Maybe it’s the hippie in me, but right now I’m loving everything about that laid back flower-child style we know as bohemian. French Connection,  Free People, Lucky Brand, True Religion. . . I’m just naming a few of my favorite brands that carry the gypsy-like, free spirited style favored by Kate Hudson, Nicole Richie, and Halle Berry. (Oh, and Mischa Barton and the Olsen twins, but I’m not sure their take on it is anything to covet….)

Unfortunately, these brands carry their clothes a little steep in the price range for my liking and the celebs are the only ones that can afford it. Fortunately, I’ve got a slew of glorious bohemian finds that have slithered their way into my kind of price range: under $20.

Bring on the side-braids and let’s get shopping.

Because of the white it’s difficult to see the incredibly detailed floral lace design, but it’s there. And it’s gorgeous.  This top is feminine and sweet.  The swoop neck would look fab with a earthy-colored necklace and the short sleeves are just begging for some wooden bangles.  Perfect for a bohemian obsessed summer.

Granted I probably would not go about wearing this Levi-inspired jean vest sans undershirt, but this vest is awesome.  It’s outdoorsy and would look great paired with a loose undershirt and a Lauren Conrad-influenced-side braid. Gimme, gimme.

Just like something out of The Little House In The Prairie a bohemian fairytale, this top is sweetly detailed. In fact, I would love to pair this with the vest above, some thick studded sandals and a floppy, chestnut bag.

The lace hem trimmed with pin-tucked pleats transforms this skirt into a value much higher than it’s cheap price at $19.99.  It looks politely cool for summer, and perfectly innocent (somebody has to fool all of those dirty boys out there). Wink, wink.

Aww, my favorite accessory: the scarf.  Although this scarf looks the part of a crazy sea creature on Planet Earth, don’t let it fool you. It’s a perfect accessory for any bohemian outfit; especially a loose-fitted earthy shirt and ragged, vintage jean shorts.

OK, I know what you’re thinking (“My grandma wouldn’t wear this!”), but hear me out. This (slightly ballsy) modern classic can be worn in so many ways and for so many occasions: at the beach over a solid colored suit, out to lunch, tucked neatly for work…the list goes on.  Unbutton the top few buttons and the punch of color would look great with a simple pair of jean shorts and monstrous sunglasses.

These fabulously cheap (ehem, only $2.00) are nickle free and too glorious to pass up.  They would look wonderful with any outfit – versatile in their own brassy way – and bring a “I’m carefree and cool” vibe to the total look.  If I had my ears pierced (no seriously, I don’t) these would be mine, mine, mine forever.

Let’s go out on a bohemian bang shall we? This dress is bright, fun, flirty and incredibly unique.  I would love this with some wooden bangles and Bob Marley jams in the background? Please and thank you.

Hair flair can transform an entire outfit and conceal your unwashed hair on days when you just don’t have time to shower (i.e. after a particularly long Tiki Tuesday). More importantly, unlike those expensive skinny jeans you picked up at the Nordstrom half-yearly sale, hair flair will always fit regardless of those holiday pounds, the freshmen fifteen, or the beer belly you’ve been sporting since football season (curse you keg stands and beer pong).

Well, if you want the same accessories as the Upper East Siders but don’t have the same cash monay, don’t worry.  Here is a thrifty way to get the fabulous look without paying the big bucks. And if this particular style isn’t for you, something is wrong with you we’ve got another awesome DIY hair flair project you can do instead.

What You’ll Need:

Stretchy headbands/headwraps: You probably have one of these lying around, but if not, these are super cheap and you can pick them up at drug stores like CVS, Long’s, Duane Read or at any beauty store. My favorite brand to use is Scunci No Slip-Hair Grips because they come in packs of 4, are comfortable, and easy to decorate. Use a black headwrap to keep it classy or a bolder color to add some extra pop.

Fabric: A foot or two of any type of cloth fabric in any color/design you want! Most craft stores sell fabric squares meant for quilting, which are perfect for creating your hair flair, as your fabric needs to be cut in a square shape before you begin. Bonus: Many craft stores (Michael’s or JoAnn’s) have tons of leftover fabric scraps that you can get for super cheap. Just ask one of those ladies with the scissors!

The fabric color/design you choose can make your headwrap traditional and classy (think colors like Ivory, Champagne, Black, Grey, Red, etc), or have a little more funk (think designs like zebra, polka dots, stripes, or neon!).

Beads, Rhinestones, Buttons, MORE FLAIR!: These are optional materials, but will add that extra spunk to your homemade headband.

Hot Glue Gun/Glue: Every crafter’s best friend and sometimes lover. You’ll need this for a few steps throughout the DIY process.

What You’ll Do:

1. Cut fabric into a 6×6 inch square piece. Cut another 4×4 inch square piece. (Really, you can cut these two pieces in any size square you want [depending how big and bold you want your headwrap to be]. Just make sure one piece is bigger than the other.)

2. Lay the fabric face-down (so the design/color side of your fabric isn’t showing) and grab it in the middle. Using your other hand, twist the fabric around the finger holding the center. The twisting will swirl the fabric to create a ruche-like effect. Hold finger in place, then fold and hot glue the four corners of the fabric to the center. Repeat with the smaller piece of fabric. You should now have two bubbly looking pieces of fabric!

3. Add a small button, rhinestone, or bead in the center of the fabric if you want to add some extra glitz.

4. Now, hot glue the two ruched fabric bubbles to the headwrap, side by side. Let dry. Once the pieces are glued to the headband, take some leftover fabric, cut out a small strip and glue it behind the fabric pieces (inside the headband). This will make your headwrap look more polished and be more comfortable for you to wear!

5. Wear your new hair flair! Wear like a traditional headband or pull it low across your forehead for a more bohemian look.

6. Take all compliments modestly, direct all admirers to CollegeCandy, and tell them, yes, you are a fashion visionary and trendsetter.

While everyone is fabulous in their own right, we thought we should celebrate the campus fashionistas of the world for their continued excellence in not looking like a hot mess for class. So, we started stalking those girls on campus to get a few pics and get some tips on their personal style. 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.

Enter Sarah.

Even though she isn’t in college anymore, Sarah still exudes the typical college girl enthusiasm for new clothes and the word “sale.” When I approached her and begged to take a picture of her look, she agreed… but only if I took a picture of the back of her skirt. She wanted to show off the best parts of her look: the pretty metallic details and ruffles next to the rich color of her scarf.  She’s also got this very Nicole Richie, I-didn’t-try-too-hard twisted pin-up braid going on that’s super cute and complements the entire look perfectly.

As a recent college grad, Sarah is always busy running to and from interviews and meetings. She doesn’t have a lot of time to spend on makeup and hair, which she doesn’t mind. Her style philosophy: a cute outfit to match her bag and long, flirty eyelashes. Sweet and simple. I love it.

Name: Sarah F.
Year: 2008 alumnus
Major: Public Policy
Sarah in 3 words: girly, bohemian, au naturale

1) Describe your personal style.
Simple is always better. Too many girls nowadays are getting plastic surgery and putting on heavy makeup when they’re only 10 years old! I don’t really try to stand out; I just pick something cute to wear, grab my favorite bag and heels, put on some mascara and sunscreen, and head out the door.

2) You can’t leave the house without your ____.
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara. It makes my lashes look amazingly long and thick, and my eyes don’t look so tired afterwards.

3) Name your favorite place to shop.
Forever 21! Cheap is a must for a recent college graduate.

4) What/who is the biggest influence on your style?
I really like Natalie Portman; she always looks flawless in her complexion and dress but doesn’t seem like she spends an unnecessary amount of time on looking good. She’s a great role model too; she took an acting hiatus to go to Harvard! And for psychology, too, like me.

5) What’s your favorite trend, past or present?

I love scarves, I have an entire box full of them! You can wear them in so many ways, and they make your outfit your own unique creation. Sometimes I even tie them on my bag to add another little flair to my outfit.

[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.]

With this Indian Summer we’ve got going on- it’s not warm enough to wear the sundresses or cute jean shorts, but it’s not cold enough to wear all those fabulous jackets and oversized sweaters – we are left with three options:

1) Giant armpit stains in our sweaters

2) 24/7 goose bumps in our tanks

3) Resort to a nice balance: the Boho Chic.

Obvi, number 3 is the way to go. Boho Chic is just perfection for those warm fall days that we all love so much. And the way Tween-Queen Miley is rocking it I just want to snag her style (even if she is, like, 12).

She looks cute and chic without being cheesey, and is one celebrity that actually know hows to dress. her. age.

So, here we go:

Celebrity Chic on the Chic: Miley Cyrus Sports the Boho Chic

Jeans

Miley’s are from the brand Rich and Skinny (of which I am neither), in the Belissma Style. They are SUPER cute and come in a bunch of colors…but they are also $154 dollars.

“I didn’t make millions starring on the Disney Channel, you idiot,” you say?

Well, that’s why I’ve provided a much more realistic and totally cute alternative. Let’s call them “Poor and Average Sized” jeans. Miley’s are a wide leg, but these skinnies are perfect to tuck in should you choose to rock this look with boots instead of sandals (I prefer it with the boots), because, let’s face it, it’s October and not everyone lives in Hollywood.

Boho-Inspired Top

There are tons of options for this top since its loose and flowy – Throw a tank underneath, or layer it with a long sleeve ribbed t-shirt once it gets colder. Or you could throw a long cardigan over it, or simply leave it by itself for a night out.

Shoes

I covet these boots. So cute. A GREAT fall staple, but also cute for this look.

But if you live in some climate where it is still warm enough for sandals (I hate you.), these platforms fit perfectly with this bohemian vibe.

Patent Leather Tote

Big enough to hold all your crap, but small enough to go out if you’re too lazy to switch it up. Miley has a black bag, but if I was Miley’s stylist, I would have told her to go for the honey brown. (So, Miley, if you are reading this…call me!)

Maybe it’s the fact that it’s finally warm enough in the summertime to step outside and feel the breeze without wincing, or maybe the wind really does smell sweeter, but either way, there is definitely something fun and breezy about summer. There is something light and bubbly about this season and there are a wide array of drinks out there to accompany such a bohemian sensation.

Why do I feel more comfortable drinking in the afternoon in the summertime than I do in the winter? Is it the dazzling sunlight that beckons me to the outdoor seating of bars, whispering, “It’s vacation weather. Drink up…”? Is that what does it? Who knows. Regardless, here is my personal list of summertime beverages that I know I won’t be going without this year.

WINE SPRITZERS

I may easily be an old cougar at a country club despite the fact that I’m a 24 year old girl in the big city…I don’t care. I like wine spritzers. They’re so bubbly and delicious and easy to make on your own. Wine+Sprite+Ice+decorative lemon= BOOYAH, a tasty wine spritzer. I used to always drink these with red wines, but I’ve moved on to the lighter white wines these days and I love it.

CORONA

It’s the commercials, I think. Advertising is a bitch and it f*cking works. I can’t help it. If someone hands me a corona in the summertime, I might as well be laying on a Mexican beach silently with a hot guy. Because that’s how I feel. Stupid? Yes. Irrelevant? Yes. Bad beer? Nope. It’s good. Very good.

NEW ZEALAND WHAT?

Who knows what this drink is called, but my roomie who spent some time in New Zealand learned this trashy trick of the cheap alcohol trade there and I really do sorta LOVE it. It’s Coors Light mixed with Smirnoff. Sound disgusting? Yeah, you’re right, it does.

I actually only tried it to begin with because it sounded like puke and I was SURE that she was going to be dead wrong about it being tasty. Low and behold, I was the wrong one. This drink is better than you’d expect and if you’re at all repulsed by the idea of it, then I encourage you to try it even more so. It’s surprisingly good. And refreshing.

There are plenty of other summery drinks where these came from. Who’s got recommendations?

Our generation has been called a lot of things. Lazy. Fame obsessed. Narcissistic. Unmotivated. Oversexed. Why haven’t you Twenty-Something’s moved out of your parents’ house yet? The general consensus seems to be. Why are your parents still giving your money? Stop watching reality TV and and get a real job!

Instead of pushing against the unfocused, immature stereotype so much of the older generation is trying to box us into, “Quarterlife” a new MySpace web show (soon to be a real NBC show) plays right into their frustrated hands.

Produced by “the creative minds behind My So-Called Life”, “Quarterlife” follows 6 white kids in their twenties, most of whom consider themselves some type of artsy bohemian. In weekly, 10-minute installations, the characters on “Quarterlife” walk around plugged into their iPods and deal with, you know, issues. Sexual tension, boredom, sexual frustration, confusion, sexual discontent…everyone’s so like, conflicted. So like, unsure. Happiness is fleeting, and nothing makes like, any sense at all.

My So-Called Life was one of the best representations of teenage angst that’s ever been brought to the small screen, but retooling the recipe to fit the lives of Twenty-Somethings doesn’t work at all. The dialogue is pretty much drama (the good kind) free, and whenever main character Dylan video blogs (oh yes, she does), she rambles on and on with a Reality-Bites-combined-with-Kevin Smith-eque “deepness”.

“It’s just weird that you can never know what someone else is thinking. We’re all trapped in our nuero-transmitting soup, having our own indelible perceptions of a universe that for all we know is just an illusion anyway. And I supposed to laugh at that, or cry?”

Because it’s MySpace inspired, “Quarterlife” is more than just a languid drama. Billing it’s website as a place for “social networking”, it encourages its audience to upload art and thoughts, and meet other like-minded Twenty-Somethings through chatting and profiles.

Integrating fantasy and reality is an interesting idea, but if the “real” members of “Quarterlife” are anything like the fictional characters that supposedly hang out on the site all the time, I can guarantee this Twenty-Something will be staying far, far away.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to ask my dad for ten dollars and go back to sleep.