Nha Khanh sheer polka-dot-sleeve dress ($525); buy via Neiman Marcus

The very pretty (and pregnant) Halle Berry was recently spotted around town in a see-through lace dress, and she’s not the only one rocking the peek-a-boo trend. It’s one of my favorite looks to hit stores this spring, and I own several pieces. I actually just highlighted a few of these on-trend styles for Capitol File magazine, including a pair of striped peek-a-boo pumps by Christian Louboutin and the elegant frock by Nha Khanh pictured above.

These items can incorporate lace or mesh panels, and they’re a great style compromise. You can show off a little skin and still look sophisticated. I’m definitely a fan.

What do you think? Are you a fan, too?

Last year, I became senior editor of a luxury magazine in DC, and have since been covering a variety of events. (For instance, I did red carpet coverage when Ellen Degeneres received the 15th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center.) This weekend, the city is hosting tons of parties and events in honor of President Barack Obama’s second inauguration, and I’ve been keeping up!

I was delighted to appear on DC’s FOX5 morning news to chat about inauguration events, visiting celebs, and the First Lady’s style. (Isn’t she a fashion maven?) View this video from the newscast for more on inaguration festivities.

I also wrote a fashion roundup for DC’s inauguration events, so if you don’t know what you’re wearing this weekend, have a look at my luxe picks. (I think these options can work for other occasions, too.) Happy celebrating!

If you wear (fab) shoes like this, it's all about the timing. B Brian Atwood Fredrique platform pumps via saksfifthavenue.com.

I’m an admitted shoe fanatic, but I also love writing about wellness. So the recent health story I wrote on 9 Footwear Do’s and Don’ts for USNews.com was really fun.

The truth is, our feet withstand lots of abuse (think long jogs and super high stilettos), and we need to take care of them to avoid pain, injury, and other ailments. Check out the story to learn the best time to go out in high heels—and if you should be wearing those flip flips.

Can you believe 2012 is here? (Happy new year!) This date change has me thinking about trends. I’ve always believed that if you like something, and it flatters you, you should wear it. Doesn’t matter if it was popular two months ago or two years ago. So, on that note, here are three trendy items from 2011 that I’ll be wearing into 2012.

Colored skinny jeans
I loved my cherry red and popsicle blue jeans in high school, so I was happy when they were easy to find again. In 2011, I scored emerald-colored skinnies (so fun), and I’ll definitely go green this year, too.

Current/Elliott The Ankle Skinny via RevolveClothing.com

Animal print
I’ve been wild about cheetah print, leopard print, and snake print for years (years), and I was thrilled to see it appear on everything from shoes to sweaters. I already had scarves, flats, cardigans, and…well, let’s just say I had a few things (ahem). This year I added cheetah print pumps and leopard print skinny jeans and have no plans to stop wearing them. (Don’t know the difference between cheetah and leopard? It’s easy.)

Majorly important note: Of course, I’d never wear this stuff together. Best to leave head-to-toe prints to the actual animals.

Vivienne Westwood leopard-print silk-chiffon scarf via net-a-porter.com

Sparkly shoes
Calling all 12-year-olds: We have something in common. My obsession with shine is well documented, so of course I love sparkly shoes. I already had some in silver but added another pair in 2011. My opinion hasn’t changed: glitter is good.

Kate Spade New York Licorice Too via Zappos Couture

So what will you keep wearing in 2012? And do you always wear what you like no matter what’s popular?

Most of us think we know how to clean our contacts, but a new study finds less than 1 percent of people (less than 1 percent!) actually care for them properly, WebMd Health News reports.

And bad habits have consequences, researchers write in the journal Optometry and Vision Science. The most frequent problems reported by surveyed contacts wearers were discomfort (72%) and infection (47%). Yikes.

To protect your eyes, replace contacts as recommended, American Optometric Associationspokesman Randall Fuerst, O.D., tells WebMd.

Other steps? Never use tap water to clean cases or lenses (I’ve done this, but no more!), always use fresh solution, and always wash and dry your hands before putting in lenses. And, of course, only buy contacts from reputable providers—and only if you have a current, valid prescription (no crazy colors from shady outlets or oversize lenses, please).

So have you been doing anything wrong—and will you make changes? Learn more on healthy lens care from FDA and WebMd.

Image: nuchylee/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

You say you’re crazy for cheetah print, but do you really like leopard? The prints are easy to mix up—and often are—but you’ll know the difference after reading this post.

Your cheat-sheet for cheetah spots: They’re  just one color.

Leopard print, on the other hand, has some shading and the spots are two-toned.

So there you go. Now you’ll be on point the next time you’re hunting for cheetah-print shoes. Rawr.

So do you know your animal prints? And are you a feline fan? (By the way, these cute rugs are currently available for purchase; just click the images above.)

Images: Rugs USA

Interesting news out of the Netherlands: A new study suggests the way you physically lean affects how you estimate quantities (like sizes, numbers, and percentages).

We think of smaller numbers as being to the left and larger numbers to the right, researchers say. So when participants estimated answers to questions, they chose smaller numbers when leaning to the left. (There was no difference in estimates when they leaned to the right or stood straight up.)

Though researchers say posture has no effect when you know an answer, they say it influences you when you’re unsure. So the next time you wonder how much liquor is in that lemon drop, maybe try not to lean left. Wouldn’t want to overindulge because you guessed low!

So what do you think of this study? Does it sound right (ha) to you?

Image: We Heart It

If you feel more irritable when you’re hungry, hormones may be to blame.

Levels of serotonin—a hormone that helps regulate behavior—fluctuate when people are stressed or haven’t eaten, finds a new study from the University of Cambridge. And when levels are low, researchers say, communication between certain parts of the brain is weaker than normal, which may make it harder for the brain to control emotional responses to anger.

Wait a minute. This could explain why some morning drivers are so aggressive: They skipped breakfast! So let’s just think of this study as another reason to eat healthy meals…and snacks in between.

What about you? Do you ever feel more angry when you haven’t eaten?

Image: We Heart It

Dresses are amazing. If you get the right shape and color (I’m partial to sheath styles that don’t need ironing) you look like you put major effort into your look—even if you got dressed in minutes.

And if the pattern is eye-catching, and the dress has some texture, there’s no need to stress about lots of accessories.

The perfect shoes? Pumps or slingbacks close to your skin tone. Just add a bag, and the outfit’s done in a flash. It’s a great style trick!

Dress, Trina Turk; shoes, Nine West; bag, Louis Vuitton

Pretty peep-toes from Badgley Mischka.

So, if I’ve never mentioned this, I have a serious obsession with all things sparkly.* And what’s the perfect sparkly accessory? Shoes!

If you’re afraid to really go for the gold (or silver) with a sparkly dress or top, metallic shoes offer a touch of polish that brings major style points. And if you love sparkles already, well you know how great it feels to prance around in shoes this cute and shiny.

Another great thing about metallics? They go with everything. So reconsider that basic black shoe for your next dinner date—instead, throw on something golden.

*You can find the Badgley Mischka heels in the photo at Piperlime.com, Zappos.com, or Endless.com. But move quickly—many sizes are going fast! [Update (9/14/11): These shoes appear to be sold out on some sites, including Zappos.com.]

Image Credit: Zappos