Most girls can claim a love for fashion, and I am one of those girls. But my love runs deep. I live and breathe the stuff. Fashion Week is the best week of my year (yes, better than Welcome Week!), the fashion magazines are my bibles and I spend my days finding new and interesting ways to incorporate runway fashions into my college wardrobe.

It is no wonder, then, that my holiday wish-list is filled with high fashion items seen only on runways…and 5th Avenue. While I probably (ok, definitely) won’t be seeing any of the following items under my Christmas Tree this year, I do want them. Really, really badly.

1. This purple Proenza Schuler dress.

It’s got all of this year’s trends going on: it’s purple, it’s got ruffles, it’s pretty…and it’s only $1,999 on E-Bay!

2. Burberry Prorsum Sequin Cardigan. $2,995.

I. love. sequins. It adds an element of drama to every ensemble, and this sweater does it with elegance. Too bad it costs more than my first car.

3. Valentino clutch.

Bows are huge this year and I love this huge bow. How cute would this look with a black shirt, skinny jeans and a pair of pumps? It’s unique and fabulous all at the same time.

4. Dior Jeweled Shopper handbag. $3,200.

I love how bright this bag is and the added detailing of the gold designs. If only I didn’t need to sell everything I own in order to carry it.

5. A pair of Christian Louboutin pumps.

Come on, who doesn’t want a pair of these super sexy, super exclusive red-bottomed shoes? I’d do just about anything to strut my stuff in a pair of these on Christmas morning.

You got a (ridiculous) wish list this year? What do you want? 

Currently, “Elisa” is interning for a big, flashy 5th Avenue designer. Sounds awesome, right? Well, read the third installment HERE, and then read on…]

I’M FINALLY FREE!!!

I wish I could say from the intern sh*t, but I was actually stuck in a tiny elevator with 6 people for 45 minutes.

Why? because we were all waiting for cake.

All for a freaking piece of cake on the day I was supposed to start my “diet.” I swear this place does not help me out one bit.

I wish I could say that this place is as exciting…what with today and the elevator fiasco, but I honestly don’t know how much more of this useless crap I can handle.

I’m now blatantly on Facebook all day for my boss to see, and spending more and more time in front of the computer. We have received endless amounts of sample bags that I am given the amazing task of taking pictures of. Oh yes, this is what my brain power is spent on. Taking pictures of bags.

Someone help me.

So a few days ago I decided I was going to ask my boss to cut back my hours once she hires this “assistant” she’s been talking about, but godd*mn if she doesn’t beat me to it… she gave her two weeks notice and is moving to LA! WTF… ARE YOU SERIOUS?!

So apparently the new guy — my new boss — is coming in next week, so she’s going to teach me everything to teach him….

Right…. and you couldn’t just pay me?? I do all the physical labor anyway!! So far I have used a Sealing machine, a hair dryer thing for shrink wrap, a mixer, popcorn machine, and a hammer / torture device-esque contraption just to name a few.

You know, I still don’t get why I don’t just quit. I have zero benefits whatsoever…

My boss even looked pissed when I asked if I could get off 2 hours early. Come on lady, I’m sure I can do more physical labor the next day. Or wait… how about you do some of your own sh*t for a change? I swear she thinks up the most useless tasks ever.

[Crap, somebody needs something...brb...]

Wow this day is full of f*ckin surprises. Apparently there’s a buzzer upstairs that the sales people press when they think there are shoplifters in the building… and now everyone has to run upstairs. FUN.

I swear this place never lets me leave on time.

I’m gonna go steal another cookie now.

When I was younger, I ended up being friends with one of those perfect girls. Well, perfect in most senses….(she was a party girl, after all)….but she got the best grades. She was gorgeous. She excelled at every sport. Every guy wanted her. Every girl wanted to be her. And her clothes..GOD. I wanted her wardrobe. But my mom wasn’t about to take me to the mall for a shopping spree. No way.

So when this girl revealed to me once that she ACTUALLY got all of her clothes at The Goodwill; I was in total shock.

“Are you F*%king kidding me?!”

All of that time, I had been envious over clothes that I could most definitely afford, but wasn’t grabbing because I thought the only thing worse than buying my clothes at Wal-Mart would be to buy them at a thrift store.

How wrong I was.

She and I started going on adventures together to The Goodwill and everything in the universe started to harmonize all of the sudden. (Okay, maybe it wasn’t THAT life changing, but I certainly started to learn a thing or two about fashion.)

To this day, I buy at least 80% of my wardrobe at thrift stores. And the compliments are pretty consistent..even here in New York. And to tell you the truth, I get a jolly old kick out of telling snobby 5th Avenue type chicas that I got my coat from a thrift store.

There are some serious fashion basics that are all available at your local thrift store. So know what to look for and go out and get it:

-PURSES

Unless you’re one of those “I’ve gotta spend $800 on my bag” type of gals, why get your purses any where else? At thrift stores, you can find every kind of purse that has that perfect vintage look.

-BELTS

I’m sorry, but those 1993 Circa “Blossom” floral print belts really do it for me. No, I am not kidding.

-SHOES

So ya like boots? And you want them to look authentic? Well, to be frank, I have no idea where else you CAN get a pair like this other than a thrift store. Go ahead and THINK you can get them at Urban Outfitters. And then tuck your pretty feet under your seat when two other babes are wearing the same ones at lunch.

-JEWELRY

From shell-shaped teal earrings to thick layers of pears; it’s all at the thrift store and for less than a dollar.

Of course thrift stores are also chocked full of other treasures than can turn you into an instant fashionista. For instance, huge men’s sweaters…. tie a belt around that shit at your waist and you’re Mary Kate Olsen. YOU decide if this is good or bad.

So let the Barbies be Barbies with their fake nails and Tiffany charm bracelets. Meanwhile, you can revamp your whole wardrobe for $40. And before you know it, you’ll be excelling at every sport, acing your classes, and scoring all the dudes.

Well, maybe.

Like this one, a three day “New York at Christmas” itinerary sent by a local new yorker to some out-of-town friends.

At first glance, the detailed activities sound fun (even though the writer of the itinerary seems A) kinda controlling and B) permanently hyped up on Red Bull), but any long time resident of this city can tell you that participating in Traditional New York Christmas Time Tourist Stuff is actually less about “fun” and more about “depression, fear, anger, and rage”.

To help illustrate, I’ve made some translations (in bold) about certain suggested activities detailed in the Gawker’s smuggled letter:

• “There is typically parking on my street. If not, there is a parking lot next to my building that does parking by the day. I want to say it’s under $15. I can find out for sure if that interests you.” – Inexplicably, you will end up spending $150 by the end, that is, if you don’t accidentally get too close to a fire hydrant, which will push the total parking expenses up to $300.

• “Pack as little as possible, there is NOT a lot of space!” – Dude, my apartment can hardly accommodate me. Hope you’re not Claustro!

• “8am: NBC’s Today show (we have to make a good sign)” – we’re going to get up at an ungodly hour, stand out in the freezing winter weather, and have our ears assaulted by shrieking women in giant Santa sweaters. We probably won’t make it on TV, either…unless we somehow manage to steal an adorable baby.

• “10am: Rockefeller Christmas Tree” – You’re totally okay with suffocating crowds, right? And pickpockets?

• “12:30pm: FAO Schwartz to play the big piano” – We’re going to have to punch millions of little kids out of our way, and get eyed by guys dressed up as toy soldiers. Also…the music…might do something frighteningly permanent to your eardrums.

• “2pm: 5th avenue window shopping to see all the window displays” – because there’s absolutely no way we can actually buy anything.

• “9:45pm Comedy show at the Comedy Cellar in the village… I made this reservation, we have to be early, and there is a $15 cover and 2 drink minimum” – The drinks are around $8 each, plus tip. We’ll be spending about $35. Oh, it’s also going to be so crowded you consider homicide.

• “11:30pm: Go out in the West Village. Off the Wagon” – You’re all under the age of 22, right? and totally dig beer pong and undergraduate guys?