HAPPY COINCIDENCE The week before my cruise to Bermuda, I bought a ton of fun "cruise-wear" from Forever21.com. Last minute shopping can cause some serious damage to your budget, but that's a topic for another post. Anyways, I needed to find a big, beachy tote that I could carry around the ship during the day, something with ample room for a towel, sunscreen and other necessities, so I decided to get this sequin weave tote bag. The $40 pricetag kinda made me cringe because it's Forever 21, after all, but like I said, it was getting down to the wire and I had to make a decision, stat.

When my tote arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by the unique design, even though it turned out to be bronze and not beige as I assumed from the online pics (yeah, I didn't read the fine print very carefully). Basically, it's like a fully-lined silver sequin bag nestled inside a woven leather-like bronze bag. The overall effect is much less shiny and much more tasteful than it sounds; in fact, the bag is a subtle metallic that glimmers gently in the sunlight. And it was perfect for my vacation.

The happy coincidence was that the night before my cruise, I couldn't resist darting off to Target for more last-minute essentials like those adorable, travel-size toiletries and...new shoes! So necessary. I lucked out and scored an adorable pair of bronze Isaac Mizrahi for Target t-strap sandals for just $7.48 on clearance. I can't tell you how amazing these shoes are. They have leather uppers, comfy 3" inch heel, and look equally fab with jeans or a dress. I had planned on wearing 4" stilettos for all the evening activities on the cruise, but after a little turbulence our first night, I was so glad I had packed my new chunky heels. Besides, you end up doing a lot of walking on those ships, and a lot of stair climbing, and a lot of dancing, so these shoes proved to be a dream. (What, oh what will we do when Isaac leaves us for Liz?)

One thing to note: The t-straps are still $29.99 at Target.com (also come in silver), so you may want to check your local brick-n-mortar for the best deal if you're interested. Above, I put together a simple outfit so you could see how everything looks in real life. What makes me most happy is the bag and shoes aren't too matchy, but when combined, they add a nice touch to just about any casual to semi-dressy look.

>> Sequin Weave Tote Bag at Forever21.com, $39.80
>> Isaac Mizrahi for Target Pat T-Strap Sandals at Target.com, $29.99

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER On the heels of sister brand Express, The Limited will be launching an online store in fall 2008. Be the first to know when their online store opens, plus get $15 off your $50 purchase, when you join their e-mail list at www.thelimited.com

A little while back, I featured a polka-dot shift dress from Target, styled in three different ways (click here to check it out). With fall quickly approaching (sad, I know), I decided to show how this same short-sleeved frock could be styled in three additional ways that are suitable for cooler weather. It's a good way to stretch a buck. Let me know what you think...

1. TOP Cowlneck shirt, Mossimo Target, $10. SHOES Brown leather riding boots, Aerosoles, $90-ish. BELT Brown faux-leather, Forever 21, $13.50. BRACELETS (featured in all three looks) Gilded rubber bangles, Urban Outfitters, $5. BLACK TIGHTS.


2. CARDIGAN, Dream Society via Regent's Secret, $25. SHOES Black leather peep-toe wedges, Aldo, $40. PURSE , Simply Vera Vera Wang, Oprah show freebie. NECKLACE Rhinestone drop pendant, Forever 21, $4.80.


3. BLAZER, United Colors of Benetton. SHOES Black leather peep-toe Mary Janes, Aerosoles, $19.99. SCARF H&M, $9.80. LEGGINGS Twelve by Twelve, $18.

Fall fashion, here we come: Preview pics of the Comme des Garçons Collection for H&M are out, and it doesn't take a genius to see they're distinctly representative of Rei Kawakubo’s avant-garde style. Whether or not you can see yourself actually wearing these pieces, they're certainly conversation starters. If you can get your hands on just one item, I'd grab the harem aka drop-crotch pants (so very adventurous). Many of the jackets seem well-crafted and quite easy to wear. The color palette also keeps this collection accessible. So what do you think?

I was recently invited to review ShopBarbara brand clothing, the newly launched, self-named line from ShopBarbara, a contemporary women's fashion and lingerie store with four retail locations in Miami plus their online shop. Ever-eager to explore the latest cheap-n-chic fashion frontiers, I clicked on over to their site... and was instantly pleased with what I saw.

Right off the bat, I noticed a huge selection of maxi-dresses (I counted over 35 styles), all at reasonable prices (under $100). To gauge the quality in real life, I opted for a long, black tank dress ($48, above right). It looked feminine, elegant and effortless--something I figured I could wear for years, and could dress up or down.