I'm all for going green. Paper or plastic at the grocery store? No thanks! I usually bring my backpack to help me carry my loot home, but I think I'll be switching over to these babies soon. its-laS-tik bags by what'Surbag has some really pretty (and stylish) reusable grocery bags and they're available in all sorts of colors. You can shop metallics, patterns or solids.

According to the its-laS-tik site, these bags are manufactured in New Orleans and a percentage of sales is donated to Hope House, a charitable organization in NOLA. The bags come in 3 sizes and colors/patterns that change with each season, and can hold up to 45 lbs.

 

   



Bags start at $14.99 and you can get yours here.

These dark pants can add some flavor with a hot blazer or jean jacket. Pair with a white, grey, or cream top underneath. Or add a subtle print shirt for fun!

If you like what you see, click here:

Jacket
Shirt
Pants
Shoes 

Hooray, spring is here! Okay, I know, my cheer needs some work. I’ve been out of practice, having tucked away my cheerleader uniform a million years ago. But then again, that’s really not much of an excuse, what with the fresh, sporty, cheerleader-inspired outfits lending their high spirits to this spring’s runways.

"There are now many ways for us to pull off a

cheerleader ensemble without

looking like an over-aged high school repeater."

Perhaps wearing the cheerleader skirt is not exactly for everyone; after hitting a certain age (or size), wearing a short, pleated skirt is something we tend to veer away from – and with good reason. Besides, even if I were as svelte as I was in my younger years, I might still end up looking like a trying-too-hard cheerleader wannabe.

Having said that, thank God for designers! They have recycled the cheerleader outfit in more ways than one, effectively extending its age limit. There are now many ways for us to pull off a cheerleader ensemble without looking like an over-aged highschool repeater… just make sure you ditch the pom-poms.

Balenciaga features a hardened cheerleader for Spring 2010 look by mixing in leather and black into the well-loved short skirt and tucked-in shirt reminiscent of cheerleaders’ attires.

 Balenciaga S/S 2010

Proneza Schouler reworks the cheerleader apparel by adding noteworthy details to the classic cheerleader skirt and playing with fabric.

Of course, becoming a catwalk cheerleader doesn’t involve just the signature cheerleader skirt. Knee-high socks and jerseys both echo the jovial spirit of healthy, athletic competitiveness.

Fashion maven Alexa Chung wears knee socks and makes the look more sober by sporting a leather jacket.

Alexander Wang invests in knee socks for his Spring 2010 RTW collection, pairing them with apparel that also speak sports.

Never been a fan of cheerleader outfits? There are other ways to keep the spirit stick from falling to the ground, so to speak. Take the course of sports and try wearing a sweatshirt dress for a day of shopping. Don’t worry, today’s sweatshirt dresses won’t make you perspire with fashion anxiety; the modern variety looks less dowdy and much more chic than its original version while borrowing the latter’s comfy, relaxed vibe.

Alexander Wang experiments with the sweatshirt by giving its sleeves more volume.

Rebecca Taylor adds some shirring and gives the sweatshirt dress some curves by keeping the waist trim.

As I penned a review of the Cornell sorority dress codes that had people going crazy, I kept thinking that the who scenario seemed somewhat familiar. Luckily, I remembered the similar case: just a year ago, The Bank of England gave their female employees, whether they were top investors, executives, or secretaries, some fashion advice in the form of a few strict dress code rules. There were many complaints lodged initially, but the rules have been enacted without trouble for most of the past years.

The rules? Heels that matched the color of their skirt and that were below two inches in height. "Appropriate" jewelry, including no more than one piercing in each ear. Handbags? Couldn't be over-stuffed. Yet what was the biggest deal-breaker? Mandatory make-up. Some make-up at to be worn, lipstick at a minimum. So let's break these rules down and figure out whether or not they seem fair.

"Heels are a must"

The below two inches rule on heels is a good one, not that any male is going to measure. No one wants what the Cornell sorority girls would term "sky-high hooker heels" in the workplace, unless your workplace just so happens to be a strip club. Heels have to match the skirt? That seems reasonable. The whole same color thing is a bit too far in my opinion, but most female employees of the Bank of England are probably wearing black every day. Now, as any New Yorker who's spent time in London will know, English women wear flats most of the time. Probably because of the cobblestone (anyone who has ever walked long distances on cobblestones will be understanding of this!), but still, they wear flats, not two-inch heels. An awful lot of these women are going to be angry about being ordered to wear heels, but it might be for the best. Heels make women appear taller and more powerful. In a workplace dominated by men, such as the Bank of England, these heels may very help the women in status and perceived power. If I were them, I'd stuff flats in my bag and change two blocks from the office after work.

Appropriate Jewelry

There wasn't much talk on appropriate jewelry, other than no anklets and no more than one hole in each ear. This isn't too bad. No one looks professional with pincushions for ears and four pounds of David Yurman. Simple chains or pearls are probably what most women stick to anyways. As far as those anklets go? They can rip your stockings anyway.

Overstuffed Handbags?

This is where I'm less sympathetic toward those who made up the rules. You can't really dictate how much a woman puts in her purse! Yes, I agree that it might look unprofessional to have a handbag bursting at the seems, with papers falling out, but this just isn't necessary in my opinion. Or in most women's opinions.

Makeup

Ok, this is just not necessary to be made a rule. Mandatory makeup? By the time women are in their twenties, they know what makeup they need, what makeup they don't, and when to wear it. No woman will show up to work without her self-designated minimum amount of makeup. And lipstick should never be encouraged, even neutral shades can make some women look overdone, so what are these girls to do? That this has to be a rule makes me wonder what state the Bank of England employees are showing up to work in.

Thoughts on these rules? I don't think they're so bad, other than the mandatory lipstick. In fact, the first two are really, really good rules.

It's easy to spruce up a cute winter outfit just by adding a splash of color. This comfy sweater pairs nicely with jeans for a casual outfit! Finish off the outfit with these red flats and a cute owl necklace!

Like what you see? Get them here.
Sweater 
Necklace
Flats
Jeans

They say a book shouldn’t be judged by its cover. However, in a job interview, your potential employees will try to put you under a microscope and look at you from head to toe – and the how you carry yourself may very well affect their opinion of you. It is therefore important for you to know how to dress for an interview.

Learning about how to dress for an interview may sound trivial at, but studies have shown that employers both consciously and subconsciously judge job applicants based on what they wear. For example, if you wear red on your interview, this strong color also triggers strong emotions. So, if an interviewer likes you, he’ll probably like you a lot more when you’re wearing red. However, if one of the interviewers is having a bad day, your red outfit might make him feel worse whenever he looks at you and, as a result, may end up unconsciously disliking you. 

When you know how to dress for an interview, you are already taking the first step to making a good first impression. An interview doesn’t last long and you have just a few moments to stand out, so it’s always a good idea to know how to dress for an interview and look your best from the get-go.

To help you learn about how to dress for an interview, read on:

·         If you plan on wearing a skirt, it should at least be at the level of your knees or a little lower. Skirts higher than the knees may be acceptable in some companies, but this is not always the case.

·         If you're not sure about how to dress for an interview, play it safe. For instance, most job interviews require closed heels. If you’re not certain whether or not your open-toe stilettos are allowed, then it’s always better to just look for closed heels. Better safe than sorry.

·         If you're applying for a creative profession, wear professional attire – a suit or a button down blouse paired with a skirt will do – but make sure you give your attire a dash of your own personality, like wearing a favorite brooch that showcases your creativity.

To help you decide how to dress for an interview, here are a few basics about what you are expected to wear (and what you shouldn’t wear):

·         A professional suit in a neutral color OR a conservative blouse and a skirt or slacks. Conservative means no plunging necklines, no sleeveless shirts, no backless blouses.

·         Closed heels. Avoid flats as they look too informal. Avoid strappy heels as you might end up looking unprofessional.

·         Tasteful jewelry. Avoid dangling earrings, over-accessorizing, and mix-match jewelry.

·         Lastly, a neat hairstyle. You may tie your hair to give you an air of professionalism.

Read the Smashion Forum post on how to dress for an interview or read other suggestions on what to wear for an interview. 

On March 1st, Oprah will be selling her clothes on eBay for charity. With the help of O magazine's creative director Adam Glassman, she's planning on cleaning out her closet and putting 150 of her favorite fashion pieces up for auction. You'll have a chance to (literally!) walk in her shoes. All this will benefit the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.

The auction will run from March 1-11. Be sure to bookmark her eBay page if you want first pick!

Check out the full story of Oprah's cleanout here and for a sneak preview of some of the auction items, visit here.

image: Oprah.com

Some of the items seem a bit outdated. Would you bid?