I’m leaning towards a yes only because they’re flattering, versatile, cute, modern, a little hip, a little edgy…and most of all, fresh! Need I say more??

I’m especially loving the soft pastels these skirts are popping up in, like this mustard yellow one from Forever 21 and the one pictured here from Anthropologie that I just purchased.

This not too short but not too long skirt is sure to be a Spring staple, but before the temps heat up, I plan on wearing mine with a thick, rich cable knit sweater, opaque tights and ankle boots.

When it comes to color, opt for a soft sherbert color…they’re going to be huge this spring! And when its finally warm enough wear them with pretty  chiffon tanks or silk blouses.

Take a look at some of these affordable options and let me know how/if you hi/low!

More Forever 21…

I’m not sure who’s wearing these shoes (I’ve only ever seen these worn by very fashion-forward bloggers and on one girl at The Grove who should not have been wearing them) or if they’re even wearable??  I like to think that I’m pretty open to trends and new fashions when it comes to shoes but this just seems a little too big of a step…no pun intended.

Here’s my other question…are these even cute?  I get that there’s a whole movement around not-s0-cute fashion and one of my fave blogs has to be The Man Repeller (check it out if you haven’t already) but at the end of the day I want my shoes to look HOT even if my outfit maybe isn’t so sexy.

Now if I was going to adopt this trend, the only pair of “big shoes” I might let into my closet have to be these Dolce Vita Jemma Platform boots in red.  They’re super cute and I can’t get over how amazing they look in this pic…

So what do you think, are these cheap or chic?

Braids have been the hot hair fix for seasons now and their popularity continues to grow….the John Barrett Salon in NYC even has their own braid bar!!  Braids are hotter than ever and the perfect solution for this humidity filled heatwave, but this reverse braid might just be the next big thing.

What do you think? Cheap or Chic? Could this be your mid-summer go to? It’s a really cool look and the top bun helps give your boho-braid a more polished appearance.

DIY Tip: Make sure your hair is blown out straight so the braid doesn’t look sloppy. Pin two-thirds of your hair up and out of the way so you can work on the braid without extra hair on the way. Now for the tricky part, braid your hair holding it straight up (a french braid style works best, but try a simple braid works too if you’re not as skilled). Finally, when the braid is about the length of your head, combine the braid and the rest of your hair and twist it into a ballerina bun. Pin with a ton of bobby pins (or a set of SpinPins) to finish!

This look is sure to be a conversation-starter, but this reverse braid might be a two girl job…what a workout for the arms! Let us know if you think you can pull this off!?! And for more fabulous braid inspiration, check out my dear friend Jenn Falik’s blog, she’s become quite the expert and last time I saw her sporting braids, she looked ah-mazing!!

A favorite of fashion risk takers (like Sienna Miller), trendy stores like H&M (featured left) and BCBG have been incorporating suede shorts into their spring lines.

If you’re tired of your boring and basic shorts, these are the perfect way to mix up your look! Start by pairing them with a soft, feminine blouse to keep the look modern. Look for shirts in silky, soft fabrics like this one that will lend a nice contrast to the structure of the shorts.  And stay away from tops that are too tight or cropped.

At first, I thought I’d only like a super simple version of these, with very clean lines, but then I found this cargo pair from Free people and I’m kind of in LOVE! I just need to visit them in person to make sure the suede is super-thin and light…

So are you willing to try this trend? For the cheapest options check out your local H&M, otherwise there’s a few places online where you can snag your own pair…

More Topshop…

That being said, I gasped out loud when I saw this shot of Anne at a premiere in Rio.  I mean, what happened? She’s like 10 fashion disasters all rolled up into one!  Individually as trends…maybe they would work, maybe?

Mixed prints? So cute. Straight leg trousers? Equally cute. Even the shoes and the necklace get my vote, but the side ruffles and the outfit as a whole? I just don’t get it…are there no mirrors in Brazil!?

So that brings me to printed pants.  They’ve been popping up like crazy and we’ve been seeing them on other celebs, but for Anne this ruffled pair just doesn’t work..I say cheap.

But don’t give up just yet, this trend can look chic. Stores like Urban Outfitters have a whole inventory of chic printed pants. Their trousers will only run you around $40-$60 and they have a ton of different patterns and cuts. And I promise, no ruffles. Will you be trying this trend?

More River Island…

With all these options, I have to admit I have a bit of an identity crisis every time I go to choose a color…I love the edge and statement of the super dark colors, but nothing makes me feel more pulled together and ready to take on the world than a fabulous French or timeless nude manicure! So is the new two-tone nail look seen on the S/S ’11 Vena Cava runway the answer to my nail color double identity…?

This is a sort of reverse French manicure with a little black mixed in- the moons are painted dark while the rest of the nail is innocently nude. At the Vena Cava show, the models wore three coats of Yummy Mummy and Jack Black on the moons–all from the Butter London line.

After much deliberation, I tried a version of this look and let’s say the jury is definitely still out.  If you want to try this at home, it can be easily replicated with any dark, almost black color and your basic nude combo but several coats are needed to make it look polished and intentional. I used Sally Hansen’s French Manicure stickers to create clean lines several coats to make it look polished and intentional…and voila the homespun version of Vena Cava Runway look!

But, wait, do we like the look? It may be easy to replicate but do we want to is the question..would you call this cheap or chic? Tell us what you think…

Sheer Knit Tops are comfortable, casual and normally something you would wear to bed or around the house, but things are changing. First Sweat, pants now this!?

Stars like the lovely Jessica Alba and Heidi Klum are showing off their bras in these see-through tops, but somehow they’re not revealing too much.

The question now becomes, is this a look that can transfer to your life? It sure doesn’t look cheap on these women, but it’s safe to say that this look is definitely not for everyone.

I think the key is to cover up a little….wear the top with jeans, heels and a blazer. Or try a top that’s not too sheer so that it doesn’t look like you were purposely trying to show off you bra!

This might just be a sexy, yet understated look if you style it just right!

More Forever 21…

You could wear some of these pants to bed if you wanted because they are just that comfortable, but I say style them up and wear them out!  And of course it’s all about you you style them that will make the difference between Cheap or Chic.

The most luxurious pair out there right now is the $650 pair of sequin sweat pants from J. Crew. Now I certainly can’t afford them…but I wish I could because I’m in love with these!

Luckily there are some more affordable substitutes out there. I have found a few sequin substitutes from ASOS, the difference being that they are all a little more tailored than the J.Crew version.

I also found some great harem-style sweatpants, like these from Love21.  Now to be perfectly honest, I still have still not purchased a pair of harem pants for myself because while I liked the trend, the whole drop crotch thing is not going to look cute on me!

But now there are finally some modified harem pants out there that I can totally get on board with–the crotch on these is raised but they still have that same look harem-ish look!

There are lots of different versions of these knit pants out there and they aren’t all harems.  Some look more like trouser and some are paper bag styles.  But what ever the name, they are comfortable and really fun to style and they are making their way into my wardrobe this Fall!

But keep in mind, that you can’t just wear these pants out with a cotton tank top or people will think you forget to change out of your P.J.’s. –instead, wear them with a printed button down or a feminine blouse and top it off with a blazer!  When it comes to accessories, don’t forget the heels, layer on the jewelry and maybe throw in some faux fur! Have fun heading out in style and comfort this season!

More Asos…

Now in the age of Crocs, it seems like anything plastic that people put on their feet is totally acceptable but I just don’t think Crocs are in my cards…

But jellies,  now that’s a different story.  These are like the high-class cousin of the Croc, right?

I remember my first pair of purple ones my Mom finally got for me from Target like it was yesterday. But, clear and sparkly–for someone older than age 9? Hmmm…what do you think girls? Are you into plastic footwear?

Surprisingly I have found several versions I really like– I even found high-end versions from Stuart Weitzman, DVF and Kate Spade but there’s no way I’m paying $150 for plastic!

Especially when there’s this pair for $38 from Lulus.com or this truly cheap pair from Urban Outfitters for $6.99!!

For some reason, on the way to the desert some girls lost all sense of good style and threw own the most random assortment of items to get their signature Coachella “look”… and don’t you find it funny that their “look” is basically worn by every single female attendee at the festival: headscarf/headband, ripped up tee, cutoffs, army/ankle boots and some one-off accessory…so much for individual style!

Anyway, I digress…what I really want to discuss is this whole crop top trend and this was one of the only pics I could find illustrating the trend! So my question to you is, do you love it?  Do you hate it? Would you wear it and how old is too old to rock it?

Since the 80’s are so strong this season, I’m not at all surprised that shorter shirts are in style and while I hated the tight fitting crop tops of the 90’s, I’m kind of into the baggier, trapeze crop tops I’m seeing out there.

But that’s the key with this look–the shirt has to be loose, so I would consider buying one size up if you find a top you like. I also prefer the tops paired with jeans vs. shorts but that’s just a personal preference…I might change my mind once the temperatures hit 90 degrees this summer!

I bought the F21 striped shirt below in a M instead of my usual S and I have to say, it’s the perfect fit.  I’m also on the petite size, so it’s exactly a “crop top” on me.  There’s absolutely no belly showing unless I raise my arms in the air!!

But I’m no hater, so if you have a perfectly flat belly like Alessandra Ambrosio does above, I think these shirts are super cute and perfect for the Summer!

More Forever 21…