[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 "damn, she always looks so cute," Ashley Tisdale are spending $5,000 on an ensemble, you don’t have to.]

I have such a girl crush on Blake Lively and her sense of fashion it’s borderline unhealthy. She possesses an incredibly eclectic style that is grounded in a love of all colors, combining different textures, and emphasizing her 10 feet long stems and fabulous cleavage. I personally applaud the fact that she even wears clothes, because if I had her body, I would probably never not be naked. I’m just saying.

Anyway, so New Year’s Eve is over. The hangover has finally passed. You’ve been tagged in 100 photos, but only half of them are still associated with your name (there was no reason for the almost nip-slip or the midnight kiss with the random to be documented, right?). As you click through all the party photos, maybe you’re still in awe of the outfit you’ve put together, and how well it photographs. Maybe you’re wishing you could always be so sparkly. This week, I’d like to offer a resolution that would actually be fun to keep – incorporate more sequins into your wardrobe. Granted, my love of sequins is probably a little bit excessive, but seriously, why should sequins be reserved for New Year’s Eve and that one other random cocktail party you go to each year?

Try this Blake Lively inspired look on a random Thursday night, and see if you don’t feel approximately 30 times more excited about the night ahead of you. 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 everyone's favorite style icon, Gwen Stefani) are spending $5,000 on an ensemble you don’t have to.]

Jessica Alba has been taking a break from the big screen lately, choosing to focus on raising her daughter and tweet about feeling fly like a G6. Yet, she is still a solid fixture in all the tabloids, because for some reason, everyone is still obsessed with the fact that celebrities procreate (and look fabulous while doing so).

Jessica is definitely one of the most stylish mommies running around Hollywood. She has a fresh, hip, not excessively trendy style and she loves to include unexpected accessories or pieces with eye-catching detailing. Weird, because I also like to be fresh, hip and not excessively trendy with a touch of the unexpected. Thankfully, I don’t have to have Jessica’s movie star salary to achieve my style dreams. 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 the sexiest mom alive, Halle Berry) are spending $5,000 on an ensemble you don’t have to.]

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. If her incredibly gorgeous-yet-pretentious name doesn’t sound familiar to you yet, it will be by next summer. She is taking over Megan Fox’s role as the “scantily-clad hot girl who shrieks and makes out with Shia LaBeouf” in the next Transformers movie (yes, ANOTHER one).

She also works as a Victoria’s Secret angel and as the current face of Burberry. So she’s basically the latest in a line of pretty girls who get paid to be pretty. I can’t help but like her for that reason alone.

No, that’s a total lie. I also like her because her personal style is so elegant, classic, trendy, and fabulous. 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 »

[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 are spending $5,000 on an ensemble (even for just a simple Saturday stroll), 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.]

Quite honestly, I don’t really know who Ashley Greene is. I know she’s in Twilight, but seeing as how there are much hotter vampires out there, I’ve never seen the movies. I know she once sent naked photos to someone….and got caught. Aaaand, that’s about it.

However, this girl keeps popping up on red carpets, award shows and some of my favorite gossip sites, and she’s really pretty in that “I-just-became-semi-relevant-so-I-still-have-to-pay-for-my-clothes-and-I-still-shop-at-the-mall-but-at-least-I’ve-upgraded-to-Nordstrom” way. You know?

My point? Who she is doesn’t really matter to me as much as what she’s been wearing. And what she’s been wearing is totally slammin’. Ashley’s style is sometimes chic, sometimes fun, sometimes laid back and edgy, yet so easy to re-imagine and re-create on a college girl’s budget.

I don’t know you, Ashley, but I think I love you. 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 are spending $5,000 on an ensemble (even one that's supposed to be vintage), 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.]

Leighton Meester is my favorite person ever to exist. I know, that’s a totally insane bold statement considering her contribution to society is a few catchy tunes and an embarrassingly addictive teen drama, but seeing as how she is the woman who brought the fierce, fashionable, crazy-bitch-in-charge Blair Waldorf to life, I think she deserves over-the-top accolades.

I admit, Leighton’s personal style may not be Upper East Side/recessionista unfriendly as Blair’s, but she has an unassuming, down-to-earth, accessible sophistication that I admire. 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 are spending $5,000 on an ensemble (even a lazy Saturday outfit), 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.]

I don’t care for Katy Perry that much. I only like every other single that she releases, I think her taste in men is beyond questionable, and I thought it was highly ridiculous to claim that as a Christian, she was highly offended by Lady Gaga.

Yet, I cannot deny that I am completely fascinated by her style. She’s fearless, experimental, and not afraid to switch things up. She’s the only (non-Gaga) woman I can think of who is as comfortable wearing a bra made of cupcakes as she is dressed down and looking like Zooey Deschanel’s doppelganger. And I love that.

You know what else I love? This stunning polka dot number Katy recently sported on a stroll through London town. Gimme, gimme, gimme. Read More »

So, while I don’t watch Gossip Girl (Gasp! Shock! The Horror! I know, I know I am totally missing out on LIFE), I do love the GG fashions. Nothing screams “this is so real” like a 16 year old prancing around in the latest Balenciaga dresses or Alexander McQueen blazers.

I know when I was 17, I spruced up my Kipling backpack by wearing a strand of Chanel Pearls… and by Chanel Pearls I obviously mean the totally real ones that I bought in China Town.

Don’t get me wrong; I do admire their fashion forwardness, but I totally resent that it’s not reality. However, this look on Ms. Blake Lively is totally attainable and totally cute.

Perhaps I should start watching?

Leather is huge this fall (along with purple, yellow, scarves, and everything else I’ve blogged about in this series) and it’s a great way to dress down a sexy black dress while also staying warm in all those super long bar lines.

So I bring you: Celebrity Chic on the Cheap: Gossip Girl’s ‘Too Legit to Quit’ Style. Read More »

If I had to choose what I love most about this season’s fashions (and choosing one is no easy feat) it’s that purple is THE color to wear. From shoes to bags to dresses and jackets – shades of purple are popping up EVERYWHERE.

You can’t go wrong: neon, plum, eggplant. Deep shades of purple are h.o.t.

“But I will look more like a vegetable and less like a cute trendy person,” you say aloud as you hold up an amazing purple frock. To which I say: NOT SO! Add some black patent accessories, or a fun accent color and you are good to go!

Here are three chicks rockin the neon purple ensemble, but, as usual, the prices of these fabu garments are well out of our reach.

That’s where I come in! Your fashion researcher. Your best friend, the coolest person you “know” to bring you celebrity chic on the cheap: Purple Paradise. Read More »