For day one of our Costa Rica shoot, we took to Escazu, a province in the capital city of San Jose. This town is filled with so much charm and the people are so friendly and warm. It made for a wonderful day of shooting lifestyle and flat shots for spring.

We found some really cool street scenes, an old church in the middle of town, and best of all, a view to die for on top of a hill overlooking San Jose. There’s a quaint, rustic restaurant up there called Tiquicia. If you’re ever in San Jose, this place is a must stop. They have THE most amazing tilapia we have ever had as well as other traditional Costa Rican dishes that are absolutely delicious. And the view…well, it speaks for itself!

 Check out some highlights from day 1:

Each week in our Shop By pages, we feature some of our favorite trends to keep you in the know during your shopping experience. This week, our featured trends, nudes, glitter and plaid, are very different from each other yet each is a must-have in its own right. 

Nudes: We love all the chic and subdued shades out there right now. The trick to wearing nude shades is to complement your skin tone. Fair-skinned girls should opt for more rose or pink-toned nudes. Medium-skinned ladies, go for nudes with gold undertones. Dark or olive skin looks amazing against bronze-nude tones.

Glitter: You know the saying, too much of a good thing is NOT a good thing? The same goes for glitter. To look tastefully chic, keep your glitter item to a single item, whether it’s the focal point (like the dress featured above), or a sparkling accent (like a glitter shoe or clutch). It’s important to not go overboard with this trend.

Plaid: Now for the fellas! Plaid has always been our favorite go-to print for guys. It’s easy to wear, and you can wear it either on your top, bottom or as a cool trim or accent. Want a more fun way to wear plaid? Try wearing a plaid blazer to a daytime party or wedding to keep things interesting!

We recently had the exciting opportunity to meet and talk to the always-interesting Betsey Johnson during New York City Fashion Week. She was so down-to-earth and cool; we just can’t get enough of her! She even let us sit in on a graffiti session where she airbrushed the backdrop for their latest photo shoot. How awesome is that?!

Check out the new Betsey Johnson spring 2012 clothing line now available on Zappos.com!

Our style editing team was in NYC for Fashion Week and decided to do a little bit of people watching in SoHo. They saw so many stylish guys and girls walking around, they decided it would be fun to do a little “street style” action!

Check out a few well-dressed examples our stylists ran into around SoHo:

Selena: She pulls off the wide leg trouser so perfectly! Very Euro-chic.

Lauren T: Lauren works for Nicole Miller, so it’s no surprise that she pulls off such effortless style.

Erin M: This London resident looks fabulous in her chic neutral palette.

Colin R: Cardigans and scarves are always a great style staple for men!

Tremell H: The classic pea coat looks unexpectedly cool mixed with a Nordic-print sweater and funky denim.

Marc A: His classic-with-a-twist take on the trench is just so cool!

Jack and Valerie: This stylish couple looks perfectly pulled together in clean classics.

You might remember this week’s Stylist Spotlight Stephanie H. from last month’s feature. This time around, Stephanie creates an ensemble that’s perfect for a springtime date! We love how airy and modern this outfit is.

“I am stoked for some of this season’s biggest trends, particularly neutrals, pastels, and super feminine cuts,” says Stephanie.

Free People  pleated cami, Type Z tapered pants, Boutique 9 colorblock heels, Lucky Brand earrings, Aldo  peacock-print clutch, Jessica Simpson bracelet

Gar-Ye's "Prep School Grad" ensemble:

Ted Baker Furax Metallic Suit Blazer, Robbi & Nikki Tencel Shorts, Fred Perry V-Neck Tipped Cardigan, Nic+Zoe Diagonal Lines Top, Nicole Miller Over-the-Knee Socks, Frye Shirley Riding Boots, Kendra Scott Taj Necklace, Big Buddha Lavo Clutch

For this week’s Stylist Spotlight, we’re getting to know a little bit about our couture apparel stylist, Gar-Ye.

What do you do at Zappos?

G: I try to provide a WOW experience for our customers as the fashion/couture apparel stylist!

Any fun facts about yourself? 

G: I love Steve Nash, eat Kit Kats by the layer, and have never fallen in heels.

Describe your personal style:

G: Whatever makes me feel beautifully comfortable and gives me the feeling that I can conquer anything that comes at me.

What was your last Zappos purchase, or what is your dream purchase?:

G: I am completely coveting the Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Huge Hillier Hobo…I would totally embarrass myself every single day for three months just to have it.  Wait, that already happens!  Does that mean I'll be getting the bag soon?

What are your top 4 favorite brands at Zappos.com?

G: 10 Crosby by Derek Lam, Robert Rodriguez, L.A.M.B, and BCBGeneration

Spring is in the air! Well, maybe not quite yet, but we’re definitely getting excited for the new season after coming back from our Spring 2012 photo shoot! My team and I were lucky enough to be able to shoot in the beautiful country of Costa Rica once again.

We’ve got LOTS more to share from Costa Rica, including fun behind-the-scenes videos and a new Travel Stylelogue series that we’ll be launching very soon with helpful travel and style tips for each of our on-location trips, starting with the land of “Pura Vida”—Costa Rica!. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, check out this video of our scouting trip around Escazu and Manuel Antonio:

Location scouting in Costa Rica! from Zappos.com on Vimeo.

Being stylish doesn’t have to equal spending more! For today’s Style on a Budget, I’ve put together an outfit that’s perfect for daytime. Each piece also works great when mixed and matched with your other ensembles. I’m all about getting the most mileage out of every purchase!

Easy on the eyes, easy on the wallet— who says you can’t look fabulous on a budget?

1. Culture Phit Leola Top, 2. Levi's Juniors Low Bell Jean, 3. GUESS flower cocktail ring, 4. BCBGeneration Linear Earrings, 5. POPbeauty lip stain, 6. Type Z Marietta wedges, 7. Big Buddha Jasper handbag