Peter Soronen dress from Rent the Runway

After the holidays, I’m always a little cash-strapped and I end up scrounging around the back of my closet trying to revive an old dress to wear out to all the New Year’s Eve parties.

But this year, I have the solution: a designer dress from Rent the Runway.

Rent the Runway lets you borrow dresses for a nominal fee starting at $50 and keep the dress up to 8 days. When you’re done, just mail it back. How simple is that?

New Year’s Eve is all about sparkle and shine and Rent the Runway has plenty of sparkly little cocktail numbers. A gorgeous champagne bubble of a dress by Lela Rose can be yours for $150 ($1,595 retail) and a sequined Tracy Reese dress that retails for $495 can be rented for just $50.

It’s not too late to rent your New Year’s Eve dress from Rent the Runway. Shipping only takes 2-3 days and lucky NYC residents can get same day delivery.

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Don’t miss the Twenty8Twelve sample sale in New York City today through Saturday December 19th.

The line by sisters Sienna and Savannah Miller has really accessible fashion that is everything young, modern women want to wear now. Look out for their amazing tailored jackets and soft layerable pieces.

The sale is going down at 580 Broadway, Suite 1200 in New York City.

Camp out for half-price, big-ass TV sets? No thanks. If I’m going to be smack dab in the middle of a Black Friday melee, then I’m hitting these designer fashion sales.

Send me a DM on Twitter or leave a comment if you know of any other Black Friday fashion sales and I’ll add them to the list.

Pink Mascara. Spend $150+ take $25 off with SAVER25. Spend $250+ take $50 off with SAVER50. Spend $500+ take $100 off with SAVER100. 3.1 Phillip Lim, Tibi, Rebecca Minkoff. Ends Monday 11/30/09 at 12:00 midnight PST.

Intermix. Take 25% off all sale merchandise. Gryphon, Elizabeth and James, Herve Leger. Shop online at intermixonline.com with promo code HOME25 or in store

DKNY. Additional 50% off all merchandise on Friday from 12 midnight to 8am. The first 50 people to arrive get a $15 gift card.

New York and Company. 50% off all merchandise. Sale starts online now and in-store on Friday.

Barneys. Select merchandise 40-70% off Friday through Sunday. Early birds get 10% off purchases of $250 or more on Friday 12 midnight to 7am.

BCBG Max Azaria. 50% off all cashmere through Monday. In-store and at BCBG online.

Old Navy. 50% off outerwear, $15 sweaters and buy two T-shirts, get one free during their Gobblepalooza sale. Some stores open Thanksgiving Day 12noon-7pm. See additional Old Navy Black Friday Sale details.

Shopbop.com. Spend $300+, save $50. Spend $500+, save $100. Spend $700+, save $150. Spend $1,000+, save $225. Sale runs Friday through Monday.

Bath & Body Works. Make a $40 purchase and get a VIP goodie bag of $100 worth of products for $15. Stores open at 6 am.

Kenneth Cole. 41&% off for the first four hours that the store is open on Friday. 31% off for the first four hours that the store is open through the rest of the weekend. See local store times.

Victoria’s Secret. Pink Friday specials start at 5 am and select stores open at midnight. Shoppers get a free Victoria Secret tote with a $60 purchase.

Chick Downtown. Save 25% off with code FRIDAY25. Plenty by Tracy Reese, Abaete, LAMB, McQ by Alexander McQueen.

Singer22. Save 20% off on purchases of $300+ Use code THANKS20. Alice+Olivia, Black Halo, Botkier, Loeffler Randall. Sale ends Monday at 12 midnight PST. Shop online.

ShopNastyGal.com 20% off entire store – vintage clothing and new. One day only.

ShopConfederacy.com 15% off the entire store including new Phillip Lim and Proenza Schouler. Free domestic shipping over $500.

Barack Obama is now the Democratic nominee for the ‘08 presidential election and fashion-forward politicos can wear their Obama love on their chests.

We haven’t seen this much fever for a candidate since JFK, so how appropriate that the Baracksmith t-shirt from Rocksmith (top) channeled Warhol’s paintings of icons like Jackie Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe.

If you’re more of an 80’s baby, go retro and throw back to the days of Marty McFly with a Barack is the Future tee from Sons of Liberty.

To be fair, I probably should have dug up a McCain hoodie or something, but um…no.

I love shopping vintage because it practically guarantees that you won’t show up at a party in that same Milly dress three other girls are wearing. But when you have one-of-a-kind pieces, plus rare vintage, plus legendary designer — sweetie, you have the freaking fashion trifecta.

The vintage Dior collection at Yoox includes pieces from as far back as the 1940’s culled from auction houses and private collectors.

The selections from 1960-70 represent an especially delicious chance to nab a piece of fashion history from the short period of time that recently deceased Yves Saint Laurent spent as the creative force behind Dior. Trust me, those pieces are going fast.

But even if you can’t afford a $10,000 vintage evening gown (and who can these days?), fret not because there are still some small pieces that you can scoop up.

Vintage scarves from the 1940’s-1950’s run about $115 to $125 and some small bijoux and brooches are under $200.

All so that you can have the pleasure of saying: “Oh this old thing? It’s vintage Dior, dahling”.

View the entire Christian Dior vintage collection at Yoox

Elaborate beading on a black tank turns a wardrobe staple into a statement-making piece. Slip it on under a blazer and punch up a simple outfit with cool embellishment. (on sale now for $58)

Colorful accessories are the perfect place to experiment with semi-precious stones. Shoulder-scraping lapis chandelier earrings by Siman Tu ($275) give your evening look a pop of brilliantly hued blue.

Metallics and stones are an organic combo. Bronze sandals by Bo’em ($195) are the perfect backdrop for three naturally-shaped and marbled stones.

Straw bags are a must-have for beach weather, but when you trade in your carryall for a little raffia clutch, you’ve suddenly gone from beach to chic. Kotur’s straw clutch ($311) with polished jade and tigereye clasp is right at home at a breezy patio soirée on a balmy night. Clutch in one hand, caipirinha in the other.

Hot off her ‘06 CFDA Fashion Fund award, designer Doo-Ri Chung has put her own spin on Swarovski with a 20-piece collection for Atelier Swarovski. This modern but delicate doo.ri cuff ($245) puts chunky crystal pieces on a burgundy cuff and covers them in gauzy organza.

Mother’s Day Gifts for the International Mama

It’s only 5 days until Mother’s Day, but it’s not too late to get mom something nice, especially with express shipping from Eluxury, Vivre and other retailers.

Marrakesh Pagoda Candle by Seda France
Hand-poured soy blend candle comes beautifully packaged in a colorful pagoda box. Richly scented orange, cinnamon and fig transport you to the markets of Marrakesh even when you haven’t left home. $38 at Vivre

Nyakio Grape, Eucalyptus & Sugar Body Scrub
Pamper mom with little luxuries. Nyakio’s natural products exfoliate and rejuvenate skin using ancient secrets of Kenyan beauty. $42.00 for 18 oz.

Set her Mother’s Day to a Brazilian-tinged jazz beat with the hot sounds of Astrud Gilberto: The Diva Series and Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66. $10.99 each.

Embroidered Ballet Flat by Maloles
Black embroidery on crisp white Aztec-inspired flats. Pair them with jeans and a tailored white shirt for a cool Sunday brunch look. $300 at Vivre

Castaway Jewelry African Sea Glass Multi Strand Necklace
Surprise mom with a necklace made from strands of African sea glass. Rough-shaped teal and blue sea glass create a natural, beachy piece of jewelry.  $180 at Couture Candy

Alexis Hudson Santorini Clutch

Gold hardware on a white, snakeskin clutch takes you far from the white-washed walls and beautiful beaches of Santorini $350 at Pink Mascara

What would you do if you drove all the way across town and your favorite little eclectic boutique was gone? Boarded up. Closed shop. Poof. Would you drive back home and get over it?

If the store was Zulu Rose, you’d keep coming back and practically hold a candlelight vigil until they came back. The Zulu Rose online store has been launched, disappeared for a while and now relaunched, but true Zulu fashionistas never gave up the ghost.

The latest incarnation of the shop brings back the line’s funky tees as conceptualized by lead designer Alexander Derrick. His chic and modern African themes pair colorful graphic designs with high-end organic fabrics and eco-friendly textile dyes.

Very limited amount of rotating stock available online.

Get it while you still can.

All images Zulu Rose

Stella McCartney has finally gotten on the e-tail bandwagon with an online store where you can shop her collection. For now, the store only serves US shoppers, but will soon expand to include the UK. Some of the crave-worthy finds that you’ll see on the site? Her ethnic vibing beaded platform sandal (available on pre-order) and a few of her great spring floral dresses.

Paz Vega and Tracee Ellis Ross both mined their closets for Prada to wear to the premiere of Trembled Blossoms, the design house’s first animated short film.

Paz Vega gave us glossy Hollywood glamour in an emerald green Prada sheath dress and slingback sandals while Tracee Ellis Ross stuck to her quirky chic style with full plaid skirt and a pair of Prada pumps with spats.

You can go green too in these fresh spring dresses:

Splurge on one very special Prada dress for the season. This 3/4 length dress is perfect for warm evenings when you need to kick your look up with a plunging neckline, gemstone color and gorgeous draping detail [$1,074 at Yoox]

Get clingy with a curve-accentuating dress from Just Cavalli. This sleeveless dress creates a sexy shape with a draped neckline covered in tulle. [$402 at Yoox]

Diane von Furstenberg reinvents the wrap dress again with green snakeskin print on an easy, breezy spring dress. Pair it with a chunky wood heel and let it take you from a dinner with friends to a gallery crawl. [$254 at Yoox]