Joann Padilla graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology and worked with buyers from Nordstrom to Urban Outfitters, carving out quite the career in fashion.

When she had her daughter Aleya in 1996, everything changed. As Aleya grew, Joann's handbag line grew. In the beginning, she just spent her free time designing and making bags for friends. Soon, strangers on the street were approaching her and asking about the scalloped satchels. Before she knew it, Aleya New York was born . . . and it was much more than a hobby.

Aleya NY Handbags run $295-$605 and available at AleyaNY.com.

To see more from Aleya NY, read more

We all want to stay informed on what's hot. Luckily, we have AlohaRag.com who stocks newly released items from todays' hottest designers from the likes of Phillip Lim, Ksubi, and Golden Goose, to name a few. So if you feel like splurging, come aboard and enter the virtual world of AlohaRag.com. And if you don't like spending your whole paycheck, check out their sale section!

Jackie O. first put Finnish textile brand Marimekko on the map when she wore their brightly-patterned dresses during JFK's 1960 presidential campaign. H&M decided to honor that tradition by digging into the vibrant Marimekko archives and bringing back the bold retro prints for their Tribute to Marimekko collection, in stores April 10.

Swimsuits, dresses, scarves, tops, and bottoms will all be available in vivid color combos like red and pink, olive and orange, and red and turquoise. Plus, the prices are right: A one-piece swimsuit is marked at $35, and an apron dress goes for $50. Perfect for that island vacation you were thinking about.

To see more of H&M's Tribute to Marimekko, read more

During New York Fashion Week, a handful of attendees were asked a very important question: For whom do women dress? Here's what they had to say . . .

Carine Roitfeld (left): "I don't know for everyone else. For me, it's for myself. When you feel good about yourself, you feel good about everyone else."

Anne Hathaway: "Most women dress for their most fashionable friend."

Isabel Toledo: Women dress for men. I do dress for myself because it makes me feel empowered, but I'm definitely looking for [husband] Rubin's expression, not his approval. I do use clothes to speak — how I dress is a form of communication for me."

Sophia Bush: I dress for myself. There are days when I don't want to be dressed up so I'm not. And there are other days when I really want to be done from head to toe. You've got to dress for you."

So, for whom do you dress?

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How I Met Your Mother actress Alyson Hannigan celebrated the return of her show with an early St. Patrick's Day party. Though there's no green in sight yet, there is teal — her B. Romanek python clutch. As always, she looks graceful in her Vena Cava keyhole dress. Her slingback peep-toe pumps are pretty, but I gave her a chunkier shoe to balance out the feminine dress.

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• Channeling Chanel — W Magazine
• Where have all the (normal) trousers gone? — IHT
• Fashion critic's notebook: My invitation isn’t in the mail — NY Times
• Preview Heidi Montag's Heidiwood line — US Magazine
• Alice Temperley pregnant — Vogue UK
• Christian Siriano: Rubbing elbows, making art — The Advocate
• Vogue diaries: The shape issue — Style.com
• Bah, handbag! It's time for a worthier obsession: Shoes — The Telegraph UK
• When imitation’s unflattering — NY Times
• How to pronounce fashion names — WSJ
• Kate Moss for Topshop Spring preview — Topshop

Whitney Port is becoming the third The Hills star to launch a clothing line, following after The Lauren Conrad Collection and Heidi Montag's Heidiwood.

Whitney's focus is on her new contemporary line Eve & A, which will launch with 17 pieces of party-worthy dresses, tops, and jackets in the Fall. She is designing the clothing with the help of co-creative director Adrienne Baravetto, and is backed by her father Jeff Port, who owns an apparel company. I think this collection promises to be the most successful out of the three.

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Black and white has had so many incarnations in the past year. It's definitely evolved and it's still relevant — only today, it's textural black and white. Beading, ruching, sheer fabrics, feathers and all of the above, make for a black and white cocktail perfect for a cocktail party. Madonna knows it, and now you do.

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