Every time I go to Sephora to get some concealer in an attempt to cover up my under-eye zombie circles, some perky salesgirl tries to convince me that I can’t possibly apply said concealer without an army of extra brushes. Ditto on everything from blush to eyeshadow and even lip gloss. Unless you’re a hardcore beauty Nazi who insists on doing everything by the book though, it’s all kind of BS. You don’t really need different brushes for blush and powder or different layers of eye shadow; that just tends to get confusing and expensive. Find out which four brushes will get you through every makeup situation, after the jump.

We’ve officially entered that odd, in-between season where temperatures hover between the mid 40s to 60s and make navigating jacket selection an obnoxiously difficult task. We should be wearing medium-weight toppers, trenches and leathers. Instead, however, I look around and see droves of women in too-heavy woolens and too-light cottons, apparently having decided to ignore pre-spring jackets entirely. Sorry to be a stickler, but this sort of outerwear behavior is totally unacceptable. Every girl needs a coat for the in-between times, and we’ll help you pick out the right one after the jump.

I’ve just zipped a carry-on-sized suitcase that holds all the contents necessary for me to look presentable (maybe even good!) for nine days. Bow to me, gods of efficient packing, because my days of checking two huge bags for a one-week trip are dead and gone. Read on to learn how to pack like an OCD organizer a pro for your next vacation.

• Choose pieces that complement one another both in color and in style. That means choose a color scheme and stick to it, but also choose a general look so that pretty much any and every piece can be mixed and matched. This should be easy for those of you who are more consistent in your dressing, but for those of us who are fans of dress-up days and odd outfits, it can be more of a challenge.
• You get one statement piece, so choose wisely. Something like a great skirt or jacket is better than a dress because it can be mixed in with a handful of the other pieces you’re bringing, in case you need to repeat.

Lately, my group of friends has gotten really into home entertaining. Call it an effect of the recession if you please, but we’re hosting potlucks, game nights, and movie screenings at out apartments like it’s nobody’s business. This means I regularly pop into corner stores on my way to the host’s house to pick up some cheap flowers, a six-pack, or dessert to contribute to the evening. These offerings aren’t exactly original, so I pulled something out of my mother’s arsenal the other night: cookies in a jar. “Make” oatmeal—or another variety—of cookies by following my video primer. Here’s the recipe I used: Country Oatmeal Cookie In A Jar (I left out the chocolate chips and walnuts). Keep reading for links to other varieties!

Check out everyone’s favorite real-sized model, Crystal Renn, and craft chick Erica Domesek of DIY blog P.S. I Made This constructing floral headbands inspired by various runway shows. Headgear is hot right now and this is a fun way to get your hands on some without spending tons of cash. Let us know how it goes if you make on yourself!

With New York Fashion Week over, fall trends have started to make themselves abundantly clear. And while some—like minimalist makeup and easy hair—we can get on board with, others require a bit more skepticism. For example, runways from Rag & Bone to Richard Chai sent models marching with pants under their skirts and dresses. While Susannah and Amelia are fans of this style, I remain on the fence, fearful that it often results in a look that’s more schlumpy than chic. That said, if the awesome stylists at Rag & Bone taught me anything, it’s that pants under a dress don’t necessarily have tomake you look like a hobo layering up for the winter. We’ve got a few tips to keep you looking cool, not confused.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, there’s an article in today’s Daily Mail called “How to ... Seduce a Man,” written by the founder of the popular lingerie boutique Coco de Mer. The advice, which is really applicable to either sex, made me think of this weekend’s “Dear Wendy” column in which a reader asked me why she can’t get a date. I offered her some suggestions, but because a lot of us could use a refresher, check out some of the best tips for seducing someone (or simply getting a date) ...

After a few weeks visiting my parents at their very grownup house in Chicago, returning to my own cute but tiny and not-nearly-as-nice apartment (left) in New York was a bit of a challenge. I think my roommate and I have done a lot with fairly limited resources, but my mom’s museum-like stylings reminded me of the seemingly endless ways we could improve our own place. But while some—antique French chairs, for example—remain out of my price range, others—like switching out our crappy kitchen knobs for cute ones—are easy and affordable. After the jump, a few tips on instantly improving the look of your apartment.

Planning a party fit for a princess/spoiled brat? Well, then you’re going to need this poofy pink lady’s advice. So hilariously high-pitched, it’s heard best by bitches, er, dogs. [Everything Is Terrible]

We’re obsessed with Snooki from MTV’s “Jersey Shore” for innumerable reasons, including her signature hair ‘do. Called “the pouf,” Snooki’s been rocking the look since she was 16 years old. Now she’s explaining how to get your very own (FYI, it takes her an hour and a half to do, but she isn’t the most low-maintenance girl going, so grain of salt): “When I get out of the shower and my hair is wet, I can scrunch it up and put the clip in and it stays forever, just because I have thick hair and it’s naturally straight. If people don’t have hair like mine, I suggest teasing it a lot and then just put hair spray in (product plug: she uses Paul Mitchell hair spray) and a clip. It should stay.” There you go, kids. [In Touch Weekly]

Sure, the holidays are filled with great food, fun parties, and general good cheer (I was at a crowded Macy’s yesterday, and I wasn’t shoved once!), but for a lot of people, this is anything but the most wonderful time of year. Those of us in periods of transition—even positive ones—are especially susceptible to the feelings of loneliness, frustration, depression, and the stress the holidays can elicit. After the jump, a few tips for surviving the holidays during some of life’s biggest transitions.

“I recently bough a metallic black pencil skirt thinking I’d wear it to work, but every time I put it on I feel waaay overdressed for the office. (And my office is dressy!) How do I wear metallic during the day? Is it even possible? Help!” —Lauren S.

Fret not, you can easily wear your new skirt to work, especially since you say your office is dressy. The key to wearing metallics during the day is keeping everything else simple. That means no crazy prints, shoes can be interesting but ideally monotone, and you probably shouldn’t get out of control with your accessories. We’ve got a few ideas after the jump.

“At the end of last year’s winter season I got a super comfy and adorable jumper for a steal ($12!) thinking it would be a fall staple this year.  Unfortunately I’m having difficulty wearing it without looking like I’m in elementary school. Any tips on how I can make this look more ‘grown-up’?” —Ekelt2

Having spent 10 years all jumpered-up in Catholic school, I feel your pain. If you don’t want to go quirky with the jumper, take references to other school girl accouterments and turn them on their heads. The school girl undertone will always be there with a jumper, so it’s really a matter of taking that aspect and controlling it. That means skip the mary janes, avoid a plain white blouse and tights should be a little more fun than the stark navy I had to wear back in the days when nuns ruled my wardrobe. The good news is that cutting out these additions still leaves you with quite a lot of other options. Outfit ideas after the jump!

In the wake of last week’s belts slide show, we had a lot of readers asking exactly how to add a belt to an outfit without messing it up. The biggest issue seemed to be the “scrooching around” that can be rather difficult to avoid when pairing a belt with certain items. Because we’ve been there and we love you, dear readers, we’ve got a few tips and tricks ...

Many boys wear bad jeans. Not always, but it happens. Next time your boy goes denim shopping, tag along and keep him from making the same mistakes once again. Whether that boy is your boyfriend, your dad or any other male with whom you spend any amount of time, they’ll resent you at the time but appreciate it once they realize it no longer looks like their asses are eating their pants.

1. Boys shouldn’t wear skinny jeans. Period. Next.
2. Avoid pockets that are too big, small, low or embellished at all costs. There’s really no reason to have a rhinestone-encrusted tiger on your ass.