Michelle Williams has had a pretty great year. Between receiving oral from Ryan Gosling and being chosen to play Marilyn Monroe in a critically acclaimed, Oscar-nominated film, I’d say she’s probably one of the luckiest ladies in Hollywood. I’ve been a huge fan of hers since she was the tortured girl next door (not named Joey Potter) on Dawson’s Creek, and I love that she is getting so much recognition for her talent and beauty.

dress – Delia’s, $44.50//tights - Macy’s, $12.00//shoes – Piperlime, $43.97//trench – Kohl’s, $31.20

I’ll be honest – at first glance, I didn’t really care for this outfit. Something about it seemed sloppy and less-than-appealing. Yet certain elements compelled me to give it a second look, and I saw so much potential. I really love the idea, and I knew it could be improved upon (I know, my humility is astounding). Polka dot dresses are delightfully retro and classic, and I love the structure and silhouette of the one I found at Delia’s. I feel like I usually only see black and white polka dots combined with black, white or red, so I really appreciated Michelle’s choice of gray. It’s understated while still being an interesting contrast. Gray booties and shiny black tights complete the look, adding a quirky finish to this ensemble. I really like that you can easily dress this further down for class or dress it up for a date or work; Versatility is always a plus.

[Lead image via cinemafestival/Shutterstock]

Even though Olivia Palermo hasn’t graced our TV screens in a while, the paparazzi is still following her around. I don’t know why, but she’s stylish and I covet many of her ensembles, so I’m cool. She’s like the American Kate Middleton, but way more visually interesting (and personally I think she has better hair).

sweater - Dillards, $29.40//leggings – Newport News, $49.00//booties – DSW, $49.95//fur vest – Arden B, $19.99//tote - Kohl’s, $48.30

Sweaters have a tendency to be kind of blobby and unflattering, so I really love this colorblocked one because it breaks it up and gives the illusion of structure. Combined with some leather leggings, this becomes a cozy but still fiesty ensemble. Burgundy booties are an unexpected color choice, but it’s neutral enough to work. The fur vest is a little over the top, but that’s exactly why I love it. It should be noted, though, that the ensemble would look equally as great with a trench or peacoat. A simple black tote is a perfect accessory, or a blue or white one would be fabulous too (basically any color that complements the sweater). This is a delightful day time look that is fun and functional.

Ladies across the pond are so stylish. Seriously, the two times I’ve been to the find island of Britain, I’ve gorged myself on fashion. Primark, Whistles, River Island…and Dorothy Perkins! These so-called “high street” shops pump out gorgeous pieces at reasonable prices. Forever 21 is starting to catch onto the trends these stores follow, but we still don’t have a retailer quite like these magical places. Luckily for us in North America, there is online shopping! I was browsing the Dorothy Perkins website and came upon these beauties. I instantly knew that they needed a feature!

Made of faux suede, these little booties are the perfect addition to your fall shoes; the burnt orange shade just screams “autumn!” The ’5 heel will give you quite a boost in height, but don’t worry about destroying your feet. The ’1 platform takes a lot of strain off your feet and makes it feel like you’re only wearing a ’4 heel. Even though most people associate heels with evening, when you begin to go to job interviews or meeting professionals in your field (even professors), it’s a good idea to wear heels or fancier shoes.

Let’s start with daytime.

Click picture for all the shopping deets!

For daytime, start with a pair of dark skinny jeans and a cute printed blouse; bonus points if the print has the same burnt orange shade! This one has a bow and a print with birds – so adorable! If you tend to get cold, wear a sweater or cardi in another bright shade. This purple one complements the orange really well. Add a roomy satchel and simple gold jewels and you’re ready!

And now evening.

Click picture for all the shopping deets!

For night, start with a plain white long-sleeve and add a black pencil skirt. The lace overlay of this one makes it very lady-like and dainty. You could even go wild and choose a bright color like pink or blue for the skirt! After that, it’s just accessories: a clutch that matches your outfit (hence the b&w patent), a gorgeous pair of feather-inspired earrings, and layered chains. You don’t have to keep your jewelery in the silver or gold family; mixing makes you look brave and funky.

And that’s it! I kept the shoes the star but didn’t shy away from other fun elements. Check these boots out at Dorothy Perkins for about $75. Happy styling!

Rachel Bilson never fails to impress. She always makes fashion look so simple and easy. That’s what all of my favorite fashionistas have in common. Even if they spend 5 hours on their outfits, it always looks like 5 minutes. True style is a reflection of your personality, so it shouldn’t look forced or uncomfortable. But enough with my philosophizing, let’s get to the clothes.

gray blazer - Macy’s, $34.99; gray hobo bag - New York & Co, $11.99; black booties - DSW, $9.94; denim shorts - American Eagle, $29.99; boyfriend shirt - Lands’ End, $19.99; sunglasses - Forever 21, $5.80

Blazers always make me swoon, and I’m totally jealous of wherever Rachel is that it’s cool enough to even wear one (why does summer have to be soooo hot?). This gray one is perfect for layering. Boyfriend shirts will never go out of style, and they always look sexy paired with a blazer. Denim shorts make this look more summer appropriate, and take it towards a more casual place, especially distressed ones. Black booties add a little rock star/Taylor Momsen-y edge, which fits in very smoothly with this ensemble that flirts very coyly with “grunge.” Accessories include a great, functional, cute little gray bag and classic wayfarer sunglasses. It’s an interesting outfit for day or (especially) for night that combines comfort with sexiness.

[Welcome to Celebrity Chic on the Cheap, where 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 (I'm talkin' bout you, Olivia Wilde) are spending $5,000 on an ensemble, you don’t have to.]

90210 starlet Shenae Grimes is an undercover fashionista. She’s not someone who’s all over the fashion rags or in red carpet photos, and it’s not like 90210 ever got the same fashion cred that Gossip Girl ever did, so no one exactly goes out of their way to check out what she’s wearing. That said, she has a really interesting, yet attainable style. She combines flirty, feminine, and whimsical pieces with darker, edgy, menswear inspired pieces to create eclectic, multi-dimensional looks.

I love that more celebs are rocking all black ensembles during the summer, while still looking breezy and comfortable. Shenae went for a basic black blazer, but since I’m sure we all have at least one of those, I chose a black lace blazer. It’s a playful take on a staple, and it would be perfect for a summer night. Sequins are always an asset to any ensemble, and this fun tank is great for adding some glamour to your wardrobe, and Shenae layered her tank with a basic black tank underneath to continue the black motif. Naturally, her shorts and her bag are both black, and so are her adorable booties.

Shopping Info: Blazer- Forever 21, $22.80; Sequin Tank- J.Crew, $62.40; Cotton Tank- Gap, $14.50; Shorts- Old Navy, $17.50; Booties- Endless, $24.99; Bag- Kohl’s, $22.80.

Though I’m usually averse to boots in the summer, booties are more acceptable because while boots, for the most part, are meant to be functional, booties are pure fashion. You could easily swap the booties out for some black sandals, and transform this into a day look.

Get more celebrity looks for less here.

Why should you have to give up feeling confident and sexy because those heels in your closet look better as a prop then when you try to wear them out? OK, so they make your legs look like the hottest stilts in the world, but how hot do you look waddling in them until you trip and smack your face on a keg and have a black eye for the first week of classes? Wedges could have saved my cousin.

And these are the hottest pair of the season. The lace up wedge is so on trend right now, and this Steve Madden pair just won’t quit. They have the awesome height, the sexified peep toe, and an added hole (peep heel?) in the back. The above-the-ankle cut makes them PERFECT for wearing with leggings to completely avoid the dilemma of wearing tights with exposed webbed toes; the legging will totally disappear under the lace-up ankle of the wedge and – voila – you’ve the appearance of opaque tights that allows you to show off the pedicure you splurged on.

Pair them with skinny jeans or the cropped high-waisted pants that are so in right now. When you’re tired of crawling to class with unbrushed hair and sweats and you want to look a little more presentable, these shoes are the way to do it without every girl in class glaring at you for having the audacity to wear a pair of heels to your lecture.

And when it’s no longer acceptable to wear your flip-flops to a party (was it ever acceptable?) because it’s getting a little nippy, you won’t have to walk home barefoot with your heels in your hand because wedges are just plain doable. They’re so comfortable, you can wear them all night long -  or at least until the cops break up the party. And when that happens, you’ll be passing all those girls in stilettos on your sprint home.

[When moving into either a dorm or an off-campus apartment, your wardrobe will face two major challenges: 1. A major lack of funding (to add more to it). 2. A major lack of storage space.

For these two reasons alone, maximizing what you do own becomes essential. That's why you need to learn to Shop Your Closet. Each week, I’ll show you how to wear 1 item 3 ways – with the stuff you most likely already own! – to get the most out of your purchases.]

Fashion is all about recycling trends (which is why I kick myself when I think about all those leggings I got rid of in the ’90s ). One decade that made a strong reappearance during the Fall/Winter 2010 runway shows was the 1950s.  With the overwhelming popularity of Man Med, this really comes as no surprise; I mean, Banana Republic has a line to accompany the show! The re-emergence of the ’50s style means it’s time to break out the full skirt! But rather than looking like you’re an extra on Mad Men or a month early for Halloween, it’s important to know how to wear it right.

With Socks:

Skirt, Top, Sweater, Socks, Booties.

This is the season to focus on socks and the full skirt is the perfect way to do it. Grab a cute pair of knee-high socks (which are both adorable AND functional as they will keep your legs warm on cool, fall days) and start layering. Just grab a button-up shirt and tuck it into the skirt, top it off with your favorite cardigan, then slip on the ankle booties you nabbed last fall. And if you don’t feel like rocking heels, you can swap them out for your knee-high boots and let the socks peek over the top instead.

With Lace:

Skirt, Top, Flats, Bag.

Did you know the full skirt can work for night as well? The key to pulling this off is balancing it out with something a bit more sexy. Like lace or a silky cami.  Add some sparkly flats (or even patent pumps) for added pizazz and a bright colored bag and you’re all set to hit the town.

With Class:

Skirt, Top, Blazer, Shoes.

I l-o-v-e mixing and matching different shapes, textures and styles. It just makes things more interesting and, when working with a full skirt, more modern. For this look, I added a bow-tied top under a cropped blazer and oxford-heels for a more scholarly look. But work with what you’ve got. Try a t-shirt under a cardigan with some funky necklace. Or a tank under a blazer and some flat boots. This skirt is incredibly versatile so play around in your closet and you’ll find hundreds of ways to wear it.

I hate to admit it but fall is almost here. Major tear.

But while I’m not excited for midterms, wool coats, shivering on my walk to class and being too cold to drink iced coffee, I am excited for boots (and really excited for Pumpkin Spice Lattes). I know, its not easy to think about knee-high boots when you’ve got sweat building up in the crook of your arm (just me?), but right now- while you’re still in summer mode – is really the best time to stock up on boots for the season:

1) Because you can find good deals.
2) You can find whatever you want in your size.
3) You’re so sick of dirty flip flop feet, you just want something soft and buttery covering up those toes.

Those three reasons were good enough for me to go on an Internet shopping spree from my bed last night. And I found some major gems.

This season, embellished boots and more masculine lace-up boots are totally in my closet. Doesn’t seem like you? Wrong. You can wear these little guys with anything. Pair them with leggings and a long button down for the day, or pair with a flirty feminine look for a nice juxtaposition of girly and boyish.

Here are a bunch of boots that I’m loving right now. There are different heights (from over-the-knee to ankle booties), colors (grey, olive, and tan are nice alternatives if you already have black and brown but want something new) and styles. So go ahead, stock up! You’ll look bootiful (did I just say bootfiul? Ohhh no. That was so a joke my 7th grade geography teacher would have made…) and kick off the new semester in style.

Top Row (L to R): Lulus, $48; Gap, $79.50; Target, $39.99; Madden Girl, $69.95
Middle Row: Forever 21, $27.80;  Charlotte Russe, $40; Forever 21, $34.50; Madden Girl, $49.95
Bottom Row: Delia’s, $59.50;  Lulus, $49; Rocket Dog, $69.95

I don't blame her - Chanel is pretty delicious.

Who or what inspires your style? Many of us use TV characters (like Adriana La Cerva) or movie characters(like Queen Gorgo from “300″) as style inspiration, even though, most of the time, they are being dressed from head to toe by the best stylists. Which we don’t have. And sometimes it’s damn near impossible to work their Hollywood looks into our not-so-Hollywood lives. I’ve made it my mission to tap into the mind of a fashion stylist and show you how to take your style inspiration – whatever it may be – and make it more you!

Alexa Chung is more than just your average British socialite it-girl sitting front row for every designer during London’s Fashion Week.  She’s actually doing pretty cool things! All over the place! When she isn’t busy being a model, being the contributing editor of British Vogue, or supporting numerous charities, she’s working on her TV career with her most notable MTV show from this past summer (that you probably didn’t watch) called, It’s On with Alexa Chung. Even though it was canceled after one season (hey, we can’t be great at everything, right?), she now gets to focus on what she’s truly good at: fashion.

Take one look at Alexa and you know she knows oozes fashion. When asked about her style Alexa says, “I guess my look is generally quite preppy, like school girl meets grandma and a skanky older brother.” It sounds like a recipe for disaster, but Alexa’s willingness to mix anything with anything always comes out looking totally awesome. And her fashion bravery is totally inspirational to all of her fans who want to look just as effortlessly cool.

What I love about Alexa’s style is that she mixes designer pieces with low-end pieces that add a touch of quirkiness.  She will take classic pieces, like a striped-shirt and trench coat, and then funk them up with a lace skirt and chunky sh*t-kicker booties to make it uniquely hers. And friggin’ adorable.

Product Info: Glasses t-shirt – Forever 21, $17.80; Bag - Urban Outfitters, $68; Blazer -Forever 21, $34.80; Necklace – Forever 21, $7.80; Plaid skirt - Karmaloop, $14.75; Studded boots – Forever 21, $30.80.

This is probably the kind of outfit that Alexa would wear on a day off that she just “threw together.” (But that took me a large chunk of my afternoon to get just right.)  The t-shirt adds a casual feel to the typically conservative blazer and plaid skirt combo.  The rest of the look is pretty neutral with just one piece (in this case the fishnets) really standing out and funking it up. The booties, one of Alexa staple pieces, also add some serious “skanky older brother” to the look and the necklace ties it all together with a little grandma charm.

If you feel like your legs are too bare (or you want to work this look on a colder day), opaque tights may be a safer alternative instead of fishnets. The key is to really highlight one piece of the outfit and not go overboard on the funkiness so you don’t look like you’re trying too hard. Whatever you decide, wear what makes you, YOU, because that’s the least Alexa would expect from her stylish little proteges.

Hard to believe that in only 2 days we’ll be ringing in the new year and it’ll have been a decade since all that Y2K mumbo jumbo.

I know; that whole “only 2 days” thing freaked me out, too. Not because I’m not ready for 2010, but because I’m not ready for NYE. I’ve been so busy unwrapping presents and relaxing in front of the TV that I have yet to secure a NYE-worthy ensemble for the big countdown.

But it’s OK. As usual, Forever 21 has come to the rescue with some pretty fantabulous frocks and smocks for under $20. So grab that wad of Christmas cash (don’t worry, you won’t need much of it here!), and head over to the mall. Here are some of the goodies our BFFs at F-21 have to offer for the big, bold and boozy night.

Bandage dresses are sexy, sassy and give your curves some major va va voom. This one comes in 3 different colors and, holler, it’s only $13.50. That means that even with all that holiday spending, you can look hot to trot on NYE…and have some extra cash leftover for that bottle of bubbly.  Pair it with some hot heels and sparkly jewelry and you’ll be set.

Looking for a little more sparkle?  This tube dress is sexified with some glam rocker thrown in.  You can doll it up with some stilettos or really rock it out with some knee high boots or booties.

And if that’s not enough bling and shimmer for this one special night, Forever’s got plenty more where that came from. On any other night a sequins dress or mini might be too much for you, but on New Year’s Eve there’s nothing wrong with shining like the Times Square ball. (And if you’re only spending $20 on a dress, who cares if you only wear it once??)

If sequins aren’t your thang, leather is perfect for you. What better way to scream sexpot than with a “leather” mini? It’s totally hot on its own (well, with a top, of course), or you can have tons o’ fun giving yourself a rock star alter-ego; heavy jewelry, over-the-knee boots or booties can make this look hot, hot, hot.

Too cold for minis or dresses?  Rock out a sequined, studded or jeweled top with a pair of skinny pants/jeans and a pair of sky high heels. You can’t go wrong with this tried and true look…

Now all you gotta do is do some sexy hair and make-up and get ready to break all your new year’s resolutions…