Hey, fashionistas.

Major style scoop - trendy fashion designer, Ann Sui has partnered up with Target to create an inexpensive line inspired by the style of the Gossip Girl characters! The line will be in stores and online September 13th through October 17th and will feature 19 styles! You can shop the line based on the show's characters - Blaire's Upper East Side style makes for high collared dresses with bows, edgy Jenny brings us a mix of boho chic and schoolgirl looks, and Serena and Vanessa - well you get the picture.

Of course we all know when it comes to these co-eds, nothing goes smoothly. Word has it one of Target's top execs became apprehensive about the close ties to the show's characters that often drink, party and get into trouble. Some behind the sceners reveal the retailer even pulled out from featuring the clothes on a recent episode.

Nevertheless, the designer/Target relationship will in fact reach beyond the line.  Target's sponsoring the season premiere of the show, and the official Anna Sui for Target commercial will make its debut during that same hour.

For more Gossip Girl style click here!

Happy Shopping!

Blaire's look below

OMG, fashionstas!

Jimmy Choos are coming to a store near you with a price tag you can afford! That's right, the celeb favorite is partnering with H&M to create a line of shoes, bags,  accessories, and even clothes that will arrive in stores on November 14th! Following in the fashionable footsteps of Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Matthew Williamson, Roberto Cavalli and Viktor & Rolf, Jimmy Choo's head fashionista, Tamara Mellon, has promised "a sophisticated, fashion forward, accessible and glamorous collection - the perfect party pieces to buy now and then wear out that night!"

Jimmy Choo shoes are a celeb fave and touted by the ultra stylish SJP character, Carrie Bradshaw. But alas up until now a regular girl could only dream of a pair of stilletos that range from $400 to $1000. At H&M, however, styles will run from $59.95 for ballet flats to $299 for a pair of leather boots. The stilettos' prices fall between $99 and $129. I swear on my favorite pair!

Unfortunately, I can already predict lines around the block proving it will be difficult to find your size and the style you want. But what's a night spent on a street corner for a pair of true designer shoes? A sacrifice only a style lover would make.

Happy shopping!

The king of pop will not only be remembered for his impact on the music industry, innovative dance moves, and eccentric lifestyle, but as a style icon throughout the last four decades.

In the 1970s Michael Jackson didn't veer too far from the style norm, wearing fringed shirts, bell bottom pants, and platform heels. It was with the release of his first album, Off the Wall in 1979, that the style icon was born. Nobody will ever forget the fitted tuxedo jacket, cropped black pants, shiny black shoes and of course the bright white socks he made famous. Teenagers everywhere emulated Jacko's unusual look.

Of course his most memorable ensemble was what he wore in his groundbreaking Thriller video in 1983- a red leather jacket with zipper details, tight parachute pants, and that unforgetable sequined glove.

In the '90s Jackson's over-the-top style evolved on and off the stage when he often wore costumes, crested medals. This also began his foray into women's clothing -opting for tight blazers, sparkly tops and fitted pants.

In the last ten years, Jackson's style and pension for adorned clothing grew. This was certainly the case at his 2005 trial when seen entering the court room in fitted vests, well tailored blazers, and accessorizing with brass metals. Unfortunately for Jackson, who took so much care in his clothing choices, he'll probably best be remembered for those blue pajama pants he wore the day he was late.

While Jackson's style evolved, certainly his entire appearance changed as well. His hair went from jerry curls in the eighties to a straighter cropped style in more recent years. The immense amount of plastic surgery and the drastic change in his skin color is perhaps the most unforgetable part of Jackson's image. With that said for The Style Guide, it's his impact on the fashion world that we will remember and of course miss the most.

Hey, fashionstas!
At the Chris Brown trial, Rihanna looked downright demure in a black dress paired with pearl studs and a single strand necklace. The dress was elegant, classic, and a typical fifties cut we don't see often. Now if I was at the trial, my questions outside the courtroom would have nothing to do with how Rihanna feels about Chris' sentence, but instead something like, "Rihanna, Rihanna, where did you get your dress?" Her response would have surely been, "It's vintage, darling!"

Yes, the dress was in fact vintage, and like many fashionable stars, Rihanna has an eye for style and knows what to choose when it come to shopping secondhand. Unfortunately what I hear from my fellow fashionstas ALL the time, is, "Where do I begin when shopping vintage?" Here are MY six quick tips on doing your best when buying something old and making it look new again.

Ignore Sizes- While I love wearing a size smaller than I really am, I know the truth deep, deep down. The fact is, in the last couple of decades stores have taken some liberties with sizing. In other words, what was a size six in the fifties is probably a size two or four today. Which brings me to my next tip...

Try ON- While I love to shop, I HATE to try on in dressing rooms. But, when it comes to shopping in vintage stores, you have no choice! Items are usually one of a kind, and could have very well been tailored to fit the previous owner.

Know Your Goal- I usually put vintage shopping into two categories- the couture splurge, or the fun find. The couture splurge is that drop-dead designer dress (like Rihanna's) that you have seen on many red carpets worn by your favorite stars. These are investment pieces - styles that should last you season after season and while they might have a vintage feel, should remain timeless. Your fun finds are items that will pop your present wardrobe like sixties tunics, seventies fringe bags, and eighties shoulder pad sweaters. Spend less on these items that are more trendy and memorable.

Ask the Experts- Talk to shop owners about lesser known designers or the previous owners. The story may be worth the purchase! Also, ask when new merchandise will be available! Usually shop owners purchase items at industry fairs that you may not travel to, but if you know they're returning on Sunday with some new great finds, arrive Monday morning during their opening hour!

Try Accessories- If you're a vintage newbie, start with a bag, scarf or earrings.

Find a FAB Tailor- A great seamstress or tailor can take old clothes and re-invent them.

Don't forget to check out our series on shopping vintage here. Happy shopping!

Hey, fashionistas.

Well, she did it again. Michelle Obama looked stunning in white on D-Day in Europe last week blowing away former model and French First Lady, Carla Bruni. She wore a white Narcisso Rodriguez coat and dress, Givenchy belt and Jimmy Choo shoes. You too can get her look by keeping a couple of things in mind.

1- Michelle OFTEN wears a belted coat over a dress. This is a very easy look to accomplish and totally chic.

2- Her coat/dress combo is by the same designer and therefore probably the same fabric/dye lot. If you're looking to get a monochromatic look but are not purchasing pieces that were meant to be worn together, the fabrics MUST Be different. In other words, do not wear a white wool coat from one designer and a white wool dress from another because they will look mismatched. I paired this Marc Jacobs coat with a cotton dress with sheen that coordinates but doesn't try to match. Here's the info on the looks above:

Lavinia Turra dress $275

Marc Jacobs coat $414

N.D.C. sandals $130

Flavio Castellani belt $135

Unfortunately, Michelle's trip did include an unexpected fashion disaster! I'm not sure what she was thinking in the above belted floral tunic and layered cardigans. We all make mistakes though! No worries Michelle.

Happy shopping!

Hey fashionsitas.

As you read this, do not judge. I've had quite a day of mocking. Here's what happened.

I ran out of hair bands. I'm very specific as to the type I like - thick, not thin, black, no colors. They wrap perfectly around my hair to create a sleek pony tail - not too tight or too loose. But I ran out this morning and had no time to stop at the drug store and so I grabbed a scrunchie. To be completely fair to myself, it wasn't even a scrunchie but a cotton headband my mom had given me to keep my hair back when I wash my face. But if you wrap it around several times I admit it does indeed have the look of a scrunchie.

So I arrived at work feeling pretty good in my favorite jeans, a cute top, and my hair pulled back in my headband/scrunchie. I approached Ilona Braverman (our Production Manager) and the laughing ensued. It was actually more like cackling, hee-hawing, mocking laughter definitely directed at me, not with me (as I wasn't laughing at all). The sheer sound of it lured in another colleague- Tory Mulvaney (our Viewer Services supervisor and often iMag model) who joined in with equal disdain. Apparantly a scrunchie is not ok. I tried to explain to them my situation, but they continued to point, laugh, and call in others to show them that yours truly, THE STYLE GUIDE herself, was wearing a scrunchie.

After my crying subsided, I did get to thinking, is a scrunchie all that bad? Well yes and no. While I do think that they are probably a bit dated and better left at home, there are benefits to this fabulous fabric hair accessory we all depended on in the eighties. And here they are-

1 - A scrunchie is better for your hair - softer than a rubber band and does little damage, bending, or breaking.

2 - A scrunchie is not as easily lost as hair bands, and are washable!

3 - The eighties are back, and American Apparel (always on the cutting edge) has many scrunchie options for only $6 each!

4 - Finally, a scrunchie will never leave a mark on your wrist.

So, bottom line, fashionistas- wear your scrunchies at home. Give your hair bands a break and use your scrunchie to hang around the house, wash your face, and sleep with.

For the record, if you love scrunchies WEAR THEM! The most fashionable women are always the ones who wear want they want, take fashion chances, and make unsafe style choices.

And as for my friends at Fox - I'm going to Duane Reade tonight to get them their own scrunchies. Maybe they'll come around!

Happy shopping!

Hey fashionistas!

The dreaded moment has arrived. You're a bridesmaid and you just received an e-mail from the bride-to-be titled "wardrobe". You tentatively open it hoping, PRAYING that the dress is wearable, the shoes aren't dyable and the bride doesn't promise that you can definitely wear the dress again (a term uttered by every bride that is rarely if ever true).

And there it is, you open up the attachment and all of your worst fears come true. The dress is champagne (translation- the same color as your skin) and the shoes, THE SHOES, are dyables. The bride wants hot pink. The dress is champagne but the bride wants pink pumps? And as if that isn't bad enough, on the very bottom of the e-mail preceding an "xoxo" there's that phrase, "You'll totally wear these shoes again!" UUUH. Back off bride, you want to say.  Thoughts of wedding rebellion run through your mind and you swear to yourself that you'll wear your favorite gold strappy sandals and if she doesn't like it, well too bad! BUT WAIT! Don't create a bridal beef just yet. Your Style Guide is here to not only snap you out of it, but to show you how you actually can wear those shoes again.

First of all, there is one rule and one rule only when being a bridesmaid and that's this- YOU ARE NOT THE BRIDE. (For more on bridesmaid etiquette, click here). The fact is bridezilla or not, good taste or bad, this is her day not yours and whatever she says goes. All eyes are on the bride and whether you think you look fat in your dress or hate your shoes really doesn't matter. So suck it up, get a drink and smile for the camera!
Secondly, think out of the box- can the dress be cut or dyed and then worn again? If not remember our second rule- DO DONATE! Check out this website where girls who can't afford prom dresses might love your bridesmaid style!

Finally, dyables are not always a bad as you think. It really depends more on the style than the color. This pink shoe for example totally resembles a Manolo Blahnik style, and would look amazing with jeans and a tank. And while these Manolos are a mere $715 the dyable pair were under $100. Not bad!

The good news is, there are pretty "bm" styles out there. I suggest sending the bride this slideshow with our favorites!
Happy shopping!

Hey, fashonistas! 
 

I came to work looking like a shlub. Literally! I woke up this morning, threw on a pair of paint splattered sweats, an old tank, and wet hair, no make-up. My plan was of course to change into a pretty dress, get my hair and make-up done and appear on Strategy Room looking like a different person. That is until of course I ran into an old college friend on the train and nearly died. OMG! I fumbled with my sunglasses, tried to hide under my seat, made a million excuses as to why I looked underdressed for even the gym, but to no avail. I felt self conscious, came across as insecure, and went through my head all morning what he would tell people I hadn't seen in years!
Ok, ok, I know I'm being dramatic. And I'm over it, really. It did get me thinking about all the times I've heard stories just like mine. You run to Starbucks in your pjs to grab a quick coffee on a Saturday morning and your ex is there with his new girlfriend. Or you stop by the supermarket for TWO seconds on your way home from the gym sweaty, tired, and that mean girl from high school is there looking fabulous. UUHH.
Well I'm here to help! I made a list for myself and all of you out there who find themselves once or twice a week needing to run out with no time or energy to get dolled up. Here's to avoiding a "rumpled run-in".
1- Sunglasses are your best friend!
Make sure to keep them close, or wear them from the minute you leave the house. Do not store them at the bottom of your bag like me! Also, do not wear them at night. Night glasses are worse than no glasses/no make-up.
2- A clean face is a beautiful face!
You don't need make-up to look your best. You do however need to look clean. There is nothing more unattractive than smeared mascara from the night before. So wash and moisturize! Also, address anything major! Slap on a touch of gloss if your lips are chapped or put on a tiny bit of cover-up if you have a "situation".
3- Brush up!
You don't need a blow-out to look great! Sometimes the chicest style is a simple pony tail. Again, the key to looking casually chic is looking neat and polished!
4- Ditch the sweats.
This one is the hardest for me. Your resident Style Guide not only loves clothes, but comfort! I have these amazing, broken in sweatpants that I would wear everyday if I could. You know that pair you actually miss when you need to wash them? Unfortunately, we must all leave them home! I for one promise to never wear mine in public again. Can I get a Hooray out there? With that said, there's no need to don the prom dress. Find a pair of comfortable khakis, jeans, or leggings that are just as easy to slip on. My most recent discovery was a pair of Theory pants that feel and slip on like leggings but have ankle zips and back pockets so they look like pants. With ballet flats and a simple white shirt, I'm good to go!
5- Get over it!
Note to self- who cares! Honestly, you never look as bad as you think and the best thing you can do is exude confidence. This will make you look more attractive even if you're not feeling it deep down. Never let on when you're feeling insecure.

For more on getting a sporty look click here!

Happy shopping (not in sweats)!

Hey, fashionistas!
The long Memorial Day weekend may be over, but the summer's just begun. And while some of you are looking forward to baseball, bb-cues and some surf and sand, all The Style Guide can think about is sassy shorts, cute swimsuits, and the sexiest sandals around!

Which brings me to the point at hand- fellow fashionista, Jane from Philadelphia recently sent me a picture of a pair of Max Studio hot pink gladiator sandals that are just to die for. She  bought them, loved them, but ever since has been a bit bewildered about what to wear them with! Well Jane, here's how to rock your 4" strappy stiletto sandals!

The 1" Rule: The higher the shoe, the longer the length. If your heel is higher than 1", your skirt or shorts should be no higher than about 1" above your knee. Minis and short shorts are meant to be worn with flip flop, flats, or tiny, itty bitty kitten heels. Try Bermuda shorts or a pencil skirt for a chic, summer style.
Our favorite look for this pink pair- Elizabeth and James black spring shorts, Theory white Maille short sleeve top, and Anthropologie's chandelier earrings.

Make a Play for Pants: While shorts and minis are made for beach days, pants are perfect for nights out. Gladiator sandals in particular, look fabulous with skinny jeans or wide leg pants.
Our favorite look for this pink pair- Citizens of Humanity Hutton High Rise Hutton High Rise Wide Leg Jeans, Cynthia Steffe silk Zahara tank, and Banana Republic's floral fringe necklace.

Dress It Up: Another trend that just won't seem to die down is the maxi-style dress we grew to love last summer. Gladiators or any high sandal is perfect for a long drop-dead dress. Shorter styles can also look great, but again nothing too short! Knee length or right above is best.
Our favorite look for this pink pair- T-Bags necklace long dress.

Happy shopping!

Hey, fashionistas!

You don't have to be all grown up to look fabulous! In fact for yours truly, some of the most fun shopping to be had is for the smallest, stylistas in my life- my friend's children. Thank goodness for Colin, Cooper, Janelle, Sabrina, Lucas, and Carleigh who are all 2 years old and under, and provide me with an excuse to fulfill my guilty pleasure! Here are my favorite shopping stops, gifts to get, and sites to hit!

Best gift when you find out your pal is prego: Barney's New York textured blanket $68 Blankets come in white if you don't know the sex of the baby.

Best gift when the baby's born: Posh Tots personalized pillow $38-$50 If you want a color other than pink or blue, call the site's customer service. They are very accomodating!

Best accessories: Pottery Barn Sabrina baskets $7-$64 love filling baskets with books. Barnes & Nobles has a great kid's section and often have stuffed animal characters to go with the classics.

Best gift for an impromtu visit: American flag short sleeve set $19 The Gap has great, INEXPENSIVE styles for last minute stop overs whe you want to bring SOMETHING, but not spend a lot. They also always carry holiday pieces like this set for July 4th and even an organic collection!

Best birthday gifts: Ralph Lauren polo shirts and dresses $25-$35 For a more extravagant gift I love a couple of monogrammed RL polos.

Best gifts for toddlers: Crewcuts bathing suits $35 and up For summer try a swimsuit, towel and cover-up or blow-up pool and sand toys! Crewcuts starts at age 2 and the Obama girls are fans!

One final note- kids love comfort! While I'm perfectly aware that some of the cutest clothes are those little jeans or that pretty dress, my mom friends have told me that stretch cottons are great for playing, crawling and digging!

Now if you're a real aunt or a friend appointed aunt, there's a site out there for you! Check out savvyauntie.com.  And finally, for a slew of great summer clothes for your mini stylistas, check out my quick tip here!

Happy shopping!