Two years ago when I bought my fitted Juicy black blazer with velvet lapels, I thought I was done with this staple. One good quality one is all I thought I'd need. But then this other black blazer popped up on the rack and it had gorgeous silk mini ruffles on the neck collar and black subtle pinstripes AND it was 70% off. I couldn't resist. Then this summer, there was this super fitted dark gray (with a hint of sparkle), 3/4 sleeved blazer with this to die for fancy double layered collar thing also on sale- I had to have it. So really, one can reasonably conclude that I've reached my quota for black blazers. For the record, I have had great mileages for all of them- so they were all completely worth it. Unfortunately recently, I find my eyes wandering again in the black blazer arena.......  read more »

Q:  I’ve seen some tweed sports jackets in fashion magazines for men.  Is this something that will be in style for Fall?  I’ve been looking for a tweed jacket and haven’t had any luck.  Wool Plaid Tweed Jacket | $328 at J Crew . by John Liu A: Yes, tweed does seem to be back, but take care in how you wear it.  The tweed jacket can be refreshing and cool, but it needs to be done right.  read more »

We all have safety nets in our wardrobe. These are items we collect because they are comfy, they are cheap and they often remind us of younger, happier and more fun days (come now, who doesn't get excited when the weather warms up enough for flip flops?). Problem is, many of these wardrobe safety nets are devoid of any style and often end up destroying the personal style we otherwise may possesses on a given day. How do you keep it easy, breezy, yet maintain your personal style? The Flip Flop Alternative Don't get me wrong, I love flip flops as much as the next gal. This weekend when grabbing a pair so I could play in the yard with my dog, I rifled through eight different pairs to find my beloved Reefs. I have stacked ones for longer pants, crocheted ones that are a tad dressier, aqua ones to match my bathing suit, ones that work well in wet conditions, ones that work with certain sun dresses or beach coverups in my closet. The thing is, flip flops are not real shoes. They don't look like real shoes, they don't wear like real shoes (any orthopedist will tell you they are terrible for your feet), they are often dirty, run-down and ruin the line of your silhouette. Flip flops are great for the beach, the pool, the casual cookout in your friend's backyard or putting around your own; but what does a gal grab when heading to the market, to work and other places where flip flops are just not a chic choice?  read more »

Couture in the City has partnered with Smartbargains.com to bring an exclusive discount offer to our readers! Today we are featuring some great designer jeans from the site, including AG Jeans, Rich & Skinny, & True Religion.  read more »

by John Liu The US has Gap, Japan has Uniqlo, Sweden has H&M, and Britain has Topman, the UK-based menswear-only designer that has been gaining more and more publicity in the UK.  Topman is appreciated for its budget-friendly prices, but the clothes arent half bad either.  But best of all, Topman is coming to the United States this Fall.   In the meantime, you can purchase Topman clothes online and have them shipped to the US.  Heres our six favorite pieces from Topmans UK Fall 2008 collection: Knitted Grey Toggle Cardigan | $75 (approx) at Topman Chunky cardigans are in this fall and this is your chance to get a great one.  I love the texture and the toggle detail.  Plus, its machine washable, unlike most sweaters.  read more »

Feeling the love for this set?  Here’s more information about it . How do you wear a blazer with a casual shirt?  Match the informality of your shirt–be it a polo, henley or t-shirt–to your jacket.  Choose a unstructured jacket in a casual cotton instead of your traditional wool.  You could always try the plain t-shirt under the blazer (or layered tees), but you can take the outfit up a notch by layering a fitted polo shirt over a t-shirt.  Bonus points for a brightly colored tee–we love the splash of color this creates at the neckline.  Finish the outfit off with a casual belt (woven, not leather) and a pair of stylish sneakers. Have a great tip about how to wear a blazer with a casual shirt? Share it with us in the comments!

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In honor of its thirtieth anniversary, Diesel is selling a pair of scruffed-up limited-edition Dirty Thirty jeans. The catch: They're only available today. Our correspondent is on the scene at the Diesel store in Union Square, where what looks like...Izzy Grinspan

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