Just as I was about to cancel my Marie Claire subscription to downsize on the amount of mags that show up in my mailbox every month, I spot this editorial featuring Alexander Wang’s Mirte Laced Zip Boots in their March 2010 issue. I have always spent time scratching my head on the concept of a boot that is also open toed, but have finally settled that the oxymoron-ic shoe is so wrong it’s right! This is definitely for someone not afraid to take risks and who doesn’t mind dropping disposable income on something they’ll barely get a season’s worth of wear out of, but I still think they’re hot to look at.

Priced at about a month’s rent, these serve more as fashion than function. But if you must, get more info on them here.

Once regarded as the item to wear when lounging around the house, the sweatshirt has taken a more stylized approach (like the ones seen above and below at Marc Jacobs’ Fall 2009 show). Don’t even think about pairing them with sweatpants and sneakers—many of these shirts deserve the love that only skinny jeans and platform pumps can provide.

Should you want to take it there this V-Day, check out some hot body-clinging dresses that show off your best assets.

Sexy Dressing Tips:
1. Pick one body part to show-off and keep everything else on the conservative side. Unless of course you like getting pulled over by the police for um, “solicitation”.
2. Take an honest assessment of your body. Don’t beat yourself up if you have a bit of a tummy, instead work around it NOT against it. Draw attention to areas that are great.
3. Tone down the accessories. Often times when you wear a sexy dress, that’s pretty much the outfit and the accessory right there. Don’t fall victim to over-accessorizing.
4. Wear the right undergarments. Nothing takes away from your sexy more than VPL (visible panty lines) or bra straps. Check out What Lies Beneath for more info.

Bonus Tip:
Since it’s cold in many parts of the world in February, be sure you have on the proper coat when wearing a dress. Even as a child going to church in the 80s and 90s, I would cringe at the folks who would come to service with beautiful dress clothes and a Raiders jacket. *smh*

You absolutely MUST wear a dress coat with dress clothing for formal events. And it doesn’t just stop there, said coat must also agree in proportion. Check out Kelly Rowland and Jessica Simpson wearing coats with dresses the right way:

OK, now I know the pic below is SO 80s, but the principle is still there. This is a quick and dirty guide to doing proportion right:

If you find yourself constantly being late for work or social outings with your crew because you’re always fighting with the contents of your closet—this post’s for you! It is absolutely possible to go to your closet, pull something fashionable out to wear, and be done in less than 15 minutes, but it takes some pre-work. Check it out:

1. First things first, clean out your closet. If you haven’t seen the floor of your wardrobe since the Clinton Administration, you’ve got some work to do. Go here for info on how to sort things out. Remember that fashion is not about how many pieces of clothing you own–it’s about putting together great outfits. And the less you have in your closet, the easier it will be to plan out your outfits.

2. Limit the amount of clothing you buy that has to be ironed to look good. This means button-down shirts, anything made of linen and certain items made out of cotton (unless you pull them out of the dryer and immediately hang them). I am a lazy girl through and through and do not own a single item that needs to be ironed—why? Because I hate to iron…lol. Call it a side effect of wearing a uniform from kindergarten through my senior year in high school and having to iron my uniform daily, but I will not miss ironing my clothes. For my day job I wear a lot of suits. The jackets get dry cleaned while the dress pants are washed in cold water and hung to dry and never need ironing. For the weekends I wear a lot of denim and sweaters in the winter—both of which can be pulled on quickly without ironing.

3. Adopt a uniform. Don’t get scared–after 13 years of wearing a uniform to school do you think I’d actually suggest you wear one? By uniform I mean put together a collection of no-fail outfits. If you’ve been reading this site and following the tips for your body type as well as my advice to buy things you really love and that you can wear a million times, chances are you have several items in your closet that can be worn a zillion different ways. Having a closet that has essential wardrobe basics helps.

4. Let your accessories tell a story. Say all you can muster out of your wardrobe is a pair of well-fitting jeans and a fitted tee. Let your accessories take you from Gap ad to wherever you want. Go punk rock with a spiked bracelet and killer platform boots. Or go boho with a scarf and cute flats. Your options are limitless.

5. Visualize how you want to look first and then go in for the outfit. This is best done either while you’re hitting the snooze button for the umpteenth time in the morning or the night before.

If you’ve got those 5 tips down, you’ll shave time off of getting dressed everyday.

Dressing like Carrie Bradshaw in her most mixed up of Patricia Fields creations might not get a second look while walking through the streets of Soho in NYC, but try that get-up at the local Walmart in Kennesaw, GA and Cobb County PD just might pick you up for “trafficking”.

Not to diss small towns, but there’s certainly a very cozy and down-home quality about them that just doesn’t call for 5-inch Gucci platforms and a ballerina skirt. But just because you live in a small town, it doesn’t mean you’re destined for a wardrobe of Victoria’s Secret PINK sweats and Uggs. Check out some of my tips on how to be a small town fashionista:

1. Don’t wear sweats. Yes, I know how incredibly comfy sweats are–I sleep in them and on occasion work out in them. But under no circumstances are they to be worn outside your home or Bally’s. Pajama pants are included.

2. Make sure all your jeans fit you fabulously. Denim can be the source of anxiety for many women, but that can be eliminated by knowing what to look for when it comes to your shape. Check out Jeans for Every Body for tips.

3. Invest in basics with a twist. A wardrobe filled with the same 3/4 sleeve Gap tees can be B-O-R-I-N-G. Instead go for basics with a twist—classic items that will last season to season, but have a bit of edge to them. For instance, instead of the redundant 3/4 sleeve white V-neck, go for one with an asymmetrical neckline. Find out more about wardrobe basics here.

4. Don’t be afraid of “out-styling” everyone else. I know many women who shy away from taking fashion risks because they hang around a crew of plain janes. Call it one of those “need to please” qualities women in general seem to inherit, but just don’t let it hinder your personal style.

5. Don’t forget to accessorize. The easiest way to try out a new trend is through accessories. For example, if you really dig the spiky look (as seen on Rihanna), but it’s just not functional for your environment, try a spiked bracelet (like mine shown below) instead.

Check out some great pieces that can be interchanged with your current wardrobe perfect for the small town fashionista (of all sizes):