With the dawn of Fall semester approaching, and the recession in full swing, many of us are facing a dilemma–quality or quantity. And when it comes to fashion, I’m a faithful believer in both. The only way to create a truly personal, awesome and –let’s face it– realistic wardrobe is to incorporate incredible steals with the occasional investment piece.

Yes, it may seem frivolous to blow a month’s rent (and then some) on a single item to add to your closet, but trust me, buying a ton of shoddy, albeit adorable, stuff from Forever 21 will hurt your wallet more in the long run.

When it comes to clothing, I like to use the simple formula Cost/ Number of Uses = True Value. Is it a way to justify my splurges? Yes. But it also proves that sometimes a higher price tag means a longer life span, therefore making that splurge totally worth it.

Consider saving up for these items–and trust me, when you walk out of that designer boutique with a sweet purchase you made completely on your own, you will not regret it.

1. A Classic Handbag.
I’ll admit it, I am a complete label whore. And many a designer house capitalize on this weakness by jacking up price tags just so I can have someone else’s name plastered all over my purse. But the intricate design, meticulous attention to detail (much of the time hand-crafted) and use of higher quality materials also contribute to the higher price tag. Splurge on a bag made of a quality material (like soft, buttery leather) as opposed to a generic cloth or plastic. Yes, they’re hot, and some of my favorite purses rhyme with “Trada” and “Moius Luitton”, but those are status bags and are expensive for the sake of being expensive.

A note of caution: if you’re looking for a deal and the price seems too good to be true, it probably is! Check here for specific ways to spot a fake. Premeditating buying a fake? Don’t waste the money. Any decent copies (in addition to being ILLEGAL) will most likely be pretty pricey ($100 and up)– so you’re better off just saving up for the real thing and enjoying your new bag for years to come. Read More »

Now, I’m one to be up on the latest trends, especially when it comes to shoes. With a closet dedicated to my fabulous collection (at over 70 pairs, yes I admit, I have a problem!), I feel like I know what styles are new, what is out of fashion and what will be expected for each seasons new arrivals.

I did not, however, expect this: High heels for babies.
Yeah, you heard me.

Heelarious is a website that delivers soft shoes for babies, 0 – 6 months, who just can’t stop begging their mommies for some hot pink platforms. Featured in In Touch Weekly, New York Post, ABC News, ET Online and more, these plush shoes look like high heels and will give your baby the best look for her, um, day care class?!?!?! (Editor’s Note: Daycare is totes the best place to meet a guy!)

The New York Post called its article, “For Well-Heeled Fashionable Tots,” and, at $35.00 a pair, they’re obviously necessary for an individual who can’t even walk yet. With all different styles (hot pink, zebra pattern and – yes, even – leopard), your daughter, before her first birthday, will have conformed to society’s stereotypes! How proud you will be. Read More »

Jewelry can get expensive…especially really funky and unique jewelry. But screw that. Why not go through your old crap and make some awesome new stuff? It’s an awesome way to recycle things you no longer use, save money on your bling…and look cool doing it.

Just get your butt over to a craft store and pick up some basic items: earring hooks, hemp, chains, fasteners for necklaces and bracelets, and some glue.

Here are some tips I’ve got for you after having spent my entire childhood….and now, adulthood…in afternoon craft time.

You can make recycled jewelry out of items you may not have suspected:

-Loose items. Loose items alone can look really great on an earring hook or necklace chain. Consider some of these items: spare keys, mini locks, bolts, safety pins, and any other metal scraps.

-Flexible materials. Some items can simply easily be molded into bracelets, necklaces, and rings. Vinyl records, when heated, can be molded, for example. Eating utensils, plastic from bottles and containers, etc. Read More »

If we decided, ‘Hey, I’m wearing what Blake Lively wore in the Gossip Girl re-run last nigh,” we may not make it through the day without our little sister, boyfriend or lab partner giving us a look and asking, “WTF?” It’s hard to make your own what a stylist can do on television, but we want to, damn it!

The good news is: it’s possible. If you do it right. So, take away the cameras and lets make that TV fashion work.

Gossip Girl:
On GG, Blake and Leighton often rock different patterns and colors and pull together a look that is personally unique. You can do this too. First, think of your own fashion staple. Leighton often wears head bands or scarves. Do you have a favorite belt or bunch of bracelets that you wear regularly? Wear them with each outfit, soon they’ll become YOUR signature.

Also don’t be afraid to mix stripes with checks, or even polka dots; just stay within the same color range. And if you choose to wear a multitude of colors, don’t mix different patterns.

Finally, feel to take some fashion risks… the most attractive accessories these girls have is confidence. Read More »

Accessories are a great way to complete an outfit and add a little zest to your look. This year we see many old trends re-emerging, a few newbies and a few twists on those oldies but goodies.

Big jewelry continues to be a major trend, so one key tip is that if you’re gonna go big on the accessories, you need to go minimally on the clothes so you don’t end up looking like a walking Vegas Strip.

Nature is a main theme throughout jewelry pieces for the summer; you’ll see flowers, leaves and moons & stars in everything from pendants to rings and especially in drop earrings, so go ahead and get in touch with nature.

One of the “must have” pieces of the season is the not-so-subtle medallion. Medallions and pendants are back, as designers turn to the seventies and eighties for inspiration. A sub-division of this trend is another one; zodiac pendants. Say good-bye to wearing your name or initials on your neck, showing off your star sign in silver, gold or even diamonds is the way to go. Read More »

Jezebel exposed me to some creepy oddities known hair hats. They’re hats…made to look like hair…made to look like animals. It’s the accessory equivalent of a Turducken.

I think we can agree Nagi Noda, the Japanese artist behind the hats, is an amazing designer, sculptor and…hairstylist?

But would you be caught dead with one of these affixed to your scalp? As an average college student or recent grad you may not have an appropriate venue to don an animal face on your head. But I can’t even see the avant-garde, fashion plates of the world rocking these things…unless they were starring in Lion King on Broadway.

Maybe I’m not thinking broadly enough.

So what are your thoughts people? Weird, gross and confusing or glamorous, innovative and stunning? Maybe a little from column A and a little from column B?

Check out a menagerie of hair hats right here.

Photo: Nagi Noda

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 »

I’m not always a huge fan of Ashley Olsen’s fashion sense, but I can’t help but love the look she rocked at a recent N.Y.C. screening of Everything at Once.

Ditching the vaguely homeless look, she went for a loose knit top over a mini skirt. Not sure you can pull it off? Making a tight leather mini look classy is not easy, so take a tip from Ashley and pair it with a looser top and sandals–not pumps. And if you’re busty, choose a top that doesn’t put your cleavage on display. A small skirt paired with a tight shirt will you have you looking more like Ashley Dupre than Ashley Olsen.

Here’s how to get the look for less: Read More »