Forever 21 keeps churning out high-style necklaces with ridiculously low prices. Check out this latest crop of beauties...and have a fabulous Friday evening!

I don't say this often enough, but shoes are something worth splurging on from time to time. I don't mean paying $800 for Louboutins, I mean spending upwards of $100 on a well-made pair of shoes by a reputable label that you'll wear often, bringing that cost-per-wear ratio down to pennies. Having said that, here's a moment when you might want to consider a strategic splurge: Summer sandals that you can actually wear for 8-hours straight, pain-free! Your feet are certainly worth it. Here are some cute pairs I found, share your favorite wear-all-day brands in the comments.



[1] Miz Mooz "Vanessa" Leather Sandal, $109.95 at Nordstrom.com

I have been invited to spend a week this summer at a timeshare in Maui with my Aunt, Uncle, and their two kids (4 and 1). My mom and brother will be going as well. I am 19 and have never been to Hawaii. A luau could possibly be in the itinerary, along with various sightseeing, shopping, and days at the beach/pool. I have no idea what to pack, besides the obvious bikini, of course. I need help packing things that will be a mix of comfort, style, and fit for the occasion. Please help! —Melanie, Lexington, KY

I was fortunate enough to travel to Maui in the summer of '06, so I have a pretty good idea of what you should pack. Our days were sort of split between daytime activities, which included a lot of hiking and high-adventure activities, and our nighttime activities, which included lots of fun fine-dining, dancing and partying at luaus.

Pack loose-fitting cotton tees, distressed-denim shorts and comfortable sandals for taking in Maui's sights in style.

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!)