If you haven't noticed the abundance and variety of prints gracing spring clothing this year, you must be blind....er....maybe it's the reason you've gone blind in the first place! The bearing of prints should be handled with caution, but can add quite a bit of panache to any ensemble. From polka dots to paisley, and everything inbetween, knowing the print protocol will have you prancing all over town in no time.

Let's start with polka dots. In my book, you can't go wrong with those little round orbs of joy. Big, small, I'll take 'em all. Not only are they too cute, but it's exceptionally difficult to look anything but classy and fun donning these dots.


Florals are a bit more complicated. What you think is feminine and romantic, may actually be a shout-out to Aunt Matilda's gaudy muumuu.

Avoid large floral blooms, too many colors and head-to-toe displays of flowers. The goal is flirty and fresh, not a walking botanical garden. The top below balances a bold design, while not going overboard with coverage.

Abstract prints are very hard to sport stylishly, partially because most channel the disco days. Wild shapes and out-of-control color aren't flattering on anyone. If you absolutely must clothe thyself in abstract prints, limit your usage to a cami or knee-length skirt for a fun party or special occasion. In any case, do not place an abstract print from hip to ankle, as seen in the abomination below:

Stripes can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Best friends are slenderizing, cool and swanky. This blazer jacket is a best friend.

Worst enemies are unflattering, frumpy and grotesque. This dress is a worst enemy.

Paisley is incredibly versatile. Contemporary versions of an old favorite are popping up not only on clothing, but on accessories as well. Paisley wears many faces, and is festive for after-hours or sharp for the workplace. This handbag, paired with a conservative suit, brightens a 9-to-5 dress code. If you only retain one nugget of knowledge from this post, please remember to isolate your prints. They cannot, and will not, ever get along. I won't try to explain. This atrocity speaks for itself:

Please procure a pleasant time picking out pretty prints!

All pieces of clothing pictured can be found at Neiman Marcus.

Do you ever find yourself looking in your closet with apathy, thinking, “I have all these clothes, and nothing to wear. I don’t like any of this stuff”?

Do you ever realize--sometimes in the middle of an amazing sale at (insert your favorite store here)--that you are in a fashion slump? That you seem to have the shopping blahs?

Well, here are a few tips to get you inspired again:

-Keep a fashion notebook. This can be as simple as a Pirates of the Caribbean folder (I almost bought one of these at Walmart the other day because Orlando Bloom is my boyfriend, but doesn't know it yet)

or as elaborate as a scrapbooking binder complete with wee little stickers, like these.

Cut out pictures you like from magazines. Don't just look at Elle and Vogue--try Real Simple and Oxygen. Write what you liked about the picture next to it: “Cute dress,” “I like the mood in this photo,” or “Fun lip color.” Even if clothing or make-up isn’t the item the advertisement is selling, look beyond that to the mood the picture evokes and what you personally like about it. Even car ads can be inspirational.

When you're in a fashion slump, look back over the things you liked before; this always helps me remember what I like and break through a rut.

-Draw inspiration from nature. Let the day and the season guide your choices. Try a silvery white eye shadow or a winter white pea coat in the winter. Play up your blush as the pink roses bloom in summer.

-Search the stars. If you enjoy a particular celebrity’s style, copy an element of his or her style, just for a day, just for fun. Channel Audrey Hepburn in your little black dress. Wear four inch heels and avoid the self-tanner while dressing like statuesque Nicole Kidman. Throw caution to the wind and be fun and crazy like Cameron Diaz.

Remember, fashion is fun! With a few of these tips, you'll get inspired again in no time!

It looks like Sienna is up to her usual tricks:



OK. First of all, I don't like her. Second, what is she wearing here? I know the Fug Girls already covered this, but I don't care. Who does this girl think she is? I could tolerate the dress, and the shoes are too adorable for words, and I don't even mind the tights in the dead of winter when it's too cold to even CONSIDER going outside. But altogether? In May? Really.

Also, her hair looks like she's had the mumps for the past five days, and her makeup is dull and uninspired. Maybe she fell asleep under the tanning bed, woke up, realized she had to be at this event in LIKE TEN MINUTES, and just threw on the nearest thing she could find.

Which just happened to be this mess of an outfit. In which case I DON'T EVEN WANT TO KNOW how all these items happened to be on the floor of her room at the same time. Did she wear this to more than ONE event? I want to have faith...but this is Sienna we're talking about. And Audrey Hepburn she is NOT.
Apparently, college professors thing that comparing and contrasting is a useful skill. They sure made me do that a lot. So let's do that. Emmy Rossum is roughly as famous as Sienna Miller. If you don't care about Phantom of the Opera, chances are that you've never seen her before. Well, I DO care about Phantom of the Opera, and I may or may not have the entire soundtrack memorized and own all the sheet music and think Gerard Butler is the hottest thing since Aragorn reclaimed the throne. I'll never tell. Anyway, Emmy Rossum has got this fashion thing DOWN.

Seeeeeeeeee? The hair is nice. The makeup is subtle without being boring or passe. The dress is cute and glitzy without looking like it came from a rummage sale. She's not trying to garner the attention of anyone, but she doesn't go unnoticed either. Also, I love the shoes.
To top it all off there is the smile and the lack of trashy tan to take into consideration. Bottom line?

Sienna Miller: ZERO
Emmy Rossum and anyone else who is about as famous as Sienna (which means not very much): Right, they win. Forever.

Update: I apologize for the tardiness of this post. I forgot to change the date!

I've spoken in somewhat superfluous terms about the fabulous Gwen. And I'm happy that she's going to have a baby. Babies are cute, and I bet her baby will be particularly cute.

But this...


Is a little beyond the pale.



I love the hat. I love the shirt. I'll tolerate the skirt. I like the jacket. I love the earrings. I love the sunglasses. I love the red lipstick.



What I don't love, however, is all of them together! I'm aware of the fact that if this was Britney Spears I'd have flamed her...but there's something so appealing about Gwen, I just can't do it!

How much fashion leeway do we give pregnant women anyway?


Pictures courtesy of these really deep people.

In regards to the recent celebration of Earth Day, a environmentally conscious Fashionista should be well-informed of eco-friendly clothing and accessories that promote the three R's: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Wearing eco-conscious clothing doesn't mean you have to munch granola while burning incense. Contemporary lines of organic and recycled clothing and accessories are both trendy and of high quality.

The creative possibilities for items of clothing and accessories are endless when using recycled materials. In addition to the staple materials such as hemp, flax, recycled polyester and organic denim, cotton and wool, other eco-friendly textiles are surfacing including banana fiber, bamboo and the corn-based fabric, Ingeo.

EDUN, a line of clothing created by Bono, is inspired by organic fabrics. As an added bonus, EDUN promotes social consciousness, enabling the developing world to create a self-sustaining and self-sufficient business model.

Terra Plana fashions an entire line of shoes in the interest of sustainable products. The shoes are structrually strong and crafted exceptionally well to provide maximum usage. It doesn't hurt that these shoes are really cute!

Eco-inspired accessories are unique and can be a lot of fun. All types of jewelry, from necklaces to earrings, are made from recycled or natural materials. Many are constructed from sea glass, colorful bottles or recycled aluminum and tin, like this one from Uncommon Goods. Handbags and totes of all shapes and sizes are trendy and colorful, and boast to the world your eco-consious lifestyle. This large tote from Ecoist is perfect for a beach bag. Recycled and organic materials are also present in many home furnishings and accessories as well. Eco-Artware has a wide range of goods, like this 100% recycled paper, handmade vase.



It truly is easy and fashionable to help save our earth!