[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!

Tips for purchasing a bag of your own:

Pick a length that’s right for you. As with any other bag, when choosing a cross body purse, you should consider the length of the strap. Finding a length you like and that flatters you is fairly easy (and intuitive–short girl, shorter strap; tall girl, longer strap!) and many of today’s bags feature a strap that’s adjustable. Bonus points if you want to carry your cross body on one shoulder like a traditional purse!

Consider your shape. Cross body bags generally hit around the waist or hip. If you want to play down either of these areas, a larger bag in a solid color is a good bet. Want to show off your shape? Try a small, brightly-colored bag! The width of the strap of your bag will also highlight your shape, so choose accordingly.z
Show your style! Consider yourself a boho babe? Try a distressed leather4 or ethnic-inspired bag! Classic? Go for a vintage leather satchel! Preppy? Go for a swing pack. Edgy? Look for studs, fringe, or bright colors! No matter what look you rock, you’ll be able to find a cute cross body bag to accent your outfit.

You ready for some fabulous cross body bags at every price point? Check ‘em out right here.

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!

Top Row, Left to Right: Zipper Dress – Lulus.com, $34; Lock and Key Necklace – Lulus.com, $16; Open Back Dress – Lulus.com, $38; Belted Dress – Forever 21, $16.90; Shoulder Bag – Forever 21, $26.80;
Bottom Row, Left to Right: Purse – Urban Outfitters, $68; Beaded Top – Lulus.com, $29; Skinny Cargo Pants – Express, $59.90; Pocket Dress – Target, $24.99; Boat Neck Sweater Dress – Old Navy, $34.50

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.

Pro:On a good day, you can find mystery food items that have spent the night in your bag.  Everyone can relate to the story where they find a Jimmy Johns #4 conveniently wrapped in their purse for the next morning. Big purses also come in handy when you don’t want to spend your left leg on a bag of popcorn at the premier of Twilight-Eclipse.
Con: Finding that long lost tuna sandwich…3 weeks later.

Pro: You are always prepared for any problem that may arise. Need a Band-aid? A breath mint? Some hooch? Check, check and (hidden in the lining) check!
Con: Two words: Back pain. Hopefully you can fit some Valium and an ice pack in that thing, because you’re gonna need it after toting around that 20 pounder all day.

Pro: Bigger bags mean more room for the gorgeous. Seriously, small bags are alright, but there’s something classy, chic and just plain amazing about an oversized tote.
Con: Storage. Sure, there’s plenty of room in the bag, but where the hell are you supposed to put that thing? It’s too big to put on your lap at the diner, so you’ve gotta rest it on the dirty floor. Same goes for when you’re driving and your friend takes the seat normally reserved for Big Bertha. And can we just talk about trying to rest that thing on the TP dispenser in the bar bathroom?

Impossible.

OK, so big bags aren’t perfect, but no matter how many times I lose my keys in there, I just can’t quit them. I mean, who cares that your arm falls asleep when the bag looks like this?

[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.

Personally, I’m all about the animal print bag in black. It’s bright, striking, and screams, “Have fun with fashion.” It also screams, “Don’t worry about spilling sunscreen/margarita all over me, because I’m totally affordable and you can throw me right into the washing machine.”

Yeah, this bag has a lot to say. And I totally want to hear more. Great beach days, here I come!

[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.

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).

Black Leggings:

These ones have buttons on the bottom, which will be great for Wednesday night at the bar with pumps or booties. But for now, tuck those bad boys into your boots.

Black Jacket

I’ve featured this leather one before — any leather (or faux leather) bomber will work. If you aren’t into leather (real or fake) this cute black jacket is also a great option.

Or, you can add a pop of color:

Steven Madden Boots

In leather or patent leather – you will look super hot, and this boot is easy to slip on and off at the airport, too.

Retro Black Shades

For when you don’t want to be recognized by your 7th grade crush when you see he is at the airport with his 7th grade girlfriend- who is now his not-so-7th grade fiance…

Longsleeve Burnout Top

Comfy without being boxy, and low-cut enough to give you a little sex appeal.

Sweater/Scarf/Wrap

Functional and fashionable: wear it in the airport and use it as a blanket on the plane.

Big Tote

Throw your life (books to prep for finals and magazines to avoid prepping for finals) in it, throw it over your shoulder and gooo.

Rolling Suitcase

LOVE this bag.

Oh, and leave the cigarettes at home; that is definitely not chic.

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.

Image from katespade.com

2) LeSportsac Travel Tote- The travel tote by LeSportsac is sure to fit all your books. And look at all the fun patterns you can choose from! My friend’s classmate told her that her LeSportsac tote kept him from getting bored in class because it was so fun to look at. So, the tote is multifunctional- carry your books,prevent boredom…and flirt with boys! And for $88, I would say that’s worth it. Plus, the bags are made with nylon, so they are completely durable and washable, which will be necessary after carrying it around to all those classes you’ll be attending.

Image from lesportsac.com

3) Lacoste New Classic Horizontal Shopping Bag- This is another extremely cute and durable bag that is just perfect for your textbooks. If you’re feeling super preppy, you can even match your polo shirt to the bag. Trendy, classic, and always stylish, I love Lacoste. At only $140, I’d say it’s a steal…especially for this brand.

Image from top-selling-brands.com

4) Guess Sorority Tote- It’s called the sorority tote, so you obviously need to get this one if you’re in, or are planning on joining, a sorority. It’s not exactly discrete with its shiny leather finish, but since when have you ever wanted to be discrete? Guess is always pretty affordable and stylish and this tote is only $85; not even close to the fees you’ll be paying for your sorority membership.

Image from Guess.com

5) North Face Jester Backpack- Sometimes backpacks are the most convenient for carrying books to class. They can comfortably hold all your books and have multiple purposes, like bringing on weekend camping trips, or toting beer to a frat house party (What? Not like I’ve ever done that!). But if you’re going to carry a backpack, it needs to be a fashionable one. And, please be extra careful if you take public transportation. There’s nothing worse than a clueless backpack carrier on the train, swinging that thing loaded with biology books back and forth. My favorite backpack is the Jester from North Face. It’s only $49 and is much cooler than that old LL Bean business.

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.

If you’re more a Carrie type than a Charlotte type, you’re probably no stranger to the morning after. BOYY, a Montreal-based accessories line, sells an appropriately-named “bradshaw” bag. The clever black purse is incredibly roomy and comes with detachable shoulder straps so the bag can be worn two ways: as a shoulder bag or as an oversize clutch with two ring handles. $649 (on sale at shopbop.com for $454)

You like skinny jeans and Ray Ban Wayfarers more than mini skirts and heels, so a patent leather and gold purse isn’t really your thing, but that doesn’t mean you have to go bagless. American Apparel makes a fantastic mini duffel bag that’s hipster-cool and comes in a plethora of colors. $17.

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.

3) Sunglasses / Reading glasses: The reading glasses I could probably just throw into the trash. I’m too vain to ever put them on, and spend most of my day squinting.

4) Kashi granola bar: Kashi is the sh*t. And you never know when you’ll be starving.

5) Metro card: Hello. You think I have money for cabs?

6) Wallet: Obvi.

7) Two packs of gum: Minty one day, bubble gum the next. I see this as a necessity.

8 ) Band-Aids: Instant blister relief

9) 4 Pens: 4 is nothing. I used to have 10, until someone pointed out how weird it was that I hoarded other people’s lost and forgotten writing implements.

10) Notebook: Sometimes I just need to write down that brilliant thought.

11) Scrap from Magazine: I’m planning on buying the face cream on page 98. Someday I’ll get to it.

12) New York magazine: Look, sometimes I don’t feel like looking at other people on the subway. Pretending to read solves this issue.

13) Piece of cookie in plastic bag: How long has that been in here…?

14) Tiny Packet of Lube: How long has that been in here…?

15) One Glove: Maybe I’ll find the other one someday.

16) Minnie Mirror: I’m not vain, I swear. I have contacts, and sometimes dust gets inside. Seriously!

17) Clementine: These things are only in season for a few months! I eat 3 a day.

So, yeah, I carry a giant bag full of (mostly) necessary items. I won’t deny that it doesn’t get heavy, but downgrading to something small and compact just isn’t an option when you live out of your purse.

What’s the weirdest thing you have in your bag? Think yours is bursting with even more stuff than mine? Let us know!

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.

Want something a little more understated? River Island has a simple yellow bag with beautiful braided detail.

Want something even more simple? Try out Dorothy Perkins‘ yellow flats! Comfortable and trendy, these shoes will take through the entire season!

Happy shopping!