"We're dying" to dress like Rachel Zoe

You would have to be living under a very drab, un-fashioney rock to have not yet heard of Rachel Zoe. This woman is a business powerhouse, having made a glittering name for herself as a fashion stylist with no formal fashion training. Zoe has worked with some of my favorite industry girls from Anne Hathaway to Kate Hudson. Her Bravo Television show "The Rachel Zoe Project" has achieved cult status and she will be debuting a line on HSN in the fall of 2011.

At my boyfriend's recent cast party for the fantastic piece "Dog sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead," I fluttered about the foyer nervously with a vodka tonic in my hand. My boyfriend, sensing my jumpiness, told me to go talk to the kitchen full of handsome, fashioney, gay boys.

"No," I squeaked "I'm scared, they're so pretty! I want them to be my friiiiiiends."
"Talk to them about clothes, they'll love it," he suggested.

(Now kids, I know this sounds incredibly stereotypical, but this particular group of gay men really do love high fashion. SO WHAT.)

"IS THAT REAL CHANEL?" someone squealed!
"I DON'T KNOW, I GOT IT AT GOODWILL!" I yelled triumphantly.

Conversation quickly moved to The Olsen Twins and their various delectable fashion lines (cue my infamous sucked-in-cheek-pouty Olsen face) and Rachel Zoe. After discussion with my panel of fashioney guys and sermon on the nuances of "bohemian chic" and "hippie haute," I've compiled a concise yet informative list of must-haves so that all may get his or her respective Zoe on:

1. Faux Fur Vest: I was recently informed that some faux-fur is actually real and made out of "Racoon Dogs". I'm not joking so uh...avoid that stuff.

2. A Turban: Rachel Zoe can some how do this without looking like a Tsar or a crazy, smelling of pee, Auntie. I'm not sure that anyone else can, but I'm willing to try. Maybe a nice Hermes headscarf will do the trick?

3. Lots of Rings: This one should be easy enough. Vintagey is always good; but don't go for plastic seventies baubles. Stick with rhinestones, brass, or real diamonds if ya got 'em. The rings-that-look-like-brass-knuckles trend works well here.

4. Designery Mu-Mu: According to Wikipedia, Rachel Zoe, pioneered the "Boho Chic" look. "This look consists of oversized jewelry, loose fitting dresses and shirts, paired with a slim frame." On normal framed people "the loose fitting dress," turban, and excessive jewelry may cause one to appear a new-aged religious zealot or just fat. So, throw a waist belt on!

Text Hannah Morris

Blustery Bag Lady

Why is impossible to dress like a self-respecting human at the first mention of blustery weather? I cannot begin to express how many people I have seen teetering down sidewalks today in puff coats and sweat pants! To paraphrase the venerable style-guru Jerry Seinfeld: “You know the message you're sending out to the world with these sweatpants? You're telling the world, 'I give up. I can't compete in normal society. I'm miserable, so I might as well be comfortable.’”

Now friends, I am not immune to this phenomenon, in fact my naked and sex-haired self stumbled in the closet this morning and returned with an 80’s sea-foam green cardigan and a pair of Ugg boots. Let’s just say that I ventured into work looking half Mister Rogers (R.I.P.) and half cave man. Why, you might ask, do so many people suffer from the inability to dress in cold weather?

I believe this a multi-faceted problem; the first being leg hair. My research shows that leg hair grows a helluva-lot faster when you’re getting goose-bumps all the time, and so, it is in great abundance during the winter. Extra leg hair, combined with the fact that it is too damned cold to take a shower (and the fact that I can’t afford the blades for my fancy-ass razor), means you face the day with Sasquatch legs. Leg hair of this caliber, ladies and gentleman, means either of two things: Jeans or Fancy Jeans. This is proven to make you feel lackluster and guilty for avoiding all of the beautiful Houndstooth and Tartan skirts sobbing in your closet, and so you throw in the towel, and put on a dated thrift-store sweater. It is a vicious, vicious cycle.

So don’t worry, girl-on-side-walk-with-rhinestone-butted-sweat-pants, I know how you feel. My jeans may be designery, but I too, let the weather get the better of me. Tomorrow, let’s at least try to put on some mascara, whadda ya say?

Text by Hannah Morris

Pale Vs. Tan

Now that the temperature has dropped in most parts of the country, going to a tanning bed seems to be the popular thing to do. Women especially prefer to keep their summer tan through the winter. Over the years, different women have told me they believe tanning makes them happier and keeps them warm after coming from the cold weather. I will admit, I myself have gone to a tanning bed or two.

The truth is, a woman who goes to the tanning bed, or even spends more time than normal under the sun during the summer time, is more apt to aging quickly. This is also true for women or men who play outdoor sports or who have outdoor jobs. A person, especially in their early twenties, needs to consider if being tan this winter and getting wrinkles at a young age is more worth it than being pale and not getting wrinkles. There are many women out there who do what they can to stay out of the sun, and never enter a tanning bed, and they have beautiful skin.

Pale is looking so much hotter these days!

Text Alexandra Faye

Wide Leg Trousers

The skinny pant have been a hot item for a while, and with good reason. It not only shows off your gorgeous legs, but when paired with 4-inch heels - it's an unstoppable sexy look. As we know, fashion constantly changes its rules - so, say good-bye to the skinny pant and hello wide leg trousers. The runways are bringing back the retro glam of Audrey Hepburn by letting feminine sophistication fill the present day women's closet. Designers such as Marc Jacobs, Jason Wu, and Tommy Hilfigier have perfected the wide legged trousers by pairing them up with whimsical blouses and form fitting tops. The colors most seen are white and caramel - giving you the option of playing around with jewelry and bag colors. For shorter girls, wear the pant with chunkier heels as it will accentuate your legs, and for taller girls - the style will look great with just a fancy pair of flats. The wide leg angle gives you a polished, professional, and playful look. I recommend you rummage through your mother's closet first, she may still have hers from back in the day - hey, you never know.



Text Jessica Moy

Falling for Zara

Most of the time, stores like H&M, Forever 21, and Zara can be very hit or miss. There are so many factors that go into what makes a great consumer friendly collection, from the materials used to the silhouettes that the designer creates. Fortunately for us, Zara’s November collection is a home run! Everything currently offered in the store is completely on point with this season’s most wearable trends. Not only that, but the materials used are soft, warm, and high quality, which isn’t always the case for such an affordable store. Nothing is worse than finding an item that looks good online, but feels scratchy or cheap in person. I’ve experienced this rather unfortunate situation far too many times, and I can tell you, with confidence, that you won’t experience even a hint of buyer’s remorse after purchasing any of these pieces. A few standout pieces from Zara’s November include cropped sweaters, silk blouses, corduroy shorts, and camel trousers. If you haven’t already done your holiday shopping or created your wish lists, I highly recommend that you add a few of these items on last minute. The best part of the collection is without a doubt the price range. All of the items featured in the image above are under $70 and available both in stores and online. Any piece on its own would make an incredible gift, whether it’s purchased for a friend or for yourself.

Text Ali Antonucci