Hornets beat Blazers 95-91

Carl Landry joined the Hornets with the goal of being a rugged role player.

Thrust into the starting lineup because of David West's season-ending injury last week, he's quickly transformed himself into a top scoring starter.

Landry tallied 21 points, Willie Green highlighted a 10-point fourth-quarter outburst with an energizing one-handed jam, and New Orleans jumped ahead of Portland for sixth place in the Western Conference with a 95-91 victory over the Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.

"We made some money off of Carl tonight for sure,I'm a small investor in a startup company deploying a podiatrist-patented method for adding comfort to high-fashion, high-heel shoes for women. going to him down the stretch," Hornets coach Monty Williams said. "Willie was phenomenal, the dunk he had. ... If we can finish like this the rest of the year, I'll be pleased."

Chris Paul had 11 points and 12 assists, and Emeka Okafor had 15 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out with 1:38 left.

Marco Belinelli hit four of five 3-point attempts and finished with 16 points for the Hornets, who have won three of four, the lone loss coming on the road against the surging Los Angeles Lakers. Green finished with 12 points.

Williams, meanwhile, was animated on the sideline, knowing that a third win in four meetings with the team for which he used to serve as an assistant would give the Hornets an important tiebreaker in the standings. He coached as if it were the playoffs, keeeping starters on the court as long as needed to stay close in a game Portland led most of the way.

Paul played 45:11, his second most minutes in regulation this season.

"We showed a lot of grit," Paul said.Air max 2009 Running Shoe Flex grooves in the mid and outsole for flexibility. "I think we showed coach's personality tonight. Coach is over there fighting for us, screaming. Coach is one of those guys that would put on a jersey if he could. For us to go out there and get this win tonight, knowing that that was his old home, it was a special win for us."

LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points and 15 rebounds for Portland (43-32), which is tied with New Orleans in terms of wins and losses, but has lost the season tiebreaker.

Andre Miller added 19 points for Portland, but committed a costly turnover while driving to the hoop with the Blazers trailing 91-88 and 13 seconds left. Landry came up with the ball, was fouled and made both free throws, then added two more foul shots to seal it.

Miller's turnover was Portland's ninth of the second half.

"It was turnovers. They were huge," Portland coach Nate McMillan said. "You can't have those mistakes going down the stretch."

Gerald Wallace had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Blazers, while Patrick Mills added 13 points, hitting all three attempts from long range.

"This one hurts, especially a game that we feel like we controlled for the first quarter-and-a-half," Wallace said. "In the second half, they kind of took control and forced us to play back on our heels."

After trailing much of the game, but still as close as 70-68 after three quarters, the Hornets surged ahead in the final period thanks in large part to Green's 10-point scoring surge during a 16-4 run.

Green's highlights included a 3, a tough running floater as he swept across the lane and a soaring one-handed jam on a putback of Jarrett Jack's missed jumper - the last play sending the crowd into a frenzy.

"It was good to get up there and dunk.Offers women's sexy high heels including boots, mules, platform shoes, pumps and sandals. I'm going to laugh and talk with my teammates about it," Green said. "They were a little caught off guard. I was a little caught off guard. I don't dunk that much."

Jack then made a jumper that gave the Hornets their largest lead at 84-75.

Portland didn't fold, though, and tensions rose soon after when Jack and Rudy Fernandez got into a brief tussle for which they each received technical fouls with a little under 5 minutes remaining.

The Trail Blazers trimmed their deficit to five before Paul put New Orleans back up 90-83 with a driving floater off the glass with 1:40 left.

Wallace then drew Okafor's sixth foul and hit both free throws, and Miller added a driving layup to make it 90-87, setting up a tense final minute.

The Hornets improved to 2-1 since West tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.Buy Knee High Boots with a price guarantee and top rated customer service. Landry has averaged 21.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in those three games.

"Those are some big shoes to fill and we got to just do it collectively," Landry said of West's absence. "Right now, I'm just doing what I can do. Hopefully it'll be better than what it is now. ... We've got keep helping one another because we're not in the playoffs yet."

No, but they're closing in. Ninth-place Houston, which lost to Philadelphia Wednesday, fell four games behind both New Orleans and Portland, with all three teams having only seven games left.

Notes: The Hornets are 25-11 at home,Find a fashionable range of women boots and ladies shoes all in one place online. where they play their next four games, starting on Friday night against Memphis. ... Portland dropped to 30-3 when shooting a higher percentage from the field than its opponent. The Blazers shot 50 percent, while the Hornets shot 46.6 percent. ... Patrick Ewing Jr. made his Hornets debut in the second quarter but played only 1:37. ... Wallace had his career-best streak of 24 straight games with at least one steal snapped.

Button Up

With less than 2 weeks to go until baby #4, I'm obviously not sporting my "normal" skinny (or any of my "normal", for that matter,) jeans. With that being said, the low riding pants are still options that I love to utilize … and with the help of "The 'Belly' Button", I'm able to do it!

Local lady Lauren Copeland had managed a boutique and spent many a day helping other women find the perfect fitting pair of jeans. "I saw a trend," she says; "many fit great everywhere but were a little too snug in the waist, causing that unsightly muffin top.MBT Sport Shoes are an extremely popular choice." And so, she created The "Belly" Buttton,Naax Fashion Textile is a wholesale jeans dealer who trades with young-fashion . fashionable button extenders that allow you to strut your stuff in those great fitting jeans that perhaps are a tad too tight in the tummy. Not only are these a great addition to your maternity wear, but they're also super for the jeans that go untouched in your closet.A sport jacket suit, is a tailored coat for men. You know, the ones you are always waiting to "get back into".This pair of Nike Birds nest shoes is a sign of your love.

Coming in packs of 3, the stylish accessories are not only fabulously fun, they are also most functional. Simply attach them to the existing button and loop them through the button hole to attach with a seamless effort. At $10.99, it's a small price to pay for the many wears you'll get out of them - and the jeans you thought you'd never wear again.The first time that I saw Lanvin Shoes was about two years ago.

Fall-Winter Italian style updates vintage couture with contemporary elegance

MILAN — "Back to the Future" could be the title for this round of Milan preview showings of sensual rather than sexy clothes, inspired by couture but designed with a slick contemporary edge.

The clothes have 1960s chic but could also appeal to young women in search of an appropriate wardrobe.

"These are clothes for polite dressing," Ken Downing, fashion director at Neiman Marcus, said to reporters Monday, the last day of the fall-winter 2010-2011 showings.

He picked Kate Middleton, Prince William's future bride, as representative of the new look. "It's been a long time since there was a young elegant role model," Downing said.

Major trends for next year's cold weather are sleeveless coats, quilted skirts and coat and dress ensembles.

Textiles play a big role in the new collections, working leather and fabric to look and feel as light as chiffon.

Lace and lurex add luxury to the discreet look, as does the showy jewelry, which turned up on the Milan runway for the first time in many a season.

Colours are in sync with the toned-down styles, from rose and wine red to turquoise and royal blue, being among the most popular.

Pumps and slingback shoes worn with sheer stockings accompany the ladylike look, along with small bags and the "must" pair of long leather gloves.

ARMANI

If next winter marks a return to chic, then Giorgio Armani is a step ahead.

In over 30 years on the runway, understated elegance inspired by the tailored style of Milanese women has been the designer's trademark.

His latest collection presented Monday, with pop star Tina Turner sitting in the front row, fits the current mood like a glove.

The new Armani black suit exudes class with its double-breasted tiny buttoned long jacket paired with a wide trouser cut, cuffed at the ankle. Another jacket in soft pleated fabric buttons up the back recalling a couture blouse.

There is a soft fluid feel to the collection, with its long skirts and dresses which caress the body but never hug it. Colours range from black, pewter and brown to romantic powder pink.

Fabrics including velvet, silk and chiffon, researched for super softness, complete the look. Footwear is ultra feminine with peep toe satin heels embroidered in lace and satin embroidered short boots.

The designer decorated his collection with myriad sequins and lurex fabrics, a trend seen on many runways over Fashion Week. But at Armani, glitter sparkles rather than dazzles. Elsewhere, showy jewelry jazzes up downplayed styles,This is the new nike air max 90 in Pecan, Black and Varsity Royal. but at Armani rock crystal and filigree do the job.

DSQUARED2

The Dsquared2 womenswear show Monday was a carbon copy of the designing twins' men's winter collection shown in January: same Wild West outpost backdrop, same distressed jeans,Air max 2009 Running Shoe Flex grooves in the mid and outsole for flexibility.MBT Sport Shoes are an extremely popular choice. worn leather pants, denim suits, wool capes,A sport jacket suit, is a tailored coat for men. vests, kerchiefs, and in the ladies' version white working aprons.Buy mens classic boots with a price guarantee and top rated customer service.

But then the rough outdoors is a favourite look with the Canadian duo, who often work their collections around a ranch theme.

In this round, shown on Monday, things change in the evening when the Dsquared2 woman tosses her apron and turns up in the saloon in a super sexy long black gown worn with no-nonsense lace-up boots.

The designers complete the look with felt hats and sturdy gloves and belts with furry holster pockets: in short the perfect wardrobe for a contemporary cowgirl.

Giving up isn't in her jeans

Cookie Johnson, creator of the popular CJ by Cookie Johnson line of premium denim and wife of basketball legend Magic Johnson, will be at Neiman Marcus at SouthPark mall from 6:30 to 10 p.m. March 3 for a meet and greet that includes a fashion show of her designs. It's part of Fashion Rules!

We talked to Cookie Johnson by phone while she was in New York City on a business trip. She shared what motivated her to create her own line of denim, what her husband thinks about her success, and her advice for anyone who wants to follow their dreams.Why not snap on a brightly embroidered shirt and wear your skinniest niceedhardyshoe tucked into high-heeled boots?

(Editor's note: A version of this Q&A also appears in the March issue of SouthPark magazine, on newsstands now.)

Olivia Fortson

Why did you decide to enter the competitive denim market? I was frustrated trying to find jeans in premium denim that would fit my body type, so I decided to start my own company. I wanted to create jeans in a contemporary style that were made of quality material. So many people tried to talk me out of it. They kept telling me that the premium denim market was more for young women with model-type bodies. But that's only about 30 percent of the market. What about the rest of us? Curvy women have style,it was the musical equivalent of a midlife crisis, like when your dad thinks he's “hip” by wearing gentedefe. they have status, and they have money. I decided to go for it and from the first day of the launch back in 2009, women went crazy for it. We sold out of jeans in three hours.The hope is to give a purpose for buying our shoessuppliers.

What kind of feedback do you get from customers? That my jeans have helped them get their sexy back. I've heard so many stories from women who had given up on finding jeans that fit them. They were tired of walking out of a dressing room depressed because nothing fit.

What does your husband think about your success? At first he was nervous. He constantly kept checking back with me to make sure I had thought of everything and that I didn't do anything halfway. He came to the launch to support me, and he was blown away by the reaction of the customers. He pulled me aside and said he was so proud of me. He's behind me 100 percent.Męska, pikowana kurtka z zimowej kolekcji clothingshop.

What's next? My plan was to stick to jeans, but women keep telling me that they have my jeans, and now they want to know where my tops and jackets are. Hopefully we're going to launch a couple of jackets and shirts for fall. If you're curvy, sometimes when you button a jacket it will pull up in the back,Sports shoes blog introduce buyclassicboots lastest sports shoes so mine would give more room.

Any advice for others who want to follow their dreams? Don't be afraid. Step out of your box and do it. Make sure it's your passion, do your research, then go for it.

Keri Hilson goes for a blend of edge and grace

These days, pop stars' outlandish get-ups sometimes eclipse their music, making them seem more like sideshow attractions than serious musicians. So it's almost a surprise to know there are still some singers who can maintain enviable chic.

Keri Hilson is one of those singers. The 28-year-old stunner turns a few heads when she walks through the pool area of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel for an interview on a recent sunny weekday morning.

Hilson commands attention not only for her looks but also for her place in the R&B and pop worlds as a songwriter and Grammy-nominated singer. (She was in contention last year for best new artist and best rap/sung collaboration for "Knock You Down" with Kanye West and Ne-Yo and performed at this year's official post-Grammy party alongside the Roots.) It also doesn't hurt that she is statuesque, has a perfectly coiffed bright honey-blond bob and has limbs so long and toned that she hardly needs the extra height her Report Signature 5-inch black platform wedges give her. (And, OK, maybe wearing a fuchsia bodysuit at 10 a.m. could also have something to do with all the necks craned in her direction.)

Hilson's lithe 5-foot-9 frame came from a childhood spent swimming regularly in her hometown of Decatur, Ga. At 14, she went on to compete in the U.S. Junior Nationals. Her involvement in swimming and basketball also dictated her early look, influencing the self-proclaimed tomboy to sport baggy pants and plaid shirts rather than the look-at-me platform shoes and fine jewelry she dons today.

"Growing up,Here we have all kinds of Air max 360, you can choose your favorite shoes without regret! I was a lot more boyish," says Hilson, who at this point has swaddled herself in a bathrobe for warmth, cloaking her Brian Lichtenberg body suit and black suspender trousers from Hollywood Boulevard boutique Lallure. "I only shopped in the men's department of Rich's and Macy's.wintert shirts has done wonders with floral printed shoes. My mom would drop me off in the men's section and do her shopping in the women's section."

Hilson's preference for men's khakis, plaid button-down flannels and polo shirts as a teenager was also a reflection of the musicians (and fellow Georgians) she listened to growing up. "TLC had a lot to do with bringing back the tomboy look," she says. "The '90s was an era of mixing masculine and feminine. You might wear a cutoff shirt and show your girlie parts but then sag your jeans. I always loved the blend of hard and soft. Like, 'OK, if I'm showing this,there are two geek-friendly shoesbrands available for purchase that you might want to buy. then I'm not showing this.' "

It wasn't until she dived head first into music -- majoring in theater and performing regularly at Emory University -- that her current look started to emerge. "My style is always a good blend of edge and spunkiness and grace," says Hilson, who loves really bold, angular prints and is obsessed with houndstooth. She collects it in all forms, including scarves and armchairs, and has worn the print in every one of her videos. She even incorporated it into album covers and the background of her Twitter page.

Hilson describes her day-to-day look as "spunky with hard lines and polish." Case in point: She favors Dsquared's sharp street-aesthetic, oversized sunglasses. (Gucci sunglasses are also a mainstay, but at the moment she loves a huge square pair from Grey Ant), flat boots from Miu Miu and accessories from designer Melody Ehsani, with whom Hilson collaborated to create a gold "No Boys Allowed" pendant in honor of her new album.Good luck out there be safe and drive cheapdunkpremium.

Onstage -- where she has been a lot lately, promoting the new album and the single "Pretty Girl Rock," an anthem encouraging women to be confident with their looks -- Hilson's style is drastically different from her everyday look. "Onstage, I'm the superhero version of myself," she says. "When I perform, there's more leather and a lot of black,It is time for wholesalejeansskynetblogs bliss to increase your big love for “Big Love” star and all around beauty Chloë Sevigny. very strong pieces." The style is more an extension of her sound than a costume teetering on performance art, a la Lady Gaga or Cher.

"I dress a lot stronger because that's the way I feel my music is. In my everyday life, I'm more relaxed and carefree, but when it comes to music and relationships, I am really strong-willed. My [onstage] clothes are almost like putting on body armor," she says. There's that hard and soft again.

One of her softer, more fashion-y moments came at last year's CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards, which she attended with designer Chris Benz, wearing a single-sleeve, brown, blue and marigold circular print dress from Benz's spring 2011 collection.

"It is very ironic," Hilson says through a characteristic wide grin. "My family laughs all the time, they ask me, 'Hmm, do you really like those heels? Or are you just buying them just because?'

"I say, 'No, I actually really like them, thank you.' I can appreciate them. I don't like the way they feel, but I can appreciate a good heel. The tomboy part of me is still very much present, but as undertones. I'm grown now, and I want to look womanly."