Jackets already? No thanks.
(Photo courtesy of Urban Outfitters)

It’s hot today in New York. Really. Hot. Even in the air conditioning, I am sweating (ew). Last week, in preparation for some 4th of July swimming, I set off on a mission to find myself a swimsuit. I was looking for a kind of cute, retro one-piece, so I headed to my old standby: Urban Outfitters. When I entered the store, however, I was in shock. Everywhere I looked there were sweaters, long-sleeve plaid shirts and…is that a coat with a wool collar?!

WTF Urban Outfitters?! It’s JULY. I decided to try another store down the street, but was struck with the same thing. Again and again as I made my way down Broadway, I saw Fall clothing up in every window. Yesterday the latest issue of Lucky magazine arrived in my mailbox, chock full of…you guessed it…Fall fashions. I leafed through it while sitting on my bed half-naked trying to cool down in front of my fan. The pages and pages of models in tights and sweaters were not helping. 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 »

Rather than doing my laundry I often find it fun to buy new things…particularly underwear. I know I’m not the only one, either. Laundry day or Victoria’s Secret? C’mon.

Granted, it would be much cheaper to wash, but I digress.

Just yesterday I hit a low point in my stack of floral, striped, polka dot, lace, days of the week undies, and even every thong…so I headed out in search of spankin new skivvies.

I found myself at Urban Outfitters (it’s always fun running through Urban, checking out the goods but lately I’ve noticed EVERYTHING is a play on Vintage. I work in Vintage clothing sales and it’s hard to buy a “Vintage” looking top when you know five girls on the street will be wearing it too).

I’m getting away from my point — back to the underthing situation. I grabbed a sweet little lace forest green bra (so cute and comfortable) and three pairs of “Smack” underwear in solid shades of yellow, blue, and purple. I was excited, the colors were muted and the cotton felt soft.

Ha! Excited, nothing! I was swindled. Read More »

Sunglasses are in year-round, but summer is definitely a time to show off how style-savvy you are with your specs. Whether navigating the city, laying on the beach, or bike riding along the boardwalk, sunglasses are a fun way to accessorize while also protecting your eyes, and are a small piece of an ensemble that can express your own personal style. This year we’re seeing many of the trends of years past, with a few newbies thrown in, and some minor changes to add a new look.

Oversized Frames: This look has been around for a few years now and was taken mainstream by the likes of Nicole Richie and the Olsen Twins. While it’ll eventually go out of fashion, don’t expect that to happen for the next couple of years. This look doesn’t work for every face shape, but if you can rock it, it can be a blast. You can go for many different shapes; square, round, oval. We’re even seeing octagonal and heart shapes! And the color combos are endless. Classic black gives an Audrey Hepburn look, while going for a fun, funky color and shape allows a whole new feeling. The best advice is to try these glasses on and make sure they don’t take over your face, then have fun with it! Read More »

I never thought I would be an ‘80s kind of girl. In fact, in my youth, I went so far as to declare the ‘80s to be a horrible decade and said I hoped that sh*t NEVER came back in to style.

What an idiot I was.

However, now that I’ve embraced legwarmers and neon Flashdance shirts, I’ve transferred my old animosity for the 1980s to the 1990s. I look back at Lisa Turtle’s gear in old episodes of Saved By The Bell and think, thank god I’m not eleven anymore.

But if I have learned anything in my old age, it’s that fashion is 100% cyclical, and, inevitably, magazines and fashion designers will declare ‘90s style hot again and Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters will follow suit. Below is a list of items from Clinton Era Pt. 1 that I think are most likely to make a comeback in Clinton (and of course, Obama) Era Pt. 2…whether we’re ready for it or not.

The sweater vest – Dudes wore ‘em, chicks wore ‘em, and they were perfect for school pictures. If 90210 is coming back, these can’t be far behind.
Bib overalls – I have actually seen these in stores already, but I have yet to see someone actually wear them. I did, however, overhear a girl in Starbucks the other day say she wanted a pair for summer. Of course. Read More »

When the romper (or playsuit, or onesie, or whatever else you want to call it) started to make a comeback last year, my friends and I scoffed. Oversexed American Apparel models showed off velor strappy shorts-and-tank-top hybrids, and I thought to myself: dear God, this can not be happening.

Rompers are for the fashion weirdos, like Chloe Sevigny, but I feared they might start popping up on the general public as well. “You are not five years old”, I thought to myself. “You do not need a one-piece playsuit”.

Well, a year came and went, and now Spring is here and once again the romper is prevalent in stores such as Urban Outfitters and Brooklyn Industries. I popped into my favorite thrift store a few weekends ago with my best friend, and tucked in among the racks of dresses, I spied it: a red velor American Apparel romper. “I’m going to try this on, just to see how ridiculous it looks” I said, adding it to my pile of finds.

I tried it on and emerged from the dressing room, expecting my friend to burst into laughter. She didn’t. Read More »

I’m willing to bet that the vast majority of CC readers enjoy flip flop season more than winter. Any excuse for a pedicure makes me a happier camper than usual, but a good pair of flip flops are liberating. They’re as laid back and easy as your summer evening or weekend at the beach, and they go with everything. What’s not to love?

In my years of flip-flop perusal, I’ve noticed three big brands that dominate the flip flop contingent. I’ll start with my personal favorite and work my way through the other two recommendations accordingly:

Havaianas, available anywhere from Urban Outfitters to your local surf shop. These are your basic rubber flop, but they mold just so to your foot and are extra comfy. I own at least 4 pair of these, the brown are my favorite as they literally match everything. Sometimes Urban has 2-for or buy-one-get-one deals that inspire a backup pair. They work fantastically for just about everything, from shower shoes to the beach, or to just make a cute little summer dress more casual. They’re genius, and if you have bigger feet (like yours truly), the solid ones are often unisex or available in men’s sizes. No one knows the difference. Read More »

Want to look like Rachel Bilson (well, in this picture, anyway)?
Easy.

Aviator Sunglasses: $15.95 at Sunglasswarehouse.com

Scarf: at Target.com for $24.99 (real cashmere though!)

White Woven Shirt: Forever21.com for $19.80

Sweater: Lux sweater at Urbanoutfitters.com for $29.99

Dark Straight Leg Jeans: Forever21.com for $27.80

Flats: in purple at Target.com for $19.00

Dressing like a fashionable celebrity has never been easier, and instead of spending a disgusting amount of cash on stuff that’s basically just cloth and buttons, you can hit up one of these cheaper chains and buy your “in the moment” styles for the right “in the moment” price.

Spring is officially here, but for those of us up north, it’s still pretty darn cold! It’s like we’re being taunted–cute summer dresses in the shops, bright colors are everywhere, but you’re still stuck in your winter wear. What to do?

Get yourself some tights!

Basic black tights (I usually get mine at Target) are perfect for wearing under those frilly summer dresses–just add a cute cardigan to keep your top half warm as well.

But tights don’t just come in black anymore–you can find a whole range of crazy colors (and patterns) at places like American Apparel, H&M and Urban Outfitters. Brightly colored tights look great peaking out from under your drab winter coat, or paired with your usual basic black/grey/brown winter dresses and sweaters.

So you don’t have to wait to buy that new flower-print halter dress you’ve been eying…just make sure to grab a pair of tights on your way to the register!

As a girl on a budget, shopping (or more accurately: window shopping) can be painful. When even chain stores are too pricey (really Urban Outfitters? $110 for a shirt?), what’s a girl to do? Well, I always head straight to the sale racks for some of my best finds, like the $10 leather bag I got this weekend, but sometimes the most heavily discounted stuff is out of season, ill-fitting or just plain ugly.

The thrifty girl’s best friend is, well, the thrift store. While I can’t afford to drop hundreds of dollars on clothes each month, plenty of people can and do. And when these people get tired of their outfits, they sell them or give them away. That’s where we come in.

The first step to good thrifting is knowing your stores. Scope out your town or city and figure out where the good shops are. Most cities have a Salvation Army or Goodwill, as well as various consignment shops. Bigger cities and most college towns will have thrift or vintage stores (but keep in mind–vintage is often code word for EXPENSIVE!) If you find a shop you like, go there a lot, even if you don’t buy anything when you go. You’ll get a sense for when new clothes come in, so you can get to the good stuff first. Read More »