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We’ve all been there; you’re 2 glasses of cabernet deep, on a mellow Friday night when suddenly, you become convinced that your life simply cannot go on without a pair of floral-print skinny jeans. So you log-on to your favorite e-tailer for a little Friday evening shopping sesh, add the perfect pair of skinny jeans to your shopping cart, and pour yourself another glass of wine…

You wake up the next morning to discover that not only did you purchase your floral skinnies, but you now have a pair of studded leopard-print pumps and a monokini (that in the sobering light of day looks more “Lil Kim” than “Kim K”) en route to your apartment.

The hipster geniuses behind Urban Outfitters are apparently privy to the fact that “tipsy shopping” means looser wallets and results in purchasing more than your sober self may have intended. Which would explain their absolutely genius next move: adding a fully stocked bar to the brand-new UO store set to open up in Willamsburg, New York.

This is not the first time UO has experimented with food, drink, and retail all existing in the same space. Their Philadelphia location has a cafeteria-style eatery and their store in Westport, Connecticut serves up dishes such as lamb merguez and sea bass in their full-service, in-store restaurant. Now hipsters can drink their PBR and wear it, too.

The LA-based label Lovers and Friends is a brand after our own hearts. Inspired by the laid-back California lifestyle the brand effortlessly exudes ease, wearability, and classic with an ample serving of sexy. Their Summer 2013 Lookbook has inspired our Summer 2013 uniform of easy maxi dresses for day and hot minis for night. Check out some of our styling tips here:

1. LWD: Save your LBD’s for Fall and Winter. Keep it white hot in a classic LWD- little white dress. Bonus points for visually interesting graphic cut-outs, retro details, and glamorous accessories like the one pictured.

2. Legs For Days: Much like high heels, when it comes to strategically placed slits the higher, the better. Pair it with a simple strappy sandal to show off those gorgeous bronzed gams.

3. Heidi Hair: On those blisteringly hot summer days our hair has a tendency to take a backseat because all we care about is getting it up and out of our face. Keep cool and chic with our official go-to style this Summer- the Heidi. Braid it, pin it, and Voila!

4. Creamsicle Colors: Pastels have come and gone; for Summer 2013 it’s all about the creamsicle colors. We love the saccharine sweet hues of bubblegum pink and peach delight. Throw on an equally bright floral blazer to pull together the look.

Summertime is coming in HOT. The days are longer, the weather warmer, and the shorts are well, shorter. Staying stylish in the blistering summer sun can be a challenge- and unless you’re a lifeguard wearing a bikini everyday is just not an option. Luckily, the Shopbop stylists are here to show us how we can add dashes of denim to our summer wardrobe to stay edgy and cool; as in your temperature and attitude

1. Moto Details: Nothing says Summer like a denim jacket with the sleeves chopped off. Throw it on over a crop top for an edgy, Rhianna-inspired look.

2. Statement Stripes: In case you missed our blog post- the black and white trend is huge right now. A simple and stylish way to incorporate this color combo into your wardrobe? A pair of striped skinnies as inspired by Beetlejuice.

3. Well-Loved Cutoffs: We have every intention of living in our denim cut-offs this summer. Go for a pair of stone-washed shorts with a looser fit for an easy and effortless look.

4. Muted Pastels: Summer is the time to bust out some candy-colored bottoms. Peach, pink, mint, and baby blue bottoms look fab paired with a simple white tank and statement sunnies.

5. Retro Washes: In case you missed our other blog post- the 90’s are also totally in right now. And nothing says 90’s like acid-washed denim.

6. Graphic Elements: Don’t be afraid to experiment with the wonderful and wacky world of graphic denim! Union jacks, ikat, tie-dye, and floral prints will add a striking visual element to your look.

7. Patched Up: Feeling flirty? Here’s a fun and femme style tip: Tie that button-up around your waist to show off your curves and give your ensemble a retro feel.

8. Complete Destruction: Rips, tears, and shreds make a serious style statement. Whether you DIY it or purchase a pre-destroyed pair of denim, this grunge-inspired trends feels so fresh. (Plus, gives you some extra ventilation on extra-hot days!)

Target continues to blur the lines between high fashion and fast fashion with the recent announcement of it’s latest collaboration with 3.1 Phillip Lim. This limited edition capsule collection will include men’s and women’s pieces as well as accessories (fingers crossed for a Pashli inspired handbag!) that are affordably priced while still maintaining the attention to detail and creative reputation that Lim has established for himself in the fashion world.

Based on the onslaught of fashion blogger buzz that this announcement immediately heralded, sounds like this partnership could fare to be one of Target’s most successful collaborations to date. Sources say that Target has been working to secure a deal with the designer for over 5 years. And with good reason; Lim’s 3.1 collection debuted on the runways only 8 years ago and has since skyrocketed to cult status amongst the street style and high fashion circles. Fashionistas worldwide adore Lim for his self described “classic with a sense of madness” aesthetic and he counts celebrities such as Kate Hudson, Selena Gomez, Keira Knightly and Lauren Conrad as both clients and friends.

People are already reporting that a handful of leather jackets will be part of the 3.1 Phillip Lim X Target collection, and if we know fashion bloggers (and we do) those are sure to be sold out within a matter of minutes. So grab those tents and pack up the sleeping bags; because when September rolls around you will surely want to camp out at your local Target store to get a first look at the 3.1 Phillip Lim x Target Collection.

What would be considered by some as “man-repellant”, the boyfriend jean has taken the blogosphere, street style scene, and Spring runways by storm. Diesel Black & Gold, Alexander Wang, D&G, Theyskens Theory, and Ralph Lauren all sent models parading down the runway in denim pants looked like they were thrown on as an afterthought the morning after a co-ed sleepover. Oversized, baggy, and usually embellished with distressed details, the boyfriend jean is perfect for that effortless chicness that every fashionista lusts after and adds an interesting menswear element to what would otherwise be a simple jeans and tee combo.

Our bloggers today know the secret to pulling off this somewhat intimidating trend: it’s all about the cuff! Sarah of Rosenbklyn balances the toughness of her denim with a floral and flowy kimono top and adds an element of street with a red beanie. A classic pointy-toed pump in a bright hue adds a femme and flirty touch to a classic blazer and boyfriend jean on Gabrielle of Look Sharp Sconnie. Lauren of the Marcy Stop adds some glamour to her rugged jeans with strappy metallic sandals and a citrus-colored chiffon top. A muted color palette and simple white top allows Elle of ElleFrost’s subtle tribal-print boyfriend jeans to do all the talking. Hallie of the Hallie Daily puts a retro twist on her boyfriend jeans with a classic red lip and head scarf. What’s your philosophy on boyfriend jeans? The bigger the better or easy does it?

Need some copy inspiration? Here’s our round-up of stylish news stories that are on our radar…and should be on yours, too

The Next #GuessGirl: The iconic denim label, known for it’s babe-a-licious ad campiagns featuring the likes of Claudia Schiffer, Anna Nicole Smith, Drew Barrymore, and Kate Upton, has partnered with Ford Models and Elle Magazine to launch an online modeling competition in hopes of finding the next Guess model.  Could it be you?

Auto-Shop Your Selfsies: We live in an image obsessed culture. Duh. So it shouldn’t surprise us that a new app has popped up that promises to “put your best face forward” by automatically photoshopping any image put through the app. Of course, we’re all guilty of using Instagram filters to give us that natural flush, but does this app go to far?

Home Stylish Home: WhoWhatWear.com, the go-to online style resource for fashionistas and trendsetters launched an interiors focused sister site on Monday; DomaineHome.com. The site will serve as ‘a resource for aesthetic-minded creatively intelligent design lovers looking for home decor inspiration and ideas’. Naturally of course, we are already totally addicted.

The Met Ball Goes Punk: The highly anticipated Met Ball takes place this Monday and the theme is certainly one for the books; Punk: Chaos to Couture. And what better woman to get us into that authority-hating, Sex Pistols listening, fishnet wearing, mohawk sporting, frame of mind than the queen of both punk and couture, Vivienne Westwood? Style.com sat down with the legendary designer as they discussed punk fashion and idealogy.

Style and Substance at the Fashion Festival: Over the weekend British Vogue hosted it’s annual Fashion Festival with a stellar line-up of speakers that included Alber Elbaz, Michael Kors, Vivenne Westwood, Alexa Chung, Anna Dello Russo, Susie Bubble and more. The two-day festival included panel discussions regarding sustainability, ecommerce, social media, and consumer trends. Oh to be a fly on the wall!

Ok, it’s official fashionistas: The 90′s are back; albeit now with a glamorous and luxe twist. The latest Shopbop lookbook shows us how to channel the grit and guts of a grunge goddess- minus that musky thrift store smell, greasy hair, and tattered fishnet stockings. So just how does one achieve that perfectly unkempt and effortlessly cool Courtney Love circa 1993 meets Ruby Aldridge circa 2013 look that everyone craves right now? Let’s break it down:

1. Combat boots are your friend. You know what they say- shoes make the look. If you’re really bold- go for a pair with studs.

2.  Camo is cool. Nothing says grunge goddess like a pair of camo pants. Instead of the traditional “cargo” fit, keep it sleek and modern in a pair of camo skinnies. Try an anorak if camo pants are too loud for your taste.

3. Long hair; don’t care. We’re not saying that you shouldn’t brush your hair; we’re saying it should look like you didn’t. Go for that just-got-out-of-bed-and-my-hair-looks-this-amazing style. And if you happened to get a little help from your flat iron well, don’t worry- your secret is safe with us

4. You can’t do grunge without a little flannel. When going for that “90’s babe” aesthetic remember this styling tip: flannel goes with everything. Pair a button down flannel with a maxi dress, mini dress, denim cutoffs, or jeans and a tee.

5. Every grunge goddess needs a floral mini. To avoid looking like you stepped out of a Seattle-based time machine, keep the shape modern with a high-low hemline.

6. Denim should be of the “destroyed” variety. Even if your jeans are brand new, rips, shreds, and tears will give you major 90’s mojo! Bonus points if you go for a pair of boyfriend jeans.

7. Rock your graphic tees. A graphic tee is the perfect palette over which you can nonchalantly throw on a flannel.

8. Flannel + Floral = Success. Print mixing is in- and the grunge goddess knows that flannel and floral is always a winning combination.

There is no denying that the internet, and media in general, has become increasingly (and exponentially) image based over the past five years. Sites like Pinterest and Instagram have revolutionized how images are curated, displayed, shared and archived; while blogs have allowed creatives to share their work with people around the world for virtually no up-front costs. To be honest, I absolutely love how images and visuals have become completely intertwined with our lives. But how can our visually-captivated culture benefit you as a blogger? In our image-obsessed world, having strong graphics on your site is crucial to your success.

First and foremost, even if it is for just purely aesthetic reasons, strong images will be what captures someone before they even read your content or know your story. Don’t forget; first impressions are everything. When people are browsing the web-o-sphere, searching for new blogs to read, and they just so happen to stumble upon yours, don’t miss out on expanding your readership just because you have poor images on your site!

The second argument for having stellar images on your site is shareability. Generally speaking, people tend to share amazing photos on social media sites like Pinterest and Tumblr. This organic publicity infinitely valuable when you are working to increase traffic and expand readership. Make your blog the destination for amazing fashion photos that move people to share them with their networks. Combine this shareability with killer copywriting and your unique eye for style and you are officially unstoppable.

Last, but certainly not least, good photography can actually make you some money…or at the very least score you some free swag. The latest trend amongst digitally-savvy apparel brands is utilizing fashion bloggers as tools to further their brand identity. When you are able to communicate your unique style and point-of-view through your fantastic photography, you have an edge up against fellow bloggers. Brands are much more likely to work with a blogger (AKA send you free samples or maybe even contact you for a partnership) who produces editorial or print-worthy images. Those strong images make you infinitely more valuable to brands!

As you can see, good photography matters more than ever in today’s viral world; and especially so with image sharing social media platforms on the rise. Strong visuals will increase your readership, boost your traffic, and open up opportunities to partner with brands you love.

PS- Be sure to utilize “alt tags” on all of your amazing images! Don’t know what I’m talking about? Refer to this blog post for Alt Tags 101.