Whamo Camo

Some camouflage helps you go unseen, while some camouflage turns you into the center of attention.

Check out this Xhilaration® Camo Swimwear, $14.99, from target.com. You can't be missed while wearing it, that's for sure.




These camo Tallulah Low-rise Skinny pants, $19.99, from delias.com will call attention to your great sense of style.





When you sport these funky Restricted
Army Brat flats, you'll become a moving target... for compliments, that is. $40.95 at zappos.com.

Steal of the Day: The Hats Have It

I know what you're thinking. Why would I possibly buy a wool hat in spring? The answer: Because it's so cheap! You always tell yourself you'll buy things on sale at the end of a season, but you inevitably get caught up in the approaching season's styles. Well this year will be different because you're going to buy this twilight wool hat from Anthropologie.com. You'll be happy you did when fall rolls back around, trust us. Was: $58.00
Now: $9.95

Dressing the Wrist

Don't neglect your delicate wrists when getting dressed. Here are a few way to outfit them...

From freepeople.com, these ribbon wrapped bracelets are somewhat of a splurge at $44.00, but will take you from spring to fall with ease. Just unique enough, yet will match any outfit. Make them your signature.



A phat watch such as this Silver Mod Metal Watch by Guess says "I'm the sh--, and I know it." Be brave and give it a try. $75.00.




Can't go wrong with a cuff, like this one called Waterlooville from aldo.com. Just keep all other accessories to a minumum, and this bracelet will work as wearable art. $12.00.

Make a Splash

Chicago transforms during the summer. As temperatures rise, people awake as if from hibernation, taking to the streets, the shops, cafes, parks, and of course, the beach. They flock from all over the city to the lakefront to soak up the sun or bike or sail or swim...

We're getting misty eyed just imagining it...warm weather seems surreal after an extreme winter.

Lest we digress any further, check out this sumptuous velour beach towel from Oldnavy.com, $12.50. It's the perfect thing to put under your bum when you're sitting on sand.



Evoke the spirit of 300 with these metallic gold wedge sandals by What's What. Best worn by those with long legs (just being honest). An unexpected find on Famousfootwear.com, $44.99.



These daisy daisy sunglasses from Anthropologie.com feature handpainted blossoms. All they need to thrive is full sun. On sale for $24.95.

Get the Look: Highs and Lows

Can you guess which of these items will cost you your entire paycheck (and then some), and which items won't? Neither could we. So until we win the lottery, we'll be opting for the low-end options on the right. And to the high-end bank busters we say, thanks for the inspiration!


Left: Marc by Marc Jacobs Jelly Peep-Toe Wedge $100.00, eluxury.com
Right: Jelly Shoe $29, delias.com


Left: Missoni Cupido Dress $1,325.00, eluxury.com
Right: Zig Zag Dress $29.80, forever21.com


Left: Marc by Marc Jacobs Stacked Wedge Sandal $395.00, eluxury.com
Right: Buffalo Wedge $38, delias.com

Prints and Patent Leather

This spring's trends include something for everyone. Bold prints, especially those with a vintage feel, are especially appealing, as is glossy, glamorous patent leather. Enjoy both sparingly, however. You run the risk of having too much of a good thing with both these looks.

If prints frighten you, start with simple designs in black and white, like this perfect Bisou Bisou® Belted Dress. Jcpenney.com, was $70.00; now $49.99.

Kill two birds with one stone when you carry this yummy canvas tote. Covered in a multicolor tulip design, it also features patent leather straps. Target.com, $12.99.

We burned our corneas just lookin' at these sizzling Madden Girl™
Patent t-strap sandals. HOT. They look suspiciously similar to some Dolce & Gabbana's we've seen—a definite plus. Victoriasecret.com, $49.

I Dream of Fashion

You know you love fashion when you dream about it. As a child, I used to have recurring dreams where I would go into my closet or open my dresser drawers to discover a limitless supply of gorgeous clothes in all colors and shapes. However, they never came in my size, and so I would struggle to put together an outfit, tangled in a mess of lace and polyester and elastic, tugging on zippers, and fumbling with fasteners. A frightening scene, I know. What would Freud say...?

But last night was different. Last night, I dreamt I was wearing the dreamiest white, eyelet lace summer dress. Heart shape neckline, delicate spaghetti straps, fitted through the bodice and slightly flared skirt. And (promise you won't laugh) I was running effortlessly through a field of flowers, the wind blowing through my hair, the sun shining on my smiling face.

I'll take it as a sign. A sign that the fashion angst from my childhood has subsided, and that I should head immediately to the nearest mall to find this white dress I dreamt about last night. Finding such an item even five years ago would have been difficult, but now-a-days, I've seen eyelet lace popping up EVERYWHERE from the runways to Target. Is there some new technology that's making it easier than ever to produce? I'm curious to know why it's so readily accessible. And, so easy to wear. Take this breezy, floral lace headwrap from Forever21.com, $4.80, a simple way to integrate some lace into your outfit (and pull back those bangs you're trying to grow out). Or, check out this fabulous sleeveless "India tunic" with eyelet lace trim hem, $27.80. We find this salmon pink tunic, also from Forever21, to be just delicious, too, featuring crochet lace trim. Very Freepeople or Anthropologie, at a fraction of the cost ($22.80). Finally, this gorgeous Nicole® by Nicole Miller Eyelet Jacket might have just been yet another cropped jacket, but the lace transforms it into something special ($58.00).

Give it try. Today's lace options aren't overly girly and can be worn day or night—not just on Easter Sunday. Soon, you'll be dreaming of lace, too.

What Makes a Style Icon?

Style icon. We hear the term thrown around so loosely these days. It would seem as though a true style icon could only come along once in a blue moon, and yet, everyone from Jessica Simpson to J.Lo seems to have garnered the title.

I could continue my litany of complaints about the misuse of this term that should be reserved for individuals who truly embody style, but I highly doubt the people at Extra will take heed. Yet we the people should at least be able to come to some reasonable consensus. What then, is a style icon?

According to some flogs, you have to be a designer or a stylist to be a style icon. I beg to differ. Case in point: Jackie O. To the best of my knowledge, she was not a schooled fashion designer, professional stylist, skilled seamstress, etc. Heck, I doubt she ever did a load of laundry. And yet, she embodied elegance, refinement, beauty and exuded femininity in a manner that made her public take notice and crown her style icon. Who can argue that?

Nevertheless, such was the case against Sarah Jessica Parker as style icon, which I discovered while reading flogs where naysayers bashed her decision to create a clothing line for Steve & Barry's, saying that she's not qualified and that she's no style icon. Rather, they suggest she owes every iota of style to her stylist, Patricia Fields.

To that, I say, you must not truly understand style, because if you did, you would know that it's 1% what you wear and 99% how you wear it. (I made up those percentages just now for dramatic effect.) But my point is this: a style icon does not have to be a fashion designer. Style is born based on the way someone pulls off a look, the way they make it their own, the way they make others believe in the style. And SJP did just that. She embodied the cultural and artistic ethos of a Certain Type of Woman in New York City at a Certain Time, and she did it so well we couldn't avert our eyes. We wanted more. We wanted to look like her, even if it just meant wearing a pair of 5 inch stilettos around our own apartment.

And so I've concluded that to me, a style icon is someone lauded by both the public AND the fashion world as being representative of the zeigeist, primarily through their clothing and attitude. And they are rare.

Of course I respect Patricia Fields, and admire her for dressing SJP, but one could not have thrived without the other. And as luck would have it, SJP happened to be the one in front of the cameras, the one who could act, and the one who therefore became the visible "style icon."

I'm certainly not saying everyone with a great stylist is a style icon. Almost every celebrity today has a stylist behind them, and we're not fooled nor are we impressed nor do we give the star credit for their carefully fabricated "good taste." I just don't think you can separate out the fact that SJP wasn't just another star—she was at the center of an influential, pop culture phenomena, and as such, she legitimately made her way into the ranks of style icon.

Now, as far as who should be permitted to design clothes, I'm not making any hard and fast rules here. Obviously, you don't have to be a style icon to design clothes (or at least that should be obvious. All designers have to start somewhere.)

The fact is that the celeb-cum-fashion designer set is here to stay because, as much as it pains me to admit this, not everyone takes their fashion cues from top designers. Sad, we know, but true. Some people do look to J.Lo and Jessica Simpson, so naturally, businesses are going to capitalize on that. While I've been tempted to buy a J.Lo hoody at Marshall's more than once, I've resisted on principal. But if SJP does a line of clothes, I'll be interested because I see her in a--dare I say--different league.

Maybe I am just fooling myself. Maybe without Patricia Field's helping her out, the line with be a disaster. But I'm keeping my mind open…afterall, if Jackie O. had come out with a line of clothes, we would have been all over it.

M for Mundane

So we said the Madonna for H&M collection (part deux) was "highly-anticipated"...today we are feeling "highly-disappointed." It didn't totally suck, but it didn't stir up any awe, either. Judging by the lack of crowds and the fact that all the sizes were still available, we're guessing you thought the same, too.

The predominantly black and white palette was classic and contemporary...but also boring and too safe for Madonna. We expected more "oomf." Yes, it supposedly reflects her personal style and taste today, so perhaps others who grew up with Madonna will appreciate it, but again, we found it to be lackluster.

And expensive. The H&M clientele doesn't want to spend $300 for a white leather trench. Nor are we willing to cough up $39 for oversized sunglasses with the M emblem. Why should we when we can get Marc Jacobs at Nordstrom rack for $60? Or better still, about 10 pairs from Forever21 or Target for the same price (and quality)?

So the verdict is this: we want more sizzle, and we want to pay less. H&M, hope you're taking notes.

Madonna's clothing line for H&M goes on sale TODAY at stores worldwide

The highly-anticipated line of clothing co-designed by Madonna for Swedish fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz (part deux) made its launch in select stores worldwide today.

While we're very excited to see how the pop diva has reinvented herself this time, we don't expect the "M by Madonna" collection to be anywhere nearly as popular as the Stella McCartney collection that launched back in the fall of 2005—but it's just a hunch. Budget fashionistas were lining up before the break of dawn to hit the H&M flagship store on Chicago's mag mile for Stella, with much of the good stuff selling out in a matter of a few hours.

So we'll get back to you...we've taken the day off work and will be heading there this afternoon. Wish us luck!

What we've seen so far in zines and online looks fabulous. We'd expect nothing less from the material girl herself, who co-designed the collection with H&M design chief Margareta van den Bosch. Pieces include a white trench coat, sequined shift dresses, cream-colored pedal-pushers and matching cropped jackets.

Prices range from $15.75 to $295.
Visit www.hm.com for more info.

Let It Rain

Would you believe that the basic umbrella was invented over 4,000 years ago? According to About.com, evidence of umbrellas has been found in the ancient art and artifacts of Egypt, Assyria, Greece, and China.

Which brings us to today. The same rain drops that inspired ancient ingenuity are the same rain drops that inspire the fashionable to be creative, turning an otherwise unfortunate weather condition into a style opportunity.

Here's some rain-friendly gear that will have you wishing for showers.

Crocs "Prima" Ballet Flats
bloomingdales.com
$30




Solid Matte Rainboots - Rothko Red
target.com
$19.99




Michael Michael Kors white cotton-nylon short belted trenchcoat
bluefly.com
$96.00




Bubble umbrella
urbanoutfitters.com
$18.00

Treasure Chest

I'm inclined to believe that the more organized you are before you get dressed, the better your outfit will turn out. (Note that it's just an inclination...I wouldn't know, seeing as how my clothes are piled mountain high on my bedroom floor.) The same goes for your accessories, and this jewelry box is just the thing to keep all your prized necklaces, rings, bracelets and brooches neatly organized and easy to find. Not to mention it's a steal at $29.00.

Coordinating just got easier.

Bombay.com
Eugenia Jewelry Box
Orig. $99.00 SALE $29.00

Spank Me

Spring officially begins tomorrow! YAY! The snow has finally melted away...if only those 5 extra pounds we put on during the winter would melt away as easily. Luckily for us, there's Spanx, those magical undergarments that lift and tighten and smooth. They won't roll, bunch or pinch—and you'll still be able to breathe. So make the transition from stuffed winter couch potato to skin-bearing spring goddess with a good spanxing (sorry, we couldn't resist).

Spanx for Chico's Shapewear

Spanx at Bare Necessities

Spanx at Nordstrom

Budget Fashion: Geek Chic

In what will perhaps become the first of many blog entries bearing the title "Geek Chic," we'd like to take a moment to sing the praises of a certain site called threadless.com. Threadless carries an eclectic array of tees bearing designs and catchy slogans submitted by users. How cool is that? For under $20, your torso can become a billboard for artistic expression, social commentary or your wacky, misunderstood sense of humor. It can become a veritable playground for your ideas, your sense of style, or your lust to be counted among the hippest of the hip.

By now, you've opened a new tab and checked out the site. You've created an account and you're well on your way to submitting clever type tees and voting for your favorites (mine reads, "Meat is Murder. Tasty, Tasty Murder." Heeeee.)

So that's threadless, in a nutshell. Can't say you haven't heard.

Budget Fashion: Go Green

March. Such a painful month. Winter won't let go, and yet spring isn't quite here. Perhaps it all began with the untimely death of Julius Caesar, who was assassinated this month nearly two thousand years ago. At any rate, there's only one thing that can boost my spirit when the sun won't show it's face and I'm about ready to shoot myself—fashion. Ah yes, spring style. Always a breath of fresh air. And what's the first thing that gets many of us thinking about color? St. Patrick's day! St. Patrick's day, with all its green glory, makes us think of new life, sprouting plants—not to mention the color of our faces after one too many car bombs (shot of bailey's dropped into a pint of guiness, chugged). Without further ado, here's how you can go green without watching An Inconvenient Truth—and of course, without spending too much green, either.

Charles by Charles David Women's Button Pump
endless.com
If these don't scream "top o' the morning to ya," I don't know what will. Wear these emerald gems for work or play.

SO Floral Halter Bikini Green
kohls.com
TBB is giving you the green light to bear all in this spunky green bikini. You won't catch me wearing it, but by all means, flaunt it if you have it, ladies!

Xhilaration® Faux Patent Frame Handbag - Kelly Green
target.com
What budget fashion blog would be complete without Target? This green purse will add a punch of color to any outfit.

Silk Blend Dress
forever21.com
You don't need to be a redhead to look hot in this strapless green number. Wear alone with flats or pair with leggings and heels…you might just get lucky!