Fashion is all around us. It's in magazines, on billboards, and in our best friends' closets. But I find the streets of New York City most inspiring. I take the train into the city twice a week for my internship, and although I only walk a few blocks to my building, my head is swirling with ideas for new outfits by the time I arrive.
Fashion Avenue is always buzzing with locals and tourists from all over the world. In the midst of all the chaos, I like to notice what people are wearing. Sometimes I'll be so distracted that I bump into someone or get my heel stuck in a grate on the sidewalk, but at least I noticed a pair of killer shoes, right?
One thing I noticed about New Yorkers is their knack for layering. During the cold winter months, the streets of New York are filled with patterned coats, bright leggings, and every kind of boot imaginable. It's amazing to see so many people keeping warm in style!
It doesn't matter if you live in the city, the country, or the fashion capital of the world. Wherever you live, open your eyes to the fashion around you. Look for elements of style in your grandma, a crossing guard, or even a homeless person (à la Mary-Kate Olsen). With a little creativity and an open mind, you can draw inspiration from just about anyone.
I saw a man in the city today with a straggly braided ponytail held together by--wait for it...--a puffy orange scrunchie. Maybe he just swiped his daughter's hair accessory to be festive for Halloween, but this guy's bold move is a total fashion flop.
Flashy handbags are so five minutes ago. Make a statement with colored flats!
Stash away your pink and coral summer hues because, for nails, this fall is all about going vamp. My latest obsession: navy nails. They’re dark, sophisticated and not nearly as harsh as black. 
Thrift shopping has become my new addiction. I love bringing secondhand clothes back to life, and thrift store buys are always affordable. But sometimes it can be discouraging. I often leave the local Goodwill empty handed after hunting through racks of summer camp tee shirts and shoulder pads. The trick to thrift shopping is knowing the right places to look, and recently I found the jackpot for secondhand steals. 
I have a mom who stands out in a crowd. She may be over fifty, but she looks (and acts) a whole lot younger. While searching the mall for her Mother’s Day gift, I was inspired to write this piece about my mom’s wardrobe and her favorite clothes.
The classic black dress is a staple in every woman’s wardrobe. “There’s a lot you can do with a black dress,” my mom says, “I wear a lot of accessories.” For work, simple gold hoop earrings do the trick, or she’ll pair her black dress with a strand of pearls when she wants to look “hoity toity.”
My mom found her favorite dress at a little boutique and instantly fell in love with it. It was pricey, but it the fabric hugged and hid all the right places. It also goes great with her tiered pink and white pearl necklace that she loves. My mom wore this dress for one year for Easter and always brings it on vacation. “It’s very easy to pack, it’s summery, and it’s very comfortable.” she says.
During spring and summer, my mom lives in gaucho pants, capris, and bermuda shorts. Her black gaucho pants are stylish, yet sophisticated enough for work. “A pair of black gauchos can take you from the office, then out to dinner.” she says. My mom’s only tip for wearing gauchos: don’t pair them with flats.
When she’s aiming for comfort, my mom puts on her cargo shorts from Express. “You don’t have to worry about them hiking up your ass!” she says. The crinkled fabric and hemline that falls just above the knee make the shorts stylish, yet appropriate for momwear. 
“These things make me look so thin!” my mom says as she pulls her black bermuda shorts from her closet. “And I even got them at Penny’s.” My mom wears bermuda shorts with flats, heels, and wedges. Because they’re so versatile, she likes to have fun with them. At night or at the office she’ll wear her bermuda shorts with a flowy top, or she’ll pair them with bright tees for daytime. 
“Tankinis are good for the mature mother.” my mom says – although I wouldn’t consider her a “mature” mother. Nonetheless, swimwear can be tricky for moms. Bikinis are usually too revealing, and many moms fall victims to awful one-pieces with built in skirts. Tankinis show just enough skin and won’t give you funny tan lines.
When it comes to shoes, my mom’s collection is pretty impressive. She has it all: strappy sandals, pointed-toe heels, flip flops, sneakers, and even cowboy boots (if only we had the same size feet!). She has dressy shoes in brown and black, which are perfect for important business meetings and dinner dates. She loves her comfortable Kenneth Cole Reaction sandals, with their low heel and slip resistant sole. Her beige Anne Klein heels are more difficult to walk in, but still adorable. My mom wears them with her favorite coral dress. “They make the outfit.” she says.
“Believe it or not, these are Easy Spirit.” my mom says, pointing to a pair of black sandals with silver buckles. Her casual footwear is cute and comfortable. When she’s laying by the pool or going to the grocery store, she likes to wear her cheap (five dollars!) flip flops from Wal-Mart. The turquoise beads match a lot of her spring and summer outfits, which always make her blue eyes pop. For a sexier look, my mom wears black sandals by Nine West. “They’re harder to balance,” she admits, but my mom has always been a firm believer that beauty sometimes requires a little sacrifice.
