One of my favorite spots for fashion inspiration is a Flickr group entitled Wardrobe Remix. Regular girls and guys can submit head-to-toe shots of their outfits and then fashion voyeurs, such as myself, can partake in the thousands of great real-life looks.

I recently found two looks I really liked and decided to recreate their outfits for as cheap a price point as possible.

First, I found a photo of night.owl, whose outfit was quite basic but had a fun pop of color.

1. Start out with a basic white dress, as night.owl did. I chose one that’s a bit more full in the skirt, which is more universally flattering.
2. I love the edgy jacket that night.owl is sporting. The dark charcoal gray also adds a modern, casual feel to the dress. Try this one by Forever 21.
3. Gray shoes are harder to find in the summer, but come fall/winter they should be much more plentiful. For now, try this pair.
4. Red tights completely made night.owl’s outfit. They added a punchy color and a quirky element that really stood out to me.

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Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they’re everywhere this season: summer scarves. This trend can be spotted on celebs and real people of both sexes. From John Mayer…

To Jessica Alba…

…there aren’t many places these lightweight accessories haven’t been spotted. Even Rachael Ray has donned a jaunty scarf, though that didn’t work out so well for her.

You won’t see me sporting a scarf this summer. I get the arguments for: it’s an easy way to add color and pattern to an outfit. (Believe me, I went through a scarf phase about 10 years ago because I thought they were a professional way to add pizzazz to a suit. I had a very elaborate way of tying the fabric, that in retrospect, made me look like I had been decapitated and was trying to keep my head tied to my body through a small square of fabric and sheer force of will.)
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I was looking for new items to add to my stylefeed and saw these shoes:

I have always loved Christian Louboutin shoes but am not a huge fan of pink. But there is just something about these shoes that pop out at me, maybe it’s the HOT pink colour or the big bow on the toe. Whatever it is, I wish I had the cash in my bank account for them.

Then I thought, “Even if I had the cash what would I wear them with?”

Then I happened across this photo on the same site:

It answered my question. How genius of the site, Browns, to pair up the hot pink silk shoes with the green, floral print, silk, Marc Jacobs dress! I love the way the 1940s cut still manages to look modern.

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Start saving up your paycheck for these three stand-alone pieces. Different styles and designers for sure, but who wants to be predictable? Here are two rings and a sweater to match your mood. Keep ‘em on their toes, girlfriend.

A cozy, slouchy fancy designer maxi-cardigan is an indulgence for sure, but this Stella McCartney stone-colored sweater made of heavy cotton mixes nautical with High Street. The white twill tape forms a cool hipster crucifix in the back, while the toggle-type closures look slick open or loose. Throw it on over cargo pants for a mad dash through the airport, or toss on over your fanciest black trousers. Either way, the $1345 knit is a knockout.

Jill Platner is a surfer, sculptor and one of the hottest jewelry designers around these day. Lenny Kravitz proudly loops one of her black corded chokers around his neck, and Mandy Moore stacks rows of the organic bracelets up and down her arm — each one a sculptural masterpiece. Jill’s pieces are not cheap — this dazzling “Sprout” bracelet runs $815, but the cord is made of gortex and the silver is all but bullet-proof. Wear it while you swim, sleep shower and sprint — just as Jill would herself.

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I love those spreads in fashion magazines that detail, “A Month of Style!” with a photo for every day’s ideal outfit taken from a gigantic wardrobe of things to pick and choose from.

Alas, I am not wealthy enough to afford to buy their wardrobe suggestions. $300 for a dress? Not gonna happen! I’d like to have a settled career, thanks, before I start spending large chunks of rent and food money on clothing. As fun as that is, a girl’s gotta eat!

My thought was to re-create the same idea: a week of fashion, made from a few simple items, but all affordable. Mind-blowing, right?

Day One - Bohemian Chic

Pair these great (and cheap) sandals from Forever 21 with a Lux skirt by Urban Outfitters and a top from Delias.

Why should you wear this? It’s got a great, “oh-this-old-thing” casual look, but still looks like you took time in choosing your appearance.

To mix it up - Add a bright colored scarf, a couple gold bangles or hoops or a light, loose jacket.

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Per bee’s request, I’ve decided to do another post detailing adorable ways to wear Lucky staffer’s “Cute Outfits of the Day.”

Like I mentioned in my previous “Get the Lucky Look” post, Lucky magazine is a great source for hunting out new trends and styles to incorporate into your own wardrobe. The only problem with Lucky? Most of the clothing featured is way out of my price range. $250 for a blouse? $400 for a casual dress? I don’t think so!

Instead, I like to see what Lucky staffers wear to the office each day—and then find inexpensive ways to copy their outfits or styles. They’re in the fashion magazine industry, so I think “Cute Outfit of the Day” is a fairly reliable source for fashionable and creative style ideas.

Here’s some of the outfits that caught my eye recently–and ways to recreate them for much, much less.

Jenny Kang, Fashion Assistant

Jenny’s wearing a mix of high and low-end clothing: H&M, American Apparel and Chloe brands are all incorporated into her outfit. I like the casual-chic look of this, and you could wear flats or Chucks instead of heels for a more weekend-friendly version.

Jenny wore a three-quarter length sleeved white blazer with her outfit, but for the warm weather ahead, I prefer this Forever 21 short-sleeved version. The price is unbelievable: less than $16! This gray tee from Urban Outfitters adds a neutral base to the outfit, and I like the extra length on it, which gives a good proportion to the whole outfit. Skinny jeans are a must–and if you don’t have a dark wash pair already, these Truck brand skinnies from Alloy.com come in petite, regular and long inseams, as well as multiple washes and colors. These Madden Girl wedge heels have a little bit of a retro flair to them, but in case CutesyGirl runs out of your size, these 70’s-inspired Target wedges will also do the trick. For a last bit of flair, throw on a purple scarf: either this one from Forever 21, or this multi-colored one from Urban Outfitters.

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I had my first internship last summer. As I scheduled interviews and prepared my portfolio, do you want to know my biggest fear and the source of my nervousness?

I had no idea what to wear.

Washington, D.C. is about 90 degrees in the shade come June, and it only intensifies from there, ending in a blaze of glory about the end of August/beginning of September. How ironic that this is also the time when interns descend on D.C., slaving away for the good of their resumes.

I didn’t want to show up sweaty and gross for the interview, and neither did I want to seem underdressed. What a problem!

But it’s not a problem for you. Experience has taught me the “do’s” and “don’ts” of dressing for internships…and interviews…and I’m happy to share my knowledge.

The Stuffy Interview

Working as a government intern? Or at some generic federal outpost? Or a law firm?

Etiquette dictates a more modest, professional attire for jobs or internships in areas such as those. Note, however, that modest and professional does not have to equal boring.

See the clothing above? It’s all from Victoria’s Secret. How illicit of you, young lawyer or government worker, to dress in Victoria’s Secret for a strictly dress-coded career!

But, you can get away with wearing a Victoria’s Secret label when the clothes look as classy as this. The french-cuffed shirt is a perfect staple piece for a more modest work wardrobe. Play up the shirt with interesting cuffs…just don’t leave the top button undone too far. It is supposed to be modest, after all! The pencil skirt above has a great little bow on the back, so although you may look staid from the front, you’ll show off your playful side from the back. The best deal is on the far right, with the skirt suit. Victoria’s Secret has a whole host of suits you can buy for less than $99, so take advantage of that offer. To add a bit of spunk to your suits, wear a brightly colored oxford or a blouse with an unusual ruffle detail.

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Color, color, and more color! After the drab and dark days of winter, I am so happy to see bright, fun colors taking over my favorite shopping spots.

I wear a LOT of monochromatic colors like black, gray and white, with the occasional pop of navy or taupe, but I am determined to wear a lot of fun colors this spring and summer. And why not? Just looking at the page above from People Style Watch makes me feel better about my day. Imagine a double-page spread of black clothes? Not nearly as exciting.

Check out some of my favorite (and, as always, affordable) finds for spring.

Blue

My favorite spring shade is an eye-popping cobalt blue. Blue with black is no longer taboo, so feel free to match these separates with black accessories or other items at your heart’s content.

Jackie’s Favorite Blue Picks: These deep blue Forever21 slingback platforms are super-inexpensive and have a great glossy patent finish. These could be worn with jeans, pencil skirts, dresses…they’ve got a really versatile quality. I also love this cobalt blue peacoat. Since it’s still a little cold in DC, I’m still gravitating towards warmer clothing!

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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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