Do you ever feel like you can’t pull something off? Have trendy pieces in your closet that you would never have the courage to actually wear out? Well take those pieces out, shake off the dust, and continue reading!

In this series, I will choose a different piece that can be difficult to incorporate into an outfit and give you ideas on how to wear it. If there’s anything you would like to read about in the future, please leave a comment!

One of my favorite layering pieces this fall is the sweater vest. It’s so versatile – you can wear it with practically anything and anywhere. Sweater vests should no longer be associated with something your grandpa would wear, because this fall they will be everywhere, in all shapes, lengths, colors, and patterns. With so many options available, it gets confusing to pick out the perfect items to pair with your vest.

1. To work: When you head to your job/internship, you can rock a sweater vest the traditional way. Layer a collared blouse underneath and throw on a pair of dress pants. To avoid being boring and librarian-esque, think about playing around with colors too; the under shirt doesn’t have to be white! Here are some sweater vests that are perfect for work (1. Old Navy, 2. Forever 21).

2. When you’re going to class or out shopping for the day, you can get a little more trendy with the sweater vest. Try a cropped style over a basic white top with jeans, or a longer cardigan style vest with leggings. There aren’t really any specific rules on how to wear this look – almost anything will work. The one guideline you should follow is this: if your vest makes a statement on its own (i.e. with an argyle pattern or oversized buttons), keep the layer underneath it simple. If the vest is plain, feel free to pair it with something a little more interesting (like the plaid shirt the model is wearing with this Joie cashmere vest from Nordstrom.

If you don’t own a vest already, get one! There are so many options to choose from right now, so you are bound to find one that fits your personal style. Basic blacks and greys are great for sweater vests, but it’s also fun to add a little color to your outfit. Here are two really cute options from Robert Rodriguez on Bluefly.com (left), and Anthropologie (right).

And if you are on a budget (like me), here are two really cute cardigans from Target (left) and Forever 21 (right) which are both about $20.

The guilt set in and now this weekend is all about shopping for my family and friends.

Then I found hautelook.com. Sh*t.

Avert your eyes! This site is amazing but a total drain on your wallet (due to selection–not prices!). Just in case you’re willing to spend some cash on some discounted designer duds here’s the lowdown:

Hautelook.com is a member-only site where the user can sign up to receive discounts on major designer apparel–up to 75% off!

You gain access to sample sales days before everyone else. And if you know anything about real-life sample sales…this is a Godsend. No more elbows to the face, disgruntled bitches, and long lines! It’s a Christmas miracle!

Designers like Miguelina, Robert Rodriguez, and starting next week, Development by Erica Davies are available, so get your clicking finger ready.

And refer a friend…you both get $10 credit! Hey, it’s one present off the list, right?

.1. Know everything about film? Your knowledge was wasted. Know nothing about film? Death Proof’s self-indulgence was irritating.

2. Dearth of MACHINE GUN LEG.

3. Gratuitous violence is especially lame when it’s not gratuitous at all.

4. You can lose with a film that is genre-classified as Action / Crime / Horror / Sci-Fi / Thriller / Comedy, but is actually only half-Action, quarter-Comedy.

5. Fake trailer “Werewolf Women of the S.S.” directed by Rob Zombie was actually the weakest of all the faux previews.

Did Grindhouse live up to the hype?

6. Did I mention… the dearth of MACHINE GUN LEG?

7. Rose McGowan was hot indeed, however Rosario had a bad haircut. And Naveen – poor Naveen – sported a headband in lieu of any facial hair. I realized just how glad I am that those Losties don’t shave.

8. Fergie did play a lesbian, but it was literally all talk, no action.

9. Killer death cars only enjoyed about 10% of screen time.

10. Planet Terror plot was, indeed, awesome. However, Death Proof plot = four chicks spouting empty Tarantino-masturbatory dialogue and only, like, 10 minutes of death-proofmobile.

Know nothing about film? Then this sex/violence double-feature will engage you enough to veil your ignorance.

2. MACHINE GUN LEG.

3. Gratuitous violence is especially awesome when spurting red corn syrup and paying homage to exploitation films.

4. You can’t lose with a film that is genre-classified as Action / Crime / Horror / Sci-Fi / Thriller / Comedy.

5. ZOMG! Fake trailer entitled “Werewolf Women of the S.S.” – directed by Rob Zombie!

6. Did I mention… MACHINE GUN LEG?

7. Rose McGowan + Rosario Dawson x Naveen Andrews = holy hotness.

8. Art imitates life when Fergie plays a lesbian.

9. Killer death cars are the new black.

10. Planet Terror plot: Biochemical weapon infects a town – turning its citizens into flesh-eating zombies – and it can only be saved by a vigilante Go-Go dancer.

There’s been a lot of buzz lately over the upcoming movie “Grindhouse.” I know it’s like, a guy movie and all, but I gotta say, it looks kind of cool. Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” and “Kill Bill” films were pretty good, and although I haven’t seen Robert Rodriguez’ “Sin City” or “The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D” yet, I hear they rocked the $@%. Well, that’s what I heard about “Sin City” anyway.

Plus, Rose McGowan has a gun for a leg in “Grindhouse.” And that would be sweet!

After the anticipation, PageSix just reported that the flick finally has a rating. Instead of NC-17, (there was supposed to be one scene where a guy get his head gets chopped off while his girlfriend gives him a blow job, but that was cut) now it’s just rated R. Lame-O.

Either way, it’s still very college-age appropriate, and it still looks like a good movie. Not a girls’ night out movie in which you all paint your nails and gossip about the cute actors afterwards kind of movie. But a movie in which, if a guy asks you on a date, you could say, “Let’s go check out ‘Grindhouse,’” and you’d not only enjoy it, but he’d think you were cooler than a girl with a gun for a leg.

“Grindhouse” opens April 6, 2007.

Check out the trailer: