[The following post was written by the lovely ladies at CollegeFashion.net. Have you checked 'em out yet? You should. Right now. OK, after you read this.]

Though I’m usually into spacious, oversized bags, minimalist-inspired cross body bags have been on my radar for the past few months. Cross body bags are great for those times when you don’t need or want to carry a ton of stuff with you–think simple shopping trips, nights out, or house parties. And since you have to fit all of your things into that tiny space, you’ll make sure to pack only the essentials, right?

Why it’s a favorite:

Security. Not only can you swing a cross body bag over your shoulder and walk with confidence knowing it won’t get in your way, but when you wear one across your body, it makes it difficult for anyone to swipe your stuff. That’s a plus any way you look at it!

Convenience. Let’s be honest: carrying around a cute clutch gets obnoxious sometimes! (Case in point? One of my good friends once brought a big silver clutch to a club and got so sick of carrying it that she threw it away!) And while we love wristlets, they can be annoying when you’re attempting to dance or grab a drink. With a cross body bag, though, you’re covered. Grab your things, slip it on, and forget about it until you need to touch up your lip gloss.

Cost-effective. Small purse, (usually) small price tag! Need I say more?!

Cute! I love the look of a cross body bag with just about any outfit. They’re a little bit sporty, totally chic, and work well whether you’re in an oversized sweater and leggings or a flirty bandage skirt. The hands-free style is catching on and some of our favorite celebrities seem to agree– so make sure to be on the lookout for cross body bags this season! Read More »

Ah green. The color of trees. And money.
And really, really cute clothes.

Everywhere I turn there they are, just staring me in the face. The clothes and accessories come in every shade and every style. From mini-dresses to bags, kelly green to army green to sage green, feminine to boyish – green is everywhere and green is cute. And now, green is cheap!

Green is also a great transitional color that complements your gorgeous summer coloring now and works well into the dreary days of Fall. Who doesn’t love a green lightweight sweater-dress with tan flat sandals now and paired with chestnut boots later? No one with good style, that’s who.

So here are some of my favorite budget friendly green pieces for you! Read More »

If there is anything in this world I can rely on to be there for me (besides Dove Dark Chocolate) it is my big, bottomless, purse.  Chapstick? Got it. $2.41 in all dimes and pennies? Got it. Four flattened Milk Duds? Got it.  The Vegas Map and some Floss Picks? You’ve guessed it, I’ve got it.

I’m not the only one who loves me an oversized bag. According to Alan in The Hangover, even “Indiana Jones has one.” And why not? Besides holding Skittles and $80,000, huge bags are the perfect way to tote your most needed (and maybe not-so-needed) belongings. But they don’t come without their issues, namely back pain and  the embarrassment that comes with accidentally swinging that thing too close to a wall of breakables.

Big purses have made their statement in the fashion world and their way onto women’s (sore) shoulders worldwide. But as much as we all love ‘em, and boy do I love mine, there seems to be some extra “baggage” that comes with the bottomless wonder.

Pro: The Olsen Twins are right about one thing: big bags slung at your side do make you look slimmer.
Con: Try navigating a packed bar with this thing. You may look thinner, but you won’t feel it as you’re trying to make your way through the throngs of drunks with an extra 6lbs on you. Not to mention a wet shirt when you inevitably knock everyone’s drinks out of their hands.

Pro: You can fit virtually anything in your big purse. There are pockets and mystery caverns to put your most valuable items. My purse is like a transformer; one minute I keep all my books in it and the next minute I have secret mini shots of Smirnoff in a mystery back pocket.
Con: You can’t find anything in that behemoth! Good luck finding your ringing phone; every time you reach for it you pull out hand lotion, a half-eaten sandwich or – score! – that roll of quarters you’ve been searching for. And you know this is a problem, which is why you put that phone in the pocket. But of course you don’t remember that as  you scour the bottom of the bag for the faint sounds of “Tik Tok” playing somewhere in there. Read More »

[I want it, I need it, I can’t live without it. There are so many things on store shelves and racks right now that we want to take home and hang in our closets. Things that are so cute, everyone should know about them. We’ll share ‘em with you here (because we’re that nice), but as far as actually getting them goes….well, you’re on your own with that one.]

Cute bathing suit? Check.
Sunscreen? Check.
Awesomely colorful beach bag? Hmm… Maybe not yet.

Well, Roxy is here to save the day with its cleverly named bag, “Dandy Lion.” The bag is made of durable cotton canvas, and its wide platform bottom makes storing your large beach towels a breeze (sorry, I tried to be as clever as Roxy). It has a back wall zip pocket and a slip pocket for your small items (so your cell phone/iPod don’t get lost in the shuffle) and a magnetic snap closure to keep everything secure. The bag is lightweight and big enough to carry your sunglasses, wallet, change of clothing, and all your other beach essentials (like, I don’t know, snacks?). Best of all, it comes in five, you guessed it, awesomely colorful patterns. Read More »

[I want it, I need it, I can’t live without it. There are so many things on store shelves and racks right now that we want to take home and hang in our closets. Things that are so cute, everyone should know about them. We’ll share ‘em with you here (because we’re that nice), but as far as actually getting them goes….well, you’re on your own with that one.]

While I do not have the $1,200 plus sales tax it would take to bring this bag home with me, I would do just about anything to get my paws on this new bag from Coach.

It has all the elements that make a Coach bag: the buttery leather, the quality construction, and the design that just screams classy. Only it’s better. There is no cheesy “C” print screaming “I BOUGHT THIS AT COACH!” and it is absolutely chic. This is the kind of bag that makes a statement. Hell, this is the kind of bag that makes an outfit. I could leave the house in jeans and a wife beater and look instantly glamorous by throwing this over my shoulder. In fact, maybe I should just sell everything else I own to get it. I don’t need 14 pairs of jeans anyway…

Ugh. I feel the same way about this tote that I do about Jason Segal: I would cut a bitch just to get it. Sigh.

[Every week our style guru takes a celebrity look and breaks it down for you, our poor college fashionista. What does that mean? It means that while the celebrities are spending $5,000 on an ensemble, you don’t have to.

All you have to do is click on the goods and - boom - you can buy the entire ensemble. Yes, we know; there is a spot for her in heaven.]

So you’re gearing up to go home for Thankgiving. I get it – no one likes to travel in jeans. We all know that it is just flat out uncomfortable. But it seems that chicks nationwide think that just because you aren’t wearing jeans, you have full permission to wear the sloppiest, messiest, not-a-stich of pulled togetherness, look for the airport. I would venture to say that airport security has probably seen some of the WORST looking ‘fits of all time.

I’m here to tell you that just because you aren’t looking your BEST doesn’t mean everyone needs to see you at your WORST. I know I’ve gone through the airport numerous times looking like I just spent the night bonding with the toilet bowl, but it is possible to be comfortable and cute. \

Remember, it is Thanksgiving after all, which means most people are headed home, and you’ll want to be thankful that you look and feel good when you run into your 7th grade crush in the airport. So stick with me… and these leading celebs who have created the new unofficial airport uniform

Celebrity Chic on the Cheap: Leather, Leggings and Louis Vuitton (Louis Vuitton Optional). Read More »

Remember the days of the LL Bean backpack? You really weren’t cool unless you had one; and you were even cooler if yours had your initials embroidered on it. I had the deluxe size. Which not only made me cool, but it also most likely permanently damaged my posture and caused me to knock over any small child who crossed my path.

In high school, I went through the, “I’m too cool for a backpack” phase and I carried my books everywhere, stopping at my locker in between every class. But that wasn’t really feasible in college. Walking across campus to class, it was impossible to juggle my books, laptop, cell phone, snacks, Venti Latte and various other staples.

Unable to carry it all – and completely unwilling to pick up another LL Bean monstrsity – I needed something cute and functional.

I searched high and low. The good news is: there are tons of cute bags out there. The bad news is: I bought them all.

5 Hot Bags For College:

1) Kate Spade Belle Meade Cana Tote- Kate Spade will have you actually feeling excited to gather your books and head to class. The Belle Meade Cana Tote is made from tumbled cowhide, which pretty much just sounds awesomely luxurious. Of course, the tote packs a pretty price tag at $425, so you may not be able to afford your books after purchasing it. But hey, you can always throw in a few sheets of loose-leaf paper and borrow a pen from the kid who sits next to you. This tote is worth it.

Read More »

You pulled an all-nighter yesterday, and I’m not talking about the studying kind, and now it’s time for that dreaded walk of shame back to your dorm room. You managed to find your bra, but your low-slung jeans and barely-visible top couldn’t look more obvious as you wobble in your heels across the quad, and the eye makeup that looked smoky last night now looks like a finger painting. You knew this might happen, but short of bringing your backpack filled with your overnight kit to a bar, you didn’t have a choice.

Now, thanks to handbag designers like Rebecca Minkoff, you don’t have to choose between looking chic the night before or the morning after, instead, you can be prepared like a boy scout while not losing your mystique.

Rebecca Minkoff’s Morning After Bag was seen on the arm of Lindsay Lohan, a girl who takes her walk of shame not just watched by the morning joggers, but by tens of paparazzi and millions of tabloid readers. The bag comes in black mesh and black patent or tangerine (a favorite of Vanessa Hudgens) and is roomy enough for a change of shirt, face wash, maybe even a breathalyzer. $595.

For a more affordable option, check out the Urban Expressions Peterson Tote. The sleekly structured bag has front pleating, braided handles, and gold-toned hardware accents. The bag comes in tan, black, and brown, and at only $58 (currently on sale for $32), you can buy two or all three to match different outfits. Read More »

Andy Rooney, a super old guy who used to make movies and now just sits in an office and lets 60 Minutes totally take advantage of his oldness, recently ranted about how Americans are carrying “more stuff than they used to”.

The Duhness factor of his rant notwithstanding (I mean, what did people carry around in his day? Keys to a car they powered with their feet?), I decided to take a cue from Jezebel and go through my own purse to see if all the crap shoved inside was stuff I actually needed.

(This is a day when my bag is not splitting at the seems from carrying my giant, heavy laptop.)

1) Burt’s Bees hand cream: Totally needed. Since I can’t ever hold onto a pair of gloves longer than a week, my hands take a beating every winter. Unless I want the skin to rip off, I gotta moisturize at least twice a day.

2) Three tubes of Chapstick: Okay. Three might be an excessive number…but sometimes I want my lips fruity, other times I want serious moisture action, and every once in a while, a little instant caffeine. Read More »

Walking the streets of New York, you’re bound to see the newest trends out in full force.

Prints, reds, navy blue…they’re all mking a huge comeback this fall. But one color is hitting the streets in a surprising way.Yellow is gaining popularity as fall’s breakout trend, but how to wear it?

It’s easy! The key is to use it as an accent and not having to make it a main statement in your outfit. Wearing yellow as rain gear usually envokes visions of plastic-y rubber galoshes, but it doesn’t have to! Check out Miss Selfridge and it’s amazing yellow raincoat! It adds a punch without needing to be your entire outfit. Read More »