I like to think I'm a free spirit at heart, but I can't say I've ever felt the urge to wear tie dye to make that point. Still, I'll try almost anything once (stress: almost), and these tie dye halters are starting to grow on me (number III is more dip dye than tie dye, but whatev). Forever 21's take (center) is my favorite for those rich emerald green hues - and because I don't want to invest too much in a trend that might be here today, gone tomorrow...

I. Young Fabulous & Broke Tie Dye Twist T-Bar Back Jersey Dress at ASOS.com, $392.58
II. Tie Dye Chiffon Halter at Forever21.com, $27.80
III. French Connection Pretty Grunge Dress at fcuk.com, $178.00

During a Sex and the City: The Movie reunion on Oprah last week, Sarah Jessica Parker looked positively lit from within wearing a bright floral frock. I think it's a sign that I need to buy something floral, too... that, and the fact that my neighborhood has literally come to life with an eruption of colorful spring flowers including dogwood, magnolia, crabapple, and cherry trees as well as flowering shrubs and bushes like forsythia, azalea and now, lilacs.

Of course, I know florals are huge for Spring, but it seems like lately, the entire universe is conspiring to make me take notice of this trend, take the plunge and actually buy something with a floral print - and it's working!

Forever 21 is in on the scheme as well with an incredible offering of unique, fresh takes on florals. I think I'll start with one (or two) of the skirts above. It's so simple to wear floral skirts, just pair with a solid tank or tee, strappy sandals and you're done. Summer, here we come.

I know that stealing is wrong. My Mother told me so. But I find it hard to reduce fashion plagiarism to a normative argument of "right" or "wrong," and here's why: Designer clothing is so very "You can look, but don't touch." So here we are, gals with a genetic predisposition toward cute clothes, fashionable styles and pretty dresses, looking and drooling at designer clothing from afar...but we're told not to eat of the fruit. Along comes Forever 21 and says, "Go ahead, pluck the apple!" as they dangle designer knock-offs in front of our noses.

The ability of copycats to so easily perform their evil deeds further complicates the issue. When my boyfriend covets a Porsche 911 Turbo, it's not like he (or a car manufacturer like Kia) can even come close to producing a reasonable facsimile of the object he desires. But with a dress, it's another story. To imitate (not reproduce) Fendi's color-block tiered frock above, one need only have access to fabric, a needle and some thread. OK, I know it's not that easy but let's assume, for the sake of argument, that you can construct a dress that comes pretty darn close (if you argue that Forever 21 can't make a similar reproduction, well then, we wouldn't be having this discussion.) Suddenly, it's the $2,500 price tag attached to the Fendi dress that starts to look like the crime.

But Mother also taught me that just because you can do something doesn't mean you should, and it certainly doesn't make it right. And since this is a blog, I'll leave it at that for now.

>> Left: Fendi Tri-Color Trapeze Dress at Net-A-Porter.com, $2,490
>> Right: Multi Tier Sleeveless Dress at Forever21.com, $32.80