I’m not a fan of designer collaborations (the hype, the lines, the crazed fans knocking each other over, the lack of quality, etc.) but when I saw some of the shoes that will debut in British designer Louise Goldin’s line for Topshop, I quickly put an extra slot in my budget to prepare for this collection.

I love hardware—spikes, grommets, studs, etc. and to have it on my shoes, in the words of uber stylist June Ambrose, set me free! The tougher the accents for me the better.

Catch them at Topshop in Spring 2010. Details on pricing and premier dates to come.

Source

Feast your eyes on the Jacobs by Marc Jacobs Mirror Heart Evening Bag. At only $35, this bag comes in a variety of colors (I saw pink and silver in addition to the purple above) and features a super long chain handle so you can wear this cute bag across the body or tuck it in and wear it as a clutch.

This bag as well as a ton of other super cute accessories are available only at Marc by Marc Jacobs stores. If you’re near the East Village any time soon, I suggest you find yourself there. I spotted a cute glitter clutch for only $18, tee shirts priced as low as $24, cute stackable bracelets at $9 each (pictured below), coin purses at $11 (pictured below), and funky zipper necklaces at $12.

This place is a great stop for getting holiday gifts, especially if you have a limited budget.

I have to admit, as much as I love the idea of a great vintage find, I don’t necessarily have the patience to visit the possible hundreds of consignment shops in my neighborhood. I *was* able to score two really cute vintage items from eBay: a cool brown leather blazer from the 70s and a YSL coat from the 80s. Buying vintage is not only a good way to be stylishly fabulous at a fraction of the cost, but it’s also being kind to the environment since you’re “reusing” previously loved clothing!

So how does one go about buying vintage? Check out these quick tips from Jennine of thecoveted.com:

1. Does it fit?

Vintage pieces are often a much higher quality than what you will find today. Many pieces are hand stitched using beautiful fabrics. But everything deteriorates. Some older pieces will tear easier than their contemporary counterparts. If something doesn’t fit properly (meaning, when you are breathing normally) it may give you problems.

Up until the 60’s women wore Foundation Garments under their clothes. They were mostly used to hold up stockings and to give an hourglass shape. That’s how they were able to achieve such a silhouette. Go easy on yourself, besides, there is always Spanx.

2. Check zippers, buttons, seams, is everything working? Are there any stains, tears, weird smells?

A broken zipper can be fixed by a tailor, most dry cleaners can do it, or if you are a crafty one, then great. Factor that into the price, the amount of repairs or work that has to be done. As for smells, I’m not good at that, once I bought a cool army jacket, and I didn’t know until I got home that it reaked. Dry cleaning didn’t help, it was like a Seinfeld episode. The jacket had to go.

3. Picking pieces you are going to wear.

Unless you are a collector, buying dresses you’ll never wear is just a waste of money. I know lots of women who wear vintage in a very inconspicuous way. How they do it, is they look for elements that tie in with current trends.

And here’s a few tips from me on how to WEAR vintage:
* Make an extravagant vintage piece be the focal point of your outfit, keeping everything else relatively plain

* Keep your look modern by pairing time pieces (i.e. a 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, or 80s piece) with something from the present time. You want to avoid looking like you’re wearing a costume.

* To reiterate from the advice from Jennine shown above, fit is so important! It it does not fit, you must quit…lol.

* If you’re a vintage virgin, start out with vintage accessories like necklaces, purses, and shoes.

* For vintage style inspiration, look at celebs like Chloe Sevigny (shown below) and Sienna Miller.

Check out these other wonderful sites with helpful tips on shopping vintage:

Tips on How to Buy Vintage: What to Look For and What to Avoid When Buying Vintage Fashion
InStyle.com: How to Shop for Vintage Clothing and Accessories
Instant Vintage
Marian Kihogo

P.S. Don’t forget to post your looks in the Shop Your Stash Challenge! Show some love to your favorite beauty products and get a chance to win a makeup organizer of your choice.

First Row (from left): Marc by Marc Jacobs Twisted Q Derby Crossbody Bag, $188; Marc by Marc Jacobs Into The Wild Standard Supply Mabel Tote, $188; Marc by Marc Jacobs
Miss Marc Messenger, $168; Marc by Marc Jacobs Miss Marc Shopper Tote, $148.

Second Row (from left): Marc by Marc Jacobs Graphic Owl Tote, $98; See by Chloé See Canvas Tote, $145; See by Chloé Canvas Doggie Shopping Tote, $95; See by Chloé Medium Patent Shopping Tote, $195.

One great thing about this fall’s fashion trends is that if you plan accordingly, you don’t have to spend a ton of money to look fab. With a bit of imagination and a touch of craftiness, you can look fierce and fashion-forward!

1. Remix Your Basics.

Add a belt:

Deena & Ozzy Tiger Belt $34 at Urban Outfitters

Remember all those blazers that were hot a few seasons ago? Statement jackets are a major trend this season and with just a few tweaks, you can upgrade your basic blazers. An embellished wide width belt will instantly add character to boring basic blazers and play on several of next season’s trends. Pop the collar on your blazer for added flair.

Change the Buttons:
Your basic wool fall coat won’t be so basic anymore when you replace the buttons with something with more style, like these:

Fashion Glass Button W/Shank; Imported Glass Button; Flower Glass Button; Metal Barrel Button all at M&J Triming

Grab Some Scissors:

Distressed denim will continue to prevail in the fall. A pair of designer distressed jeans can run over $200, but if you’re crafty, those old skinny jeans you thought were retired can make a comeback (like HOV). Find out how to distress your denim yourself here and here.

Grab Some Shoulder Pads:

After having all my picture day “suits” stuffed with them all throughout my childhood, I never thought I’d see the day where I’d actually be suggesting to add them to jackets! But the exaggerated shoulder look is a HOT one this fall. If you don’t have a spare $12,000 lying around for a Balmain jacket, take one of your fav form-fitting jackets and add shoulder pads to it.

The pics on the packaging of these shoulder pads may look cheesy, but the velcro makes them easy to apply.

2. Get Thrifty.

Leather jackets are a major staple but some of the fancy ones can cost upwards of $700 (or more—yikes!). You can get the look for a whole lot less by visiting your local thrift (or ebay) for a really good leather jacket. I’ve scored a few jackets for less than $20 from ebay—be sure to search for leather blazers or leather motorcycle jackets (and then take it to a good leather cleaner to get rid of the “ebay” smell).

You’ll also be amazed at some of the great vintage designer goods you’ll find while thrifting. Some brands to check for: Yves Saint Laurent, Vivienne Westwood Anglomania, and Balenciaga.

3. Accessorize.

Socialit; Floral Hinge Bracelet; Mixed Stone Bracelet; Tribal Leaf Rope Necklace; Fab Sequin Frame Wallet

Make sure you pick up a pair of exaggerated-heeled shoes. They’ll make even your basic white Gap tee look like you’re wearing couture. Add bold costume jewelry for the perfect touch.

Now tell me—what are you planning on purchasing this fall?

P.S. I’m a finalist in the HLMN Top 100! I’ll make the list if you vote for me 50 million times…lol.

Click the pic to vote for me: