With spring fast approaching (it’s mid-March already?), the floral trend is once again in full swing. Although most people are fairly familiar with this repetitive trend, there are a few things to keep in mind when you’re rocking petals on your outfit.

Here are the 3 biggest tips for keeping florals feminine and sophisticated:

1. Watch the colors you choose for florals. When you pick out a floral-printed piece, make sure you have an item that will go with it and match at least one of the colors.

2. Choose floral patterns that are proportionate to your size and shape. If you are small or big, wearing a huge flower pattern will make you look more so. Also, rock florals on a part of your body you want to bring attention to, not the ones you want people to ignore!

3. To avoid looking like you just escaped from the nursing home, pick floral items in soft, flowing materials such as silk. And make sure they skim your curves but don’t look too tight. Read More »

Exposed zippers are hot. As in, “if you unzipped this my outfit would fall off” hot (in theory – most items are actually double-layered so no need to worry about someone unzipping you!). They also make a piece more interesting.

This trend, already embraced by celebrities like Kate Bosworth, is a must-have for your wardrobe as it will be going strong well into spring and summer, according to Joyce Chang, features editor of People StyleWatch.

“Whether you’re going more refined or tougher, there’s a zippered look for every one and every budget,” Chang said. Here are a few ideas: Read More »

JC Penney may not be the same maven of style that is, say, Fifth Avenue, but they have recently rolled out with a few things that are definitely worth a second look. And a purchase. And some instant gratification from wearing it all right outta the store.

Their newest lines come from tons of fabulous, fashionable designers like, Nicole Miller and Ralph Lauren. They are trendy, good quality and easy on the wallet. I don’t know about you, but I’d take a $15 top over an $80 one any day. With prices like these, I can get triple the wardrobe!

Here are a few highlights from JCPenney’s newest collections. Click on the look to get the deets…and buy the item. Read More »

[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!]

Ruffles always look so elegant and feminine – but that’s not why I love them so much. The best part about ruffles is that they can balance out your body. Small bust and big hips? Put on a top with some ruffles and – poof – an instant chest! Need to add some oomph to your bottom half? Throw on a ruffled skirt! Seen on the runways of Givenchy, Just Cavalli, Giambattista Valli, and others, ruffles are possibly the easiest way to emphasize and enlarge areas that you want to be on display while making other ares (i.e. your waist) appear slimmer. Read More »

Bright colors are all the rage this summer, and there are certainly some rockin’ choices out there. The difficulty exists in walking the fine line between looking fabulous and looking like Bozo the Clown. Here are a few hot tips to get you started.

1. Accessorize.

If you’re feeling a little unsure about bolds, sneak them into your closet in ways that aren’t so obvious. Try a hot pair of purple crocodile-print shoes, an eye-catching tangerine handbag, or a long necklace made of turquoise rock pieces. You can cash in on summer trends while slowly building up your confidence with color. Genius!

2. Get classic pieces.

Buying a pair of lime-green skinny jeans might sound like fun, but think about your ratio of cost to use. Though bolds really shine in the summer, they can (and should!) be worn during other seasons as well. Rather than going all out on an embellished fuchsia tube top that you’ll probably wear a max of three times, you might be better off with something like this, which you can wear over and over again (including in the fall and winter with leggings). Read More »

Can we just call it quits and say leggings are pants? Leggings are pants! LEGGINGS ARE PANTS!

Yes, leggings are very TIGHT pants, but, as long as they’re completely (please God, completely) opaque and they’re either low enough or covered enough to avoid the dreaded camel toe, what’s wrong with ‘em?

Normally, I would not give a shiz about this one way or the other. In fact, no shorter than one month ago, I was very anti-legging. Sure, I thought, they look cute on some girls, but surely they would look totally butt on, say, short curvy little me.

But I ended up buying a pair as a part of a costume, thinking they would look ridiculous. And I laughed at the store. And I laughed backstage. And then I put them on.

And, oh my God, friends, LEGGINGS. Leggings are wonderful! Read More »

I hit the mall the other day and witnessed a wonderfully beautiful sight: Spring clothing. The racks of shorts, tanks and skirts were like the (bright, patent leather) light at the end of a cold and dreary tunnel. I felt euphoric, giddy and a need to spend. I grabbed my friend’s hand and together we skipped from store to store taking it all in.

The colorful shoes.

The exotic prints.

The dresses.

The bags. Oh boy, those bags.

I would have loved to give my credit card a workout and my wardrobe a much needed pick-me-up – as I have found myself wearing only grays and blacks these past few weeks – but the price tags at Nordstrom, etc. were just way bigger than anything I could afford. I pitied myself and my dwindling bank account for a moment, but instead of throwing in the proverbial towel and heading home to sulk in a pile of black sweats, I went in search of equally fabulous, yet far more affordable, Spring pieces.

It was a cinch. Spring trends are all about bright colors, patent leather, and new shapes. Luckily for me and any other lady on a budget, these elements are all very easy to find at any price point. I scoped out my I Have to Have Them But In No Way Can I Afford Them pieces, admired and drooled over them, and then snapped back into reality and went in search of their less expensive brothers.

What I Lusted: Marc by Marc Jacobs “Posh Turnlock” Convertible Clutch

Price: $298 (Ouch.)

This bag adds much needed drama and excitement to the bar-standard black dress or shirt.

The leather is soft, the colors (I prefer yellow) are bright without being too much and the bag is perfect for going out – both in the fact that it will hold everything and can be worn as either a clutch or on your shoulder.

What I Got: Xhilaration (For Target) Envelope Clutch

Price: $17.99

This bag has so much in common with the one by Marc – the perfect size for going out, the perfect color to pop a typical ensemble, the ability to be worn both as a clutch or shoulder bag – for a fraction of the price. Just think about how much better you will feel about spilling beer on an $18 bag versus one for $300. Read More »

It’s hot, it’s cold, oh wait! It’s hot again.

When the weather won’t make up its mind between fall and summer, summer and fall, getting dressed in the morning can be quite problematic. Luckily, trends for the in between have been popping up all over Manhattan, which as we ALL know, is pretty much the center of the universe.

While it may appear that combining the fall and summer trends could be tricky, it’s really quite easy. Layer it on so it’s easy to take off.

Basically, the seasonal transition time is a fashion free for all where most anything goes.

Here are a few street trends to try when its not too hot but not too cold: Read More »

We’ve all had the 8:30 AM class. Or the 9:00 AM class. Hell, even 10:00 AM is early when you were up until 3:00 the night before, squinting over notes that no longer made any sense.

At that time of morning, even the vainest girl barely has enough energy to pull on something resembling clothing and make sure her face is free of pimple-freezing cream. Besides, you’re just gonna be sitting in some classroom for two hours, and it’s guaranteed no one else’s eyes will be open either. So you wore your pajamas to class! Who cares? It’s not like they’ll be able to tell who you are, anyway, with that hoodie pulled over your face.

But here’s my question, what about those girls who wear their pajamajamas past the hour of 1:00 PM? Who are still unable to face the world during at 4:30 PM Zoology lecture class? Do we have empathy for them? Or are we just confused?

Because more often than not, these pajayjay wearing gals are the same gals who hit the weekend in pumps and skirts and a full face of make-up. Once 11:00 PM rolls around, they’re beautiful and shining and wouldn’t be caught dead near anything baggy or ripped. What is this? What kind of phenomenon are we witnessing here?

Read More »