As plaid never really goes out of style, it’s one of those things that everyone (and their purse-sized dog) has in their closet. If you haven’t jumped onto the plaid bandwagon, or only have your school skirt in your closet,  it’s easy to find plaid on the cheap. As everyone owns plaid, if you’re sick of your current pieces, try swapping with a same-size friend.

As much as I love plaid, there are some challenges with it. First, there’s Catholic school girl stereotype. Second, the farm girl image. And third, the punk-rock princess with safety pins in her skirt. If you play carefully with plaid then it’s pretty easy to avoid these not-so nice plaid stereotypes.

If you don’t want to look like an extra from Hit Me Baby One More Time, avoid knee socks, mary jane shoes and a tied-up shirt with a plaid skirt. To steer clear of a cowgirl get-up, stay away from wearing both jeans and cowboy boots with your plaid. And unless you’re channeling your favorite punk rocker you might want to avoid the ripped mesh shirts. Just some suggestions.

For those looking to keep their plaid looking fresh, here are two suggestions on how to rock plaid on a budget.

The Plaid Shirt: 

For early fall, I love me a plaid shirt with denim shorts. I like the shirt tucked into the belted short, for some preppy flare. A simple flat with bow embellishment and a beaded bracelet in a complimentary color finish off the outfit. When it starts to get a little colder you could add some tights under your shorts, and add the jacket from the outfit below. Transition pieces are the greatest.

Outfit details: Plaid Shirt – $29.50 American Eagle, Cuffed Denim Shorts – $15 Old Navy,
Beaded Bracelet –  $15.25 American Eagle, Belt – $6.80 Forever 21, Bow Flats – $17.99 Target

The Plaid Summer Dress:

I love toughing up a simple, summer dress. While for the final days of summer you can enjoy wearing your plaid dress with sandals, it’s another piece that’s easy to transition. A faux-leather jacket and 3-finger ring are a nice contrast against the girly dress. This is a beautiful blue scarf that would contrast nicely with the pink, but also look good against the black jacket. A pair of trusty Toms finish off the outfit.

Outfit Details: Plaid dress – $31.20 Quiksilver, Faux-leather Jacket – $49.94 Old Navy,
Teal Scarf –  $24.10 American Eagle, 3-Finger Ring – $6.80 Forever 21, Slate Toms – $54 Toms

Memorial Day weekend is here! School is out, barbecues are in and it’s that in-between week where you’re home from school and not on to your summer plans yet, be it trip or internship or job. So the perfect thing to do with mom this weekend (aside from eating hot dogs and slaw)?!

Shop. Duh!

Sales are EVERYWHERE. Seriously, now is a great time to get everything from shoes to mattresses. Where do you start?! What should you stock up on?! So many choices and so little time to hit all the stores! Life is so hard! Wah.

Lucky for you I hit up four of our favorites and picked a few of my must-haves from the sales. From Nordstrom’s Half-yearly Sale (I enjoy this weekend more than my birthday weekend) to Gap, Macy’s and Old Navy, there are deals to be had, people. And when deals are on, you can count on your trusty Budget Stylista to help you find the best styles for cheap.

I have a confession: I love my snooze button. Unfortunately, though, sleeping in doesn’t always allow me ample time to put together a well-thought-out outfit. Because of my love of both sleeping in and fashion, as soon as I got to college, I knew I needed a plan.

Thus, I developed a formula. And if you’re weary from finals, don’t worry; there are no complicated symbols or numbers involved.

To create a cute, put-together outfit, and be out the door in 10 minutes, invest in a few key items. Then when the time comes for you to get ready in a hurry, all you need to do is follow these three easy steps!

Let’s face it, looking cute for a workout is often a challenge. Actually, it’s a total after-thought. You wake up, grab the first oversized t-shirt you can find and stumble to the gym in a haze, never giving much thought to what you look like or what your plans are after you tighten your core. And then after class you look in the mirror – sweat all over your back, face beet red and hair that looks more like it belongs in 1987 then anywhere near a public place – and remember that you have plans to meet up for brunch.

Sa-weet.

So what do you do? Skip brunch so you can go home and shower? Go to brunch lookin’ a hot mess? How about neither? By planning a bit ahead of time, you can swap out your sweaty workout garb and transition from a chest press to the coffee press, easy peasy.

Workout:

Tank, Sports Bra, Leggings, Sneakers, Headband, Bag

I’m a firm believer that putting a little bit of effort into your workout apparel makes you feel better about yourself and work that much harder in the gym. Not to mention, these clothes are designed to wisk away sweat unlike that oversize cotton t-shirt of yours. I love the concept of pairing complimenting bright colors like this fuchsia tank and bright blue sports bra. And this headband is not only fashionable, but functional, keeping your hair away from your face (and from avoiding that curly/stuck to your forehead look that really isn’t cute on anybody).

Post-Workout:

Tunic, Bra, Leggings, Headband, Bag, Necklace, Flats

If looking cute during your workout is a challenge, then looking cute post-sweat sesh is like Double Jeopardy meets winning that Aggro Crag on GUTS (’90s throwback, what!) Usually on weekends I make brunch plans to reward myself for an hour of tightening up my derriere. My friend Jaclyn always comes from her workout classes looking polished while I look like a sweaty, hot mess.

But a few quick things in your tote can keep you from looking like you just spent an hour in a sauna. Swap out that sports bra for this fun lime green one and throw this tunic over it. I love the color complementing if the strap pops out! Keep on those same leggings, but swap out the shoes for flats. And since your bangs will do anything but cooperate after a workout, you can rock the same headband, too! Throw those sweaty clothes in your tote, towel off your face, spray a little scent on ya, and off you go!

Colorblocking is one of the hottest trends this year, and I, for one, am thrilled about it. I love bright colors, but they can be a little intimidating to wear. Colorblocked clothing makes wearing brights simple by pairing multiple coordinating and/or contrasting brights together with neutrals. You don’t even need to do anything but put that ish on!

Colorblocking can be found on everything this season, such as dresses, tops, shoes and accessories! (Note: That does not mean you should wear all of that stuff together. Seriously, don’t.) All of these pieces will help you rock the colorblocking trend, for just $20 or less each!

[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 (like chic gone crazy Kate Moss) are spending $5,000 and more on an ensemble, you an spend way less...and save the rest for Margarita Mondays.]

Lauren Conrad is completely and utterly brilliant. She has somehow managed to parlay getting paid to turn her teenage/college-aged angst into an empire. She has a clothing line, a series of books (that I am unabashedly addicted to, btdubs), a lifestyle website (how very Gwyneth), and is a staple on best dressed lists. And to think, it all started because she was willing to put her dramz on a platter for all of us to devour on a weekly basis.

She’s basically our generation’s Einstein, with far better hair. Lauren’s style is amazing in its simplicity. It’s classic without being dull and trendy without being cliche. She has created an effortlessly unique blend of aesthetics, from preppy to boho to beach chic.  Her night looks are among some of my favorites because they’re always very simple and demure, which can be a nice change of pace.

Top, Skirt, Pumps, Bag

This button-up blouse is a gorgeous color, and very versatile. You could pair it with suits, shorts, skinny jeans, or, like Lauren, a high-waisted skirt.  Lauren’s navy/black floral skirt is so faboo.  It’s an interesting twist on a spring pattern, and it’s a great spring/summer night time piece. “Nude” continues to be a hot shade for accessories because it adds an instant burst of chic sophistication and is incredibly versatile. I love the chain strap on Lauren’s bag because it adds a little bit of character without being overwhelming. This is a great look if you’re feeling a little more conservative, but still want to dazzle anyone who sees you with your delightful style.

Need a little fashion pick-me-up? Get more celebrity style for the poor college fashionista here.

Kate Moss is ridiculously beautiful, not easy to relate to, and more than a bit troubled…my favorite kind of celebrity. And one of the few celebs whose casual style is perhaps even better than her red carpet looks.  She somehow makes the simplest outfits look totally haute couture and runway ready.

Blazer, Shorts, Cami, Wedges, Bag, Hat, Sunglasses.

Who knew an all black outfit could look so carefree and perfect for spring? The monochromatic scheme of this look is my favorite part. Normally I’m all about pops of color, but sometimes it’s not necessary at all. The blazer is the perfect layer for spring, and underneath is a simple but adorable lacey tank that is a perfectly viable standalone piece. The shorts are a modest length, but still flattering and cute.

A pair of wedges is a great casual summer shoe (please, for the love of all things holy and fashionable, say no to flip flops). Kate’s big hat, round sunglasses, and crossbody bag with a chain strap are the perfect accessories to jazz the outfit up a little while still being understated.  This look is so basic, but still so visually captivating, and a great alternative to typical spring/summer fashion.

Need a little fashion pick-me-up? Get more celebrity style for the poor college fashionista here.

I’m making the official declaration: Flats are THE shoe of April.

It’s still too cold for sandals and wedges (especially this April where Detroit witnessed a 4-inch snow storm on April 18th! WTF, Mother Nature?!), but we shudder at the thought of having to tuck our calves into our boots for the 1,478th day in a row. Flats are the perfect in-betweener. They keep things polished but still keep your toes warm.

And this spring, there is so much fun to be had with the official shoe of the month. So many bright colors, fun prints, bold sparkles; there is no reason to stick to a basic black. As far as flats go this season, even if your head screams, “wow that is one loud shoe,” you can wear it as a neutral. (Same goes for bags!)

You can mix bold colors in a cute way by pairing a bold yellow flat with jeans and a bright orangey-red sweater. Prints that seem to go with nothing (leopard print, anyone?) suddenly go with everything. I never thought I’d say this, but leopard is the new black!

Nervous? Don’t be! Shoes are also the best baby step to take when you’re trying to get outside your comfort zone. Are you the type of chick who usually wears all black and would never dare to buy a bright sweater? Try a bright flat to lean into it! Are you loving the sequins but feel like you couldn’t pull off a sequined dress? Try the sequined flat instead.

So until the weather lets you really play with your wardrobe, use these next few weeks to play with your flat footwear. Here are 9 killer pairs, perfect for all occasions, to get you started.

Top Row: Scrunched ballet flats – Forever 21, $16.80; Striped flower flat – Delia’s, $44.50; Sequin flat – Steve Madden, $49.95.
Middle Row: Linen bow flat – Urban Outfitters, $39; Open-toed flats – Old Navy, $19.99; Woven Flat – Delia’s, $49.50.
Bottom Row: Yellow bow flat – Target, $17.99; Leopard Flats – Gap, $49.95; Blue wrap flat – Charlotte Russe, $19.50.

This Friday, April 22, is Earth Day. In honor of that, I figured now was the perfect time to highlight some great eco-friendly fashion! Only a few short years ago, clothing made from sustainable and earth-friendly materials – such as organic cotton, bamboo, and hemp – were either ridiculously expensive or just didn’t exist. But these days, you can find them in many different stores and at affordable prices — so anyone, not just celebrities, can have access to them.

Here are some great eco-friendly fashion choices for just $20 or less each!

Spring is here! Spring is here!

Okay, so at the moment you might not know it, what with a major snow storm beating the crap out of the East Coast (I mean, dear weather, are you fo’ real? This is one April Fools joke I am not laughing at). But by all other accounts (mainly clothing store window displays and themed Starbucks gift cards), Spring is in the hizzy.

So while you still may need to cover up on the outside (that puffy jacket was such a good purchase!), with April here you’ve got my permission to start rockin’ those spring trends underneath your winter facade.

And one spring trend I love? Mixing prints.

Sure, it sounds like a fashion disaster waiting to happen. Obvi you don’t want to end up looking more like your 4-year-old self who mixed your rainbow tie-dyed tee, polka dot leggings and neon striped scrunchie and thought you were the best thing to happen to fashion since MC Hammer’s pants. But mixing prints CAN work in a cool “I meant to do this and, dayum, I look hot” sort of way instead of a “I got dressed with a blindfold on in the kids’ section of Target.” Just ask Kelly Osbourne!

Then follow a few simple rules for foolproof print mixing: