If you love gladiator sandals, you'll love the latest crop of multi-colored ones, like these Nouer III sandals by Matt Bernson ($170 at Jildor). They make brown look so boring!


Holy copycat! No, you're not seeing double, though the "Barbyy" sandal bares a striking resemblance to Matt Bernson's beauties. Scoop up this "look for less" for $79.95 at (surprise!) Steve Madden.

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Among all the florals that designers sent down the runways for Spring 2009, some of the freshest prints for me were modern and abstract in their execution. I love the girly ones, too, but florals that are blurry or painted with wide brush strokes have a great energy about them that makes them particularly fashiony and sexy. The way Emanuel Ungaro styled an abstract floral skirt seems particularly perfect, and I think I may have found four alternatives that could help you achieve a similar look. Question is, would you wear one?

Keep reading for details (I don't want the brand name or price to sway your decisions!)

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For Spring 2009, designers such as Marc Jacobs, Vivienne Westwood, William Rast and Michael Kors sent models down the runway sporting a familiar print that can best be described as "summer" plaid—that classic check print we know and love only in softer colors, lighter fabrics and breezier cuts. Rast took it in a grunge direction, Kors dished it up as preppy Americana, and Jacobs pushed plaid to, um, I'm not even going to try to describe it! Beyond the catwalks, I've seen some perfect plaid pieces coming from labels like Elizabeth & James, Steve Alan and Mike & Chris. And in budget land, there are chic plaid pieces aplenty, too (as you'll see in the widget below.) This might be a passing obsession, but I think I need some plaid, stat. Think you'll try it?