You’ve got your mattress cover, your mini-fridge, your XL twin sheets, and lots of garbage bags, but there is a whole category of dorm room essentials you are skipping out on.  DORMWEAR.  Because, if you’re like me, no matter how hard you try and fight the stereotypical college student walking round in pajamas and sweats thang, there are times you will break down.

I by no means encourage you to wear your sweats and pajamas out in public EVER, but a dorm is a whole other realm of the world.  Having cozy loungewear comes in handy when you want to fist-pump with the rest of your floor while catching the newest Jersey Shore episode.  It’s also handy when you need to do the L in GTL – because everything else you own is stuffed inside that hamper.

But don’t be fooled. Just because you’re lounging doesn’t mean you need to look like a slob. There are so many cute and cozy items out there for you to lounge around in.

And they’re perfect for sleepy time, too. If you’re sharing a bedroom, the person 10-feet away from you will appreciate you wearing pajamas to bed.  And if you’re a sleep-in-a-shirt and underwear kind of girl, try keeping a few of these pieces near your bed in case someone pulls the fire alarm in the middle of the night.  You’ll thank me for this advice later.  Trust me. Read More »

As summer solstice just passed, there is only one more indication that it’s summer: it’s time to put on a bikini and head to the beach/pool.

There’s usually anxiety surrounding your first time each year in a bikini, meaning it’s time to hit the gym (if you haven’t already started.)  While you may dread going to the gym even more than putting on a swimsuit, there are so many fun ways to get into shape now that it’s warm out.  There’s hooping, tennis (with the best clothes EVER!), soccer, jogging, rollerblading and much, much more.

And what better way to encourage yourself to get active then with a set of new gym clothes!

Workout clothes have gotten a serious face-lift these past few years giving you a million sexy/cute/functional items to choose from. So toss out your uninspiring, oversized sweats and the t-shirt you stole from a one-night stand and pick up some clothes that are both cute and made for exercise. There are different styles for every activity, as well as special styles to soak up your sweat and keep you as comfortable as possible during your ball-busting workout. So choose your activity and dress the part as you prepare to bare your favorite bikini this year. Read More »

My inspiration for Fashion Porn can come from anywhere. (OK, anywhere except actual porn. Have you seen what those people wear?!) Last week, for example, it came from kicking off my third summer in a row by donning a cowboy hat for a week. And this week I’m feeling inspired by none other than Ms. Sarah Jessica Parker and that gorgeous yellow Valentino dress she wore for the Sex And The City 2 premiere.

SJP looked stunning and vibrant in this bright yellow gown, a color that is often difficult to pull off.  But with the weather warming up, why shouldn’t everyone embrace the color of summer? It brightens up your look and echoes the color of sunlight.  It’s the perfect pop of color to add personality whether you’re soaking up rays on the beach or stuck at a desk in your cubicle.

Sure, not everyone can work (or afford) a dress like SJP, but you don’t have to go yellow from head to toe to get its beautiful effect. If you’re feeling a little uneasy there are many yellow shoes and accessories to help you incorporate the color into your wardrobe. Yellow nail polish is another easy and cheap way to add a splash of color to your look. From bikinis to tanks to statement necklaces, there are so many ways to bring a little yellow into your life and wardrobe this summer. So take a hint from America’s biggest fashion icon and slip into some yellow.

[Click on the images below to get the shopping info.] Read More »

I spy with my little eye a whole lot of pastels.

And no, I’m not talking about those tasty Cadbury mini-eggs (even though I’ve got plenty of those too – they’re so cheap after Easter!).

Pastels reminiscent of the colors of everyone’s favorite chocolate Easter treat have made their way onto store shelves and I am excited!  Pale blues, pinks, yellows, greens, etc. have a way of lifting the spirits, like a warm spring breeze or the smell of flowers on your way to class.

I love how pastels are shamelessly girly and flirty, especially when found in the form of ruffled tops or floral prints. But what I love even more is how seamlessly they work with edgier pieces, adding a feminine flair without making you look too sweet.  With pastels appearing on accessories, in makeup routines (pastel nails are perfect for even the most conservative setting!), and on many, many other items of clothing, there is no excuse not to add a few dainty pieces to your spring wardrobe. Here are a few of my favorite pastel incarnations. Just looking at them makes me yearn for a beer and a patio.

Read More »

Lace is easily one of the most popular fabrics this season. No longer just for your undies (though there are many, many pretty lace-y underthings available), Lady Gaga’s VMA outfits, or your Grandma’s doilies, lace has found it’s way onto every type of clothing and accessory imaginable this season.

Whether you wear lace tights or a lace trimmed top, there is a way to add a little lace to your everyday look.  In stores, lace is appearing in unexpected places adding an unexpected touch of sex appeal to your basic t-shirts, tanks and jewelry (!).  But lace is doing more than turning up the sexy;  lace patterns found on fabrics this season add texture and visual interest. And simply adding lace – at the neckline, for example – adds a touch of playfulness, covering you up but still letting a little skin peek through.

No matter how you want to wear lace this season, there is the perfect piece (or many, many pieces) out there for you. I’m lace-obsessed and here are a few of my favorite things. [Click on each photo for shopping info.] Read More »

America has more name brands than Law and Order reruns and while you may want to go unload your entire check at GAP or Abercrombie, you don’t want to buy something that you thought was cute and unique and later have buyer’s remorse when you see something identical for less.

I’m not encouraging you to start buying knock off Jimmy Choos from Payless and wanna-be BCBG dresses at Walmart (although, just throwing it out there, you may find some very GOOD knock offs). All I’m saying is you should know that EVERY store is competing with another store and when you shop competitively, you save money. Money that you can use to stimulate the economy…or your wardrobe.

So I thought I’d help you sift through the proverbial mall and figure out which stores are best for your budget. Each week I’ll be comparing apples to apples (or undies to undies) to give you the real deal and arm you with the knowledge you need to make the wisest wardrobe choices. Ready. Set. SHOP. Read More »

While switching my wardrobe from my summer sundresses to my winter wools, I realized one very depressing thing: my winter wardrobe is more drab and depressing than those dreary January days. If I don’t want to slip into a winter funk (fixed only by large bowls of mac-and-cheese), I need to do something fast.

And that something comes in the form of color. The color purple to be exact.

Every girl needs a little color in her wardrobe and what better way to liven things up than with something beautiful, luxurious and violet?  Historically, purple is associated with nobility, but we don’t need to be canoodling with Prince Harry to enjoy the benefits of this year’s hottest color. (Although, that would definitely help with the winter blues…) We can all look regal and faboosh, even on our student budgets.

You can work purple into your look in a big way – like a silky sheath dress – or just add little splashes here and there. Either way, you won’t have to look far to find the perfect purple pieces to lift your winter spirits. In fact, I found 16 hot ones right here. Read More »

School is in full swing, which means you’ve got classes, student groups, long hours in the library, late night binges after a long night of drinking….

And you gotta fit the gym in there somewhere.

I know, it’s always the first thing to go when things start getting busy, but it shouldn’t be! Working out regularly will keep you fit (obvi), and also help ease the stress and give you that much needed energy to get through those 16 credits, rush meetings, group projects and everything else you need to get through before Friday.

If that’s not enough to motivate you, perhaps some cute clothes will do? It’s obviously not easy to pull yourself out of bed and trek to the gym when you look (and therefore feel) like crap. Those baggy sweats and dirty t-shirts aren’t doing anyone any favors, especially you. And with all the super cute workout-wear that’s out there right now (in every. single. price point), there’s no reason to look drab for the gym. If you’re super busy, you can pile this stuff on before class and sneak in a workout during lunch; the clothes are so cute, no one would ever know. And if you’re just lazy, having cute and trendy pieces around will make you feel better and motivate you to get your butt moving. (It really works!)

If you need a kick in the (yoga) pants to get back to the gym, I’ve got 16 right here for ya. Enjoy. Read More »

The stepping stone to the perfect outfit is the right underwear. With the start of the school year rapidly approaching, it is time to purge your drawers of anything ill-fitting, stained or tattered. It may be hard to part with your favorite undergarments, but there are a million reasons why you should. Like the fact that no boy wants to see you in a pair of torn up undies, or that around 80% of women wear the wrong size bra.

Be nice to your girls and go get re-fitted.

It’s a new year, and it’s important to purge the old and buy new pretty underthings.  Even if you usually steer clear of color in your wardrobe, your lingerie is the perfect place to add a little excitement without any risk.  Whether you’re going to be showing it off for someone special (or someone those beer goggles make you think is special), or are just going to be dancing in front of your own mirror, it’s a good time to pick up some new pieces.

Lingerie can make even the shyest girl feel instantly sexy, and there is literally something out there for everyone. In fact, there are lots of somethings, which means you can stock up and hold off on laundering for a little bit longer. Anyways, here are some of my favorite under-thingies – from sexy to sweet, normal to naughty – right now: Read More »

No matter how hard you fight it, it’s almost time to go back to school.  As you’re checking off your to-do list, make sure you factor in the college student’s favorite pastime: sleeping.  Whether you live in a res hall or are off-campus with roommates, it’s important to have some cute and comfy PJs to toss on. Why?

1. Lots of people are going to be seeing these things (and I’m not talking about the people you bring home…), so it’s time to toss out the ratty high school t-shirts and invest in something cute.
2. Lots of people are going to see you, so if you tend to sleep in the buff I’m pretty sure your roomie would much prefer to see you in some jammies than, well, see your naked butt. Factor in the unexpected fire alarms/friends barging in at all hours of the night, and you’re going to want to have something to toss on even if you have a room to yourself.

Lucky for all of us, there are tons of options when it comes to cute and cozy PJs. No matter how much or how little you’ve slept in in the past, there’s something (or lots of somethings for those 6 week runs between laundry days) super adorable for you.  And if you feel like channeling your inner Holly Golightly while your roommate studies 10-feet from your face, there’s a mask for you, too. Read More »