, my closet is loaded with clothing designed by Alice Temperley, Proenza Schouler and Luella Bartley, labels I couldn't otherwise afford.

After this spring's successful collaboration with Jovovich-Hawk, Target launched its first Go International Private Collection, a line of fresh, stylish looks designed in-house. With its bright, colorblock dresses and clean, tailored blouses, the collection is flirty and modern. After spending far too long in the dressing room, I settled on a pair of black, high-waisted trousers and a royal blue, ruffle-front blouse, both of which immediately worked their way into my work wardrobe.

Perhaps the best part of the Go International collections is making room for the next line. Rogan Gregory's eco-friendly collection launches on May 18, so the Private Collection has been marked down to speed up turnover. I snagged the black tunic dress and the paperbag waist skirt for 30% off. Log on to Target to peruse the merchandise while it's still in stock.

woman on top

Last night, the gorgeous Whitney Thompson became the first plus-sized competitor to win America's Next Top Model. I use the term "plus-sized" loosely, as Whitney's a size 10, and traditionally plus sizes don't begin until size 14. Nonetheless, it's lovely to see a young lady with curves rewarded in an industry that encourages grown women to starve themselves to pre-adolescent proportions. Four Four posted an interesting rumor that pegs Whitney as a plant, and considering some of the past winners (ahem, Saleisha), I wouldn't be surprised. I don't think anyone thinks of ANTM as being totally on the level. Still, no matter how Whitney's victory transpired, her win is a reminder that beauty does not conform to one unattainable standard.

I was rooting for Anya Kop, mostly because she reminds me of Luna Lovegood (bleach blonde hair, sweet and spacey demeanor). Although the Russian-born beauty from Hawaii has one of the most bizarre accents I've ever heard, she consistently won challenges and produced amazing photographs. She may have stumbled in the finale, but I wouldn't be surprised if Anya has the most successful post-ANTM career of anyone in this cycle.

images: The CW

drugstore bronze

I don't really tan. I burn, peel and then return to my natural pale state. And since we all seem to want what we can't have, I'm always looking for artificial ways to transform my consumption victim pallor into a healthy summer glow. There are a lot of beautiful, expensive bronzers on the market, but I've had fantastic luck with Physicians Formula. My powder of choice is their Baked Bronzer Bronzing & Shimmery Face Powder, though the line has loads of bronzers to choose from. Baked Bronzer delivers great color, but be careful of going overboard with the shimmer. Just a little of this product goes a long way, making it even more worth the $11.95 price tag.

my fantasy wedding dress

Oscar de la Renta Resort '09

image: style.com

a trade not to be missed

Yesterday marked the release of the trade paperback No Future For You, the Faith-centric arc of Buffy Season 8. Written by the phenomenal Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina, Lost), the four-part story further explores Faith's complexity as a character, particularly her resentment of Buffy and her desire for love and acceptance.

Giles recruits Faith to assassinate Lady Genevieve, a fellow slayer who has gone rogue with no chance of rehabilitation. In order to infiltrate Genevieve's home, Faith must pass for an English aristocrat (cue a My Fair Lady sequence, in which Giles teaches Faith etiquette). As Faith better understands the relationship between Genevieve and her trainer, she is forced to recall her relationship with the Mayor, a manipulative villain obsessed with demonic ascension, who nonetheless loved her like a daughter.

As usual, the art is top notch. Jo Chen delivers another fantastic cover, while series artist Georges Jeanty continues his tradition of dynamic visual storytelling. Joss Whedon, who is executive producer of the series, will return as a writer for the final arc.

an all-time favorite

In honor of the Cannes Film Festival, I'm sharing one of my favorite looks ever worn on the Cannes red carpet. For the premiere of Marie Antoinette, Kirstin Dunst wore a demure, periwinkle gown from the Rochas 2006 Ready-to-Wear Collection. This was the last collection Rochas released before the house closed (fortunately, head designer Olivier Theyskens quickly found a home at Nina Ricci). This gown was a swan song for Rochas, and Kirstin looked every bit the queen.

image: style.com

i want to wear this every day

Christian Dior Resort '09

image: style.com

an ood to call my own

Last SciFi Friday was particularly painful. In addition to the searing vision of a post-apocolyptic humanity that is Battlestar Galactica, Doctor Who had me tearing up multiple times. Granted, my emotional reaction could be attributed to the jumbo bottle of shiraz that I was halfway through, but still. I was moved.

The episode is set on Hoth, er, the Planet of the Ood, where the Ood are bred to live as slaves. They are groomed and lobotomized into docile servants, so that they can be sold to wealthy families across the galaxy. Their human captors justify their actions by rationalizing that the Oods' physical inability to communicate verbally signifies their sub-human intelligence.

The few remaining un-lobotomized Ood are kept in their original state for breeding purposes. The species communicates through psychic singing, and the song of the captive Ood is truly heartbreaking. Born with their brains in their hands, the Ood's anatomy predisposes them to be trusting and kind. They are easy victims for the humans who imprison them.

The Doctor and Donna stumble upon an escaped Ood, dying in the snow. Before its death, the creature becomes red-eyed and rabid. This infection spreads rapidly among the Ood, culminating in a violent revolution at the corporate headquarters of evil-doing. Although the episode was far from perfect (the ending was tied up in a pretty convenient bow), I found the plight of the Ood extremely moving.

I wasn't sure if anything could lift my spirits after that heartbreaking hour of television, but io9 came to my rescue. The answer to all my troubles is an adorable Ood knit plush. Unfortunately, the evil BBC has forced the knitting pattern to be taken off the internet. Didn't you watch the episode, BBC? Free the Ood!

A letter writing campaign is currently underway to release the pattern. Whether you're interested in knitting an Ood or just believe in freedom for all alien plushes, send a complaint to the BBC.

green roses and yellow butterflies

Milliner Philip Treacy worked for two days straight to have this hat ready for the Sex and the City movie premiere in London. Alexander McQueen provided Treacey with peacock feathers to exactly match the trim of Sarah Jessica Parker's dress. Isabella Blow would've been so proud. Sniff.

welcome to the dollhouse

Oh, Eliza Dushku. I cannot describe the frustration I felt when rumors surfaced that you turned down Joss Whedon's offer of a Buffy spin-off, so that you could star in the ill-advised Tru Calling. Fortunately, things are looking up for our favorite slayer, as she'll be starring in Whedon's new FOX series, Dollhouse.

Dushku will play Echo, a resident of a mysterious facility that houses operatives whose brains are programmed for specific missions. The operatives' identities have been erased, creating blank slates to imprint different personalities for different assignments. These assignments range from covert missions to sexual escapades, and in each case, the "dolls" are programmed with the skills, memories and languages necessary for the task. After each mission, their minds are wiped clean and they return to their childlike, amnesiac state.

Untarnished by memory, the dolls live together in the Dollhouse, unaware of their past experiences and without formed identities. As the operation is highly illegal, secrecy is paramount. In an unexpected twist of evolution, Echo begins to build a resistance to the mind-wipe procedure. As her self-awareness develops, Echo becomes an increasing liability to the Dollhouse.

Joining Dushku is our favorite toaster lover, Tahmoh Penikett, who plays Helo on Battlestar Galactica. Penikett will play Paul Smith, an FBI agent obsessed with uncovering the program. The lovely Olivia Williams will play the ruthless Adelle, who heads up the Dollhouse operation. Rounding out the cast is Whedon veteran Amy Acker as Dr. Claire Saunders, one of the dolls' caretakers.

Dollhouse's dystopic universe will play with the concepts of identity and self-awareness, exploring free will as a blessing and a curse. Whedon describes the series as "The Bourne Identity meets Stepford Wives meets boarding school meets Los Angeles neo-noir meets the Whedonverse." FOX has picked up the series for midseason, so Dollhouse should arrive on the small screen in January 2009.