I’m an online shopper through and through. I’m not really into crowded malls, and would much rather spend my time sitting on my couch drinking a latte while purchasing this season’s most darling [insert clothing item here]. Plus, with the majority of my favorite stores implementing easy and free returns, why not?

However, I’ve been stuck in an online retailer rut - not really venturing out into new online shopping territory. That is, until Lucky Magazine published their 100 under $100 online shopping guide in their July issue. Woohoo! More ways to spend my money!

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Now that the hustle and bustle of the holidays is behind us, the time has come to venture into the season of winter BLAH. You know, the cold and dark months of January and February, when many of us desperately crave sunlight and warmer temperatures.

Seasonal Affective Disorder rears its ugly head in full force during these months, and many people find that sitting in front of an artificial light source is helpful in curing their winter blues. According to many professionals, that brightness can help to lighten moods.

Well, what about our fashion choices? Is it possible that brightly-colored accessories could pull us out of our personal fashion doldrums in the upcoming months?

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Last time I checked in, I had painstakingly chosen eight pieces from my closet. Did any of you try to edit your own personal closet? It takes some seriously careful thought!

I pinpointed these pieces as my basics (Step 3), and then made a list of what was missing (Step 4). For me, I didn’t feel like I was missing any crucial pieces of clothing, but I did want to invest in some new accessories to spice up these separates for the upcoming season. Luckily, J. Crew was in the midst of a final sale, and I found some great deals on necklaces. I might have gone overboard. Please forgive me. (But they were REALLY GOOD DEALS.)

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images from J. Crew

We’ve been covering some ground with accessories and now it’s time for you to show us what you’ve got.

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I’ve noticed several of your comments regarding accessories, and let me tell you, I could spend AN ETERNITY discussing the intricacies of accessories. (Say THAT five times fast.) However, it would be a huge disservice for me to lump all accessory-related information in one short post, so I am introducing a monthly Accessories Report into The Working Closet’s mix.

This month’s AR delves into delicate necklaces. Although overscale jewelry was all over the runways for fall, open any fashion magazine and you will see a plethora of teeny-tiny chains and pendants gracing lovely necks.

What are the rules regarding delicate necklaces, you ask? Absolutely none! Gone are the days of ONLY wearing silver with silver, gold with gold and platinum with platinum. It’s time to combine and layer to your heart’s content. (I wear these two necklaces together on a daily basis. Jewelry Mix-and-Matchers UNITE!) And the beauty of dainty necklaces? You can wear them with absolutely anything. Chic blouses, colorful tees, structured jackets, cashmere sweaters, you name it.

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I recently read an article in In Style magazine about The Fab 5 pieces every woman should have in their closet. I can’t disagree - they listed five classic, go-to items, but I think some could be open to interpretation.

Let’s interpret, shall we?

The five items listed were:

1. Little Black Dress
2. Cardigan
3. White Button-Front Shirt
4. Jeans
5. Black Suit

Do you have all five of these items in your closet? It’s true, with the right accessories, these articles of clothing can get you through almost everything, but I’d like to add some food for thought. Before we start, it’s important to point out that these are the types of items that you should expect to spend more of your fashion budget on due to their longevity in your closet.

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Considering I’m traveling this week for the annual Blogher conference, I can’t think of a better time to chat about laptop bags.

Ahhh, the laptop bag - finding the perfect one can be quite daunting, right?

It seems more and more women are commuting to work with their laptops in tow, so the importance of a well-designed, stylish bag is paramount. Some of the criteria that crosses my mind while looking for a new bag are style, size, function, quality and timelessness. The first four are relatively easy to distinguish, as most of us have varying style preferences and needs. Are you a light or heavy traveler? Do you find shoulder straps more appealing than tote handles? Do you like several smaller compartments or one larger space? How much are you willing to shell out for a bag?  All of these questions can really only be answered by you.

However, timelessness is key. Considering the price of quality bags these days, you need to get some bang for the buck. Sure, that vibrant orange and lime green floral pattern is fun, but are you still going to love it one or two years down the road? Maybe, but it’s something to think about before committing to a new bag.

Lucky for you (I hope), I have scoured the laptop bag market for some fantastic options. Most of these bags come in several different colors, so if you are interested in a particular shape or design, click the link for other colors.

Slide down my virtual rainbow, if you will. (Badum Chhh! I’ll be here all night, folks!)

Acme Made, $129.99

Samsonite, $79.99

McKlein, $159.99

Casauri, $94.00

Acme Made, $249.99

Crumpler, $85.00

Casauri, $74.00

Jojo, $99.99

Knomo, $250

Most the the above items can be purchased at Kolobags, which is a HAVEN of highly attractive laptop bags. I definitely recommend checking out their website if you are on the lookout, and please feel free to leave other stylish laptop brands in the comments. I’m a huge proponent of sharing the love, so join me in my quest to banish ugly laptop bags forever!

On a normal day, I carry all of the following in my handbag: wallet, iPhone, ear buds for iPhone, iPod, Kleenex, hand wipes, contact lens drops, eye cream, nail file, tampons, Tide to Go stain remover pen, fancy hand cream from L’Occitane, face powder, breath mints, EnviroSax tote, Canon Power Shot A430 camera, three lip glosses, two lipsticks, and a tube of Aquaphor.

Seriously.

I also occasionally need to toss my laptop or my big camera or both into the bag, depending on where I’m going. And sometimes, it’s nice to have a sweater, just in case.

And you wonder why I have such a hard time finding a bag I adore.
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1925 diamond, onyx, and platinum bar pin, $13,995.00

A pin is a simple way to change the look of the most basic outfit. Pins or brooches are timeless and classic, but not always easy to find; right now, bangle bracelets are all the rage, which makes a really cool pin even more of a find.

That’s not to say, though, that finding a great brooch is impossible — you just have to know where to look. I have a soft spot for vintage pins, both because the craftsmanship on older pieces of jewelery is often far better than what you find today, and because an antique or vintage piece will certainly be one-of-a-kind, at least in my circle of friends. Keep in mind that vintage and estate and antique can mean very different things; vintage and antique are often used interchangeably to refer to pieces manufactured 20 or more years ago (a pin made in the 1980s is thus “vintage”). Vintage can also be used to reference a specific time period (Victorian or Art Deco for example). Pieces that are dramatically older than the 20 year mark (say from the early 1900s) may be referred to as antique rather than vintage. Estate jewelery, on the other hand, is pieces that were previously owned; some estate jewelery may be very old, while other pieces may be recent.

Pricing for vintage pieces depends on several factors: age, materials, and manufacturer. Pieces like the brooch pictured above will be out of reach for most of us, because of the price. The good news, though, is that cool vintage and vintage reproduction pieces are available at all price points.

Although I must confess that I am in love with that bar pin. Truly and deeply.

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I love jewelry; I love how easy it is to take a basic jeans-and-tee outfit and dress it up with the right pieces. But it is also easy to fall into a rut with your jewelry. Ever notice how every time you get dressed up, you put on the same earrings and necklace?

Next time you go somewhere, try something different. Try adding a pin. You heard me! PIN. Brooch. Something sparkly and shiny and exotic.

It’s easy.

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