Michael Kors is All That: Part I

Reason #1:
His new jewelry line!

Jewelry can be tricky.  Cheap jewelry breaks or turns your skin green, and expensive jewelry is, well, expensive.  I think it's important with every element of fashion to mix high- and low-end items, but this category proves to be especially difficult because a mid-level product selection has been hard to find, in my experience.

Michael Kors has solved this problem for me with his amazing new line of jewelry, which includes rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets in both gold and silver.  Prices fall largely between $45 - $195, with a handful of more expensive items.

The reason why this line of jewelry is awesome is the same reason why Michael Kors in general is awesome: he offers simple, beautiful things at great prices.

I especially find these two rings to be fabulous: Silver Buckle Ring ($45) and Golden Chain Ring ($55).

The line is also carried at Bloomingdale's, so if you're looking for an even better deal, watch the sales and use your Bloomie's card to be eligible for greater discounts.

One note to say that I do wish there was a bit less logo with some of the pieces, but if you stick with the subtle and classy ones (no big "MK's"), you'll do wonderfully in my book!

Steals for Under $20

Sometimes you just want to buy something.  Some people feel urges to smoke, gamble or drink; others feel the urge to shop.  Comparably, shopping is certainly the healthiest choice!

A helpful analogy: dieters are always told to eat one square of chocolate instead of denying themselves – which puts them at risk of eating the whole king size candy bar.  Shopping is the same way.  If you feel the need to shop but are low on cash, try these shopping ideas, all for less than $20:

1)    Visit the accessories wall at Forever 21.  Don’t buy necklaces and bracelets made of fake silver or gold.  They’ll only turn green (your skin too) after a few wears.  Instead, buy fun plastic rings and bracelets.  Most items are under $5 and I’ve had inexpensive pieces like this for years.

2)    Hit the streets of Soho on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.  Vendors line the streets hawking their homemade goods.  Earrings, broaches, headbands and other fun accessories can be found for $20 or less.

3)    Visit a ribbon store in the Fashion District.  Inexpensively add color to your wardrobe by buying several lengths of your favorite ribbons to create a new selection of belts!

4)    Visit the “sale” table in the Bloomingdale’s jewelry section.  Many weekends (subscribe to their sale emails), items will be marked down 30% - 70% off regular prices.  I’ve gotten gorgeous $90 necklaces for $10 apiece. 

5)    Check out Screaming Mimi’s on Broadway for a huge vintage selection of clothes, hats, shoes and accessories.  Be on the lookout for the occasional brand-name find.

Store Guide: Forever 21

I have very few friends that don’t enjoy a trip to Forever 21.  The store offers an appealing proposition to fashionistas all over the country: on-trend clothes at unbeatably low prices.  If that seems too good to be true, well, it is – sometimes.  I’ve written this entry to help you navigate which items to go for and which ones to stay away from.

FOREVER 21: BUY

• Plastic bangles and rings: Unlike plastic “gold” and “silver” necklaces, these fun pieces can be worn season after season!
• Floral tops: They come in all styles and shapes and are perfect for both work and play.
• Cute clutches: I have a brown leather-like “woven” clutch that I’ve worn for years and still get compliments on! 
• Trendy trends: This is the place to experiment with any crazy fads of the moment.
• White tops: Impossible to keep clean for long (let’s be honest here), stock up on a variety of white blouses that you won’t feel bad about getting rid of after a year.

FOREVER 21: DON’T BUY

• Faux-leather handbags:  They’ll break when you need them most!
• Anything sequined: you’ll have lost a good portion of them after one use – or before.
• Makeup:  Be gentler to your face! Stick with a real cosmetics company. The same goes for lotions, nail polishes and the other items they purposely leave near the check-out.
• Shoes:I know, I know – some of them are really cute! More often than not, though, they break within a use or two.
• Items over $30: Take your hard-earned cash somewhere else.
• Winter Coats: Unless you live in Miami or LA, these'll do you no good.

Don’t feel like dealing with the crowds?  Forever 21.com offers free U.S. shipping on all orders $50 or more.  When browsing, read the materials section for each item.  I advise against anything that 100% polyester – you’ll be able to see and feel the poor quality.  Also check out the Size Chart to make sure you’re selecting the right size!  As Forever21’s following skews younger, their sizes definitely run small.

Happy Shopping!