Truthfully, I’ve always been a bit turned off by denim in any form other than the jean. I still can’t help but picture this:

Courtesy: Reuters

whenever I see a denim shirt hanging on a rack (I was corrupted at a young age). Since the fabric’s recent revival (and Brit and Justin’s break up), my aversion to the stimulus has faded slightly. Over Spring break I was sifting through my mom's closet, and found one of her denim shirts, left over from the 90s. Wanting to investigate the appeal of this season's denim trend, I tried it on. And while sporting my acid wash jean shorts and western-style denim shirt, I felt relaxed but cool, the essence of a GAP commercial.

Courtesy: Gap
Head-to-toe denim gives this chick a sexy but cool vibe.

Anyways, I so got the appeal. But to prevent a fashion faux pas, there are some important considerations to take into account, the first of which is to make sure your denim pieces are different shades.  You don’t want to look like you’re wearing a suit.

Ralph Lauren runway look.
Courtesy: style.com

Sorry Ralph Lauren, but you’re doing it wrong. Even when it’s comprised of expensive designer pieces, the Texas Tuxedo still looks country. Mixing different dyes, like grey or acid wash, with a dark rinse is probably the easiest way to construct a great denim outfit.

Habitual Denim Spring 2012 Lookbook

Brown leather accessories will keep any denim style looking sophisticated and polished.

Courtesy: CaesarPony on Chictopia.com

There is something effortlessly chic about anyone who can pull off mixed denim pieces. Perhaps it is because it takes a true eye for style to find the line between cowboy and cool.

Designer Bill Blass once said, “When in doubt, wear red.” With this quote as my mantra, I've been wearing a lot of red lately. Something about the hue undeniably screams sexy, and I've always associated red with femme fatales.

It's no secret: I'm trying to evoke Marilyn Monroe.

There’s some science behind the color's universal allure -- according to recent studies, men actually find women in red more attractive than women wearing other colors, like blue... giving you empirical justification to sneak this color into your outfit!

With red shades, a little bit goes a long way (especially for those of us who just can't pull off a curve-hugging red dress). Below are some great accent pieces to integrate into your wardrobe. Just a pop of red will spice up any outfit and add just the right amount of sex appeal!

Tights

Pair with a black, grey, or white outfit to maximize the contrast. Red tights are my favorite way to accessorize a party outfit so I stand out in the crowd.  Many a male suitor finds the epithet "red tights girl" easier to remember than my name. Part of my femme fatale mystery, perhaps? At least that's what I tell myself.

Courtesy: Chictopia

Flats

Red flats take a classic preppy outfit up a notch. Blair Waldorf can also provide plenty textbook examples of this style technique.

Courtesy: karencyan

Headband

Want to make yourself instantly adorable? The recipe is simple: garnish with a red bow. Like a present -- but better! This is one of my boyfriend's favorites on me.

Courtesy: Splenderosa

Knitwear

I buy all of my knits in red. They really add some punch when paired with the typical winter neutrals black, brown, and grey.

Red Hat, Scarf and Fingerless Gloves sold by anitoes, etsy.com, $65

In my last post, I made a pretty bold statement: I, Melissa Roberts, have not worn pants ALL month. I understand that a lot of readers probably interpreted that sentence as just a bit of blogger hyperbole. Or, if you did take my word for it, you probably shook your head as you pictured a cold, bare-legged girl, shivering in a mini skirt in the dead of winter. But touche readers, I have found a way to remain pantless AND warm throughout the month of February!

My secret is the miracle of the jegging (quick etymology lesson: jegging = jean + legging). I know the jegging is old news -- after a quick Google search I found bloggers referencing jeggings as far back as ’09 -- but, I may be the first to actually replace pants entirely with jeggings in my wardrobe. I have managed to find jeggings that look like veritable jeans -- so much so that my employer, who mandates a leggings free-workplace, has mistaken them for pants!

Can you tell which are jeans and which are jeggings? My boss can't!

The jegging has the style function of a jean but fewer bothers. As a petite girl, I can never find jeans that are tight enough through the calf, but since jeggings have this magical leg-hugging fit, they work. The jegging also never gets baggy or stretched out, unlike most of my jeans which start to sag after I sit down a few times.

I’m aware the jeggging has (rightfully) received some criticism for being unflattering for women well-endowed in the butt-area. My caution would be to stay away from styles with too much embellishment, like whiskering and acid washes.

Not Rihanna's best look.

To play down the OMG look at my butt! factor, I never pair them with a body-hugging top. Instead, I balance the tight bottoms with a flowing tunic or baggy sweater.

Lauren Conrad does it right, with a loose cardigan, and long tunic top that hits her thigh.

Jeggings in all of the washes!

Since I bought my first pair in senior year of high school (they looked like ghetto stretch pants) the jegging has come into its own as a fashion item. With jeggings now available in all the same washes as jeans (see above), one can imagine a world in which jeggings eclipse pants altogether. It's the jeg-olution: who's with me?!

Jeans: they’re tight, constricting, and if you happen to be outside of the “average” proportions, they never fit right! As a declared pants hater, I am always looking for alternative ways to cover my lower half. One style that I’ve found the most versatile (I’ve avoided wearing pants all month thanks to it!) is the shorts + tights combo -- all the fun of a mini skirt with none of the hassle!

For those weekdays when I feel like showing a little leg, shorts + tights is a great look. Skirts feel a little too dressy for me to wear to class, especially when the girl next to you is still in her pajamas. And let's not forget the main the argument for choosing shorts over skirts is that you don't have to pay attention to that annoying rule about keeping your legs crossed.

Courtesy: lauraonstyle.com

See how the shorts give her all the sex appeal of a mini skirt, but the vibe is more casual? I like styles like the one above with a wider leg: they make your legs look like they go on forever.

For a super polished look, pair them with flats and blazer.

Blair Waldorf rocks the school girl look.

To take the shorts/tights combo up a notch for a night wear, I wear them with thigh high boots or pumps.

Courtesy: ericaonstyle.com

Since there's less fabric than pants (and they’re cheaper!), it's easy to experiment with funky patterns and fabrics. I am a big fan of velvet and leather.

Lauren Conrad, Nicole Richie, and Alexa Chung show us how it's done.

The multitude of tights patterns out there (see American Apparel for some ideas) will expand your outfit possibilities exponentially. With all of these options, who needs pants?

It’s well into the month of January which means you might already be feeling the winter style blues.  Usually by this time of year, I’ve exhausted all of the possible cardigan-boot combos in my closet. But luckily, I have another style resource at my disposal. And that is (drum roll please) my little brother’s closet.

If you look past the gym Ts and basketball shorts, you can find some style gems in the men’s wear department.  My go-to pieces during the colder months are sweaters, which can usually weather the changing trends (and temperatures!).  The men’s section can be counted on for a plethora of classic styles like stripes and argyles.

Courtesy: lelestyle.com

A pattern or a bit of color adds some much needed life into the winter uniform of brown and grey.

Courtesy: lelestyle.com

When buying (or borrowing from a male sibling) make sure tops are not too big in the shoulders so you don't get lost in all that fabric.  Usually a small from the men’s section will give you the right fit.  If you’re more petite like me, a large or extra large from the boy’s section will do.  And bonus -- the boy’s section is cheaper! I recommend J. Crew and Brook’s Brothers.

Cotton and Wool Mixed Argyle Cardigan, brooksbrothers.com, $168

V-neck styles are a little more feminine than a standard crew neck and button-up Vs are great for layering.

Courtesy: Elle France December '11 (Karolina Kurkova)

A belt will also add more shape to this style.  To pull the look together, accessorize with a pair of colored tights or thigh high boots.

Courtesy: Melissa Roberts

As a lazy college student, the oversized sweater is perfect for my lifestyle. It makes an effortlessness outfit that’s perfect to throw on when I’m running late for class.  And it’s always an added bonus when I can find a style for the Boston winter that’s cute AND warm.