On Monday’s episode of The City, Whitney took her friends Erin and Allie out to meet up with her old boss, Kelly Cutrone, who upsets everyone by calling Allie, who is a model, “too skinny.”

Wait… a model is being called too skinny? By someone who works in the fashion industry?

When I heard that I couldn’t help thinking: “Finally! Is the world of fashion finally getting some sense in them?”

Of course, all of us normal folk know that the runway models are too skinny. It’s been a subject of constant controversy for years and one that is especially important to discuss as we attempt to bring more attention to the tragic effects of eating disorders. Models’ stick-thin figures are unrealistic, unhealthy, and unattainable—yet girls everywhere accept them as the standard to which to compare themselves (only to fall short in comparison). Because of this, the fashion industry is often blamed for so many young women developing eating disorders. For too many years, we’ve become used to sickly-looking models walking the runways, and have come to accept it as the norm.

But now it appears that things are beginning to change. Slowly.

Back in 2006, Spain banned too-thin models from the catwalk at Madrid’s Fashion Week, turning away any model with a B.M.I. (or Body Mass Index, which takes into account both height and weight) of less than 18. Representatives for Madrid’s regional government stated that the fashion industry has a “responsibility to portray healthy body images,” especially since “many teenagers imitate what they see on the catwalk.” Read More »

Awards season is in full swing, which has got me drooling over all those leading ladies’ gorgeous gowns and dresses. Of course, I don’t have a few thousand spare bucks lying around to buy their specific pieces, but for a mere fraction of the price I, too, can look stunning and glamorous for that upcoming Oscar party, hot Valentine’s date, or ladies’ night out. I found this entire ensemble at Forever 21 for under $75. Read More »

While some of us may be angry at the dismal state of the job market (Macy’s recently laid of 7,000 workers!), the foreclosures, the lay offs etc., we can thank our failing economy for at least one good thing: a little treat called the Starbucks value meal.

That’s right ladies; no more splurging on a non-fat-no-whip-whipped-soy-mocha-latte.

Starbucks, notoriously quipped “fourbucks” for its outrageous coffee prices, seems to be suffering just like the rest of the country. Apparently people don’t feel like forking over $6 for a beverage when they aren’t sure they’ll have a job tomorrow.

In an attempt to keep up with the Dunkins (Starbucks’ biggest competition) and reel those coffee addicts back in, Starbucks is slashing prices and offering some tasty (and cheap) breakfast pairings.  Cheap Starbucks?! Looks like the recession just got a little silver lining.

Let’s break it down: a Dunkin Donuts medium drip coffee and egg white sandwich costs only $1.99. If Starbucks manages to match those prices and throw in some of those little brownie cookie things, I’m sold. And happy. And totally lovin’ the recession.

What can I say? Coffee is my crack. Cheap coffee is my…cheap crack?

While there aren’t many details that have been released, more information should be available by the end of the week. Personally, my Monday morning classes would be so much more enjoyable with some cheap coffee paired with something delicious, so the sooner the better, Starbucks.

And, while you’re at it, a dollar menu wouldn’t be a bad idea either!

While I’m not known for having tons of morals, standards, or values, I do know the difference between purchasing something and stealing it. However, for some reason, taking things without exchanging money at college is not considered stealing. It’s considered hilarious, thrifty, and even heroic in some cases.

Throughout the past four years I’ve improved my stealing skills and I can now easily slip an entire overhead projector into my pants while distracting my professor with nonsensical questions about alternative office hours. And the best part about taking things at college is that it’s not the use that’s important; but rather the obscurity. A traffic cone? Awesome! Frat Composite? Sick! A wheelchair? Stellar!

But now as I sit in my living room looking at the stolen fishbowl full of billiard balls, the cabinet filled with dining hall forks, and the freshman we took to do the housework, I’m starting to realize that it’s soon time for me to stop grabbing everything I can put my hands on. I didn’t realize it had become a problem until I was home over winter break in the mall and I found myself straining to pocket everything that wasn’t nailed down to the floor. I would walk down the supermarket aisle with my mom and whisper “pocket the apples, frozen peas in the purse.” She not only did not abide, but she questioned how she raised me so wrong. ( I have a long list if she’s truly interested one day, but that’s another blog.) Read More »

Questiony for Tuffy? Email her at tuffylove@collegecandy.com to be featured in her column, which runs every other Tuesday! ASK. ANYTHING.

Dear Tuffy Luv,

I’m graduating from a small liberal arts college in May and I’m starting to get realllllly nervous about job hunting. Everyone says this is a terrible time to start looking for a job. What am I supposed to do?????????

Thanks for your help!

Terrified Senior

Dear Senorita Senior,

Honey, boy do I feel your pain. You think there’s a lotta work out there for stylized advice columnists? Hint: There ain’t.

The economy here in the US definitely sucks right now. As of December, the unemployment rate was up to a very frightening 7.2%. But, listen. Tuffy’s got a few tricks up her sleeve for you. And it’s a very large sleeve. Bell, maybe. Or perhaps kimono. Read More »

Dear Nadya Suleman,

Ever since you gave birth to octuplets last week, the media just can’t stop talking about you. Which seems to suit you just fine; we heard that you’ve hired an agent to help you break into TV. Splendid!

t’s good to see a mother who just loves using her kids for cash flow her children.

You’ll definitely make tons of money from doing interviews, and you’ll even get to meet celebrities. Maybe you’ll even be on Oprah! Or even Maury Povich – he loves those “Who’s the Daddy?” shows!

I noticed you were hoping to land a job on some news show or another as an “on-camera childcare expert.” I’m thinking you are better suited to be a baby-making expert (14 kids under the age of 7…and you are only 33!), but that’s neither here nor there. Read More »

[It doesn’t matter what school you go to, what state it is in, how big it is, whether it is public or private, all girls or coed…there are experiences that all college students share.

No matter how crazy you think your personal situation is, it is not just you. So, let’s bring it all out in the open. Right here. Because you are not alone - we’ve all been there before.]

There are many moments in a college student’s existence that are shared by other students around the globe, but none more common than the All Nighter.

You know on the first day of class that there will be a 12-page paper due this Friday. You highlighted it, and put it in your planner. But as the weeks went by – and you sorta stopped showing up for class – you kept pushing the paper off. “I’ll start it this weekend,” you tell yourself a week before it’s due.

But the weekend comes, and with it comes an impromptu house party at your place Friday night, a long recap/hangover session on Saturday, a birthday party Saturday night and work on Sunday. No time for a paper.

You assure yourself that you will do it a little each night this week, but it takes you until Wednesday to realize that heading to the library with the girls and a bag of Baked Lays is not the best way to be productive. Read More »

Phish and Bruce are headed there…along with lots and lots of hippies in no shoes.

(Former) Detroit Mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick, is out of the clink.

Get some dating tips from Drew Barrymore.

Little boy goes to dentist, gets stoned. Just like Michael Phelps!

5 pieces that flatter every body.

Miley Cyrus hates Asian people.

Dissecting winter’s most controversial fashions.

Brody Jenner’s got a new BFF (and he’s so much cooler than Spencer)!

Kiehl’s goes V-Day crazy.

He’s Just Not That Into You premieres and everyone looks hot.

Rebecca Romijn just had twins?!

[Photo courtesy of www.jaunted.com]

This can’t be real, right?  Not our Christian! Not sweet little Christian Bale from such films as Newsies and The Dark Knight, right? He wouldn’t yell at someone for doing something wrong and then go absolutely apesh*t on them, right?

I mean, we know that there was that whole issue between him and his mom, but it turned out not to be true! Christian Bale is a sweet, sweet man. A sweet, beautiful, sexy man.

Looks like someone needs a hug.

Christian, when you cool down, call us!

Tonight’s episode of The City was actually sorta entertaining. I am even willing to look past the fact that Erin lives in a ridiculous apartment in NYC and affords it by having spent the past year and a half “soul searching,” and the fact that she just wanted a job…and got one.

Why was it so good? Why, because Kelly Cutrone and her big mouth were there to throw a little spice into an extremely bland series.

So, Kell has a birthday party and Whitney decides to invite jobless Erin and skinny Allie. Whitney, of course, warns the ladies that Kelly speaks her mind (read: is a bitch), so they better watch out. Allie is so excited! She loves people who speak their mind!!

Unless that someone has something bad to say about her. Like how they hate her leggings. Or that she’s too skinny and looks like she hasn’t eaten a sandwich in 6 years. Read More »