MTV has gone above and beyond lame by giving Lauren Conrad her own fashion line—and making it expensive as hell.

The annoying blond from The Hills (doesn’t narrow it down at all, does it?) has been an intern at Teen Vogue for a while, and I guess after two years of licking envelopes and putting dresses back on hangers, MTV decided she had enough training to put out her own line of boring, expensive crap.

Looking like stuff you could pick up at Forever 21 or H&M for $20, Conrad’s designs (named after herself. How imaginative) range from an $85 to $150 dollars, totally slamming the door on any of her teenage fans who don’t have their parents credit card handy.

After clicking through the small array of rayon shirts and dresses (and a headscarf that costs $25.00), I can’t decide which pisses me off more; the fact that MTV has become so obsessed with money that it no longer applies to normal people, or the fact that girls will actually buy expensive stuff designed by a chick who has no official training whatsoever.

All I’m saying is, if I’m going to buy something that’s almost 90% rayon, I’ll push past the 10-year-olds to the Wet Seal at my neighborhood mall.

Check out the entire Lauren Conrad Collection after the jump! Read More »

• Oh Mary Kate Olsen, if there’s one thing I didn’t want today, it was a visual in my head of you running around naked wearing only jewelry. Real visual? Maybe. (People Magazine)

• Am I crazy or have I been seeing satin shorts in Forever 21 for at least a year? Take that Vera Wang. (FashionchickNYC)

• So now all the smug vegans can drive around in their hybrids feeling smug for yet another reason! Good for them! (Yahoo News)

• “People would walk past the serious work I was doing as a painter and want to see the Etch-A-Sketches.” Ummm…Etch-A-Sketch is serious work. (UK DailyMail)

• If you’re unhappy you get more ice cream! But then what if you’re happy and don’t get as much…doesn’t this make you unhappy? Yes it does. Genius! (wemakemoneynotart.com)

Following the trends can be quite problematic. Especially when you are trying to find the trends on the cheap before every mass retailer has picked it up. And by that point, you’re so over it because EVERYONE has one. Sound familiar? It’s pretty much the story of my life.

Before I get to the trend (sigh, big bags are out). I’m going to tell you a story. And then I’m going to tell you how to remedy our little situation.

In October of 2005, I saw a Calvin Klein ad where the model was wearing FLAT BOOTS. And not just flat boots, but black patent leather pointy toe snakeskin flat boots. And at that point, not only did I want a pair of boots sans their heel, I wanted them right THEN before they became über popular.

Now you can find a pair anywhere. Forever 21, H&M, Payless: they all jumped on the flat boot bandwagon, but a year and a half after I wanted a pair. That year, I spent my fall break in New York and decided that I would find a decently priced (i.e. around 200 dollars) pair of boots. I knew I couldn’t find them for less, if I could even find them at all.

I dragged my then boyfriend to every shoe store in Manhattan looking for a pair of flat boots. Poor guy. That was a rough shopping day.

I knew what I wanted but could not find them for less than 500 bucks. And my college budget sure wasn’t able to afford a pair of shoes THAT expensive.

Eventually, at the end of the day, I found them. My beautiful flat boots were just sitting there on the shelf in a tiny unassuming shoe store on 14th street. And when I went back to school, everyone made fun of my shoes and I was like whatever, bitches! Just you wait!

So now for the new fall trend that can’t be found: small shoulder bags or saddle bags. Whatever you want to call them. Big bags are out for those in the know. As much as I love my big bag, I am a bit tired of lugging so much crap around and having so much accumulate within its cavernous interior. So I am going to embrace this new trend before it becomes too trendy. Problem is, every little bag comes with a big price. Read More »

Let’s get real.

Suspenders aren’t especially groundbreaking or shocking, and they’re definitely not new, but it seems some of Hollywood’s most fashion forward stars beg to differ.

The trend started way back in late 2005 or early 2006 and looked to be picking up some speed; places like H&M and Forever 21 carried suspender dresses and shorts for us ladies looking to be budget trendsetters. Then, as quickly as it came, the idea seemed to just – drop off. Read More »

Forever 21 has been known to our generation as the obvious answer to the quick fashion fix for those who are tight on cash. While low prices are part of Forever 21′s appeal, sometimes neon screen printed tees and plastic jewelry just aren’t what you’re looking for.

Perhaps this is why the company decided to launch a new line called Twelve by Twelve. It will be directed towards a more sophisticated crowd and aim to have a more classic appeal. Read More »

Eyelet is always a staple for spring; cute, feminine eyelet dresses filled the runways in New York, Milan and Paris.According to Style.com, “From Carolina Herrera’s more formal take to BCBG’s more casual look, this is one trend anyone you can take from runway to reality.”

I’ve found a few affordable options that will give you the trend with out the high price tag. Read More »

Strawberries have always been my favorite fruit, so I thought “why not wear one around me neck?”

No? Well whatever your opinion of the fruity fashion accessory, Mischa Barton seems to think it’s a good idea and that means it’s A-OK by me (insert sarcasm here).

Kenneth Jay Lane started the trend (for a whopping $112.) and cheaper versions have popping up everywhere. Pick (no pun intended) up your own strawberry necklace at Forever 21 for only $6.80.