i’ve been thinking about the economy.  (stay with me here, i’m thinking in fashion terms.)  

there are two economic theories that deal with hemlines:  in the first theory, the winner is the mini. the story goes that skirts get shorter when the economy gets tighter (in other words, less fabric = less money).  the other theory is the exact opposite:  dropping hemlines mean a falling economy.  historically, the short flapper styles of the ’20s and minis from the ’60s supported this theory, as the economy was strong.

today, while we’re being bombarded every day with news on the markets rising and falling like mad, hemlines are all over the charts.  so, what do you all think?  in poor economic times (or as the trends swing), do you go with the mini, the maxi or somewhere in between?  or do you just ignore the trends altogether and wear what you like?

personally, i choose my hems based on the event, not the economy.  here are my three picks, with three different hemlines, all for under $200.

for a night out with my hubbie, i might choose a sexy mini, like the fast mojo by french connection.  at a black tie charity ball, nothing could come between me and my one shoulder jersey calvin klein dress, in this beauty I would feel glamorous all night.  finally, my go-to length is this flirty tiered mesh dress by maggie london - it would take me anywhere from the office christmas party to the family new year’s eve gathering.  but whatever you wear to your holiday gatherings, the best look is a great smile, worn by the girl who isn’t letting the economy cramp her style!

~ J

some people love a parade, but i love a sale.  so when the lovely folks over at doie designs emailed to let me know they were offering a coupon code for 50% off their entire site (yes, even sale prices) in an effort to clean house, i was first in line to check it out.

for those of you that are into the eco-fashion trend, doie is definitely the place to be.  we’ve talked about doie before, but as a refresher, pieces are made from either earth-friendly bamboo jersey or pure silk.  for me, the silk/jersey combo just means each piece is light, comfy, and amazingly soft…i know, my commitment to the environment is astounding.

the site is organized by season, which means no direct links, i’m afraid.  but i’ll be picking up the kimono robe from spring ‘07 (left pic) in chocolate brown, which has that perfect blend of sexy and comfy and is now under $50.  i’ve been coveting the all-silk pulau top (center pic) from her spring ‘08 collection since i first spied it - and now that it’s down to $55, i may just have to take the plunge. 

and, for my newly pregnant friend M, i feel duty-bound to point out the pesar and ubud dresses from spring ‘08, as well as that lovely nagameru dress (right pic), all of which would be perfect belly-camouflage options.  ooh, and the gaucho pants from spring ‘07 - the length is great for lounging, and the tie at the belly will keep these working perfectly until the weather cools off.

use code DAILY08 to score this deal.  and as always, get there early before the best goods are gone!

you know, i sometimes think basics are the unsung heroes of the fashion world. i mean, sure that couture dior dress is fantastically unique, over-the-top, and statement-making, to say the least. but honestly, is it a piece you can turn to whenever your wardrobe is letting you down? hardly.

this stunning sheath, on the other hand, is one of those dresses you grab when nothing in your closet feels right.  the tailoring is flawless, and the spandex-enhanced fabric ensures you’ll be gorgeous even when you think it’s impossible.  add on a scarf and a fabulous pump, and suddenly, you feel amazing.  and i’m telling you, those pleats at the neckline and the belted waist are just perfectly on-trend for fall.

nab it at nordstrom for a very reasonable $135 during the sale, but move quick. turns out classics still sell out after all.

this feels like the perfect conservative option for summer months, for those of us who aren’t loving the spaghetti-strap/oh-so-short hem options out there. this one is perfect for the office, but still hip enough for evenings out. i love the detailing on the sleeve, which is right on trend this year. and the accessorizing options on this are endless - i’d love to see it with a bright belt and flats, or dressed up with a chunky necklace and mary jane heels.

best of all, it’s on sale - $78 at saks, but not for long.

(again, a great big thanks to connie at the daily obsession for giving us her take on the best summer dresses out there!)

Ahh…as the weather warms up, I just crave dresses. That means I’ll be keeping my eye out for new frocks and pulling out the credit cards so I can add them to my closet!

To start, I need to find some work-appropriate dresses. Hanii Y has this fabulous black dress embroidered with white circles, which are totally classic but fun. I adore the feminine puff sleeves, yet structured shape. I also know that I won’t be sweating bullets at a client meeting when it’s 90 degrees out, since it’s totally lightweight. Linen is also never a bad path to go down. This Thurley dress feels very organic, but the black embroidery adds sophistication. All I would need is are a pair of simple black round toe pumps to finish the look.

For the weekend, I’m all over lightweight sundresses like this one by Maeve. The bright color is cheery, but what really captured my attention was the neckline. It has a lovely pleated design over the decollete area, which I think is so fun. Another option is this fantastic silk halter dress by Vanitas of California. How can you not love the beautiful dripping blue, green and white print? Plus, you could wear this on a variety of occasions - from the annual family picnic to a friend’s engagement party.

Lastly, I have to talk about my favorite go-to store, J. Crew. I can always count on them for some great, reasonably priced pieces - and lately, they’ve been knocking it out of the park. For a easy day dress, my pick is this cherry blossom button-front dress. I’d belt it and wear it to work with a structured tote and heels. I also adore this colorblock shift; the vibrant pairing of orange and magenta is so bold and fun, making it perfect for the season. Plus, the texture and shape of the dress is a bit of a throwback to the ’60s that is flattering on most body types.

Have any other suggestions? Drop a comment and let us know!

hard to believe, but i’m already getting reader questions about summer wedding attire. is it really that time already?

no matter - i have a fantastic solution to this annual dilemma. this darling dress by theory just screams spring to me. i love the ruched bodice, love the length, love the pockets - i would wear this beauty to every wedding, baby shower, and bar mitzvah between now and september.

the color is fantastic, flattering on pretty much any skin tone, and perfect for warm weather. the silhouette is forgiving enough to allow for that second piece of wedding cake. and the style is simple enough to allow for multiple wears without anyone pointing at you and screaming “hey, you wore that to nancy’s wedding last month!” after one too many trips to the open bar.

to restyle this piece and really make it your own, try adding a huge, chunky necklace in cobalt blue one day, and a dainty strand of pearls another. cardigans, blazers, sure…but i’d even consider layering a white button-down over it, and using the belt to tie the whole thing together (no pun intended). or, scrap the belt entirely, and substitute a gorgeous scarf.

that’s a lot of mileage to get out of a dress for $250. oh, and free two-day shipping (hurray for avoiding their notoriously slow-boat shipping) with code NMFAST.

everywhere i turn this month, it’s all about mod print dresses. cute little minis with gorgeous retro-inspired prints, and oh-so-wearable silhouettes. a few of my faves:

the print on this gorgeous badgley mischka shift dress ($398) is so stunning, i hardly know where to start. it has all the vintage charm you could ask for, which tells me this beauty will be staying in your closet for decades to come. the price is a little steep, but it’s actually reasonable for the brand - a great opportunity to score a high fashion piece without a second mortgage. if i splurge on one great piece this spring, i think this dress will be it.

this marc by marc jacobs colorblock dress ($298) just screams retro, but he’s done a beautiful job of updating the styling for modern wear. plus, the silhouette is ultra-flattering for just about anyone.

on the more affordable end of the scale, i love this shirt dress by maggy london ($158). i’m not normally terribly impressed by her construction, i’ll warn you. but i love the print, and i love the ruffle collar - this dress would be absolutely perfect for work, and i think undoing a few buttons at the top would even make this happy-hour appropriate.

from our friends over at tobi, this soda blu flutter dress ($93) is a great way to try out the trend without breaking the bank. love the color combo, which is striking, but neutral enough that you can really use accessories to change the look.

finally, this version by ziji is really gorgeous - i love the print, but i love the silhouette even more. the drop waist, the asymmetrical neckline, the draped sleeves…it’s just fantastic. and, it’s marked down to $60. so, if you happen to be a size 8, you shouldn’t even have to think about this one!

i spotted a piece by hope and glorie in a recent in style, and just had a hunch i was going to love the rest of the designer’s line. sure enough…after a bit of digging (they’re still relatively new to the scene), it turns out the masterminds behind the label have accomplished the impossible: chic, well-cut, well-thought clothing that’s beloved by celebrities…at prices that are actually reasonable.

crazy, i know.

designed by a pair of sisters, the line launched their first collection for spring ‘07, so you get the benefit of getting in before their pricing goes off the charts.

the blouse i first noticed is this keyhole top (above), which comes in 3 different color combos. the most versatile is probably that black-and-white version, though the white-and-purple would be a great way to add color to a casual outfit.

but then i started looking at the line a bit more, and there are actually a lot of really covetable pieces…all well under $200, which is all but unheard of when you couple that phrase with with “as seen on jessica alba.” check out this darling ruffle cardigan - it’d be just the thing to add some fun to a basic black pant, or to take the severity out of a pencil skirt. the off-center placket gives it such great detail, and makes it wearable as a cardigan or just as a top. plus, that shade of blue is going to look amazing on just about everyone. love it, can’t do without it, will be buying it as soon as i finish posting here.

and, last but not least, it really is time to start thinking about those holiday dresses. their
halter dress in black and gold gives you just enough detail to keep the black from being basic, just enough skin to keep it sexy without giving away the store, but the cut is so simple and classic that you’ll have this staple in your closet for years. i love the dash of spandex mixed into the silk - it’ll keep you dancing the night away even after that second glass of eggnog. and, again, under $200.

keep an eye on these ladies: i have a feeling we’re only going up from here! so far, couture candy seems to have the best selection of hope and glorie goods i could come up with, so it’s well worth a stroll through their site to see what else strikes your fancy.

when it comes to cotton, i’ve become something of a snob. the truth is that once you’re introduced to the really good stuff (think james perse, loomstate, michael stars), it’s just hard to go back to your $4 target tee. not that there aren’t many a bargain cotton t-shirt in my closet…but if i’m looking for something really comfy but that can actually be worn beyond my weekend couch potato routine, that’s a different story.

i recently got a chance to check out the goods from saint grace, a relatively new design co whose wares have become a celeb favorite overnight, as so many do. they specialize in comfy cotton goods that are designed to look fabulous - and they’ve definitely hit the mark. so often, i’ll fall in love with a cotton dress, only to put it on and realize (a) the fabric is paper-thin, and (b) the designer never bothered to consider how it would actually look on a human. both problems are solved with saint grace. their pieces are thick and lush - definitely not the stuff that’s going to turn into a ball of fuzz when you wash it. and everything i’ve tried of theirs is just amazing on - well-cut, flattering…and soooo comfy!

check out a few of my faves: the mickey dress, the hanna sweater (check out those darling pink elbow patches!), the remy dress (the perfect work-to-drinks option), or the classic yvette tee. and of course, remember you’re getting 15% off at revolve clothing for the next couple of weeks with code DAILYOBSESSION!