Ever since the J.Crew catalog hit my doorstep last week in all of its preppy glory, one particular trend keeps peeking out: ankle socks.

J.Crew sells the ankle socks in packs of three. This is my favorite look they show, but I’m loving the pink ones:

What do you think about ankle socks? Do they make you too reminiscent of being a little girl in the 80s? What shoes would you wear to pull this off?

InStyle’s website picked Kristin Cavallari’s plaid look as yesterday’s “Look of the Day,” but when I put on my black and blue plaid tunic over gray jeans this morning, I couldn’t help feeling the look had passed, gone the way of the Ugg — a comfy throwback, but no fashion statement what-so-ever.

What are your thoughts on plaid? Do you still grab your plaid shirts when you dress for Saturday shopping? Let us know!

5. Do-it-yourself Mani and Pedis

In Style magazine highlighted Lauren Conrad’s “ombre” nails on their website at the beginning of the month, and I had to try it myself. Splurging on manis and pedis (or taking the cheap route and ending up with infected cuticles) has gotten cut from my list of things to do. I have fallen in LOVE with the DIY method. Using a foot file and cuticle cream, I apply two coats (Essie’s my favorite!) of color before finishing up with a top coat‚  (I always use Orly’s top coat).

I used three shades of blue to create a “fade effect” — Essie’s Mesmerize, Shelter Island and Sag Harbor. If you don’t have three hues of the same color, you can always add a little bit of white to a dark color to create the fade. I used this effect on my room in middle school, but enough about that!

Don’t skimp on the top coat — the most important part! It can also help make your mani or pedi last if you reapply a top coat every other day. The best part of an at-home mani or pedi is that you have the shade to fix any chips. You’ll look like you just walked out of the salon for at least a week.

4. Very Hollywood by Michael Kors

Michael Kors attributes the appeal of his new scent to mandarin and gardenia, but I’ve been on the hunt for a new fragrance for months, and I would just call it genius. Sensual without being musky (or musty, which I usually consider to be synonymous with musky), intriguing with suffocating. Not to mention the bottle looks adorable on my vanity.

3. The Color Purple (no, not the novel)

Have you walked into H&M lately? Royal Purple shades flatter garments all over the store, and thank goodness. Have you ever seen anyone who didn’t look good in a shade of purple? I bought a wool mini skirt from H&M, and fell in love with the Theory pre-order “Sarah” Animate Top at Bloomingdales.

You can buy short or tall classic Uggs in Mulberry to wear when greeting the fall weather or coat your nails in Opi’s Pamplona Purple (part of the Espana Collection), but it’s hard NOT to look good wearing purple.

2. Absolute Boston

Try it mixed with Arizona’s Arnold Palmer (a mix of lemonade and iced tea for those of you who don’t get out much) or ginger ale, you’ll taste tea. Absolut’s newest blend of elderflower and black tea with ginger ale is my new go-to cocktail.

1. Understatedly Over the Top

Today, I am sporting a simple outfit of a white J.Crew t-shirt with a tan Brooks’ Brother pencil skirt… with a mixed-metal necklace, chain link gold bracelet and caged all-season sandals. I’ve got numerous compliments all around the city today for my very simple outfit paired with fall’s best outrageous accessories… and I got them all for less! Now, don’t get me a wrong, I am a big fan of Tiffany’s, Kenneth Jay Lane and Saks Fifth Avenue, but this season’s fashion jewelry can just as easily be found at Forever 21 or H&M. Getting dressed is simple and comfy this season if you’re willing to glam up the extras.

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