I know there is a serious anti-summer-scarf movement out there, but I am not a part of it. I love scarves – yes, even in the summer. They are really versatile pieces and can really add a lot to an otherwise boring wardrobe. And they can be incorporated in many ways – not just tying those suckers around your neck.

This summer, a lightweight scarf (e.g. silk) is an essential accessory. If you don’t own one already, you can buy one for less than $20 at these stores: Delia’s, Gap, Charlotte Russe, Forever 21. Or buy a few from all of these stores; there are so many cute things you can do with ‘em, you’re going to wanna stock up.

The most common way to wear a summer scarf is, obviously, around your neck. They can be tied in several different ways to fit your personal style best. Wear a blouse with a small silk scarf tied right at the neck (no, it’s not just for moms!), or let a longer, cotton scarf hang down over a dress, tee or tank. If you have a large square shaped scarf, fold it into a triangle and drape it (lay across your chest and bring the edges around behind your neck) over a t-shirt for an instantly chic-ified look.

1. Chicos Glimmer Daisy Scarf $25
2. Express Silk Scarf $14.99
3. Urban Outfitters silk jacquard scarf $28

Another way to wear a scarf is as a belt. To jazz up a pair of jeans, pull a long, colorful scarf through the belt holes and tie at the side. Just keep your top relatively simple so that the patterns don’t clash. You can also use a fun scarf to cinch the waist of a dress. Here the scarf does double flatter-duty: it highlights your smallest part and draws positive attention to it by catching everyone’s eye.

1. Gap Silk Petal Tie Dye Scarf $9.99
2. Forever 21 Knotted Back Knit Dress $18.90
3. Forever 21 Crinkled  Tie Dye Scarf  $4.50
4. True Religion Billy Straight Leg Jeans $175

You can also add a touch of personal style (while saving some moolah) to a handbag by tying a silky scarf to the handle. Instead of carrying multiple handbags, carry the same one each day and tie a new scarf on.

1. Tommy Hilfiger Delray Item Tote $69 at Endless.com
2. Charlotte Russe Tropical Floral Scarf $8.99

Heck, I can even dig the change from heels to flip-flops and gladiator sandals. It’s so much easier to walk back to your room at four in the morning when you don’t have to worry about stepping on broken glass. However, there are a few fashion statements that I can never understand.

1. Wearing scarves when the weather drops below 70. I’m from NYC, so I thought I understood scarves. You wear them when it’s ten below zero to keep you face from freezing off. Or, on the off chance that you forget your concealer and turtleneck at home, you wear it to your Monday morning class to cover up the massive bruise on your neck. But nothing in the world will convince me that the thin piece of fabric wrapped three times around your throat is doing anything to keep you warm. Especially when all you’re wearing with it is a miniskirt and Uggs. This brings me to my next fashion complaint.

2. Uggs. Has anyone ever actually looked at these monstrosities? Everyone constantly complains about the loser who wear Crocs, but no one says a word about these bad boys. And I hate to break it to you, but they do not make your feet look cute. In fact, they are down-right hideous. I realize that they’re comfy. Flips-flops serve the same function. I understand that they’re warm. Wear comfy sneakers and toe socks, or even fur lined boots. Only please, could you wear shoes that don’t resemble a cross between something out of a Tolstoy novel and a six years old drawing? Uggs. Ugly. See the resemblance. Please don’t wear the shoes.

3. Tights (and leggings) as pants. I’m not sure who started the trend, but suddenly tights stopped being the geeky thing your mom told you to wear to your fourth grade Valentine’s Day party and started becoming a fashion staple. And I couldn’t be happier. I could wear dresses in the winter in NYC and not resemble an icicle. However, I have never once considered them as a substitute to pants. Why didn’t anyone else get this memo? I’m sure you’ve seen this before -  you’re in line at your cafeteria and you hear something crash. You turn towards the sound and you see a girl bending down to pick up her tray and you can see every curve of her ass through those tights.

Believe me – it’s not flattering. In fact, it’s like watching a train wreck. You know it’s going to scar you for life, but you just can’t look away. Why are girls doing this? We spend years trying to find those perfect jeans that minimize our butts while making our legs look longer. Then, in one fell swoop, you destroy any illusion that your thighs were naturally that skinny. Tights as pants do not look good on anyone, regardless of your size. They maximize every calorie and show off the body parts that you’re squeamish about showing in bed. So here’s a new rule: if you would never wear a top without the tights, please don’t wear it with them.

You’ve got cute tops and bottoms hanging in the closet, just waiting for the weather to warm up so you can show them off. It’s still winter, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay all bundled up in black and gray. Get a head start on Spring and more use out of your pieces by working them into your Winter wardrobe.

Floral Pieces

Show off your girly side with fun floral pieces. Whether they are tops or skirts, they can add a burst of color to a rather dull outfit. You can go for very bright colors, which will surely catch everyone’s eye, or darker shades for a feminine look that’s not too loud. To prevent from looking as though you are colorblind, keep other articles of clothing dark.

Lace Pieces

Want a more sophisticated look? Lacey pieces are the way to go. They’re feminine and delicate, a great contrast to the thick sweaters and turtlenecks we have been wearing throughout Winter. If the top is thin, layer with a solid color underneath for a bit of extra warmth.

Tights and Leggings

You don’t have to wear pants all Winter long. Make use of your shorts and skirts by wearing tights under them. The same can be done for dresses. What’s more is that colored tights can give your outfit that pop of color, making it more playful (go ahead, let that Gossip Girl inside of you out). If you’re still cold, wear leggings instead and pull on high boots.

Scarves

Scarves, specifically the square ones that can be worn in warmer weather, add color and print to your outfit without being overwhelming. Cover your face with one to achieve that thuggish look you’ve been dying to try out.

2008 was an interesting year for fashion. Gone (thankfully) were the maternity tops of 2007, replaced by blasts from the past inspirations from the 20s through the days of our best pals on Beverly Hills 90210. We saw everything from the mom-jean to the 90s flannel button down. Some of it was fab, and some of it… not so much. So, let’s take a look at this year’s fashion highs and fashion oh-hell-no’s.

Because without the crap we can’t appreciate the couture.

Here are my top 5 fashion must-haves from 2008:

The High Waist

Sure we spent years trying to get people to stop wearing them only to bring them right back in, but let’s face it: we should be thankful that we don’t have to look at butt cracks and muffin tops a day longer. These pants look good on just about everyone… as long as they aren’t acid washed…or paired with a denim jacket.

The Vintage Scarf

There is something about Hollywood starting trends of cold-weather wear in warm weather regions that seems to catch on like hot fire. First we saw Uggs popularity soar back in 2003 with stars in shorts and boots trudging around LA. This year it was the scarf that made its way to the West Coast. Everywhere you turned, there was Jessica Alba in another fabulously printed scarf. These colorful scarves spruced up wardrobes, covered hickies (for those of you who still get them), and made any drab outfit instantly chic.

The Plaid or Gingham T

I was admittedly resistant to this trend at first. After all, my brothers wore these with hiking boots and Cavariccis to high school back in 1996. I didn’t like them then and I didn’t think I would like them now. Until designers – from the Couture to Forever 21 – made them tailored and colorful and so. freakin. cute, especially when tucked into a pair of those mom jeans I’ve come to love so much.

The Belt

Whereas 2007 was all about hiding that belly under too-big tops, 2008 brought us the cinched waist. Thank you, fashion peeps of the world! Now everything – jackets, dresses, tops – come paired with a belt for an instantly chic and flattering look. The best part: you can take all those maternity shirts from last year and glam ‘em up instantly with this year’s hottest accessory. And if by chance you get knocked up? Just remove that belt and, Viola!

Bright Colors

The little black dress was obsolete this year with the addition of bright colors and jewel tones. Seriously, everywhere you walked looked like a gay pride parade! You name your favorite Crayola crayon color and I will find you a shirt, dress and pair of skinny jeans in that hue.

The Oh-Hell-No Looks of 2008:

One-Piece Jumpers

I don’t care if Rhianna rocked them; they look good on no one. Unless, of course, you are a fan of the camel toe.

Leather Leggings

Leggings as pants can be tricky when not worn in a flattering way. Add the fact that they are leather and you have yourself a recipe for disaster. Leather leggings make women look like they are walking on lumpy sausages. Does that sound even remotely sexy to you? I didn’t think so. These bad boys are never flattering. Not ever. Not even for a second.

1. Hot Pants. After watching Katy Perry strut her girl-smooching stuff at the 2008 MTV VMAs, I couldn’t get over her outfit. While her hair and makeup was flawless, she was sporting some seriously short-shorts. Maybe it’s because my thighs would look horrendous, or maybe its because I just think shorts that look like underwear are not flattering on anyone, but hot pants are a definite no.

2. The Nicole Richie Headband. I don’t mind pushing your hair back when you need to get it out of your face, but that headband over your hair, Woodstock look that Nicole Richie and the like sport all the time, just doesn’t work for me.

3. Baggy Jeans and Heels. You can thank Katie Holmes for this one. Baggy, loose fitting jeans are for men, ladies. I’m not saying we need to wear ‘em skin tight, but the fall-off-your-hips look and saggy ass is so NOT flattering.

4. Scarves in the Summer. 100 degrees in LA and people are wearing scarves with T-shirts. I don’t get it. Scarves are for the winter peeps, leave ‘em there.

5. Gladiator Shoes. I like me a little dominatrix look, definitely, very sexy, but not when they’re over the top. Some of these shoes are just wayyyyy too much. Too much leather. Too many studs. Too high of a heel. Tone it done and let it work.

What are some trends YOU despise???

[photo courtesy of urbanog.com]

It makes a schlumpy outfit look instantly pulled together (perfect for class) and it makes a dressy top that you would want to wear on a weekday (read: walk home from that cute boy’s place) a bit more casual (and not so obvious).

They keep you warm, spruce up an outfit and cover up hickeys (do people still even get hickeys anymore?!). Pretty much – scarves are perfection.

Jessica Alba jumped on this trend long ago and I think it’s time we all follow suit…er…scarf. I know this week I’m neglecting an entire ‘fit, but that’s the beauty of the scarf/wrap: it really goes with EVERYTHING.

Alba’s colorful scarf if from the Tolani collection. She has been seen out and about in the Zig-Zag and the Honeycomb – both adorable and not horribly priced (at $85), since you can wear them all year round.

But if $85 is a bit too much for a little neckwear, there are tons of cheaper options.

The peace-sign scarf. This is a cute, lighter-weight option that is great to throw on over anything. Wrap it up or let it hang. And for $9.90 you can buy it in all three colors!!

Anthropologie has a plethora of scarves in stock to keep up with this popular trend. I like this muted diamond option as a great transition piece for Spring or fall.

The basket-weave. I love this one because its monochromatic so it won’t overpower your style, but the weave gives it texture. Pair it with some skinny jeans, black motorcycle boots and a killer vintage T. Oh and of course, way-too-big- sunglasses (duh).

There you have it ladies! Fashion for your neck at every price point. Who needs Burberry now?!