While reading Seventeen’s latest issue, I found out about a website that has everything from apparel to costumes. The best part…great prices! We would all love to have the time to go out to shop, but with school, homework, studying, and jobs, it can be hard to find the extra time. Shopping on the web makes things a lot easier -- you can even pull up a separate window to shop while doing homework! So where do you find great shoes, clothing, and accessories at a great price? A little website called Amiclubwear.com. The site features both men's an women's clothing, and also has great Halloween costumes. For my money, it’s the best place to shop on the web!

-- Sarah Bolliger

Zed is one of the students in the French class that I recently started taking, and it did not take long for a vintage lover like me to notice that he has a pretty darn impressive collection of great vintage pieces—especially his square-toed boots. Dark leather and worn in just enough to look worn without looking broken down, they are of a style that lends itself equally well to dressing up or down and, aesthetically, they are quite possibly perfect. Zed has such a knack for wearing vintage clothing, and for making it his own, that I simply had to ask him to share his thoughts on shopping, and wearing, secondhand. I’m glad that I did, because I believe that you’ll agree that he has quite an interesting take on the merits of secondhand sartorialism.

Name: Zed Ireland
Age: 22
Occupation: Full Time English Student
Hometown: Denver
Shirt: Vintage Shop
Jeans: Friend
Shoes: Vintage Shop

Do you wear a lot of vintage? A fair amount. Roughly half of my wardrobe is vintage or secondhand.

How long have you been into vintage? I got started off thrifting a few years ago but have really gotten into it in the past year.

When getting dressed, are you generally drawn to your vintage items first? Are they the “building blocks” of your wardrobe? Yes, I consider my vintage articles to be the staples of my wardrobe as well as the most fashionable.

When you go to a secondhand shop or sale what do you check out first? Sometimes I’ll have something specific in mind (i.e. a shirt or vest) but most often I just head towards whatever catches my eye.

Do you have a favorite piece that you ever found at a thrift store, yard sale or vintage shop? Yes, my red leather jacket. It’s absolutely my best find yet.

Melissa May, one of Denver's most talented local fashion designers, will be premiering her retro beach inspired Spring 2009 line tonight at 9 p.m. at the Colorado History Museum, 1300 Broadway.

Followers of the Denver fashion scene will no doubt have seen May's work by now, but this is her first solo show in Denver. She is known for her feminine frocks with gorgeous detail and I for one cannot wait to see what she has to show us. Tickets to the event are $10 at the door. For more information, click here.

-- Aubrey Shoe

Remember how the designers got all crafty and constructed sweaters out of mop heads and dresses out of plastic cups in the first episode of the current season of Project Runway? Well, with the Whole Foods Challenge you, too, can construct fashion out of food and food-related products and you'll even get the opportunity to have them judged at Tamarac Square's Fall into Fashion show on October 2.

How do you enter? Just head on down to the Tamarac Whole Foods, 7400 East Hampden, today, September 17, to register. You'll need a proof of purchase from the store, but you can shop confidently knowing that not only are you stocking up on useful projects for your future as a reigning couturier, but 5% of your purchase will benefit the Creative Expression Center. For more information, visit www.tamaracsquare.com.

-- Aubrey Shoe

Style trends are changing almost everyday. Five days a week, I am confined to the halls of my school, where I see teen fashion all around me. What happens when guys and girls swap their “norms” of style? I see the guys taking on skinny jeans -- tighter then the girls -- as well as wearing low v-cut T’s. They are fearless of color and patterns -- neon, argyle, and splatter paint are just a few of the designs seen on a guys clothing.

And the girls are sure adding a more masculine touch! Looser fitting clothes like the “boyfriend” jean -- a baggy yet comfy jean that we are used to seeing on guys is becoming popular for girls. Then there is the baggy sweaters and hoodies that have become popular in darker colors and simple stripes. This generation is fearless of challenging society's norms and willing to experience the other side!

-- Sarah Bolliger

Plenty of people had a fashion statement to make at last weekend's Monolith festival. Don't believe me? Check out the slide show and vote for your favorite hipster. Nothing like watching all the hipsters trying to out hip each other.

Oh, and did I mention that the $20 charge also includes a shirt! For more infomation, visit the Toofy website.

-- Aubrey Shoe

I don’t know if my theory holds, but I think global warming signals a heavier chance of rain on the Front Range in the spring and fall. But if I’m right, we all need to buy a good pair of rain boots immediately. Luckily, deciding to do so is just half the fun. The choices out there are astounding.

To begin with, it’s only a short surf to www.whatapair.com, a website overflowing with adorable and guaranteed sloshable rain boots by a slew of manufacturers. There, I’m in love with Chooka’s Ed Hardy-style Koi boots ($59.99), a slick pair of Mondrian-esque kitten heels from Jeffrey Campbell ($39.99) and pretty much the entire rain boot line by Capelli New York (also $39.99). And for those with a lighter pocketbook, Target’s admirable knockoffs, including purple plaid, retro bird, and other fanciful designs, sell for only $24.99, and look just as hot. Look in-store or visit www.target.com. And by all means, surf further if you like, the water’s fine.

Just one more thing: If you’re out and about in the rain as I am, consider investing in a VERY GOOD UMBRELLA. Don’t even dream of picking up one of those accidents-waiting-to-happen they sell at Walgreen’s. Shell out and buy something extra large and very sturdy, or at least search the thrift shops for a used one. It probably belonged to someone dead, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing (mine, a gift, once belonged to my friend’s father, and I always feel especially safe under its storied wing). Now you’re ready for anything.

– Susan Froyd

For more information on the Art Institute of Colorado, click here.

-- Aubrey Shoe

Yesterday it was announced that the proposed Centennial IKEA will be built on 13.5 acres on the west side of I-25 in the Park Meadows Mall area. The Swedish home store will be 400,000 square-feet large and will sell nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items.

The store will also feature 50 "inspirational room settings," three model home interiors, a wonderfully fun children's play area and a 350 seat restaurant featuring Swedish specialities alongside American dishes. I'm especially happy that I'll finally get to buy one of my favorite candies -- the Daim toffee chocolates -- whenever I want.

The new IKEA should create 500 jobs during the construction phase and another 400 jobs when the store opens. Right now there are already new stores being planned in Charlotte, NC, Somerville, MA and Tampa, FL. There is no set opening date for the Colorado store, but let's all keep our fingers crossed that it's soon. I have a bathroom that needs to be redone and only IKEA can do the job.

-- Aubrey Shoe

The political conventions are over and I think we can all agree the DNC was more successful than the RNC. Sure, we had fewer police/ protester confrontations and more respectful crowds than the RNC. But more importantly, we had way better celebrities than the Minnesotans had.

And though I’m not as political as I probably should be, I did watch the DNC coverage religiously and tuned into the RNC coverage for as long as my stomach could handle. I have to say, this upcoming election has mobilized me in a way no other election ever has before.

Barack Obama truly seems to be for the people, evidenced by the fact that, post-law school, he took lower paying jobs to revitalize the inner cities of Chicago when he could have gone the way of the rich, powerful and corporate. He’s obviously an eloquent speaker. The crowd he draws with his international appearances proves that he is well-respected the world over and would vastly improve the USA’s social standing within the international community. Clearly, he’s intelligent and would surround himself with an intelligent, capable cabinet. And I’m all for giving a smart guy a crack at the White House again. That’d be a fun shift, I think.

I mean, I hear the arguments about his having “too little experience to lead,” but let’s be honest, here; Sarah Palin? Come on. John McCain is, what, a hundred and twelve years old? Give or take? Obviously, there is a very real possibility that his antique ticker is gonna give out and Sarah will take over.

Sarah freakin’ Palin!!! With all her profound experience as… what? Governor ?

Of Alaska.

Alaska, you guys!!!

How is that better at all?! It’s not.

There's a lot happening in the news these days -- the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac bailout, the energy/housing crisis, the most exciting presidential race in my lifetime. But, really, there is only one piece of news that I care about -- and that's today's announcement that IKEA, the Swedish retailer of all that is affordable, chic and modern for the home, is finally coming here,

It's about time. The Denver Business Journal reported in May 2004 that IKEA had approached the city of Lone Tree about opening a store, but Lone Tree had turned down the store and "potentially millions in sales tax revenue, because its city design guidelines won't accommodate IKEA's signature blue and yellow stores."

Lucky for us, IKEA heard the pleas of thousands of Denver-area fans and the town of Centennial has decided to make the sacrifice of pulling in the millions of dollars that Lone Tree didn't want. Word is that Centennial will even allow the store to be built with its standard colors.

It recently occurred to me that I need to devote some time to talking about how to shop for vintage clothing and not just encouraging our readers to do so or spotlighting stylish individuals who have devoted large portions of their wardrobe to vintage goods. While shopping for used goods is nearly innate for some people, others often find it to be intimidating, overwhelming and even a bit frustrating. Some fear looking like a total fashion throwback, wearing pieces that should never experience a swan song, while others fear just making the wrong choices and purchasing pieces that are neither flattering nor fashionable. So, today I’d like to give you guys a brief and basic rundown of some of the things that I have learned during my near lifetime of thrift store shopping. Tips follow after the jump.

I have always been fascinated with Goth style. Now, I would never be able to wear black clothing everyday, but I really respect those who do! My best friend is what most would consider Goth, but her style is so much more interesting that just layers of black on black. Cayla is a smart girl with a talent for art. Her drawings are stunning, her poetry is touching, and her kindness fills a room. At first glance you would not know any of that, and because of her style many people jump to conclusions about her before getting to know her.

Cayla’s favorite place to shop is Hot Topic, where she can buy bondage pants, studs, and fishnet gloves. Her eye make up is intricate, thick eyeliner of all colors, with symbols and swirls off to the side. Though Cayla's clothing is dark, she is a bright soul with an amazing heart and her clothing doesn't tell the whole story of who she is!

-- Sarah Bolliger