initiating the gallery...

]]> http://collegecandy.com/2012/05/18/8-under-20-neon/feed/ 1 onlafayette 8 under 20 http://collegecandy.com/2012/04/20/justin-bieber-is-a-party-animal/ http://collegecandy.com/2012/04/20/justin-bieber-is-a-party-animal/#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2012 22:00:58 +0000 Garnet Henderson – Columbia U http://collegecandy.com/?p=159560 ]]>

It seems like ever since J. Biebs turned 18, he’s been trying to make himself seem a bit more edgy. Case in point: he was recently spotted wearing a t-shirt that said “never sleep, always party.” Hmm. I never got the impression that Biebs was a big partier. I always thought he was more of a mama’s boy. But maybe now that he’s a legal adult, he’s going to start pushing the envelope a bit more.

Bonus points: the t-shirt came from a clothing company started by CC Editor-in-Chief Jenny’s roommate! So we support Bieber’s choice. Check the t-shirts out here.

I have a shopping problem. It’s such a stereotypical girly thing, but I can’t help myself. I love to shop. The only problem with that is the fact that I have a very limited budget. I go through phases where I get really sick of the clothes I have, and I start thinking about all of the new pieces I’d like to buy. But I can’t afford to run out and buy new clothes, shoes, and accessories every time I want to. So I’ve been looking for new ways to revamp my wardrobe.

Luckily for me, College Fashion has the perfect post this week. They’ve put together a few easy DIY ways to recreate old items in your wardrobe. Check it out here.

[Lead image via Africa Studio/Shutterstock]

Midterms. Sigh. I’m tired of studying. At this point, when I comes time for me to sit down and do school work, I’m looking for any excuse I can find to blow it off. And what better excuse than some fun, cute DIY projects? I just stumbled upon the blog I Spy DIY, and they’ve got some great stuff. Check out this gallery for just a few of their best projects.

[Lead image via Mostovyi Sergii Igorevich/Shutterstock]

I hate to go all crazy department store on you (It’s January 28th? Time to set up a Memorial Day swimsuit display!) but the fashion industry is always 6 months ahead of us normal folk. The elite designers of the trade have challenged us with innovative, advanced looks that put oh-so 2011 trends, like flare legged jeans and feathers, to shame. What? You can’t afford Roberto Cavalli? No worries fellow broke college students; I’ve recreated the looks with budget friendly brands. Prepare to rock 2012 with these inventive spring trends:

Betsey Johnson Spring 2012

What’s Out: The Blazer/Skinny Jean/UGG Boots

What’s In: The Blazer/Tank Dress/Suede Lace Ups

This Betsey Johnson original is a giant step up from the boring blazer over skinny jeans with a pair of classic cut Uggs. Pair a tank dress with a fitted blazer and a layered necklace. Channel your inner-Betsey with some suede lace up heels and a lightning bolt ring.

Badgley Mischka Spring 2012

What’s Out: Leather Jacket/Sequin Top/Jean Shorts

What’s In: Leather Jacket/Bandeu Top/ Hot Pants

This year, forget the overdone mini skirt, tank top tucked in, leather jacket over top club wear. Please welcome back the ever so risqué: Hot pants. The undies-shorts hybrid will give the illusion of legs for miles. Pair your favorite leather jacket with a bandeau top and match with a hot pair of shoes. Is that Amber Rose over there rocking her model bod? Oh wait, that’s just you donning this beautiful ensemble.

Kanye West Spring/Summer 2012

What’s Out: Blue Denim/Fitted Tops/Nude Heels

What’s In: Patterned Bottoms/Loose Layers/Bold Heels

In 2010, colorful denim became a top trend. This year, hold the focus on your bottoms as opposed to the top of your outfit. Pair pattered denim with a solid colored top, a bold colored pair of heels, and a minimalistic piece of jewelry.

L.A.M.B. Gwen Stefani Spring 2012

What’s Out: Neutrals/Long Sleeve/Clutch

What’s In: Metallics/3 Quarter Length/Totes

Ditch the Khakis, coal, and corduroy for some expressive metallic this season. Go for a basic top with 3 quarter length sleeves that allow room for funky bracelets. As much as I love a good clutch, it’s a bitch trying to fit everything into one-so welcome back boxy totes!

If 2012 is the end of the world, then Betsey Johnson, Badgley Mishka, Kanye & Gwen Stefani have definitely saved the best trends for last. Step out of your comfort zone with these looks and make Spring  2012 your most stylish season yet!

During winter break, I had the chance to talk to my best friend, who is more like my long-lost twin. In high school we used to spend hours in the morning with hair, makeup, and putting together outfits. While this made me late 60% of the time (and her 100% of the time), we loved it. Now that we are at different colleges and not making each other late in the morning, she asked me, “Do you still get dressed up for class now?”

Uhhh, duh? I mean if I could do it at 6 am, why can’t I do it now when I wake up at 8 am or later? She confessed to me that she has given up on looking stylish for class. How dare she?!?!

Okay, I get it. I have had a few ‘bum’ days too. And she is in a sorority, so at night she has to be dressed to the nines to attend a social or a party, so she gets some slack during the day. However, don’t for a second think she looks like a homeless person going to class.  Smart girls can use ten minutes to look great before they have to be anywhere.

So after consulting some of my ever-gorgeous friends and us some of my ever-gorgeous friends and using my own knowledge, here are my tips for looking great even though you just rolled out of bed.

I’m going to assume you stay up all night like most college students, so take five minutes to put together an outfit for the next day. When you don’t have to dig for clothes things go a lot faster.

This can work for your hair too; straighten it at night so you don’t have to do the staple messy bun on top of head look.

Change your definition of “bumming it”.Most people think this means baggy sweats, hoodie, and Uggs. So basically you look like a snowman with no shape. Ugh.

You can be comfortable without looking like crap! Leggings are just as comfy as sweats, and pair it with a long cardigan/sweater and you instantly look more put together. Yoga pants look tremendously better than big sweats. My favorite look is a long, belted cardigan, a warm scarf, and leggings.

Mix and match pieces: Clothes that can be worn in many different ways are awesome. You don’t even have to think about putting outfits together because they already go together well. A good pair of jeans, leggings, basic tees, neutral sweaters, and a brown/black boot can be incorporated with almost anything you already have in your closet. You can close your eyes, reach into your closet, and come out looking good!

Awesome Accessories: Have some statement jewels to amp up your outfits and instantly add style. Long necklaces, chandelier earrings, bangles, unique scarves, cocktail rings and more can go with basic outfits to make them more trendy and look like you took time to get dressed.

Strategize your Hair and Makeup: If you just roll out of bed, I’m assuming you have some dark circles. Purple is a great color, but not underneath your eyes. Use your time wisely and conceal the trouble spots, add a coat of mascara, and a swipe of bronzer. This makes you look healthy and more wide awake. One tip I love is applying a white, shimmery shade to the inner corner of your eye- this makes you look wide-eyed and bright.  A friend of mine wears very minimal make up, but she always does a thick line of eye liner just to her top lid. I love this look on her, because it makes her eyes the focal point and is super quick. Stock your book bag with a few lip glosses so you can apply that while you are walking to class, and instantly you look refreshed.

Your hair might look like a rat’s nest in the morning, but know your go-to quick styles that can be used to tame the beast. I love spin pins by Goody- they let me create a quick bun. This can hide kinky/frizzy hair. I’m a fan of the sleek Kim Kardashian pony tail when my roots are a little greasy. For bangs that just won’t cooperate, simply grab a couple bobby pins and twist them back.

Those are the tips I live by when I have no inspiration or motivation. They haven’t failed me yet! Good luck girls, and if you were thinking about getting me anything for Christmas, just burn your ratty size XL sweat pants and we’ll call it even.

Maura is a freshman at Rider University and loves chocolate, cheesy wedding T.V. shows, writing, fashion, and playing with her overweight (but adorable) Pomeranian. When she isn’t at class or sleeping, you can catch her on twitter @maurahilgar.

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image via Sergej Khakimullin/Shutterstock

I know I’m not alone when I say that I spend way too long trying to decide what to wear in the mornings. Well, thanks to an awesome site called Closet Couture, getting dressed in the morning just got a whole lot easier.

Instead of standing in front of your closet for trying to decide on an outfit, let Closet Couture help you out! Closet Couture lets you build a virtual closet from items on the web or from items you already have in your actual physical closet (just upload the picture to the site)!

Once you’ve created your virtual closet, you can create outfits and post them to the site. Not only is this a great way to store outfits you like to reference on days that you’re feeling uninspired, you can also get feedback from other Closet Couture users and get ideas from outfits they post!

Another really awesome feature of Closet Couture is that you can hire a professional stylist from their network to help you create outfits from what you already have in your virtual closet. Prices start at just $25 for one outfit/event and go up from there, but it’s a really neat option — especially for those times when it feels like you have nothing to wear.

I’m still working on building my “closet,” but I’m already super excited about all the fun I’m going to have building outfits with Closet Couture! I always dreamed of having Cher’s awesome closet from Clueless (what girl didn’t?), and Closet Couture is as close as I’ll ever get to having it (until I make my millions, that is)!

Rules are meant to be broken.

Not always the best philosophy to live by, but it is a pretty good philosophy for fashion. Think about it. The best dressed ladies these days don’t exactly play by the rules do they ? They wear what they want when they want, because they like the way it looks, whether that be a body suit or a blazer.

And while we can’t all be as adventurous as Lady Gaga during our days on campus, we can still break a few fashion rules without looking like fashion victims.

initiating the gallery...

What do you think ladies? Do you follow the fashion rules or do think think they were made to be broken? Are there some fashion rules we should always follow? Let us know!

1. Graduation gifts – Luckily when you graduate, people give you gifts and money and things that you need. Even though these gifts are like “Hey, you’re out of college now and you’re kinda on your own so here is some luggage,” they make transitioning very happy.

2. I’m cafeteria free – Albeit eating in a dining hall and having a meal plan is convenient, not having to eat food made for 800 people is a dream. Do you know how amazing it is to eat food that is warm and flavorful? Maybe my alma mater wasn’t too fabulous in the food department (minus the Swedish meatballs … I lived for those), so I’m alone on this one, but I’ll take making myself food any day over dining hall slop.

3. I can wear my underwear whenever I want – Seriously, every time I would just want to veg out in my dorm room and just comfortably enjoy being in my underwear (with a bag of chips), someone would knock. (Editor’s Note: Thank god they didn’t just walk in. Awkward!) And you know, then you have to get up, put on pants, and open the door. Not now. I can wear my underwear all day and no one bothers me. Hooray!

4. No drama – Getting away from college has been a blessing. No gossip. No drama. Just memories and keeping-in-touch with those I want to (and staying far, far away from those I don’t).  I don’t have to deal with classroom politics, and I don’t have to deal with drunken sorority girls elbowing me on dance floors. It’s great being able to step back from the stuff that made me go “Ughh, I’m so over it.”

5. I have a degree– Even though it may not be enough to find the kind of job I want, I’m glad I have my Bachelors and I’m glad I worked my ass off to get it. College went fast, but the knowledge and the subjects that interest me will last a lifetime. No complaints there!

6. A Change of Scenery – Moving to California has taken me completely out of my element. I spent four years in Virginia, surrounded by mountains. Growing up, I lived in the suburbs of Atlanta. And now, I’m three minutes from the beach, 30 minutes to Los Angeles, 90 minutes to San Diego, and the majority of the weather is in the 70s. And it. is. glorious.

7. My own schedule – Nothing is better than sleeping in on a Wednesday just because I felt like it. I didn’t have the pleasure of doing that in college, so even though some people may think this qualifies me as a slacker, I love it. I can stay up late, sleep in late. I can nap when I want. I study for the LSAT and get what I need done, and I do so on my own schedule. Sometimes being jobless is amazing!

8. I do what I want – It’s as simple as that. I don’t have professor meetings to attend. I don’t have extra-curriculars to worry about. I don’t have some set schedule every day of the week. I can wake up when I want. I can go to bed when I want. I can do what I want. I can plan the future that I want. I have one person to really focus on and that’s myself. And it’s great.

What do you love about being a post-grad?