Do you live in the Charleston area or are you planning on visiting sometime soon? Do you need to go shopping for fabulous new clothes and accessories for upcoming graduations, weddings, Memorial Day, or maybe even just a backyard BBQ, where you need to look extra fab for that cutie manning the grill? Look no further than this blog, , where the author delightfully breaks down her top picks from numerous categories, including jewelry where yours truly (aka Bijuju formerly Vanity) is listed as one of her faves.

Check it out and hope to see you soon!!

Spring is a time for growth and new beginnings, but more importantly springtime encompasses all things whimsical and magic.  Therefore it comes as no surprise that some of the hottest colors and trends for spring are reminiscent of childhood daydreams and fairytales (I’m thinking ballerinas, princesses, and fairies frolicking about with woodland creatures).

To capture the romance and coyness of spring try wearing a tutu in the palest of pinks with a simple top in cream or if you’re feeling a bit more Avril Lavigne than Margot Fonteyn pair your tutu with a graphic tee, leggings, and converses, maybe even throw on a long strand of pearls as a careless but classic afterthought.

Take the essence and mystique of an enchanted forest everywhere you go by pairing a dove gray and baby pink flower necklace with a white tee and jeans or try a glittering cocktail ring to remind you that there is indeed a touch of magic in everything.

Just remember this spring is more about frosted pastels, glittering whites, sparkling silvers, and muted grays than candy colored confections because while we all may enjoy cupcakes we want to avoid looking like one no matter how decadent they may be.  And please, please no baby doll tees with the word “Princess” rhinestoned across the front. : )

Be fierce, flirty, and fabulous!

You’ve been influenced by dance, maybe you don’t know it, but you have.  It doesn’t matter whether you can flawlessly perform the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy with your eyes closed or just rock out in front of your mirror when getting ready for a night out (don’t play, I know you blast the music, your hairbrush is a microphone and you probably even bust a couple of sweet moves).  In fact I would go so far as to say that dance has influenced your fashion choices throughout the years.  I grew up dancing and traveling to and from dance competitions almost every other weekend.  Those magical weekends were just as much about the dancing as they were about the fashion.  It was everywhere…during classes (you absolutely had to look your most fabulous self during auditions), onstage during the competition, and of course it was crucial you were at your most fierce during the awards.

Looking back through pictures and re-watching old dance vids from all of these competitions and recitals it has become quite apparent that over the years there have been quite a few hits and just as many misses, but who knows maybe eventually the “don’ts” will become “do’s.”  I mean, we’ve all seen what’s happened with the 80s…whoever thought tacky could be so hot?

As for tacky you can decide for yourself about the following, but I’ll bet tickity-tack or not (to borrow from Christian Siriano) you’ve tried at least one of these trends.

Sequins (want to take a guess as to what one of the hottest trends for spring is?).  Spandex (all colors).  Rhinestones and glitter (we can always use that extra bit of sparkle).  Faux-hawks.  Chuck Taylors.  High-Tops.  Crush Velvet.  Menswear.  Lingerie as outerwear (Victoria’s Secret and the ever classy Frederick’s of Hollywood is a favorite for costumes). Layering (of course there was the unfortunate era of “let’s wear jazz pants with sweats over them followed by another layer of shorts or possibly even a skort” I know right?!?.—we must’ve looked the like the Michelin Man!)

Jersey girls a la Snookie of the “critically acclaimed” Jersey Shore may have been “poofing” their hair for years without the help of the “bump-it” but so have dancers (in fact this trend is actually on its way out).  I’d also like to say that we perfected the “dumpster chic look” long before the Olsens were pairing their Chanel bags with oversized shirts and the ever-present Starbucks.  In fact the dancer takes this trend to the extreme—we’ll spend $150 dollars on sweatpants (truth), $15 on Juicy Couture socks, but then purchase $5 tees from Walmart (Hane’s men’s tees are the absolute best!),  then carefully assemble an ensemble just to look like we threw it on…perfecting hotmess fabulousness.

Do you think Lady Gaga, Beyonce, and Rihanna are really the first people to wear leotards out in public?  Or that LiLo’s perfectly trashed leggings are a first?  It used to be the more holes and runs that were in your tights the better and if you were wearing those tights over the leotard instead of under…even better.  And clearly leotards are a staple in any bunhead’s wardrobe and have been found sexy and seductive for years on the Broadway stage as part of the legend that is Fosse.

Ballet, itself, has had a huge impact on fashion.  Ballet flats.  Tights/Leggings paired with anything and everything.  Wraps (sweaters/dresses, etc.).  Need a quick and easy bad hair day fix?  Look no further than a clean classic ballet bun or even a slightly undone messy one will be sufficient.  Even everyone’s favorite sex columnist, Carrie Bradshaw succumbed to the whimsy of ballet, flaunting a tutu down busy New York streets.

Dancers are also famous for wearing things the way they shouldn’t be wearing them or altering them so much they are barely recognizable.  T-shirts are cut up (honestly who hasn’t at least cut the neck out of one sweatshirt as made famous in Flashdance?), tights are worn as shrugs, sweatpants are worn inside out, and sometimes socks even become arm accessories—who could forget Britney’s 2001 Superbowl performance?  Even lace knee-highs can double as gloves!

So next time you put on something you just aren’t quite sure about—does it look fab or slightly busted?…question it for a hot minute then just go for it.  Work it.  Wear it with confidence and make that sidewalk your own personal runway.  Maybe you’ll inspire a trend and influence someone else to try something new.