It’s cool for guys to wear bowties, according to the Wall Street Journal.

I had always thought they were reserved for poseurs and uber-prepsters, but these days I’m kind of into the preppy vibe. I blame Gossip Girl.

Brad Goreski, Rachel Zoe’s assistant, wears bowties all the time too, although I don’t know if that makes me like the look more or less. He’s two parts “chic geek”: well dressed and driven, but one part straight-up geek: kind of wimpy and always whining about this or that. But he does wear them well.

What do you think about bowties for men? Do you like the look or do they make guys look like Carlton Banks?

When you take a quick look at this Salemail item, what first comes to mind?

Bdg retro one piece
$88.00
Now: $59.99

I’m guessing I’m not alone with the answer of …BAYWATCH!  I mean, seriously, how could you see that glaring fire-truck red bathing suit and not think of glam ladies running down the beach tousling their hair from side to side on the way to help with water emergencies?!

Because I found humor in this, I able to entertain myself for a bit thinking of Salemail items reminiscent of favorite childhood television shows…  here’s what I came up with – enjoy!

And, just in case one of these items caught your fancy, here’s where you can score these finds:

1) Vera Wang Emerald Hammered Satin Ruffle Trim Dress:  Reg $695.00, Now $333.99

2) Ellen Tracy Zigzag Print Silk Chiffon Dress: Reg $158.00, Now $49.97

3) Black Halo Pleated Body Mini Dress: Reg $325.00, Now $162.50

4) Chetta B. Cerise Belted Silk Ruffle Skirt Dress: Reg $538.00, Now $139.97

Out of all the articles and posts I’ve read about Topshop opening in New York, I have to say The New York Times article and slide show was one of my favorites. They had an interesting take on the story and chose to spotlight the Topshop style advisers — the store’s personal stylists — who are so talented they inspire unsuspecting shoppers to spend hundreds of dollars in the store.

Here are the takeaways from the article:
*  You want to cop their style. The Topshop stylists have exuberant, offbeat personal style that shoppers see and want to replicate.
*  You’ll leave feeling cool. The stylists give shoppers confidence to try styles they wouldn’t otherwise wear – even styles they said they didn’t like.
*  They rock. They have extensive knowledge of fashion, offer great tips on clothing to fit any body type, and are just generally awesome.

Photos: Damon Winter/The New York Times

But there’s one thing the article did not address. The style advisers do have a huge advantage of the average person when it comes to looking stylish and inspiring others – they’re all gorgeous!

They could wear skirts on their heads and still look fabulous, and everyone would still want their fashion advice. In fact, one quote from the article said they sometimes do just that. “Five girls out of 30 will all buy the same skirt in London, and we’ll never wear it the same way,” Style Adviser Gemma Caplan said. “We can all wear it on the same day and never know it. Someone will wear it as a top. Someone will wear it as a hat.”

Since I can’t actually be there for Grand Opening, I’ve been shopping vicarioulsy through Topshop articles.  Check out our Trendsetters Cupcakes and Cashmere, The Recessionista and Boston Budget Fashion Examiner for some fantastic posts and photos.

I had a date with my DVR yesterday and caught up on some episodes of the The Hills from the new season. I also saw the recap episode that included never-before-seen clips from old shows, back when Lauren and Heidi were besties. What struck me was this: Heidi’s face. It’s barely recognizable from the days of yore!

The change is well documented — I found tons of before and after shots online. From what I can tell, she’s had a nose job, collagen injections and breast implants. Although she’s young, sometimes it seems as though she feels overwhelmed by emotion yet her facial expressions remain unchanged, which leads me to believe she may also have had Botox.

And – spoiler alert! At the end of the episode, she’s upset with Spencer and tells him she’s going back to Colorado for awhile (again). But we all know there’s nothing he could ever do that she wouldn’t forgive. After all, he’s already kicked her sister out of their apartment, mouthed off to her mom, gotten her fired from her job and turned her best friend into a frenemy. Since there’s nothing he could conceivably do to make her break up with him, I think “visiting Colorado” is code for “going home for more plastic surgery.”

To be fair, her list of surgeries and augmentations is probably typical for celebrities. Just about every actress (including Jennifer Aniston) has had a nose job — and likely much more. They’re under constant scrutiny, and in their line of work, appearance matters. In the end, Heidi does look glamorous, even if she doesn’t look as natural as she did when she was younger. And the surgeries could have been worse. Much worse. She could have ended up like this:

I’m generally drawn to neutrals as far as my wardrobe is concerned, so I often look to accessories to add a pop of color. This season I’m in love with lemon-yellow shoes. The color is so refreshing. The shade was all over the runway in a lot of Spring/Summer 2009 collections, and I’ve found some amazing deals on lemon-hued shoes in my Sale Spot.

The Dressy: The gray and yellow color combination, slight platform, the height of the heel — I love everything about these shoes.

Botkier – Jeanne, Reg: $390, Now: $149.97

The Everyday: I live in flats, but I especially like these because of the delicate cutout detail. It would be easy to dress them up or down.

Loeffler Randall Bernadette Flats, Reg: $395, Now: $118.49

The Casual: In case you missed them before, cute Hunter boots are on sale again! I’ve always had a soft spot for bright yellow rainboots.

Hunter Women’s “Festival” Lace-Up Rainboots, Reg: $145, Now: $87

I had been meaning to check out the YSL exhibit at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park since it came out in November.  Sunday morning, when I Googled the exhibit I got just the push that I needed, learning that it was the VERY LAST DAY!

The exhibit was breathtaking and a beautiful tribute to the life of the designer, who died in June of 2008. Yves Saint Laurent is known for his synthesis of masculinity and femininity in fashion, pushing the limits with women’s suits and tuxedos. Some stand-out pieces from the costumey collection included: racy and lacy open-sided gown, feathered cape, cocoon-style wedding dress, and go-go frocks (inspired by the designers favorite paintings). The original sketches that accompanied many of the designs were fascinating— icing on top of the cake!

There were videos from previous runway shows playing throughout the dimly-lit display room, and information boards filled with interesting tidbits led the way. For instance, did you know that YSL began his fashion career working for the Christian Dior when he was just a teenager?! The man is truly a legend, and I cannot imagine a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Next stop…Valentino: The Last Emperor, a documentary on the life of another fashion legend, Valentino Garavani, which I plan to see on Wednesday. Unfortunately the movie is only in select cities, so in case you can’t make it, I will be sure to provide my best description later this week. Stay tuned!

As you know, the NCAA College Basketball championship is tonight!  And as a gal who loves watching the games, (even completed a winning bracket and all!), I must admit that I do often comment on fashion found on the court.  Whether it’s interesting ways the players sport their uniforms, what the coaches and their spouses are wearing (did anyone see Tom Izzo’s wife’s t-shirt all blinged out with Spartan sequins at the Final Four?!) or other observations, I will admit that I sometimes watch the fashion almost as much as the hoops games themselves…

A recent Wall Street Journal article by Tim Marchman was absolutely fascinating!  He examined the color uniforms worn most often by historically winning teams…  and there were actually patterns!  The result: “Light Blue.  It’s the color of champions”.

The article related, “Since 1960, more national champions have counted light blue as their primary uniform color than any other.  Even better for Carolina, a near majority of champions has also worn white as a secondary uniform color — which makes theirs the winningest combination of colors by a substantial margin.”  Marchman continued, “And just 4% have won it in green.”  Here’s the full chart of winning color-combinations:

But will this color prediction hold true?  With less than an hour until tip-off, we’ll find out soon!  (and on a very personal note, I hope he is wrong – go Green!)

I’d love to visit Morocco or Goa someday, but I don’t know if a trip is in the cards anytime soon. However I do plan to invest in an Eastern-inspired shirt or tunic top this spring. I love the vibrant colors and feminine prints. And so comfy-looking! They’d be perfect with a pair of tights or skinny jeans and sandals.

Since I’m not ready for tanks and shorts yet, these airy tops are the perfect way to embrace the changing of the seasons. My Salemail has been chock-full of them. Here are a few I found in my Sale Spot.

1.      Joie – Dawn Moroccan Tunic Dress, Reg: $298, Now: $208.60

2.      Tory Burch – Reine Silk Jacquard Top, Reg: $295, Now: $176.90

3.      BCBG – Beige Beaded Scoopneck Tank, Reg: $196, Now: 118

4.      BCBG – Coral Embroidered Habotai Tunic Top, Reg: $240, Now: $144

5.      Elizabeth and James – Elsa Top,  Reg: $295, Now $206.50

When Mademoiselle Robot guest blogged for us recently, I was stunned when I read she only had 5 pairs of shoes. Turns out I misread, and she wrote that she has 5 pairs of sandals. That’s more like it!

I always wonder what’s “normal” when it comes to shoes. In my own closet, every new dress and change in weather seems to necessitate a new purchase. I try to donate old clothing regularly, but there are so many pairs I just can’t bring myself to part with. Some are the only ones that match a particular outfit. Others are too painful to wear but are too cute (or too expensive) to give up.

A snippet of my shoe rack

When I saw the shoe photo in Tamra’s color-coded closet post earlier in the week, the question came to mind – what’s the appropriate number of shoes to own? Is there a limit, or can you never have too many?  How many pairs of shoes do you have in your closet?

My stats: I own 34 pairs, wear 8 – 10 regularly, and 14 almost never. As it turns out, I wear around 20 percent of my shoes 80 percent of the time. Is there anything the 80-20 rule doesn’t apply to?

Our guest blogger TheStyleChild is a Shop It To Me Trendsetter and a self-proclaimed “recessionista.” Her blog Stylin’ & Profilin’ serves as the urban girl’s guide to looking chic for cheap. Here she talks about incorporating trends to make your outfits pop.

A quick and easy way to take your outfit to another level is with accessories. And this spring, big and bold is the way to go. Draped in oversized necklaces, cuff bracelets and rings, a true fashionista can do no wrong.

Big on the runway at many of the spring 2009 shows — from Vera Wang to Marc Jacobs — was chunky and vibrant jewelry, defining the looks before you even notice the clothes.

With necklaces at near-waist lengths and bangles stacked high, you can easily go overboard with this trend. Remember, ladies: What you see on television and in fashion magazines may not necessarily work in real life.

Keep it simple with a piece or two at a time.

The cocktail ring has come back in a major way over the last few years. This season’s jeweled bunch adds a twist with texture and shape. Found in wood, plastic and even leather, the more abstract and geometric they are, the more stylish you’ll be.

Now that you have got the trend report, it’s time to hit the mall. But if you’re worried that your budget is too light weight – don’t fret.

Some of your favorite stores are carrying cost-friendly versions of these designer pieces. Check out H&M, ArdenB.com, Forever21.com and Aldoshoes.com for the latest styles at reasonable prices.

Talk about making a statement!

And of course, you can always shop your Salemail for great deals on accessories as well! To add Vera Wang, Marc Jacobs, Arden B. and tons more to your preferences, just log in to your account and click Women’s Clothing – Brands. Then click the All Brands tab. The brands are listed alphabetically.