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.

The Opdyke measures 12′ L x 10′ H x 5′ D. It is made of a taupe synthetic and features a magnetic flap covered in faux fur. The inside consists of a three compartments, one of which has a zipper. There is also a back zipper pocket and two slip pockets on the front side. That means tonnes of storage and great organization.

There are also two carrying options: the satchel handle and crossbody strap. The strap is removable, which is nice for days when you’re channeling Betty Draper and only use the single handle. The fur accents just scream cold weather and I can only imagine how darling this will be paired with a wool coat or even a plaid shirtdress.

If you’re looking to stay on trend and add some fur to your purse wardrobe, look no further than the ALDO Opdyke! It’s even on sale for $40.50 right now at Zappos.

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!

The zip-top opens to a camel fabric interior, a back zip pocket and front slip pockets. Aldo is known for designing super-functional purses and I wouldn’t expect anything less from the Machon! Also a functional feature, the easy-to-clean synthetic material. If you’re hesitant about purchasing a light-colored purse for fear of dirtying it, this would be a great tester!

Overall, the Aldo Machon will be the perfect, seasonless addition to your purse collection. The best part – it’s currently on sale for $29.98! Hop on over to Aldo if you’re interested.

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!

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!

First up, Aldo Accessories.
As if ALDO weren’t great on its own, some genius decided that there should be a store that was strictly for all their cutesy little accessories. And so, ADLO Accessories was born.

They’re located in just about all major malls, including The Galleria in Houston, The Water Tower in Chicago and The Fashion Show in Vegas (I’ve been to all three).  And that’s not all. There are also tons of stand-alone stores that attract newbies to the ALDO family of goods.  And there are LOTS of goods. They sell everything from shades to chandelier earrings and some awesomely cute necklaces in between.

Here are the numbers.
Headgear (Beanies, Berets, Headbands): $9.90-$25.00
Totes, Purses, Clutches: This stuff is all actually in ALDO Stores, not the Accessory store, however prices range from $30 to about $150.
Shades: $12
Jewelry: $9.90- $35.00
Leggings, Belts: $9.98- $25.00

And then there’s Icing.
What’s not to love about this place? First of all, it’s everywhere! Plus, the company has been around for years and, though there have been tons of newcomers to the game, they still manage to put out some hot stuff.

Now, I know what some of you are thinking: “Why the hell is Claire’s being mentioned on CollegeCandy?” or “I haven’t been in there since 9^th grade.” Well, shame on you! I bet you haven’t even walked in there. While Claire’s-Icing may not be comparable to KAY Jewelers, they sell some of the most adorable costume jewelry you’ve ever seen, not to mention little clutches and headbands. I don’t think this is the place to go when you’re looking for an engagement ring, but I’m totally for Claire’s when it comes to cheap, plastic, adorable accessories.

Headgear (Beanies, Berets, Headbands): $5.00-$24.00
Totes, Purses, Clutches:$8.00- $30.00
Shades: Not Available, check individual stores
Jewelry: $4.50-$22.50
Leggings, Belts: Not Available, check individual stores

Note: We all know that Icing is the grown-up version of Claire’s, but sometimes you can find steals in Claire’s, too. Prices are based on both stores. Seriously, pop into Claire’s next time you’re at the mall. I bet you’ll find something awesome….

Forever 21
Well, they’re back. Last week, I introduced some of you to the wonderful world of Heritage 1981. This week, I would like to welcome you to the wonderful world of Forever 21 Accessories (well, the few of you who’s arms aren’t already covered in their stackable bracelets).

Now I know there are some of you who are avid Anti-21 Shoppers; I’m one of them. As a matter of fact, I have never purchased anything from the store. That is, except for some accessories I purchased online. If you’re not into the low quality or odd sizing of Forever 21′s clothes, I get it. But I strongly urge you to think about them the next time you need you a cute pair of earrings or a killer cocktail ring

There are tons of cute, shiny, beaded, mesh dainty things in there. You may have to search through a few piles and un-knot a few clumps of necklaces to find them, but when you do, they’ll be the shining stars atop your adorable holiday (or any day) outfit. And the best part: the prices are simply stunning.

So what are the numbers?
Headgear (Beanies, Berets, Headbands): $1.50-$12.80
Totes, Purses, Clutches: $6.40-$34.50
Shades: $5.80-$7.80
Jewelry: $3.80- $22.80
Leggings, Belts: $3.50-$9.80

Clearly you have many choices when looking for cute accessories on the cheap. Which stores are your faves? And why so anti Claire’s, people??

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.]

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.

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:

1. Pair a summery tank top with leggings and a cropped jacket for a a chic yet simple fall look. The tank will keep the look from getting too severe, but the jacket is there to warm those shoulders (seeing as the temps will drop into cold territory quite fast). For shoes, pick flats, ankle boots, or knee-high boots.

Jacket: Corey Lynn Calter, $86.40 at Chickdowntown.com; top: Charlotte Russe, $18.99; leggings: Merona by Target, $9.99; boots: BCBGirls, $76.24 at Endless.com.

2. Layer a cozy sweater over a summer dress with leggings. Cinch your waist with a belt to give it some shape.

Sweater: Spiegel, $39; belt: Arden B, $19.50; dress: Forever 21, $17.50; leggings: Arden B, $18; boots: Aldo, $110.

3. Wear summer’s flowing tunics throughout the fall with leggings and boots.

Green tunic: Forever 21, $17.80; Blue tunic: Forever 21, $22.80; leggings: Arden B, $18; boots: Steve Madden, $99 at Lord and Taylor.

So cute, so easy, and so cheap. Save that money for something more useful… like a pair of these.

For more fashion tips, follow me on Twitter!

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.

For the Day:
You wanna keep it simple, so go with a basic pair of black flats and some black stud earrings. This will keep the outfit casual without being sloppy, and the minimal accessories will draw all the attention where it should be: on the dress.

An oversized red tote is the perfect way to give your outfit a little punch and also to covertly carry around a change of shoes and some extra accessories to make your outfit evening ready.

For The Night:
As the sun sets and the time comes to vamp it up, a quick shoe change, the addition of some accessories and some red lipstick make this ensemble pop.

Red heels always liven up an oufit, and the mary jane/peep-toe mix on these make them the perfect pair to add to the retro look.

An over-sized cocktail ring totally adds to the 50′s style, and if you really wanna go all out, add in a flowered hair clip, headband or hairpiece. Just stop there; between the red shoes and the detailing on the dress, you don’t want to go overboard.

For the ultimate pin-up look, slather on some red lipstick (just choose the right shade!) and you’ll be lookin’ like a vixen in no time flat.

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:

1) Wear a bib necklace to instantly make any plain top stylish. This works best with crew neck t-shirts. For a cute daytime look, throw on a pair of jeans and wear a brightly-colored bib necklace with a few other colorful accessories.

For more fashion tips, follow me on Twitter or read my blog, Style4Me!

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…

Details:

This season it’s all about details: embellishments, beads, fringe, ruffles, flowers, buckles, zippers, snaps, studs…Think of your shoes as a piece of art and go with something new and interesting.

Gladiators:

Gladiators are back and this season with a twist. We’re seeing more heeled gladiators and fun & interesting takes on this popular style: metallics, bright colors, and wedges.

Reptile Skins:

Reptile skins (especially snakeskin), real or faux, are being seen on shoes all over the place. Flats, stilettos and wedges; you name it, you can find it. The most important part of this trend is to go for quality – you don’t want faux skins that look cheap. Payless is not the place to go for these shoes.

Cut-Out Booties:

This spin on the popular bootie of fall and winter will make them translate to warm weather and will give you a more fun and updated look.

Ties, Laces and Straps:

Ties, laces and straps were all over the runways for this season in all different forms, from hippie-tree hugger to glamazon.  They’re not only a fun and new trend, they’re functional as well (you will never lose a shoe!).

Unique Heels:

With interesting details being such a focus this year, heels did not get overlooked. Keep your eye open for brightly colored, uniquely shaped or architectural heels.

Color:

Just like this season’s clothes, bright colors are all the rage for shoes, especially pinks and oranges.

And of course, keep your eyes open for all the styles we’ve seen season after season; wedges, slingbacks, peep toes, sky-high heels and platforms.