Imagine a land where subways are silent, public restrooms are spotless and it’s the norm for men to look ultra trendy. After my most recent trip I learned this is in fact called “Japan”. I just got back from my first-ever visit to Tokyo and Kyoto and I loved the food, the landscape and especially the style.

Here are a couple of guys who were hanging out in front of La Foret, an amazing department store in Tokyo:

Having a sharp fashion sense definitely seemed to be part of the culture in the Tokyo, and Harajuku was one of my favorite style-spotting neighborhoods. It’s known for “cosplay” or costume play, where people dress up in costumes to represent anime or other popular characters. But I found the regular street style just as interesting.

Another La Foret shot…

This is a chic couple in Ginza, the upscale shopping district of the city. Is it wrong that I want a pair of both the woman’s, and her son’s, boots?

I snapped a shot of this couple in Kiddyland, a crazy multi-level store full of kiddie toys that’s totally worthwhile whether you’re a kid or not. (I really wanted a tuna roll USB drive they offered but alas, it was around $80…not so kiddie-priced.)

I’m so glad I was able to take a photo of this girl because she’s wearing one of those outfits that just needs to be captured.

If you’re looking for more Japanese street style, take a look at bijin-tokei – it actually posts a photo of a trendy girl every minute of the hour! And taking a look at the photos fabulous blogger Jane Aldridge put on her site Sea of Shoes is a must.

What are your thoughts on Japanese style?

        

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Even though fall has just begun, we already have a lot to look forward to when it comes to spring fashion. One common look coming down the Spring ’09 runway was soft, draped fabrics in creamy neutral shades.

I’m loving the breezy feel of these pieces. The looks are fluid and comfy, but the colors keep the clothes looking crisp. Here are some of the flowy looks from the past week:

Who says high fashion can’t be comfy?

        

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photos courtesy of New York Magazine

        

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It’s day five of New York Fashion Week, and we’ve been scouring the web trying to keep up with all the excitement! Here are a handful of my favorite designs thus far:

photos courtesy of New York Magazine

Seeing the incredible collections almost makes me want to skip Fall altogether to start sporting these Spring 2010 styles! I simply can’t get enough of Karen Walker, ADAM, and Richard Chai. Any favorites so far? Please share!

        

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There’s no denying that Hervé Léger’s banded dresses are all the rage right now. The celebrities are wearing them, and they paint the pages of fashion magazines far and wide. From the red carpet to the runway, these tight little numbers are worn by style’s elite.

You may be asking yourself why you don’t have your own Hervé Léger hanging in your closet. Well, if you are not a celebrity or high-fashion model (or queen, for that matter), their approximate $1500 price tag may be a bit steep. We have not been able to find a comparable design…until now!

Though I am certainly lusting over the one-shoulder design of Hervé Léger’s Dégradé bandage dress, $1,590 is a tad out of reach. Tadashi’s Shoji Ombré Shutter Dress has combined the classic cut with two-toned color pizazz, and it’s available in Sale Spot for just $208. Go get ‘em gals!

        

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With so many different styles of boots emerging for Fall, it can get tough to pick and choose! The Culturistas are here to show you a few of their faves, and where to find more affordable versions of these hot styles. Be sure to check out their blog about events, films, nightlife, fashion, food, restaurants, and shopping!

There are many popular styles of boots this Fall season. Four of the our favorites are the over the knee boot (seen all over the Fall 2009 runways), the tough motorcycle boot, the cut out boot, and the peep toe boot.  The cut out and peep toe boots are great shoes to transition into fall. Wear them with your favorite mini dress in the early fall and then add a pair of opaque hose/tights when the weather starts to cool down! Just stay away from hose with toe reinforcements.

Brian Atwood Over the Knee Boot, $1,235
Tough Boot: Chloe Motorcycle Boots $1,175
Cut Out Boot: Halston Cluny $995
Peep Toe Boot: Elizabeth and James Lola $360

And although we’ve shown pricey designer boots here, you can find these trends at all different price ranges.  Try Forever21, Urban Outfitters, or Steve Madden for recession-friendly prices! Steve Madden and Urban Outfitters are both available through Shop It To Me!

        

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By the looks of it, strong shoulders are here to stay. They work on the runways, but are shoulders this big really wearable? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Clockwise from top:

Dolce & Gabbana, Maison Martin Margiela, Marc Jacobs, Balmain

        

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Just about every girl owns a leaf-shaped pendant, or a floral ring or earrings. Although it’s particularly trendy right now, nature-inpired jewelry has always been univerally appealing. Here our Trendsetter Mary Jo Matsumo shares some of her favorite fellow jewelry designers who are inspired by nature. Check out her own gorgeous luxury jewelry line and blog Trust Your Style.

I’m drawn to nature-inspired jewelry because it’s so timeless. All the celebrated jewelry designers I can think of worked with this theme at some point in their career. Today the genre spans the gamut from classic to modern goth, serene to irreverent, yet I’m convinced that if you invest in a well-designed piece of nature-inspired jewelry it will always be in style.

Here are some of my favorites:

David & Martin

Famed Stockholm design team David Andersson and Martin Lasson behind the jewelry line David & Martin have been awarded numerous accolades and have collaborated with Karl Lagerfeld and Acme Jeans.  They burst onto the scene with their “Chicken Feet” collection that came about after seeing a pretty girl on a Shanghai subway munching deep fried chicken feet. I’m partial to this cuff from their gold Cell Collection, inspired by honeycombs.

Philippa Holland

Brit designer Philippa Holland studied the History of Jewelry at Sotheby’s and is known for her nature-inspired jewelry. Her celeb following includes Sienna Miller, Gwenneth Paltrow, and Cameron Diaz. I’m loving her Beetle pieces made from blackened silver and enamel.

Abigail Percy

I’ve long admired Scottish jewelry designer Abigail Percy’s jewelry. Her delicate and striking work is made from sterling silver with plated gold, so it’s a cost-effect answer to the 18k gold standard of fine jewelry. I’ve been pining for these Creeping Leaf Hoop earrings new to her collection.

Tom Binns

Always a huge fan of Irish-born jewelry designer Tom Binns, this Swarovski crystal and rhodium cuff from his Dumont Noir Florescent collection has all the punch of a classic vintage statement piece. Speaking of vintage, don’t forget to check out all the unique nature-inspired vintage treasures to be found at great prices from the many wonderful online sellers worldwide. Try Etsy and Ebay and don’t be afraid to google the kind of vintage piece you’re looking for, you’ll be surprised how many options you may have.

Mary Jo Matsumoto

It’s probably not surprising that as a resident of Laguna Beach, my first collection of fine jewelry for my Mary Jo Matsumoto luxury line was inspired by nature. Using favorite motifs from the Magical Mind textile that I developed for my handbag line, I created an 18k gold and South Sea pearl collection that includes designs that incorporate starfish, shells, seahorses, fish, butterflies and birds.

        

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If you had asked me a few years ago whether skinny jeans would still be around today, I would have been skeptical at best. I have to admit, they now make up half of my denim wardrobe. Trends come and go, but some styles have unexpected staying power.

Do you think this season’s trends will stick around for awhile? Is that something you think about when making a purchase?

Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent Jumpsuit, Reg: $372, Now: $222.90
J. Brand Boyfriend Jeans, Reg: $198, Now: 138.60
Diane von Furstenberg Deidre Python Chain Belt, Reg: $175, Now: $87.50
Frye Mary Studded T-Strap, Reg: $158, Now: $109.99
Urban Outfitters Leather Double Stud Bracelet, Reg: $28, Now: $19.99

        

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Owning the “perfect handbag” is every girls dream, but choosing one from the thousands of different styles/sizes/textiles can be daunting. Get the breakdown of current handbag trends directly from an insider in the fashion business, The Stylista Diaries. Her blog has a delightful assortment of current trends, fashion news, and editorial perspectives that will most definitely pique your interest!

Handbags are a staple to every girl’s wardrobe and they house essential things that are useful for our daily lives such as cell phones, money, and keys. Frankly, I don’t know what I would do without handbags; if anything I would feel rather naked! Since we rely on them every day, we might as well spice things up and invest in some great pieces. But what’s so fun about a plain black bag? Toss that aside for now and get the hottest looks of the season. Below are my top 5 picks of current handbag trends!

1. Bold Colors: Who says color is reserved for the spring/summer? Why not invest in some bold bags all year round? The best thing about bold-colored bags is that they allow you to take that all black ensemble and instantly kick it up a notch! Choose from colors such as mustard yellow, pink, turquoise, cobalt blue, deep purple, or grass green, and more importantly, don’t be afraid to make a statement!

Tory Burch’Thalie Shoulder Bag’: Reg: $495.00

Tory Burch ‘Utility North South Tote’: $450.00

Aldo ‘Barumuni’: Reg: $45.00, Now: $27.98

Topshop ‘Qulited Piped Cross Body Bag’: Reg: 25 Pounds

Bottega Veneta Mustard Yellow Bag

Valentino Braided Tote, Reg: $2,110, Now: $1,295

2. Studded: Studs have been gracing handbags from the likes of Tory Burch to Marc Jacobs. Adding these gold and silver touches to basic handbag designs gives it a new ’80s vibe, making them more edgy and rocker glam. Studded handbags come in various styles — whether they’re small subtle embellishments down the middle of the bag or huge pyramid studs that adorn the entire bag, there is definitely a style that fits everyone. Wear your studded handbag with a pair of destroyed skinny jeans, gladiators, and a loose tee to create that edgy vibe! Rock on!

Novela Royal ‘Mister Stud Bowler Bag’: Reg: $584.00

Marc Jacobs ‘Stardust Shoulder Bag’: Reg: $550.00

Rebecca Minkoff ‘Supernova Stud Devote Handbag’: $694.00

Tory Burch ‘Studded Messenger Bag’: $575.00

Valentino ‘Maison Studded Tote’: $2,495.00

3. Fringe: With celebs such as Mary-Kate Olsen and Nicole Ritchie popularizing the bohemian style, it was only natural that this style would translate into handbags as well. Although there are several styles out there, I prefer slouchy hobos or long strapped shoulder bags that make your outfit feel relaxed and efforless . Wear this fringe bag with a maxi dress and you’re ready to shop at the vintage flea markets!

J.J Winters ‘Suede Fringe Bag’: Reg: $490.00

Shop Intuition ‘Fringe Bag’: Reg: $315.00

Forever 21 ‘Valiah Studded Fringe Tote’: Reg: $34.00, Now: $16.99

Furla ‘Halley Bag’: Reg: $780.00, Now: $468.00

4. Crossbody Bags (Slings)/ Long Shoulder bags: Lately, I’ve spotted several purses with straps that are definitely longer than usual. The long shoulder bags have been revived from the ’80s and early ’90s. These shoulder bags are functional in that they can also be worn as a crossbody bag, or sling as well (depending how long it is). If worn as a sling, the best thing about them is not having to constantly worry about them slipping off your shoulders. It’s definitely a “no fuss” bag, yet it still retains its fashionable aspect. If worn as a regular long shoulder bag, you can pull off the “vintage” look by pairing it with flats and skinny jeans. However you wear it, you’ll definitely look chic with this bag!

Marc by Marc Jacobs ‘Percy Turnlock Crossbody Bag’: Reg: $198.00

Jack Rabbit ‘The Concord Crossbody’: Reg: $595.00

Elliot Luca ‘Valencia Crossbody’: Reg: $98.00, Now: $49.00

Cole Haan Women’s Village Leather Cross-Body: Reg: $195.00

5. Clutches: Give your shoulders a break from those heavy bags and pick up a clutch! They come in so many different patterns, shapes, and sizes that it’s impossible to not find the perfect one for you. Go for sleek, structured bags or if you’re feeling a little gutsy, opt for fun patterns such as ikat. Clutches are so versatile; you can pair them with jeans for a more casual look or wear a bold faux python patterned one with a classic LBD!

Halston ’70’s Envelope Clutch’: Reg: $548.49

Raquel Faux Python Clutch: Reg: $23.96

Imon ‘Global Chic Classic Couture Envelope Clutch’: Reg: $49.95 (sold out)

        

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