Tonight’s the night. Come 7 p.m. I’ll find out if I actually have friends. It’s the moment of truth.

If you ever chuckle while reading this blog, look at stuff I’ve posted and say, “Ah, that’s really cute,” or just ever dream of meeting me then tonight’s the night to celebrate your prettiness and maybe (just maybe) your poorness, too!

Join me at Il Vostro Boutique in Edina anytime between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. for 20% off the entire store! I’ll also have a couple surprises, like champagne cupcakes, to sweeten the evening!

You’ll love shopping fun looks from designers like:

Three Dots

Bailey 44

BB Dakota

Eva Franco

Beth Bowley

MissMe

Elliot Luca

Helen Wang

Avante Garde

Come check it out! Shopping’s always more fun together.

When: TONIGHT! From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Where:
Il Vostro Boutique
5045 France Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55410

Why:
To have fun, shop together, and get a great deal on adorable clothes!

Questions?
Email me from the links in the "Contact Me" section.

Last night I had a dream in which Brett Favre came to me, gave me fashion advice and also mentioned that he was going to return to the Minnesota Vikings this season. I should mention that Adrian Peterson was also there, but I didn’t get to talk to him because he was running around in circles the entire time while clutching a football for dear life.

Gosh. I just have to stop eating ice cream before bed.

But if for some reason my premonition is spot on, I expect a call from ESPN and every other major media outlet for that matter. I’ll be coined, “The Favre Fashionista!” And everyone will come to me for input on the latest sports-related news, and fashion. Take that, Erin Andrews.

Who knows, maybe this dream was a sign that Brett Favre’s wife and daughter will show up to shop with me on Thursday night at my Private Shopping Event. (You know, to hook it up with some cute clothes for the upcoming season?)

Oh well. Even if Brett Favre doesn’t return to the Minnesota Vikings for the season of all seasons, and if his family doesn’t show up to my event, I sure hope you’ll be there on Thursday night! Click here for details.

Our first ever private shopping event is next Thursday, August 19th at Il Vostro Boutique in Edina, Minnesota! I can't wait. And I certainly hope you (and your stylish, sophisticated self) can join me for this fun evening! To help you find some adorable, stylish duds, Il Vostro is taking 20% off the entire store.

At the first ever Pretty and Poor Private Shopping Event, you'll get 20% off the entire store!

That's why it's so important you show up! We'll share some laughs, some cupcakes, and naturally, some great deals!

Can't wait! Email me with any questions. Or see previous posts about the event for even more details!

Do you ever see anyone in public who causes a noticeably adverse reaction from most people they pass? For some bizarre reason, I’ve been coming across a lot of these folks lately. They make my jaw drop and my eyebrows lift. And usually, they leave me (someone who always has the right thing to say) absolutely lost for words. These people are trashy. And if you don’t want to look like them, I’d suggest you read up—knowledge is power in the fight against trashiness.

Here are several things that make the average girl look instantly trashier.

Naval Rings. Sure, belly button rings were really cool in 2001. But dare to show that sucker off now and you’ll be committing fashion suicide. Mid-riff tops with belly-baring properties are not stylish. Nor is your oversized, rhinestone, butterfly hanging belly button body art.

Hickeys. Go ahead, let your nasty boyfriend suck on your neck for 15 minutes. I know the Twilight trend is kinda' big right now, but vampires are not that great. And purple does not go with everything. Plus, turtlenecks are only in season a few months out of the year. In short, no one wants to see what you really did last night. Thanks. (There is nothing worse than seeing a girl ringing me up at a store with giant, purple marks all over her neck. Seriously. Does her boyfriend need an instruction manual?)

Pleather. Some fake leathers really aren’t half bad in today’s age (thanks to a rise in eco-consciousness and veganism). Then there’s the other 90% of pleathers. Careful, careful! If you’re wearing anything that resembles a tailored tarp, take it off (and maybe even consider using it as one).

Booty Shorts. Show a little cheek. And maybe even some chuncky, pale thigh. Everyone will gawk in horror and think, “Wow. That looks so uncomfortable.” And as you strut off into the distance, mothers will cover the eyes of their children and the song “Hoochie Momma” will start to crescendo all over the universe.

Hair Gel. A sure way to de-class your look is to put copious amounts of gel in your hair. Use it to give a playful ponytail the greasy, glazed look. Or, spread it through your perfectly bouncy curls to weigh them down and crunch them up. If you’re lucky, people will actually mistake this for grease in your hair. But only if you’re lucky. (Seriously, people. Have you never seen a Pantene commercial? Hair should be loose. Flowy. Shiny. Bouncy.)

Lots o’ Liner. I love dramatic make-up as much as the next girl. But there is a limit. And there is such a thing as too much. Too much lip liner will make you look like a clown. And too much eyeliner will actually make your eyes look beady and small. Too much of both liners on the same face? Hope you don’t get mistaken for Marilyn Manson circa 2000. When in doubt, stick to the basics and remember that sometimes, less is more.

Muffin top. If someone tells you that you resemble a muffin, they don’t mean you look sweet. They mean that your muffin cup is a little tight for the surprise that’s popping out of it. There’s an easy solution to this problem: get pants that fit. Nothing says “I’m a train wreck” more than trying to squeeze into the clothes you sported at age 17. And no, muffin top doesn’t mean you’re chubby. It just means your clothes don’t fit. Ill fitting clothes are never classy. For more information on muffin top, check out the Wikipedia entry about it.

Find yourself committing one (or more) of the above fashion sins and you, my friend, might just become trashier than the cast of Jersey Shore in my book.

What do you think? What screams "trashy" to you? What's the trashiest look you've seen lately? Leave your thoughts in the comments section!

I just made a big announcement. If you're on the Pretty and Poor email list, you already know the details. If you're not, then I'm about to TELL you the details.

You're invited to come shop with me!

Pretty and Poor is hosting a private shopping event at Il Vostro Boutique in Edina, MN. This shindig is going down on Thursday, August 19th from 7pm-9pm. Not only will there be great deals on adorable clothing, I'll make sure to have lots of fun things for you there! And yes, there will be cupcakes!

What could be better than an evening spent shopping with me and all my friends? Well, I did think about what could make this better...Lady Gaga showing up...a "bucket of diamonds" raffle...you get the idea!

Ladies of Minnesota, mark your calendars and join me for a fun night of shopping! It will be the ultimate retail therapy.

Pretty and Poor's Private Shopping Event
Thursday, August 19th
Il Vostro Boutique
50th and France
Edina, MN

Shopping. Me. Sweet treats. Surprises.

Stay tuned for more details as the night approaches! I'm still saving some secrets for the sake of suspense!

Today I saw a train wreck. It was awful. Horrible. I couldn't stop looking. No, two trains did not collide, nor did any derail. The train wreck I saw was a girl (around my age) who was wearing a pleather ostrich leather pencil skirt with sparkly zebra print stilettos. I really like fashion risks. And I have a knack for the exotic and rare. But this look was so wrong I nearly fell off my five-inch platforms. If I could have taken a picture inconspicuously, I would have.

This awful outfit reminded me of a quote, which happens to be today's Pretty Proclamation.

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

~Leonardo DaVinci, who knew that an ostrich pleather skirt with sparkly zebra heels was not at all sophisticated...even hundreds of years ago. This quote reminds us that sometimes the prettiest look is the simplest. Take it or leave it, but always check your ostrich pleather skirt at the door.

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If you don’t love Bethenny Frankel for the unbelievable string of witty cynicisms that flow from her mouth, then you should at least love her for her great sense of style. The girl always looks good in simple, stately style pieces that radiate chic elegance. She knows what cuts and colors flatter her, and she rocks them. Here are some style tips you can learn from Bethenny.

Flaunt Your Figure
Bethenny has a great bod. She should—she’s the author of Naturally Thin and the creator of the Skinny Girl Margarita. She’s essentially built an empire helping women healthfully manage their weight. One thing Bethenny knows (I can tell by the way she dresses) is that you should play up your best assets. Because of her lean, fit figure, Bethenny can easily rock figure-skimming looks—some of her favorites are by Herve Leger.

So while you may not have Bethenny’s bod (I don’t, trust me), you can learn to wear styles and silhouettes that make you look and feel your best. If you have great legs wear shorter hemlines. If your chest is rockin’, show a little cleav every once in a while! Got amazing arms? Why not opt for sleeveless and strapless styles to play them up? If you’re fishing for compliments, buy clothes that play up your best parts!

Color The Classics
You never see Bethenny sporting tons of crazy patterns or doing lots of sloppy layering. This is one way she keeps her look clean and classic. Sometimes, patterns work for people. But if you’re trying to be practical about your wardrobe and make sophisticated style statements, solid colors can be an amazing addition. Bethenny often rocks red (a color she knows she looks good wearing), black, and an array of other bold, solid colors. Then, when she goes to a big event or awards show, she’ll mix up her look with playful prints, sassy sequins or stripes.

Imagine the possibilities of a solid color dress! If you want to make your wardrobe work hard, pick key pieces in solid colors that work well with your skin tone—ranging from blacks to brights. The right colors will make you glow! And the solid color will make you look like a master of style.

Add An Accessory (or two)
Sometimes the best way to look pulled-together is to wear simple, understated accessories that can easily transition from day to night. Bethenny is a master of this. She’s often seen rocking a pair of basic diamond studs (with a not so basic sparkle). The right accessories should be versatile enough to take you from day to night. They should be adaptable. And most of all, they should look high quality (i.e. expensive). The right accessories will elevate your style potential.

The chunky (yet very simple) earrings Bethenny sports (like in the above picture) always manage to keep her look classy. Paired with a coordinating ring, Frankel is the epitome of ladylike. Take a page from her playbook: sometimes less is more when it comes to accessorizing.

Sometimes when I get dressed in the morning, I find myself saying, "Hmmm...what would Bethenny wear?" And by following some of her fashion guidelines, I feel as if I'll always leave the house looking prim, proper and fashionably educated. By keeping her style sense in mind, I don't think I'll ever hear a passerby say, "Holy inappropriateness!" when looking at my outfit.