Hasta La Ideas

If the word “turquoise” automatically makes you think of the Southwest and giant slabs of the blue-ish green stone attached to over-done sterling, it’s time to re-evaluate. Turquoise doesn’t have to be tacky and in small doses is actually quite trendy. Earrings are a great place to display this gem as they provide enough space for just a hint of blue without overwhelming your face, outfit or anything else you may not want overshadowed. TheFind has some great options, and they don’t all come with a hefty price tag. They’re fun, colorful ways to dress up a simple jeans-and-t-shirt ensemble. They look stunning with black. The great thing about turquoise is that it can be casual or polished. See — “tacky” is nowhere in sight! Check out TheFind for more fun Spring trends!

I love Nine West. Their shoes are amazingly adorable (for the most part), durable, well-made and – perhaps most important of all though I loathe to admit I need this in a shoe – comfortable. Nine West has done a great job of fusing style and comfort. These are shoes that can be worn to the office, and – if you choose the right ones – likely even worn to walk to and from work as well! They’re definitely functional for a night out on the town. That’s why I’ve had my finger on the pulse of West, and was ecstatic when their new line came out for spring: sandals and wedges and strappies, oh my! There are tons of options and this season they’ve gone a bit more structured with a lot of their sandals – wide heels, sturdier platforms, thicker straps. These are not dainty shoes, folks, and I love them! My favorites are the platforms with straps. These are an emerging trend right now and you can’t go wrong. They can be worn with jeans, skirts, office attire, sundresses and much more. So prepare for a fun summer and stock up on your Nine West! See more at TheFind.

This past Monday, the much-anticipated two-hour premiere of Dancing With The Stars Season 8 aired in its full stage makeup and sequined glory, and boy was it an eyeful! The earliest stages of every season are always hectic, as host and judge commentary are cut short and dancers are practically shoved onstage to ensure enough time for all 13 unseasoned pairs to perform; meanwhile backstage commentator Samantha Harris appears progressively more awkward throughout the night as she clumsily searches her brain for more original questions for each panting contestant awaiting their scores. However, Season 8’s premiere was considerably even more frenetic than usual, as contestants Holly Madison and Melissa Rycroft were announced as the last-minute replacements for injured drop-outs Jewel and Nancy O’Dell, and were pressured to perform with less than a week of preparation behind them. While audiences love to see certain stars shine, like graceful Shawn Johnson, studly but little-known “Sex And The City” star Gilles Marini, and the unexpectedly poised Lil’ Kim, viewers also take pleasure in seeing others clunk around the floor Cloris Leachman style, like Apple whiz Steve Wozniak and Belinda Carlisle did this time around. Our favorite pro dancers faithfully lived up to expectations — Edyta looking enviably toned as ever in her usual barely-there costumes and Maksim, in true “bad boy” form, already making his partner cry within the first couple weeks of practice (I think that might be a record, even for him). And then there were the costumes. Oh, the costumes — you just never know what the stars will be sashaying across the dance floor in next, or just how far they’ll take the Cha-Cha as an excuse to wear the most ridiculous or risque outfits on national television. I’ll admit — if I had a body like Kym Johnson’s, there are plenty of onstage outfits I wish I had an excuse to wear just so I could strut down the street in an obscene display of self-confidence, but others were straight-up too “snazzy” for their own good. Vote below for which premiere outfit you think made the gaudiest first impression!

With every season comes a dizzying whirlwind of trends, some worth trying, and some not. Likewise, classics reinvent themselves, if only to keep up with the ever-changing fashion world, and our favorite example comes in the form of the schoolboy blazer! It goes without saying that a classic blazer is an essential piece of every wardrobe, but if you’re looking for a fresh, young way to incorporate the staple suit piece into your outfits, a schoolboy blazer will do the trick. Pair it with jeans for a cute, quirky look, or layer one over a dress and let the blazer’s boyish charm do the talking. However you wear it, you’ll agree that this is one piece you won’t want to go without this spring! Click over to Fashiontribes for their ideas on how you can make the boy blazer work for you- for less!

Puddle stompers, wellies, or good old rain boots- whatever you call them, a great pair can really ensure that a downpour doesn’t put a damper on your style! And honestly, when else can you get away with wearing teeny printed kittens past age six? I have to laugh when I see people wearing those too-serious rain boots, where you know they’re hoping no one notices that their shoes are in fact made of rubber. I say roll with the weather, embrace J.Crew’s critter-covered creations, and keep on splashing through your day. Or rock a pair of Hunters for the most adorably understated rainy day look yet! And if you’re looking for fresh new styles, Plueys has the cutest globally-inspired galoshes for you! Click the slideshow for ten of our favorite puddle-proof pairs.