hot kicks: UES

Easily spotted with their chains, studs and buckles, Upper Echelon Shoes have made a splash.

The founders, Seth Campbell and Nick Cohen, call the concept "shoewelry:" the brilliant idea of wearing your bling on your feet.

While expensive, these kicks will always get you noticed.

look alike: studded wallet

Studs are one of my favorite trends this season. It's the perfect embellishment to toughen up any look. These wallets are the perfect addition to an ultra-feminine look.

These looks are almost identical, but the blue wallet costs about a tenth of the price.











left: Connect four wallet in blue $22 at www.lulus.com
right: Be & D Studded zip around clutch wallet $263 at www.nordstrom.com

look alike: NYE dress

I'm the kind of person who uses New Year's Eve to my full advantage: it's my excuse to wear an outrageous dress that might be retired to my closet for the rest of the year. For this reason (and because I'm a poor college student) my budget can't exceed $150. This year I started shopping with one rule: if it doesn't sparkle, it's not my dress. Inspired by a gorgeous (but too expensive) dress from topshop, I went looking for a less expensive version. Here's what I found:
















left: Sequin bandeau dress from topshop $250 at www.topshop.com
right: Glam tube dress from wet seal $26.50 at www.wetseal.com