In the world of fashion, black is always a safe, chic choice. I easily have eight lbds that I wear on a regular basis,  with brands ranging from Target to J.Crew and Calvin Klein to Norma Kamali with styles ranging from boatneck to strapless, empire to full-skirted numbers. The one thing that always remains the same across all of these styles? The ability to include a ‘stunner’ – a terrific accessory- be it footwear, earrings, necklaces, or bracelets, that give your lbd a tremendous amount of personality and individual style. I decided to start this ‘Give it Some Personality’ series to show how you can take things you already have and breathe new life into them. I was inspired by these floral Marlee Tea Party Pink Floral Canvas Sneakers by 80%20 to create the look — the canvas shoes make the look very urban and playful, as well as practical (my feet log a lot of miles each day!). I’ve recently fallen for 80%20 shoes, interviewing designer Ce Ce Chin earlier this month, and after receiving a complimentary pair of shoes from the spring collection, I wanted to make them work in a way that was meaningful to me. I received this glass and metal necklace from my Mom for my birthday yesterday, and thought it married its sophisticated, modern aesthetic well with the downtown cool vibe of the shoes (and looked great with my Hudson Clutch!). Stay tuned for more ‘Give it Some Personality’ features!

-Julia DiNardo

We recently attended the five year anniversary of shoe brand 80%20 and met its charming founder, Ce Ce Chin, who answered our questions about the coveted collection and the future of the brand. Enjoy, and we’re sure you’ll fall in love with Ce Ce Chin and 80%20 — just like we did!

Fashion Pulse Daily: There’s a lot of mesh found in the current 80%20 footwear collection; what inspired this look?

Ce Ce Chin: Mesh swimwear-bathing suits and cover ups- from the 1980s.  I chose a mesh that has a sporty feeling.

FPD: I think my favorite from the collection is the Molly Shoe (pictured above); can you tell me a bit about the genesis of this style, and how you plan to evolve it, season to season?

CCC: We had such success with the hidden wedge as a boot, and the challenge was to design a version for the summer.  The Molly totally works because it has the the contrast of the paper bag effect around the ankle and the open toe.  I’m visualizing the next generation on a platform and with woven straps.

FPD: 80%20 vs Ce Ce Chin Collection- can the same girl wear both?

CCC: Yes, 80%20 is what we’re wearing all day long, while we run about, do what we need to do and look effortlessly chic while doing do.  Ce Ce Chin is a collection of evening shoes with a lot of downtown romance- think of Rapunzel of the Lower East Side.

FPD: The concept behind 80%20 came from your observation that we tend to wear our favorite 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time’ — what is currently your favorite 20% that you’ve been wearing non-stop?

CCC: The Molly Olive- our runaway best seller this season.  I can wear these with baggy pants or skinny jeans or short shorts.  These shoes are casual and sophisticated at the same time.

FPD: What do you see as next big trend in footwear?

CCC: Preppy chic- loafers, clogs, Weejuns, kilted details.

FPD: Would you consider doing a line for a big retailer, like Target or H&M?

CCC: I would love to do this!

FPD: Besides footwear, what other type of design might you be interested to try?

CCC: I’d love to design interiors.  I’m always working on my apartment.

FPD: Tell me a bit about the blog; I love that you have a variety of posts and tell it like it is (The Carrie Diaries Post) — what made you want to have a blog as part of the site?

CCC: I see the blog as the beginning on an ongoing dialogue with our customer. It’s really about building community.  I’m sharing details about the 80%20 lifestyle- what’s inspiring, what’s annoying, what’s clever, what’s funny and so forth.  By doing this, I’m inviting our customers to interact and share their thoughts with us.

-Julia DiNardo

We checked out Revolution in Cut, the new shampoos and styling products  by famed stylist Ric Pipino that works with your hair cut, not hair type. The options? crop, layered bob, bob, short layers, long layers, blunt.

We celebrated the five year anniversary of Ce Ce Chin’s footwear line, 80%20 at Panda NYC

Fashion Pulse Daily finds a Fifth Avenue-worthy bag for under $40

Speaking of Fifth Avenue, we found out about the new Tiffany & Co iPhone app, The Engagement Ring Finder, which let’s you play around and compile different variations (shape, setting, metal or design) for a Tiffany engagement ring, including a touch screen accurate ring sizer feature (soo cool-just hold up one of your rings to the screen) and karat size options. It launches Monday — check it out and share it with your social network! Users can easily make an appointment for a diamond consultation via phone or e-mail (you can’t purchase via the app).

The kick off party for the launch of TopGuest.com at The Standard Hotel in the Meatpacking District,  a new members only site that uses social media to geo-check in and earn points and discounts at luxe travel destinations.

We oohed and awed over Kara Ross‘ opulent new collection of jewelry and handbags, complete with water snakeskin reclaimed antlers, stingray, and more.

Give and Take Tees, the tee line that works with, and give a hefty percentage of its sales to charities, had a pop up shop party complete with s’mores, juice, and a tee pee tee display to fit into its camp-themed event at Cockpit USA in the Village.

In New York City we’re still enveloped in down feather and wool, and doing everything we can to avoid the fate of turning into an icicle when outside. But if the bundling up isn’t enough, try a psychological remedy: imagine sunshine, picture a cloudless, blue sky, and start drawing up your summer shopping list. We recently attended a press preview on the newest offerings heading to stores in the coming months for spring/summer, and can’t wait to sport sleeveless shirts and peep-toe shoes again!

To begin, let’s forget about your Uggs, over-the-knee boots and woolly socks and talk about…sandals. 80%20, a footwear brand designed by Ce Ce Chin, offers a collection that’s chic with leather trim, buckles and shoelaces at the back, and also breezy with holes and exposed toes.

80%20′s sandals are fit for afternoon strolls along the sunny sidewalk, but you also need something for your candlelit dinners or late-night parties. Check out Ce Ce Chin‘s namesake collection. Inspired by vintage, the shoes for Spring 2010 and  are adorned with heels shaped like perfume bottles in materials that also mimics atomizers. With the lace and perfume bottles as heels, these classy, feminine shoes are bound to make pedestrians bow their heads in fascination.

To pair with your sophisticated Ce Ce Chin heels, wear a seatbelt. By that, we mean Harveys‘ original seatbelt bags. Seen from afar, the ruffled totes are chic, luxurious and durable – in short, nothing reminiscent of those uncomfortable, nylon, black things that protect your life in case of a car crash. Upon closer examination, you’ll marvel at the ingenious,  yet undoubtedly fashionable innovation of the designers when you realize from the familiar stripes that indeed, these are seatbelt bags.

ShopTheLook.net also has some accessories ideas for the season ahead. In time for the springtime release of Disney’s new Alice in Wonderland movie, the website’s collaborative Disney collection has some new trinkets to remind you of the Red Queen and the teacups. Affordable (<$30) and eclectic in style, ShopTheLook.net is your wonderland for accessories to spice up your summer outfits.

Moving on to the beauty department, our minds are already wandering to beaches with aisles of coconut trees. Blame Desert Essence, which is introducing the new Coconut Shampoo & Conditioner. Infused with organic coconut oil, the line is especially fit for ethnic hair, or anyone whose hair is over-processed, damaged or just in need of moisture.

Summer sunshine is also the cue for everyone to set aside their subtleties and step into the limelight. Step 1: “Shakeup your makeup”, as POP Beauty‘s tagline says. Always fun-loving and fearless, POP Beauty released a line of neon-colored nail polish for those prepared to turn heads with the flick of a finger. Their  false lashes are also not for the low-profile: the Icon line has lashes inspired by Twiggy while the Fantasy line even has Queen of Hearts-inspired lashes with fancy ends. Last,  new dual bronzer and highlighter is perfect for a summer-ready tanned glow, and also conveniently waterproof, making it a perfect fit for the beach.

- Justina Lee

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