Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.

"Until Breakfast at Tiffany's, glamorous women of the movies occupied strata available only to the mind-blowingly chic. satin-wrapped, ermine-lined ladies of the boulevard, whom no one but a true movie star could ever become. But Holly was different. She wore simple things. They weren't that expensive. And they looked stunning."

-Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.

Reading Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman by Sam Wasson is the next best thing to being on set. From Capote's shocking novel and Audrey's reluctance to play a call girl to Hubert de Givenchy's iconic black dress and the writing of "Moon River", Wasson's book delves into the behind the scenes drama of the movie as well as into American culture before the sexual revolution. My only complaint about this book is that it's too short!

Things i LOVE Thursday

Reading Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. by Sam Wasson

Listening to "E.T." by Katy Perry

Working as a stand in on a new set

Wanting The Mary Shelley Dress from ModCloth

Learning to belly dance (or at least trying to)

Painting my nails with OPI Black Shatter

Getting a much needed haircut at Ulta

Becoming engrossed in the drama of Downton Abbey

Hearting the 'Bulbli' Pump by Ivanka Trump

Loving this Pow Comic inspired rhinestone covered fascinator

Lessons Learned from Working Retail

Retail is not my favorite industry to work. I find it monotonous and, quite frankly, soul killing; however, I've learned several valuable lessons since taking a position behind the register.

Dress Professionally

The nicer you dress the nicer people treat you. It's amazing how putting a little more effort into what I'm wearing can make all the difference in my day at work. I feel better about myself and am treated like a responsible employee. A good rule of thumb for dressing professionally is to wear three key pieces - meaning your outfit should look something like this:

• button down shirt, trousers, scarf
• blouse, cardigan, skirt
• dress, blazer, statement necklace

Never Pay Full Price

Unless you are shopping at a high turnover store like Forever 21, you should wait a few weeks before buying that new top. Many stores start marking down new items within a month of getting them. For instance, a store recently was selling a belt for $49.50, and within a few weeks, the belt was marked down to $8.99. Also, check to see when your favorite stores offer promotions such as during weekends or a certain day each month.

Ask About Student Discounts

Stores don't always advertise student discount programs, but asking about a student discount could save you around 15%.

Online Sales Don't Always Match In Store Sales

Don't assume that the sale on a store's website is the same sale the store is running at the mall. Sometimes an item will be marked down in the store but regular price online.

Buy Outfits

It's so easy to grab a cute dress only to take it home and realize you have nothing to wear with it. Know your closet and the styles you are most likely to wear. If you are buying suit pants, try to budget for the matching coat so that you aren't rushing around six months later to finish off your outfit. One store I worked at emphasized the importance of buying seven pieces based around three outfits:

• Look #1 = Jacket + Top + Skirt
• Look #2 = Top + Jeans/Pants
• Look #3 = T-shirt + Leggings

The idea is that you can mix and match any of these seven pieces to create numerous looks.

What's the most important lesson you've learned from your job?

Need, Want, Have to Have: Jeffrey Campbell Shoes

For a girl who loves shoes, my shoe collection is on the slim side. I have two or three pairs in constant rotation but nothing unique or exciting. After browsing LuLu's selection of Jeffrey Campbell shoes, I have fallen in love with several pairs that I feel I must own. These clever, architectural wonders will make my feet the star of any outfit. Suddenly, I understand how the Wicked Witch of the West felt about those ruby slippers, and I find myself staring at the screen saying, "I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!"

Skate Brown Wooden Scrollwork Wedge Booties

Wrecker Brown Leather Buckled Ankle Boots

Pingpong Wine Combo Strap Wedge Boots

Ferme Brown Suede Architectural Ankle Boots

Demeter Beige Brown Stripe It Wedges

Don't forget to enter the FootzyRolls Giveaway!

Things i LOVE Thursday

Taking a belly dancing class

Baking cupcakes

Listening to "Grenade" by Bruno Mars

Hearting my new Zoya nail polish

Wanting these Marlowe + Wren Cozy Fleece Leggings

Loving the idea of glamping

Watching the continuing saga of Downton Abbey

Wishing I had an apartment that looked like this

Browsing Forgotten Bookmarks

FootzyRolls Giveaway

Standing around in heels can be a pain. Thankfully, FootzyRolls is here to help. With stylish, rollable shoes you can stash in your bag, FootzyRolls offers a comfortable escape when you need a change of pace.

From flip flops to ballet flats, there's bound to be a pair you'll love. Shoes range from $19.99 to $30. Here are some of my favorites:

Snakeskins in red will add a little spice to your outfit.

Footzyrolls Luxe Holiday Sparkle Collection in sparkle black is sure to go with everything.

Sizzlin Summer Snake Skins in tranquil tourquise is my favorite and is perfect for spring.

FootzyRolls is offering one lucky reader a pair of shoes!

To Enter Giveaway:

1. Like Footzyroll Rollable Shoes on Facebook then leave a comment on their wall about a time you had a painful heel experience. Comeback here and leave a comment below with your email.

Extra entries:

1. Subscribe to The Fashion Planner

2. Follow me on Twitter (@akaleistar)

3. Follow FootzyRolls on Twitter (@footzyrolls)

Make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry!

Giveaway open until midnight, January 31, 2011.

Open internationally.

Winner will be chosen by random drawing.

Dreaming of Evening Gowns

Despite working all weekend, I made time to watch Miss America and the Golden Globes, and even though I found both events lacking in the glamour and class of years past, I couldn't help but long for an occasion to dress up. There's nothing like wearing an evening gown to make a girl stand a little straighter and smile a little brighter. While Olivia Wilde's gorgeous Marchesa gown may be out of reach, a girl can still dream. New Year's Resolution #490: Attend a formal event this year!

Mac Duggal Pageant

Cassandra Evening Gowns

Jovani

Will you be attending any formal events this year?

Things i LOVE Thursday

Listening to Steel Magnolia's "Just By Being You (Halo and Wings)"

Reading Murder on the Bride's Side by Tracy Kiely

Expanding my culinary horizons by baking vegan cupcakes

Watching Season 1 of Pushing Daisies

Looking for new books to read this year

Getting a snow day from work

Acting in my friend's short film

Hearting these heels

Buying a wall calendar with witty quotes like

"Adventure is worthwhile in itself" - Amelia Earhart

Watching the first episode of Downton Abbey

Loving Erdem

Yesterday, as I was flipping through the February issue of Harper's Bazaar, I came across a little article on Erdem and was immediately enchanted. The Spring collection is inspired by the Victoria & Albert Museum's Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes, 1909-1929 exhibition and is full of dreamy dresses that have me yearning for spring.

What do you think of this collection?

The Year of the Lady

Maybe, it's all this talk about Kate Middleton or just the realization that I am still mistaken for a high schooler, but this year I want to focus on dressing more like a lady. Goodbye flip-flops, sneakers, and sweats. Hello dresses, lipstick, and heels!

Dress for Change

Unlike pants, which require you to dig through your closet to find a top that goes with them, a dress is an outfit all in one. Of course, accessories are a wonderful addition, but technically, all you need to do is slip on a pair of shoes and you are ready to go. So, why is it girls don't wear dresses everyday? Women's lib? Windy weather? All I know is that I am guilty of practically living in leggings and jeans and that has got to change. My goal is to wear a couple of dresses a week - not too ambitious, but achievable. J. Crew seems like a good place to start for my closet overhaul.

Lipstick Queen

Lipstick is that ladylike standby so often overlooked in favor of lipgloss and Chapstick. I usually steer clear of red, the queen of lipsticks, for fear of it smearing all over my face in clown-like fashion or worse, looking like a little kid playing in her mommy's makeup bag. However, a lady must master the classic, red lip. I'm playing around with M.A.C.'s Ruby Woo, a long-lasting, retro red.

Walking in Heels

I've pranced around in my fair share of stilettos, but heels have no place in my everyday wardrobe. I'll give myself a pass since it's winter and everything is coated in a sheet of ice, but come spring, my shoes must reach for new heights. For inspiration, I need look no further than Sea of Shoes, that infamous blog of enviable footwear.

What's your fashion resolution?

Saturday Haul

It's hard to believe Christmas was a little more than two weeks ago. I feel that life is in hyperdrive, and surely it must be March by now. Thankfully, today marks the end of the first week in January, and there is still plenty of time to enjoy the new year. Here is a peak at some of the goodies that made their way to me for Christmas.

Star Wars pancake molds are the perfect way to make breakfast feel out of this world.

Thanks to Misty for the delightful Jane Austen inspired stationary! Now I have to decide who is worthy of receiving one of these handmade cards.

Anna Sui is a lovely retrospective of the designer's collections, and I think How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack is pretty self-explanatory.

A sweet, Juicy Couture, cupcake charm to add to my growing collection.

A whimsical calendar for planning a magical year.

Team Edward? Team Jacob? I'm ready to move on to someone a little more interesting.

Links a la Mode: The IFB Weekly Roundup

In With The New

Edited by: The Sunday Best

It's funny how an arbitrary measurement like time can cause us to reassess our lives, make long lists of promises, and end up overpaying for bad parties filled with depressed people staring into their drinks. Just me? Let's start the year off right with a collection of links bursting with new year-y goodness.

Links à la Mode: January 6th

55th Street: Twelve months, twelve photos, twelve words

Analogue Chic: Fashion anomalies - under-the-radar trends from 2010

Archives: Best of the worst 2010 (photos)

Awakened Aesthetic: The heiress and the architect

Brunette Blogging: The blogging flu

Dramatis Personae: 50 radical New Year's goals

Elle Enchanted: Tips on being a better blog reader

Fashezine: Delicate matters (organic cotton)

Fierce: How an editorial calendar can save you

Forever Amber: What I learned from a month of wearing dresses

Independent Fashion Bloggers: 10 Tips To Get Back Into Blogging

Inkblot*Photography: Sound Off - A note on body image

Karma-Style: No mutton allowed...

Miss Vinyl Ahoy: 8 simple rules for mixing patterns

Moda de la Mode: Let's start a colour revolution

Naked Glory: Fashion and sex

Tall Girl Blogging: Remarkably unremarkable - Blogging and body image

The Cheap Girl in a Chic World: Fashion rules were meant to be broken

The Coveted: Wearing Summer Dresses in the Dead of Winter

The Elegant Bohemian: All the glitters

The Fashion Planner: New Year Detox

SPONSOR:

Shopbop Boot Sale: S.Weitzman, Dolce Vita, Ash, S.Edelman, T.Burch, J.Campbell, Minnetonka, Loeffler, Hunter, UGG, Frye

Things i LOVE Thursday

Loving the start of a new year and all the possibilities it holds

Watching Josh Groban Sings Kanye West Tweets

Starting the new year off right by rereading Pride and Prejudice

Hearting these new shoes by Ivanka Trump. Hello, spring!

Wanting this awesome two finger ring

Donating winter accessories at Lush and receiving free bath bombs

Vowing to save money then opening up a savings account

Discovering 10 Phrases That Make French a Language Worth Preserving

Wanting a bathroom like this

Baking my new favorite cookies - mint chocolate chip

Ebates: A New Way to Shop

Every year I vow to spend less and buy only what I need, but I am lucky if that resolution lasts a week. This year I am going to focus on smart shopping. Ebates is a wonderful site that allows you to earn cash back from online purchases. Simply register on their website then search for stores you normally shop. For instance, I love to shop at Ulta and can earn 5.0% cash back when I make a purchase using Ebates. Plus, Ebates lists coupon codes that I can use on my purchase thus saving me even more money. Ebates, also, offers amazing incentives for their referral program. Refer friends, and you could earn cash, an ipad, or even a vacation! If this post feels too much like an advertisement, let me assure you that this is not sponsored by Ebates; I just really like shopping through them. Of course, I do have another motive which is saving you money while I try to earn a free vacation :)

Click here to register.

What are your money saving tips? Any sites you would recommend?

New Year Detox

I love the feeling of a fresh start that the new year brings. Let's embrace 2011 and make it the best year to date!

Put Down the Self-help Book and Do Something

It is so tempting to believe that reading 500 pages is enough to transform yourself into the person you want to be. Sadly, this is not the way life works. The only way to change is to make an effort to be different. January is the perfect time to reflect on your life goals and to create a plan to achieve them.

Learn Something New

To be successful in life, you must always keep learning. Unfortunately, I am always making lists of all the things I want to learn but rarely acting on those wishes. I find that I am the type of person who needs to learn with other people in order to stay motivated, but I often lack the time to take classes. My goal this year is to actually start crossing goals off my lists, whether I am working by myself or in a group. Many colleges and organizations are now offering online courses, and MIT OpenCourseWare is a brilliant place to start. Goals don't have to be complicated like becoming fluent in French or climbing Mount Everest. Starting small is good. I'd love to try one new recipe a month.

Keep a Journal

Keeping a journal is a simple way to keep track of your life, but don't fret that this has to be a big project. A few years ago, I tried to write three pages every morning and quickly gave up. Since then, I have learned that writing at night fits better into my schedule and that it's OK to write only one sentence for the day.

Clean Out Your Closet

It's time to let go of worn out, outdated, never worn clothes. Separate your clothes, shoes, and accessories into three groups: wear often, never wear, and damaged. Put everything in the wear often pile back into your closet. If you rarely or never wear an item, it's time to let it go. Donate used items to the Salvation Army or try selling to a resale shop such as Plato's Closet. For those items you can't part with (prom/wedding dress, childhood ruby slippers), find a new place to store them, or even better, use them to decorate. Finally, see if any of the damaged items can be easily repaired; if not, find new uses for them.

Buy New Underthings

Never underestimate the power of a good bra. If you are wearing worn out undergarments, nothing you own is going to fit properly. Thankfully, January is a great time to stock up. Victoria's Secret's semi-annual sale is just starting.

Organize Your Wardrobe

I'm a firm believer that your life cannot be organized if your wardrobe is not. Whether you separate everything by type, color, or outfit, develop a system in order to make it easier to shop your closet. Putting together a lookbook is a perfect way to plan outfits and to discover what key pieces are missing. Shameless self-promotion: The Fashion Planner's Guide (An Interactive Guide to Style) is a magical little ebook that will help you put outfits together. It's designed to be printed out so that you can make notes and glue pictures into the workbook. Now selling for only $3.99, and you can preview the first few pages for free!

Toss Your Makeup

Makeup doesn't last forever, so say goodbye to products that are past their shelf life. Check out this guide from bellasugar.

Dust Off Your Bookshelves

I have the hardest time getting rid of books, but there is no reason to hang on to a book you didn't like. Swap.com is a wonderful way to trade books, movies, music, and video games, and you only pay for shipping. So far, I have saved $156 by swapping instead of buying new books and have decreased my carbon footprint by 188 pounds.

What changes are you making for the new year?