I don’t know about you, but the only time I like to see a bow is when it’s wrapped around a box. Preferably a small box. That is blue. With a white bow. And nice diamonds inside.

Unfortunately for me, bows seems to be everywhere this season. On shoes, on headbands, on sweaters, on jackets…on everything but gifts for me. It is like the bow has become the Carrie Bradshaw flower of 4 years ago, but not nearly as cute.

I have a feeling this look was inspired by the one and only Blair Waldorf; her looks are constantly adorned with perfectly tied bows. But for those of us who just don’t happen to have the Blair Waldorf looks or budget, bows tend to look a little…well, cheesy.

I mean, no one over the age of 3 should have a bow on their headband. And a chic suede booty should not have a messily tied bow on the side of it; that just takes away from the fierceness.

WTF is up with all these bows!? What do you think?
Bows: Love ‘em or hate ‘em?

[Photo courtesy of ivillage.com]

So winter is right around the corner (and for those of us on the East Coast, the last few days have felt like it’s already here. BRRR!), and we all know that winter means that every moment you spend outside - trekking to class, waiting to get into a bar/club, or just running necessary errands - suddenly seems a whole lot longer due to the frosty temps.

We also know our feet are one of the quickest body parts to feel that freeze and having popsicles for toes, well that can just ruin your whole day. However, you don’t have to give up style in order to keep those footsies warm; there are plenty of boot options out there that can help us escape the oversized, ugly appearance of so many snow boots and, yes, Uggs. (I’m sorry. Contrary to popular belief, I think these are far from fashionable and guys agree.) You can find them in all sorts of prices ranges, but I have found tons of adorable options that are all $150 or less.

Trudging around in snow up to your ankles can be a real pain, but there are some darling snow boot options out there. They may not be day-to-night kinda shoes, but at least they’ll keep you warm (and cute) on your way to class. Read More »

[In early adulthood there is an activity that plays a large role in most of our lives; nights out on the town. And with those nights out always comes the question: “What am I gonna wear?!?”

Each week I’ll be putting together a cute and affordable “going out” ensemble guide (that you can tweak to your own personal style and body type, of course) so that maybe that age-old question can be answered a little quicker than usual. And your friends aren’t waiting - for hours - for you to emerge from your room. Just call me your own personal Rachel Zoe.]

This week’s styler puts emphasis on mixing up textures and styles to change the entire look of a piece/give you something fantastic. Liquid leggings became popular earlier this year; they’re leggings that look like leather that you, literally, poured onto your body. To be honest, when I first saw them I thought, “Lord, what is going on in fashion?!?” but once I tried them on, I realized they look pretty dang hot.

I’m a curvy girl who’s got some junk in her trunk and am always worried about stuff making me look bottom heavy, but these slim me down, are fun to wear, and are uber-comfortable to boot. The shirt you wear with them is muy importante, however, because these can go from fab to “Grease Lightning” in an instant. By mixing them up with a flowy chiffon shirt, you put together two really different styles, but the effect is pure magic…

You can find liquid leggings all over the place now. I got mine from American Apparel, but tons of lines carry them. Some of them can be a bit pricey, but look around; I spotted a few pairs at Filene’s Basement a couple weeks ago for just $17. Just make sure you get the right size for you: too tight and you look like a shiny sausage, too loose and you end up with a saggy butt. Read More »

Shoe worshippers can rejoice once again and give thanks to the gods of Tarjay (also known as Target to the common folk) who are bringing in another limited-edition collection from uber-hot and fab shoe design duo, Sigerson Morrison.

Any fashionista knows that these sleek and highly sought-after designs by CFDA award winning duo Kari Sigerson and Miranda Morrison run in the $400-$1000 range, but now you can own your own pair (or two or three) of Sigerson Morrison shoes for just $30-40.

HALLELUJAH!!!

The collection features an array of shoes that not only highlight some of the latest trends - like studded and textured booties, metallic, jeweled flats and pumps, and delicious suede - but the designers wanted to put some oomph in their designs with “lots of glamour and glitz!” says Morrison.

While these designs are perfect for a chic night out on the town, they can also add a little shock value to an every day ensemble. As Sigerson says, “A little studding goes a long way! By day it’s best to mix jeans and a white T-shirt with dazzling shoes.” These designs are in stores and on Target.com already and will only be around until December 26th, so get ‘em as quick as you can! Read More »

Fall and winter fashion is all about boots, and I don’t mean Uggs. Boots can update any outfit, from that cute dress for the bar to those skinny jeans you wear to class. Luckily, there are tons of different looks to choose from for every style…and every budget.

Check out my boot picks for fall below; from the low end to the highest end, I got somethin’ for everyone.

(Click on the pics for more info/to add em to your already overstocked shoe collection!):

Over-the-knee boots

This thigh-grazing style has been seen on fashionable celebs like Mischa Barton. The look is very fashion-forward and a bit hard to pull off, but when done right can look amazing. They look best with pants tucked in, not with short skirts or dresses with a short hem, which leave you lookin’ like a hooker.

If you are looking to splurge, check out the Joie boots on the left ($475), or, for the rest of us, the Newport News boot on the right is only $49. Bonus: they have a cool fold-over top so they can be worn two ways. 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!]

Previously worn only by tattooed biker chicks, leather jackets have become a must-have item for fall. Stylish and comfortable, the leather jacket is the perfect substitute for that tired North Face fleece.

Although they are a little bit pricey, leather jackets are a worthwhile investment since there are so many different ways to rock them. The above crop leather motorcycle jacket from Victoria’s Secret is $198, but it works with so many outfits that it will be a splurge you won’t regret.

Here are four ways to rock the leather jacket: Read More »

In an effort to personally stimulate the economy, I went on a mini shopping spree at the mall on Sunday. What can I say? Fall fashion is here and I need to get my hands on it. The must-haves for the season were everywhere: wide leg trousers, gray oversized sweaters, those damn booties….

And suede boots with fringe.

Dude, WTF is up with footwear this year?! I am usually pretty good at keeping up with the trends, but this one totally surprised and baffled me. Fringe? On a suede boot?

I know that I swore I would never understand the whole Ugg phenomenon - and then went out and bought 2 pairs - but this is a look I really don’t get. What does one wear with a boot full of fringe? What kind of look is this? And don’t people get worried about getting caught in escalators?

Am I alone in this?

The Fringe Boot: Yay or Nay?

Okay, so I’ll admit it; when it comes to shoes, I have a problem.

I can’t stop buying them.

I love all kinds of shoes, from flip flops to stilettos to my trusty Chuck Taylors. I love my tried and true (black pumps, ballet flats, etc.) and I love finding fun and funky shoes to add a lil’ oomph to an outfit. I have shoes ranging from Payless and Target to Steve Madden and even a few beloved pairs of designer shoes (that were all purchased in outlets or amazing clearance sales, I must add).

The best thing about shoes is that trends come in cycles so you can save your favorite pairs and use them for more than one season.

This season there are six major shoe trends emerging, although a couple of them are old trends re-surging, so I’m here to let you know what you’ll be seeing on footsies in the next few months. Read More »