As a young shopper, my mother was constantly dragging me from the front of the store to the sale section in the back.  When her thrifty spending habits didn’t seem to stick, she encouraged me to buy only the pieces I couldn’t live without.  I’ve whittled my own version of her rule over the years, and it comes down to this: do I absolutely love it? And, will I wear it until it’s ripped and worn beyond wearability? (Oh — and can it be washed or does it need to …

Back in the day, jeans used to come in one color: blue.
Of course, that was when they also came in just one style (trousers), were worn by one demographic (miners), and cost one measly dollar per pair.
But just as the garment has infiltrated the globe in the intervening century to fit any style and budget, so too have the colors expanded to span the entire spectrum.
In addition to every imaginable shade of blue, jeans now come in red, magenta, canary yellow, white, lime green, violet, and — well, you get …

When I’m packing for a trip, whether it be an extended visit abroad, a week at the beach, or just a short weekend away, it requires all my patience and available powers of prediction.  What to bring?  What to leave?  What to wear during travel?  To the beach?  To dinner?  To a show?
Exhausting.
Here are some tips for fashionable flight wear, trendy travel gear, and smart packing:
For fashionistas in flight, dressing smartly is a must.  Sweatpants be gone!  Replace your saggy bottoms with a pair of boyfriend jeans, a comfortable and …

Sure, swimsuits at the mall are cute, but we all know what’s bound to happen come beach weather. The moment you set foot on sand, you’ll spot at least three bathing beauties already soaking up the sun in your brand new suit, and two outta three are giving you a run for your money.
Now, you’re no wallflower, so why blend in when it comes to swimwear? There are plenty of stylish suits to go around — you just need to know where to shop (hint: ditch the crowd). …

Feel your pocketbook a little light during this economic craziness? Don’t let that hold you back from hitting the streets in search of the perfect mod dress and vintage flats for the summer or that classic clutch that adds cred to your style sense and sets you apart from the crowd.
Maybe you’re tired of showing up to Hothouse and finding that a recent acquaintance looks hotter in your slinky mini-dress than you do. Pittsburgh’s a small city after all and it’s hard to stand out as a fashionista when you’re …