During my last trip to Kohl's, I made my way to the shoe department to check out the latest from the LC Lauren Conrad collection. I have to be honest, the shoes in this collection are really hit or miss. The tall brown boots, for example, have a crazy high platform that make them impractical for most situations and considering they're not even real leather, they're way overpriced even on sale. The leopard flats, however, for just $18 and change are cute and a good find. A pair of black suede platform pumps looked nice but for the quality, you could do just as well at Target or Payless. I don't mean to sound harsh but I think Kohl's could really work on their shoes and handbags - either improve quality or lower prices. Otherwise, you can do better shopping places like the Marshalls Shoe Megashop or DSW, or brands like Steve Madden and Nine West that offer better quality and better prices. That isn't to say I won't be back - every once in a while, Kohl's delivers something uniquely chic in the shoe department (Simply Vera Vera Wang usually has a couple pairs that speak to me), and with my coupons and Kohl's cash in hand, I might just buy a pair.

Shop it online:

LC Lauren Conrad shoe

Playfully offbeat, Laugh Cry Repeat's sequin heart sweatshirt is $125 at CUSP. The look for less is $17.80. See if you can spot it by clicking either image below.

Ann Demeulemeester's gorgeous chunky knit vest is $1,220 at Barney's New York. But who wants to deal with the dry cleaning bills?



Get the look for less with this Chaps cable knit sweater vest instead, just $34.50 (down from $69) at Kohl's.

UPDATE: And the winner is… #66 Nicole O. ! Congrats to our winner and thanks to everyone who commented.


Please note: This giveaway has ended and is now closed to further entries.

Today's giveaway is a little way for me to say Thank YOU for being such great readers! Every day you inspire me and motivate me to keep bloggin' so for that, today's giveaway prize is a highly coveted Versace for H&M bracelet that I picked up in NYC (retails for $39.95).

To enter, tell me what you're most grateful for this holiday season in the comments section below.

Do any/all of the following for one additional entry each (leave a comment for each please):

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Happy Holidays and Good Luck!

Entries must be posted by 12 noon December 27th to be eligible to win. Open to US and Canadian readers. That's it!

Vera Wang is going to launch a budget-friendly junior's line at Kohl's called Princess Vera Wang beginning in August 2012. The collection will initially include apparel and jewelry, and will capture Vera's "vision of playful sophistication and incorporate many of the styling elements and design characteristics for which she is best known, including mixed media and artful whimsy."

I have a feeling I'm going to be raiding the junior's department when this line launches because as much as I love the current Simply Vera collection, it's just a little bit too mature for my everyday style (lots of black and day-to-night stuff which is great if you work in an office but I don't) and sizing runs large (again, this is great for some but I know that this fact has excluded some readers from being able to shop this line. The petites section is usually barren at my store, too).

Let's hope Princess Vera Wang isn't all hot pink and tulle but stuff we grown-ups can steal. Oh, and if you are a teen, let's hope it's stuff you'll want to wear, too!

{Above from left: A look from the Simply Vera Vera Wang Fall 2011 collection (NOT the juniors line); The designer, Vera Wang}