Of course there’s always the military-style pea coat option, but I’m looking to update my actual outfits with some trendy new pieces for fall. Which is why the D’armee Dress from Anthropologie is absolutely perfect.

I have yet to come across another piece that is able to totally channel the military trend while still being utterly feminine with adorable detailing a flirty shape.

The army green keeps with the army-fatigues theme, as does the tough zipper hardware that runs down the front of the dress and the double-breasted pockets with brushed gold buttons. These strong elements are balanced out with endearingly feminine details. I am in love with the ruched sleeves, tabbed shoulders, the pleated skirt, and the cinched waist which perfectly accents an hourglass figure.

Plus, layering cami’s underneath can totally change up the vibe of the dress. Adding a floral print tank will play up the feminine details of the dress and create a perfect day ensemble with tights and flats. For night, adding a black lace cami and lowering the zipper will make it sexy enough for bar-attire. And belting the dress with a brown leather belt, adding a neutral cami underneath and slipping on some worn-in leather boots will have you totally rocking the rugged, military trend that is so hot for fall.

Thank you Anthropologie…I can always count on you to put a romantic, feminine twist on the newest trends. Now I just need you to have a massive sale so that I can bring home this dress without sacrificing my happy hour (hey, once I buy this dress I need to be able to show it off….).

Other than my crazy “pretend” sessions, I obviously satisfy this yearning to zip up my motorcycle knee-highs and run through some leaves by heading to the mall and dropping some major cash (if not all my cash) on a brand new pair…which then just leads to more torture as I stare at them for an entire month before it’s socially acceptable to put them on…outside of my apartment.

But that’s beside the point.

The actually point of my ranting is that I have found my new fall love. Which is no easy feat (or feet…ha!) considering that there a million different styles of boots of which I own about 20, so finding one worth my entire paycheck for a week is a hefty task.

This fall, Steve Madden’s Roady boot in brown will be my go-to shoe for any and every occasion. I am so excited about these that I can barely contain it. I can’t really begin anywhere other than the color, which in a sea of black leather boots stands out like a sore thumb- in an amazing way of course.

The distressed brown leather is so unexpected – rugged and feminine at the same time – making them a girly addition to rocker-inspired dark wash skinnys and a motorcycle jacket for night, while also being able to toughen up a floral print dress and tights for day.

But it’s the details that really do it for me. You can find brown boots anywhere, so to justify putting a hefty charge on my credit card, they have to have something extra special. I am totally in love with the double-clasp, one at the top and one ankle strap, which has this perfect balance between cowgirl and biker chick. Not to mention that from the front you have a classic, traditional feel, and from the back you have a kick of modern trendiness with the contrasting red zipper.

Basically, I’m in love.
Goodbye dinner. Hello, Steve Madden.

Only two short months into the post-grad working world, and I have already reached my limit. It’s not that I don’t like pencil skirts – much to the contrary I actually think they are extremely sexy and flattering on almost all body types. But the staple black pencil skirt with cute-but-not-too-revealing-top uniform can get really boring, really fast.

So instead of stuffing my closet full of yet more simple, streamlined skirts, I’ve decided to spice them up just a tad with unique details that give an outfit just a ounce of wow factor. I’ve gone on a hunt for pieces that are still totally office appropriate, but keep me from falling asleep when looking at my outfit in the mirror.

The perfect skirt? Banana Republic’s Silk Pocket Skirt.  From a block away it appears to be your standard black skirt, but a closer look reveals understated detailing that takes an outfit from average work attire to office chic.

The length is just right – short enough to be feminine and flirty, but long enough to save you from developing a reputation discussed at the water cooler. I love the silky cotton fabric that is super comfortable and breathable, and those pockets! Not only can I store my 3pm snacks in there, but they add a laidback vibe to an otherwise stuffy outfit.

The best part of the skirt by far is the gathered waistband. The rusching effect is adorably feminine and the pleating that ripples down the front gives movement to your bottom half. I see it with a thin, candy-colored silk top and flats for an office look that still allows a recent college grad to be young and fun.

And this skirt’s lifespan doesn’t end before happy hour. Throw on a pair of heels and a smokey eye and you have a chic, sophisticated look (think glamorous professional) that will go perfectly with that cosmo….or the $1 Miller Lites on special. Whatever.

This wish list is partly out of courtesy to all my fellow hoodie lovers and partly out of denial about my current life-after-college situation (while you lucky college kids can rock hoodies and sweats all day, every day, it is unfortunately no longer socially as acceptable for me to do so). But regardless if it’s acceptable or not, the Lacy Hoodie from Victoria’s Secret will most definitely remain at the top of my wish list.

No one can deny that the purpose of a hoodie is 100 percent comfort, but when it also boasts edgy fabric and modern details it is for sure a must-have, college schedule or not. Sharing the mullet’s motto, the sweatshirt is all business in the front (with a simple black zip-up) and party in the back (with hot pink satin and a lace overlay).

There is no question how a student will add this into their wardrobe – thrown over a white tank and yoga pants for early morning classes 0 but how a recent grad can slip this item in is a little less obvious.

Last year’s layered trend is still totally in for fall, and I’m in love with the thrown-on-casual look of a tee-hoodie-jean jacket combo. Who isn’t? But swapping out your old college hoodie for the Lacy Hoodie adds an extra ounce of rocker-chic and awesome to an otherwise laid-back weekend look. I’m thinking Saturday afternoon errands in a loose boyfriend tee, the edgy hoodie and a pair of distressed jean shorts. To take the hoodie into night, I’ll transition it by trading the shorts for some dark wash skinny jeans, motorcycle boots and some layered, metal-chained jewelry, creating a bar look that’s the perfect mix of comfort and style. And when I’m sitting in Starbucks in my comfiest sweatpants for hours, scouring the internet for a job, this hoodie will be the perfect transition piece from my lazy college days to my more refined early-twenties life.

I may no longer be able to wake up five minutes before class, slip on sweats and throw my hair in a bun, but still being able to justify hoodies in my wardrobe will make this whole adult life a little easier.

The pain I’m feeling you ask? It’s an emotional one, due to the fact that the back-to-school commercials and Nordstrom catalogs flooding my television and mailbox are making it painfully obvious that for the first time in my life I cannot justify an August shopping spree that empties my bank account because I’m not going back to school. Obviously in order to crack open the books and learn you need to have a new pair of leather boots, some go-to jeans and four adorable dresses. But if you’re not going back to school….well, what’s the point?

If you’re thinking this pain is going to cause me to skip the back-to-school sales, however, you’re wrong. Very wrong.

Of course I’ll have to deal with a small side of guilt knowing that I’m now just a struggling college graduate and not an eager student, but I’ve decided to throw self-control to the wind and go at the sales anyway. Shopping smart can take the edge off the guilt, and so I have my eye on pieces that can easily transition from work to play. At least every time I whip out my credit card I’ll be getting two outfits in one.

My first buy? The 2-in-1 Chiffon Vertical-Ruffle Dress from Express. I totally love the skirt and tank combo now and into fall and this dress takes all the guesswork out of planning an outfit by giving you the same look without the hassle of matching separate pieces. It looks as effortless as it actually is with a thin black tank melding into a high-waisted army green chiffon bottom complete with chic, cascading ruffles. For a perfect fall work ensemble I’ll tone it down with black studded flats, tights and a boyfriend blazer.

And by slipping into a pair of heels, and adding a wide black leather belt around the waist and some chunky jewelry I can walk right out the office and straight into happy hour. The flirty shape has the perfect amount of movement, with just enough fabric for a girly swing, without being too overwhelming.

Maybe I’m not a student. And maybe I’m no longer the targeted demographic of back-to-school sales. But that won’t stop me from buying amazing transitional pieces like this dress. Plus when I buy it, I’ll be forced back to Ramen Noodle dinners and it’ll be like I’m back in college all over again.

Until now, I’ve avoided the trend altogether. But as I flipped through a Free People catalog last night a gorgeous outfit caught my eye, and much to my surprise what was so gorgeous about it was the stunning lace tank. So I headed to the website and, you guessed it, the shirt looked like something straight out of the Victoria Secret’s lingerie section.

I think I may have found the compromise between wearing full-out sexy-time attire and avoiding the trend altogether in the Free People All Pucker Lace Camisole.   It definitely has the sex appeal of a piece of lingerie with the see-through lace overlay and the corset-inspired vertical ribbing. But the delicately feminine lace, the demure scalloped neckline and the mesh lining make it conservative enough to wear out without feeling overexposed.

The more I think of the possible ways to incorporate this piece into my wardrobe, the more excited I’m getting. There’s no doubt that this would be fabulous for a night out with the girls paired with a pair of dark wash skinny jeans and heels. The rounded bottom hem would let just enough skin peek out at the hips without showing too much. I think I would probably rock it out a little by wearing edgy heels with metal detail and a chunky, mixed-chain necklace.

But the tank is also demure enough that I can tone it down by pairing it with a boyfriend blazer, loose high-waisted shorts and flats for an office appropriate look.

The hidden bonus in this purchase? If you meet a man at either of the above locales you can strip off your lower half and instantly be ready for a little romp in the supply closet.

But where July 4th does get my panties in a knot is when it starts bleeding over into fashion. The amount of horrendous American flag pants, t-shirts, scrunchies (yes, scrunchies) and even themed nail art that has passed me by on the street is ridiculous. And although red, white and blue really isn’t a color palate I dress in often, seeing all of these proud Americans struggling to express their love for America in an outfit that is just plain wrong, is just plain wrong. So this year I vowed that I could find something just as appropriate for the day (and the entire season) without sacrificing my dignity or style.

The winner? The Madison Marcus Infinite Striped Jacket. It was included in a July 4th inspired slideshow on Shopbop but when I saw it all concept of a holiday celebration outfit flew out the door. Instead I had flashes of all the places I would walk into looking incredibly chic in my white cotton blazer with the criss-crossed navy stripes.

The jacket is so smart that it’s almost unbelievable. It’s channeling the nautical theme which gives it a crisp, preppy feel, but the detailing is so modern that other nautical inspired wear comes nowhere close to being as wearably chic. The combination of the laid-back rolled cuffs and the sophisticated tuxedo color give the jacket this uniquely casual “oh this thing? I just threw it on” vibe, while the one-sided pocket and asymmetrical stripes and buttons make a huge fashion statement.

At this point, I have forgotten July 4th (sorry USA!) which is the whole reason I went in search of the piece in the first place. Instead I can see myself rocking this all summer, with a crisp white tank and a pair of jean shorts for weekends or casual dinners with friends, and paired with a white pencil skirt and a navy tank for a clean, streamlined work look.

And the jacket doesn’t even have to stay at home when I go out. I can slip it on over a beach cover-up and wear it with a messy bun and flip flops for dinner by the shore and by channeling the tuxedo details and pairing it with a pair of slim-cut black jeans and strappy heels I will be the best dressed girl in any bar or restaurant – simply by slipping on this one jacket.

Gotta love it.

First it was the skinny jeans that seemed like a good idea in my cool apartment, but instantly made the back of my knees sticky when exposed to the 90 degree sauna outside. The next morning I vowed to never make the mistake again and I slipped on a mini skirt. An hour later the hip hugging stretch fabric was making me claustrophobic, not to mention that it kept riding up making me look like the office hooker.

As I felt sweat stains spreading down the back of my white tank the next day I cursed myself and then hit the web in search of some scorching-temperature outfits that could get me through the summer of hell that this is turning out to be.

I stumbled across the Flowers in the Fountain Dress from Modcloth (which is always my go-to site for girly frocks with a vintage vibe) and wished I could have it delivered to me right at my desk.

The strapless top is just what I need, with no uncomfortable straps or restricting high necklines, and the sweetheart shape couldn’t be any more adorable – sexy in a way demure enough for the office. We get the comfort and airiness of a mumu without committing a massive fashion faux pas. Much to the contrary, this dress couldn’t get any cuter. The baby doll shape accents the waistline without feeling too binding as the fabric flows away from the body (giving my legs some much needed breathing room).

Even the pattern makes me feel lighter, with posies channeling a watercolor effect in the cool color palette of blue, grey and white. I’m already thinking of ways to rock this dress to work, without pit stains, flushed cheeks and beads of foundation colored sweat as accessories.

My office is freezing (thank god) so I’ll carry a light grey cardigan or a sheer, white silk scarf to cover my shoulders. Playing up the girliness of the dress’ floral pattern with white flats and a simple, single-strand necklace will make for a perfect summer work outfit. And throwing on a wide black belt, strappy heels and mismatched stacks of bracelets makes it edgy enough to transition to a night out.

What makes me even happier is that this dress totally emulates the Anthropologie vibe at half the cost. The garden party-chic style of my all time favorite store, a price tag I can manage to justify and no sticky-thigh syndrome? I’m totally sold.

Handbags may take home the gold for the biggest problem-poser during the summer months (okay perhaps a close second to melting foundation and yellow pit stains).

All fall and winter I run about my life with a two-ton bag slung over my shoulder (and the red marks to prove it). Seriously stick your hand in there and you’re likely to find half of Sephora, enough snacks to feed a small army and a textbook-sized agenda. And while the chocked full schedule may die down a little during the summer months (making room for the much needed lazy days on the beach…or in bed, whatever), that doesn’t mean that it’s easy to decide what stuff can stay and what has to be left at home.

I love my big bags, but I love my sanity more and there is just no way I could deal with a 12 pound bag in the sweltering heat of summer. Which means a chic, easy-to wear and most importantly compact(!) bag is on the top of my wish list.

And Steve Madden’s Bleigh handbag fits the bill perfectly. Seriously Steve, I now know what love feels like.

The Chanel inspired checkerboard is chic and sophisticated, but the ladylike factor is toned down with the muted gray tone making it just as appropriate for a night out as it is for Sunday brunch. And the best detail of all is the rocker studs which are just the perfect size to add some unexpected flare to an otherwise feminine bag without going overboard into punk-rock territory.

The braided chain clips to the body of the handbag with a solid clasp, so it will totally be able to support all the crap I will attempt to stuff in there. And I am way too excited by the fact that I can unclasp the chain and turn this into an adorable clutch (!!). Hey, I’m all about getting bang for my buck and if I can throw this over my shoulder to run errands on Saturday afternoon and then tuck it under my shoulder with a little black mini-dress to hit the town, then it is definitely a justifiable purchase.

So here’s to you, Steve Madden. Thanks for making all of my summer dreams come true.

And I’m not just talking snapping at people on the subway because my skin hasn’t seen the light of day in months and the lack of Vitamin D has sent me into a permanent state of PMS. Not only my overall disposition, but my entire style changes during the winter. It’s part brooding downtown rocker-chick, part sleek uptown-chic. And while it is many things (bad-ass included), one thing it definitely isn’t is colorful.

Which is why when summer comes around I fully embrace the rainbow.

Catch me out at a club now and there will be no trace of the head-to-toe black ensemble complete with chunky rings and metal-chained necklaces. In its place will be a vibrant fuchsia ruffled mini-dress or a white linen pencil skirt and a floral top.

And if you catch me out next week, I just might be rocking the Tie Die One Shoulder Ruffle Tunic from Arden B.

For me, summer outfits are all about fresh silhouettes, fun colors and patterns and comfortable fabrics, and this dress hits all of the criteria on the head. I am obsessed with the one-shoulder trend, it perfectly channels chic, sexy and modern all at once –not an easy feat. This dress kicks the trend up a notch by adding a cascading ruffle detail down one side; adding a dose of flirty movement to an otherwise form-fitting and sexy shape.

The vibrant aqua base is accented by deeper navy and cobalt blues, and it reminds me of a watercolor painting of ocean waves. And finally, the rayon material is a stretch fabric making it move along with you, perfect for a night out busting some moves on the dance floor.

What I might love more than anything is the versatility of this dress. If I happen to pull out some of my darker-winter accessories, the dress will go from whimsical to vixen (I’m thinking sky-high black heels, a cropped leather jacket and some gold chains). But with some mismatched bangles, strap sandals and messy beach hair, the dress becomes uber-feminine and girly.

Ditch the heels for some flip flops and a white cardigan and you’ve got yourself a perfect outfit for brunch with the girls or grandma’s 80^th birthday party. Any dress that won’t send granny into a seizure but can still have all eyes turned your way when you strut into a bar is a keeper in my book.