The Style Insider is having a little tantrum. We seem to be yearning for a Bermuda-shorts kind of life, for days filled with beaches and golf courses and cocktails. Wouldn’t that be nice? So we’re shopping.

When we say Bermuda shorts, what we mean is plaid. We don’t want wimpy little normal shorts. We want shorts that look like they’re on a holiday, like they’re taking a vacation from their normal little (more…)

First, the critical info: Easter is April 12. If you still need to buy Easter dresses, it’s crunch time. 

The Style Insider sees two ways this can go. You can put your daughter(s) in the car, traipse from store to store, show them everything you want them to wear (at which they will roll their eyes), veto everything they want to wear (at which they will whine and moan), and then find a compromise no one is really happy about. Or you can shop online.

Good decision.

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We take our responsibilities very seriously at The Style Insider, and never more than on a day when we are discussing swimwear. Can we think of anything more unloved than shopping for swimsuits? Root canals, maybe? Airsickness? Paying taxes?

So our mission for the day is this: Find cute swimsuits for you that can be ordered online and Try Them On At Home, away from the chirpy voice and size 2 hips of the girl working in the swimsuit department. (You could even try them on during cocktail hour. We find that it helps.)

Our requirements: Great-looking suits in a variety of styles, and shipping costs that aren’t prohibitive (because we like to order more (more…)

Have you seen those insane heels we blogged about a few days ago? Gorgeous, we know, and they qualify in every way as shoe porn. But we’ve got an antidote - wondrous little ballerina flats, which are at home under suits or jeans, conservative dresses or teensy little skirts. Take a peek:

We love the color of Ferragamo’s Varina flat (above). It’s the perfect shade of taupe, floating as it does between shades of gray and latte; the signature grosgrain bow is just a tad darker. (At Nordstrom, $470).

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We know. You want to shoot us for suggesting that you buy a white coat in the winter, the very time of year when you’re most apt to get it dirty.

We’re sorry. We are just the messengers, and bigger kids than us are documenting the trend: the New York Times On the Street showcases plenty of folks donning white, ivory and cream colored coats this season.

In our never-ending quest to keep you current, The Style Insider went shopping for some pristine outerwear that will even outshine the snow.

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The Clearance Rack cannot contain itself. All the big kids are having huge New Year’s sales right now, sweeping out their winter merchandise and trying to make up for those slow holiday weeks. Many of the discounts are online only. It’s the perfect time to swoop in and score something amazing.

And let’s just start here. TSI readers know that we love this season’s booties, and we worship Christian Louboutin. Barney’s New York must know this too, because they have his adorable lace-up suede Chaperon booties on the sale page ($399, were $995, right). They’ll go with anything, but look especially cute peeking out from a perfect pair of jeans. We’re (more…)

The Style Insider could stand to gain from a few fashion resolutions. Despite our sage advice for you, we’re as bad as everyone about adding new wardrobe items, getting rid of things we’ll never wear, ‘fessing up to what fits and what doesn’t, what looks good and what doesn’t.  

Thus, our collective brain trust has come up with 10 resolutions for 2009. Perhaps some apply to you: 

1. Act as if we are French. The French have it nailed when it comes to wardrobe and style. So we will proceed with a red beret and perfectly tailored clothes. A

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