Along with your comforter, wall hangings and mini fridge, don't forget these beauty essentials that are priced to appeal to even the most cash-strapped student:

Clean skin for Fall Semester '09 will be a breeze with  SensiClear Acne Treatment Kit. The three-step kit will make sure your skin receives more than a passing grade each day. $19.95. www.skincare.com and www.sensiclear.com.

 For those late nights when washing your face isn't an option, grab a Simple face wipe for a quick clean before bed. $5.99. www.duanereade.com

 When you need to take a quick look on the way to class or out with friends, whip out your fashionable Danielle mirror with real Swarovski crystals. $20-$25. www.uppercanadasoap.com and www.amazon.com

Stay comfortable when you're on your feet all day and night with the Killer Kushionz foot insole from www.footpetals.com for $12.95 a pair.

" I was feeling a bit blue the other week and decided to chase away the malaise with a shopping trip. But I had a purpose in mind: to find something bright - a little pretty item that would make me happy. Although shopping for bright clothing is not necessarily a notion
I'm comfortable with. I'm more of a beige-black-gray-navy with touches of red and pink kind of  woman. Yet on that day, color was calling my name.

   I walked into J.Crew at The Grove in Shrewsbury, a favorite of mine for accessories, T-shirts and dresses, hoping to find that certain something. Sure, I initially spied a navy jersey shift and beige shorts, but as I rummaged through sale items, a pair of orange sandals caught my eye. Yes, l'orange - as in DayGlo orange, Colorforms orange, glow-in-the dark orange. This shoe was a crayon color. While I was initially hesitant to try them on, I gave in to the pressure. "Please don't leave me here; we could have fun together,'' my orange girlfriends called out. It's not that I don't get excited about interesting shoes (I'm far from a just-sensible-pumps woman).

   As soon as I slipped into these perkly little sandals, my feet were transformed. And, I felt alive, pretty and ready to salsa dance the night away. When I looked at the price - $19.99 - I nearly shouted for joy. What a bargain! I had scored the most incredible find. This was something to celebrate. For a moment, I thought about e-mailing Michelle Obama (she's a huge J.Crew fan) about my new best friends, but decided instead to take them dancing. Sorry, Michelle. Maybe you should try to stop at The Grove before you leave Monmouth County. I believe J.Crew may have a pair of sandals in your size.''

 Want to learn more about 40 74? Check out  www.4074mag.com

 Talk an "I-wish-it-wasn't-a-You-Tube'' moment.

 While you will probably never find yourself in exact same situation, there has probably been a time (or two) when you should have ended up on the fashion police's most-wanted list: peek-a-boo bra straps, obscenely plunging necklines, floor dragging pant hems, dangling shoe straps and the list goes on and on.

Stop committing those fashion fauz pas with isAStrip.

 Created by the people behind the isABelt line of fashion "fix it'' products, isAStrips are transparent, hypoallergenic, double-stick fashion tape that quickly (and quietly) secures necklines, bra straps, clothing, pant hems, shoe straps and anything else that has the potential to malfunction.

 IsAStrips retails for $7.50 a box (36 strips per box, and available in two sizes). Go to www.isabelt.com for more information.

 But there are times when our feet smell more like a locker room than a bed of roses.

 We don't need to go into the gory details (250,000 sweat glands in the feet alone, producing up to a half a cup of sweat a day).

 Rather we want to focus on the fashionable solution - Summer Soles.   These liners keep feet drier and feeling fresher by absorbing moisture, inhibiting inhibiting bacterial growth and odor. The stick-and-peel liners offer immediate comfort and can be used in heels, sandals, mules and flats. They're also easy to remove, so there's no fear of damaging your Jimmy Choos.

 Available in Ultra Absorbent or Suede Softness textures, the liners are available in Dragon Fly, Flower, City, Leopard and Zebra prints and in solid shades of Rose Pink, Sky Blue, Yellow Gold, Lime, Tan, White, Brown and Black.

 The Summer Soles retail for $8 per pair or three pairs for $21. They're available locally at Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center, 4645 Route 9 North, Howell, or on the Web at www.summersoles.com.

Stylist John Murphy (right) with members of Rascal Flatts, wearing the American Living line, by Ralph Lauren, offered exclusively at JC Penney.

When the country superstar band Rascal Flatts hits the stage tonight at the PNC Bank Arts Center fans will be enjoying the sounds for sure. But they'll also be enjoying the look of the band.

For that, you can thank JC Penney and its American Living brand, its exclusive line produced by Ralph Lauren.

John Murphy, the band's stylist, said the line has been a hit with the guys of Rascal Flatts.

"It's very wearable for the guys. The brand fits as far as having that American kind of personality and feel to it," Murphy said.

Of course, since the band is performing on stage, some of the pieces have been embellished a bit, such as rhinestones added to the shirts, he said.

For JC Penney's part, the tour sponsor relationship has been a win-win situation.  Fans who attend Rascal Flatts concerts see a brief commercial for the chain before the show begins. And, of course, it never hurts to have a band with millions of fans wearing clothes offered exclusively at your store, said spokeswoman Merianne Roth.

"We felt like they were such a great match for the spirit of the American Living brand and what it stood for," Roth said, explaining why the chain chose to work with Rascal Flatts. "Luckily it's been a really easy match to fit the band and their individual styles with the line. "

Manuel works backstage at New York Fashion Week with designers like Hugo Boss, Max Mara and Chris Benz and he can also be found at film festivals, photo shoots and in the homes of VIPs. Notables Manuel has worked on include Minnie Driver, Minka Kelly, Bonnie Sommerville and models such as Sophia Vergara and Adriana Arboleda.

WHAT: Manuel will be providing color trends and personalized make-up looks for guests.

HOW MUCH: There is a $50 reservation fee that is credited to the customers purchase. Reservations are recommended to guarantee appointment.

WHEN/WHERE: Friday, June 26

11:00am-6:00pm

Bon-Ton - Brick Plaza

Brick, NJ

Reservations: (732)262-1942 x234

 Just pair up the LuLu Flop in Navy or the Taylor Wedge in White with one of the great straps made from denim in red, white and blue, and you'll be ready for July 4th fun!

Lulu Flop in Navy

Taylor Wedge in White

  The cost: $35 for LuLu; $39 for Taylor. Straps are $12 each.

Go to www.switchflops.com for more information

So who won?

Here's the list:

Womenswear Designer of the Year
Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte                                        WINNER

Nominees: Marc Jacobs, Narciso Rodriguez

Menswear Designer of the Year
Italo Zucchelli of Calvin Klein Collection      WINNER

Scott Sternberg of Band of Outsiders              WINNER

Nominee:  Michael Bastian

Accessory Designer of the Year
Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler      WINNERS

Nominees: Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang

Swarovski Award for Womenswear
Alexander Wang                  WINNER

Nominees: Jason Wu,Thakoon Panichgul

Swarovski Award for Menswear
Tim Hamilton                                   WINNER

Nominees: Patrik Ervell, Robert Geller

Swarovski Award for Accessory Design

Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewelry                     WINNER

Nominees: Albertus Q. Swanepoel, Alejandro Ingelmo

Other previously announced awards were:

Board of Directors Special Tribute
Michelle Obama

International Award
Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton

Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award
Anna Sui

Eugenia Sheppard Award
Edward Nardoza, editor in chief, Women's Wear Daily

Eleanor Lambert Award
Jim Moore, creative director, GQ

Have you checked out The Gap lately?

It's time for another visit.

Tomorrow, The Gap is launching a new collection created by winners of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)/Vogue Fashion Fund.

The third of the so-called Gap Design Editions is all about khaki. Designers Albertus Swanepoel, Alexander Wang and Vena Cava's Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai have created pieces ranging from jackets and pants to dresses and hats.  Prices range from $39.50 to $88. The collection will be available in flagship and top Gap stores as well as online at gap.com .

D

 GapKids and babyGap announced today that McCartney will design a new children's apparel line that will be available in select GapKids and babyGap stores in the United States, Canada, the UK, France and Ireland, as well as online.

 "For years now I've wanted to create a collection for kids,'' McCartney says."I believe that this one off collaboration will be a great way for customers to be able to participate in the Stella McCartney brand. I believe that kids clothing should be more accessibly priced, which is particularly imporant at the moment given the current climate. It's really exciting for us to do a  boys and girls collection for the first time.''