Fall semester is just around the corner… so what are this year’s hottest back to school trends?

1. Printed skirt - a fun printed skirt can spice up any outfit! Where with a graphic tee, v-neck, racerback tank or long sleeve shirt – it looks great with them all! Accessorize with necklaces, bracelets & a cute handbag & you are all set for your first day of classes.

Free People $48; Abercrombie & Fitch $50; Miss Selfridge $13.25; Myne $129

2. Platform pumps - every time I go shopping, there are more and more styles of this shoe popping up everywhere I look. With brands like Steve Madden, Jessica Simpson & Guess making them, you should be able to find a great pair at an affordable price.

Jessica Simpson $88.95; Steve Madden $94.99; Guess $98.95; Valentino $695

3. Bow Accents - loving this trend! Bows have been popping up everywhere – bow rings, sweatshirts, necklaces, shoes, headbands – you name it, they make it! Why not embrace this trend and make it your own? Add a tiny understated bow or a crazy overstated bow to really make the outfit your own.

Marc by Marc Jacobs $58; Paris Hilton $94.99; ModCloth $14.99; Forever 21 $4.80

4. Denim Vests/Jackets - the denim vest has become increasingly popular this summer & with fall just around the corner, the denim jacket will be a definite must-have. My favorite brand for denim jackets? Chelsea & Violet, Hollister & A&F.

Shakuhachi $146; French Connection $148; Current/Elliot $177; GAP $34.99

5. Lace tights - black tights under shorts, skirts and dresses can really transform an outfit. Upgrade last year’s pair of black tights for lace leggings for an entirely new look!

Pink Ice $12.99; BBon-J $28; Emilio Cavallini $21.70; bebe $89

Which trends will you be rocking for the fall semester?

Victoria’s Secret PINK has seen how successful their major league baseball and collegiate collection has been and now they are at it again with a brand new line. On Tuesday, VS PINK announced the 13 teams that will be included in the launch of VS PINK’s NFL Collection.

So what teams will be included in this new line?

Are you looking for the perfect purse? Marc by Marc Jacobs made a purse so perfect that they literally named it the “perfect purse.” When I first saw this purse, it seemed very similar to the classic quilted Chanel that I know and love so much. This particular purse is a black crossbody shoulder bag with allover logo embossing and a gold chain shoulder strap. It features a flap closure with a turnlock clasp. On the inside, you will find Marc by Marc Jacobs signature lips patterned fabric. This is not a huge bag but a nice size to fit everything that you truly need – ID, phone, wallet, lip gloss, etc. The perfect purse to grab on the go & wear with almost anything!

You can purchase this bag online at Nordstrom for $258.

Yesterday I discovered that I have been staying only blocks away from Polyvore’s headquarters so I thought it was only appropriate that I mention how wonderful they are & how their site can change your life! Polyvore is a site created for the fashion obsessed but is perfect for nearly everyone.

1. The Online Shopper - Do you love online shopping? Well, Polyvore takes online shopping to the extreme. Instead of going from site to site to check our their selection, prices and sales, you can simultaneously search nearly every site’s inventory – including international sites. Polyvore is a database of clothing, shoes, & accessories that are all pulled from the Internet. Simply type in the item you are looking for or the specific brand you desire and shop away!

2. The Discount Diva – Okay, so you might love online shopping but only because it is easier to compare prices & ensure you are sporting the hottest trend at the lowest price. Well, Polyvore is your dream come true. Search by item, brand, color, and, most importantly, PRICE. You can also search for items that are currently on sale. You can also enter contests to win amazing prizes. Kate Spade is currently hosting a contest which ends in 3 days & you could win a trip to NYC, Chicago or San Francisco & a $1000 Kate Spade shopping spree!

3. The Collage Artist – Are you inspired by fashion? Do you love creating inspiration boards & collages? Polyvore makes creating collages extremely easy to do. Simply click on “Create”, search for the items you want to include (or add your own via the “Clip to Polyvore” bookmark) and create! You can flip, rotate, crop, shrink, clone, etc. After you are satisfied with your creation, you can publish it and it will be added to your Polyvore profile. In the future, you can look back and not only enjoy your creation but also know exactly what items you used, how much they cost & where to buy them.

4. The Personal Stylist – Interested in a career in styling or just love putting together the perfect outfit? Polyvore is made for you. You can create an outfit based on what is in your closet, answer a styling question posted by others via the “Create” & “Ideas” tabs, design an outfit based on your favorite celebrity, etc. Polyvore is a great way to build your online styling portfolio and perfect your craft.

5. The Trend Hunter – Are you the girl who is always looking for the NEXT trend, striving to be the first of your friends to adopt this new fad? Polyvore is also great for that. If you click on “Explore,” you can view the latest trends as well as up-and-coming members. You can also click on “Shop” and scroll down to the “Shop by Trend” links to view all of the items tagged for a specific trend.

I rely on Polyvore for nearly everything. It is my go to site to create collages used on this site as well as for personal shopping. Whether I am creating a look or browsing other sets for inspiration, Polyvore is my go-to fashion site. Check it out for yourself here.

This week, I am vacationing in California. Yesterday, I came across a boutique called Therapy. At first glance, it appeared to be more of an odds & ends store but their clothing & jewelry selection surprised me. I found a lot of cute clothes but very rarely in my size. I’m not sure if it was because they were picked over at the time or because they only order a few items of each size (like most boutiques do). The prices were definitely reasonable. Most of the items I picked out were between $30 & $70.

After having no luck in their clothing department, I decided to check out their rings. I ended up finding two rings that I absolutely loved. I got an over-sized gold bow ring for $14 and a double finger rhinestone ring for $16. A similar double finger rhinestone ring can be found at CoutureCandy.com for $101. If you are looking for rompers, fun print skirts, one shoulder dresses, odd & end gifts or the perfect accessory, you will definitely want to check this place out! They have stores in San Francisco, Mountain View, Campbell, and Burlingame. You can check Therapy out online here – online store said to be coming soon!

This summer, I have found some amazing finds at Off Fifth. So amazing that I have actually saved over $1000 compared to the retail price. Even searching online, the items are at least double the price or nowhere to be found.

1. Stuart Weitzman Hot Pink Espadrilles – I was instantly drawn to these shoes. Hot pink, perfect for summer, Stuart Weitzman and 40% off the sale price? I’m sold! With only one other pair in the store, I was lucky they were my size. With a retail value of $335, I purchased these shoes for $75.

2. French Connection Pink Lady Dress – Again, it was love at first sight with this dress. The color is probably my favorite shade of pink – a popping bubblegum color. French Connection fits like a glove so again I was lucky that I found this in my size. Retail value for this dress is approximately $158, I purchased it for $50.

3. Romeo & Juliet Couture Denim Ruffle Dress – I wasn’t so sure I would like this dress when I saw it on the hanger but have been craving a denim dress so I figured I would at least try it on. This dress is absolutely adorable on and is perfect paired with a brown belt & some cowboy boots. Retail value for this dress is approximately $96 but I purchased it for only $20.

4. Theory Pin-Stripe Blazer – One of the greatest finds of the summer was definitely the Theory blazer. The fit was absolutely amazing but the price was even better! This blazer originally sold for $415 but I purchased it for only $50! What a steal!

5. Current/Elliot Denim Vest – With the denim trend back in full swing, I had been wanting to buy a denim vest but I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on it. Luckily, I found this vest for only $35. Retail price was $232!

6. Free Generation Outfit – The last item did not photograph well but it is a black pencil skirt with an attached black vest. It is the perfect staple for the working girl! Wear it with a blouse, blazer, sweater or nothing at all – it looks great either way! It also fits like a glove & was the cheapest of all of the items. Retail value was around $120 but I purchased it for only $10!

I purchased over $1356 worth of clothes for only $240 by shopping at Off Fifth. If you live near an Off Fifth or are traveling to a place that has one, I highly suggest that you check it out. Off Fifth continues to be my favorite place to shop with great prices and great selection. Whether you want French Connection, Free People, Alice + Olivia, Roberto Cavalli, or Oscar de la Renta, you can find it at Off Fifth!

Click here to find a location near you!

This past week, I stumbled upon a New York based company called Sock Theory. Sock Theory offers the most fabulous, innovative & fashionable legwear around. They carry most anything and everything from stockings & tights, to leg warmers & knee-highs. All of the items featured on their site can help you enhance any outfit as well as embrace your own personal style. Better yet, everything featured on the site is completely affordable. Most items cost between $5-$15 which is absolutely amazing!

Check them out at SockTheory.com.

“A Locally Owned Shop with a World of Style”

This weekend, I went into Quarter Moon Imports at The Cottages on Lake Ella and fell in love. I bought the most gorgeous scarf and, better yet, it was fair trade which made me feel even better about my purchase.

Selection

You can find everything here from clothing and jewelry to chopstick sets and home decor Anytime I want a unique gift, I will definitely be going to Quarter Moon first.

Price

Price really varies depending on what item you are seeking and what kind of item it is. Quarter Moon Imports carries fair trade, cooperatively made, small cottage industry, USA made, union made and eco-friendly products.

Atmosphere

I loved the atmosphere of this store. It was a mix between vintage and boutique and the layout of the store made it easy to look at anything and everything.

If you are ever visiting Lake Ella or just simply driving by, they are definitely worth checking out! You can also browse through some of the items they carry here.

Kim France and Andrea Linett, the authors of the best-selling Lucky Shopping Manual, are at it again with The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style. This book dissects every style from euro chic to rock and roll, from arty slick to bombshell, from American classic to mod. Within each style they give you a description of the style as well as the essential pieces and accessories of that particular style. They show you how to achieve the look and take a look inside the closets of two Lucky girls that embrace that style. They also show you different outfits you can create with the essential pieces they recommended as well as how to wear a key piece all year long. I think this is a great book to really expose yourself to different style that you may be unfamiliar with. At the end of the book, they show you a lot of fun outfits that they achieved by mixing two of the styles together. This is a great book to own when you really want to change your look and try something new since it is the perfect shopping guide.

This past weekend, I went to T.J. Maxx in Tampa and found some great finds! Tops from two of my favorite brands, Juicy Couture and Romeo & Juliet Couture, as well as a classic Ralph Lauren polo all for MUCH less than their retail value.

Juicy Couture “Juicy Juicy Juicy” T-Shirt - everyone could use another casual tee in their closet. What I love about this particular shirt is how soft the fabric is. This shirt was only $19.99 compared to $68.00.

Romeo & Juliet Couture Ivory Top - I love Romeo & Juliet Couture. The clothing I own from this brand are among my favorites. This top is absolutely adorable and perfect for spring. It goes great with a flirty skirt which is a must-have item this spring! I purchased this top for only $16.99 compared to the retail value of $80.00.

Ralph Lauren Gray Polo - everyone needs a classic polo for their wardrobe. Ralph Lauren is known for their polos so when I saw this at T.J. Maxx for only $24.99, I couldn’t resist. Retail value for Ralph Lauren’s polos start at $75.00.

I purchased all three shirts for only $61.97 which saved me at least $161!