I appreciate the right for teens and children to have their own fashion voice, but when they start attaching socially retarded mannerisms and ridiculous attitude to it, that’s when I start to draw the line.

It’s bad enough that we had to deal with the whole “I’m-so-tortured” emo look, now we have to deal with the “I’m-so-tortured-and-have-a-bad-attitude” look with this new trend for “Scene Kids.”

Heavy eye makeup, tattered clothing, skinny jeans, Converse shoes, graphic T-shirts, Vans, dark (or blonde) hair, tiaras: all of these are necessities for Scene Kids. Basically, you have to look like Courtney Love during her earlier Hole days. Think emo, except more homeless-chic. This site gives you a full guide in how to be “scene”

I know what you’re thinking: what makes this different from past youth subcultures like beatnik, hippie or even greasers? The difference is that it is just an excuse for the youth to be whiny and complain about their privileged lives.

For a full, in-depth look at this subculture and its harrowing battle with emo kids, read this. It will change your life forever.

…and this time it’s at Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton.

A look from H&M’s Spring/Summer 2008 collection

I was at the mall killing some time on Friday before dinner and I was doing some casual browsing when I saw it: H&M COMING SPRING 2008. The store is going to be on the second floor of the mall right next to JC Penney.

Discount runway-esque fashion is becoming a widespread epidemic in the Bay Area - in a good way of course.

The woes of what bra to wear with a backless dress are over thanks to Elaine Cato and her Breakthrough Backless Bra!

Teaming up with bra denizens, Maidenform, Cato’s invention could possibly be the greatest invention for women everywhere. No more double sided tape, no more self-conscious braless days - just pure support and style with this product that I am so amazed with.

The revolutionary bra is made with silicone on the wire channeling to prevent slippage. The seamless molded foam cups provide a natural shape on the body and are smooth under clothes.

Damn. This makes me want to buy one.

They aren’t available YET, but you can pre-order them for $25 at Maidenform.com.

I am a fan of ties. I wear one as much as possible - at work, in the city, at events, to parties, in the shower, etc. But now, I am starting to see the rising of the ubiquitous of the bow tie - on runways, in magazines, in catalogs - it’s everywhere.

I think I am confident enough to call myself a fashion adventurist, but a bow tie? I am still on the fence about this one. And I am not talking about the kind that is conveniently pre-tied, I am talking about the one you have to tie yourself.

The accessory does have a dapper dandy charm to it, but everytime I see one, I can’t help but think of a barbershop quartet or a senile college professor.

Part of me wants to throw caution to the wind and just wear one, while another part of me thinks that it will be an obsolete trend next month - and I don’t want to invest in something that I am just going to wear once. Plus, tying that thing manual would be hell.

And one more thing, I had this roommate in college who wore a bow tie and he was trying to look fashion forward and cool, but it backfired. He ended up looking like a substitue physics teacher.

Who knows? Maybe I will just take the leap and risk the ridicule.

Bar Stripe Bow Tie, $42.50 at Brooks Brothers

…yes, I actually do.

A couple of nights ago I watched Sydney White starring Amanda Bynes and I actually liked it. It was a fun youth-infused modernization of Snow White. More than that, I actually think Amanda Bynes is cute and talented.

I think I was under this unstated pressure to not like her because she falls under that umbrella of all those Hollywood coated gals that spread their party girl lactose all over tabloids and media.

Luckily, we haven’t seen Amanda step out of a car showing us her “area” and she hasn’t been pasted all over the news with a DUI. She’s a cool gal - and I could vouch for that because I was lucky enough to interview her when she was in Newark promoting her clothing line, dear for Steve & Barry’s.

So until she is seen in a sex tape or comes out with her own pointless reality show, she is good in my book.

Sydney White (Widescreen Edition) $19.99 at Amazon.com

P.S. I loved her as Penny in Hairspray

YES. JABBAWOCKEEZ OFFICIALLY WON AMERICA’S BEST DANCE CREW.

I can now rest easier at night.

And I respect that.

In an effort to raise awareness and money for Relief International’s humanitarian efforts in Darfur, a little something called Relief Beads are being sold. The African bracelets are handmade and have been worn by Mandy Moore, Jessica Biel, Marcia Cross, Zac Efron, Jessica Simpson, Randy Jackson, Patrick Dempsy, Will Smith and the list goes on.

Mandy Moore shows the power of the bead

Jessica Biel sports them on the red carpet

Marcia Cross and her beads

All celebrity endorsements aside, the Relief International’s programs are the main attraction here. They operate the second largest refugee camp, administer medical care to malnourished children, and fund educational costs for thousands of students.

Here’s a breakdown of what the Relief Beads do for Darfur:

1 Relief Beads provides 2 months education
1 Relief Beads feeds a malnourished child for 1 week
8 Relief Beads supply essential medicine for 100 refugees
25 Relief Beads provide healthcare for 100 conflict-affected people
100 Relief Beads save the lives of 20 children

The Relief Beads go for $8 and available at www.reliefbeads.org.

So yes, I am keeping up with Bravo TV’s Make Me A Supermodel and for some reason, I am ashamed that I do so.

The final FOUR! Ben (from left), Ronnie, Holly, Perry. Bravo Photo: Barbara Nitke

I think it’s because I already watch America’s Next Top Model and two model shows programed into my DVR makes me feel a bit, for a lack of a better word, DIRTY.

Anyways, the show is now down to it’s final four - and they decide who gets the coveted prize tonight on April 3.

Generally, the show is pretty boring and hosts Niki Taylor and Tyson Beckford do not have the charisma to match their good looks. And the models, although pretty, fall flat when it comes to catty drama.

BUT!

The runway shows and photo shoots are FIERCE. There is a higher caliber of fashion here, providing great photo shoots, runway shows and high end clothing…and the models are half naked most of the time, which makes it very enjoyable.

Anyways, here’s my take on the final four…

Ronnie: The boy next door is exactly that. There’s no “edge” to him. He’s cute and all, but c’mon on - we’ll probably be seeing him in Macy’s ads rather than Paris Fashion Week. And doesn’t he look like an extra in “Valley Girl” in this outfit? It is so wrong.

Perry: He’s cocky. He’s annoying. His ex-girlfriend is in the tabloids for supposedly canoodling with Britney’s ex. But he does have “the look” - whatever that is. There is a chance he might win, but I forsee him falling off the runway.

Ben: The monotoned steel-faced prison guard turned model has the looks, but is too softspoken. And when he does speak it’s a little meathead-ish. However - he does get extra points for taking some FIERCE pictures in the past couple of episodes.

Holly: Yes, she is wearing an original design from Project Runway winner Christian Siriano. Anyways, she was my choice from the VERY BEGINNING (don’t believe me? click here). She would be one of those girls who would just get on my nerves because she’s pixie pretty and talks in this whiny tone. But whatever - she takes strong pictures and her walk rules the runway. My money is on her.

I guess we’ll see who wins tonight! I was wrong, the finale is not tonight - it’s the reunion show. So that should be interesting.

Each month, I read through GQ (and Details) and they give hungry fashionistos a grocery list of items that are “essential.” Some of them I agree with, but sometimes their fashion advice is just a way for them to say, “BUY THIS BECAUSE WE SAID SO!”

Nonetheless, this month GQ says I should buy…

This trend seems to be coming back every spring/summer season. I have debating on whether or not to buy a pair for the last two years. About two weeks ago, I was drooling over a pair by Band of Outsiders (pictured above) at Barneys. They had a street style contemporary feel to them - and I just love everything that B.O.D. makes. Plus, they don’t make me feel like an old man who lives on a house boat. I think it is time for me to buy a pair. Even if they are $265.

Waiting for your flight at San Francisco International Airport just become a bit more fun - well, at least for fashionistas.

The Barcelona fashion brand, MNG by Mango has opened in the airport, relieving a little stress of travel with another glorious shopping hot spot!

The SFO home of the funky chic-centric clothing line (located in Terminal 3), is the first of its kind at an American airport.

Is it me? Or are airports becoming more and more like malls each day? I am sure many people don’t see a problem with that.

Oh…and is everything in the store duty-free?