[The following is a guest post from our gal pals at CollegeFashion.net. They're like college Rachel Zoe (with a little extra meat on their bones). Have you checked them out yet?!]

Stripes can be intimidating. They’re bold, they’re brazen and they can be a little difficult to wear. Some people fear that horizontal stripes make you look wider (totally not true!!) and they can be a little too bold for the wallflowers among us. So it’s understandable that some would be hesitant about them.

But stripes can also be fun and exciting, injecting a little bit of punk rock into an everyday outfit. Stripes were a big trend on the Spring/Summer 2011 catwalks, and they’re an easy way to get a next season feel right now.  Read More »

Shorts have been around for a few seasons now and (after getting over that whole ‘thighs rubbing together’ thing) I’m finally warming up to them. And even though winter is almost here (sigh), shorts are showing no signs of saying farewell. In fact, now that designers are making them in winter fabrics like wool and tweed, they’re taking over.

At this point I wouldn’t be surprised if North Face started making quilted down winter shorts.

So how does one wear these “winter shorts,” you ask? Simple. Just like in the summer, you can make these shorties look great for day or night and still show off those legs of yours. Only this time, they’ll be wrapped in some tights (because frost bite is not a good look on anyone). Read More »

[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 always fabulous Selena Gomez) 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 look. For cheap. Yes, we know - there is a spot for her in heaven.]

Halle Berry is a critically acclaimed, history-making, Academy Award winning actress. A former Bond Girl. A mother. And, obviously, a regulation hottie. She made super-short hair desirable. She’s always on “most beautiful/sexiest” lists. She inspires cheeseball novelty songs. She inspires spontaneous make out seshes at prestigious award ceremonies. At 44 years old, she is as fierce as stars 20 years younger as her.

Alas, while I don’t know how you can achieve killer bone structure or permanently incandescent skin, I can show you how to get one of Halle’s classic, sophisticated, sexy looks without maxing out five credit cards. Read More »

Ladies, fashion can be complicated. With magazines, catalogs and store displays making it look effortless, you think, “I can rock that style; that can be ME!!” So you go in, flip through the racks, and see the price for the military look is way beyond your price range. You buy just the jacket.

Then you see a perfect retro outfit in this month’s Nordstrom catalog, but again, can only afford one piece. This keeps goin’ on and before you know it, you’ve got one piece from a bunch of different looks but NO idea how to put them together.

Until now. Because, my friends, my job is to take this complicated (and often pricey) thing called fashion and make it a little bit easier for you. So here is a little guide to making that one sequined piece you just had to have (because everyone knows it’s important to add some sparkle to your fall and winter wardrobe) work. And better yet: it’s going day and night. For a price that IS right.

Brace yourselves, ladies: Read More »

Yeah, it might not look like much but this little guy will transform your wardrobe.

The quintessential waist belt was not created to hold anything up. It doesn’t fit into loops, it offers no form of support, it’s not durable and it doesn’t save the world from your plumber’s crack. So what does this basic wardrobe staple do for you?

It works harder for you that you did for your A in Intro to Painting; it creates the illusion of a smokin’ waist.

Your closet (aka the storage bin under your bed) and your body are incomplete without this wardrobe essential.  Nothing gives you that perfect hourglass shape quite like a cinch at the waist. No matter if you have curves or none to claim, a braided belt like this one from American Eagle will not only create them, but let your wallet keep a fat curve of it’s own.

This belt is what saved the shirt-dress trend by mercifully adding some shape to an otherwise baggy and unflattering outfit. There are so many shirts and dresses in my own wardrobe that I won’t dare to wear unless I can find a suitable waist belt or I’m left feeling boxy and paunchy. Even if you don’t have a lot of this type of shirt, this belt is so versatile when worn right.

I love this belt because the braided detailing makes it a lot more interesting than any other belt I’ve got. And if I’m going to invest in a nice leather belt, it’s going to be black, so I appreciate that this cheapie option allows for some new color to enter my wardrobe that I don’t have to make above a twenty dollar commitment to. Read More »

Here’s the sitch:
Cords are all over this season.

And at first I was like, “Helllllo, 1998! Nice to see you again! But you were awkward enough the first time around and, like a certain *Nsync song from the same year, I don’t want you back.”

But we all love a good ’90s reunion and after a bit of getting used to, I’m all, like, “Um, get those cords up in here. Please and thanks.”

Because this time, instead of the mom-tushie or the super duper bell bottoms that the cords of yore were notorious for, cords this season are not only coming in a plethora of colors, but a plethora of cuts. From skinny (great for boots) to ankle (great for booties) to boot cut (great for pumps) and on and on and on.

And the best part is, you don’t need much to make these pants look gooood; add a simple top and out you go. Just please don’t take a cue from 1998 and rock ‘em with Steve Madden loafers or Doc Martens. My eyes thank you. Read More »

Remember back in 2004 when everyone (after we had pledged our allegiances to Team Jen or Team Angelina) had to choose between Team Lindsay and Team Hilary? For awhile, it seemed like Lindsay was the winner. I mean, sure, Hilary was down-to-earth, had multiple multi-platinum albums, a wildly successful TV show (what, don’t front like you didn’t watch Lizzie McGuire), and had a successful movie career. She did everything Miley Cyrus is doing, minus the questionable photos and the untamed nature. But Lindsay had the real holy grail (Mean Girls, obvs), and soon, it was Hilary who?

Six years later, Lindsay is…Lindsay, while Hilary still has clothing lines, a book deal, a stable relationship (who put a ring on it), and no one would ever think of including her in their celebrity death pool. Not only has she transitioned from Disney teen queen to grown woman without taking a trainwreck detour, she has done so while cultivating a simple yet chic personal style that reflects her seemingly low-maintenance, easygoing, approach to life.

Team Hilary for the win. Read More »

Besides all the glitz, glamour and fancy trends those 100-pound fashion magazines are pushing on you this season, there are eight things you must have in your closet (not counting undies, bras and socks, of course – you still need to wear those).  Things that will always work, no matter what. Things that you can mix and match and dress up or down for any occasion. Things that are just plain cute.

Lucky for all of us, all 8 of those things can be nabbed for under 20 buckaroos!  And what’s more, these key pieces will barely ever putter out of style.  If they do, tuck them back in a dark corner for the season and bring them back out with next season’s Vogue. Read More »

So it’s mid-September. (I know! What. The. Hell!?) And the weather is acting like a typical girl – not making up it’s mind. When you leave for class in the AM it’s hot and muggy and sweaty and so summer. But by mid-day the temp drops to a total chill leaving you wishing you had a coat (and a hot, caffeinated beverage) on hand.

I know, I don’t want to admit it either, but it’s time for a coat. But  not a heavy winter coat. Not even a heavy fall coat. What we need is an in between some-days-I’ll-wear-it-and-some-days-I’ll-throw-it-in-my-bag transition coat. And since I’m a hugmungo fan of any coat (face it: this is what most people see you in on your walks to class and they are always so darn cute!), I love any excuse to buy another.

And, thanks to Mother Nature and her weather ADD, I’ve got a new one!

Here are a few of my favorite transition coats. You can wear one now with a simple tee under for those fickle fall days, then add more layers (and scarves) as the temps continue to drop. Bolshoy Sleeza. (That’s Russian for Major Tear). Read More »

Military inspiration is everywhere this season. I mean, anyone who reads this website can see that. From t-shirts to jackets, bags to boots, everyone’s getting in on the camo fun. So, of course that means cargo pants are back. The good news is that unlike their original counterpart, cargs (as I like to call them – yeah, we’re tight) aren’t big and baggy and look like you could actually carry cargo in them. This time, they are not at all focused on the function but solely on the fashion. The cuts are a lot skinnier, making them super cute with booties and pumps, and perfect for pairing with some feminine flair (think a silky or sequined tank).

And for all that I say thank you, fashion designer gods. The less bagginess going on in the leg area, the better. Read More »