October 13, 2011
- 12:00 pm
By Alex - Lakehead University

Browsing through magazines last week, I noticed that fur accessories have popped up in lots of editorials. Not only fur hats and fur-accented scarves, but strangely enough, purses featuring fur details. I admit, at first this seemed kind of odd, but the furry handbags have really grown on me and I’m itching to add one to my collection. ALDO is a great brand, especially for affordable accessories and I was thrilled to see some fur in the their purse section, including the Opdyke.

ALDO came out with a purse last year called the Cyphert. That totally blew up. Everyone and their dog had one. They’re banking on the success of that shape and adding a fur flap, giving you the Opdyke! PS – what’s with the totally bizarre names? Anyways, let’s move on. Read More »
July 7, 2011
- 12:00 pm
By Alex - Lakehead University
[Every girl needs a good purse (or 12). Whether you’re going for groceries or running from class to class, they are simply essential for holding all your, uh, essentials. Each week, I’m going to show you a fashionable, yet functional purse for the college crowd and let you know why you absolutely need it! I apologize ahead of time to your bank account.]
Since I paid my last MasterCard bill, I’ve decided that I need to buckle down and budget shop with a little more effort. I love my high-end purses, but surprisingly, many middle-end stores churn out wonderful bags at a fraction of the designer cost. One shop that I can always count on to keep on top of trends at an affordable price is Aldo. I was browsing their sale the other day (which is always full of great finds!) and stumbled upon the beautiful Machon.
Color-blocking is a huge trend for Summer and you can test out the waters with a safer combo of off-white and black synthetic with the Machon. The pattern on this purse is quite striking and reminds me, both in shape and design, of the Rebecca Minkoff Bombe M.A.B., but at a fraction of the price. It’s a medium-sized satchel, with one set of handles that rest comfortably on your arm or on your shoulder. The size will perfectly fit all your essentials, plus a notebook or a camera, making it a great everyday purse, whether you’re heading to class or out sightseeing. The slight sheen of the synthetic will also allow you to transition this purse both into fall and evening! Read More »
January 21, 2010
- 4:00 pm
By Leah - Ryerson University
There are very few things sexier than a stiletto heel. Stilettos give off a “femme fatale” image; “femme” in the way they enhance your legs and “fatale” in the way that if you fall in them you could die. But that’s a risk this girl is willing to take for the beauty of a stiletto heel.
There are a million different stilettos, combining every trend imaginable. For the trend-shy gal with impeccable balance, wearing a stiletto with instantly add flair to an outfit. And for everyone else, stilettos are the easiest way to spice up an otherwise ho-hum ‘fit, as well as experiment with different trends. And though they are not practical for everyday wear (unless you’re Posh Spice), they are always little pieces of art. Seriously, when I’m not wearing them, my shoes double as beautiful bookends. Now that’s what I call multipurpose!
With so many gorgeous possibilities there truly is a pair of stilettos for everyone (or every outfit). Here are a few pairs that have recently left me drooling. I want, I want, I want! Read More »
Tags: aldo, bcbgeneration, elizabeth and james, forever 21, high heels, Jessica Simpson, Jimmy Choo, juicy, lela rose, lulus.com, michael kors, modcloth, nine west, nordstrom, payless, shoes, simply vera, stilettos, target, topshop, Zappos
December 10, 2009
- 11:00 am
By Jasmin-University of Missouri

It’s the holidays – a time for family, good food and, most of all, great parties. But what is all of this without a great outfit? And I mean, sure – the sexy dress, the hot boots, the plush sweater, the perfect jeans; they all make a lasting impression, but it’s nothing if you don’t have the right accessories. Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, hats, rings and even belts all make an outfit pop. And so, in honor of what I think could possibly be the most important component of an outfit, I give you:
It’s On: The Accessories Edition.
And yes, it’s a triple play! Read More »
Tags: accessories, accessorize, aldo, aldo accessories, bags, bangles, bracelets, claire's icing, claires, comparison shopping, costume jewelry, forever 21, holiday parties, necklaces, shopping, sunglasses
November 19, 2009
- 4:00 pm
By Leah - Ryerson University
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 »
Tags: aerie, aldo, anthropologie, Banana Republic, bare necessities, betsey johnson, fall trends, fashion porn, forever 21, free people, juicy couture, Kohls, lace, lace accents, lady gaga lace, lna, lulus, marc by marc jacobs, modcloth, topshop, trends, urban outfitters
September 10, 2009
- 4:00 pm
By Leah - Ryerson University

In my mind, the second best part of going back to school as a kid was buying new school supplies (second, only to buying new clothes). While you might have swapped your Lisa Frank bright-colored-animal-covered notebooks for a laptop, it doesn’t mean that you can’t still have fun with your school stuff. If you have any distance to walk to class, chances are you have to haul your books. This year, why not buy yourself a new schoo lbag to make this trek more enjoyable?
There’s the perfect bag for everyone (or bags for your every mood). For the sporty gal there’s the ever useful backpack that will be easy to carry even if you’re ten minutes late and need to haul ass. For the fashionista there’s the less practical, but ever fashionable satchel. If you take your laptop to class, there tons of solutions with laptop compartments. No matter what your style, your price range, or your needs for a school bag, there’s something out there for you. Read More »
Tags: aldo, american apparel, anna sui for target, Athleta, Back to School, backpack, dakine, fashion, forever 21, gravis, karmaloop, Kitson, lulu, lulus.com, marc by marc jacobs, nike, north face, satchel, schoolbag, Style, target, topshop, urban outfitters, Zappos

Fall merchandise will be arriving in stores over the next few weeks, and while it may be tempting to run out and get a whole new back to school wardrobe, don’t! Wait for sales to begin, and shop in your closet instead.
One item that the majority of college girls have in their closets are leggings. The great thing about leggings, like this pair by Plan B from Bloomingdale’s, is that they can be worn with practically anything. Here are three outfit ideas that use leggings to take your summer outfits into fall: Read More »
Tags: aldo, Arden B, booties, budget fashion, budget style, Charlotte Russe, chickdowntown.com, fall fashion, fall trends, fashion, florals, forever 21, leggings, shopping, shopping your closet, Steve Madden, Style, tunic
Vintage/vintage-inspired fashion is a great way to add a fun flair to the every day. Why wear a simple cotton dress when you can easily bring a unique retro look into the mix? I’m all about playing with fashion, so this week’s Day-to-Night Styler is taking a trip down memory lane. I found a darling 50′s style dress that can smoothly transition from day to night and look totally bangin’ wherever you decide to wear it.
Start with a cute, 50′s-inspired halter dress. This particular style is from Forever 21, but I also found some super cute dresses in this cut (but with fun prints, like leopard) at H&M. The halter cut and the cinched waist do wonders to give a gal that hourglass figure.
Read More »
Tags: 50's style dress, 50's-inspired halter dress, aldo, budget style, casual, cocktail ring, day-to-night styler, dressy, flowered hair clip, forever 21, forever21.com, h&m, hairpiece, headband, little black dress, oversized red tote, pin-up look, red lipstick, spring style, summer style, target.com, ulta, ulta.com, vintage, vintage inspired
[I used to show you how to pull off runway trends in the series "Rock the Look." In this new series, I'll be taking a different item you probably already have in your closet each week and showing you three new ways to wear it. After all, the best shopping tip anyone will give you is to only buy pieces that work with something you already own.]
A t-shirt is probably something you wear to the gym, or to class with a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie. However, that plain, boring black tee has a lot of fashion potential.
Here, I used this black t-shirt from American Eagle Outfitters to create three cute outfits that anyone could pull off. Here are three new ways to rock a plain t-shirt: Read More »
Tags: aldo, alloy, amazon, American Eagle Outfitters, anthropologie, cute outfits, daytime outfits, Dillards, fashion, fashion advice, going out clothes, New York & Company, Office Tramp Jewelry, Rocket Dog, shopping advice, spring fashion, T Shirt, target, Unlisted, Wardrobe, work outfits, Zappos

Along with the spring fashion trends, it’s (almost) time to break out the new shoe styles and this spring shoe styles are all about fun, fun, fun. Here’s what to be on the look out for… Read More »
Tags: aldo, architectural heels, Arden B, beads, booties, bright colors, buckles, cut out booties, Details, embellishments, fashion trends, faux skins, flats, flowers, fringe, gladiators, heeled gladiators, laces, metallics, orange, oranges, payless, peep toes, Pink, pinks, platforms, reptile skins, ruffles, shoe styles, shoe trends, shoes, sky high heels, slingbacks, snakeskin, snaps, spring 2009, Steve Madden, stilettos, straps, studs, target, ties, trends, unique heels, wedges, Zappos, zippers