September 21, 2009
- 2:00 pm
By Brianna-Fordham University
Okay, I, like most girls, love to dress up. I love zipping up a sexy dress, painting on some dramatic cat eyes, and slipping into some sky-high heels.
But I also have those weekends when I am so burnt out, running from class to work to the gym, that I rather curl up in my pajamas and hide under the covers all weekend then spend an hour putting together an outfit.
That’s why I couldn’t be more ecstatic that t-shirts are formal this fall. Whoever came up with this idea is a genius and my new favorite person. There are so many options (these tees are literally everywhere, which means you can find them in any price range), but my favorite is the Slub Cotton Crystal Necklace Tee from J Crew. It’s is ultra classy and chic, while still being unbelievably comfortable and wearable at the same time.
Sure, the price tag is a little steep ($49.50 to be exact), but considering the amount of times I’m going to wear this thing (when I finally get my paws on it), it will be totally worth it.
What makes it even better is that with this one addition to my wardrobe I have enough new outfit combos to get me through every weekend in fall. I can pair it with a skirt and a cardigan for a family function, with some skinny jeans and flats for a dinner with the girls, and with some leather boots and a tailored blazer for an instantly put together/ as-comfortable-as-my-PINK-sweats Friday night bar hopping get-up. Read More »
Tags: casual, dress up, embellished tee, fall fashion, fashion, j crew, jcrew, Slub Cotton Crystal Necklace Tee, Style, T Shirt, tee

Last week we talked about revamping the essential cardigan from your closet and updating it.
But as the old saying goes: “make new friends but keep the old.” So while I’m not discouraging you from busting out that cardigan from sophomore year of high school, I’m also not your mom yelling, “You do not need and can NOT afford that new sweater, honey!”
Why? Because sometimes when things are so darn cute the line between want and need becomes very, very blurry. And to me, cute, comfy and – let us not forget – cheap cardigans are wardrobe essentials. Reason enough to make a new friend. Anything that makes me look instantly pulled together while hungover for my 9am lecture is a ‘must have a stockpile of these’ in my book, and cardigans do just that.
Trade out that oversized school mascot or sorority sweatshirt and pair a cami with a cardigan and flats and you can get away with wearing “workout” pants as an outfit. Well, as long as that cardi covers your butt, of course. Even with your hair on top of your head you can walk out the door and know you at least look somewhat decent. (Although, I would try getting rid of last night’s under-eye makeup that is now smudged down your cheek…)
Enter our new fall bestie: the cardigan. Here are a bunch of options for you, my budget shopper proteges: Read More »
August 2, 2009
- 10:42 am
By CC Staff

Post courtesy of StyleBakery.com. These ladies know their fashion, so check em out.
Leggings are already a wardrobe staple, but this fall they will make a statement with metallic hues, embellishments, cut-outs, and bright prints. Leather leggings were everywhere during fall fashion shows, and ripped and printed looks are quickly becoming a popular trend. Think you can’t pull this look off? Here are some ideas on how to rock eye-catching leggings.
Pair printed leggings with a basic, long tank or tee for an effortlessly chic look. Black, grey and white tend to work with most prints, but try and match the tank’s color to a color in the print. For example, a yellow or pink tank could also work with the Rachel Pally leggings (bottom right) because those colors appear in the print. Finish off the look with a sweater or cropped jacket and ankle boots. Read More »
Tags: casual, cut outs, fall fashion, fall trends, fashion trends, forever 21, leggings, liquid leggings, oversized sweater, runway, shopbop, Style, stylebakery, topshop, trend, trendy
June 1, 2009
- 2:00 pm
By Thu - USC

[I want it, I need it, I can’t live without it. There are so many things on store shelves and racks right now that we want to take home and hang in our closets. Things that are so cute, everyone should know about them. We’ll share ‘em with you here (because we’re that nice), but as far as actually getting them goes….well, you’re on your own with that one.]
If you’ve been looking for something a little different to spice up your everyday wardrobe, this unique piece by Zinc may just be the answer. This sheer top is super easy, super cute and super duper flattering on everyone. It features feminine, multicolored embroidery on the front and back as beautiful lace runs along the top at the neckline. The black and lace provides a more mature look while the colorful floral embroidery gives it a girly feel. A cinched waist shows off your curves as the lower half flows over nicely over your hips.
This wonderful tunic is definitely a better alternative to pair with your jeans than any one of those twenty t-shirts you have hanging in your closet (or crumpled up on your floor…). It is more stylish and chic without looking too much like a “night outfit.” When you’re not sure what to wear, put on this elaborate top, some jeans, maybe a few bangles, and you’ll have a great outfit that looks totally put together without looking as though you put in a lot of effort… because you didn’t.
Tags: fashion, Wardrobe, nordstrom, casual style, casual, spring style, budget style, floral, lace, top, tunic, wardrobe wish list, embroidery, zinc, multicolored
Vintage/vintage-inspired fashion is a great way to add a fun flair to the every day. Why wear a simple cotton dress when you can easily bring a unique retro look into the mix? I’m all about playing with fashion, so this week’s Day-to-Night Styler is taking a trip down memory lane. I found a darling 50’s style dress that can smoothly transition from day to night and look totally bangin’ wherever you decide to wear it.
Start with a cute, 50’s-inspired halter dress. This particular style is from Forever 21, but I also found some super cute dresses in this cut (but with fun prints, like leopard) at H&M. The halter cut and the cinched waist do wonders to give a gal that hourglass figure.
Read More »
Tags: 50's style dress, 50's-inspired halter dress, aldo, budget style, casual, cocktail ring, day-to-night styler, dressy, flowered hair clip, forever 21, forever21.com, h&m, hairpiece, headband, little black dress, oversized red tote, pin-up look, red lipstick, spring style, summer style, target.com, ulta, ulta.com, vintage, vintage inspired
[I used to show you how to pull off runway trends in the series "Rock the Look." In this new series, I'll be taking a different item you probably already have in your closet each week and showing you three new ways to wear it. After all, the best shopping tip anyone will give you is to only buy pieces that work with something you already own. Last week we built looks around the classic white shirt and this week we're going glam with the mini dress.]
A mini dress is one of the most versatile pieces in your closet since it can be worn as a dress or a top. Therefore buying one is like a double investment, right? (Right?? because I just bought six.)
The mini dress can be worn dressed up or casual, and can easily go from day to night. And if you never made it home last night? Well, go you! And lucky for you, it’s pretty simple to transition back to day as well, so no one has to know about your late night tryst.
This Sky mini dress is available at Fashion Chateau for $123, but you can get one of these puppies in any style, color or budget. Here are three ways to wear this one (or yours!). Read More »
Tags: budget style, casual, clutch, dressed up, evening, fashion, heels, leggings, mini dress, shop your closet, spring style, Style, summer style, Wardrobe
Boyfriend jeans are a huge hit this season and I love ‘em not only cuz they’re totally comfy, but because they can easily go from cute & casual for day, to sexy & sassy at night with a few quick changes.
The key to BF jeans is finding ones that are still feminine and not too baggy. It’s easy for this style to quickly look like you’re just shlubbin’ around, but if you find the right fit, they can be super cute and girly. And don’t worry about dropping a couple hundred bucks on a cut that may not last for more than a season or two; you can get really cute Boyfriends (the jeans…not the lover) at stores like Target, Wet Seal, Forever 21 or Charlotte Russe.
Read More »
Tags: bf jeans, boyfriend jeans, brights, budget fashion, budget shopping, cami, casual, Charlotte Russe, cropped jacket, day-to-night styler, Express, express.com, flats, forever 21, going out, going out outfit, magenta, neutral colored platforms, neutrals, oversized bag, spring style, spring trend, target, trends, wet seal, wetseal.com
[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.]
Green. The color of all things great: this lovely planet, money and Starbucks straws.
Oh, and how can I forget fashion?
This season there is no shortage of kelly green. And for good reason; this color looks good on nearly everyone, and totally sets its wearer out from the crowd. From the red carpet to Old Navy, there it is – yet another cute, bright green dress shouting, “BUY ME! You have to have me for summer!!”
I’ve never been good at saying no, especially when something (or someone) so cute is talking to me.
I like to call this little sitch the big green oxymoron. I don’t have any green in my wallet to buy said green dress, but I have to have it. What is one to do? Well, aside from splitting your purchase onto three different credit cards, of course (not that I’m condoning that!).
Thankfully, you don’t have to spend a lot of green to take home the green, and I’m here to bring you these cute green dresses for cheap. You love me. I know.
Celebrity Chic on the Cheap: It’s so easy Being Green! Read More »
Tags: budget fashion, casual, celebrity fashion, cheap fashion, dressy, go green, green, green dress, green fashion, Hayden Panettiere, kelly ripa, neutral, spring fashion, summer fashion, tori spelling

St. Patty’s Day is just around the corner, people! What does that mean? Well, green teeth, for one. But it also means it’s time to break out all that green wear so you don’t get pinched by a bunch of drunk Irish people. But getting festive doesn’t mean you have to give up looking cute.
Au contraire! I’ve scouted the web to find some mighty cute St. Patty’s day options. So cute, in fact, that you can wear them all year round. Leave the Leprechan hat at home this year. Whether you are up for Kegs and Eggs at 4am, or playing (green) beer pong long into the night, this St. Pat’s day you are going to do it in style. Read More »
Tags: bar crawl, cardigan, casual, cotton top, drinking day, forever21, forever21.com, green, green beer, imbibing, irish, Irish pub, jeans, luck, old navy, oldnavy.com, pinches, Piperlime, piperlime.com, Saint Patricks Day, st pattys day, target, target.com
College brings a whole lot of new experiences, new lessons and new people. But it seems that no matter what school you go to, there are same characters on every campus. The frat house groupie, the sensitive all American, and The Cool Girl.
When walking around campus, you see her. She’s rocking the casual look like it’s nobody’s business. And she’s doing it well. Her bootcut jeans are accompanied by a perfectly worn-in t-shirt layered under a zip up hoodie. She’s wearing black Converse or a pair of well-worn sneakers, the laces tight enough to keep them on, but loose enough to allow her to slip in and out of them easily. Her haircut is low maintenance, but totally chic. She’s rocking plastic rimmed glasses, no contacts; a watch, no jewelry.
You don’t know her, but you want to.
This is one co-ed who has got it together. She is the kind of girl who is naturally pretty, has a killer body and is completely oblivious to it. She is friendly, kind, and her easygoing, low maintenance attitude makes it easy to get along with her. Even her professors are drawn to her, always chatting with her before class and helping her after.
She has a large circle of friends, filled with a variety of different types of people. Girls love her, guys love her, nerds love her, athletes love her. And though you don’t know her, you kind of want to love her too. Read More »
Tags: 10 secret things every man wants, Avenue Q, average American, average joe, can men and women be friends, career path, casual, casual footwear, deathcab for cutie, gaming, student life, studies, studying, t 9, t shirts, to catch a predator, Tom, true beauty, young love