Statement Blazer + Favorite Pair of Jeans = Perfection Everytime!

Of-the-Season Blazer: Beyonce at a Dreamgirls’ Photocall in January this year in Berlin.

Men's Blazer: Halle Berry arriving at the opening night of the new production of "Wicked" held at The Pantages Theatre last month in Hollywood.

Cropped Blazer: Jennifer Hudson appearance and interview on XM Satellite Radio on January 10, 2007.

Stand-Out Blazer: Kerry Washington attending the newly opened Oscar de la Renta Boutique in November of 2004 in New York City.

Fitted Blazer: Sanaa Lathan arriving at the premiere of New Line's "King's Ransom" last April 21, 2005 in LA.

We’ve all been in this situation. You have just half an hour to get ready and you haven’t even decided what shoes you’re going to wear out that night. Desperate times call for fail-safe measures. Whenever I want to look polished and chic but don’t have the time to spare, I grab my favorite pair of jeans and a tailored blazer. This spring invest in a jacket or blazer and team with either a simple tee (Kerry and Sanaa) or a fitted shirt (Halle and Beyonce). Alternatively you could go with a cropped jacket a la Jennifer Hudson. Also consider statement accessories like a chunky necklace and statement belt like Sanaa. Oh and don’t forget the killer boots! ;)

Note: Also check out Rashida Jones.

My Picks!

Left to right: Milena Jacket, $24.80, www.forever21.com; Printed Babydoll Jacket, $24.50, www.wetseal.com; Cropped Balzer, $29.99, www.charlotte-russe.com; Cropped blazer, $29.99, www.charlotte-russe.com

Left to right: Check Collarless Trench, $110, www.topshop.com; Piped Detail Waffle Jacket, $110, www.topshop.com; Women's Cropped Blazer, $23.99, www.oldnavy.com; Alex Cord Blazer, $29.99, www.delias.com

Left to right: Brandon Plaid Blazer, $29.99, www.delias.com; Geranium Jumble Jacket, $98, www.anthropologie.com; Ingenue Jacket, $69.50, www.gap.com; Coffee Shop Cropped Trench, $34.99, www.target.com

Left to right: Lux Bright Knife Pleat Jacket, $68, www.urbanoutfitters.com; Lindsay Linen Jacket, $148, www.jcrew.com; Washed Sateen Officer's Jacket, $125, www.jcrew.com; Iisli Tiffany Sequin Blazer, $150.50, www.bloomingdales.com

So many cute blazers, so little time! Instead of picking my favorites I just threw them all in. I tried to find some plus size blazers but they weren’t any stand-out ones. Check Old Navy or Lane Bryant for some cute finds. Also search this site for my Jeans 101 posts to find the perfect pair to go with your new blazer (see the search feature on the left sidebar).

Introducing Courtney Crawford…

Courtney Crawford and a pair of his jaw-dropping heels.

Is there anything more coveted than a gorgeous man who loves shoes? Look no further. Courtney Crawford is the answer to all our dreams. Hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, Crawford caught the design bug at an early age. Growing up in a household filled with five women, Crawford was destined to appreciate the importance of a luxurious shoe. He applied and was accepted into the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology and during his time in New York he interned for milliner and shoe designer Eugenia Kim, the 2004 CFDA Accessory Design Award Winner. In a matter of months, the internship turned into a Head Footwear Designer and Production Manager position.

Crawford launched his debut collection in Spring 2006 to rave reviews. He has also developed collections for other fashion houses including Missoni’s Spring 2007 shoe collection. Crawford says of his design aesthetic, “[I design for] a woman who is unapologetically sexy and undeniably intelligent. The Courtney Crawford woman always takes an intelligent-risk.” The young designer, now 28, has several celebrity admirers including Mariah Carey who wears Crawford’s shoes on tour, Kate Moss, Mischa Barton and burlesque performer Dita Von Teese.

The Courtney Crawford collection is carried in select stores in 10 countries, including Harvey Nichols, U.K. and Hong Kong, Bosco, Russia and La Vetrina di Beryl, Italy. Visit www.courtneycrawford.com to find U.S. concessions. Read more on Crawford here.