At risk of seeming unsophisticated, I am going to simply state that my guiltiest pleasure is cuddling on the couch and watching The Vampire Diaries. It is not the show one would imagine a fashionista would watch, but despite the obvious lack of couture and occasional cheesy dialogue, with the overuse of the word 'Epic', it has its redeeming qualities. It reminds me of how much I miss more accessible styles and brands. Don’t get me wrong, I love the seemingly endless stream of Louboutin, Givenchy and Tom Ford pieces that currently inhabit my wardrobe. But some days, couture is just too much, too overwhelming. Too much height, too much of a statement and well, just too much coming out of my bank account.

The Vampire Diaries and its youthful fashion evokes a sense of nostalgia. It takes me back to a time where being cool or popular was not making a loud statement with bank-breaking, couture items. In every age bracket, there is something that distinguishes the seemingly 'upper brow' from 'low brow' classes. In grade school, it was who had the brightest, new toy. And in most high schools, it might not be that 10k Hermes Birkin or Celine ID necklace (seen on every celebrity now), that we as adults crave to silently say 'I have arrived.' Around 10 years ago, in my high-school days, the 'it' trend was a Tiffany's ID bracelet and matching ID necklace (kind of ironic how items of this sort are trending back around). But the price point was 285 for the necklace and 185 for the bracelet. At this time, fitting in and having what everyone else had was still paramount to social standing. Despite these items having a low price point they were still hard to obtain. And yet our iconic fashionistas overlook these lower priced items because they are not haute couture. These items are just as integral to every fashionistas wardrobe as haute couture. It is the ability to take the everyday item and mix it with couture fashion that tests your ability as a fashionista.

To dismiss Steve Madden, Charles David and the like, as being cheap and not worthy of a fashionista's time shows just how caught up on branding we are. The Charles David Regiment boots were featured on The Vampire Diaries and seen on other celebs as well. A true fashionista does not need to always wear strictly couture. She integrates items from all design houses to create a signature style that is unique and truly her own. The Vampire Diaries' accessible fashion has made me go back to my roots and inspired me to find ways to integrate different fashion items at every price point. Would people be dying for the Charles David Regiment boot if Nina Dobrev hadn't worn it, in what I consider the hottest TV show? Probably not. But it is just the beginning for us to open our eyes to brands and items that were cast away to the island of misfits.

Now the Regiment Lace-up Charles David boots Elena Gilbert has worn are supposedly 'sold-out', I find it my sole duty to scour the internet and boutiques, for this item everyone wants and no one can attain. After all, that is my talent? That is how I am building my empire? I was always the “it” girl. I could always get the item everyone wanted. Even now I have the most coveted couture pieces in the world. I have brand exclusives for mine and other geographic regions but I am having trouble obtaining the more accessible Charles David Regiment Lace -up boots? Something is entirely wrong with this picture. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? I need to prove to myself I am still the “it” girl in all facets of fashion and not just the couture realm. I know I am not the only one who feels this way. If I was, the boots would not be sold out world wide and highly sought after. I made it my mission to obtain these boots and today I finally found them. So when I sit down to watch The Vampire Diaries tonight I can breathe a sigh of relief. I’ve still got it.