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 »

I know The Fleet has come and gone from the East coast, but now it has made it’s way to The City of Roses (Portland, OR- my city of residence) and when my friend informed me she had won tickets to this “non-denim” (yes, the tickets specified no denim) formal affair event, we had to go - it was our patriotic duty after all.

I should take a second here to clarify a few things before I really get into this story. I would like to start out by saying I fully support the troops, after all my brother is in the Navy, and when I told him I was heading out to the annual Meet the Fleet festivities his only response was a very brotherly “Don’t hook up with sailors.” Granted, I really had no intention of hooking up with these guys, I was more seeking some attractive company who would buy me drinks and could possibly turn into a pen-pal who sends me presents.

In order to maximize my odds with nabbing me a high ranking sailor I had my brother write me out a little guide on how to separate the men from the boys. With my criteria in place I was ready to meet and greet the ocean’s finest. Read More »

It happens to the best of us. Midnight strikes, and you’re sitting on the edge of your bed, staring at your feet. A voice whispers savagely in your ear, “What the hell are you wearing?! You look like Sarah Jessica Parker’s closet threw up on you. Are those, leg warmers? Oh for godsake.” You turn and nobody is there. Yeah, it’s one of those nights.

No matter what anyone tells you (even if you tell it to yourself), never believe that a “style icon” is anything but a woman with bad (BAD) style who oozes confidence. That confidence has the power to transform even that puerile pink tutu into something chic and cosmopolitan. Alas, genuine confidence like that is so rare that, more often than not, it is misinterpreted as a blood-curdling scream for attention, when in fact it is a bold determination to play “dress up” well into adulthood.

In New York, there’s simply too many fashion “statements” going on that it hardly leaves an impression on anyone, except perhaps on the fashionista themselves…in the form of a wedgie (American Apparel leotards, anyone?).

So when that moment comes when the clock is ticking and the city beckons…and you are trying to adopt New York style (even though you can’t get rid of those Birkenstocks or Girbaud jeans) there is but one piece of advice I will pass along to you. From the wise words of Coco Chanel, “A style does not go out of style as long as it adapts itself to its period.” Read More »