Ladies, it’s time to embrace the plaid.

OK, before you former uniform-wearing girls get all “I spent the last 12 years of my life in plaid, why on Earth would I wear it once I can finally pick my own clothes each day?!” let me explain. Plaid is so. much. more. than the pattern of choice for schoolgirl kilts; it’s classic, it’s versatile and it’s probably one of the easiest ways to incorporate a multicolored pattern into your wardrobe.

Plaid is one of the 10 Modern Pieces Every Girl Should Own and the plaid shirt has become a uniform for both male and female college students.  It’s easy to wear with jeans, super comfy, and looks good even when it’s been balled up on your floor and you only have 10 minutes to make it to class.  It’s also been super popular for a few years, and appears to have major staying power.  If the plaid shirt isn’t your thing, or you want other ways to incorporate your new favorite pattern into your wardrobe, there are lots of coats, bottoms and accessories out there for you! And each one is cuter than the other.

Another bonus about plaid?  If you’re ever in a bind about what to wear to an ‘I love the ’90s’ party, a plaid shirt is your best bet… Take that, solids! Read More »

It might be 2010, but here at CollegeCandy we’re still stuck in the ’90s. All you have to do is say Chumbawhumba and we’re off and running on a ’90s nostalgia debate that lasts the entire day. We know we’re not the only people out there that still rock out to N’Sync and still remember the desperation you felt when you lost your favorite Pogs slammer. So instead of constantly arguing amongst the CollegeCandy team, we decided to throw the question out to our readers and choose, once and for all, what is the best thing to come from the ’90s (besides our many devoted readers, of course).

So, in the fashion of every guy’s wet dream, March Madness, we’ve created an “I Love the ’90s” bracket. We’ve been narrowing down the best of the best of our favorite decade for over a week now and things are getting serious. I mean, who knew people loved Cory and Topanga more than N*SYNC? I’m sure I’m not the only one who didn’t see that coming (but I am now wondering when we’ll get a Boy Meets World reunion up in herrrre). And gel pens SMOKING the Bedazzler? I guess milky colors beat out rhinestone studded jackets any day. And maybe that’s a good thing.

But that’s the whole reason we’re doing this (sorry, Doug Funny!) and we’re excited to narrow it down even further today. We’re looking at top 16 choices from all 4 sections. Who’s gonna make it to round 5? Will America’s fave couple (Cory and Topanga) be able to stand up against everyone’s favorite twins? Can the Tamagatchi creep past Skip-it? We won’t know until you cast your vote.

So vote now and then come back every Monday and Thursday this month so you can keep letting us know what is the best thing to ever come from the 1990 and beyond. Read More »

This post provided by college nutritionist, author, and all around excellent source of healthful info, Melanie Jatsek.

It’s the start of the new school year.  For some of you this will be your first time away from home and you may be feeling a little nervous about meeting your new roommate and dorm life in general.  For others it’s like coming home again, only this time you are moving into your own apartment.

Let’s face it, there are many things in college you can’t control, but what you eat isn’t one of them!  Because certain foods improve your focus and brain health (while others destroy it), your food choices will have an impact on your grades.  What about the so called “Freshman Fifteen”?  You don’t have to fall victim to it or poor eating habits if you play it smart from day one.  In fact, your eating habits can actually improve in college (yes, I did just say that)!

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be hard if you keep it simple.  All you really have to do is remember the 5 basics and build your meals and snacks around them:  fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meats/meat substitutes.  Whether you are a first year college student and only have a tiny dorm room refrigerator (and an even tinier cupboard to store your food) or you are a returning student living in an apartment with a kitchen, here are the 13 foods you must stock up on to stay on track: Read More »

Are you looking to invite that hot guy over for a sexy sleepover?  Make sure your oral technique blows his mind so he comes back for seconds and thirds.  After all, studies show that sex makes you smarter.

Or perhaps your relationship has hit a rut.  What happens when you want it all the time and he wants it…not so much?  Make sure you make the most of sexy time by making it feel better for you (some solo experimentation required).  If you’re shedding tears of pain instead of joy after the dismount, see what the sexperts have to say.  Maybe you should give up the hunt for the elusive G-Spot and focus on finding your PS-Spot instead.

Got something awesome everyone needs to know about? A really rad singer? A wicked new book? Plus size designer threads? Email your “The Know” ideas to Jill@collegecandy.com or tweet me and I’ll pass them along to everyone right here, every week. Make your kindergarten teacher proud and share!

Here’s a fact: If there was an award for the worst morning person, I would win. By a landslide.

I FAIL at early mornings. I set four alarms, hit snooze on all of them 6 times and then eventually turn them off. I’ve even tried setting alarms across the room… only to hop back into bed for “five more minutes.” I’m a morning disaster. If I had to describe myself in one word: Over-sleeper would probably win over ‘fantabulous’ (although I like to think I am that too. Maybe a fantabulous over-sleeper? That I definitely am!).

But last night my friend just told me about a GENIUS alarm clock that I totally dread trying but figured we all should know about because, even if you are a morning person (I will NEVER understand you weird breed of people), we all have those days when we are up studying/out drinking and have about 2 hours of shut eye before class… and fear turning off our alarm clock in our sleep. Read More »

Back-to-school is right around the corner, and for many of you, the inevitable final year of college is looming.

Breathe in.
Breathe out.
It’s going to be OK.

Heading into your senior year well-prepared (and well-hydrated) makes all the difference, so here’s 9 things to keep in mind before you embark on the beginning of the end:

1. Check on Everything:
First things first, make a meeting with your academic advisor (yes, you have one) and make sure you have all the classes you need to graduate. If not – sign up for them immediately. Don’t wait to take your second required P.E. class until the last semester  — the classes could fill up and leave the only option available something that doesn’t fit with your academic schedule. (Or worse, it could be at 8am on a Friday.) Figure out if you have departmental requirements to fulfill. Find out when deadlines are and what the expectations are. Be aware of every step required towards you wearing your cap and gown and grabbing that diploma at the end of the year.

2. Senior Participation:
If your school has any special senior traditions or rights-of-passages, prepare for them. Do you need to decorate a special gown to wear for on-campus events? If so, get busy and decorate! Plan to participate in everything. Your hard work over the last three years has earned you this upperclassmen status, so bask in its glory!

3. Prep:
If you are planning to attend any kind of graduate school or professional program after college, set up a schedule for what needs to get done. If you are taking an exam such as the LSAT or GRE, and you haven’t started studying – figure out what you’re doing. If you’re ready to start applying to schools, ask for your letters of recommendation (while your professors still remember you/have time to write one!) and set a date to send your personal statement out. Make sure you have a schedule to stick to because once school gets going, things get crazy. Read More »

So although I know some of you have already gone off to college and pimped out your brand new dorm room, lots of us are still languishing around the pool, savoring the last few weeks of this glorious summer.

Speaking for myself, the past 2 months of blissful relaxation have been more or less bitchin, and the thought of buying textbooks and attending freshman seminars feels like a dagger to the heart. I’d rather not waste my last few weeks with my darling high school summer friends just bumming around and drowning my sorrows in queso dip, so in between buying dorm room supplies and re-reading all the Harry Potter books, I’ve been looking for ways to truly relish these memorable last days:

I’ve had a Toast Night: I decorated my backyard with paper lanterns, candles and tons of Christmas lights and invited about 12 friends over to be merry and toast the past years of our lives, the wonderful summer and our hazy futures. It was the perfect balance of totally precious and disgustingly cheesy, something we all needed to commemorate 12 years of schooling… and an occasion to drink outside.

I’ve been soaking in the sun: I don’t know if it’s just me, or if it’s everyone, but I aspire to arrive at college the shade of a well-toasted marshmallow. This is the last span of time to get natural sun and Vitamin D (which we all lack come wintertime) and a perfect excuse to lounge around the pool and gossip and hang with your pals. Just make sure you slather on some SPF. Read More »

I’ve been feeling a little under-the-weather this week, and as a result have been spending a lot of my time curled up on the couch watching daytime TV. So after absorbing The View (I’ve decided I despise Elizabeth Hasselbitch, btw) and a couple other wishy-washy shows, I decided to tune into some Dr. Phil – guest starring Steve Harvey acting as “relationship expert” for the day.

I could use my cloudy head as an excuse, but the truth is that I have a bit of a weak spot for Dr. Phil. Steve did a bit of an interview with his beautiful wife, and talked a lot about their relationship as a couple. I was half-paying attention while also creeping Facebook but he said something that made me stop, rewind, and rewatch – something he calls the “90 day rule.” Getting back into the dating scene myself and slowly feeling my way around without much of an idea of how post-high school dating works, this piqued a special interest in me.

According to Mr. Harvey, a couple shouldn’t have sex for at least 90 days after they start dating. As already sexually active adults, this seems like a long time to hold off on getting busy. I mean, if it’s right for you, go for it… but I don’t feel like 90 days should be some kind of ideal standard. I go back and forth on this a lot, because I really can see it both ways. Bare with me while I try to decipher my own thoughts on this one, then let me know what you think in the comments!

I’m of the belief that a person should do whatever they want to do, whenever it feels comfortable for both involved. If a man is going to disrespect you and write you off because you slept with him after two weeks, is that really the type of man you want to be with? Doesn’t attraction and chemistry count for anything? Read More »

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I do believe it is officially mid-August, which means most of you will be headed back to campus in the next few weeks.  It also means Back to School shopping is well underway, an occasion that might as well be deemed a national holiday.  As a B2S pro, I’ve been asked by my adoring fans girls I used to babysit what items they should snag for a foolproof freshman wardrobe.

Trying to piece together outfits that go from classroom to frat house basement is indeed a daunting task, but it can be done.  Here’s how to look ten times better than missy in the denim skort trying to steal your place in the keg line:

Get a go-to top. Make it frilly, make it fun. This will be the one top you can always rely on when you think you’ve got nothing else to wear.  Snag it in a color other than black so you’re sure to stand out, but also be sure it’s machine washable.  Finding a dry cleaner near campus is so not worth the cost or effort.

Take it into autumn with the perfect fitted jacket. This season is all about military inspired details, and outerwear is the perfect place to show off your fashion know-how.  Go for an army jacket with a slim, feminine fit to keep you warm when summer evenings turn into crisp nights.  Throw this one from J.Crew over your favorite sleeveless top and a pair of skinny jeans for the walk to class or the stumble home from the bar.

Add a scarf. No, not the chunky kind Mom knits you for Christmas.  I’m talking about the ones thin enough to twist, tie, knot, and drape around your neck.  Anthropologie hit a homerun with their Stonybreck Scarf.  The funky print boasts a color palate that will match with just about anything and the price is on the lower end of the splurge scale.  Don’t let the roommate borrow this one because you’ll never see it again! Read More »