If you haven’t watched the HBO new series Girls, I highly recommend checking it out! Since the show’s debut in April, Girls has garnered critical praise for its refreshingly honest portrayal of four young women post-college trying to launch their careers in New York City.

Actress Lena Dunham leads the cast with her character, Hannah Horvath. Her style consists of vintage inspirations to reflect her edginess and bravery. But it was her jewelry choices that really caught my attention.

Hannah’s favorite quirky jewelry item is an antique gold ring. The single bullet ring is from Melvin Jewelry, created by the aunt and niece jewelry duo Martha Clifford and Morgan Walker. You can purchase your own Melvin Bullet ring at shopmelvin. Don’t forget to watch the new hit Girls on Sunday nights on HBO.

Lena Dunham (center) from Girls - Credit: HBO

Photo Credit: GETTY

Dress codes can be difficult to dissect, so here are some helpful tips for how to stay stylish at any occasion during the spring and summer. For fun, I decided to include some fashion advice for the guys as well!

White tie/ultra-formal

Men: a tailcoat and white vest, a shirt and bow tie.

Women: a long gown. Pale colours are really on trend this year, so choose a soft pastel shade or white.

Black tie/formal

Men: a  James Bond-style tuxedo will look amazing on the guys.

Women: knee-length and long dresses. Lace is one of the season’s biggest fabrics and will help to make a dress stand out from the crowd.

Semi-formal

Men: think a dark suit and a tie. Blue is set to be one of the summer’s most popular colours, so a semi-formal event is a great time to get away from boring dark suits and into something a little bit different. A slim tie will also update a look.

Women: a knee-length dress is a perfect choice. A peter-pan collar is a cute way to add detail to a semi-formal look. The 1920s style is also right on trend, so think drop-waist and flapper-style dresses.

Cocktail

Men: a dark suit works best.

Women: Cocktail dresses in a knee-length are fun because they are just so versatile. Tribal print is one of the key looks for summer 2012, so leave the little black dress behind and opt instead for something more adventurous. Even if you’re not brave enough to go the whole hog, you can still transform a plain dress with some print stilettos or tribal jewellery.

Business casual

Men: a collared shirt, trousers or men’s jeans. It varies from place to place, so double-check whether your company allows jeans to be paired with a shirt (think Steve Jobs). If in doubt, swap the jeans for a pair of tailored chinos.

Women: smart trousers or skirt. Pencil skirts are a great option and look fabulous in bright colours, so don’t worry about dressing down during the summer months. A sheer pussy-bow blouse will help to maintain the balance between smart and playful.

Dressy casual

Men: jacket or collared shirt and a pair of trousers.

Women: a skirt or smart trousers. Here’s a chance to get away from dresses and try something more edgy. Floral design is a catwalk favourite this season and so is vintage Americana: go for it if you suit a fifties-style shape with a nipped in waist and bright red lips.

Casual — anything goes!

Kara Laricks Fashion Star Winner

Were you watching NBC’s new hit Fashion Star on Tuesday night? I couldn’t help but feel immense admiration for Kara Laricks who is the first winner of the reality show. Laricks, who is a former fourth grade teacher, followed her dream of becoming a fashion designer and made it through the competition to earn the grand prize of Fashion Star- a $6 million deal for her collections with Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and H&M.

The exclusive collections are available in stores now and online at Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue. Laricks stayed true to the menswear elements that helped win the attention of the buyers from the three retailers.

I love that all of  the pieces are very versatile, and will probably pair nicely with items you already have in your closet. My favorite piece is a long black skirt with sexy slits on both sides of the legs. It’s a cool look with a contemporary twist that can be dressed up or worn casually. It’s available at H&M now! I hope to see much more from the talented designer and a Fashion Star winner!