Sure, my piles of Sevens, Joes, and Citizens threaten to bury me (and eventually suffocate me in a freak denim-related accident) every time I open the closet door. I'm willing to take that risk for a few new blues this season. I like to live on the edge.

Fellow fashionistas who, like moi, can't ever get enough straights and flares should probably head to Madewell's "Denim After Dark" event this Thursday at the Natick Mall, er, Collection. From 7- 9 p.m., there will be free style and fit consultations, snacks, and hemming (short gals rejoice!). And, bonus: All jeans will be $25 off. Call 508-653-0175 for more details.

Oh, I kid... sort of. Tonight at the Natick Mall Collection, a personal shopper from Lucky will be at the Michael Kors store to help customers put together looks. Shoppers can then be photographed in those looks for the web site Lucky Style Spotter. I know, it sounds a bit complicated, but cocktails will be served, so I'm sure that will help clarify the situation. This party takes place between 6 and 8 p.m. and it's free. I recommend going to the party before dining at the Cheesecake Factory, that way you won't smell of avacado egg rolls and Snickers cheesecake when you're trying clothes on.

Shu Uemura, the Japanese-based skincare and make-up shop on Newbury Street, is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its first Tokyo boutique this month by giving out free lashes (I'm including the photo of Twiggy here as inspiration for your lash job). Every Thursday, from June 19 to July 31, swing by for your complimentary lashes and lash application from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Book your appointment at 617-247-3500.

And, I'm feeling generous for a giveaway! As part of their 25th anniversary celebration, Shu Uemura has created limited edition eye shadows, and I'm giving them away. All you need to do is e-mail me (the link is on the right of this page) the name of one of Shu Uemura's celebrity clients, past or present, and the eye shadows are yours.

UPDATE: We have a winner! Alexandra Trexler correctly named Marilyn Monroe as one of his celebrity clients and wins the eye shadow. Enjoy, darling.

You've no doubt read today's story on throwing the perfect holiday cocktail party (if you haven't read it yet, for shame!), but you're scratching your head about a couple of things.

First, the Belle de Jour cocktail from Eastern Standard calls for homemade grenadine, and you have no idea how to make it. Panic no more, here's the recipe:

Homemade grenadine
2 parts pomegranate juice (you can juice your own pomegranates but your kitchen
will look like a crime scene.)
1 part sugar

Bring to a boil then reduce and simmer to thicken slightly. Remove from heat and finish with just a touch (cap
full) of orange blossom water. Let cool and refrigerate. It will keep for several weeks.

If you're a true Martha and you want to know how to make the spun sugar stirrer for the Jacob Marley cocktail from L'Espalier, the recipe is as follows:

Sugar straw
1 kg sugar
600 g water
150 g glucose

Boil the sugar, water, and glucose together until it reaches 160 degree on a candy thermometer. Pour the sugar liquid onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
Cool and pull the sugar into the shape of a candy straw.

And.. because it's almost the holiday season and I'm feeling extra charitable, here's another holiday drink recipe from District's Kevin Durgin.

Mistle Toe Martini
1 1/4 oz vodka
3 fresh strawberries
2 oz pineapple juice
1 oz simple syrup
Splash 7-Up
Mint sprig for garnish

In a blender, whip together ingredients. Pour mix into shaker with ice. Strain into martini glass and garnish with mint.

Vessel, one of my favorite home stores in Boston, is hosting a pre-holiday shopping event this Thursday night. I know, it's not even Thanksgiving yet. But party shoppers will get 10 percent off everything in the store. So stop complaining. The event is from 6 to 9 p.m. And if you're looking to buy a gift for your favorite Stylephiler while you're there, my shirt size is small and I love the Sukie pillows.

Two of my favorite South End stores, Motley and Motley Home, are having a big party on Thursday. Oct. 11, from 7 to 10 p.m. Sip cocktails from Chambord and shop away, kids. Everything in both stores is 25 percent off during the party, including Motley Home's selection of Jonathan Adler ceramics.

Here we go again. Has Ben Affleck's neck gotten too big for a tie? Because B.fleck won't wear one to save his life. Not even to the premiere of his own movie. Apparently, he's trained his little brother to stay away from ties as well. Here are the Brothers Affleck at the premiere of "Gone Baby Gone" last night. Listen gents, this is a Hollywood premiere. If you're going to take the trouble to wear a suit, take five more minutes out of your day and throw on a tie.

On the off-chance you have been summering in caves along the Afganistan/Pakistan border and missed the news, Nordstrom opens next week at the Natick Mall Natick Collection. There are several fancy, VIP galas happening next week. If your invatation to these events was lost in the mail (my sympathies), there's one event open to all taking place in the parking lot -- a cosmetics tailgate party.

On Thursday, Sept. 6 from 8 to 10 a.m., Nordstrom beauty consultants will hand out free goodies, offer-up parking lot make-overs, and serve breakfast. It leads up to the store's opening at 10 a.m.

It looks like Marilu Henner ended up at the wrong party last night. Here she is at the Broadway premiere of "Grease." Clearly, she was planning to go to the ABC celebrity impersonation show "The Next Best Thing." She's dressed up as Lucille Ball, yes? I say give that lady the prize money! She can split it with Tony Danza.

On Tuesday night I stopped by the Nordstrom pre-opening party in Downtown Crossing. This was a soiree intended to get Boston fashionistas excited about the arrival of Nordstrom at the Natick Mall, um, Collection. I got to chat with Pete Nordstrom and eat cheesecake on a stick -- but not at the same time, of course.

I was most excited, however, to sit down and chat with Vogue editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley. He was there with two assistants from Vogue who helped keep his rabid fans in check.. including me.

I had an opportunity to sit with Talley for an extended period of time and ask about all kinds of things, but mostly about the Judy Jetson-esque bolero jacket that he helped Jennifer Hudson pick for the Oscars earlier this year.

(the conversation picks up where it ends in today's Style Spy)

Last night I went to a party at Bodega to celebrate the launch of Reebok's R.F. Collection, a limited line of five classic Reebok models, with each sneaker corelating to a card in a royal flush. You know Kenny Rogers is totally jonsing for these kicks.

I was interviewing people at the block party about what they were wearing. To record interviews, I attatch a microphone to the bottom of my iPod. Someone spotted my iPod, elongated by the mic, and nearly went crazy thinking I was carrying around an iPhone. "Bro! Can I see you're iPhone?" someone shouted. In two seconds I was surrounded. I became much less popular when I explained that, like everyone else on the planet, I was waiting until next week for an iPhone.