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.

If you haven’t heard about TOMS shoes yet you are really missing out. Not just because the shoes are cute. And not just because the shoes are so comfy it feels like you are walking around campus in slippers. Or on clouds. Or marshmallows. (Hm. I could totally go for a s’more right now… but I digress). But because the premise on which TOMS shoes exists is pretty remarkable.

For every pair you buy, TOMS will donate a pair of shoes to a child in a developing country who is in need. And since beginning in 2006, TOMS has given over 600,000 shoes to children in need. Talk about your purchase going to a greater good (and I’m not just talking about the greater good that is you looking totally cute, although TOMS shoes do that too).

So here are four of my favorite ways to rock the TOMS, wherever you may be going. And four pairs for you means four for kids who REALLY need the shoes. Fashion has never felt so good.

Gray TOMS:
The gray TOMS happen to be my personal favorite. They are the new neutral and are perfect with boyfriend jeans and complimentary colors. (I love pinks or purples with gray. Blues, corals, oranges and most pastels look great too. And, of course, black, red or white!) Leave this cute bomber jacket open and tuck in the tank since the jeans are slouchy. By keeping the top fitted and the bottom loose, you can still show that you have a figure and aren’t just trying to hide the past month of late night pizza.

Product Information: Shoes: Toms, $43.95; Jeans: Old Navy, $14.99; Jacket: Old Navy, $29.50; Tank: Lulus, $33.

Silver Glitter Toms
I kept this look simple. For all of us who have far too many plain black dresses in our closet, now we can let our feet do the talking. Fun enough for day and dressy enough for night (and so much more comfortable). Also adorable with black skinnies, a solid bright color scarf (think hot pink) and a black, white, or gray tank. [Note: I hate that necklace in the photo and do not, under any circumstances, want you wearing it with those shoes.]

Product Information: Shoes: Toms, $54.95; Black dress: Express, $39.50

Neutral Toms
Pair with a cute sundress, any cute sundress; it’s pretty hard to find something that DOESN’T match these. Add some bold accessories and start frolicking. I love the juxtaposition of the girly dress and the more masculine shoe. Adorbs.

Product Information: Shoes: Toms, $43.95; Dress: BB Dakota on Lulus, $50; Bracelet: Forever 21, $5.80

Red and White
These shoes go with that beloved nautical theme everyone’s so excited about this season. Another reason to get them? Their cute-ness should be reason enough. This time, the shirt is roomy and the shorts are tailored. If short shorts aren’t your thing go for a fitted pant like a skinny jean or mid length short.

Product Information: Shoes: Toms, $68.95; Top: Lulus, $32; Shorts: Delias, $34.50; Purse: Forever 21, $27.80

Summertime.

Time to work on our tans, hang at the beach (or on some sick yacht if you happen to know the right people), and wear all those totally cute clothes that only work for three months out of the year.  Summer is a great time to bust out pastels, white linen and, one of my personal faves, seersucker.

I know you may be thinking that seersucker is old-fashioned and outdated, but there are tons of options out there that are stylish, modern and work well for all different types of gals.  The best part about these pieces? You can totally find them for $50 and under (and I did!). So go ahead, let yourself get sucked in by this whimsical print.

My love of seersucker was renewed when I found this darling romper on lulus.com.  It’s got such a childlike innocence about it and brings me back to those dog days of summer, running around the yard barefoot and slurping on bomb pops, but with the right accessories and shoes, you can make it totally grown up and sassy.

There are tons of adorable skirt & dress options out there as well. Here are a few of my personal favorites (and none of them will empty your wallet).

For those end-of-summer chillier nights, or for a seersucker look you can wear to work, go for some slacks, a blazer or a vest. The blazer would look perfect with a pair of jeans, and pairing the vest with a simple white t-shirt and shorts would be the ultimate summer BBQ look.

Nothing says “lazy summer day” like an adorable pair of seersucker shorts or capris.

And we’re all planning on hittin’ up the beach this summer, so why not rock out a seersucker swimsuit?

Throw on one of these darling looks and you’re sure to be an instant classic.

This dress from Forever 21 is totally cute and flattering for a number of different body types. It’s long enough to sport to class or while running around town with mom, but sexy enough to dress up for later. And, better yet, at $11.50 a pop, you can buy it in more than one color.  I love the pink, blue and purple for spring.

Pair it with a pair of comfy, yet totally stylish silver sandals for those jaunts to class. I love these sandals because they are extremely comfortable and cheap, but much hotter than your average pair of Old Navy flips.

When it comes to daytime accessories, you obvi don’t want to go over-the-top-I’m-trying-too-hard. Plus, keeping it simple means getting a few more minutes of snooze time. Just go light with the extras and you will look perfectly put together for class.

I am loving this dainty and stylish hummingbird necklace and it’s the perfect way to accessorize without overpowering the neckline of the dress. And hey, at less than $5, it’s a great and inexpensive piece that’ll go well with all sorts of summer wear. I’m also a huge advocate for the simplicity and versatility of hoop earrings for all occasions and this pair brings a new twist onto this classic.

Now when it’s time to head out for the evening, all you need is a quick shoe change and the addition of a cocoon top cardigan and you’re set.

Gray is a great neutral color that looks fantastic with the brights and pastels of spring/summer. It will instantly glam up that cotton dress, taking it from “boring lecture” to “bumpin’ beer garden.”

These wedges will not only be more comfy than a pair of stilettos, but the detail in the fringe and grommets gives this shoe the perfect amount of sexiness to really punch up the outfit.  And since Payless is having one of their BOGO (buy one, get one 1/2 off) sales, you can get both pairs of shoes (see above!)  for under $50. Not sure there is any better news.

This outfit is an easy way to look fabulous for any occasion, and hey, who knows, maybe you’ll even find your spring fling while you’re in it.

I don’t know about you, but after what seemed to be the most grueling. winter. ever. I am excited and eager to dust off my spring wardrobe… and add some new pieces to it. As is always the case with the new season, we have some new trends (along with a few piggy-back trends of season’s past) to spice up our wardrobes.

Here are some of Spring 2009’s hottest trends:

Back to Basics: Black & White

It’s not nearly as versatile as the LBD (little black dress) and won’t be replacing it anytime soon, but the white dress is huge for spring. Contrary to the simplicity of the LBD, the white dress is all about glamour, so look for ruffles, maxi-lengths and sheer fabrics (another uber-trend this season). It’s time to bring out your inner goddess!

Along with the white dress, we’re seeing great dresses, tops and skirts that flaunt graphic black on white prints. This look makes a bold and fresh statement and is a great way to stand out in a sea of LBD.

A Suit-able Choice: Pantsuits and Short-suits (AKA jumpers/rompers)

We’ve seen the short-suits for the last couple of seasons, and they’re big again this year, but we are also seeing the pantsuit make a comeback. Don’t worry; it’s got a lot more style. If you are brave enough to rock this trend,  be sure to go for a drapey look and not a super tight number. If done right, this style can be incredibly chic. If done wrong, however, it can be incredibly Jazzercise.

Color Me Bad: Color, Color, Color!!!

As is always the case, color is extremely popular this season. Bright colors like neon oranges and bright blues were prominent on the runways, but the two main color staples for this season are hot pink/magenta and yellow. You can brighten up any outfit with pops of these colors and they’re wonderfully versatile hues that can be matched with pretty much every skin tone.

If you’re not wanting something quite so in-your-face, muted brights like mint-green, coral and pastels are also a great way to add some zing. Another color trend we’re seeing pop up this season are flashes of neon; shoes or the lining on a coat are great ways to play up this 90′s trend without busting out the Hypercolor shirts and biker shorts.

Detail-Oriented: From Ruffles to Leopard Print and Everything In Between

This season puts a lot of emphasis on details, especially the epitome of feminine detailing: ruffles and bows. Look for them at the shoulder and on the hip. You’ll also see leopard print (picking up where giraffe print left off last year); sequins and glitter; big, bold prints (floral, graphic and even tribal inspired); and lace. Finding pieces with fun & interesting details are sure to make you stand out.

Take a Chill Pill: Relaxed Fit Pants

This cut is similar to the boyfriend jeans style that emerged in the fall; it is loose and easy at the hips, then tapers delicately above the ankle. This looks to be spring’s most popular silhouette and it also wins for this season’s most comfortable trend, as you can give your thighs a break from those super skinny jeans.

The Royal Treatment: Cleopatra-Inspired Looks

Asymmetrical tops and dresses, harem pants (one of this season’s most unexpected looks) and jeweled necklines all pay homage to the queen herself. If you’re going for the asymmetrical look, long, flowy dresses are a newer take on this trend. If you’re brave enough to try out the harem pants, be sure to pair these with belts, chunky heels and drapey tops to get the right look. You are going for modern, not MC Hammer.

There are other trends you’ll spot this season such as boho/hippie chic and excessive accessories, but these 6 are bound to be the biggest ones out there. Find your favorites and make ‘em your own; you’ll not only be basking in the warmer weather, but you’ll look lovely doin’ it, too.