I am a firm believer that the accessories make the outfit. Too many people spend too many hours trying to pair their socks with their polo shirts or their Uggs with their jackets. If you’re decked out with fun accessories, no one else cares what you’re wearing because you’ll look great regardless.

And since I know there are other people out there like me, who don’t necessarily have 10 bajillion dollars to spend on an outfit, accessories are good news. Even if you buy full price from an upscale store, accessories will cost only a fraction of the price you’d pay for pants or a shirt (unless, you know, you’ve got your eyes set on diamond earrings).

Because of all this, it’s a crying shame that girls don’t take advantage of accessories more often. It seems that every girl I see out walking is either tipping the scales with pounds of bling or wearing no accessories at all. It’s not that hard, people. To take advantage of some of my very favorite accessories, read on:

Headbands. The best thing about headbands is their versatility. You can wear them no matter how long (or short) your hair is, and they’re like miracles on bad hair days. They look good no matter what their design, and you can even make your own in a pinch by folding a scarf and tying it at the back of your neck. Read More »

After rocking a boy-cut shag à la Natalie Imbruglia’s early career for two years, I started to get long-hair lust. Everywhere I went, long hair mocked me. Layers, shags, straight, curly; it all taunted me.

Back when I had long hair down to my waist, I was a tomboy. My morning hair routine consisted of making a ponytail. But now that my beauty regime has stepped up a few notches, I’m lacking a few feet of hair and experiencing Phantom Hair Syndrome.

And so a couple of months ago, I made an important decision. I would stay away from the scissors and begin the painful and arduous journey of growing my hair. Any woman that has undertaken this task knows what a commitment it is.

It means bad hair days, awkward flyaway hair, and all too often, a few weeks in the growing-out period where hair shape is frighteningly mullet-like.

I’ve experienced it all and believe me, it hasn’t been pretty. But I’ve picked up some tricks along the way that have kept me from taking the kitchen scissors to my locks in a fit of hair-rage.

Here’s how to grow out short hair and stay sane and chic:

1. Stock up on thick headbands and hair scarves. Think Lauren Conrad’s signature headband look, sans about a foot of hair. The pop of fabric on a short crop looks très cute and is perfect for holding down hair that starts sticking up in an alarming fashion.

2. Cut bangs. When the state of my hair was getting hopeless, I grabbed a pair of sharp scissors and a comb, and cut blunt bangs into the grown-out side fringe I had already. If you don’t have a steady hand or don’t have bangs at all right now, head to a stylist. Bangs will spice up your look, and you can keep trimming them yourself while the rest of your hair grows out. Read More »