My friend Michal and I were participating in two of our favorite things- Google Chat and online shopping, when she started giving me all the great things she was finding online and her reasons why they are must- haves. I decided I would dedicate a post to her selections, and, without further ado, here is your first installment of Mich’s Picks:

She loves this brand, Mystic Tan. You can get a lot of bang for your buck as the products are far less expensive than a spray tan, smell better and give you streak and blotch free results. Mich: “It’s reallllly good. And I’ve tried a lot of tanners… my sister came over and she was so pale from not being in the sun- it instantly worked, and she didn’t look orange.”

My girlfriends and I all love this handbag line, Aaneta. It is chic, well made and affordable. Mich: “Ooooh it’s Deb’s cute new Aaneta bag!”

Mich: “These are a really great deal, you know you want them.” Enough said.

Michal helped me pick out two new watches that I receive compliments on all the time. Mich: “This Seiko men’s watch is cool- but on a woman.”

Mich: “These remind me of college. Reef’s are great because they have a slight arch so they are comfortable to wear all day.” Good music festival sandals.

Mich: “This is the best hair product- it makes your hair look cool and stylish. It’s great for a day when you haven’t washed it, or after you have washed it to give it the messy look. And it makes your hair smell great.” The girl does have great hair…

And there you have it.

Jenny Lewis could have won a place in my heart simply for playing the role of Hannah Nefler, Shelley Long’s adorable daughter in my generation’s favorite adolescent chick-flick, Troop Beverly Hills. “He permed me!!” Instead, she decided to become an amazing songwriter, singer and fashion icon. Her SoCal based indie band Rilo Kiley (which also has Blake Sennett aka Ronnie Pinsky from Salute Your Shorts as a member) is a personal favorite and their album More Adventurous is in constant rotation in my car. Her lyrics are such that she often sings exactly how I feel, and I find the need to follow along at the top of my lungs to the amusement of the other drivers on my commute. She also dresses exactly how I would like to dress- a mixture of folksy floral printed dresses, hipster shades, and jumpers all with an indie sensibility.

Emulate Jenny’s laid back Cali style in this cute vintage inspired dress from Betsey Johnson while rocking out to Rilo Kiley:

This weekend was a scorcher in Southern California. When the weather gets like this fussing over my makeup and my hair is just not an option. For starters, who knows where the day will take you? With a face full of makeup and an up-do making an impromptu trip to the beach or pool isn’t quite as easy, not to mention having a face and head full of product in the heat is just plain uncomfortable. No girl wants to feel like her make-up and hairspray are melting off her face. The key is to keep things simple, and thankfully, when your skin is sun-kissed and hair beach blown it is still easy to look great with minimal ado. Here are some of my favorite summer products:

I am never one to wear foundation. I like tinted moisturizer (with SPF 15!) but my real weapon against dark circles under my eyes, blemishes and uneven skin-tone is this magic stick- the Nars concealer in Honey. It looks just like a lipstick tube and can easily be thrown in your purse for quick touch ups while running around town.

Another great product from Nars is the Blush/Bronzer Duo in Orgasm/Laguna. Both of these colors look great on pretty much any skintone and also paired together. They will give your face the perfect tan glow, even if you spend more time in the office than suntanning. Put the bronzer under your cheekbones, and a little on your forehead and tip of your nose with just a little blush on your cheeks. This duo is great because it eliminates having to buy and carry around two separate products.

Waterproof mascara is always a must, but especially in the hot summer months. You should be able to jump into the pool without worrying about your mascara running all over your face.

In keeping with my less-is-more theory regarding summer makeup, Chapstick is my must-have for lips. Lipgloss is just too sticky and messy for the heat, and doesn’t help when my lips get dry and chapped. The cherry Chapstick will give you a little bit of a pink tint, tastes yummy and protects your lips.

In this little bottle is a genius invention brought to you by my favorite guilty pleasure, Bumble & Bumble. Spritz some of this Surf Spray into your damp hair and give it a few scrunches and you will have great, tousled, sexy beach hair- even if you live in the middle of Utah. The formula actually contains real salt, it has a light hold and gives your hair that matte finish the beach leaves you with. Best of all, it won’t dry out your hair.

But don’t forget the most important product for beautiful and healthy skin. Even in the dead of winter, I don’t leave my house without SPF 15 on my face:

When I was a kid, I used to get the same exasperated comment from my stepfather whenever we were getting ready to go somewhere: “Zuri, we’re going on a hike (or to the movies, to the market, or the dentist), not a fashion show!” You’ll be happy to know that not much has changed. While some girls may make a careful list of essentials to bring to music festivals- sunscreen, water, maps, etc.- I worry about cultivating the perfect indie-bohemian-hipster-goddess outfit in which to revel in the music filled sunshine. This weekend kicks off the music festival season with Coachella in Indio Valley and Jazz Fest in New Orleans, and if you can’t make it to those you still have time to plan for Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, All Points West and more. In case you haven’t put as much thought into what you will be wearing to your festival(s) of choice, here are some suggestions:

A straw fedora, like this one from Hurley, serves two purposes- its a funky addition to a sundress or cut-off shorts and a tank, and it protects your face from the sun when you are out in the heat all day. Tip: buy an inexpensive hat so that you won’t be too bummed if it doesn’t make it out of the festival in one piece. This goes for pretty much anything you wear to a music festival.

I like the idea of wearing a jumper to a festival. If you are staying overnight, it’s lighter to pack than separates. Additionally, it is a little more funky and music festival worthy than your average dress or shorts. Most importantly, you won’t have to worry about flashing your panties if you need to sprawl out on the grass or hop a fence like you would in a dress or skirt. I like this version from Anlo Chase- no straps equals no tan lines.

While some people might suggest that you wear tennis shoes to a music festival, I am a Coachella goer and it is imperative that my feet can breathe in that heat. What is important is wearing comfortable shoes- don’t try to break in your new gladiator sandals that weekend. I like to wear my Havaianas- they are lightweight, come in fashionable colors and if they get filthy you can rinse them off. Perfect!

And my stepfather would like me to remind you to bring your sunglasses and drink lots of water, after all, this isn’t a fashion show…

Happy Earth Day! A truly chic woman knows that being informed and conscientious is the most stylish way to live her life. What good is a closet full of haute couture if you don’t have a beautiful planet on which to wear your beautiful clothes? These days, being “green” is easier than ever and the general public has thankfully started to take a look at their carbon footprints and make changes in the way they consume goods and energy. On Earth day, I like to think not only about the planet I live on, but the people I share it with. Taking care of our planet also involves helping the millions of people who live in poverty and instability. As far as fashion is concerned, being environmentally and socially conscientious has become a huge trend. Remember the insanity over Anya Hindmarch’s “I’m not a plastic bag” bag? Unlike most trends, let’s not let our concern for our planet and the many people who live on it get pushed to the back of the closet as soon as the new collections hit the shelves.

Thankfully, doing good doesn’t mean you have to give up looking good, and many clothing companies have made helping people and the environment an important part of their business model. For example, Edun is a socially conscientious clothing line by Ali Hewson and Bono founded on the premise of trade, not aid, as a means of building sustainable communities. The company works on a micro-level to help build the skill sets of factories where the clothes are produced. This top is modern and chic, not exactly what you would expect to see on a tree hugger:

Ajna is inspired by nature’s beauty in design and striving to protect it. The line uses a mix of earth- friendly bamboo with cashmere for added luxury, and also lyocell—an ecological viscose that’s recyclable, biodegradable and made from wood pulp in an earth-friendly manner. Ajna also promotes fair labor practices and fair trade, encouraging a harmonious workplace. This wrap, made out of the aforementioned bamboo and cashmere, is a great piece that is both beautiful and ridiculously soft and cozy:

I have been listening to Vampire Weekend in my car non-stop for several weeks, and if you haven’t heard them yet, I highly recommend that make it a top priority to do so. The band consists of four ex- Columbia University students and their indie sound incorporates ska, New Wave and Afro-pop. A friend described them to me as Paul Simon meets a Wes Anderson movie and that pretty much sums it up.

Their music feels so New England-Ivy League to me, I can’t help but feel like heading to the Hamptons with some cute boy named Biff who loves to sail, in the preppiest outfit I can find in my closet. In reality, the Hamptons are on the other coast and the cute boys I know are more likely to love to surf, so dressing the part will have to suffice. Luckily, there was a lot of find a lot of preppy styling inspiration from the spring 08 runways. Here are some great looks to emulate from Paul Smith Women, 3.1 Philip Lim, Topshop Unique, D&G, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Tommy Hilfiger:

This navy blazer with white piping from Ralph Lauren and white denim skirt from Earnest Sewn are perfect preppy basics. Last but not least? Your very own copy of Vampire Weekend’s debut album:

Wednesday night in New York City, the who’s who of fashion, Hollywood and New York society came out for the New Yorkers for Children’s spring gala. The organization is a great philanthropy, providing social service programming for kids in the New York City foster care system. Anna Wintour is a huge supporter, and this year Missoni sponsored the event. The night included dinner, silent auction and a lot of cutting a rug on the dance floor.

Missoni, Missoni, Missoni… I think Tinsley and Dabney must be my all-time favorite names for sisters EVER.

Arden Wohl in Threeasfour and Leighton Meester in Missoni. Young, funky and perfect for spring.

Fabiola Beracasa in Jay Ahr and Byrdie Bell (another great name) in D&G, showcasing the nude trend for spring. I am obsessed with Fabiola’s stockings, I need to get a pair of those immediately.

These images are reminiscent of my recent Vegas excursion, apparently doing good feels great.

You’ll feel great as well, in these cute frocks from the evening’s sponsor:

My So-Called Life was a defining pop-culture moment in my adolescence. Browsing the blogosphere today I came across some quotes from the show on Jezebel and was instantly transported back to my 1990’s American youth, a time when things were much more simple. Plaid was in, as were floral jumpers, boho chic, Doc Martens, tie-dye, excessive layering and… oh my, has the style of my favorite teen- angst drama already come full circle?!

If Angela and Rayanne were roaming the halls of Liberty High today they would no doubt be wearing these looks from D&G and Balmain:

I had these Dr. Martens in highschool and only wish I could say the same in regards to this L.A.M.B. skirt:

Last but not least, some Angela-isms for your viewing pleasure:

This weekend I headed to Las Vegas for a friend’s bachelorette party to celebrate, relax poolside during the day and let out my inner party-girl at night. Vegas is a parallel universe that must be visited every now and then- the sun is brighter, the food richer, the clubs rowdier and the fashion… well the fashion is the most fun. There are no jeans allowed in Vegas clubs (I’m pretty sure this is a Las Vegas city ordinance), only cocktail dresses and skirts. And they must be the flashiest, shortest, brightest party girl frocks you own. Think gold sequins, metallic fringe, bright hues, satin and bold floral prints. As for accessories, think big earrings and your most comfortable heels. You’ll thank me when you have to navigate through the casino back to your hotel room at 4am after having been a dancing queen all night. Here is some great Vegas inspiration from the spring 08 runways (Giambattista Valli, Angel Chang, Versace, Valentino, Ruffian and Gucci):

These cocktail dresses from David Meister, Carmen Marc Valvo ahd Juicy Couture are perfect for dancing the night away in Vegas:

One of the most unusual and innovative designers to hit it big in recent years is Giambatista Valli.  Known for his voluminous shapes and origami-style pleating, the designer is a favorite of celebrities from Victoria Beckham to Mary-Kate Olsen - both fans of his pleated sculptural dresses and leg-lengthening heels - as well as of Vogue’s influential editors. Valli also found himself the purveyor of an unlikely ‘It’ Shoe recently with his sky-high neon-soled platform pumps, designed to match his Spring collection of bright-hued dresses.

This season’s collection is just as covetable - the shoes are just as high and sharp, the clothes just as architectural and feminine.  This time, though, Valli worked in a neutral palette, focusing mainly on crisp winter whites.  Some highlights?  The sky-high strappy sandals, white ruffled sheaths, and fur-sleeved hourglass silhouettes shown above and below.

For the Valli look, try these dresses by Alice + Olivia and Cynthia Steffe.