Before the game yesterday, I decided to stop in & check out the grand opening of Urban Thread. At Tuesday’s Collegiate Merchandising Association meeting, one of our members told us a little bit about the store & asked if she could put out flyers on the table. Immediately after she told us about the store, I knew I had to check this place out!

Urban Thread is a store filled with name brands such as Free People, Urban Outfitters & Wildfox Couture but at majorly discounted prices. She explained that all of the items in the store are either off-season items or catalog returns. I found a lot of great items & ended up walking away with a striped BDG crop top & a cozy pullover sweatshirt from Wildfox Couture in navy. Total price? Just under $40. Both of the items I picked were priced at $18.50. Although I am not sure how much the BDG crop top was originally, I found the same Wildfox Couture sweatshirt in a different color for $125 at shopthetrendboutique.com.

The store, at least at the moment, was a plain open space that was very well organized. They were not only organized by size but also by brand. You could also find shoes, handbag, bed spreads, & accessories. The staff was super friendly & helpful. Please keep in mind that all sales are final so make sure that you try everything on & really love it before buying it!

Interested in checking this place out for yourself? Urban Thread is located at 1318 N. Monroe St., just above Sakura Japanese Restaurant.

Lace has continued to be a must-have trend. You can now find lace tights, lace gloves & lace accessories. Several brands like Free People & BCBG have even made a lace top. Do you love the idea but are clueless about how to pull off a lace top? I will show you three different ways that you can wear the lace top.

1. The Sequin Tank – A great way to really stand out and make this trend your own is by wearing a sequin tank top under the lace top. If you can find a sequin tank with a fun print, it will add much more excitement and individuality to the outfit. Featured in the picture above: BCBG & 2kilo.

2. The Little Black Dress – The second way you can wear your lace top is to pair it with a little black dress. This is a great way to give new life to your favorite go-to dress. By wearing the lace top underneath the dress, it will give the dress a whole new look. Featured in the picture above: Quba.

3. The Tube Top – Lastly, you can go bare & wear a tube top underneath the lace top. If you want to pull off this look on a warm summer’s night – this will definitely be your best option. Featured in the picture above: Niki Biki.

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?

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!

Last week, I featured a post inspired by ABC Family’s new hit show Pretty Little Liars. For the outfit inspired by Hanna, I used a cute tunic/dress from Free People. I say tunic/dress because I actually purchased this item under the assumption that it was a dress but Free People refers to it as a tunic. If you read the reviews on FreePeople.com, you will find that a few people did complain that the item was either too short to wear as a dress or too long to wear as a shirt. Everyone else referred to it as a dress & loved it. I am fairly tall with long legs so finding dresses that hit me at the right length are hard to find. This dress seemed to be the perfect length. I will warn you, however, that the fabric near the bottom of the tunic is sheer so if you plan to wear it as a dress, make sure you wear something light under it. It also ties in the back so you can give the dress more shape if you want.

I originally purchased the Free People 34th Street Tunic for $70 (original price being $98) but it is now on sale online at FreePeople.com for only $30! You can purchase it here.

Bracelet: Juicy Couture;  Ring: Dorothy Perkins; Shoes: Steve Madden; Vest: Current/Elliot; Purse: Topshop

Cole Couture is one of my favorite boutiques in Tallahassee!  Last year, they were voted Best of Tallahassee for Woman’s Clothing.

Selection
Cole Couture claims to cater to the “professional and the professional party girl” and I agree! They have everything any fashionista could want all under one roof. They carry top brands including J Brand, Free People, French Connection, TOMS Shoes, Michael Kors, 7 For All Mankind & more!

Price
The prices vary. From what I have seen, you can spend anywhere from $20-$200.

Atmosphere

My favorite part of this store is the atmosphere. When you walk in, you immediately notice how unique the look of this store truly is. It is similar to walking into a cozy cabin full of everything you could ever want/need in your closet! On the end of the rack, they will put together a sample outfit and/or an accessory such as a scarf or a necklace that they recommend wearing. Whether I end up purchasing anything or not, I always leave the store feeling inspired.

Cole Couture is located at 1240 Thomasville Road.

Spring is finally here which means it is time to pull out those sundresses! In honor of spring, I scoured the internet for the best floral dresses for Spring 2010.

1. DKNY Garden Print Tank Dress $295 – this dress is the perfect mix between the casual color block dress and the fancy pencil skirt.

2. Free People Floral Tiered Halter Dress $138 – I absolutely adore this dress. It is the perfect dress to throw on with a belt, bangles and a pair of cowboy boots.

3. Dolce & Gabbana Short Dress $525 – this dress reminds me of the dresses Whitney Port can often be found in. Although it is expensive, it is also very chic and the only floral dress I found in this style.

4. Abercrombie & Fitch Alexis $58 – I was very impressed with this dress from A&F. This is absolutely adorable for someone younger but can be aged with layers. A cropped jacket would go perfect with this style of dress. A&F is currently having a sale on dresses both in stores and online.

5. Free People Neon Floral Dress $98 – another great option from Free People is the Neon Floral Dress. I love the plunging neckline and 3/4 length sleeves. This is yet another dress that can go perfect with sandals or cowboy boots.

This year it is all about the hair accessories and thanks to Gossip Girl, headbands have become increasingly popular. Now designers are taking this simple concept and putting a new spin on the classic headband. You can really find some fun and unique headbands now. I will show you some of my personal favorites.

1. Betsey Johnson Crystal Headband with Bow - This is my go-to headband during the colder months. I absolutely adore this headband. I had bought a plain crystal headband prior to Betsey Johnson’s headband collection but I love this one because it is much more casual. I love dressing up a casual sweatshirt and jeans by wearing this headband. It allows you to stay comfortable and warm while still feeling like a girl.

2. New York Zipper Headband – I found this adorable headband when I went to New York last month. A lady was selling handmade hair accessories that were extremely cute and affordable. What I loved about this particular headband was that the flower was made out of a zipper, which is another HUGE trend this season. This was the perfect headband to pair with a pea coat.

3. Free People Lacey Trio Headband - This headband instantly caught my eye and it looks fabulous on. The jewels look so great in the light and are so colorful that this headband can really be worn with a variety of different outfits. This headband is the perfect headband if you want to get noticed. You can find this headband at Free People stores or online for only $20. 

4. Betsey Johnson Leopard Print Headband – I love this Betsey Johnson headband as well. This is my go-to beach accessory. It goes great with my leopard print swimsuit and my beach cover-ups. Headbands are a great way to look great, keep your hair out of your face and protect your scalp.

5. gla.MAR.ous Pamela Headband – I won this headband in a contest and I really like it. What is unique about this one is how it is constructed. All of the other headbands, excluding the zipper bow headband from New York, have been elastic headbands. This headband’s base is a zipper with the edge being similar to bra straps that can be fitted to the size of your head. So no matter how big or small your head is, you can rest assured that this headband will fit you and never be too loose. This headband definitely makes a statement so the outfit that you wear should make a statement as well. I would pair this headband with a fitted skirt and a cropped jacket for an edgier look. You can find this headband online for $22. Make sure to check out their other headbands as well!

Leggings and tights are the perfect must-have for fall! They allow you to change the look of an outfit in an instant. It also allows you to transition your summer clothes into fall.

1. Denim Leggings- Denim leggings (or “jeggings”) have definitely become a fast-growing trend within the past month. When looking for a pair of denim leggings, I would recommend looking at the ones that look more like actual jeans and less like leggings such as the Bebe Quinn Skinny Distressed Legging which are currently on sale for $69.30. Pair these with a cute shirt, high heels and some bangles and you are good to go!

2. Rouched Leggings - Pixie Market has this pair for $78. The rouching in the side gives the look of skinny jeans but I would recommend wearing these leggings with a longer shirt. Definitely a cute pair of leggings to wear for a night out on the town.

3. Cropped Tights- You can never go wrong with classic black tights. I am in love with this pair from Spanx. Because it is from Spanx, you know it will help you slim and shape your body while looking stylish. These tights can easily dress up shorts by wearing it with a pair of classic pumps. The Spanx ‘High Falutin’ Footless Pantyhose are only $28.

4. Statement Leggings -Some people like to wear leggings that really stand out such as this pair from Pixie Market or a simple hot pink. What you wear with these leggings are really up to you! You can make the leggings stand out even more by keeping your outfit very simple or you can add to the craziness of the leggings by mixing and matching different patterns that make the outfit look unique. The Pixie Market Phamous leggings are $49.

5. Lace Tights – The Free People Rhinestone Lace Tight is the perfect pair of tights to wear under any skirt or dress. Try wearing these tights under your favorite summer dress. The Free People Rhinestone Lace Tights are $38.