I can dress myself

I couldn't resist, it was only $14

2010-01-31T06:08:00.008-05:00

This was a rare find at Hollister and I can't wait to wear it over sundresses and sheer T-shirts as soon as the weather gets more on my level a.k.a. warmer than it is now. Maybe in the meantime I can layer it over turtlenecks?

A pair that doesn't fit

2010-01-14T12:16:00.006-05:00

When I heard that Jimmy Choo and Ugg Australia were getting together, as in create-a-collaborative-shoe-that-somehow-embodies-sheepskin-and-fine-Italian-leather together, not meet-and-greet-at-a-fashion-event together, I was horrified.

Every little girl dreams of one day owning her own pair of Jimmy Choos, not Ugg boots. The limited edition collection will debut this October and will carry the same high price tag that comes with the Jimmy Choo brand. I was content with Jimmy Choo & H&M, but certainly not Jimmy Choo & Ugg.

My deep-rooted dislike of Ugg boots is something that I'll spare you, since the blog post can get long and ugly and I'd like to exhibit the same niceness that you, my reader, have given me. However, I don't believe I'm alone in saying that I can't see where this collaboration is going, nor do I wish to see where it's going. I wouldn't be so harsh to say that this effort is a waste of time, because there are still individuals that consider Uggs a fashion statement. Uggs are far too mainstream on college campuses (still!) and this overused trend is everything that luxury brand Jimmy Choo isn't.

What do you think? Is it a good move or bad move, on both of their parts? And if you say "good move" while confessing your undying love for sheepskin, I might have to immediately judge you.

I can't be that nice.

Playing in (and around) the ocean just got cuter

2010-01-10T22:47:00.017-05:00

It's easy to strike up a conversation about the current water conditions or wave a friendly "Hello" to nearby ocean lovers while surfing. For major designer Cynthia Rowley, however, she chatted about much more than the changing tides when shredding with Randy Hild, Roxy executive vice president of marketing. The result of this specific surf session is Rowley's collaboration with Quiksilver's women clothing line, Roxy. Set to hit Barneys this spring, the line is exactly what one would expect from the whimsical imagination of Rowley and sporty, water-minded Roxy. The collaboration includes a surfer girl's necessities, like neoprene fabric, sandals and cover ups, but gives it a girly, neon twist with geometric patterns and colors so bright you'll need shades.

I've been into Roxy since I was a little girl due to my Jersey-shore roots, so this collaboration is a pleasant surprise. Since then, the amount of T-shirts I own with the Roxy heart emblem are innumerable, which is why this is a fashionable move outside of Roxy's usual territory (i.e. not slapping its logo on everything under the sun). I hope it takes more ideas from high fashion while keeping its beach origins.

Regardless, surfing and dressing in the winter isn't a fun task in the chilly East coast, so as a surfer and fashionista, I have a lot to look forward to come Spring.

Isn't he the best?

2010-01-10T11:54:00.005-05:00

"It is always a little sad when you see things you'd love to wear but know that it would never look good on you. A chunky cardigan like his can only be worn well by someone bringing none of their own chunk to the collaboration of man and knitwear. It is a sad truth but I am wiser for knowing it and planning my wardrobe accordingly."
— Scott Schuman, The Satorialist

Daily inspiration

2010-01-07T10:51:00.002-05:00

I've officially made LookBook my homepage.

The girl inside of me squeals with excitement

2010-01-07T10:24:00.008-05:00

I'm a little late on Rodarte for Target since the collection came out last month (I blame finals and the holidays) but that doesn't make me any less of a fan. Although I'm crying myself to sleep every night since the leopard print coat is sold out in every Target in my area (in both New Jersey and Delaware), I'm honing in on this leopard print dress that little Dakota Fanning rocks in the December/January issue of Teen Vogue:

I haven't been this happy with a Target collaboration in awhile. Between the stone-washed denim with sailor-knot details and lacy dresses I wish I'd worn to high school dances, Rodarte for Target effectively appeals to the mass market while creating pieces that stand out in a girl's closet.

And don't forget that every item I've mentioned above is less than $50!

Story Time

2009-12-21T22:32:00.007-05:00

When it comes to fashion, I usually choose beauty over functionality if a compromise cannot be made.

When I stayed at Camel Back last weekend, I initially chose the former. After a few rides down the mountain, I began to feel as if my face was going to fall off from frostbite, and it wasn't because my snowboard was flying a million miles per hour — it was just that cold. So my boyfriend suggested I wear one of these little diddys since he had one lying around his truck:

If you know me or at least have some sense of decency, you would know that I said, "No, thank you," as politely as I could. On Day Two, my face/head-region did not feel any warmer. I almost decided to end my outdoor activities. After much inner conflict and disagreeing with my boyfriend, I reluctantly placed the uncomfortable, ill-fitting, black fleece over my head and just like that, I was as stylish as the fella in the picture above. To my surprise though, my decision turned out to be a wise one — I didn't complain about a single weather-related issue and I even felt overly warm by the end of the day.

Conclusion of the story: Sometimes, it's OK to let go of your fashion inhibitions and do something that scares you. Especially if it means retaining a normal body temperature. And this word of advice also applies to those who wear these face-protector things on a regular basis: don't be afraid to lose it every now and then. When indoors, anyway.

Good cheer for all

2009-12-16T20:04:00.014-05:00

Today is the day I officially enter Winter Break 2010. After I finished a massive English paper and a fun cumulative Biology exam (a.k.a. the only Lab Science I will ever take at the university) today, I decided to pat myself on the back and order these little babies from Aldo:

I almost clicked the "Check Out" button for a similar cage-heeled pair from Steve Madden until my cousin graciously showed me these. The Aldo ones proved to be $10 cheaper (They're on sale for only $40!) and also looked reasonably comfy. These are two features that I can appreciate since I'm a poor ol' college student who is still finding it difficult to put on heels instead of flats.

And if you're wondering what I'll wear them with (which I know you are), I'm excited to sport them with a girly-girl minidress in order to balance the masculinity with femininity or my gray wool shorts from H&M and a boyfriend-style cardigan. Or maybe I'll wear them with the gold and glittery dress I'm wearing for New Year's Eve. Oh, the options! I think I should stop myself here.

Now that all my Christmas shopping is done, I am completely taking advantage of all these last-minute deals that my favorite stores are offering. I urge you to do the same!

Happy (Almost) Holidays!

Penny Lane knows fashion

2009-12-16T14:47:00.004-05:00

“Oh, that’s hard. I mean Valentino’s Valentino, you know? He’s an icon. But I love Giambasti Vialli. I’ve worn quite a bit of his things. I love, like, a big ruffle here and there. But honestly, I love all clothes so much. It’s like the best part of the morning, getting dressed. I kind of like all clothes. I just put on what I feel like. Some days I feel really girly, but sometimes I feel masculine. Today I just woke up and was like ‘I want to wear a suit.’ It’s Bottega Venetta, by the way.”
— Kate Hudson, on her favorite Italian fashion designer in an interview with NYLON

P.S. Props to Faran for doing a great interview! I loved her from my favorite fashion blog, Fashionista.

Fall in love

2009-09-02T22:37:00.007-04:00

The first week of class is in full swing and students are spending more on textbooks than they spend on their monthly rent, enjoying the academic hush before the real schoolwork storm begins and most importantly, they're showing off fall's best denim.

Denim and fall go hand in hand, but I've grown tired of the most predictable form of denim, or as you can guess, jeans. This is why I instantly wanted this when I saw it in American Eagle:

Wearing this Western wonder would be too cowgirl if worn with jeans of the same color, so it's best to pair it with black leggings (which I know every lady on campus owns) in order to bring it home to the East Coast. Past seasons' colored jeans also sweeten up the look.

I admit I haven't done my annual fall shopping spree, but I think getting these from Steve Madden at least buys me a little time:

In this transition season, it's great finding pieces that adapt to whatever weather lies ahead. Not only are these black beauties adorable with summer's dresses and fall's denim, they'll be perfect with winter's tights and knits. Plus, they're extra-comfy because of the well-supported heel.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves quite yet. It's the first week of school, after all.

Nice ride

2009-04-17T00:43:00.004-04:00

Good-looking, well-fashioned men on bicycles? I like this. Although I doubt anyone's hair can look so flawlessly while cruising on his two-wheeled wonder. Sweet bow tie, though.

Happiness

2009-01-07T17:05:00.005-05:00

is getting this (amazingly cheap) Hayden-Harnett for Target bag.

I'm a little late considering it was released Dec. 28, but I've been in Florida for the past week. Don't hate.

Thakoon for Target is out too. Good way to brighten up the rainy day.

Way to break my heart

2008-10-16T20:58:00.002-04:00

Rag & Bone is good for the economy

2008-10-04T11:20:00.002-04:00

"Nonetheless, I was happy with my clothes. I loved most everything, and if I happened to be, say, a treasury secretary, I would buy the entire collection with my freshly obtained funds and cackle to myself while America burned."
— Mike Albo, in The New York Times

It's okay, I hate Crocs too

2008-09-02T19:47:00.005-04:00

"Tip to fellow journalists: Forget the presidential election. Never mind Iraq. The death penalty? Gun control? Feh. If you want to inflame the passions of the American people, write about rubber clogs."
— Steve Tuttle, in Newsweek

Let's get down to business (casual)

2008-08-13T18:17:00.015-04:00

Throughout my life, I've had a total of nine jobs — and that's not including babysitting. They've ranged from the completely random (like posing — fully clothed! — for an art class) to the very common (like a server at a seafood restaurant). For all of these part-time occupations, I've either happily worn what I wear on a daily basis or unhappily put on a given uniform. There's never been confusion over what can and can't be worn.

Until now.

I began a new job the other day in a (very cool) office and read that the dress code is "business casual." The phrase itself is an oxymoron, so I read on for some clarification. To my disappointment, it only listed what not to wear, like denim and flip-flops, which I think are obvious.

For men, it's simple. A collared shirt, slacks, nice shoes and no tie. For women, there are more choices, which is both a curse and blessing. Should I wear heels? A button-down shirt? Pantyhose? A neat knit top? Skirt? So far I've been playing it safe, by deciding to dress more up than down and observing what others are wearing and going with that. And although dressing up is fun, I find it hard to be creative.

What are your thoughts? And what's your own definition of business casual? How much is business and how much is casual? Do you think it varies by company or is the same everywhere?

At least I can smile at the fact that I don't have to wear a terribly ill-fitting Dunkin Donuts visor or red apron from Michael's Arts and Crafts. (Believe me, I wore both.)

Spotted in SoHo

2008-08-05T00:16:00.003-04:00

This will be the highlight of my fall.

What I heart right now...

2008-08-02T02:35:00.004-04:00

I don't know why I don't own this yet.

Or maybe I should just make one myself?

I would never date a guy who wears...

2008-07-30T01:06:00.015-04:00

The other day, my cousin and I got to talking about "jorts," the cleverly coined word for male jean shorts. A friend of mine is dating a guy who is a victim of the baggy and generally unattractive (at least to me) denim bottoms. So my cousin and I were hating on this guy, not because he isn't good enough for my friend (which is true), but because he wears jorts.

Does this mean I'm cold-hearted and materialistic? Maybe, but I can't help it. The first thing I notice about the opposite sex isn't their eyes or smile, but their style. A guy could be lacking in looks, but if he's rocking a cool cardigan and high-tops, then I'm down. And vice versa. There could be a ridiculously gorgeous guy, but if he has Hollister on, I say no thanks. I even bought my ex-boyfriend most of his clothes while we were dating, just because it's that important to me (and I'm such a nice girlfriend).

How big a role does fashion play in the dating game? I feel like people often seek a significant other who dresses the same in terms of style. But then again, they say opposites attract.

Are you like me and have fashion deal breakers? Or could you care less, even about jorts?

This makes me feel less alone

2008-07-22T20:52:00.005-04:00

"Here I am in this highly gay summer vacation village at the end of Cape Cod, trying to be mellow and uncritical for a month. But one day last week I was standing on Commercial Street, the town’s main thoroughfare, when — I am not exaggerating — a dozen men walked by dressed in those puffy pleat-pocket Abercrombie & Fitch cargo shorts, scuffed-up baseball hats and tight-fitting tank tops with blocky, meaningless team numbers on the fronts and backs.

Suddenly my mellow was harshed. I wanted to grab each guy by his knotty lats and say, “You don’t have to live this way!” Like that tinny “oonce oonce” music that emanates from the dance clubs here, the sporty college jock look has been a reigning summer style for guys for more than a decade, and it needs to die."
-Mike Albo, in The New York Times

In honor of The Dark Knight

2008-07-21T10:25:00.008-04:00

I saw this, thanks to Giorgio Armani, at the Met yesterday. The exhibition, which is divided in to different superhero costume themes, shines light on an aspect of comic books that often goes unnoticed - the fashion. There's both avant-garde haute couture and actual movie costumes, like the Batman ensemble that Christian Bale wears in The Dark Knight, on display. For lack of better words, it's all very cool.

If you're ever in the city before September 1, you should check it out. I promise you don't need to be a comic book nerd to appreciate the spandex and armor.

The next fierce thing

2008-07-08T14:40:00.017-04:00

While Bravo unleashes another season of dueling designers with the Project Runway premiere next week, Bravo will also be battling in court with women-based television network Lifetime for the show’s following sixth season, according to Entertainment Weekly.

The thought of one of my favorite TV shows appearing on the same channel as overly dramatic and cheap-budgeted romance movies is already making me cringe. The only people, if any, who I know that watch Lifetime are over the hill and female - not exactly a crowd that I can associate my 20-year-old self with. Plus, I disagree with the concept that fashion is only for women, because as the last two seasons' male winners have proved, men heart fashion too. (Note my little reference to a past column of mine.)

Luckily, the judges will remain the same, despite doubts contrived from magazine editor Nina Garcia’s move from Elle to Marie Claire. The location, however, won’t be the same. Season 6 will kick off in Los Angeles, instead of its regular home in New York, but thankfully end with Fashion Week in Bryant Park.

This change of locale isn’t something I’m excited for, since I prefer the nitty gritty and unmatchable essence of New York over the celebrity-infused and unattractively fake culture of Los Angeles. Even though that may be a stereotype, my love for NYC still exceeds that for any other city.

At least we can all expect less product-placement-driven competitions, starting with season 5, as executive producer Jane Cha told Entertainment Weekly. Season 4 had everyone from Levi's to Hershey's Chocolate on board, and as a viewer, the scheme was all too obvious and distracted me from the actual competitions.

When next Wednesday rolls around, I'll be anxiously sitting in front of the TV at 9 p.m., enjoying Bravo's (most likely) last season of airing Project Runway, as you should be too.

And when season 6 appears on Lifetime this winter, I'll reluctantly follow the show's network change. All I ask is that you keep my embarrassing Lifetime-watching habit a secret.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

2008-06-20T01:37:00.004-04:00

"O.K., so fashion ain’t deep. It looks into a mirror and sees ... itself. The irony in fashion is that it loves change but it can’t actually change anything. It can only reflect a change in the air. But what changes fashion? What would finally move American designers to include more black models on their runways? That 30 percent of the country is nonwhite? That black women spend $20 billion a year on clothes? That an African-American is the presumptive presidential nominee of the Democratic Party?"
-Cathy Horyn, in The New York Times

What I heart right now....

2008-06-18T11:25:00.004-04:00

-high-waisted shorts (as long as I'm not eating)
-bright & punchy bikinis (complement tan skin so well)
-dresses with pockets (so cute & so functional)
-gladiator sandals (yes, I'm like everyone else)
-cherry Carmex (spf 15 & yummy)
-Evian mineral water spray (because it saved my life when my a/c was broken)

Happy Summer!

A Legend Dies

2008-06-10T19:46:00.000-04:00

"Don't get me a diamond - just get me a really big closet."

2008-06-10T00:49:00.008-04:00

I expected the Sex and the City movie to uphold the stylish reputation made by the TV show, but I didn't expect it to have such amazing outfits on every character in every single scene. I was completely blown away. For a majority of the movie, I couldn't help but whisper oohs and ahhs to my neighboring movie-goer over the creative styling done by Patricia Field, the well-known SATC costume designer. She truly outdid herself.

My personal favorite was the vintage studded belt that Carrie wears a few times in the movie - you can see the lovely accessory in the middle picture of Carrie above. By pairing it with girly frocks and coats, she adds a bit of edge to an otherwise predictable outfit. In the same picture, you can see another thing I would do anything for - the breathtaking gladiator-esque Dior heels.

Out of the four SATC girls, I like Carrie and Samantha's styles the best. They're funky and original and fit the characters' personalities perfectly - which is what fashion is all about. In fact, most of their outfits can only be pulled off by Carrie and Samantha. On anyone else, they might look silly and out-of-place.

The SATC movie definitely made fashion a main focus - from the Vogue fashion shoot scene to the innumerable affirmations of Carrie's love for shoes - and I couldn't be happier.

To be honest, I thought the clothes were better than the movie itself, which is what got me through the drawn-out two hours and 15 minutes of the movie. But maybe that's just me.

From PostSecret this week

2008-05-04T17:58:00.006-04:00

For more, go here.

Not everyone can be a Jackie-O

2008-05-01T19:06:00.004-04:00

"Stop it! Stop asking me about Hillary’s pantsuits, or any other aspect of her personal style! If you persist, I swear to God I will stuff Mrs. Clinton into a Balenciaga bubble dress with matching gladiator spike-heeled boots, and then you’ll be sorry. Every 20 minutes, I get a jangling call from an earnest hack looking for quips about the fashion choices of the presidential candidates. These content generators are hell-bent on viewing the current political jousting match through the lens of la mode: What do I think of Hillary’s pink blouses? Is Cindy McCain hitting the mark with her fashion choices? How about that tie Barack wore last night? Oy vey! Talk about looking for love in all the wrong places." - Simon Doonan, in The New York Observer.

Remember, fashion is fun

2008-04-17T22:56:00.006-04:00

I present you MTV's "True Life: 'I'm Going to Fashion Week'".
Proves how stressful, brutal and beautiful NY fashion week is.

This is a surprise

2008-04-14T15:41:00.009-04:00

The president and CEO of American Apparel, Kevin Burke, is coming to the University of Delaware to talk about "The Global Impact of Getting Dressed" on April 24.

As of now, I'm not too wild about the subject. UDaily says Burke is going to discuss how the clothes we wear come from different countries, which I think, or at least hope, anyone who has ever seen a clothing tag already knows.

Regardless, I'll still be there. I'm a fan of American Apparel, as I mentioned in my last blog post, and I'm hoping the lecture is more interesting than it sounds. Maybe I'll even personally give Burke a print-out of my pseudo letter.

"I think what we got on our hands is a dead shark."

2008-04-02T01:24:00.009-04:00

Dear American Apparel,

I must admit that I have never liked your various porn-inspired advertisements featuring topless models wearing skintight spandex. Call me crazy, but I don’t think using Woody Allen in your billboards is much of an improvement, especially since he’s suing you for $10 million because of it.

I can see the interest in sex appeal you were trying to emulate with the racier billboard, but now it appears you are targeting specific religious groups and/or movie buffs. I understand your need to make wholesale clothing appealing, exciting and fresh, but Yiddish isn’t going to help. Feel free to explain the relation between your basic cotton knitwear and Allen, and I'll consider changing my judgment.

Love,
Larissa

P.S.
Don't worry, I'm still a regular customer at your store. You're too comfortable and necessary for my wardrobe to let go.

P.P.S.
Maybe Allen is just playing an April Fool's Day prank on you?

Andy Warhol-approved

2008-03-31T21:21:00.006-04:00

A bikini this cute came from Victoria's Secret? Yes way.
(As if the hot-bodied model in a beachy locale didn't give it away.)

Happy Spring Break, crazy college kids!

A Decade Under the Influence

2008-03-22T17:38:00.007-04:00

I’ve never understood why people dislike Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. If you nix the possible drug addictions, they’re just two 21-year-olds with lots of money (according to Forbes, they’re worth $40 million each) and most importantly, great, unique senses of style.

So when I heard they were writing Influence, a coffee table book about the people in the fashion world that inspire them the most, I was, needless to say, excited. I knew it was only a matter of time before the Olsen twins realized that the title ‘author’ was missing from their beefed-up resumes.

The book is due this fall and will include never-before-seen pictures of the power duo and interviews with their favorite photographers, designers and artists, according to Fox News.

Now that you know who influences MK and A the most, who would you say influences you the most, in regards to your personal style?

I look to magazines and even others peoples' street style for ideas, but in the end, I think it’s about how you derive from your influences and put it all together, using your own creative judgment.

Love in Her Eyes and Flowers in Her Hair

2008-03-04T13:23:00.017-05:00

I've always been obsessed with heart motifs. I find myself doodling them during class (yes, I'm in college and not elementary school) and I even own a heart-shaped bag that I actually referred to in my column this week. It only seems natural that I should own heart-shaped sunglasses, but the search for the perfect pair has turned out to be harder than I thought.

Fred flare's looks too cheap, Urban Outfitters doesn't carry red ones and Moschino's are a bit out of my budget.

I need Lolita's help on this one.

Street Style: After Hours

2008-03-02T17:10:00.007-05:00

Students Dean Carter and Sarah Ziegenfuss looking snazzy in a fitted blazer and waist-cinching belt, respectively.

Hey Four Eyes

2008-03-01T18:51:00.006-05:00

When I saw fake eyeglasses in stores and on models, I was bemused. As a person who only wears my real eyeglasses when I'm too lazy to put my contacts in, I wondered why someone would want to pretend to have terrible eyesight.

Then I thought of how eyeglasses have the ability to make anyone appear instantly intellectual and therefore, make a great accessory when going for "the librarian" look.

As stylish as they may be, they still seem excessive. I'd feel like a poser if I ever sported a pair that didn't have my prescription, even though I could technically play them off as real without being a complete liar.

What do the 20/20-visioned people think? Would you wear faux bifocals?

YSL's New Haircut?

2008-02-29T17:00:00.002-05:00

Heart and Sole

2008-02-27T12:55:00.000-05:00

I remember the first time my mom introduced me to Birkenstocks. She swore by them, saying that they were the only shoes she would wear for the rest of her life. I was hesitant, but was convinced enough to buy a pair. They were undeniably comfortable, but didn't seem to look good with anything other than chunky-knit sweaters.

Until now.

Fashion designer Phillip Lim teamed up with Tatami, a licensee of Birkenstock, for a spring '08 line. Starting at $150 a pop, the sandals are casual-chic with cute wrap-around straps and tassels, all while keeping Birkenstocks's signature molding foot bed.

Apparently, Lim told the Fashion Informer that he has always been a fan of Birks and swears there's a secret hippie within him.

I'm excited to give Birks another shot this spring- sans the knits, of course.

Best Actor? More Like Best Dressed

2008-02-25T16:29:00.000-05:00

One of the most exciting parts of the Oscars is the red carpet and more importantly, what's worn on it. Everyone always talks about what the ladies wear- they coo over their glamorous hair and beautiful designer gowns, but people rarely praise the dapperly dressed men.

For instance, there’s Daniel Day-Lewis, who not only won the best actor Oscar Sunday, but also looked exceptionally dashing in a Paul Smith Bespoke suit.

British fashion designer Smith said the suit, which was made especially for Day-Lewis, “is in a midnight blue barathea with dark brown silk hand-sewn edging and covered buttons, a shawl collar, slim trouser and hand made soft bow-tie."

Smith's description alone is delicious.

Aside from the unique chocolate brown trimmings, I loved his brown suede shoes and classy bow-tie. Brown dress shoes are a fun way to break out of the conventional all-black mindset. Plus, what's more respectable than a guy who can pull off a bow-tie well?

Another Reason Why I Heart Tim

2008-02-18T13:42:00.000-05:00

I love Tim Gunn. I love Jon Stewart.
Put them together on “The Daily Show” and it’s magical.

Some highlights:
-Stewart’s Heidi Klum impression, which made her sound more like a Nazi than a model
-Gunn’s reference to Fashion Week as “our fashion superbowl”
-Gunn disagrees with the “Project Runway” judges “frequently” (!!)

My favorite quote came from Gunn, when he said:

"I'm the first to encapsulate this realistically. Nobody needs it. We need clothes, do we need fashion? No. And fashion, when it's good, it comes out of a context that's societal and cultural and historic and economic and political- so it's of a time and a place."

I think that’s a great explanation of why fashion exists and how fashion is a part of our history. There’s a profound purpose behind what we choose to wear and not wear.

Just another thing to contemplate next time you get dressed, my stylish historians.

All You Need is Love (and Pretty Handmade Jewelry)

2008-02-11T18:21:00.000-05:00

Valentine's Day can be quite frightening on a guy's end. The dinner reservation planning and shopping for the special gift alone can cause a guy to curse hallmark for creating such a sentimental holiday.

I wish I could apologize on behalf of the female population for having such high expectations and superficial notions, but the truth is, ruin Valentine's Day for your significant other and I can almost guarantee you won't have a happy lady.

Make February 14th special by not giving your girl a generic piece of jewelry. Get her some bauble from Etsy, the place to buy and sell everything and anything homemade. You'll find something as one-of-a-kind as her (aww) like the love engraved ring up top, without stepping a foot in a jewelry store.

And as a little visual treat, here are some adorable valentine pictures from Teen Vogue's February 2008 issue.

Happy Heart Day!

Baby, it's cold outside

2008-02-04T18:34:00.000-05:00

The first thing I do when I wake up is check the weather, simply because it’s the most influential factor when choosing what to wear.

So when I stumbled upon fashion and weather forecaster Cumulus, I was full of glee. A website that says both the weather AND what to wear? How useful! How ingenious! But while Cumulus is helpful with providing accurate temperatures and specific clothing items on sale from Shopstyle, I wasn't too impressed with their limited fashion predicting capabilities.

For example, right now the site says it’s 36 degrees, so one should wear a winter coat, pants or jeans and a knit cap. Well thank you Cumulus, because without you, I might have braved the chilly weather with only shorts and a tank top.

I understand Cumulus's need to be general, but I think we all can be a bit more creative than that.

All in all, I love the idea of Cumulus, but when it comes to picking out an outfit, I can dress myself (haha).

Do you look at the weather or even out the window before getting dressed? Or do you rely on your own weather foretelling instincts and hope for the best?

Get pumped even if you're not in Bryant Park

2008-01-31T14:30:00.000-05:00

New York Fashion Week kicks off tomorrow, which means all the major names in the fashion world will be within a mere block of each other.

But what about the common folks who aren’t worthy enough to go to any of the shows? Thankfully, there are other ways to get your fashion fix.

On February 4th, the Sundance Channel will begin airing “Ready to Watch”, a six night series of fashion films and documentaries.

My favorite is “Marc Jacobs & Louis Vutton”, not only because Marc is a genius, but because the documentary also contains the very first footage of his private workroom.

So enjoy this clip from "Marc Jacobs & Louis Vutton" and don’t forget to keep up with Fashion Week Daily!

Spring Fever

2008-01-31T14:10:00.000-05:00

Lately, the urge to buy and wear spring clothing has become hard to ignore. Striped bikinis, floral dresses and pastel sneakers are anxiously begging to be bought and worn. And who am I to deny them?

Unfortunately, the weather outside is still frightful, long after the holidays are over. The bitter cold forces me to avoid the sundresses I love so much.

However, being someone who sees the glass as half full, I say don't fight your spring cravings.

Who cares if the birds aren’t chirping? Wear your best flowing dresses with your jeans and winter knits. Infuse bright colors into your daily outfits, even if that means wearing a yellow scarf. Stroll through a park in your brightest sneakers. We can petition against the arctic temperatures with our weather-inapt clothing.

This post has more or less been a cry for warmer weather. So feel free to share your spring style urges with me or attempt to snap me out of mine.