Winter is here, but color need not be forgotten. In the next few pages color is central. So this winter, don’t run to your blacks and grays. Be bold, be modern, be colorful.

Whether your hair is short or long, curly or straight, summer hairstyles can be tricky with hot and humid summer weather. So how can you achieve that perfect summer look for your hair?

Santa Monica-based American Beauty Hair Salon owner, expert colorist and inventor of the Ferrum Professional Styler Barbara Abbasi provided three perfect summer styling tips.

Festive dresses, both short and long, serve as a colorful canvas for summer parties (and weddings) while chic accessories from boho-inspired floppy hats to charming floral hair accessories add flair.

It's the Time of the Season...for weddings, that is. And one local designer in particular is causing quite a stir this year. Elizabeth St. John isn't your ordinary bridal designer. For one, she is proud to call her collections, “eco couture.” Not only are her offices and production sites powered by either solar or wind energy, but her designs use fair trade labor, 100% sustainable materials and cruelty free sourcing. For another, she donates a portion of the proceeds from her dress sales to various resource conservation charities. I Am Modern is pleased to feature some of her exquisite gowns.

Kara Allan, stylist to the NoVa and Washington DC fashionistas, has some expert advice for women on the go. She recently took a team to The Ann Taylor store at Tyson’s to capture the 2011 spring trends and to showcase how businesswomen can wear them.
“I take my clients to Ann Taylor because they have the best basic pieces for working women hands down. I love the flirty feminine dresses for day and evening and the beautiful accessories that complement any outfit,” she says.

Unemployment rates are holding steady at 9%, financial analysts are saying that we will see a further decline in the housing market, and companies everywhere are eliminating positions in an effort to cut costs. Yet the price of gas, produce and other household items seem to be on the rise.  

The fact of the matter is that we are all looking for ways to tighten our belts these days.  That being said, tightening your belt doesn't mean that you need to sacrifice your style.  Below are two fresh looks for spring that won't break your budget.

Here's one from Forever21, for a grand total of.... (drumroll please...) $88.60!

I’m waiting in line at the fashion show entrance, surveying all the sassy, stylish women as they arrive in their stiletto heels, boots, accessories, and creative outfits. I am enjoying this feeling of sharing space with people who love fashion. There is a creative energy in the air and I’m excited to be a part of this event!

I find my way to the bar and order a glass of wine because an adult beverage is a must when attending a fashion show. I continue to observe the crowd, the models rushing to the green room to squeeze into their frocks and get their noses powdered, and then I pass the mile long hors d’oeuvres line and wonder to myself why so many people are concerned about eating when we are about to see skinny models in fabulous clothing. Isn’t starvation typically the word of the evening when it comes to runway shows? Well, maybe I’m the only one thinking this because literally, more than half the place is waiting to indulge.

Bold Peridot ring ($55)

Square champagne cocktail ring ($50)

Elephant statement ring ($45)

Luminosity chandelier earrings ($34)

Artisangemboutique.com

Harry Winston diamond stud earrings: approximately $25,000

Get the look from Melrose Jewelers: $1,295.00

When it comes to celebrity fashion the Grammy Awards is always a wild card, and last night’s show was no exception. While talented performers like Lady Gaga, Usher and Justin Beiber lit up the big stage, other A-list celebs like Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Hudson and Martina McBride rocked the red carpet with their show stopping gowns and stunning good looks. If you’re working on any looks for less stories eDressMe.com online dress retailer, Donald J Pliner footwear, Avenue  leading plus-size brand, OneStopPlus.com  the world’s only plus size web mall and Dots  the fast-fashion retailer, have several styles almost identical to those seen last night.

Kim Kardashian

Dress – eDressMe.com :$278