STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Business in the Front, Party in the Back

I for one, am an avid lover of the high-low or “mullet” trend. Super easy to wear and flattering on almost every body type, this item is a must-have in every wardrobe this year. “High-low” refers to the shorter hem in the front and longer hem in the back. This trend has been shown this season in skirts as well as dresses and tops. The adorable Fashionista I spotted selected a button-down white tunic that looks awesome paired with moss-green Dr. Martens.

If you prefer to wear the trend in a blouse version like this Fashionista, there is no end to the combinations that lay ahead. This gal chose to keep her outfit quite understated, but a high-low blouse would look great paired with printed or colored denim, leggings or even a pair of ripped cutoffs. The blouse is the focal point of the outfit, so no ostentatious accessories are needed. I loved the vintage turquoise jewelry this Fashionista chose. Now that the season is feeling a little bit more like fall, the top can be styled with a leather jacket and infinity scarf. This blouse or this option are both similar to the one our Fashionista is wearing. Or, for those more daring, this awesome sheer-backed top would rock.

If the high-low skirt or dress is more your jam, you also have tons of artistic license to style it any way you choose. The skirt or dress version is very flattering to those of us who are petite or have shorter legs, since the extreme cut of the skirt creates a lengthening effect. Make sure to find a hem that isn’t too short in the front, and won’t sweep the floor in the back. You can wear them during the day with a simple top and flats or boots, or in the evening with a pair of heels and a belt cinched at the waist. I love this Staring at Stars chiffon high-low dress. This Forever 21 skirt is a great option for those looking to try the trend but not wanting to invest in a piece.

The mullet is back y’all, and it’s better than ever!

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STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Business In The Front, Party In The Back

When you think mullet what’s the first thought that comes to mind? I don’t know about you but automatically I think Joe Dirt or Billy Ray Cyrus. However, recently mullets have established themselves in fashion. No, I don’t mean the hairstyle thank goodness. This is no hairy situation. Enter the mullet skirt, otherwise known as the high-low skirt.

As soon as I saw this Fashionista I had to chase her down even if that meant shoving through the lines of hungry college students. Not only is the skirt’s cut incredible, but also the mint color is as fresh as a mint. With summer coming to an abrupt halt, this skirt is the perfect choice for looking trendy in the blistering heat. The chiffon fabric is light and airy which can be nice when you are power walking to class so the professor doesn’t give you that dreaded late glare.

This Fashionista lets the skirt do the talking by pairing it with a basic black tank top and minimal accessories. The skirt may not be as versatile as a pair of jeans but it is rather simple to choose a top to accompany this wonder. It can be worn with a printed tank top with colors in a similar hue or a chunky knit sweater in a neutral color for when the weather becomes cooler. If you are an accessory junkie like I am, a short chunky necklace in another pastel color like lilac or periwinkle would take this skirt up a notch in the style department. Another option would be the layered bracelet trend. Don’t overcomplicate the skirt; after all it does all the talking.

This look has been sported all over from the red carpet by the likes of Blake Lively to the runway of Jason Wu’s spring 2012 collection to Rutgers University’s campus. Take note from this gossip girl and you too could become the talk of the campus.

The beauty of skirts and dresses are the fact that they are not always seasonal. No longer do you have to pack away your entire summer wardrobe as soon as the leaves begin to fall. You can be as transitional as the season by pairing this mullet skirt with sheer dark tights and viola, instantly trendy and weather conscience.

Fashionistas take note of this trend before Mother Nature ushers in the bitter cold.

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STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Business In The Front, Party In The Back

Ever since reading this post by one of my favorite bloggers, Leandra Medine of the Man Repeller, I have been drawn to what she calls the “mullet dress.” The garment lives up to the “business in the front, party in the back” mantra of the gastly haircut made popular in the '80s. This Fashionista’s blouse follows this same description with two drastically different hems. From the front, the top looks like an adorable tunic. The utilitarian pockets and buttons down the front add interesting details. However, the back is the real showstopper.

I spotted her gorgeous sheer gray tail flowing behind her from across the street and had to take a picture. The long back of this “mullet” top is dramatic. Think about an evening dress with a long train, or a men’s tuxedo jacket with tails. The effect is the same. Want more of an impact? Try this version from NASTY GAL done in leopard print with a back cut-out.

This Fashionista pairs her “mullet” top with a black tank and shorts to keep it from being too sheer. She adds black sandals and a black shoulder bag as well, to avoid distracting from the rest of the outfit. One of my favorite parts of the outfit is her pair of large chandelier earrings. She sports a dramatic pair in one of the most popular hues for the summer: mint. Want to make a similar statement? Try an ear cuff like this one! The ear cuff is one of my favorite accessories of the season. You don’t even have to have your ears pierced to sport the tiny cuff.

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STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Business in the Front, Party in the Back

This past week I visited San Francisco. The weather, as well as the sartorial choices of the NoCal Fashionistas, took a total “180” from that of New York City. This Fashionista, donning a pair of strappy sandals that would have deemed her toes frostbitten and functionless in the northeast, epitomized the bohemian yet cosmopolitan vibe infiltrating the closets and sloped streets of the Bay. Her brown skirt is much more than a simple sheet of jersey, the unorthodox cut of the garment lends more than a ton of embellishment could. As she walked towards me on the street, the fabric rippled and intensified with each stride, and thus invigorated the entire outfit. Her top, a graphic geometric patterned blouse that is, once again, more complex in cut than it is in fabric, is chic, bohemian, and simple.

Her outfit, sensually and aesthetically appealing, is one more easily achieved than it seems. This sartorial young woman paired two basic peices, uncomplicated and fuss-free, yet in doing so achieved an overall look of composure and depth. The two peices work well together: the billowing brown skirt is tied down by the geometric, more structured blouse. As I look at this outfit, I realize that many of you readers will simply scroll over the sunshine-filled image and in such great disdain for your colder conditions, run and cry into an oversized sweater or long underwear. Instead of pitying yourself for the not-so-temperate winter weather, take cues from this summery ensemble. Although the mercury in most thermometers dares not creep past the 20 degree mark, the grounds are, for the most part, powder-free. That said, maxi skirts are still an option for New Yorkers and the rest.

In the upcoming weeks, pair a maxi skirt in a diluted, dark hue (think navy, burgundy, chocolate or black) with tights, thick socks and cute (and warm) boots. The infamous Man Repeller suggested the same in October of 2010, and I feel the power of a maxi(mum) in times of minimum sunlight remains. Maxi skirts, when paired with a short heel, seriously lengthen any frame. By incorporating frivolous summer fashion into the drab landscape of winter fashion, you are sure to feel at least a little better about an impending blizzard or frozen eyelashes.