Wouldn't it be sweet if *one great jacket could take you from work on Friday through fun downtown or by the sea on the weekend*? Well, take a deep breath, stylistas, because here's just the jacket, and what to wear with it, for you!

Ah, the jacketjacket! This is the O'Neill Belle jacket that comes in both white and black, and either one will do. For work, pair it with some office-worthy but still stylish trousers like the tropical wool trousers from Tommy Bahama, and a head-turning blouse like this little number by BCBGirls with shirred details on the bodice and back with a rounded collar, and buttons on the front and with cuffed sleeves. It comes in both slate and pink, and while you could choose either, the whisper pink adds a whisper of femininity to the whole outfit.

That outfit's not quite ready to head out the door without two more items. First, a big bag or tote like the Marc by Marc Jacobs Totally Turnlock Mag Bag, with room for everything, including a change of clothes for Friday night! Your toes will be happy all day in D Stephany 05 ballet flats in black patent from Geox D.

Moving on to the weekend is a snap. Keep the jacket (of course) but change the trousers and shirt for a cheeky little gingham shirt dress from Fred Perry. Comfy, stylish, a little bit preppy (the Hamptons, anyone?) but definitely fun. Those ballet flats look great with this dress too, so all you need is a pop of color like a Liz Claiborne silky shrunken leather bucket bag in Lemon, and you're ready to take on anything the weekend has in store!

Chain handles are one of the leading trends for Spring and Summer 2009 and can give your otherwise classic ensemble an edgy, modern look. Leading handbag designers including Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Prada and Moschino have added gleaming chain handles to their accessories lineups, and many other shoulder bag designers are following suit. But how do you wear this style with your summer outfit? Here are the different types of chains that work with different types of looks this season:

The oversized chain with buckle embellishments is a great addition to your oversized hobo or a large weekender bag. It's a fresh, funky and casual look for your everyday bag, and works well for day and night.

The gleaming gold and silver chain is the perfect addition to a miniature shoulder bag for your night out on the town. It's also appearing on stylish clutches and miniature pochettes to add some shine to your look. Look for thinner, necklace-style chain handles to complete your look for an elegant affair.

A leather and metal interlocking chain handle is a great way to dress up a casual outfit for summer, and this type of handle is appearing on both shoulder bags and bucket bags this season. The interlocking chain handle also provides some extra support and is highly durable for this season and beyond.

Double or triple chain handle bags are great for a dressy, rocker-chic inspired look and are a good match for wrap dresses, halter dresses and miniskirts you're sporting this summer. These multi-chain bags double as an accessory that will become the focal point of your outfit, so avoid wearing too much jewelry with your ensemble to make the most of your look.

The half-chain handle bag is the latest sophisticated office-wear accessory. These bags are designed with a leather covering at the top of the chain, and give you the added benefit of extra comfort with the soft padded leather handle. Give your office ensemble a fresh, modern twist with one of these bags by your side. The half-chain handle bag made with patent leather, quilted leather or soft buttery-leather finish is a versatile and chic look for your office collection.

There are a lot of young woman and teenagers that look up to Nicole Richie for her style of fashion. She seems to have a laid back, yet fashionable, casual wardrobe, but then she knows how to be sophisticated and elegant for special events. She always has that slightly Boho-chic look to her clothing without looking too messy. Here are some ideas on how you, too, can look like Nicole Richie

Accessorizing is a must. If you have ever seen pictures of Nicole Richie, she has tons of accessories on any given day. Think over-sized sunglasses, chunky necklaces and bracelets, head bands and scarves, big rings and definitely scarves around the neck. She also seems to be always carrying a big handbag, sometimes a little too big for her petite frame. This large handbag from Marc Jacobs would definitely be a bag that Nicole Richie would carry.

When it comes your actual clothing, skinny jeans and black leggings are a must for your wardrobe. Also, another must are long maxi-dresses that go down to your ankles. Look for ones that have an empire-waist or a halter top and are flowing with a pretty pattern or print. For tops, Nicole seems to like looser tops that are longer. Look for longer blouses or fitted t-shirts to wear with the legging or skinny jeans. For more of a dressed-up Nicole Richie look, try a strapless short dress or even a long strapless dress with a floral pattern.

One thing that you can tell about Nicole Richie's fashion is that she loves shoes. She can be seen wearing high heeled pumps most of the time. These look great with the skinny jeans and leggings. For a more casual (and comfortable) look, Nicole goes for flat Bohemian-style shoes with embellishments and stones or flat boots like these Juicy Couture ones. For night time, keep your shoes interesting with bold colors, embellishments, high heels and interesting cutouts.

Marc Jacobs and DKNY significantly cut down their guest list for fashion week, and Marc Jacobs even went so far as to - gasp! - cancel the after party.

No after party? That's reason enough to realize fashion weeks are greatly being affected by the economy.

DKNY cut its guest list from the usual 1,000 down to just 400. Four hundred people. That's it.

Marc Jacobs's list, normally 2,000, was cut to 700. Robert Duffy, Jacobs' business partner, also told papers there will only be "one or two celebrities." One or two celebrities at the Marc Jacobs show? At New York Fashion Week? That just seems so ... wrong. And did we mention no after party?

Okay, we understand the importance of cutting costs, but we can still mourn.

In addition, several publications are cutting back on sending editors to overseas fashion weeks. This year's fashion weeks all seem like they'll be a bit warped.

New York Fashion Week is always my favorite fashion show of the year. It features the top designers debuting the hottest trends and coolest colors for the upcoming season. The Project Runway finalists also present their collections for the television show's finale. New York Fashion Week Spring 2009 did not disappoint, but some of the styles were a bit surprising.

Jumpsuits, No Really
I admit it, some of these trends are probably not ideal for the average person, but it is always exciting to get a glimpse of the next hot trend. Ralph Lauren, Max Azria and Proenza Schouler are just some of the designers who featured jumpsuits. I normally associate jumpsuits with Joe the plumber, but these were very elegant and fashionable. Tyra Banks wore a jumpsuit on a recent episode of her hit talk show Tyra and, thanks to her height, looked very stylish.

Ruffles
Look for more ultra feminine ruffled fashions in stores next spring. Oscar de la Renta, Betsey Johnson and Carolina Herrera unveiled beautiful ruffled gowns. Some styles were sophisticated and accented with ruffles for added femininity. True to her eccentric reputation, Betsey Johnson's creations were bright, youthful and over the top.

Floral Prints a la Wisteria Lane
Dresses from Oscar de la Renta and Badgley Mischka featured daring floral prints. The color palette and flattering, body conscious cut of the dresses made them fun and modern, unlike floral prints of the past. This hot trend is perfect for the real world, and I expect to see women of different body types wearing it well.

All American Attire
Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs paid homage to the American flag with red, white and blue fashions. That sounds like a perfect clothing choice for an inaugural year.

Metallic Fabric
Shimmering metallic fashions were also popular with designers including Calvin Klein, Vera Wang, Donna Karan and Ralph Lauren.

Project Runway Showdown
Bravo's Project Runway season five finalists Leanne Marshall, Korto Momolu and Kenley Collins faced off at New York Fashion Week. Their diverse collections also featured ruffles, floral prints and metallic garments. Leanne Marshall ultimately walked away with top honors, but it was very exciting to watch the finalists create a clothing line and participate in a major fashion show.

The biggest accessorizing trend on the runway at New York Fashion Week was pale skin and lack of accessories to make the clothes stand out! Interesting marketing trend for the designers (it's accessories where they make all their money), although it does make life easier for the girls and dressers backstage.

As for actual, as in you-can-go-to-the-mall-or-online-and-buy-them accessories, L'Wren Scott showed gloves and capelets and paired black and white clothes with red shoes...the look was very Meg White doing Marc Jacobs ads.

Ralph Lauren featured messenger bags, fedoras and low-slung belts over clothes that gave off an Indiana Jones meets Yves Saint Laurent vibe. Sabyasaschi and Stephen Burrows both paired their elegant clothes with long, thin earrings a la Edie Sedgwick. Burrows added multicolored metallic bangles and his hair was an accessory too - the collection was entitled "Afro Summer."

Rebecca Taylor went '60s-'70s in another manner, showing fringed handbags and headbands worn across the forehead. Yes, yet another rich hippie look, but a nice one. (Milly was similar but that one was not so nice.)

I normally love Zac Posen, but his clothes and accessories in this collection looked like the light fixtures at Mohegan Sun casino. The silver lipstick was a nice touch, though... must find out who did the makeup, as I wasn't backstage at that one.

Marc Jacobs (eponymous, not Marc by Marc Jacobs) featured Mary Poppins hats, elaborate metallic wrap belts, piles and piles of bangles and complicated handbags. That was only on one model, and no, I'm not kidding about that! In the Marc line he accessorized with ascot-like scarves, skinny belts, handbags and headbands, which looked relatively clean.

The one trend in accessories that really puzzled me, though, was the rampant presence of gladiator sandals. Designers, that trend is a few too many seasons old now, and it doesn't look good on anyone, even on your perfect models and the cool girls on the street.

As we head into the fall season, it appears that shirt dresses will still be popular with celebrities. Shirt dresses are a great way to be casual but still trendy. Basically, a shirt dress looks like a long structured shirt. Most of the time it is a button-up dress and sometimes has a tie or belt around the waist. Blake Lively was seen wearing a blue shirt dress as she headed to the David Letterman show. Other celebrities such as Kelly Ripa and Katie Holmes have also sported shirt dresses. To go for a dressier look, pair a shirt dress with some high heels by Alexander McQueen. And to go for a more casual day look, pair the shirt dress with some cute flats by Marc Jacobs.

Well, it seems that not all celebrities like to wear skin tight dresses and skirts, which is good to know. Full skirt dresses have been seen all over in Hollywood. America Ferrera was just seen wearing a full skirt dress to an awards night. The full skirt dress can help camouflage a tummy or love handles, not that celebrities know what those are! Other celebrities that have been seen all dressed up in full skirts are Scarlett Johansson, Debra Messing, Minka Kelly and Paris Hilton. Full skirt dresses make a great alternative to having a tight dress if you are uncomfortable with your body. This is a definite celebrity fashion trend that should be followed.

Trench coats are timeless and celebrities are seen wearing them all the time. Trench coats are a great option for fall. As the weather gets colder, don't ruin an outfit with a bad coat, but invest in a good trench coat. Of course, someone like Anne Hathaway, who almost always dresses in classic pieces, has been seen wearing trench coats quite often. Other celebrities such as Mandy Moore get more creative with their trench coats and opt for bolder colors such as yellow. Black, tan and white trench coats are all classic pieces and can be worn with just about anything. Celebrities just love the black trench by Jean Paul Gaultier, because it is a classic piece that will never go out of style.

We all know that celebrities have plenty of money to spend on jewelry and accessories, and they are definitely showing that off. A big trend in jewelry with celebrities is big cocktail rings. They can be worn to red carpet events or just dates on the town. It seems like the bigger the better. Such celebrities as Fergie, Mariah Carey, Eva Longoria, Carmen Electra, Paris Hilton, Blake Lively and so many more have been seen sporting huge cocktail rings around Hollywood. The rings are definitely noticeable and catch the eye quickly. Rihanna is almost always photographed wearing some sort of huge cocktail ring on her fingers, and usually more than one. Although celebrities may pay thousands of dollars for some of their rings, some of them actually go the cheaper route. Marc Jacobs makes cocktails rings that are not that expensive and can be afforded by the average person. Try out his cocktail rings on your next date out to help you feel like a celebrity.

As summer winds down, it seems like celebrities are getting in their last days of summer fashion with tunic dresses. Tunic dresses are usually mini-dresses that are not really form fitting and are usually in a bohemian print or style. If you don't dare wear a mini-dress out in public, a tunic dress can also be worn with a skinny pair of jeans underneath. This will also help you take this celebrity trend into the fall. Such celebrities as Nicky Hilton, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Rachel Bilson, and Hayden Panettiere seem to love tunic dresses and have worn quite a few of them. For a more defined look, pair your tunic dress with a belt, like the ones from Dolce and Gabbana as Rachel Bilson did.

The tunic dress can be worn in two different styles. To go for more of a casual look for your tunic dress, do what Nicky Hilton does and pair it with a pair of flat sandals. To make the tunic dress more of a dressy outfit, pair it with a pair of high heeled sandals as Carmen Electradoes.

Fashions of today's popular television shows.

The average person watches their favorite nighttime TV shows in their pajamas or in sweatpants and a t-shirt, while longing to have the wardrobe that their favorite actress or actor has on the show. Fashion plays a huge part nowadays in television shows. A lot of people get their style tips of the latest fashions from their favorite TV show. So, let's take a look at the different shows that influence the style of today.

Ever since "Gossip Girl" aired early this year, young women have been copying the fashions on the show. The girls on "Gossip Girl" only wear the best in fashion. Knee-high boots, tights and tunic dresses are common fashion staples for the girls on the show. Urban Outfitters is a popular place for the clothes seen on "Gossip Girl," even selling the leggings and knee-high tights that Serena has worn on the show. Accessories also play a big part in the fashion. Layered necklaces are a big trend. A Ralph Lauren belt works good for giving a waist when wearing a tunic top. The must-have handbag is the Coach Legacy bag, which comes with all the trends of chunky buckles and vintage leather.

For a woman who is slightly older, she may look at the TV show "Desperate Housewives" for her fashion tips. The women on "Desperate Housewives" - especially Edie and Gabrielle - are always decked out in the latest fashions. Summer dresses by Chloe are often seen on the women. Pair them with a pair of Jimmy Choos shoes and you'll be a desperate housewife in the making. For a more casual look, get a pair of Beverly Jeans or Seven For All Mankind jeans and pair them with a Nannette Lepore blouse or camisole. The clothes on "Desperate Housewives" have a wide range of styles. You can keep it sexy like Edie or more casual and put together like Bree.

When looking for fashion tips for guys, tune in to "How I Met Your Mother." The character Barney Stinson is the epitome of a well-dressed man. Whether you are a woman looking to fix your man's wardrobe, or you are a man and you want to dress in the latest style, Barney gives you plenty of ideas on how to dress for a guy. He can be seen wearing $400 Prada dress shirts. Never seen dressed down on the show, he is always sporting the latest styles in business wear, although he is able to go from the office to the club and still look good. Most of his outfits are tailored suits. Some of the brand names he wears are Dolce and Gabanna and Marc Jacobs.

It can be quite frustrating to look at the actors on TV and wish that you had their wardrobe, but don't get too frustrated. Trends change so much and so often; from the beginning of the season to the season finale, their clothes have probably dramatically changed styles. I say splurge on your basics and go cheap with the trends. If you want to invest $200 for a nice white button-down shirt, then go ahead, but buy the $5 tights from Target.

Why Miami Swim Fashion Week is worth attending, and why Rosa Cha is the highlight of the swim fashion shows.

The pickings for fashion shows in the United States are slim over the summer, but there's one event worth getting excited over (especially if you're slim yourself): Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Miami Swim. It may not have the suspense of a Marc Jacobs fashion show at New York Fashion Week (will the audience have to wait longer than two hours for the show to start?) or the drama of Viktor et Rolf at the Paris couture shows (will the key looks resemble hang gliders?), but I can't think of a more relaxing fashion show for mid-July.

Miami Swim Fashion Week will be July 18 through July 22 at the Raleigh Hotel, a super-chic South Beach boutique property with one of the world's most stunning pools. It kind of resembles a stylized pineapple with scrolls, but it defies explanation - go to their Web site http://www.raleighhotel.com and look for yourself. If you score an invite, you too can lounge around under black-and-white umbrellas drinking mojitos with South American millionaires while models walk by in the world's most stylish swimwear. Now that's my idea of a fashion show!

Designers showing at Miami Swim Fashion Week include ANK by Sabino, Ashley Paige, Badgley Mischka, Becca, Cia Maritima, Eduardo et Donna, Rosalia, Jacquelyne Love, Bella Mar Swim, Miss Bikini, Parke & Ronen and Jessica Simpson. I'm particularly curious about the latter, since if anyone can design a swimsuit that flatters large-busted women it should be her. However, the Miami Swim fashion show I'm most interested in is Rosa Cha.

Rosa Cha may sound like a chic Asian female designer, but the line was created by Brazilian male Amir Slama. No one does swimwear better than Brazilians (sorry, Jessica!), so this is the Miami Swim fashion show to watch for - and not just because it's held by the pool. There are many fashion industry people who don't even think of swim as true fashion (remember the "Project Runway" challenge where the designers were supposed to create costumes for female pro wrestlers and Ricky got blasted because his design "looked like a bathing suit"?), but Amir Slama knows how to create figure-flattering, super sexy looks that still have the look of a haute runway.

His most recent show (Spring 2008) featured Piet Mondrian-like embellishments on suits in subdued versions of colors of the moment like gray, taupe, blood red, cobalt blue and salmon. He may be single-handedly responsible for the current trend of the monokini (a one-piece swimsuit with large cutouts on the side to expose a lot of skin), and his creativity with cut is unparalleled. Some of his looks are daring, some are more traditional, but they're all head turning, especially when worn by models with actual curves. Come to think of it, I've done New York Fashion Week, both spring and fall, and I can live without the suspense and drama in exchange for all Miami Swim has to offer. Rosa Cha just may be my favorite fashion show of the year!

Sources:
www.raleighhotel.com