When summer rolls around, there are few things you can be bothered to do when it comes to dressing yourself. It's sweltering hot, the beach is calling, and it does not feel like a "jeans day". Your gladiator sandals have far too many buckles to deal with, but your flip flops are so utterly boring that you'd almost rather go barefoot (except for that bothersome fashion sense you've managed to hold on to is telling you "no").

Fortunately, history has pulled through with an amazing (and cute) offer: dress + cowboy boots.

Yes, they're leather, but they're a) easy, b) cute as hell and c) extremely versatile. They'll pull (herd?) you from late winter, all the way through spring, and right back through summer. Need more versatility? Well, here's a quick list of cowboy-boot-compatible garments:

• Jeans
  
• Skirt
• Dress
• Shorts
• Leggings
• Maxi dress

Not bad, huh? But for the summer uniform, we're in desperate need of dresses. Thin, crepe-like, breezy summer dresses are essential to surviving the heat on the weekends.

I suggest sticking to a slight above-the-knee hem. The best cuts are empire (seaming right below the bust), drop waist (seaming just below the waist), or shift (hangs from the shoulders - very 1960's). These three dresses are the best compliment to cowboy boots (not to mention sexy!).

1. Dress: SO Smocked Floral Dress. $20.99.
Boots: Madden Girl Stirrup. $44.99.

2. Dress: Alloy Chiffon V-Neck. $14.99
Boots: Laredo Western Boots. $89.10.

3. Dress: Colorblock Grecian Dress. $19.99.
Boots: Steve Madden Dingo. $83.82.

4. Dress: Lace Trim Tunic. $49.99.
Boots: Steve Madden Gallupp. $89.99.

So you're meeting the crew/gang/group/circle of friends at a nearby bar later, and you have been either working all day, or you're just in a funk. You look in your closet and all you see is "bleh." Nothing is attracting you, pursuing you, or giving off ANY kind of appeal whatsoever and you're about to just throw on some jeans, a tee, and your beat up old sneakers.

Then your best friend calls and lets you know that "he" is coming. "He" being the guy you met last week in the bar with your friends and promptly spilled a half-sipped drink all over. He was attractive, and you were sloppy drunk. He's your best friend's acquaintence and is about to be your beer date companion.

Crap. That changes things, doesn't it? While you might still feel "bleh" about your wardrobe, there is one little secret I'll share with you that'll turn any "jeans'n'top" outfit into a glamour-bomb:

Leopard Print Pumps.

I know, they're kitschy, and everyone knows they're not real leopard... So what! If you feel up to it, slap some fire enging red nail polish on those toesies and get out on the town. They work, trust me... And there's something magical about leopard print, you know... It activates the animal in you, after all...

Have you ever gotten off a long flight, gone to the baggage claim in your slippers and sweats (the only long-flight appropriate attire, in my opinion) only to see that the one bag you placed in the care of the airline has... mysteriously gone amiss?

You're going to be late to your hotel check-in, miss the conference/dinner plans you previously had and eventually scream bloody murder in the middle of the airport if you don't get a move on... You're a busy girl - you don't have time to wait around for luggage! Besides, they can deliver it to your hotel, right? 

Here's your easy escape plan: Keep a little pouch in your purse with the makings of a fashionable (wrinkle-resistant) outfit inside.

Dress, Leggings, Shoes, Bag.

Bonus Points: Stuff all the clothes you need into a cute, easy clutch... And you'll truly have nothing to worry about. 

So did I, until I was misdirected when visiting a sister website. I figured there wasn't any harm in looking around the online store and having a couple laughs at the soccer-mom styles.

Then I was totally put in my place... by this dress:

Yes, this is a beautiful shirred mesh dress that hits your pocket with only $59 worth of damage.  I know! I've been misjudging this place for years!

So I decided to conduct another test of Newport News' ability to be a great e-tailer: I looked for skirts. 

There is nothing more soccer-mom indicative as a mid-shin length skirt with an elastic waist... And every venue has one. Newport News definitely had their fair share of unsavory pieces, but they had speckled gems like these strewn throughout:

Herringbone Skirt - $29

Tulip Pencil Skirt - $39

From my findings, I think it's safe to say that this store is great for finding creative pencil skirts, chic dresses, and so much more. Next time you accidently receive a SuperMom catalog in the mail... Just wait. Poke through it with an open mind, and you might be surprised.

Ever since I discovered the gem that is Shabby Apple, a Utah-based clothing company, I've been doing something I've never done before: saving up money to purchase things. I know. Typically, I spend my extremely meager salary on quantity-based items, but the look and feel of Shabby Apple's dresses make me actually want to forego spending in order to obtain quality. Have I finally started growing up? ...Nah.

Shabby Apple offers something that I don't see too often in affordable boutiques and retailers today: style, quality, and price point. Their dresses are not hoochie dresses that you'll find on every rack in some other stores, but almost all of them fall to the knee (at least), which is totally my aesthetic. Scrolling through the inventory images, iconic faces like Audrey Hepburn, Zooey Deschanel and Marilyn Monroe spring to mind. The class that these garments exude is classic - flames that won't die out.

The "Dagny Taggert" Dress
$86

I couldn't think of a better name for this dressed, named after the ever-so powerful female character in Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged". It's formfitting, yet modest. All it needs is an icy glare and stone heart to complete the costume.

"Mediterranean"
$79

What an amazing combination of boldness, architecture, and classic design.This dress could easily take you anywhere: interview or cocktails, date or shopping with the girls.

I've only recently discovered Ruche, a Forever21-esque online store full of delicious deals and bargains. While poking around on their site today, I noticed a little green link titled Eco-Friendly. I'm definitely into the whole eco-friendly clothing movement, and it seems like more and more retailers are jumping on the ever-so-worthy bandwagon which, naturally, lowers the prices of eco-friendly clothes slowly bur surely. 

My experience with organic and natural clothing has been kind of disappointing in the past. Sometimes it's a result of the price, which can be astronomical, but other times I find the designs of eco-friendly garments to be... well, boring. Typically, they're just basics with no other value than layering, so when I stumbled upon the camis and tanks at Ruche, I was naturally let down.

But as I scrolled down the page, I was filled with hope as I came across the following garments:

Silk Sheer Bow Charcoal Blouse 

$44.99

This top is just swimming in femininity... Which I adore.

Rosy Mauve Simplly Organic Dress
$38.99

This is such a great spring-to-summer dress. It can go over leather-esque leggings for an edgy look, or paired with sweet sandals for a day at the beach. Easy and chic.

I just got notified about a serious, serious sale on some seriously adorable shoes:

These F-Troupe shoes are marked down from $174 to $38!! Click here to go snag 'em!

You can imagine my... apprehension when I stumbled across Erica Weiner's jewelry on the Bona Drag website.

A Hummingbird skull necklace, made from silver.

After a few minutes of staring.... staring... and some more staring, I decided - I kinda like the tiny, creepy thing.

Plus, it's $80, which I'm definitely willing to shell out for something so unique. Get it here!

So we went through the whole one-shoulder crazy, which was okay... But now fashion has evolved into one-armed garments, like this one on Rachel Bilson:

What do you think of this?

I think it can be done really well, or... really awfully. I like the idea of keeping things minimal in the color and pattern areas, as the dress' focus is clearly on the shape. 

Who doesn't love Happy Hour every day?

Mapel is a boutique based in Leavenworth, WA that offers some amazing mid-range designer garb and, now that they're having daily sales (that's what their "Happy Hours" are!), you can likely get 'em for dirt cheap!

Plus, with every order, you get a (very well packaged) chocolate truffle! Mmm!