Scans from People Style Watch’s latest issue.

Spring is coming, and with it comes a whole new set of fashion “rules.” As the weather heats up, clothes get lighter, shorter and more comfortable, but you also must start shaving your legs daily, getting manicures and pedicures, applying the self-tanner…you know the drill. Summer can be a pain. Just keeping yourself looking good is hard enough, but to worry about clothing and accessories on top of that is far too much thinking, in my opinion.

I’ve compiled some items for you that are guaranteed to make you look great this spring/summer season, and most of them will even be wearable once the weather turns cold again in about eight months or so, depending on where you live.

Thanks to People Style Watch for inspiring this post! I highly recommend People Style Watch (take some of their suggestions…bulldogs are IN, milkshakes are OUT…with a grain of salt) if you want to get some great shopping ideas.

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I didn’t plan to fall in love. It just happened. I was enjoying a chilly, snowy weekend up in Vermont, and as I was strolling down a quaint, quintessential New England Main Street, it caught my eye. Called to me, really, from the store of a little shop. A bright, shiny, patent leather bag that held the promise of spring in its showy, lemon yellow exterior. There was no discussion, no consideration, save a quick peek at the roomy interior. I wandered in and immediately made it mine.

Looks like other StyleFeeders have the same idea. Judging by the handbags that have been added to the site lately, shade is going to be more important than shape for spring. So I say, if you’re going to buy one bag this season, make it patent leather in a primary color. Blue, yellow and red nicely offset the other bright shades that are in for warmer weather, and will give your spirits a boost!

If you’ve got the coin, this blue Dolce & Gabbana beauty is a worthy splurge:

If you’re on a budget, check out these lookers that both come in for well under $40: Alloy’s Pedley hobo in a fetching shade of yellow, and ASOS’ patent red clutch, inspired by Sienna Miller’s penchant for Chanel:

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Technically Terra Plana means flat land, but you’ll be hardpressed to find much flatness with this shoe manufacturing anomaly. Inspired by a deep desire for longterm ecological survival, Terra Plana publishes the life cycle assessment for every pair of shoes they produce. They design their shoes with reparability, lightness (to reduce shipping impact), anatomic design, and durability in mind. According to Terra Plana, they “minimize waste and toxin use and maximize product use and love.” They produce their line using chrome-free and vegetable tanned leathers, recycled materials of all sorts (from rubber to old quilts and parachutes), and pure latex soling materials. Not to mention, they merchandise their products with an arresting, out-there aesthetic (check out the product shots above).

Terra Plana has also debuted a more eco-conscious leather product called E-leather. It’s a ‘re-woven’ blend of leather and textile fibers practically indistinguishable from good quality leather. E-Leather is produced with closed loop water usage and best practice pollution prevention methods. These people clearly care about crafting beautiful fashion statements using only the most modern and sustainable methods possible.

And how do they look? So, so hot! Whether you’re in Milano, Madrid, or the Mid-West, these unique sneaks and heels will be turning heads. Priced from $50-300, a pair of Terra Plana’s is a worthwhile investment in a company that’s setting the bar for eco-conscious manufacturing, as well as your wardrobe.

If you want to check out a sneak peak of Terra Plana 2008, go to smartplanet.com for a look at the super-sexy strappy heels for Spring.

College is rough on the budget. As a general rule, I don’t like to spend more than $100 on any one item of clothing (unless it is a very special coat or dress), and for all practical purposes, if I want to eat, I really shouldn’t spend more than that.

That makes buying accessories difficult. I always want the latest “It” bag or shoes (who doesn’t?), but I absolutely do not have the budget to buy them. I find interesting ways to compensate, though, namely what I like to call “designer-inspired goods”.

Designer-inspired has a much better ring to it than the more common “knock-off,” and really, they’re nearly as fun as the real thing. As long as they come from reputable sources…NOT street vendors. You can rest more easily knowing that your designer-inspired look came from Steve Madden, not a street vendor in Mexico selling goods stolen from unsuspecting tourists.

Want a piece of the action? Check out the following:

These YSL tribute pumps are actually being sold from Bluefly, which makes them marginally less expensive than buying straight from the source. But, sadly, marginally less expensive still means you’ll need to pay $528. Sigh.

BUT: do not despair that you cannot own one of the most sought-after shoes of the past year or two or three. because you can own something inspired.

Starting from the left, these Steve Madden Laveda’s are a pretty good inspired look. I love the sexy stiletto heel. The Xhilaration Sveta pumps from Target are only $19.99 and come in four different colors. I liked the red and brown, but not the black: it looked a little cheaper than the other shades. BCBG is one of my favorite designers, and their BCBGirls line is less expensive and much more accessible. These white and black platforms also come in a sexy, vampy red. My favorite pair of YSL-inspired pumps are Nine West’s electric blue version. Steve Madden also makes a pair of pumps called the Reede, and this version has a more classic styling/vintage feel than the Laveda’s. But, the most true-to-Tribute pair you can buy? Jessica Simpson’s Miami Maryjanes. They are nearly an exact “inspired” match for the YSL Tributes…and such a great deal, too, at $50.

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Okay, before you look at the title of this post and wonder what in the world I’m talking about, let me explain. I love 007, but I always secretly wished that the next James Bond would be a girl! Of course, in the society we are in, that wasn’t going to happen, but there are Charlie’s Angels, Aeon Flux, and many others to focus on. But for some reason, to me, nothing is more glamorous and stylish than a Bond Girl.

So I asked myself, if I were a modern day Bond Girl, what would I wear and what gadgets would I own? The inspiration for this post came from Lauren Conrad’s new Spring 2008 Collection. I love Lauren’s style and think some of her new pieces are quite classic and would fit very well into a current Bond Girl’s Closet. Don’t believe me? Decide for yourself as you take a ride with my wild imagination and check out this modern Bond Girl’s 24 hour mission:

7:00 PM: Charity Gala
Location: New York, New York
Check out this combination from The Lauren Conrad Spring 2008 Collection which includes the Nicole Skirt, Jackie Tube Top, and the Katherine Wrap. It reminds me of a bond girl at a Charity Gala right before she runs into James Bond while tailing the bad guy. Add a secret flash drive necklace, like this Heart Beat USB Memory Key by Phillip and Swarovski and wait for love and scandal to follow.

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Lucky magazine has been one of my favorite newsstand purchases since it first debuted. I remember being very young and picking up the inaugural issue and thinking, “So this is why fashion can be interesting.”

Their website–now upgraded–is actually fairly informative, and I like their new “Cute Outfit of the Day” section in which they single out someone on their staff and take a photo of their outfit. It’s really fascinating to see how Senior Fashion Editors, for instance, dress on a day to day basis. Obviously the Lucky offices aren’t exactly “The Devil Wears Prada”–they dress like everyday women, just more trend and designer-conscious.

I chose some of my favorite looks from Cute Outfit of the Day and found inexpensive ways to copy the style of these supposed (and well-qualified) style experts working in the fashion industry.

Heather Summerville - Senior Associate Fashion Editor

Heather’s look is stylish, but still attainable for the average woman. Sometimes fashion can be too fashion-y (for instance, men STILL do not understand why trapeze dresses were fashionable.) This, however, translates well to all sorts of different vocations.

Try this Urban Outfitters tee (it’s on sale at 2 for $25) with these Gap “Favorite” trouser jeans, which come in longer inseams for us tall women, and petite inseams for you midgetors. Pair these basics with this interesting cropped trench from Target. The tie in the front alone dresses up the whole look. You could also leave the trench unbuttoned for a more casual appearance.

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Everyone knows that your style starts at home in the morning… picking out your outfit, selecting shoes, grabbing a great bag… and running out the door. But I’ve found that the work day is the enemy of style — things happen. Creases form, lint finds you, mascara runs, shine appears, shoes hobble… but a little forethought and a well-stocked top desk drawer has saved my look many a time.

So dear Readers/Feeders, I give you: the Top Five Top Drawer Style Essentials (and where you might find them online.)

1. The Garment Salvation Kit

Go to www.drugstore.com or the like to select some cheap and portable products to fix style emergencies. Put together a little Fix It Kit online, and then ship it right to work. Unpack to your top drawer and bask in your preparedness, you good little Scout. Some of my personal must-haves…a lint roller, some stain removers, and a wrinkle spray.

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InStyle magazine is one of the rare fashion magazines that offer a website worthy of your time. Lucky’s is okay, Teen Vogue’s is horrendous and don’t even get me started on Allure’s website.

But, InStyle has some great online features, like the Hollywood Hair Makeover (so much fun) and Hot Finds.

My favorite feature is Look of the Day. Readers can vote for their favorite of 5 different looks, while seeing what InStyle has chosen as their pick. This section is updated daily, with five new looks to view, and their archive features thousands more.

Although InStyle offers places where you can find and purchase items from the Look of the Day, I find their suggestions a little pricey. So, I’ve taken some recent “Looks” and found inexpensive ways to make it your own.

Natalie Portman in Derek Lam. I think Natalie looks adorable in this outfit: it’s age-appropriate AND weather-appropriate, with the tights and long-sleeves.

If you can afford something a little pricey (upwards of $200), the Betsey Johnson dress from Urban Outfitters is perfect. If you want something a bit more budget-friendly, Urban Outfitter’s also sells a great shirt dress by Lux for $48. ASOS has a pair of platform pumps similar to Natalie’s that come in red and hot pink and are only about $50 U.S. If you live in Great Britain, then they are quite a steal at 25 pounds.

Don’t forget to add a pair of black opaque tights!

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As a little girl, I remember Saturday night was always Date Night for my parents. I would sit and watch my mom put on her makeup, which was neatly organized in a long drawer of her dresser. It seemed like a very grown up thing to do: paint your nails, style your hair and apply lipstick. Lately, my eye has been drawn to makeup vanities, and not until remembering this Saturday night ritual did I realize why this piece of furniture always makes me stop and take a second look. There is something so intriguing about a mirror which seems to flip up out of nowhere and little drawers which hold squares and tubes of various colors. So here are a few beautiful options for the little girl in all of us!

The William Sonoma Home Montmartre Vanity has a very Parisian Deco feel to it. The clean lines and square nickel hardware is just classic. I especially love the contrast between the dark Walnut finish and the parchment colored inset. The petite vanity chair with the slight curve to the back and plush ivory velvet just makes it feel even more sophisticated.

This 50’s styled dressing table, designed by Jamie Graham of Graham & Green in London is so glamorous! The mirrored top and drawers adds to the charm of a bedroom vanity. The dark legs look to be in a rich espresso finish, which gives the piece some weight. I like the idea of choosing your own mirror, the beveled triptych option they show is perfect for seeing all angles. The stylist of this photo positioned a comfy velvet chair next to the vanity, as if to anticipate a curious little girl looking on!

If you have the space why not indulge in a piece of furniture which is for the sole purpose of assisting us in looking even more beautiful everyday!

Spring 2008 is coming fast and the styles range from Global (think Angelina Jolie mixed with the Queen of Sheba) to Goddess. I’m really excited about the new trends because they reflect the women of today: powerful, business-minded, eco-friendly goddesses and traveling divas. And of course, gadgets are needed to make these trends come to life! Here are four of my favorite Spring 2008 Trends and my suggestions on how to “gadgetize” (to accessorize using gadgets) them.

The Global Woman
Spring 2008 brings in a global theme that focuses on tribal-like patterns, bright colors mixed with earth tones, and natural but strong makeup! Every global woman needs a multilingual electronic talking dictionary. Try this one, the E15C800, by Ectacto which includes a car charger, headset, microphone and power converters for any country. Pair it with this cute global-inspired dress from Etro’s Women Spring 2008 Collection and you’re ready for any tribal adventure.

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