I can’t get enough of Blake Lively. In my humble opinion, she is one of the consistently most well-dressed celebs. Her street style is always fresh and eye-catching, and her red carpet style never ceases to dazzle. I love how her style is the perfect marriage of California casual, edgy haute couture and pure elegance. Recently, she was spotted on the set of Gossip Girl rocking a perfect laidback summer fashionista ensemble.

red maxi skirt - Nordstroms, $44.90;  chainlink necklace - Target, $19.99; floral vest - Urban Outfitters, $29.99. white tank - $10.00; flip flops - Zappos, $18.00

It took me a long time to accept the “maxi” trend. I thought maxi skirts and dresses were frumpy, unflattering and I was completely bewildered by their popularity. But lately, I have come to appreciate their simplicity, and as long as they’re constructed with texture, and not like my grandmother’s living room curtains, I can give maxis a thumbs up. I’m a huge fan of the bright, bold red shade, and has some slight ruching to give it a bit of structure. Paired with a plain white tank and a floral vest, this becomes a flirty, feminine ensemble.

As for the accessories, gold bangles are always appropriate. They’re glam and fun and always spruce up an outfit. And I love Blake’s choice of a chainlink necklace. It adds an unexpected edgy feel. I love the contrast with the overall softness of the rest of the outfit. And, while I hate flip flops, I hate them a tad bit less with maxi skirts (maybe because they’re kind of hidden?) I have heard nothing but great things about Havianias, in terms of comfort and durability. Bright colors and interesting accessories are key to elevating a basic outfit to a stylish one!

That’s not all, though. Other things start to happen to my body when spring rears its mighty head.  Suddenly, I feel randomly productive.  I clean everything in my sight.  I wash a dish instead of just shoving it into the dishwasher.  I wash my socks instead of throwing them away because they are stained with feet sweat.  (I’m not kidding, I’m a disgusting person.) Let’s just say when spring comes around, everything falls into place and I feel like a giant firecracker is going to explode in my chest with excitement.

The first day I know it’s spring is usually the best day.  My nostrils flair into the wind, I smell smells I thought only squirrels could detect (i.e. dirt, acorn stubs, wet leaves, ant hills).  My fingers tingle and touch the breeze…oh, and what was that?  Did I just feel a soft blowing wind lift my baby hairs on the back of my neck? Happy sigh.

To say I’m smitten for spring is like saying I’m smitten for self-serve frozen yogurt, and anyone who knows me knows that I put way too many Oreo’s on my soft-serve I’m over the moon for both. And how can anyone not be? Oreo’s are delicious There’s nothing on earth as blissful and perfect as a spring day.

1. The combination of warm sun and a cool breeze: This lovely mixture of weather elements allows me to practice my favorite driving activity (second only to eating Jimmy Johns while merging):  Driving with the windows rolled down and the heat blasting. It’s single-handedly the best thing since pretzel M&M’s and mini backpacks combined.

2. Twitterpated syndrome (thanks Thumper): We all know what this is like.  You see the sun outside your window and you just want to explode into a billion mini candy hearts.  You see a guy wearing those completely sexy basketball shorts under the May sunlight and you want to hug a stranger. You take a sip of your non-fat iced latte and you just want to frolic down the street blowing kisses at everyone you see. The combination of these two will put you in a thick state of Twitterpatedness. Is that word in Urban Dictionary? It should be.

3. Sleeping with the window open: I’m obsessed with this.  Unlike many people, I actually enjoy waking up to birds whispering sweet nothings in my ear.  If I could, I would sleep with my face pressed against the screen so a sweet morning breeze could wake me up naturally come morning.  I’m like Cinderella that way.

4. Community Barbecues: It doesn’t matter if it’s Wednesday, Friday or Sunday.  They all rhyme with Funday and spring makes it perfectly excusable to double fist a Bud Light Lime (I’m a baby) and play ladder golf with a bunch of amazing losers you haven’t seen since last summer.

5. Easy Entertainment: I could sit and be entertained by virtually anything during the springtime.  Seriously, I could people watch for hours sitting outside, and don’t even get me started with how long I could stare at a patch of grass.  Aside from being completely turned on by everything that moves, I’m unusually content during this time of year.

6. Flip-Flops: They are the lazy girl’s savior.  Who needs to have a hernia trying to shove their fat calves into some skinny Jessica Simpson boots?  Not me.  I want to live a pain-free, lazy, flip-flop life.

7. The first trace of sunburn: A spring sunburn usually lasts about an hour, but it’s the best thing EVER.  After sitting outside in the quad with your girlfriends drinking screwdrivers from a Nalgene, you can proudly prance back into your dorm, touch your shoulders and tingle into that tender warmth.  Pure bliss.

8. The three B’s ‘Baseball, brewskies and Boys:’ Because who can think of a better combination?  Sure, they’re around during winter and fall. And sure, I sound like a fifth grader when I end a sentence with ‘boys.’  But when you wrap them all in a little springtime gift basket and they just all look so nice in those baby blue button-downs, how can you resist!?

9. Music trumps T.V: After spending months tucked into my couch watching Jay Leno and E! True Hollywood Story, the transition into spring flicks off the boob tube.  Spring makes me want to listen to music.  Spring makes me want to dance in circles around my coffee table.  Who said the perfect spring day involves the Kardashians?  It involves Zac Brown Band and Bob Marley.

10. A new slate: A new season, means a new slate. A fresh start, an open road. (And a whole new flouncy, girly wardrobe!)  However you see it, it’s brand new!  And I am willing to believe that is the best part about a perfect spring day.

Peppered throughout magazines and blog sites are optimistic articles about delicious summer activities and fashion trends to anticipate and enjoy. However, there is one thing about summer that is so heinous and disgusting that I feel I must warn the masses before it destroys them: flip-flops, fashion’s Anti-Christ.

I can hear the gasps and verbal WTF’s already. I know, I know, flip-flops are practically the poster children for summer fun. Calm yourselves, I have reasons.

1) They Make Any Outfit 1/4 As Cute: No matter how much effort you put into your ensemble this morning or how much you paid for that sundress, if you add flip-flops to the equation it will look instantly less cute. Much less cute. So much so that it defeats the purpose of even trying to make a cute outfit and you should have just worn sweats.

2) Your Feet Will Get Dirty: Want to know why outfits are less cute with flip flops? Perhaps it’s because dirty feet are not cute. On anyone. And dirty feet are inevitable when flip flops are involved. Your toes will turn brown, your heels will turn black and your calves will be covered in whatever crap that flop is flipping up. Seriously, no one wants to see your cracked and crusted feet stomping around in fluorescent rubber contraptions.

3) They Make Your Legs Look Fat: For some reason, colored slabs of rubber are not the most slimming choice for summer fashion. Optical illusion? Perhaps…At any rate, you spent all winter in the smelly gym to look like this, so don’t waste it on flip-flops!

4) Shoes Should Not Be Noisy: Sexy can be defined as the sound of stilettos clacking across a marble floor. The opposite is true for the sound of flip-flops slapping against your dirty feet.

5) They Aren’t Practical: Let’s face it – having half-an-inch of rubber barely attached to your foot is not the smartest choice available in footwear. They lack traction, stability, and could cause bodily harm (or at least a serious bruise to your ego). Who hasn’t flipped out of their flop before, or slipped on a little spilled beer?

6) There Are Cuter Options: This season it is almost a crime to opt for cheap-o flip-flops when there are gladiator sandals and adorable flats! Fringes, patent, and metalwork – oh my!

Now that I’ve stated my reasons, I would also like to point out that nothing beats a lazy day on the beach with nothing but a pair of flip flops and a good book to keep you company. For me, however, the beach is where my flip-flops will stay.

[This story was originally posted by Katie - Michigan State]

Get it? Got it? Good. Want some more? Don’t worry, there are plenty more faves where this came from.

You wake up for class and something is different. It takes you a moment before you realize that – OH MY GOD! – there is sunlight coming into your room! It’s not dark or dreary out!

You pull back the shades (or sheet you’re using as a shade) and let the light in. Your mood is instantly lifted.

You skip to the bathroom to take a shower and hum a little tune to yourself as you lather up. While you blow-dry your hair (no ponytail today!) you plan out your first-day-of-Spring outfit: new bright cardigan, new jeans and – YIPEEEEE – flip flops! You are so excited for the day ahead that you even swipe on a little bronzer.

Before you head out the door you toss a magazine into your bag. You have an hour to kill between classes and instead of running home and sitting by the heater, you will grab an iced coffee and sit outside people watching (read: secretly hoping that guy you heart will walk by) and catching up on the latest celeb drama.

And now you are ready.

You put on your oversized sunglasses, slip your tootsies into your favorite pair of Havaianas and head off into the bright spring day jamming out to your favorite happy songs on your iPod. (What? You’ve always wanted to live your life to the beat of a song.)

A cool breeze hits you as you open the door. “It’s early,” you think to yourself. “It will warm up.” Only it gets worse as you walk to class. Soon your toes are numb, your leg hair has completely grown back, and your hands are so cold you can barely wrap that light spring cardigan tighter around your body.

You scold yourself for opting out of the spring scarf trend.

You hold out hope that the day will get warmer; you are determined to have spring and will not let a few unseasonable snotsicles deter you. It is late March, dammit! It should be warm! If only that hope could warm you up.

When you finally make it to class, you run to the bathroom to blow your nose, stubbing the big toe you can no longer feel on the door. You curse Mother Nature for toying with your emotions and yourself for being dumb enough not to actually check the weather.

And that is when you realize that you are not alone; the bathroom is filled with other Spring-loving girls like yourself, wearing their brightest corals and showing off their freshly pedicured toes as they too run their hands under warm water.

—

Yeah, we’ve all been there. But look on the bright side: at least you aren’t one of the really dumb girls laying out on the quad in a bikini!

Big mistake. Huge.

So I was flipping through some old Facebook albums the other day (you know the ones people label THROWBACKS! OLDSCHOOL! And OMG WHAT WAS I THINKING!!!! ) when in between fits of hysterical laughter, I started to catch sight of what I actually looked like. And all I can say is, seriously? I mean, seriously? I know I was young and naïve, but I don’t remember being that naïve.

Unstyled hair.
Poorly applied makeup.
And terrible, terrible fashion choices.

But the thing is, I wasn’t alone in these choices. No, they were all the rage once upon a time. Don’t pretend you didn’t think you were so cool with your Victoria’s Secret PINK sweatpants and ponchos (hopefully not worn together). I know you were right there with me, doing the sideways look in the mirror, thinking you looked so good. But really, none of us had any no clue what we were doing. And now years later, as seasoned fashionistas, we can look back on these fashion disasters and laugh.

Or cry. Whichever you prefer, really.

10. The original Ugg Boot. I already know people are going to rage against this one, but Uggs are not attractive. They’re just not. Comfortable? Yes. Warm? Yes. But not attractive. And although they’re still around today, worn on those rainy/snowy/slushy/extra cold days when nothing else seems quite as appropriate, I will forever think of my high school years as the Uggs-with-skirts years. And those are some very bad years.

9. The Messy Bun. Flip your head over. Compile all of your hair into a ball atop your head. Wrap a hair tie around it. Styling complete. It’s still worn today, but at least in college we can admit that it’s not so much attractive as it is convenient…

8. Platform flip flops. They seemed so cool at the time, and added that extra bit of height that we pre-pubescent teens still needed, but really, really, what were we thinking? “God, I really want my leg to look thick and stumpy”? Thank goodness we’ve traded up to four inch stiletto heels that kill our feet, instead.

7. The poofy prom dress. Or the poofy Sweet 16 dress? The poofy bat mitzvah dress? At some point you wore a dress completely covered in tulle. A dress with sparkles and bows. A dress that you loved at the time. It was THE.PERFECT.DRESS. Now? Well, now you look back and try to even find yourself in all that tulle.

6. Velour Sweatsuits. Granted, these things are also still around, but now they’re associated more with The Real Housewives of New Jersey than they are with impressionable, young high school girls. These probably wouldn’t have looked quite so bad if they didn’t come in the most ridiculous colors ever. Or you know, if they didn’t have the word “juicy” stamped across the butt. Oh yes, which reminds me…

5. Label Whoring. Ed Hardy. Victoria’s Secret. VonDutch. Kangol. Coach. Juicy. Anything with any name that could possibly be placed anywhere. Bedazzled. Bejeweled. Painted on. It didn’t matter where it was, or who it was, as long as people recognized it.

4. Side Swept Bangs. I think I was a junior in high school when the side swept bang craze first hit. Suddenly everywhere I looked, half of a girl’s face was covered by her SUPER CHIC looking bangs. That she cut by herself. Right there in homeroom. With a pair of safety scissors. (True story!) It’s really no surprise that senior year saw the rise of the…

3. Headbands. This was pre-Blair Waldorf. At least, it was for me. Inspired more by the boho chic Mischa Barton, and Nicole Richie, these headbands were super thin little straps of fabric that were really very far from flattering. But that didn’t stop anyone from wearing them.

2. Ponchos. Come on ladies, admit it. Once upon a time you threw on a pair of jeans, your favorite tank top and a brightly colored poncho. Probably something crocheted with lots and lots of fake flowers on it. Think Haley James circa season one of One Tree Hill, which also coincided with my freshman year. Because there’s nothing quite as flattering as a maternity top. Except….

1. Midriff-bearing Tops. No, not the currently popular crop top that flows away from the body (That I really like right now but that will no doubt make it on my list of worst college fashion decisions ever…) but the skin tight baby tee, that was paired with super low rise jeans and sported by Britney and the like.

Ah, memories

Fess up. What were your worst high school fashion mistakes?

Now doesn't that just look refreshing?

Maybe it’s just the 90 degree heat that‘s making me dizzy has me thinking summer, but June 21st is just around the corner and I’m already starting to load up on sundresses and break out the plaid shorts. In honor of the simply fantastic weather that the northeast graced me with this weekend, I’m counting down the 10 summer must-haves.

Don’t worry, you have a whole month and a half to get everything on the list!

10. Everything, and I mean everything in J.Crew
Okay, so I’m on a serious binge right now. But how can you not love the florescent colors in cardigans, tees and shorts paired with their fabulous chunky pearl jewelry and sweet summery pastel floral dresses? Can’t cut the price point? Don’t worry, the site has a whole “Under $100″ section to peruse!

9. Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade
Not quite the same since they’ve discontinued the melon syrup, but still totally refreshing and healthier than a frappucino.

8. The coveted one-piece suit
I’ve never been a bikini girl myself… and the good news is, if you’re a bit shy showing so much skin on the sand this summer, you can now snag a super hot one-piece. Now, more than ever, designers have been answering the cries for one pieces and celebs have been trading in their itsy bitsy, teeny weeny, barely-there bikinis for some ultra sexy one-pieces. Don’t believe me? Just check out Blake Lively and Kourtney Kardashian.

7. Vaykay!
Book a flight and hotel at the beach immediately. With all this hot weather, you deserve to celebrate it somewhere fun and tropical. Book online (check out Voyij or Travelzoo!) for sweet summertime deals.

6. Beach reads
For all that time spent on your relaxing vacation, you’ll need the perfect summertime book. Whether you’re a fan of Chelsea Handler (Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang) or something more serious (Tinkers by Paul Harding), skim Amazon or your local bookstore and load em up on your iPad. Or, you know, just buy the book and flip those actual pages.

5. The perfect sandals
Not sure how to invest your money with sandals? If you’re feeling spendy try Jack Rogers for a classic Navajo sandal look. If you’re feeling thrifty, go for Old Navy’s metallic sandals. They look great and don’t break your bank account!

4. Cocktails, cocktails and cocktails
Learn how to make the perfect margarita this summer to wow your friends. No more store mixes, get to homemade blends. To expand your horizons, throw a rooftop cocktail party and have all your friends bring or make their own cocktails and swap recipes.

3. IRON MAN 2!
Hellooooo, Robert Downey Jr.; oh how I’ve missed you and your sass.

2. Nail polish galore
The verdict for Summer 2010? Pastels galore! Rock green or blue for dark skin, orange and pink for the fair skin. Essie’s Resort collection is a smash hit and looks great on all nails. Plus, with yummy names like “Splash of Grenadine” how can you go wrong?

1. Summer Education
So you’re done with class but that doesn’t mean the learning comes to a standstill! Whether you’re interning, part-time working or doing nothing at all, learn something that you’d never normally do while school’s in session. From surf camp to jewelry making, summer is the perfect time to broaden your horizons and get to a whole new kind of education.

Ah yes, that time of year has arrived once again: shorts weather. You may love it, you may dread it, you may be torn between the two, but you can’t deny it’s upon us. And it’s time to shave your legs.

Even if you’re hating your pasty white, unworked-out legs these days, there will come a time in the near future that you’ll be so hot you’ll have no choice but to put on some shorts. And when that day comes, you’ll want to be prepared. Good thing there are tons of adorable shorts out there right now that will not only keep you cool this summer, but they’ll keep your wallet full, too. Below, 8 of my favorites.

It’s been a long, cold winter, but March and Spring Break are finally here! For those of you spending a week in a warm and sunny environment, here are some Spring-Break-I’m-going-to-paradise-and-I-need-to-look-cute-and-show-off-my-bangin-bod essentials for under $20.

And you know what that means: more margarita money.

Obviously, a bathing suit is the first thing on your list and Forever 21 has a great line of suits that are all $21 or less.  This is just one of my personal faves. The color will look great against your skin and you can pull off those straps easily to avoid an ugly tan line.

Chances are, if you’re anything like me, you’re white as a ghost and ready to look sun-kissed again.  But skip those harmful UV rays at the tanning beds and use this awesome spray tan from Vicky’s Secret.

And speaking of harmful UV rays, you’ll want to be sure to avoid those as much as possible if you don’t want to look like a raisin by the time you’re 25. So make it a point to slather on the sunscreen every morning before you hit the beach! Neutrogena’s sunscreen is consistently ranked at the top and the sheerness of it won’t leave you feeling sticky or icky, which means you can go from day to night easily and comfortably.

Cover-ups are great for those treks to the beach or pool and this one is cute enough that you can still feel sexy when you pop into bar for some beachside cocktails.

Flip flops are another beach necessity, so why not trade in those rubber ones for some that are stylish enough to wear for dinner or a night out on the town.  Once again, these make the transition from beach to party easy, and make the walk home from said party pain free.

You can’t go on vacay without some cute shades, but rather than spending oodles on the hottest designer look, grab some that cost under $10 so you don’t flip when they get scratched by sand, swiped by the pool or taken by the ocean. (And at under $6, you can grab up a couple pairs so you have back-ups.) I love the retro feel of this pair and the fact that the large frames will protect your hungover eyes from that bright sun is just an added bonus.

Keep those premature wrinkles away and look chic doing it with a chic, floppy sun hat.

You’ll want your clothes to do double duty on Spring Break (so you don’t have to pay extra when your suitcase doubles the weight allowance for the flight) so a  tailored pair of denim shorts is key. These are casual enough to wear with your bikini, but the dark wash and added details are nice enough to rock with a pair of wedges and a tight tank for a night on the town.

If Punxsutawney Phil was correct this year, we now only have 3 more weeks of winter, which means we can soon wash away those winter blues and bust out those spring styles.  This year, Pantone’s top color will be turquoise, which is not only a fun, bright color that can be mixed with everything from neutrals to browns to other brights, but it looks great on nearly everyone.

And with Spring Break comin’ quick, now is the perfect time to nab some turquoise!

Here are some great choices under 20 buckaroos that’ll perfectly highlight spring’s most popular hue.

Sure, it looks like your average tank top, but that scoop neck and racer back gives it a whole new dimension. Put this on with a bright bib necklace and some skinny jeans for the ultimate summer look.

I dunno about you, but I’m def looking forward to busting out my flip flops and showin’ off my fresh pedi once the warm weather hits, and these (paired with the perfect tan) will look totally fab with shorts, jeans or sun dresses.  The ultimate spring/summer solution.

And speaking of pedis, how can you resist this awesome turquoise nail polish? It’s funky, fresh and different. Love it.

It’s like those designers at Target heard my prayers. Behold: the cutest romper ever. Both rompers and florals are sure to be everywhere this spring, and this one (notice those ruffles!) is just too cute for words.

Looking for just a burst of color?  Go for this floral cocktail ring.

Cute, colorful and comfy: your go-to summer skirt, for sure. Wear it during the day over a swimsuit with a white ribbed tank, or tuck in something a little tighter and a lot lower for an evening on the town.

These shoes will be absolutely A-dorable with leggings, skinny jeans or a skirt.

Colored denim will be back this season, so why not throw on some turquoise jeans?  With a white tee and sandals these would be totally cute and perfect for your first spring picnic, those last few weeks of the semester or even a casual dinner date.

On Spring Break, however, once you get off the plane at your final destination, you’re in it for the long haul. Though you anticipate your vacay being the highlight of the semester, it can be grueling to go all day, every day, and, being far from home, there’s a lot that can go wrong. Nothing is suckier than getting sick in a foreign place, fighting with your tripmates, or getting into a sticky situation in an unfamiliar place. Make sure you make it back to school in one piece this spring, by taking a few simple precautions.

1. Do your research.

Get some maps, or travel guides with tips, before you leave. Ask people you trust if they can recommend a good hotel. Try to brush up on the local rules or laws of the place you’re headed. The last thing you want to do is get lost, check into a lodging that is reminiscent of hostel, or get in trouble for something you didn’t even think was wrong.

2. Pack wisely.

Flip flops might be a necessity, but what about when you take a day trip that requires walking around all day to take in the sights? Pack a comfortable pair of shoes just in case that long night of clubbing wore out your feet. And even if you think you’re going somewhere tropical and plan to be in a bathing suit all day, it can’t hurt to throw a sweater in your suitcase for when the temperature drops after dark.

3. Give yourself a budget.

Say, “I’m going to spend X dollars a day,” or, “I have this much to spend all week. I should plan to spend 20% on food, 10% on travel, 30% on shopping and excursions, and 20% on nightlife.” Note that these percentages don’t make up 100%. You’ll want some emergency cash in case of a day of indulgence, or to make sure you have enough left to get home at the end of the week. Even if you don’t stick to your budget, you’ll be a lot closer than if you just went on a free-spirited spending spree.

4. Don’t rely on cell phones.

You don’t know where you’ll hit a dead zone, or a high-frequency area that won’t let your calls through. Plus, chances are, once you leave for the day, you’re gone. So what happens if your phone dies? Or if you thought your phone would work overseas, and it suddenly doesn’t. If you and your friends are splitting up into groups, establish a set time and meeting spot, just to make sure you don’t miss each other. Meet up a couple times a day to reevaluate the plan, or say you’ll all get dinner at six and then decide the night’s course of action.

5. Lather up!

Okay, I’m going to backtrack all the way to high school, even though we’re all in college now. It was my senior class trip to Florida, a week before prom. I’m so white I could be considered “Clear” before “Caucasian,” so I reapplied the sunblock like my life depended on it. When we got back to school, I remember one girl’s legs were so burned that they were fire engine red and swollen like tree trunks. And I was the only girl without ridiculous tan lines at the prom.  Shiseido makes a great sunscreen that leaves your skin feeling smooth, not leathery.

6. Stay. In. Groups.

Seriously, not to be your mom or anything, and we’re all grown up enough to know the buddy system is safer than the… stumbling through the streets alone system. Besides, isn’t the point on a high-priced vacation to spend some QT with your faves?

7. Have fun!

Don’t stress about your daily itinerary down to the minute. Don’t freak out if a stranger says “Hello.” Don’t argue with your friends about whether to hit the beach or lounge by the hotel pool. Come one, it’s only seven short days. Enjoy it. You deserve it!

Any other tips? Share them below!