TREND OF THE DAY: HOT CROSS BUNS

When in doubt, tie it up! Start with simple curls and gently pull it back to the nape of your neck in a messy bun. Wrap a few strands of hair around the band. To do a sweet cross bun, take 2 strands from each side of the hair and tuck into place. Leave a few tundrels to frame the face and even you can pull off this simple updo, just like Cate!

TREND OF THE DAY: SUCK IT IN

Feeling a lil bloated after an extravagant Spring Break indulgence? A key investment in every woman's closet should be SPANX. Eva Longoria swears by them and even Oprah named them one of her favorite things! Guaranteed to drop you atleast 1 single dress size and who doesn't want that? So, suck it in sista, these lil undies are your new best friend. That doesn't mean it's instant lipo or anything, but it definitely will tighten your tummy for the night, the rest is left for your hardwork and sweat in the gym in the next couple of months!

TREND OF THE DAY: EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE

Knock-off bags, if worn seriously, are not chic. Futhermore, a bag needs to perform, and knockoffs are not made with durability or integrity in mind. If your bank account doesn't comprehend Yves Saint Laurent, take a note from the movie "Sex in the City" and try Bag, Borrow, or Steal (http://www.bagborroworsteal.com/) and just rent a designer bag. My favorite is the Gucci 'Babouska' Large Hobo Handbag. (photo, left)

TREND OF THE DAY: ELEGANTLY WAISTED

A thin belt over a sufficiently long and light sweater is a classic look. Look for delicate belts at vintage stores. Recent fashion accessory trends have shifted from the thick, wide-belt to layering with skinny belts. Skinny belts are inexpensive to purchase, can be worn year-round, accentuate a thin waist, and are easy to mix-and-match to an existing wardrobe. The addition of a skinny belt to an outfit can make a woman look thinner and more fashion-forward.

TREND ALERT: HIPPIE HIPPIE SHAKE

This Spring embrace your inner flower child. A kaleidoscope of colors cascaded down the catwalk by many of your favorite designers, reminiscent of the soarin’ sixties. This love fest is emphasized by a far out palette, from lavender to teal. transcend to the Age of Aquarius!
From the mass array of fringe at Pucci (left), to the bell bottom sleeves at Gaultier (middle), to the patchwork of psychedelic prints at Etro (bottom), these ensembles are groovy, baby!

Just like today, we protest the war in Iraq, the sixties were a time of peace & love. Those mindless, carefree, experimental days had a huge impact on fashion. Mix the free-wheelin’ fashion, a lil’ rock n’ roll edge, and add a splash of seventies spirit—-you have the new “Hippie Revival”.

Light flowy fabrics, such as, silks to chiffons paired with rugged suedes and leathers graced the runway in solid harmony. These lethal combinations are a perfect way to spice up anyone’s wardrobe. Infuse vintage pieces from your mother’s closet with your favorite jeans. Bring on the kaftans, prairie skirts, and headbands!

The sensational silhouettes are perfect for everyone to try. Whether you are wanting to show a lil or show alot. Find pieces that will work for your body type. Show the assets that you are most proud of. If you want to highlight your waist– cinch your waistline with a big woven belt. To detract from your waist, wear an elegantly draped dress to show off your sexy shoulders or your gorgeous gams. Strappy espadrilles and wedges are the best compliment to any outfit and allow you to punch up the color!

Remember fashion is for everyone. It’s all about having fun and taking risks. This simple “Try Me” guide should help you determine how little or how much you want to indulge in the trend. If you still don’t think you can take on this trend completely, start small with accessories– clay/plastic beaded necklaces, colorful scarves, and wooden bangles.

Try Me (Find out which 60’s look best represents the inner you!)

*Hippie Haute- Pair a painted suede vest with an off the shoulder ivory crepe shift dress. To accessorize, add a few strands of love beads in bold colors.

*WoodStock Chic- Try a long sleeve sheer top under a vintage rock tee and your favorite skinny jeans (yes, not all clothing reverted, say no to bell-bottoms!!). To complete the look, try a tie-dye scarf in your hair. Be brave, you were born to rock!

*Experimentin’ Diva-Attempt a prismatic printed flowy dress. The key is to find the perfect mishmash of colors and fabrics that look good on you! Dare to be different by adding a crochet top over this ensemble. Still want to turn heads? Accompany this look with a perfect wedge and you are sure to steal the show!

Other Hip Ideas- Feel the artistic fever by creating sixties accessories from everyday things.

Crochet headband/belt. Remember how you braided those friendship bracelets years ago with colored yarn? Same concept here. Loosely tie the braided yarn around your head, making sure that it falls in the middle of your forehead. For some added pizazz, add a silk flower into the headband.

Colorful buttons. Simply thread buttons onto an elastic string, stacking different thicknesses and textures will only enhance your necklace or bracelet.

Fringe benefits. Go to your local craft store and grab a fun suede fringe trim. Be bold, choose colors like pink, turquiose, and yellow. Add the trim to the bottom hem of a vintage cropped suede vest.

The Hippie-look incorporates other key trends, as well. From tribal prints to bold colors this melting pot is a scrumptious fun-DO (not fondoe) in fashion.

Don’t be shy, whether you are struttin’ down 5th Avenue or sashaying on Robertson Boulevard, confidence is your key accessory– and that accessory never goes out of style!

MEN'S FASHION: LITTLE BOY BLUE

Dive into Spring’s coolest hue—- BLUE. Whether you are hangin’ on “Moon Beach” with Louis Vuitton (below) or workin’ it out in Bottega Venetta (bottom), one thing is for sure you are sure to be singin’ a new blues tune. From recycled cotton tees in cerulean to a sharp synthetic suit in navy, it’s more than just denim that is the fabric of choice. So, dump out your crayon box, we are fascinated by every shade– periwinkle, midnight, pacific, and even cornflower. Who knew that our favorite primary had so many unique names!



From the cool ocean water to the beautiful sky above, this season the designers were inspired by nature. As the world turns eco-friendly, green isn’t the only pigment that will bring you back down to earth. But how do you make sure that you don’t jump off the deep end when it comes to sportin’ this royal shade?

Peaceful and serene, these “blue” pieces can be preppy, sporty, and ultra-chic when partnered with the right proportion of neutrals. Ralph Lauren stayed classic while Michael Kors got a little carried away- blotchy blue dye on bleached denim is a bit washed out! D&G took a note from Elvis and kicked off their ensembles with blue suede shoes inspired by Converse. Ted Baker defined tradition with the navy blazer over a pristine turquiose dress shirt, while Cavalli was all about Blue Hawaii- floral printed fabrics.

Just like in nature, it’s all about a feng shui-like balance. Checkers to stripes to argyles, bold prints are making waves this spring too. The right combination of these patterns and solids can determine if you sink or swim. These transitional pieces will have you ready for summer too- even if you are surfin’ the beaches of Maui or basking in the dry desert of Las Vegas– shorts that can be worn wet or dry are just plain- HOT!

Even Hollywood’s hottest leading men are dye-ing to give this trend a try. Whether they are having a casual day out with the boys or struttin their stuff on the red carpet- from Adrian Grenier to Brad to Kanye, each of these hotties knows how to give a new meaning to “rhythm and blues”. Here are a few Do’s and Don’ts to help you find the right amount of blue for you!

Do. Layer a baby blue Egyptian cotton t-shirt by Giorgio Armani (available at Saks Fifth Avenue) under a bright, Prussian Blue and Midnight blocked sweater by Marc Jacobs (available at Neiman Marcus). For a relaxed approach try a plaid pair of shorts by Ralph Lauren (available at Dillards)

Don’t. Wear acid wash jeans—please! Stick to your basic denim, remember distress is a mess!

Do. Pair a blue floral print shirt by Modern Amusement (available at moderna musement.com) with a clean pair of Denim by DSquared (available at Nordstrom)

Don’t. Wear all primary colors together! This is about balance, not shock n’ awe!

Do. Accessorize a basic ensemble with a bright bold watch and shoes. Try the Corum Bubble Men’s XL Automatic Blue Watch (available at thewatchery.com). Stride into style with sneakers by Dolce & Gabanna (available at Barneys.com)
For the men who want to go blue without going broke, here are a few helpful tips. Pull of the Do’s above for less and still have green left in your pockets.

Budget Do #1: Shop for a light blue T-shirt by Hanes (available at Target). Put it under a funky blue argyle hoodie by Vans (vans.com or any surf/skate shop). Pair this with navy cargos for a twist on casual chic.

Budget Do #2: Be bold. Floral and blue striped shirt by Lucky (available at luckbrandjeans.com). Kick back and relax with Converse One Star jeans in Deep Dawn wash (available at Target)

Budget Do #3: Watch out, here’s a steal that is sure to please, Mossimo Automatic Blue Watch (available at Target). Get one foot ahead of the trend with these blue Converse sneakers(available at converse.com) You are sure to leave a lasting impression.

Alexander McQueen is right on TARGET

McQ makes it's way to a Target near you. Yes, you heard me, McQ, the moderate priced line by innovative fashion designer and legend Alexander McQueen. As for the inspiration behind this specific collection:

“We use icons in British music, and [Liela Moss] stood out. She’s a great-looking girl and has a personal style. It fell into the idea of the New York underground music scene. It was more the atmosphere she portrays.”

A clearer idea of the collection in the designer's words, “The collection has a muted color palette of black, white, gray and tan with accents of cobalt blue and bright pink. Studs and mesh give items an edge. There are studded jeans, shorts and denim jackets with asymmetrical closures, short tuxedo jackets and matching shorts, dresses in a blue and white painterly fabric, a one-shoulder dress in a gray-and-black zigzag pattern with a thick black belt, and a T-shirt with the image of Moss. The designer’s favorite pieces in the line include “the pink and black pieces and the little prom dresses.”

The images above are (left) of Leila in in a cotton mesh dress and rayon tank from McQ Alexander McQueen for Target, and the image on the right features a Silk-screen cotton jersey T-shirt over cotton and spandex denim pants by McQ Alexander McQueen for Target.

I applaud McQ for following in the fancy economy-friendly footsteps of Isaac, Cynthia, Rogan, and Converse. With the recession in full effect, this will definitely help the recessionistas that are still trying to maintain trend while still pinching pennies. So far, the line reminds me alot of the days of NYC and CBGB's but with a lil more McQueen-vibe in the cuts and fabric choices. So, I suggest grabbing a unique piece to incorporate into your already stacked wardrobe and make it your own! We give McQueen kudos for economical fashion in 2009!