I CANNOT WAIT until I can wear summer shoes again! And I’m thinking about all the pairs I want to add to my wardrobe: sandals, thongs, peep-toe wedges…

On the sandal front, I’m thinking something like these starfish sandals in white. I love the silver starfish embellishment, and these are perfect for the beach.

As for thongs (or as I call them, flip-flops, to distinguish from the other kind of thong), I like something a little more exciting than a plain color basic. I like the brown version of these flower thongs because they have the shape and comfortable style, but with the flower.

And finally, peep-toe wedges (not super-high platform wedges, though). I like the comfortable lower-heeled wedges like these—and the snakeskin pattern is a really fun addition.

To complement your hats and bags, everyone needs a pair of strappy sandals. So beach-y and casual, fun to wear on the boardwalk or to the shops.

Strappy sandals come in different varieties. One such variety are “t-straps” (which are named for their design. Obvious, right?) Anyway, t-straps are super trendy right now, but always classic. These rhinestone-embellished pairs make a perfect compliment to your maxi dresses and beach coverups, and they come in a bunch of colors.

Cage sandals are named for their design, too. A cage for your foot! It doesn’t SOUND great, but they look pretty awesome and are one of this spring and summer’s trendiest look.

And gladiator sandals have been hot for a couple of seasons, but they don’t show signs of going out of fashion. This pair has a jewel embellishment that makes them sparkle.

Strap into sandals and enjoy the ride!

I recently returned from an amazing Hawaiian vacation (and I’m a little sunburned) so I have hats on the brain...and what goes better with a hat than a sweet bag? Pairing hats and bags is classic and fun—they don’t have to match completely (it’s usually better if they don’t) but coordinating them is a perfect way to accessorize.

This turquoise floppy hat is a colorful addition to your wardrobe and goes well with neutrals like taupe and white. It keeps the sun off beautifully, too. It’s lightweight, and ties on to specifically fit your head.

You can trim your hats with scarves, as seen in this sweet brown hat. It comes with a chic animal print scarf tied around it, but you can always add your own scarf to any hat.
As for bags, these big straw bags are great for the beach or any warm weather getaway. Towels, sunscreen, sandals and a change of clothing can all go into this big bag. You can’t go wrong with a carry-all like this.

Beachwear 2011 for the win!

Who knew how many awesome kinds of bracelets exist out there? I’ll admit I’m not much of a bracelet wearer, but every time I decide to check them out, I’m always impressed by the variety and style. These things could make your outfit!

For example, this Fish Scale stretch bracelet is so chic. I can picture wearing it with jeans and a loose white button down (sleeves rolled up) or with a hot dress, depending on the occasion.

Then there’s a sparkling red rhinestone Victorian Knot bracelet, which has just enough bling that I’d pair it with something simple like a sweater dress or plain wrap dress. Fun!

And for cool beach wear, pair these beaded stretch bracelets with your cover-up or maxi dress.

These are the pieces that you can keep in your closet and wear anywhere, without worrying about if you’re keeping up with trends.

Pants. Straight legged, elegant, and simple, these pants are always in style. Wear them to work or to any event that requires something other than jeans. The control top helps give you a streamlined look.

Boots. While boots are very trendy right now, some kinds of boots never go out of style. These classic riding boots are one example. You can wear them anywhere, with jeans, pants or skirts, and you’ll always have a great shoe ready to go.

Accessories. You can’t go wrong with hoop earrings. These classic hoops dress up any outfit, whether silver or gold. And a black bag with an uncomplicated look makes a perfect addition to most outfits.

With winter dragging on, it’s time to think of fun things to do to brighten your days (or nights). How ‘bout a crazy-themed party? A completely unorganized potluck with friends (just see what shows up)? Or maybe just some drinks and dinner in front of a warm fireplace?

When you’re ready to step out for some fun, part of the point is dressing yourself up and making yourself feel great. A couple of ideas:

Patent boots. These sexy, sassy boots will immediately lessen the winter blahs. They work with jeans, pants or skirts, and they shine like nobody’s business. Plus, they’re comfortable and easy to wear.

Haven’t seen the sun lately? No worries. This eye-catching gold cocktail ring shines just about as brightly and will make people sit up and take notice.

Other ideas for brightening up your winter evenings? Let us know!

There is nothing like the perfect necklace to really pull an outfit together. Unlike bracelets or earrings, which can get lost under sleeves or blend in with long hair, necklaces are right out there for everyone to see. And a great necklace can be a conversation starter or an elegant finishing touch.

Pendants: pendants are just a simple single piece hanging from a thin chain. These work with every kind of outfit (except turtlenecks, where they will get caught). You can wear something like a small diamond pendant for simple elegance or a bigger bold pendant to make a statement.

Beaded necklaces: With so many kinds of beads, it’s fun to find necklaces that mix it up, like this green jade necklace or this dramatic onyx set. Beaded necklaces can be worn with almost anything, although, if they have a round shape, they tend to work better with high necklines or scoops.

And don’t forget all the other fun ways you can wear necklaces, from dramatic to classic simplicity. See more necklaces here.

Earrings are another super fun way to work jewelry into your wardrobe—if your ears are pierced. While there are clip-on options, they are slim compared to the huge variety of pierced earrings out there.

Studs: these are the basic earrings that you get when you get your ears pierced for the first time, but really any earring that doesn’t dangle could be considered a stud earring. Studs are stylish and awesome for every day wear—something like these are classic. To spice things up, choose fancy studs like this sapphire and gold pair.

Hoops:  Hoops come in every size from small to gigantic! It’s best to stick with small to medium hoops for everyday wear or professional work attire, but you can kick it up for a night on the town with some giant hoops like these.

And of course, there are lots of fun options that don’t really fit into any clear category. See more earring ideas here.

One great thing about the holidays is the party aspect, because it means dressing up and choosing fun accessories and jewelry to go with your outfits. But you can really wear jewelry anytime, if you know the basics. First up, bracelets! These can be kind of a neglected part of your jewelry wardrobe, but they are really fun, too.

The cuff: this thick bracelet works best with ¾ length sleeves (or shorter), otherwise it will get covered up. Cuffs don’t go all the way around your wrist, they just “cuff” it. And one cuff is all you need! There are casual cuffs and fancier cuffs. This leather and turquoise cuff would work well with jeans and a t-shirt or any casual look, while this cuff is nice for casual, but it also works well with fancier attire.

The bangle: bangles come in all kinds of sizes, from very narrow to thick. Bangle refers more to the style, which is a looser-fitting, solid bracelet that dangles from your wrist. Bangles work with every outfit. Thin bangles are best worn in groups, while thick bangles should be worn on their own.

The tennis bracelet: tennis bracelets are jointed, flexible, and thin bracelets, usually made of jewels (most famously, diamonds). Tennis bracelets can be worn with any length sleeves and any outfit—even while playing tennis!

And of course there are tons of other kinds of bracelet options. Check them out here.

Ruffles are definitely a fall trend this year—they’ve been showing up on runways and are now making their way into everyday fashion. Sometimes when people hear ruffles they think way-too-frilly girly outfits. But that doesn’t need to be the case at all.

There are tons of ways to incorporate ruffles into your wardrobe.

In bags! Check out this fun ruffle snake bag that’s uber-fashionable. It’s also very exotic, and has pockets for all your goodies and a convenient snap closure.

In shoes! These ruffle booties add a great little flair to your outfit and are a wonderful way to incorporate a trend without going overboard.

In shirts! This ruffle-trim flannel shirt mixes boyfriend comfort with feminine fall style—so pretty much everything you could want in a shirt. And this dot ruffle blouse is also a great option.

In sleeves! Check out this ruffle-sleeved blouse or this ruffle-sleeved dress for another way to add some feminine flair to your outfit.