Perhaps The Best Week Ever?

One last thing: I'm going absent this weekend, away at a Key Club convention without any computer ties. Life with be so much simpler once I get a laptop [big sigh]. There will be many leadership forums, many speakers, and many mismatched suits. Did I mention there will be an all-boys school's club there, too?

In the mean time, for a bloggy fix, visit VH1's Best Week Ever blog. Don't discriminate against it because of the lame-o tv show it's modeled after... the blog version is 1,000,000,000,000 times cooler. I will warn you that this is a highly, highly addictive blog that you may just end up visiting every 10 minutes. Just don't say I did warn you.

xx,
tf
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Attack of the Smartly Dressed Hipsters

I love, love, love to hear feedback from readers of my website, and one of my favorite readers thus far is Shelby, a girl who has so much musical knowledge she should most definitely have her very own blog ( "Veronica Mars rocks my mismatched socks off. The dialogue is clever, the mysterys are puzzling and the music rocks."). I slowly savor each and every one of her iTunes recommendations-she's better any MTV VJ.

Ms. Shelby recently emailed me, telling me about the Death Cab for Cutie/Franz Ferdinand concert she went to. The best part? She was awesome enough to write an article about it, so you can relish her musical taste, too!

Attack of the Smartly Dressed Hipsters:
Death Cab For Cutie and Franz Ferdinand @ Sacramento Convention Center 3/22

The Cribs were the opener, consisting of three working class English accents stomping and sweating around the stage, provoking no more reaction from the haughty hipsters than an occasional surly foot tap. The powered through their set dressed in tight pants and tighter shirts, and drowned any sorrows they might have had with the lack of enthusiasm by sucking down the beers conveniently placed on their amps. When they did get some people dancing during "Hey Scenesters", it was pretty funny because the one song that got the hipsters shaking their painstaking styled hair was in fact, making fun of them. The general consensus is that, if the opener sucks, well, go get your stylishly distressed concert tee. The Cribs didn’t exactly suck, but they did provide the best opportunity to buy everything from a life on the road documentary of Death Cab to Franz Ferdinand underwear. Highlights from the Cribs: "Hey Scenesters" "Another Number" and the lead singer pronouncing Sacramento as "Sacre-men he-o"

The time between the opener and the headliner was the best time for people watching. I had fun watching the expected tight trousered, sexually ambiguous scenesters clustered in tight groups of their own kind, excitedly bouncing on the soles of their perfectly broken in Converse. There was also a surprising amount of thirty and forty somethings, one who drunkenly told me in the bathroom that if I was an eighth grader, I wasn’t allowed to wear my green cityscape Death Cab tee for a week. But I digress. I had great fun checking out the clever tees (My favorite was most definitely "Cheer Up Emo Boy") The most entertaining group of people to watch was a group of teenage boys wearing the hipster uniform but lacking the necessary gloomy sense of pretension-they were tripping the light fantastic with some movies that looked left over from Footloose, oblivious to anyone else who didn’t share their fancy footed skills.

Death Cab for Cutie descended the stage and kicked things off with a hyper (Well, hyper for them)"Crooked Teeth", then segwaying into an exhilarating "New Year", and greeting the crowd with a cheerfully modest "Hi, we’re called Death Cab for Cutie and we’re from Seattle. We’re so f*cking glad to be here in Sacramento. This is about our sixth time here. It’s better now." They then announced that they were going to play something from You Can Play These Songs With Chords, a move that was greeted with widespread applause. Throughout their set, they dipped into Transatlantcism, playing such favorites as "Title and Registration", "The Sound of Settling" and "Transatlantcism". Most of Plans was played, most notably, a tender "I Will Follow You Into the Dark." The great thing about Death Cab was that the seemed really jazzed to be there. There was no snobbish indie-band-turned-big attitude; they threw themselves into their performance in the low-key rock out that they do so well. Chris Walla seemed especially happy, flitting from guitar to keyboard wearing an ear-to-ear grin and trading quiet jokes with Nick Harmer. Before leaving, Ben Gibbard shared how great it was to be touring with The Cribs and Franz Ferdinand and even dedicated songs to them. Aw.

Franz Ferdinand arrived on stage in a flurry of smoke, blinding lights and their album cover flashing behind them. What I gleaned from their performance is that Alex Kapronos would be a fantastic circus ringmaster if he ever gave up the indie rock circuit. He did hilarious super fast auctioneer style introductions to everyone in his band, and spouted clever lead ins for some of the songs. ("And now I have an important question…DO YOU WANT TO?!?!") Dressed in a leather jacket and straight-legged pinstriped trousers, he resembled Sid Vicious with less anger and more style, and as he artfully skipped and strutted around the stage he sent many a girls heart a pitter- patter. Franz F. got everyone dancing and pogo-ing with a sweaty mix of their most danceable tracks from their two albums. The highlights for me were Kapronos gleefully proclaiming "Nothing matters now!" during "Michael", an explosive "Take Me Out" and three people drumming at the same time during "This Boy."

The concert was a perfect combination of two extremely different bands. It was like getting two great concerts in one, and it was interesting to see the different reactions that they got: Death Cab fans intensely nodded along to Ben Gibbard’s sa-woon worthy lyrical feats, while Franz Ferdinand got the normally unflappable cool kids sweaty with dance punk joy.



Aww, where can I get a tee that says "Cheer Up Emo Boy?" I love that! And let me give an enormous thanks to Shelby-I can't thank you enough!

-tf
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Behind The O.C.

Tonight's ep of The O.C. was ever so slightly better than last week (despite having to close my eyes during Marissa-Volcheck and Sadie-Ryan scenes because they gross me out so incredibly bad). The music was good, I was quite a fan of both Seth and Marissa's clothing choices, and I felt the AA meeting scene was quite touching. I'll definitely be watching next week, of course, because the preview looked pretty amazing.

I found this article, Teenage Life Is Dreamy for Josh Schwartz on Yahoo and was completely impressed with Mr. Schwartz, who is the creator of The O.C. First of all, he was only twenty-six when the show debuted. Second, it seems to me that Josh possesses many of Seth's endearing qualities--perhaps he based the character off himself? Here's a bit from the interview:

AP: Does the show resemble your life?
Schwartz: Not at all. I grew up in Providence, R.I. My family life probably resembled the season one Cohens, before it got dark in the Cohen house. When I grew up, it was a much sunnier home. It's sort of a little bit based on my experiences at USC, as kind of a neurotic Jewish kid from the East Coast who arrives in the land of water-polo players and their girlfriends. I guess that was the original impetus behind the show, and it's sort of evolved from there.

AP: Will we be following "The O.C." characters into college and beyond?
Schwartz: I think we've got at least one more good year in us, so we're going to do some pretty radical stuff at the end of this year. The season finale is going to be the craziest thing we've ever done and it will launch the show in a whole new direction next year. So I'm excited about next season. And then beyond, I don't know. We'll see.


-tf
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College Chatter

It seems I never get tired of college topics. With that in mind, I came across the "Gawker Walker Tour," where a Gawk-ite followed around a posse of NYU students. From the article:

To help us understand the folkways of this exotic tribe, we asked Gawker Mascot and amateur anthropologist Andrew Krucoff to don his trusty pith helmet, enlist earnest documentarian Nikola Tamindzic, and head to the remotest depths of the Central Village — the native habitat of this unusual people — to investigate. After the jump, his reports of beer pong, fake IDs, and the dreaded
Look of Shame.

Hmm. The thing is, I know expeditions like this goe on at the average college campus... but even NYU? I picture NYU-ers as a) too focused to party or b) too "hip" for seedy college bars. One way I could distinguish the difference between State U and this particular stylie New York campus? The great necklaces, tweedy jackets, and perfectly vintage leather boots that I spied in the snapshots.

From the Gawker article, I stumbled upon CollegeHumor.com, which is a hilarious-in-an-shockingly-real-way blog. I can only compare this website to VH1's Celebreality shows like that obscure Flava Flav show where you continue to ask yourself "Is this for real?"

And one last thing on the university note. I caught the debut of WB's The Bedford Diaries, which takes place on a fiction East Coast campus and is about, in a word, sex. It didn't have near as much enthusiasm as, say, Grey's Anatomy or even The O.C. The story line was nothing new, the clothing was nothing special, and the music was... pretty much nothing period. I can officially say that the only thing I thought this show had going for it was the boys, both Gilmore Girl's Milo Ventimiglia and a young up-and-comer Penn Badgley who slowly but surely grew on me throughout the ep. Anyone else see it?

-tf
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Style of Rodeo

Street Style pictures inspire me more than any magazine, any designer, or any store. During the winter months, I'm all about New York street style pictures, what with their creative layering, gorgeous coats, and perfect little boots. When the weather turns warmer, I prefer LA street pics because those west coasters sure know how to wear their minis, tunics, and sandals with flair.

Style.com's LA Fashion Week pictures captured by "New York scenester and shutterbug Kate Schelter" are genius. I can honestly say I will be drawing tons of my spring wardrobe inspiration from this slideshow of stylish ladies.

My favorite outfit in the entire slideshow is that of stylist Tracy James in a preppy chic cardigan sweater + collared shirt combo, which she oh-so-stylishly paired with skinny jeans, pointy flats, and a Marc Jacobs quilted purse. The best element of the outfit is the extra long Lohan-esque scarf nonchallently tossed around her neck.

But that's not the only stylist-esque outfit.
• A Luella shirtdress with an Hermes belt at the waist.
• A head-to-toe Marc Jacobs outfit that was tossed on as she rolled out of bed.
• A black skirt as a dress, paired with a perfect vintage jacket
• An American Apparel tunic worn as a fabby little minidress.

On the fifth slide is Saree Kahn, little sister to designer Jenni Kayne, wearing the very same dress she wore in Teen Vogue's prom issue, which I found very interesting. Either way, she looks adorable, as do her cool hipster friends!

-tf
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A Lifelong Love of Keds

On the topic of all things related to ballet flat, I'm quite intrigued with the idea of the flat-sneaker hybrid a la Mischa Barton in the Keds advertising campaign. I do not wear sneakers... and it's not that ballet flats are already comfortable... but I would imagine a combination of the two would be uber-comfortable, not to mention completely cute at the same time.

See, I know Mischa gets a lot of flack for her lack of acting skills, blandness in interviews, and beyond-grungy boytoy (she went from one greaser to another... c'mon Mischa, you can do better!), but I adore her, especially in the Keds ads. I love the thought she very well may be wearing her cute and accessible Keds flats all around LA; in fact, I hear she already owns fourteen pairs.

I have my eye on:
• Blue-on-brown jaquard skimmers: Designed by Zero Maria Cornejo, it seems these would go with absolutely everything.
• Silk kasbah ballet flat: pointy toe, distressed denim color, polka dot trim and ribbon ankle strap--I will own these.
• Dolce canvas skimmers: I have a not-so-mild obsession for pineapples, both in clothing and fresh fruit form.

I'm one step ahead, though. You see, this past weekend I scored a pair of the lovely green Keds "knack floral skimmers"at TJ Maxx for $20. Can you imagine? That's the price of three venti Starbucks vanilla lattes.

While you're on the Keds Be Cool website, with pleasing background music by the Sambassadours, make sure you check out Cool Sounds, complete with download-worthy favorites and a tour diary from the always-fashionable Veronicas.

-tf
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Dancin' Shoes

I'm crazy for ballet flats. In fact, if it were up to me, I would wear a different color or pattern of the flawless flats day after day. My collection includes pink, green, lavender, gold, tan with pink, purple swirls, pink floral, and green spots.

To me, the best of the best, ballet flat-wise is Chanel. While prom shopping, I came across the patent leather toe, double-C ballet flats Lindsay Lo always wears; I must have stood there, wistfully admiring that shoe for two minutes straight. Finally, the shoe salesman (exactly the type of guy who probably likes shoes and shopping more than I) approached me, asking if I needed any help.

The London Sole/French Sole label (or is it labels? I'm still unsure whether they're related) is next up in covet-worthiness. Though I am a frequent browser on both websites, I haven't indulged thus far because I just cannot bring myself to drop $100+ on a little pair of flats.

I finally got around to reading the April issue of Lucky, one of the best in awhile I might add, and it nearly broke down my LS/FS exterior. I counted seven - SEVEN! - pairs of "Sole" ballet flats. The ladies at Lucky showed ballet flats with skinny black rocker jeans, ballet flats with wedding gowns (swooon!), ballet flats with sailor pants, even ballet flats with a neo-yuppie cardigan and oxford combination that had to be the best ensemble in the entire magazine.

Please convince me that I do not need to drop $155 on these leopard print with fuchsia trim beauties or these red on white polka dot dandies. If I fall into the black satin hole of debt, I'm sending my bill to Lucky.

-tf
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CFDA Mayday!

Is there any way I can get an invite to the CFDA awards? Perhaps the swoonworthy boys of Trovata might want to take me as their walking advertisement and date? No...?

The nominees for the Council of Fashion Designers of America were just delivered to my inbox via WWD's "Breaking News" and let me tell you, they are amazing this year. Up for Womenswear Designer of the Year (and that's all we really care about, right?):
• The fabulous Francisco Costa who breathed new life into Calvin Klein with this brightly hued highly coveted circle print dress.
• The cute duo Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McÇollough who design even cuter clothing for Proenza Schouler. If I had the bank account to back me up, I would dress head to toe in Proenza all day, every day.
• Last but not least Marc Jacobs who's perfection is, quite frankly, mind-blowing. I love his little dresses, his sweaters, his ballet flats, his purses, and most of all, his signature oversized buttons.

Another reason I would miss my graduation to attend this fabulush awards ceremony (and thats just hypothetically speaking, though they are within days of each other)? The I-can't-control-myself-he's-so-insanely-funny Jeremy Piven of "Entourage" fame is hosting.

I repeat, if you have an extra ticket, send it my way. Appreciate it!

-tf
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University of MTV

Today was my first day back to school after a whopping nine days off and I surprisingly couldn't wait to go back. The thing is, it's not that I'm this devoted honors student who lives to learn--it's that by going back today, I'm that much closer to graduation. How much closer, you ask? 37 school days left, my friend.

MTVU has become my latest obsession; it's like the cool skinny jean and converse wearing, band tee collecting, emo music listening young brother of MTV. It has wonderful indie music (Arctic Monkeys, Matisyahu), interestingly offbeat job/internship listings, college radio stations, and hippest of hip music videos. For those of you that a) love music or b) currently attend/will soon attend college, you literally can't miss this site.

Another reason I can't get enough of this site? Right smack dab on the college radio page is a feature on my future university's radio stations, which I didn't know existed until now. With bands like Bright Eyes, Bloc Party, and Belle & Sebastian making frequent appearances via the stereo, my perfect choice of college is further reassured.

Let's put it this way. Compared to MTV, MTVU is the equivalent of Vogue's little sister Teen Vogue. Everyone knows the younger sibling is cooler, but no one wants to come right out and say it. So is it coincidence that I'm the youngest in my family? Nah.

-tf
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[Mis]Adventures of Prom Shopping

Shopping for a prom dress was perhaps the most complicated and stressful event to date. After visiting three malls (one of which I went to twice), searching through 15 stores, shopping for nine hours, sipping three venti coffees, and trying on 25 dresses, I finally decided on "the one."

We began the day at Saks and Neimans, where I went in with an attitude that I would find something on sale. I was wrong There were no pretty sale dresses in sight (or out of sight, either) and the only dresses that appealed to me were in the $500 range, which I bluntly refuse to spend on a prom dress.

Next, we combed through mall stores like J. Crew, Banana Republic, Cache, BCBG, and Forever 21, where I couldn't get over the a) lack of selection, b) tacky materials, and c) overabundance of beading, sequins, and all around "sparkle." I got the very same vibe from Lord & Taylor and Nordies.

We decided to head towards Saks' Off Fifth and a bundle of outlet stores, where we were even less impressed with the selection and even more horrified by tacky polyester rhinestone-covered so-called gowns. Ick.

Feeling completely hopeless (I don't have to go to my senior prom, do I?) and quite frankly out-of-options, we reluctantly headed back to the first location. My mom encouraged me to have a completely open mind: try on everything and don't zoom-in on the price tags, she said. Though it's hard for my sometimes-obsessive sale shopping mind, I agreed.

So at Saks, I tried on at least half a dozen dresses; I fell in love with three of them. They were all very different: one was an adorable, one was sassy, and one was, what I dubbed, "goddess-like." After much thought and several rounds of trying each on ("Wait, I like this one best"... "No, actually I think I love this one most of all"..."Actually, this one is perfect, isn't it?"), I finally decided on this gorgeous goddess-y seafoam gown for several reasons. I am crazy about the color, the intricate pearl beading, and the floor-dusting hem (it's not floor-dusting on the leggy Saks model, but it's truly sweeping on my short 5'4 frame). Plus, I love the fact that I can wear flats, pearl earrings, and no necklace.

After an adventure like that, let's just say I'm ecstatic that this is my very last prom. And let me apologize for being MIA this week, but, hel-loh, it was my spring break!

-tf
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"She's A Total Picasso"

As much as it pains me to type this, The O.C. has nearly lost gasp! all of it's appeal. Marissa and that skeezy wannabe biker-surfer? Summer and Seth's relationship gone stale? Ryan and little Ms. Thirteen? And equally lackluster outfits to top it all off...

Honestly, if it weren't for the music, I may have very well quite watching weeks ago and done something more productive on my Thursday evenings, like watching MTV Spring Break. But the O.C.'s music coordinator, an ultra-talented super girl who also "does" the music for Grey's Anatomy, has a knack for capturing even the most mundane moments with songs that instantly draw me in. Did anyone notice how Bright Eyes' "Lover I Don't Have to Love" played throughout the ep, then showed up at the end--sung by a girl and not Coner Oberst? I was floored.

If you need a fix of emo-ish tunes, check out You Ain't No Picasso, a really cool indie music blog that I'm addicted to as much as my iPod. The remarkable thing is that it's written by a college student in Kentucky. I bet he's hot, in a total Seth Cohen, wears-tight-band-tee-shirts-and-Chucks kind of way (and would roll his eyes upon reading that comment). Not only is this blog overflowing with underground music picks, but he's an incredibly entertaining writer. Enjoy.

Oh and one last thing on the O.C. note. LeSportsac, who has recently done collections with DVF and Gwen Stefani, will be collaborating with The O.C. debuting in August. There will be mini collections modeled after each of the four main characters, and each bag will be "lined in a print fabric that regerences a character's trait," according to WWD. Marissa will have a "Free Marissa" pattern, Summer with "The Valley" logo print, Ryan with a cheesy "Kid Chino" graffiti pattern (so bad ass, that kid), and Seth with a - you guessed it - comic strip pattern. The perfect back to school bag, right girls? Too bad you can't type sarcastically.

-tf
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Snowed In Spring

All the girls at school have their prom dresses. They're incessantly chatting about their pretty dresses, their strappy shoes, their dyed-to-match purses. And me? I don't have one. Still. I was completely fine with being the "girl without the dress." I mean, prom is more than a month away and I firmly believe it is not necessary to buy it months in advance (though I must admit I got my junior prom dress in July. It was a spur-of-the-moment, "I'm on Rodeo Drive" thing).

Anyway, my mom and I chose today, the second day of spring break, to be our official project prom dress day. I was quite excited, really. Leave by seven, Starbucks venti no-fat, sugar-free vanilla latte by nine, searching through stores for my dream senior prom dress by nine-thirty. So why am I sitting at home, typing away at my computer at four in the afternoon?











Because, as the picture above shows, it snowed seven-and-a-half inches last night. Remind me again of the date? Oh yes, that's right, March 21. The second day of spring. And it looks like a winter wonderland from where I'm sitting. Missouri is lovely state, but the weather -- I've had enough. Two weeks ago it was 80 degrees, last weekend we had severe tornados, and this weekwe have a frickin' blizzard. I'm ready for fluffy white clouds and sunny skies. Until that comes, I'll be glued to MTV's Spring Break.

-tf
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New Navy

An Old Navy opened in a nearby town this past week, which is quite exciting since literally the only other "me" store around is TJ Maxx. As unappealing as Gap has been lately, I was reluctant to even visit Old Navy, but decided to give it a chance. Afterall, I'm quite a sucker for freshly-opened stores.

Upon entering the store, it became clear to me that where Gap is lacking, Old Navy is thriving. Everything, from the little patterned flats to the breezy white blouses, impressed the argyle socks off of me. I should admit that I left the store empty handed, but only because a) I'm going prom shopping tomorrow and b) I just know that everyone at school will be head-to-toe Old Navy for awhile (a new store is fresh meat).

After a few weeks, the influx of Old Navy will disperse, and when that time comes, I plan on treating myself to a little semi-splurge (because how big can you splurge at an uber-affordable store like ON?). This is what I have my eye on:

• Nautical-stripe tiny tee, perfect for layering under cardigans and hoodies or tossing over swimsuits
• Reversible striped-floral belt with an adorable embroidered whale
• Crocheted-inspired lace trim tanks... I want one in every color; they would add a much-needed feminine touch to my cardigan collection.
• Bright striped hooded sweater. I couldn't possibly love these beachy pullover sweaters more. They're the perfect amount of Nantucket chic and San Diego cool.
• Seersucker shrunken jacket. I have a very similar seersucker blazer, but mine has tacky white buttons. Earthy brown buttons, like this one, would give mine the makeover it needs.

-tf
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Spring Break Has Sprung

Today is the official start of my week long spring break. I couldn't possibly be more ecstatic because a) this is the first spring break in years that hasn't been cut short by early winter snow days and b) MTV Spring Break will be going on the very same time as mine and since I'm not physically traveling anywhere, I can fabulous tropical locales via my television.

One unfortunate factor of forthcoming week? Snow is the in the forecast every day, with the exception of Wednesday. On spring break. In the middle of March. Flurries are gorgeous, snow fights are fun... but NOT in the middle of spring.

If I had it my way, I'd be laying on the beach on some exotic little island, far away from throngs of spring breakers. I would be decked out in a little floral bikini (preferably this sassy bandaua bikini), accessorized with a skull-motif scarf a la La Lohan and a little vintage denim mini . I would be soaking up the sun and soaking up issues of trashy mags like US Weekly and

Thought it's far from the Margaritaville-esque daydream, my reality is anything but dowdy. Take tomorrow, for instance. I'll be seeing Rent, hurrah! I haven't seen the movie, nor have I wanted to, but I'm thrilled about seeing the Broadway show -- the play is always better, don't you agree?

-tf
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Trend Spottin'

I have always had a mild obsession with Trend Central; out of all my favorite websites, it's one of the select six on my "dailies" list. Yet since being on the SXSW panel with ultra-fabulous Trend Central trendspotter Dianne, I have a newfound appreciation.

Somehow they manage to always, always be on the cutting edge of the latest and greatest in fashion, entertainment, and, well, life in general. Like today, for instance. Today they reported on next fall's top trends. As a so-called fashionista, my face reddens to admit that I have hardly given spring fashion much thought, much less next fall. Luckily, Trend Central has done my dirty work, having just attended Margin London, which is the leading alternative streetwear tradeshow located in the UK.

Vintage: When will this not be a trend?

Military: Army jackets were plentiful, as were camouflage prints and details such as epaulettes.

Rock ‘n Roll: This trend is still going strong, too.

Tailoring: Although Margin is best known for streetwear, the show is also becoming a destination for more formal tailoring.

I kept it brief, but Trend Central goes into detail on what you will most definitely need next season. I'm loving the idea of a "tailored vintage" look. Grandma-inspired embellished cardigans over striped tailored blouses, pretty floral tops under skinny suit jackets-I could definitely get into that.


-tf
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What A Beach!

I can honestly say I thought I had seen the last of Kristin Cavallari during the season finale of Laguna Beach; in fact, I can't believe I even know the girl's last name. But if I thought she was overexposed before, I cannot believe my eyes now. She. is. everywhere. On the cover of US Weekly, on the front page of People, on the front row of countless fashion shows, on the arm of Nick Lachey.

Now Miss Thang (and I use that in the most sarcastic sense of the word) is even on Glam.com. The really sad part? I'm a teensy bit hooked on her. I mean, though she may be a bit lacking in the talent department, I have been quite interested to see what she's wearing, who she's with, and what's flying out of her mouth. At least I can admit it, right?

In Glam's What's In Your Bag, she fesses up to coveting Chloé, carrying Coach, and never leaving the house without "a makeup bag filled with all of your beauty essentials for easy touch-ups." I bet she carries one supersized makeup bag.

-tf
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Gap's Neverending Gap

Since the days of my strictly-GapKids' wardrobe, I have always had a weakness for all things Gap. But this past season, I've had a tough time remaining as faithful as I was in my younger years. Nothing really impressed me, and if something did catch my eye, the fit seemed even too dowdy for a Sunday school teacher.

I would never even think of writing off Gap completely; my love goes too deep, plus I have high expectations for their new designer. But Slate Magazine did an interesting piece on the Gap, "how the retailer got so dreadful," and whether they'll be able to reinvent themselves as the must-have classic label they once were.

These items point up the Gap's two underlying problems. For starters, the brand is still aligned in the public imagination with the back-to-basic ethos of the '90s. Which is to say, T-shirts and jeans...These days, it seems, we want our mall stores to be ripping off high-fashion houses, not mass-producing sweat pants. But when the Gap moves in this direction (as with the unfortunate Prada-wannabe trench), it misfires badly.

Second, the Gap may be the victim of its own success, insofar as its sister retailers have diluted the brand... Banana Republic proffers office-ready, boutique-quality versions of the same standbys, which makes the Gap look dowdy and down-market by comparison...The polo shirts, for example, had a streamlined shape and came in a pleasing array of jewel tones but were a tad expensive at 24 bucks a pop. The T-shirts, on the other hand, were cheap but featured a superfluous little pocket located somewhere near the collarbone. Honestly, who needs a pocket up there?

True that. When a store can't make a simple tee right (below the hip, slightly scoop neck, slender-but-not-tight), what can they make?

-tf
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SXSW in Rewind

A few distinct cities across the US have a certain aura, a certain quality about them; I've decided that Austin, Texas is one of them. From the moment you arrive, you can just feel the change.

I love traveling, love airports, love staying in hotels. My gorgeous hotel was in a prime spot, located right on Congress, one block away from the famous bar-studded 6th Street (Real World Austin, anyone?), and two doors down from possibly the best bakery in existance, Bakerman's Bakery. My partner in crime (also known as mom) and I made a conscious decision to make the most of our two-and-a-fourth day stay, and I'm happy to report that we, for the most part, succeeded.

Top 6 Austin-tastic Moments
1) A successful first attempt at public speaking at the "Meet Judy Jetson: How Technology is Transforming 21st Century Teens." I was unbelievably nervous, since I tend to be face-turns-cherry-red shy. Somehow, being on stage in front of a room full of people encouraged me to talk. You could even call me... chatty! Clickable Culture was nice enough to post a recap.

2) A full crowd at our early-morning panel! Due to late night SXSW partying on 6th Street (or so I heard... I'm only 18, you know!), we were expecting a handful of people in the audience. An abundance of breakfast tacos (an Austin specialty) must have pepped up the SXSW-ers, because I would guess fifty to sixty people ended up showing up. It was a perfectly eclectic, friendly crowd, including Colleen Haskell from Survivor II, who now works in teen trendspotting and was wearing an adorable top.

3) Meeting YPulse's Anastasia, Blue Bird Escape's Elaheh, and TrendCentral's Dianne. These three incredibly cool ladies are the reason the Judy Jetson panel went as well as it did; they are the type of girls you want to hang out with, the type of girls who manage to be sassy, stylish, opinated, and above all, impossibly sweet!

4) Starting off my day with homemade donuts from the previously-mentioned Bakerman's Bakery. Walking into this teensy bakery made my mouth water beyond control. Iced cookies, pretty donuts, frosted cupcakes, filled croissants--it was a feast for the eyes (and then a feast for my mouth). After a good fifteen minutes of debate, I wisely decided on orange- and maple-glazed cake donuts. Mmmmmmmm is all I can say.

5) Walking at least 10 blocks north of the Capitol in search of "South Congress." We realized we were in serious need of a map much too late. About 5 miles (in cute but killing pink ballet flats) too late. We finally made it South Congress the next day, comforted by a stack of Magnolia Cafe's strawberry pancakes.

6) After too much walking and entirely too much sugar, settling in our hotel room for tasty room service (a first for me!) and The Squid and The Whale. But let me just say my meeting YPulse's Anastasiachipotle portabella sandwich and mom's mozzarella grilled chicken were much better than the movie we watched, which was rather disturbing.

Other highlights include Thai food, vintage store browsing, 90 degree weather, and being out of town during tornados that shook Missouri.

A wonderful weekend trip, wouldn't you say?

-tf
Continuing reading...

The Beauty of Variety

When I started thinking about what I would pack for Austin, I drew a complete blank. I had no idea what do expect at SXSW, therefor had no idea how to dress. Business casual seemed all wrong; jeans and a tee didn't seem to cut it either. I asked Anastasia, our moderator, in hopes for some feedback; "just do your own personal style," she wrote back.

So I settled on my personal favorites, minis and flats, not knowing what to expect. As much as I'm a computer geek myself, I know stereotypical "computer geeks" (and I say that most endearingly) don't know, nor care, how to dress. Techies aren't known for their razor sharp senses of style; at the same time, they aren't worried about coinciding with what Vogue says is hot.

Walking around SXSW, I came across more clothing variety than Coldstone Creamery flavors. It seemed everyone had their own ideas on what to wear... and it was fabulous. There were skirts over pants, skinny leggings, vintage rocker tees, rugged fatigues, battered ballet flats, un-ironically retro sneakers, florals with stripes, ankle-length skirts. Seeing such a mix of styles reminded me that the most important "style rule" is not balancing your outfit or always matching your colors. When it comes right down to it, the most important thing to remember when getting dressed is to wear what you love and what makes you happy.


Just thought you might need a reminder. I certainly did.

-tf
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Goin' South

I'm all Austin-ed up! I'm be leaving for Big Texas at the crack of dawn tomorrow. And by dawn, I'm not exaggerating much, as my alarm is set for 4:45... ouch! Armed with an XL latte and a freshly-burnt cd, I'll be set.

I'm way excited for this trip-I can hardly stand it. I've somehow managed to make progress as far as packing goes. I tried talking my mom into letting me go sans luggage and just shopping my way through the trip, but apparently the idea wasn't as appealing to her. Go figure. Compared to the rainy, low 50s degree weather here, the sunny 90 degree temps there will be truly heavenly, so I've settled on loads of casual minis, ballet flats, and my favorite cardigan+tank duos. Perfect for staying comfy in pleasantly sweltering temps. And don't even think I would forget to pack my trusty iPod.

On the topic of iPods, I was rather disappointed with the soundtrack of last nights' O.C. episode. Don't get me wrong, I adored Youth Group's Forever Young when I heard it months ago, but I thought it was quite unneccessary to repeat it. To get my music fix and to familiarize myself with SXSW bands, I've been quite addicted to the SXSW music player. With artists as varied as favorits like Matt Pond PA and Jack's Mannequin to random indie rockers I've never heard of but rather like, you should most def. check it out!

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Personal Stylist, At Your Service

LisyB is one of those rare online shopping gems. There are dozens upon dozens of e-boutiques, but LisyB truly manages to set itself apart with their right-on selection of Sass & Bide, Primp, Heatherette, Pegah Anvariah, Patch NYC -- all of my favorites.

And now I like it for one more reason: Lisy B herself approached me about writing a few fashion columns for a brand new "LisyB Personal Stylist" section. I've always liked the idea of being a personal stylist and now I can pretend I actually am one. Isn't that wonderful?

With sections ranging from "ask a stylist" to "looks to watch" to "fashion tips" (this installment: "How to work skinny jeans even if you’re not Nicole-sized") and more, it's definitely covers everything from top to toes.

Here's a clip from "looks to watch" and remember to check back often, as I'll be updating every three weeks or so.

The freshest look for spring is anything nautical-inspired, including bold stripes, boat shoes, toggle jackets, seersucker, and navy with pristine white. While getting dressed, picture yourself sailing off the coast of the Hamptons, then dress accordingly. Top off the preppy-goes-boating ensemble with a splash of red (shoes! belt! cuff!) and gold chain-link jewelry.

Give your trusty jeans a break once in awhile–switch up the routine with a pair of
surprisingly sassy shorts. Invest in a variety of the lengths and looks. Take a cue from newly-marked hipster Hilary Duff and pair your short shorts with a sleek boot (anything but cowboy boots!) or stiletto.On the other end of the spectrum, crisp Bermuda shorts are having another strong run this Spring. In pinstripes, plaid, and seersucker, this look is undeniably country club cool. Take caution though: to avoid resembling a washed-up golfer, stick to a low-slung waist and slender silhouette. Other essential short styles include pocket trims, cuffed hems, luxe materials, and carpenter details.

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"Party" Dress Time

I have never understood the the enormous deal with prom. It's not that I'm one of those girls who "boycotts" the high school institution and rolls my eyes everytime the word is merely mentioned; that's not it at all. But the idea of dropping $500 on the dress alone (and that's not factoring in heels, makeup, hair, nails, and a perfect little clutch) to show up at high school dance is not in the least bit appealing.

It is my senior year, however, so I plan on going into "prom season" with a good attitude. That good attitude is achievable by focusing on this small fact: after prom, my school year - ahem, high school career - will be thisclose to over [signal large sigh of relief]. Another wonderful aspect? Even if the thought of dropping mucho moolah on one dress is a teensy bit depressing, the idea of actually trying on the pretty dresses brings a smile to my face. How often in life does one get to try on that many glamorous dresses at a time? It's like a pretty dress buffet. And everyone loves a good buffet, right?

Though I'm not anti-prom, I'm very much anti-prom dresses, if that makes an ioda of sense. I'm all about the party dress, the ultra-glam cocktail dress, the I-can-wear-this-to-a-fancy-soiree dress. And flipping through Vogue, I found my the "party dress" of my dreams. It's everything I love: Marc Jacobs, navy blue, subtly sparkly, sassy but not overly so.




















Does it look familiar to you, too? See, Ann Hathaway mistakenly wore this to the Globes; don't judge against the pretty MJ dress though, it's all wrong for her... and happens to be all right for me.

-tf
Continuing reading...

Back To California

Tomorrow marks the much-awaited return of The O.C. Finally. Not only have I been having serious Seth Cohen withdrawels, but my iPod is in need of some new Tunes before my two hour flight to Austin.

I do know that Anna a.k.a. Samaire Armstrong will be making a comeback this very month, which excites me as I adore Anna Stern, Emily on Entourage, and Samaire in general.

So what's on the menu for tomorrow's episode? "'The Road Warrior' Episode #316. Sadie and Ryan go on a road trip to find one of Johnny's relatives, and although Ryan returns to his old ways, the trip brings the two closer." Interesting. I can hardly remember Sadie's story, although I do remember she's Nikki Reed, from Thirteen. And Ryan's old ways? I'm perplexed. Stumped. I guess I'll just have to hold my horses until tomorrow evening.

-tf
Continuing reading...

Just Joan

Isaac Mizrahi is highly entertaining; Ryan Seacrest in entertainingly pathetic. Both men are a gigantic step up from the archaic Joan Rivers and her clinging-on daughter Melissa.

As I mentioned before my mom and I are red carpet fiends, and one of our greatest joys was making fun of, not the celebrities, but wannabe-celebs Joan and "Missy." They were always horribly dressed and critisizing everyone else's ensembles. The pure irony of it all was hilarious. And then the duo got fired. My mom and I expected to be approached as style crtiquing replacements, but they decided Ryan was more marketable. What were they thinking?

It's not that I've missed Joan, exactly, but I have missed her craziness. The lady is indeed not only crazy, but a teensy bit senile. And Fashion Week Daily's interview with her has only proven my point. Here's a little clip, purely for my enjoyment... I mean, your enjoyment.

But why are you the one who gets to make fun of what they wear?
Because I was the first one that did it, and it became my territory. I was the first one to be shallow and say, “Who are you wearing?” Never forget in life, shallow is VERY important.

What if our readers want to be style critics…
Don’t. You can’t make a living doing it; don’t! And, okay, I’ll tell you what—TELL THE TRUTH. Can you make sure that’s written in capital letters?

Sure.
Good. TELL THE TRUTH. Do it again, put it in caps. If I was sitting next to you at home watching; I would say exactly what I say on the carpet. When I told Sarah Jessica Parker, “I can’t believe your shoes; you must be kidding,” literally, that’s what I’d tell you in my living room.

-tf
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Meet Judy Jetson

As I type this, I cannot even hold my excitement in. This very weekend my mom and I will be headin' to Austin, Texas for the SXSW conference. Until last season's Real World, I had never heard of SXSW, but after seeing the cast choose different bands to perform at the festival, I had instant appreciation--especially since it was Real World Austin/SXSW that discovered hellogoodbye, one of my music favorites-of-the-moment.

Although I'm immensely dissapointed that I won't be there during the music festival (Jack's Mannequin is performing!!!), I'm still extremely excited about the trip, because I'll be speaking on a panel at the Interactive Conference titled "Meet Judy Jetson: How Technology is Transforming 21st Century Teens." Interested in reading more on "Meet Judy Jetson?"

It all started when Anastasia, the brilliant blogger from YPulse one of my must-visit-daily favorites, invited me to join her on the panel and really, how can you say no to that? Plus, even though I've been to Dallas and Galveston more times than I can count, I've never seen Austin... unless you count Real World episodes, of course.

I must admit that I'm a teensy bit stumped on what to wear, as there is no standard dress code at SXSW and I'm not sure what weather is like in Austin during springtime. If you have any suggestions, shoot! I'm thinking ballet flats, minis, and blazers. Opinions?



-tf

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Officially Challenged

A reader from the site emailed me this "style challenge;" I may not play sports, but I'm always game for any sort of challenge. Well, let's not go too far. I adore this style challenge, but as for following through? Forget it!

I have a Style Challenge for you. Let's say that for one week, you are FORBIDDEN
from wearing anything that can be found in your closet. You MUST dress against
type. What kind of style would you wear for that week, and whose influence might
you follow?

I've been a Ralph Lauren-loving, plaid-wearing, polo-collecting preppy-at-heart since, well, birth. The only stage as far as clothing goes that I've gone through has been my "dress" phase, but even then, I prefered seersucker to floral.

But if I was forced to switch up my style for only one week, I know exactly what I'd wear: I would switch wardrobes with Lindsay Lohan and dress exactly like her. Instead of channeling "little miss preppy princess," I would be an all-out sassy sophisticate (please excuse the cheesy style labels).

With her fitted Fendi jackets, vintage Ts, flawless skinny jeans, perfectly-distressed vintage boots, and IT bags, I would be in complete heaven. Plus, I wouldn't be "uncomfortable in her shoes," literally speaking, because she usually wears the most divine ballet flats. Another thing Lindsay has that I don't? The ability to accessorize! I wear my pearls studs and a simple pendant necklace day in and day out.

Another style I would love to test the waters of? Bohemian beauty a la Kate Moss.

-tf
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Night of the Oscars, Part III

I would let you know my top few moments of last night's Oscar bonanza except... I didn't watch enough to have top moments. After an hour of blandness, my mind started drifting to other things, like Vogue. My top moment of Oscar night? The Chinese takeout. Yummm.

Here are a few behind-the-scenes highlights of the evening, from USAToday's Oscar Awards Night blog.

• Rapper/actor Ludacris, dressed in an Armani suit, is excited about introducing Three 6 Mafia tonight. So what did he listen to while getting ready? “Sade,” he said. “It's all about being laid-back.” I looooove Sade!

• The Oscars had a cash bar this year. Luke Wilson bought himself a beer and brother Owen a glass of wine. “My brother already presented. Now I get to have a beer and enjoy the show.” Soon afterward, an intoxicated young lady approached Wilson, repeatedly telling him, “You are so cute!” Wilson tried to introduce her to his brother, but she walked away, admitting, “I am drunk.”

• The mood was tense as Three 6 Mafia prepared to perform It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp. The rappers — Jordan “Juicy J” Houston, Paul “DJ Paul” Beauregard, Cedric “Frayser Boy” Coleman and Darnell “Crunchy Black” Carlton — surrounded by their dancers, quietly mouthed the lines to the song as rapper and Hustle & Flow star Ludacris (Chris Bridges) introduced them on stage. Strangest moment of the night... rappers and hollywood royalty just don't mix.

• At the Elton John party, just as Pamela Anderson was beginning to talk about why she thought the Oscars were “so great,” she was interrupted by a woman who claimed to be her biggest fan. “But you're wearing fur!” the PETA activist responded, looking at her coat. As the woman got closer, Anderson stepped back. The woman came closer again, and Anderson let out a yelp and ran away.

• Although they entered the Vanity Fair party solo, Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn were inseparable once inside, and she laughed as she kept her hand planted on his leg.

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Night of the Oscars, Part II

Why not go all out for the Oscars and make a soiree out of it? My mom and I, in addition to our red carpet gab fest, are ordering in massive amounts of yummy Chinese food to accompany the show. Nothing like munching out on sauteed string beans, nutty lo mein, and gooey crab rangoon while dishing about celebs!

Not feelin' take out? All Recipes, possibly the most addictive web site in existance, has an Oscar Party menu with tasty recipes to eat with each movie nominee. Hoping Brokeback Mountain will take the cake? Dine on Texas Cowboy Stew. More of a Capote girl? Try Nineteen Sixty Five Mystery Pie. Obsessed with Crash? Cook up California Grilled Lamb Burger with Cumin Yogurt.

Don't miss SheSheMe's Oscar Viewing Party and Fashion Parade . Here's a bit:

Party Wardrobe: It's all about the fashions. People say they watch the Oscars for the films themselves, but really, it's all about the fashions. This darling cocktail gown positively shouts Best Actress (very Reese Witherspoon meets Gwyneth Paltrow), but I will definitely need this for Best Supporting Actress.

Cuisine: Party nibbles of course! Since I want to devote the majority of my party prep time to the prep of self (after all, what Oscar nominated actress/director/producer doesn't spend the day at the spa/salon/plastic surgeon?), and since my budget does not allow for a chi-chi caterer, I will content myself with deli platters, fresh orange rolls from my local bakery, a fruit and cheese tray, bowls and bowls of nuts and candies, and a large selection of festive sparkling beverages.

Finishing Touches. A few little extras can go a long way. A "red carpet" entryway. Fluffy new towels and a fragrant "Oscar" candle in the powder room. Festive cups, plates and party decorations. A fun little favor for your guests to take home. Remember, perfection is in the details.

Enjoy!

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Night of the Oscars, Part I

I believe nothing could possibly be better than Oscar Sunday. It's like an officially holiday at my house; my mom and I are complete Oscar devotees. Every year we settle down in front of the TV to gossip and gab about the designer gowns, movie nominees, and celebrity dates. It's a completely unapologetic girls' night and I love it.

To get yourself knowledgable about all things Academy Award-related, USAToday.com has a blog, titled the "O-factor" devoted entirely to this evening. Online since January, you can learn all sorts of entertaining info. Don't miss USAToday's Awards Night blog, which will begin closer to the beginning of the awards show.

Also, E!'s Countdown to the Red Carpet begins in a exactly two minutes my time. To be honest, 11 am to 10 pm is a little Oscar overboard, even for me. I would suggest watching it at around three or later: that's when the A-list appearances start, and before them, who honestly cares?

Not necessarily predictions, here's who I would ideally like to win:
Best Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote
Best Actress: Keira Knightley, Pride & Prejudice
Best Supporting Actor: Matt Dillon, Crash
Best Supporting Actress: Michelle Williams, Brokeback Mountain
Best Picture: Crash (I honestly believed Brokeback Mountain was overrated; Crash, however, was one of the most outstanding movies I've every seen.)

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TF Tune of the Week

The Arctic Monkeys are instantly everywhere. I realized the expansiveness of their exposure when my mom asked me this week "Who are these Arctic Monkeys?" Usually I'm telling her about random indie bands she's never heard of; rarely does she ask me about bands.

Previous to her comment I had dl'ed one of their songs, "I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor," listened to it once, was mildly impressed, then kind of forgot about it. After her comment, I decided to give them another chance and dl'ed several other songs and wow--they are indeed all they're cracked up to be.

And see, here's the real selling point on the "Monkeys." They are hot, young, and the title of their cd, "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not Price," is impossibly cool. In fact, not to discriminate or anything, but I'm pretty much crushing on their drummer, Matt Helders. Ohh, and I'd take their Ben Sherman polo-wearing lead singer, too.

My favorite track, thus far, is the laid back tune "A Certain Romance," though I'm partial to "Marty Bum" as well - despite not having the slightest clue what the title means. With lyrics like, from Certain Romance:

Well oh they might wear classic Reeboks
Or knackered Converse
Or tracky bottoms tucked in socks
But all of that's what the point is not
The point's that there isn’t no romance around there

I just can't but help love this band. And I'm sure you will/do too.

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SO Jane!

I have never actually purchased Jane Magazine, which is really quite shocking considering I'm a complete periodical junkie. I was tempted to buy an ish once Seventeen's Brandon Holley took over editor, but... I just didn't.

I'm nearing obsessiveness with Jane's new website and blogs, though. With a Jane staff blog, a guest blog, a celebrity blog, and a style blog, all are equally addictive.

• Dress & Primp covers cutting edge trends in fashion and beauty by Jane's fashion staff and a plethora of independent style bloggers, including favorites of mine closettherapy and fashionologie.

• Music & Celebs covers tv, movies, books, indie music, and celebs -- you know, all things necessary in day-to-day life. Jane highly recommends indie rockers Say Anything; so does Teenfashionista.

• The creative Jane staffers like to blog about topics as random as food & drink to current affairs to cab drivers. Random, yes. Fabulously entertaining, absolutely.

• The latest Guest blogger is the Yeah Yeah Yeah's rather witty Nick Zinner. Nick writes, "I love playing in New York. I can 'chillax' in my apartment all day, insouciantly watching TV or my 2 baby turtles, then jump in a cab whenever I want and be at the venue in 5 minutes. So, I do just that." Any guy that uses the word "chillax" is okay by me.

Let's just say now I know what magazine I would kill to intern at when I hit New York City post-college. That, and TeenVogue. And Lucky, ElleGirl, InStyle, and a few others.

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Glamour Puss

I highly, highly recommend the New York Post's latest "Why She's the No. 1 Target in the Glamour Business" piece. Highlighting three equally important fashion industry icons Anna Wintour, Donatella Versace, and the international model, I truly found it to be a fascinating read... quite a rarity for fashion literature, quite honestly.

I have always had mixed feelings for Ms. Wintour. She is certainly not the most likeable fashion editor (my pick goes to Lucky's down-to-earth, sometimes admittedly ensemble-stumped Kim France). And yes, Vogue has had some less than impressive issues lately. To her credit, however, Vogue remains one of the few must-read magazines and fur-adorned or not, the woman knows how to dress.

When I was in New York for Fashion Week last September, I witnessed Anna being immediately whisked away at the end of the Oscar de la Renta show by several suited-up bodyguards. I couldn't help but notice my eyes - as well as other witnesses' eyes - rolling. Hel-loh, she's a fashion editor, not a political figure or even an A-list celeb. Yet after reading the Times article I realized bodyguards are a necessity when you're Ms. Wintour, not because of possibly kidnappings or shootings, but because of bloody gut pies and flour bombs. Can you imagine being afraid to walk from Point A to Point B without being bombared by pig intestines?

The obvious solution: don't wear fur. But would you give in that easily? If I were her, I would continue wearing the furry stuff loudly and proudly. No one should be able to dictate what I, or the editor of Vogue, wear.

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Get In The Jungle

I've been a complete book-aholic lately. Throughout my school day, I figured out that I learn probably 10% of the seven to eight hours; it's not because I choose not to learn, it's because, well, many of my classes of my senior schedule are what one would consider "blow off" classes.

Thank god for books, which keep me decidely busy during classes like Personal Finance. In the past month, I've really read up a storm. Pride & Prejudice (the best!), The Bell Jar (not yet finished, but it's amazing!), and Lipstick Jungle. All three were wonderful, but Lipstick Jungle was by far the best, most entertaining homework diversion.

Very much like a new Sex and the City starring established 40-somethings, Lipstick Jungle was fantastically fearless and even a little inspiring. It was one of those books that once I picked it up, I just didn't want to put it down. And once I put it down, I wanted to reread it immediately.

When I came across this news bit on New York Post, I could hardly contain my excitement:

Gina Gershon is going on safari in the "Lip stick Jungle."
The sultry brunette has been cast as Wendy Healy, the powerful chief of a movie studio in NBC's pilot based on the best- selling book from "Sex and the City" author Candace Bushnell.

The book and the new TV show, both of which are considered something of a follow-up to "Sex and the City," follow the trials and tribulations of three
best friends, who also happen to be among the most powerful and successful women in Manhattan.

Lipstick Jungle on television? Genius! Gina Gershon in a chic Carrie Bradshaw-esque wardrobe? A step up from her usual duds, thats for sure. I have to admit I think they could have casted slightly better; while reading the book, I personally saw someone more along the lines of Diane Keaton, who is a) over 40 and b) totally beyond doing television acting jobs, but still.

Either way, I'm hoping for the best.

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Continuing reading...

Buyin' Bauer

My parent's spring Eddie Bauer came in the mail today, as did my spring Delias. The Eddie Bauer knocked my preppy argyle socks off; Delias did not.

With their gorgeously springy sweaters, ruffle-trim chino jackets, and crinkley scarves, everything was just so appropriately March-ish. Now stop that snickering; I know teenager don't typically swoon over the latest Eddie Bauer ware, but I'm not typical, I suppose.

My absolute favorite picks:

Square toe loafers: very Marc Jacobs in the blue shade, I could see these with a uber-short twill skirt and bare leggies.
Woven flats: These low-cut woven slides couldn't be more perfect--simple, bare, and ideal for short skirts and shorts.
Paisley scarf: Toss around your neck a la Lindsay Lohan, far less threatening than the skull-print variety.
Bandeau bikini: I'm crazy for this Pucci-inspired bikini... but, um, does it come with her body, too?
Ruffled jacket: A very unique chino jacket, ideal for chilly spring mornings.
Bright green loafers: I'm not sure I could pull these off due to the extreme square-toe, but I adore them!

The moral of the story? Always have an open mind when it comes to shopping.

-tf
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