The Essential Album

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The Essential Bag

Rebecca Minkoff’s "Stud Rocker"

Before you start cringing at the thought of studded accessories, give this beautiful bag a look. Rebecca Minkoff always does a terrific job with trendy pieces, but I can actually see this becoming a wardrobe staple. The best part is that every one of the four availabl shades conveys something different. Bad asses should go for the black version, while preppies can glam up a pair of chinos with the buttery brown bag, trendsetters can rock the deep plum, and girly girls can add a rock star edge to feminine style with the soft gray. Each is simultaneously eye catching and subtle, adding just the right amount of glam to a nighttime look. The cross body look (aside from being all the rage right now) is extremely functional and hands-free – and if you don’t see yourself slinging the bag across your chest, you can simply remove the strap and use it as a clutch. I’m personally coveting the gray bag right now. Bags are available at http://www.rebeccaminkoffstore.com

Be sure to check out the rest of her stuff – it’s all pretty essential as well!

Photo: Rebeccaminkoff.com

The Essential Show

Glee:

I’ll admit that when I first saw promos for Glee, I was more than a little skeptical. I mean, a show about a high school glee club? Talk about a narrow focus. Not to mention the fact that watching a show about the quintessential high school outcasts, the dorkiest kids in school seems a bit…well, dorky. Still, I decided to give the show a try because I’m a huge, huge fan of the fabulous Lea Michele. This Broadway star (best known for originating the role of Wendla in Spring Awakening) turned small screen leading lady has absolutely astounding talent, and is – in my opinion – the best part of the show. She’s certainly not the only reason to give Glee a chance, though.

Maybe Glee isn’t as popular as more mainstream comedies like The Office, but it’s already drawn an incredibly devoted fan base. Dubbed “gleeks”, these people embrace the underdog spirit of the show. Yes, I am a gleek. Yes, my friends make fun of me for watching this show so ardently. No, I don’t care.

So what makes Glee so groundbreaking? For one thing, it’s chock full of tasteful humor, something that is becoming increasingly rare in sexual-humor driven market. Glee manages tackle issues like social heirarchy, heterosexism, and racism in a way that is both innofffesive and genuinely hilarious. Whenever one of these issues comes up, it’s clear that the show isn’t attacking the issue itself, but the people who make it an issue; many circumstances make a mockery of people who play into stereotypes rather than those who are harmed by them.

The cast is as eclectic as it is entertaining – the world of Glee is one in which a gay, baby-faced fashion lover and a sassy black girl can be best friends. At some point or another, everyone is an outcast on Glee. No one serves as a golden standard for others; each character is equal parts endearing and reprehensible, and the honesty with which they are constructed is unspeakably refreshing.

And if the pro-social underlying theme isn’t enough, tune in for the musical performances. Lea Michele as the ingratiating, unpopular diva Rachel Barry, is clearly the musical star of the bunch, but there are solid performances from everyone involved. Like the stars of the show, the music is incredibly wide-ranging, covering everything from Broadway power ballads to old school hip hop

Get a little taste of what they can do here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CGRwqtMDaQ. If you like what you hear, the soundtrack is available on iTunes now, and look out for the cast’s second tour.

And do I even need to mention how HOT Cory Monteith (Finn Hudson) is? YUM.

Photo: tvtropes.org

The Essential Product

OPI Suede Matte Nail Polish

Think back to when you were too young to wear nail polish and painted your nails with a Sharpie instead. If you want to achieve this look now, try matte nail polish, which is all the rage right now. But, if you’re the kind of person who chooses to embrace adulthood, try OPI’s suede nail polish. Probably the most interesting nail line I’ve ever seen, this stuff is both matte and shimmery (sound like an oxymoron? It’s not.) It goes on thickly and is concentrated with tiny sparkly particles that create an effect that looks just like a pair of Italian suede boots. This formula comes in six of the line’s most iconic shades: Lincoln Park After Dark (a dark, purplish-brown), You Don’t Know Jacques (a taupe with golden undertones), We’ll Always Have Paris (a sparkly mauve), Suzi Skies In The Pyrenees (deep charcoal gray with a hint of blue), Ink (a navy blue that turns slightly violet in the sun), and Russian Navy (an electric blue.) The formula on these nail polish is so thick and opaque that one coat is enough. Add that to the fact these are some of fastest-drying polished I’ve ever used, and they’re perfect for a quickie polish change. My personal favorite is Suzi Skies In The Pyrenees, but I’m totally coveting each and every one of these. They’re different, beautiful, and perfect for the fall. The only downside? They chip almost as quickly as they dry.

Photo: makeuptalk.com

The Essential Couple

Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner:

As if the fact that they share a name isn’t adorable enough, "The Taylors" have got to be the most endearingly real celebrity couple ever to grace the red carpet. They’re kind of like the Justin and Britney of their generation…minus the scandals…plus morals…

So what makes this pair so essential? For one thing, they’re just so damn likeable. Both are obviously dedicated to their careers, and for all the right reasons. I’m sure you’ve heard that when Lautner was told he may not be cast in the Twilight sequel because of his lack of muscular mass, he gained a whopping thirty pounds and reclaimed the role. Swift has jumped similar hurdles, proving that even a lanky outcast from rural Pennsylvania can make it as a country superstar - provided that she travel to Nashville armed with an abundance of persistence, authenticity, and raw talent. Taylor and Taylor have rightfully earned reputations as classy, down-to-earth young stars who are bursting with potential. When tabloids were released with their faces splashed across the cover, emblazoned with the words “We’re In Love!”, my guess is that you weren't hit by a wave of nausea. If you’re anything like me, the twelve-year-old girl inside of you jumped for joy and thought for a second that Swift’s fascination with fairy tale romances may not be so crazy after all. Like the stars themselves, this is one relationship that seems to have staying power. Let’s just hope we don’t hear a song called “Werewolf Drained My Heart Of Blood” on the radio anytime soon.

Photo: Justpressplay.com

The Essential Girl

Leighton Meester:

After listening to the first single off of her upcoming album, I have to wonder: is there anything Leighton can’t do? Aside from landing in the “worst dressed” section of a magazine, I don’t think anything is impossible for this girl. As Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl she plays the scheming mean girl to perfection…yet somehow, we just can’t hate her or the character she portrays. When she plays to the character’s vulnerabilities, we realize that there’s a heart nestled inside that cold exterior – an undeniable talent on the part of the actress who plays her. Earlier this year, Leighton had us all dancing to ‘Good Girls Go Bad”, her catchy collaboration with Cobra Starship. Her album is slated to release within the next few months, and if what I’ve heard so far is any indication, it’ll be full of tracks that are both original and relatable. The first single, "Somebody To Love" is basically every single girls’ thoughts set to an insanely addictive beat.

At only twenty-three, Leighton has already established herself as a red-carpet fashion icon. On Gossip Girl her style is classic with a twist – in fact, we can thank Miss Waldorf for resurrecting funky headbands, proving they’re not just for third-grade picture day. In real life, however, Meester’s style is eclectic and eye-catching. Reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn, Leighton has the kind of old-world charm and beauty that will always be associated with elegance. Like the character she plays so convincingly, Leighton Meester is the kind of girl we’d all love to hate – but we just can’t seem to.

Photo: Gawker.com