Key Pieces: Mini skirts, bold prints, leopard anything/everything, skirtsuits, body-con dresses, tights, the occasional statement evening gown for when Mr. Sheffield lets her out of the house and, of course, tons and tons of hairspray.

Designers to Wear: Vivienne Westwood, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Betsey Johnson

Defining Fashion Moment: Whenever Mr. Sheffield had any sort of high-brow event at the manse, Fran would finagle her way into the party with a show-stopping entrance atop the staircase, which she would then descend dramatically like the drag queen she is. However, any serious discussion of Fran’s style would be incomplete without mention of  her equally fabulous mother Sylvia Fine and gold-lamé-loving grandmother Yetta. The apple doesn’t fall far from the heavily-sequined tree.

LINK LOVE: Fashion Copious

Kristen will be rated on the below categories, five being the highest and 1 being the lowest.

Fit: 5

Appropriateness: 4

Trendiness: 4

Styling: 3

Shoes: 3

Hair: 3

Makeup: 4

Pose: 1

Confidence: 3

I actually really love this dress, but Kristen’s hair looks limp, the shoes were a mediocre choice and she appears stiff and uncomfortable. You have to work it to make the clothes look good!

1. Loveday 31, Astoria
Owner and curator Ivona Bilicic knows her stuff – she used to be a buyer at famous rip-off Manhattan vintage store Screaming Mimi’s. But the merchandise at Loveday 31 is far from overpriced and much more carefully selected. Eccentric metallic shirts from the 80s share a rack with silk Givenchy shirts and Prada dresses. Uniquely shaped vintage bags are shown among locally designed jewelry and antique brooches. I recently bought a black, intricately knit shirt with metallic silver threads and 7-inch long fringe for $40.

Credit: Free Williamsburg

2. Beacon’s Closet, Williamsburg & Park Slope
Perhaps the most well-known local Brooklyn thrift store chain, Beacon’s Closet has something for everyone. Both locations have their fine points: the more-crowded Williamsburg store has about four times the merchandise ranging from beat-up tees to Pucci pumps while the slightly more refined selection at Park Slope requires less digging and waiting. Some of my best buys include an $18 Marc by Marc Jacobs sweater and $18 brand new Betseyville shoes.

3. Buffalo Exchange, Williamsburg
You won’t find a ton of vintage merchandise at Buffalo Exchange, but you might come across some cool new digs along the way. Designer denim for men and women usually costs less than $20 and a brand new chunky necklace will set you back about $8. There are great vintage finds too, like a pair of Marc Jacobs sandals I bought for $24 a couple years ago.

4. Housing Works, Upper East Side
Where do all of the wealthy UES women take their Ferragamos and Pradas when they don’t want them any more? Housing Works, of course. In my opinion, this location is the best of the 10 retail stores around the city. There aren’t a million downtown vintage hunters in your face, and the merchandise comes straight from Park and Madison Avenues. It also has the best vintage jewelry selection -  I have at least a dozen pieces from my summer living in the same neighborhood.

5. Monk Vintage, Williamsburg
Where can you buy a rainbow striped bow tie, cummerbund and pocket square matching set? Monk Vintage in Brooklyn has about 10 for you to choose from. From the tutus suspended from the ceiling to mounds of vintage jewelry, you will find super fun and unique vintage pieces here. Dresses run from around $25 – $40 while a full suit will cost you about $100. Everything is in pretty good condition and the store is small, so you won’t spend hours looking for an outfit. The peach Polo Ralph Lauren Western shirt I got for $35 is still one of my favorites.

6. Goodwill, Chelsea
Of all the Goodwills in the city, why this one? Are the workers nicer? Absolutely not, but the selection is all that. This fairly new outlet isn’t too crowded, but it is fairly organized. If you’re familiar with Goodwill, expect all of the same prices and merchandise categories. Last week, I found a leather Coach computer bag in good condition for $20.

7. Vintage Thrift, Gramercy
From Manolos to mink throw pillows, this store literally has everything. You can get a stack of records with your dining room table and Italian designer ties with a retro KitchenAid mixer. Not only has Vintage Thrift been named Zagat’s #1 NYC thrift store four years in a row, profits go to The United Jewish Council of the East Side.

8. Viceversa, Williamsburg
Maybe the most overlooked Williamsburg thrift store, Viceversa is definitely worth your time. Stocked with equal parts men’s and women’s apparel, you can find everything from red cowboy boots to sequined muumuus. Prices here are dynamite – you can snag a fur coat for as little as $40. I bought an 80s rainbow sequin dress for $20 last year; I recently saw the same exact dress on Nasty Gal retailing for more than $200.

9. The Antiques Garage, Chelsea
Lauren from Corvus Noir introduced me to The Antiques Garage last summer when I interviewed her for FashionIndie. This place is insane. From 9 am – 5 pm every Saturday and Sunday, you can walk through this concrete jungle of every antique imaginable. It can be a little overwhelming, so take it slow – one table at a time. I bought a gorgeous leather, color-block bag with a chain strap for $10 the last time I was there.

10. No Relation Vintage, East Village
Nestled among the dozens of nail salons and pizzerias on First Avenue, No Relation Vintage is a rare gem. Little nooks throughout the store hold specifics like shoes or sundresses while scarves sit in a basket by the register, waiting to be impulsed purchased. In true East Village fashion, you won’t find a shortage of leather jackets or distressed band tees. Many a silk scarf from this old school thrift store hangs in my apartment.

Did I miss anything? What is your favorite NYC thrift store?

LINK LOVE: Style.com

Photo Credit: Zimbio

Hollywood glam meets New York City party girl glam is one way to describe Jenny Packham’s Fall 2011 collection. This line is filled with chiffon silk dresses bedazzled in beautiful black, gold and silver sequins. Her amazing bead work was on full display with lots of small details, like the floral sequin designs, that can be found on each piece. She played with the idea of building sequin over sequin, but kept the fabric from being weighed down to keep it moving with the body. Her staple silk gowns in champagne and blush tones also made a guest appearance. Floor length dresses with thigh-high slits were reminiscent of old Hollywood glam. This line doesn’t have your typical staple pieces but has nothing but head-turning garments.

Photo Credit: NY Mag

LINK LOVE: Knight Cat

1. Wear more fur. I want to be on PETA‘s “Most Wanted List” in 2011. Hell, I’d kill a family of chinchillas, skin them and wear them if I could. Nature is going to shit anyway, so why not put those endangered species to good use? Drape me from head to stiletto in fur and if possible, blood diamonds — I will single-handedly ruin what’s left of this world.

2. No more jeggings. This is a hard one. I officially own more pairs of jeggings than I do of actual jeans, but the trend is already becoming horribly outdated. Still, on a bloated day, there’s nothing more comfortable than breathable cotton. Except maybe breathable cotton and a pint of Mint Chocolate Chip iced cream. I mean, you’re already bloated, might as well go down with the ship.

3. Find shoes that actually fit me. Yesterday I found a bit of blood in my socks from my combat boots digging unmercifully into my heels. And my pinky toe is all but dead from being constantly wedged into vintage shoes. But sometimes you have to pounce on a Cuban heel and suck it up for the sake of fashion.

4. Learn to tie a bowtie. Right now I only (sadly) have one bowtie, a clip on chambray from American Apparel. However, it behooves a gentleman to know how to properly affix a bowtie. That, and to mix a proper cocktail and to properly kiss another man with tongue.

5. Rely less on H&M. Gaga knows I love those damned Swedes. The majority of my wardrobe derives from Hennes and Mauritz, but as my style and tastes develop, I will inevitably have to stray from the flock. However, if they continue with their all-star collaborations, I might have to throw this resolution under the bus, much like the year I decided to “cut back on drinking.”

6. Bring back the ascot. This has been a resolution of mine since I was about 14 and why not?, it’s a perfectly reasonable neck accessory that doesn’t at all remind people of hapless, blond, teenaged snoops.  Over the years, I’ve periodically worn ascots to varying degrees of success. Once, I wore it on a job interview and I like to think it had nothing to do with my not receiving a callback.

7. Get photographed by The Sartorialist. This is partly just me stroking my own vanity. Okay, it’s completely just me stroking my own vanity, but dammit, do you think I’m walking around in capes, sequins and harem pants for fun?! Okay, I totally am, but I would at least like it documented for posterity’s sake.

8. Find a practically-sized day bag. When traipsing about New York, I like to be prepared for any and everything, thus I carry a man purse that would put Mary Poppins’ magical carpet bag to shame. More than once have I pulled out a coat rack from the depths of my tote, but no longer! I’m actually contemplating a stylish backpack (suggestions, anyone?), or a medium-sized tote for my everyday travels. And that’s what I like to call “progress.”

9. Find a good tailor. A good tailor is absolutely essential — not just to let out one’s clothing after gorging on holiday fare, though that in itself is god’s work — but sometimes the perfect pair of pants can be a bit too big or a bit too short. Enter a tailor and for a few bucks, those Cheap Mondays look a little less cheap.

10. Shop more. The bottom-line to all this resolving and promise-making is that I need to step up my shopping game. That means I’ve got to throw around more plastic than an Ultimate Frisbee championship, roll out more dough than a pizzeria and carry more bags than Oprah‘s eyes.

It’s a tough job, but in order to truly make a change in 2011, it’s necessary.

Yes. I. Can.

Cartoon: Political Graffiti

A common misconception is that sequins can make a make look like a woman, cabaret actor, or “too gay.” (Which might be the same exact thing.) Anyways men are disproving this by wearing the flash on their sleeves, literally, and not only looking masculine but also refined. I’m all about glitz and shine of the material that I hope this trend for men stays for a while.

Here are some looks that I am loving:

Revolve Clothing.com has just started to carry one of my favorite brands, Anzevino & Florence, purveyors of LA-based streetwear that’s both clever and modern.

So far, Revolve is stocking A&F’s flouncy sheer dresses and sequined racerback tanks, but the brand also includes plenty of t-shirts and hoodies with their own playful approach to streetwear.  They are the perfect pieces to take from day to night, and this cropped sequined top is no exception.

 Pair it with a high-waisted shirt or shorts, like the model has done, and I think you could get away with it in daylight hours if it’s worn with flats and minimal or zero jewelry.

Crop tops are officially back, people, so you’re going to have to get those abs in shape!

Shop the brand on Revolve Clothing. com here

I really like how she paired the glam top with faded, hole-y jeans.

Sequined Jacket: Guess

Striped Top: H&M

Skirt: Jonathan Saunders for Target

Heels: From China

Link Love: The Voguette

Only Diane Kruger can wear full sequins and still look classy…anyone else notice the rock on her right hand?

Now that Fashion Week has descended the fashion gods upon us we no longer need to look to celebrities for sub-par moments of style. Daphne Guinness, one of my personal favorites, starts off the week wearing leather, sequins and a cage for her waist. Anyone who can sport that combination without looking life a leftover from a costume party/strip club is owning their look.

SOURCE: NY Mag’s Cut Blog

 Anja Rubik, Natsha Poly, Myf Shepherd and Raquel Zimmermann suit up in sequin animal print for this Fall ’09 Gucci campaign. Looks like blond, blunt, bangs are in for Gucci girls this season.

Visiting the Topshop in New York let me disappointed, it was totally not worth the extremely long wait the delayed openings created. I left thinking I’d check back when the Fall stock started coming in, and it looks like I won’t be disappointed this time. Besides the fact that there can be no delayed openings for a collection of clothing, these looks are awesome. The leopard booties, thigh high leather boots and bleached out denim dress are so tacky-chic I can’t resist. There is a strong 80′s influence, an overabundance of sequins, crop tops and harem pants. Sounds perfect for fall, Topshop you’ve won me over again.

SOURCE: Refinery 29′s Pipeline

Cesar Paciotti created this shoe in honor of Dita Von Teese. Weird since I’ve never seen her wear any form of platform, but the sequins and studs def seemd like Dita.

LINKAGE:  My Fashion Life