This Sunday is February 14th, that equally loved and dreaded holiday all about looooove.  While you may be worrying about whether you have a date or not, there’s no need to worry about what you’re gonna wear. There are tons of affordable and adorable options out there for any of those V-Day plans: hot date, night out with the girls or staying in on the couch watching sappy movies and eating cartons of ice cream.

Valentine’s Day is all about red, pink, and hearts so whether you choose to vamp it up in a sexy red dress, add a burst of festive color with tights or shoes, or show your heart with accessories, you can easily incorporate the day’s theme into a cute look that isn’t over-the-top.

Here are a few of my favorite options… Read More »

Every fashionista knows Etsy.com is an online goldmine. Not only is everything one-of-a-kind unique, handcrafted by independent designers, but it is my personal go-to website for cutting edge accessories and unexpected finds.

Sure, I love the pearl and flower detailed necklaces from JCrew, but when wearing them I can almost guarantee that at least one other girl in the office or in class will be sporting the same one. They are just so expected. That’s why I’m always scouring Etsy for a hidden gem. Some little accessory that will add a spritz of unexpected glamour to any outfit.

My latest obsession? The Cotton Field Sweater Guard (with vintage brooches ) by designer Jewelera.

The sweater guard has been on my radar for awhile now. Cardigans are a staple in my wardrobe, and I’m always looking for a way to spruce them up a bit. Necklaces could do the trick, but it’s just so charmingly romantic to have a draping chain linking either side of your sweater. And this one from Jewelera is the perfect blend of edgy and earthy vintage, with two gold leaf brooches connected by swinging chain accented with white gold etched acrylic beads.

This accessory is gorgeously reminiscent of renaissance days, with the detailed accents of a hippie flower child. I can already see this sweater guard adding instant glamour to a conservative cardigan, or as a uniquely feminine touch to the extremely trendy blazer. Read More »

I get it. With winter carrying on for another 6 weeks (thank you, Mr. Groundhog) your life really does feel like Groundhog Day since you wear the same thing day after day…after day: jeans and a black top, or sometimes, if you’re feeling a bit crazy, jeans and white one. After the novelty of a cute winter ‘drobe wore off (like the 2nd week of negative temps and slushy snow), it’s hard to put any effort into looking presentable and unique.

But after this article you will see that even if you keep your winter uniform intact, you can make it look like you really cared and make a ordinarily boring ‘fit ready for any occasion just by adding a few fun accessories.  And you can do it all for cheap. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: accessories are the BEST way to revamp an outfit, create a look, change it up, or try out a trend without spending that booze money breaking the bank. Read More »

Let’s face it: in these wintery months looking somewhat presentable takes way, wayyy too much effort. When there’s 5 inches of snow on the ground and a 15-minute walk to class ahead of me, the last thing I want to do is think about cute shoes, cute pants… cute anything. And I know you’re all with me cause I’ve seen you walking around campus looking just as hideous and sloppy as I do…

BUT (obviously there’s a “but”; this is the way we look, after all) you can make that throw-on outfit (jeans, boots and a white or black top) instantly fabulous with a simple pop of color. And the best way to do that? A big, bold, bright bag.

There are so many great and afforable bags out there that allow you to have a little fun with your basic winter wardrobe. Add some life to the drab and slushy streets or those so-effing-cold-you-don’t-wanna-leave-the-house-but-you-wanna-get-your-drink-on-so-you-throw-on-a-big-black-sweater winter nights. Whatever you’re doing, there are tons of awesome bags in every color of the rainbow. It’s like Skittles, only instead of making you fat it will make you fashionable.

Here are just a few of my favorite bags that will take your look from blah to bomb. As in the bomb. Read More »

[While everyone is fabulous in their own right, we thought we should celebrate the campus fashionistas of the world for their continued excellence in not looking like a hot mess for class. So, we started stalking those girls on campus to get a few pics and get some tips on their personal style.

And maybe a restraining order or two.

But it’s worth it to highlight fresh, unique wardrobe choices that show personality and the courage to wear what you believe in.]

I met Taylor a year ago and after attending a university where everyone showed up to class in their sweats or PJ pants, her look was a breath of fresh air. Her style is a unique blend of thrifted and vintage with new basic pieces, and a collection of accessories that add perfectly to every outfit.

Like many fashionistas, when I met Taylor she had a signature accessory, the headband.  Though she has since abandoned the now mainstream hair accessory, she is constantly incorporating new accessories into her looks.  On this particular day, her black fedora perfectly topped off her outfit, making this look truly Taylor. As well, Taylor is one of the few people that pulls off denim on denim. And she looks damn good doing it. Her faded jean jacket with dark skinny jeans are the perfect combination. In our often unpredictable Canadian climate, Taylor always layers. Her tip: “longer loose layers juxtaposed with more tailored pieces.” Read More »

For people like me (a girl with a huge vision for her wardrobe and a very tiny bank account to work with), little-somethings to update an outfit are crucial.

It’s all about a low cost addition that has the ability to make a big impact. Maybe it’s a chain link necklace from a street vendor, a cheap but oh-so-modern neck scarf from Forever 21, or a hand-me-down that adds a new flavor to a tired outfit. When I stumble across one of these little gems, let’s just say I jump on it faster than I would Brad Pitt if we were given five minutes alone.

And alas I have stumble (and jumped on) Free people’s Lace Bandeau. It could fit inside my pocket, but packs some major punch.

The bandeau is seamlessly adorable. From the ruching at the bust to the eyelet floral lace overlay, it’s equal parts girlish ingénue and flirty femme fatale.  There’s just something so sweetly sinister about the lace peeking out from underneath a loose tank or layered under a zipped up hoodie and a distressed jean jacket.

Beyond its endearing nature, the bandeau is just plain practical. How many times have we all put on a shirt only to realize that you could totally see our bra right through it? We’re going to class, not to hang out the corner and turn some tricks. So, we add a tank top underneath and then spend the rest of the day pulling it down as it rides up and silently pouting that we are adding 5 pounds to our stomachs with the bulkiness of the double layer. Read More »

Getting dressed for a night out can be quite a conundrum. You don’t want to get all decked out in sequins only to spend your night at some dive bar with hay and peanuts on the floor. But you don’t want to throw on tattered jeans and a tee only to find out you are going to some swanky mcswankerson lounge.

And don’t even get me started on dates. We all know the fear of being too overdressed (heels or flats? jeans or a dress?) only to wear the wrong outfit and feel silly.

Well no more. Thanks to this kick ass belt (I am a firm believer that big belts make everything better) we now have two trusty ‘fits for those nights where anything goes. Both of these looks can be dressed up (with a quick swap of heels instead of those boots) and can be worn right into Spring. Because a stylista as budgety as yourself knows the importance of versatility! Read More »

[While everyone is fabulous in their own right, we thought we should celebrate the campus fashionistas of the world for their continued excellence in not looking like a hot mess for class. So, we started stalking those girls on campus to get a few pics and get some tips on their personal style.

And maybe a restraining order or two.

But it’s worth it to highlight fresh, unique wardrobe choices that show personality and the courage to wear what you believe in.]

Ashley lives in the room next door to mine so I see her a lot. Yet somehow, every time I spot her in the hall (or lounging on her bed) she’s wearing something different that looks amazing on her. Ashley’s got serious style. She not only knows what looks good, but she knows how to put things together that other people wouldn’t think of. And it always works.

The thing I probably love most about her fashion sense is that she always looks unique. She takes trendy pieces and makes them all her own, something I think we all wish we knew how to do. Plus, she’s not afraid to mix colors, patterns or styles and she always makes it look so right. If you see her around campus and you’re a fashionista, take notice; you’ll probably get some awesome ideas for how to spice up your wardrobe. Read More »

You’ve seen the commercials (and most likely remember them because they used to discuss “the big O”), but have you actually perused Overstock.com? The site might be overwhelming to some, but that is because it is chock full of awesome deals on clothes, shoes and accessories (in addition to home goods, decor and linens). Overstock.com brings you items that are marked down by up to 80% (!!) and they ship fast and cheap. Could you think of anything better?

Overstock is a website that can fit the needs of everyone and if you haven’t given it a go, you most definitely should. To get you started, here are a few of the hundreds (maybe even thousands) of items they have for under $20. Read More »

If my dry skin and red nose tell me anything it’s that the brutally cold months of winter are here. (Or that I should really invest in some moisturizer.) And they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. If you’re one of the many unlucky souls trudging through the arctic tundra to get anywhere, good luck. Better start layering now, because it’s gonna take awhile.

Luckily, The Gap has come to the rescue with some majorly cute layering pieces (that are all on the cheap!)  that can take your winter from holy-hell-I-can’t-feel-my-limbs to OMG-it’s-really-cold-but-yay!-I-still-look-cute. Because no matter how hard those snowflakes are whipping us in the face, we still deserve to look good. For cheap. There are far more important things to spend our money on, like extra hot lattes from The Bux. Read More »