With Fall just around the corner, it's time for the kids and the university students to get ready to go back to school. I remember when I was in middle school, buying a new backpack was always an ordeal because I desperately needed something cool and unique but didn't want to step so way out of bounds that I got teased excessively.

TokiDoki for LeSportsac: I had a TokiDoki bag for a while, until I realized that it was too cute for me. The loud, bright, cartoony patterns didn't fit in with the rest of my surly wardrobe, so I had to chuck it. However, I understand that the Kidrobot/designer toys look is still very popular these days and this TokiDoki stuff is still in high demand. The line offers some backpacks, which are naturally suitable for back-to-school time, but the messenger bags may also work. These bags are a little more expensive than the normal high-schoolers' gear, costing about six times that amount, but it's another symbol of status, isn't it? If you -- or your kid -- are into that sort of thing, go for TokiDoki.

I love cats, like a lot (I mean I am Fashion Kitty), so I am thrilled to pieces over this absurd Hello Kitty cat costume ... or as Gizmodo calls it "Hello Kitty, goodbye dignity."

Leave to the Japanese to come up with the "Hello Kitty transformation set" (that is the loose translation) which is fully equipped with a bonnet, a bib, collar, and a tote to carry around your very embarrassed kitty.

Sure this "outfit" may be degrading to cats and some may even argue that it's cruel, but seriously why should dogs have all the fun? Dogs have it just as well as us fashionable humans do; designer clothes from Juicy Couture, Louis Vuitton beds, diamond studded collars ... you name it they've got it. Cats, however, they have catnip and this lousy cat stroller I saw online.

As a cat fan I want to humiliate my cat and dress it up in ridiculous outfits, so let's hope the Japanese are about to start a trend here.

Sit yourselves down, folks. I got a little story to tell first: I can go out without wearing lip gloss or even foundation, but I downright refuse to be seen in public without some sort of eyeliner smudged around my eyes. It's my own pathetic weakness.

So, as someone who would be sworn to a life as a hermit without eyeliner, I am constantly on the prowl for better, longer-lasting pencils. I need something that delivers heavy color, goes on smoothly, and stays on the entire day. For many years, I thought I was just asking too much... Of course, I had started with the drugstore's dollar eyeliners, which came off after five or six blinks. It didn't take me long to learn that there's a reason why some cosmetics cost more than others, and I eventually moved on to better brands, but was, for the most part, disappointed. For example, I used MAC for several years and, although I'm still madly in love with their high-pigment eyeshadows, their long-lasting eyeliner just didn't last long enough.

But I now bring good news: Recently, I received Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil as a gift and I immediately fell in love with the product. It was everything I needed. Obviously, it's so good that I felt the need to share. The pencil in "Zero" (black) is my absolute favorite because it's really strong and dark, but I also gave in to temptation and bought one of the colored ones ("Lust" purple). I have no intention of switching brands any time soon because this is perfect. Give it a try! You won't be let down.

Tip: My favorite way to fully set the eyeliner for extra-long wear is to use a small brush and lightly apply some dark eyeshadow over the line.

There are very few articles of clothing that can seamlessly fit both an art gallery opening and a quick, early morning trip to Starbucks. A black blazer is one of those items. Every girl needs at least one well-fitted blazer in her closet because such a classic item can easily be dressed up or dress down, simply by manipulating the other articles of clothing. For example... A black blazer with dark wash denim and some sweet pointed shoes? Perfect for an evening out. The very same blazer, joined with a tank top and broken-in vintage jeans serves as something beautifully suitable for a stroll through the city.

Here are some things to note: Such a structured jacket is typically masculine (in fact, the pictured jacket from Urban Outfitters is the Lux Boyfriend Blazer), but this is where I, once again, stress the fit. Unless you are going for that "little boy who likes to wear daddy's suits" look, ladies, make sure the blazer does not fit like a bag over your body. The only thing worse than wearing a shapeless mass on your body is wearing a mass that has shapes in all the wrong places. If the cut shoulders fit too far apart, you risk looking like a linebacker. If the sleeves are too short, you risk looking like Pee-Wee Herman. Fit is everything, especially with blazers.

But, when worn properly, the basic black blazer is a staple to any closet and is not likely to go out of style. Well, that is until arms become obsolete.

I can't count the number of times I've dug around for a pen at the bottom of my bag, only to suddenly withdraw my hand, screaming in pain because I accidentally grabbed a hand full of loose staples or thumbtacks. Yes, there's a lot of random stuff in my bag. Well, here comes some good news for those of you who are like me and need an easy way of inside-bag organization that doesn't involve multiple zippers and pockets. The Butler Bag is a purse with multiple compartments for easy organization and access. PopGadget hails it as "a tech lover's best bag" and it's easy to see why. There's a spot for a camera, cell phone, iPod, along with all the other basic necessities.

At first glance, I thought, "With all that stuff in there, it must be one boxy-looking, ugly bag..." I was quite surprised to see that the purse actually closes up quite nicely into something that can easily be used every day (more pictures here). The small Butler Bag goes for $95 and the larger "hybrid" bag goes for $150.

For me, summer vacation means having the time to read some good books, which are not exactly number one on my schedule when school and work are in full swing throughout the rest of the year. Ever concerned for stylish bookworms, Kate Spade has these fantastic book covers available for download. All you have to do is pick out your favorite, print it out, wrap it around your latest hardcover, and you've got a hot new accessory to take poolside. It's a nice way to cover up your embarrassingly trashy romance novel or to hide the fact that you're still madly in love with Harry Potter, despite being well out of the books' main age range. You know who you are.

Actually, with the new school year just around the corner, students may enjoy these for their school books as well. These would make any horribly out-of-date English textbook prettier. Well, the outside would be prettier, anyway ... Not much can be done about the mildew on the inside cover. Sorry, kids.

I recently stumbled across another website about Japanese street fashion and, out of my outrageously long list of bookmarks with the same topic, I must say this is my favorite so far. It's well organized, frequently updated, and there is a refreshingly low number of Gothic lolita outfits.

Although a lot of these ensembles require an absurd amount of boldness and confidence to carry, anyone can take a note or two and learn about experimental layering. Check out the guy in the upper-right photo. He's wearing a smart black jacket over a thin cardigan over an apron -- that's right, an industrial apron -- over a thin t-shirt. It shouldn't work, but somehow, it does. A lot of the pictures also come with some close-ups of accessories, which range from bizarre wristwatches to home-made bags to creative ear piercings. Seeing sites like this always inspire me to ransack my own wardrobe, mixing and matching in new, exciting ways. It makes me feel like I've spent a load of money buying new clothes when, really, all I've done is take what I already own and put it to a different use.

The whole website is in Japanese, but it's fairly easy to navigate. There are updates every week, so this site will never lose its cool.

If you're more interested in the streets of Helsinki than Tokyo, check out Hel-looks.

The workplace can be a real mine field when it comes to clothing etiquette: is it acceptable to wear t-shirts? Can you wear open-toed shoes? Does casual Friday mean jeans? Is it okay to dress better than your boss?

Huh? You've never thought about that last question, have you?

Unlike the pay scale or the benefits package, there is no established hierarchy when it comes to clothing. But what happens if you do actually have nicer clothes than your boss? Are you just asking for trouble?

My answer is that it probably depends on the boss. Some care, some don't, and the only way to know the difference is to see how it goes. (If it doesn't fly, you'll know soon enough!)

For instance, I once had a female boss with a serious emotional hang-up about women who were younger and better dressed than she. And she didn't just resent us or say belittling things, she actually paid us less! It was seriously messed up, yo, and might I add, probably illegal. (Don't feel too bad for us. In retaliation, we penned a well-circulated anonymous blog on her "Rodeo Clown Chic" fashion sensibility. Trust me, we got the last laugh.)

Granted not all bosses would behave this way, but the experience left me convinced that dressing down in the workplace was good for self-preservation.

What do you think?

I think I have about six messenger bags and only one "proper" purse. I have one bag in particular that I really love: my big, bright orange Lacoste messenger because it's just large enough to carry my travel sketchbook, my laptop, my iPod, and all other bits and bobs of my everyday life. Sometimes, however, even my largest messenger bag isn't enough to hold one of my bigger sketchbooks and I wish I had an easy (and cheap) way of making my own bag.

MAKE's video podcasts have always been a great source of easy, geeky "Weekend Projects," like making tiny solar-powered bots or your own one-speed bike. I know, I know; it's probably not very appealing to the fashion-savvy, but the most recent video podcast really interested me because of my aforementioned messenger bag problem. Using simple kitchen trash bags or plastic grocery bags, some wax paper, an iron, and a sewing machine, you can make a full-on messenger bag. It's a fashionable way to recycle and, since the materials are damn near free, experimenting with different methods or styles won't be a problem. I'm excited to get started on mine.

Continue after the jump to watch the video tutorial!

When I got my Video iPod last year, the first thing I learned was that a protective cover of some sort is absolutely necessary because, apparently, the shiny iPod casing is very prone to scratches. So, I immediately got a nice fabric cover with a helpful piece of plastic over the screen. Unfortunately, that fabric cover is starting to become a little grungy, probably due to the fact that I often listen to my iPod when I'm painting or doing something equally messy. Anyway, this prompted me to look for some cooler alternatives to the usual fabric cover and that's when I came across GelaSkins!

I'm sure you all have seen the recent image macro trend LOLcats, or have heard at least the Internet phrase "im in ur base killing ur d00dz". Yes, no, maybe? Well, if you're into this whole Internet thing, want to express your inner geekiness in t-shirt form, or just want to get hit on by interwebz-lovers, this is the shirt for you. Each "im in ur blank blanking ur blank" shirt comes with a washable marker that you can use to fill in your own words again and again. ThinkGeek gives a few sweet suggestions on what to write: Visiting in-laws? We recommend, "im in ur offspring sproutin' ur family tree." Stuck at the office? May we suggest, "im in ur meeting eatin' ur donuts."

Or, if Styledash folks want one: "im in ur feed bloggin' ur fashionz."

As a fashionista, you make yourself over all the time; facials, waxing, new clothes, hair salon visits, manicures, pedicures ... but what about your career?

There are only a few days left to enter WWD's Win a Career Makeover Kit. What is a career makeover kit you ask? It is a massive kit of must haves to get your career moving along in the fashion industry. And as someone who went to fashion school and felt the struggles of finding an industry job, this is a kit that you want to win.

This kit is fully equipped with:

• 24 Seven's insider guide for the fashion hungry, How to Get a Job in Fashion.
• 6-month subscription to WWD.COM, the fashion industry's MUST HAVE business tool.
• One seminar within the Tools of the Trade for Fashion Design Seminars and Workshops for the Design Entrepreneur at the FIT Enterprise Center.
• Platinum Membership which includes exclusive sneak previews to these premier designer sale events.
• $200 Gift Certificate redeemable at any TJX store in the U.S. including TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, AJ Wright and Bob's Stores.
• and more ...
  

Just this morning, I received my ten-pack sample of Moo Cards and I couldn't be more pleased. Moo Cards are just like business cards, but about a hundred times better-looking. They're about half the size of a normal business card and matte and lovely. You upload your own photos to use on the front of the cards, which is perfect for artists like me, because I can use my own artwork and give the cards to potential clients. The card on the far left in the image is a view of the back of my card, which includes a picture of myself, my name, art blog, e-mail address, and phone number. Even if you don't need a real business card, these are a great way to give contact information to people you meet.

Cards come in packs of 100 for $19.99. There's currently a free shipping promotion going on, so take advantage of it!

If you're anything like me, you like to play around with various DIY methods to customize clothing. I usually don't go much further than printing on a shirt or age-ing old jeans with a cheese grater, but some of you might enjoy going all the way and even make the clothing from scratch. The Blue Blog has posted this great pattern for a simple knitted t-shirt. It sounds like the perfect summer t-shirt, flattering, but loose and air-y. I'm tempted to learn how to knit just to make this thing...

[via Craftzine]

I'm currently taking an introductory Graphic Design course in which students get to experiment with all different sorts of designing, from music posters to postcards to business cards. Our final assignment was to create some 4" x 6" designs to print on a t-shirt, which certainly beat doing a final essay like in other classes. I just completed my shirts the other night, using a Gocco printing machine for the first time, so I thought I would share my experience and show just how easy it is to customize clothing with your own designs this way.