Still have some room in your suitcase? Shoes tend to be the area where most of us overpack…they’re cute AND heavy, leading to some serious overestimation. You should be able to make it through a beach vacation with just three pairs of shoes…if they’re the right ones.

Flip-Flops

Everyone I know wears the cheap Old Navy flip flops. Stand out in–gasp–a Forever 21 pair instead. They come in several different colors, but I like the gray pictured here.

Dressy Sandals

• I have a severe “thing” for gladiator sandals. Brandon, my fiance (otherwise known on here as THF), calls them my “Russell Crowe shoes.” My sister calls them “Jesus sandals.” However you decide to look at them, you can’t deny their inherent hotness. This pair from Madden Girl is less than $50.
• Target has some great summer sandals right now. This bejeweled pair is so pretty, and dressy enough for dinner, etc.
• I love red shoes and this strappy, bare pair from Target is firmly on my “to buy” list.
• Payless is a good place to pick up inexpensive footwear, like these strappy sandals which would look smashing with a skirt or dress.
• The wild card here are these sandals from Alloy. They’re a great deal money-wise, but the serpent design and bright colors might be hard to pull off. My suggestion is to wear them something neutral on top, like a casual black or gray dress.
• These elegant Forever 21 sandals have sexy ankle ties. To keep the ties up on your legs, spray them with some hairspray after they’re tied. Gross, but it works!

Get the whole scoop »

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.

Get the whole scoop »