The September Issue: The Essentials

There are a lot of reasons to look forward to autumn: pumpkin spice lattes, the leaves changing color, good television, and – oh yeah – Fall fashion. September is the January of the fashion world, with designers battling it out to set this year’s trends, and magazines battling it out to report them.

The September Issues are back for another year, and bigger than ever. This month’s Vogue was over 700 pages. Glamour released its largest issue in 20 years.  And don’t forget about InStyle, Elle, Marie Claire, and Harper’s Bazaar. That’s a lot of reading material, even for a seasoned fashionista. So consider this your fashion cheat sheet. I’ve drooled over slaved over pages and pages of bags, boots, coats, and colors to bring you this seasons it items (without 497 pages of ads). Enjoy! Read More »


Wardrobe Wish List: Deena & Ozzy Canvas Menswear Tote

I have an unhealthy obsession with handbags, but then again who doesn’t? It just seems like no matter how many you have thrown in the closet, an outfit always manages to emerge requiring a clutch or hobo that you don’t own.

That bag for me at the moment is the Deena & Ozzy Canvas Menswear Tote from Urban Outfitters. I’ve already had a couple of warm weather ensembles that felt like they were missing something and the minute I laid eyes on this bag I knew it was just what I needed.

It reincarnates the lazy, romance of summer with its soft canvas material and adorable buckle strap closure. It reminds me of a student traveling abroad in a romantic European country. And I am ready to bring a little European romance into my totally average American life. The mix of details is genius; the classic canvas tote is updated with a rustic flare from the buckled closure and soft leather detailing.

And the bag is so versatile that you can choose to channel certain details to complete an outfit.

Read More »


Day-to-Night Styler: Maximizing Your Style

Maxi dresses are everywhere and are not only super cute and stylish (in that boho kinda way), but they’re a perfect look for everything from shopping, museum hopping, or BBQing in the park, to a glamorous evening on the town. And all you need are a few quick changes.

You can find maxi dresses in all sorts of price ranges, but if you’re looking for less expensive versions, your best bets are Target , Wet Seal ,Charlotte Russe or Forever 21.  I love the colors and style of this dress, and the halter style works well for those of us who are on the bustier side (I would also recommend wearing a tank or a tube top underneath if you’re not wanting to Leave it to Cleavage).

wet seal dress Read More »


Day-to-Night Styler: Hanging With the BF (Jean)

Boyfriend jeans are a huge hit this season and I love ‘em not only cuz they’re totally comfy, but because they can easily go from cute & casual for day, to sexy & sassy at night with a few quick changes.

The key to BF jeans is finding ones that are still feminine and not too baggy.  It’s easy for this style to quickly look like you’re just shlubbin’ around, but if you find the right fit, they can be super cute and girly.  And don’t worry about dropping a couple hundred bucks on a cut that may not last for more than a season or two; you can get really cute Boyfriends (the jeans…not the lover) at stores like Target, Wet Seal, Forever 21 or Charlotte Russe.

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Spring is in the Bag: Spring 2009 Handbag Trends

vintage-chanel-handbag

So it’s a new season and that means new trends on all fronts, including one of my personal faves: handbags!

This season keep your eyes open for some of the usual suspects (oversized bags, clutches and pops of color), some rollover from the fall (fringe) and some new looks (well, not necessarily new, but trends we haven’t seen in a while).

Here are some of the biggest bag trends of spring/summer 2009… Read More »


I’m Torn: Oversized Bags

Hill Duff Big Bag[Life isn’t black and white. As much as we wish we simply loved or hated things, there is often that whole annoying gray area in the middle. Like, we hate getting up for early morning classes, but we love being done by 11. Or, we love how Spanx make us look, but hate how sweaty we get putting them on... Damn you, gray area; you make decision-making that much more complicated!

There are so many difficult choices in life (do we love or hate high heels??), so we thought we’d sort through ‘em right here. Every week we will discuss another issue we are torn up about. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section!]

Big bags have been increasingly in style for the past couple of years. Designer oversized bags are often seen on the shoulders of celebrities as they appear in the pages of UsWeekly or on Perez. It’s only natural that this is a look we want to emulate. But is it worth it? I’m torn.

Love it: Most importantly, big bags let you carry ALL of your stuff wherever you go. Class? Party? Airport? Whatever! They are SO versatile, and look cute in practically any situation. You can tote your glasses, iPod, makeup case, wallet, magazine, camera, big sunglasses, Blackberry, ALL of it, anywhere, in style!

But really, let’s be honest–we really love them because an oversized purse make most girls look skinnier. There’s something oddly slimming about carrying a supersized bag, and body conscious girls tend to know this and use it to their advantage. A big bag almost always make their wearer appear more dainty in comparison.

Loathe it: Unfortunately all of this amazingness comes at a price. First, all of all, all of that crap you packed in there tends to get lost and create a mess in that bag of yours. Before you know it, you’re digging through your stuff and all of the things that have accumulated with it, such as gum wrappers and spilled eyeshadow, to get to the bottom of your bag to attempt to switch off your ringing cell phone in the middle of class. Read More »