It's like they read our minds—E.l.f. cosmetics just started carrying nail polish. Yay!

At just $1 a pop, you can afford to try all 12 colors (but not all at once...let's see if this stuff is any good first!)

During a recent trip to Steve and Barry's, we came across two strikingly similar sweaters. The one on the left is from Amanda Bynes's Dear line; the one on the right is from Sarah Jessica Parker's Bitten line. Innn-teresting...

Maybe it's just us, but these two striped, v-neck sweaters appear to be the same garment (except for the colors). Same fabric, same country of origin. Coincidence? We think not.

This is purely speculation, but it makes you wonder whether the celebrity "designers" were really as involved in the process as they claim to be. Does this mean they just showed some pre-made sweater to SJP and said, "Pick your colors," then showed the same pre-made sweater to Amanda Byne's and said, "Pick two different colors"?

If you saw two identical sweaters, but with different tags, wouldn't you be suspicious?

Thanks to a recent post at Economy of Style, we were alerted to a fascinating New York Times article entitled, "Admit It. You Love It. It Matters".

The "It" in question is Fashion, and the article tries to understand why it is that fashion is often considered the bastard child of "culture"; why fashion is often regarded by intellectuals as a wanton display of vanity and consumerism—and can therefore be dismissed or even scorned.

We have certainly experienced—and even fallen victim to—this disregard for fashion, especially in academia. Serious instructors and students aren't expected to pay attention to what they wear, just what they think.

But, as the article argues, what we wear most certainly reflects our ideas—clothes are both a personal expression of our identities as well as a tool for analyzing everything from politics and history, to arts and - yes - culture, throughout the ages.

If you disagree about fashion's far-reaching importance and value, well then, we're awfully surprised you're still reading this blog (here's a link to take you back to The Huffington Post.)

As we see it, smart people can and most definitely do enjoy fashion. In fact, we think there are many designers out there today who recognize the intelligence of their customer, and seek to outfit her in the smart, stylish dubs she so desires. Just check out the latest lookbook at Anthropologie.com called "Smart Looks for Smart People." With outfit names like "Trigonometry," "Biology," and "Writing," it's brilliant marketing, sure, but aimed at one educated group of gals.

Watch The Oprah Winfrey Show on Friday, September 14, for a look at Vera Wang's affordable clothing line for Kohl's—Simply Vera!

From Oprah.com: "Tune in as superstar designer Vera Wang shows how every woman—at every size and every age—can have high-style fashion on a budget."

We attended the show taping last week in Chicago, and ladies, you do not want to miss this show!! More on this later...

Related Links:
Simply Vera black patent purse and charm bracelet photos >>
Simply Vera ad campaign pics >>
Sarah Jessica Parker debuts Bitten on Oprah. >>

Imitating an outfit you love doesn't mean you have to copy it to the letter. Here's our spin-off of a lovely layered look for fall...



A look for fall from See by Chloe (left), with a more affordable rendition (right)

What caught our eye: In the look on the left, we loved the layering—an oversized tunic dress worn over a pleated gray sweater provides warmth, comfort and movement. The eye-catching scalloped skirt gives you just the right amount of additional length.

Color theory: The gray turtleneck, tights and muted olive dress provide a neutral base; yellow, green's neighbor on the color wheel, is used as an accent and really pops against the darker shades. Finally, the ochre of the shoes ties in with the skirt and pulls the outfit together.

Our (affordable) take: We maintained the layering elements and the color relationships. The gray sweater and tights form a foundation. Next, we swapped eggplant for olive, and fuchsia for yellow (because green is to yellow as purple is to pink...sounds like an SAT question, no?) Flirty, retro sandals flaunt both magenta and purple tones, which we think adds a nice touch to the overall look.

Et voila: Perhaps this is already a fine-tuned strategy that you employ with your own wardrobe. But if not, next time you spot an ensemble that speaks to you, try creating your own version. It doesn't have to be exact—just break it down and built it back up again...on a budget, of course!

Items: [1] sweater, [2] tunic, [3] skirt, [4] tights, [5] shoes