Jewelry Obsession: Stacked Bangles

3 Simple & Sexy Beauty Looks

Cougar Mirage Boots are a chic rain boot and a snow boot in one!

A love letter to boot socks

6 steps for avoiding sun damage

Wanna smell even more like Katy Perry?

How do you keep your winter tan?

I can’t get enough of Blake Lively. In my humble opinion, she is one of the consistently most well-dressed celebs. Her street style is always fresh and eye-catching, and her red carpet style never ceases to dazzle. I love how her style is the perfect marriage of California casual, edgy haute couture and pure elegance. Recently, she was spotted on the set of Gossip Girl rocking a perfect laidback summer fashionista ensemble.

red maxi skirt - Nordstroms, $44.90;  chainlink necklace - Target, $19.99; floral vest - Urban Outfitters, $29.99. white tank - $10.00; flip flops - Zappos, $18.00

It took me a long time to accept the “maxi” trend. I thought maxi skirts and dresses were frumpy, unflattering and I was completely bewildered by their popularity. But lately, I have come to appreciate their simplicity, and as long as they’re constructed with texture, and not like my grandmother’s living room curtains, I can give maxis a thumbs up. I’m a huge fan of the bright, bold red shade, and has some slight ruching to give it a bit of structure. Paired with a plain white tank and a floral vest, this becomes a flirty, feminine ensemble.

As for the accessories, gold bangles are always appropriate. They’re glam and fun and always spruce up an outfit. And I love Blake’s choice of a chainlink necklace. It adds an unexpected edgy feel. I love the contrast with the overall softness of the rest of the outfit. And, while I hate flip flops, I hate them a tad bit less with maxi skirts (maybe because they’re kind of hidden?) I have heard nothing but great things about Havianias, in terms of comfort and durability. Bright colors and interesting accessories are key to elevating a basic outfit to a stylish one!

We all know that accessories can make an outfit. And we all know that bracelets, particularly stacked bracelets, are always cute, always cool and can go with any outfit. We also know that oftentimes one bracelet can cost upwards of $100, making that cool, cute look – um – not possible. How on earth are you going to stack 5 bracelets on your wrist without becoming the college girl who lived in her bracelets? (And is that even possible? As cute as they are, where would you plug in your flat iron??)

But we all don’t know about Tyler Mackenzie Designs. Until now.

Lauren Rosen, founder and designer of Tyler Mackenzie Designs was sick of seeing accessories with such high price-tags. And instead of complaining about it, girl got to work! And now we can all send her thank-you notes and Cookies By Design bouquets because her adorable stackable bracelets sell for $20 a pop (but look as though they cost much more).

They come in tons of awesome colors, shades, sizes and stones, and the whole point is to stack them up. Buy a bunch in a similar color family and switch them out to take your look from day to night (go more neutral for day and add a different pop of color for night). The bracelets are all different and each has its own mixture of fun and funky elements, from wood beads to gemstones to sparkley little guys.

Lauren’s personal fav color combo? 6mm sized bracelets in grey feldspar, riverstone, faceted grey cat’s eye, and faceted mountain purple cat’s eye with silver accents. It’s a bracelet combo that will make any outfit (even jeans and a tee) look fabulous.

I’m about to stock up on these stackables and I have a feeling you will too. Why? Because Tyler Mackenzie Designs is offering CollegeCandy readers 20% off your entire purchase from now until Thursday, September 30! Just pick out what you like at Tylermackenziedesigns.com, then shoot Lauren an email with the subject line “CollegeCandy” at tylermackenziedesigns@gmail.com. Tell her what you want and how much you love CollegeCandy and she’ll get you stacked up stat.

You’re welcome!

[Check out all the other goodies  Jill's been sharing right here.]

Are you watching ‘Pretty Little Liars’? You should be.

How do you know if you’re exclusive?

We’re LOVING these eco-friendly bangles.

There is going to be a Baywatch reality show. WTF.

It’s not all bliss for Alicia Keys and Swizz.

Check out the new Brian Lichtenberg line for Forever 21!

And maybe a restraining order or two.

But it’s worth it to highlight fresh, unique wardrobe choices that show personality and the courage to wear what you believe in. You think you’ve got some major style? Know someone else who’s always looking ferosh? Think the world needs to see what she can do?  Send us an email with some photos and she could be the next fashionista celebrated right here.]

Victoria is one of the most creative people I know. She’s an art and marketing major who can make anything look perfect, whether it’s her website, her dorm room or herself.

There’s really no way to classify Victoria’s style. She knows how to mix casual and extravagant pieces, creatively combines west- and east-coast style, and always has the perfect accessory to top it off. She’s definitely one of the best-dressed girls at Simmons.

On Victoria: Sweater – Ruth from Anthropologie; Skirt – Urban Outfitters; Shirt – Only Hearts (Santa Monica); Scarf – Missoni;  Clutch – Marc Jacobs; Sandals – Jack Rogers;  Checkered Bracelet – J Crew;  Gold Bangles – Pier 1 Imports; Gold and Turquoise Bracelet – Marc Jacobs; Earrings – H&M

Name: Victoria Solomon
Year: Junior
Program: Marketing/PR and Studio Art

1. Describe your personal style. My personal style is what I like to describe as “future-rich-housewife-hipster-royalty.”  I love gold, fur, purple, and anything slightly extravagant.  You’ll never see me wearing silver.  I love bright scarves and also, velvet leggings because jeans can be uncomfortable.

2. Complete this sentence: You can’t leave your house without…. My handbag.  Usually my handbags are brightly colored with gold hardware. So, even if I’m wearing all black, my outfit isn’t completely boring.

3. What are your favorite stores to shop at? I love Urban Outfitters, H&M, Juicy Couture, and Marc Jacobs.

4. What/who is the biggest influence on your style? The biggest influence on my style is English royalty from the 1700 to 1800s.  I love the extravagance of gold, gems, fur, pearls, and lace.  Will I go all out in all of it?  Not so much, but a little touch of it here and there, makes me feel like a queen.

5. What’s your favorite trend, past or present? My favorite trend is sweatpants in college.  It’s the only time in my life I can wear sweats around everyday and not be completely scrutinized.  And with all the super tight jeans, jewelry, and heels, secretly I just would love to wear sweatpants all day long, every day.  So, I’m totally taking advantage of the “college-fashion” trend while I can.

[The following post is courtesy of our most fashionable friends over at CollegeFashion.net.]

Usually I feature items that I consider timeless; things that you can wear again and again no matter the season. For the very last edition of the Fashion Essentials series, I’ve decided to highlight something that a lot of people either skip entirely or go overboard on: seasonal trends.

I consider trendy items essentials in a college girl’s wardrobe. Adding a trendy item to an outfit full of classics is a fun way to experiment with fashion, and proves you know “what’s in”. However, having a closet full of last season’s hottest trends isn’t realistic or smart: trendy items should be simply for fun, and not investment pieces or long-lasting essentials. Because no one wants to spend big money on short-term items, I’m going to focus on spring trend essentials for under $50.

1. Clear Accessories

Transparent jewelry and accessories were hot trends on the runway this spring. Fendi’s spring show featured clear lucite clutches (above right) and wedges, while Burberry Prorsum sent models down the runway with transparent amber bangles on their arms.

I think clear accessories can be integrated into many different styles: they can be super modern with a sleek, monochrome outfit, or fun and girly with spring florals. A thick, clear lucite bangle looks 60’s mod, and clear rimmed sunglasses imitate the clear bags, heels, and shades Prada sent down the spring runway (above left). Here are some cheap items that will achieve the same look:

Product Information: Transparent blue necklace – Lord & Taylor, Clear rimmed sunglasses – Windsor, Clear stone bracelet – Lori’s Shoes

Find out the other must-have trends you can get on a budget here.

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??

So it’s Friday night. You need to get ready and you spent far too long watching GLEE on your DVR and chatting with your roommate about the best mode of communicating with your crush tonight. Text? G-chat? BBM? You just don’t know! And now you have – uh – 20 minutes to get I-look-damn-good ready.

Enter from stage left, MAJOR problem: you are oh-so-sick of wearing a black dress with black tights and black shoes and a black bag. “Wouldn’t it be so nice if I had a style genie that could just pop in and show me ways to rock my plain black dress with, like, 3 different looks and 8 different trends for the season?” you think to yourself while sighing in front of your drab looking frock. Life is so hard sometimes.

Well call me a mind reader, call me a genie, call me amazing – I will answer to all. Because I have done just that for you (I know, I’m great).

From lace to leopard there are TONS of options to spruce up that ordinarily dark, boring ensemble of yours. Not to mention it’s a much better way than falling all over yourself while dancing on the tabletops to stick out a bit from the other 9,999 chicks dressed in solid black as well.

So here we go: One Dress, 3 looks, 8 different trends to rock with it.

The Essential Black Mini Dress

Look #1- Lace & Sequins & Jewels

Lace tights

Sequin peep toe

Jeweled Bracelet

Look #2 Leathers and Studs and Booties, OH MY

Studded leather jacket

Bootie

Black tights

Look #3 Leopard Print
Pick a shoe, cardigan or bangle (for the love of all animals, NOT all together)
Fabulous red lipstick optional!

Footwear

Cardigan
(This woman has it layered over another animal print sweater. Why? I do not know. Trust me, this will look chic over a black dress.)

Bracelets

For a long time, I thought Newport News was a total “mom store” with terribly outdated and, well, momish stuff.  Then, a few months ago  I noticed some of their stuff in mags like Lucky, InStyle and Glamour and realized that they actually had some super cuteness going on.

Since then I’ve bought several items from them and they’re not only stylish and well-made, they’re great for a gal on a budget. Which is me. And you.

I combed the entire website and found so many adorable things, many for under $20, but here are my top 8, MySpace style:

I love simple jersey dresses for their comfort and versatility…you can wear this with flip flops/sandals, flats, wedges or super sexy heels for a totally different look every time (not to mention, it comes in a wide array of colors).

This peasant style top is a great way to change it up from that basic tee and it looks great with everything from jeans to pencil skirts to wide leg trousers (and once again it comes in a great range of colors).

Leopard print is all over the place this season and this tank (which comes in a pack of 2; 1 print & 1 black) is the perfect way to incorporate this trend into your wardrobe. Wear it by its lonesome or under a boyfriend blazer or blazer.

Close-toed wedges are a great shoe for fall and early winter and with the ankle strap, they look super cute with tights.  They have them in a deep red that is perfect for this fall’s red trend.

I love the cut and sleeves of this tunic – totally unique from any other tunics lining your closet. It will look great with that summer tan, some skinny jeans or leggings and a cute pair of flats, boots or heels.

This sweater may look a bit frumpy at first glance, but it has potential to not only be super comfy and cozy come fall/winter, but it’ll also look super cute with a pair of skinny jeans and some riding boots.

Bangles are a great way to jazz up a basic ensemble and I love the woven texture of this one. Plus, at under $5, it’s really hard to say no.

It’s all about going girlie this season with lace, ruffles and other feminine details and this shirt incorporates both lace and ruffles. Hello, more trend for your buck! It’ll look great on it’s own with some fun accessories, or under a cardi or cropped blazer.

Yeah, so clearly we’ve all missed the memo on Newport News. This store will most definitely be in my “online shopping while extremely bored in lecture” rotation. You might want to add it, too.

Post courtesy of out friends at StyleBakery.com. For more awesome fashion, style and beauty news, check them out!]

For a quick style update, add a bangle or two. Or three. Or four. These versatile pieces can be stacked, mixed, and worn with anything!

If you’re wearing a solitary bangle, make sure it contrasts somewhat in color and texture to the rest of your outfit. For example, pair a beige wooden bangle with a pink and white floral dress.

If you’re wearing several bangles, make sure they contrast with each other. A set of metallic bangles that come together can look hot, but when trying to create your own mix, avoid picking bracelets that look the same. Mix square shaped with round, wood with metal, neon with black, prints with solids, etc.

Here are 10 bangle bracelets that will brighten your look this summer and add a pop to any outfit:

1. A basic metallic bangle is a wardrobe staple, and this Arden B Twist Bangle ($14) is perfect for glamming up an all-black nighttime outfit or brightly colored dress.

2. A wooden bangle, like this Rachel Leigh Wide Dark Wood Pyramid Bangle ($35 at Chickdowntown.com), is great for mixing with metallics and thinner pieces.

3. This CC Skye Black Woven Leather Crust Button bangle ($96 at Bluefly) will add edge and toughen up an outfit. Pair it with a floral dress or feminine blouse to maximize the effect.

4. A snakeskin bracelet will also bring a tough element to an outfit. This Ted Rossi Large Python Bangle ($118 at Singer22) is hot, but you can pick up faux snakeskin pieces on the cheap at fast fashion stores like H&M and Charlotte Russe as well.

5. The Arden B Rhinestone Studded Bangle ($18) is another option for adding some glam and shine to your look.

6. A few solid, bright bangles are great to have around – you can stack ‘em on to add color to a look without going too crazy. These Betsey Johnson Enamel & Pearl Bangles ($38/each at Nordstrom) are basic with a unique twist.

7. Bright, printed bangles can also make your look pop. These Kate Spade ‘idiom’ Medium Enamel Bangles ($78/each at Nordstrom) are the perfect summer accessories – fun, eyecatching and stylish!

8. Black and white is a no-fail color combo. Pair this Banana Republic Checkered Hinge Bangle ($19.99) with an all-black or all-white ensemble for a retro-cool look.

9. Embellished pieces are hot this year – sandals, t-shirts, belts, etc. Work this trend into your wardrobe with an Erickson Beamon Embellished Bone Bangle ($560 at Net-A-Porter).

10. The whole safari thing is still hot right now as well, so pop on this zebra print Kate Spade House of A Different Color Idiom Bangle ($98) to give your look a wild touch.