I was paging through the August edition of a fashion magazine yesterday (from back to front as I have a habit of doing), when I stopped on a page that told me that color-block handbags were OUT. And we all know, because Heidi Klum reminds us each week on Project Runway, that when it comes to fashion, “You’re either in, or you’re out!”

So imagine my surprise when just two pages further back, errr…make that two pages further forward due to my backwards reading style, I spy a full-page editorial spread with two color-block pieces by two major designers.

So are they in? Or are they out? No wonder women find fashion confusing!

And I guess this is where Heidi and I have a slight difference of opinion, because my feeling is that great style is always IN whether it’s on the leading edge of a trend or at the end of a trend that is fading into oblivion. And great style can be on its way OUT here in LA while it’s just coming IN to some other parts of the country.

That’s why it’s so important to work on developing your own personal sense of style. Become one of the world’s best-dressed women by looking at fashion magazines for inspiration, not for rules. Because, someplace, somewhere, someone is breaking their fashion rules, looking great, and possibly even starting the next trend.

So when you spy something wonderful like today’s VPOD but vaguely remember reading about how sequins are now OUT, you can follow your own inner fashion sense and snatch it up anyway. Then you can take this vintage 1980s razzle-dazzle leather jacket on a play date with all the other items in your closet and mix up some outfits that make you feel great and start the trend that brings sequins back IN.

Then the cycle of fashion can begin again…

…with a kickstart from this great little find for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Nasty Gal. | Discovered at TheFind.com.

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