[It's pretty obvious that the average CollegeCandy reader has some very strong opinions. Opinions that she likes to share with everyone on the site. We love a strong woman, so we thought we'd give her a real forum to discuss her thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. Every Friday I'll be featuring a hot topic (like moving in to save money!) and leaving it up to you, the readers, to duke it out. So, read it and get your debate on in the comments section below!]

Ok, it’s no secret that we’re loving the skinny jean (even if it’s not always good for us) and leggings have been a fall go-to for the past several years, but now that the two have combined it’s time to decide how we really feel about this leg-covering love child – jeggings.

Jeans+leggings seems like it would be great idea, what with the era of the super-skinny jean everywhere, and in many ways they are. To start with, the hours of trying on required to find the perfect skinny jean? Gone, thanks to the jegging. They stretch, so you know they’ll fit you – even if you’re a weird in-between size (like me) or you have a “non-typical” body type, like thin but with muscular thighs.

That whole pocket problem (too far apart? too big? too small? too embellished?) is out the window too, since these babies don’t have pockets. And jeggings let you get away with things you probably couldn’t with regular leggings, like shorter tops, because the denim aspect makes them more “pants lite” than “hosiery.” Read More »

The recession is bad news for anyone looking to get a job, save some money or sell a house. But it’s great news for fashionistas! Stores that were once dowdy and just screamed “crazy cat lady” are bringing in new designers to create chic lines at lower prices.

Take JC Penney. When was the last time you stopped in there (not counting those post-Starbucks bathroom emergencies)? I know: never. Because their clothes were cheap, outdated and just not cute. Well, that’s not the case anymore! JCP now sells several lines by popular designers (Charlotte Ronson, Nicole Miller, and Allen B. Schwartz, to name a few) and they not only have stuff that is totes cute, it’s totes affordable as well.  I can’t wait to add some of these pieces to my closet… Read More »

Fashion’s obsession with denim continues with some hot new trends that move beyond the basic boyfriend and skinny jean. Update your wardrobe with these chic denim looks for fall for every budget:

Denim Leggings (or Jeggings):

The next generation of skinny jeans, the stretchy skin tight denim / legging hybrid looks great paired with boyfriend blazers, tunic tops and chunky knit sweaters. Depending on your style, choose heels, ballet flats, ankle or tall boots, or even Converse sneakers to complete the look.

Denim Jackets:

The classic jean jacket returns as a hot trend to wear with everything from dresses, pants, and yes – even jeans. The secret to wearing your denim jacket with jeans? Make sure one piece is a dark wash and the other a medium or light wash denim. Read More »

Now that we’re about ready to trade in our gladiator sandals for boots and our tank tops for, well, tank tops with sweaters, I tried to search the web for other denim trends as a follow-up to last week’s post on bleached jeans. What popped up instead was this:

Before this, I’ve seen some silly pants on guys, but I’ve always kept my mouth shut because who am I to talk? They put up with my hundred-dollar-stiletto cravings, don’t they? (And they carry me home at the end of the night when those hundred-dollar silettos give me hundred-dollar blisters.) But what gets me this time is that this particular pair of jeans retails for about $550. [Yes, I‘m serious! FIVE HUNDRED.]

I don’t get it. Maybe it’s a guy thing, because all I saw when I looked at these was this: Read More »

Remember back in your pre-college days when the start of school always meant new outfits and school supplies? Even though you’ve probably swapped your notebooks with netbooks, there’s no reason to end the tradition of new clothes for the start of a new year and what wardrobe would be complete without a new pair of jeans? (Or 12.)

Denim (not sweatpants) should be the staple go-to in any college girl’s wardrobe. They are the perfect thing to pick up off the floor and pull on when you’re running late for class, you can wait months between washing them (don’t judge – you know you do it, too) and, obvi, they are a much better evening option if you wanna avoid the crotch shots.

With all the fits and washes of jeans out there this year, there’s bound to be at least one pair perfect for your lifestyle, figure and budget. The key to the perfect pair of jeans is to try on pair, after pair, after pair, after… well you get the picture. Each pair – even if it’s the exact same size and style – will fit differently, so patience is most definitely a virtue when it comes to shopping for denim. It’s also important to realize that not every fit will look good on you, so keep trying ’til you find that perfect pair that makes you feel like a million bucks.

Oh, and it’s OK if that pair also costs a million bucks. If there’s one thing worth splurging on, it’s a high quality pair of denim. Just trust me on this one. (Click on the jeans to get all the shopping info.) Read More »

For many of you, school has already begun or will shortly, which means new additions to the wardrobe are necessary. Woohoo! But you don’t have to spend a lot to update that 2008 fall wardrobe.  Old Navy is a great place to get cute basics at super reasonable prices. Just pair these items (many of which are on sale!)  with the trendier items/accessories in your closet for a brand new look.

Here are a few pieces I found that’ll be great for the upcoming months… Read More »

Back-to-school means two of my favorite things:

1) Back-to-school supplies.  Seriously. Walking down the aisles of Office Max the year I got a brand new set of scratch and sniff markers has earned this yearly event a very, very special place in my heart.

2) Back-to-school jeans. As a kid, it was because your jeans didn’t fit you come back-to-school time; you were growing. As a college student… well, same story but with one minor difference: we’re growing out instead of up. Details schmetails.

Credit it to the bad economy or credit it to the fashion gods wanting everyone to look GOOD in their denim (please no muffin tops thankyouvermuch), but right now the hottest trends in jeans are on sale sale sale sale SALE! 20% off here, $19.00 jeans there — and they’re cute! My two favorite C words! Cute and Cheap! (Oh, and Chanel. The day I can fit all 3 words into that sentence, I will be one very, very happy chick.)

There are deals to be had, people! Now is the time to snag the latest styles (think skinny jeans for tucking into boots and the boyfriend jean for comfortabe chic-titude) and  the wardrobe staples (throw on for class and go go gadget).  Right now is the time to reassess your denim wardrobe and start shopping for those denim discount deals! Read More »

Fall is rapidly approaching and with it comes the excitement of Welcome Week, the thrill of meeting new people, and the resurgence of long denim. Normally, I’d welcome the chance to trade up my daisy dukes for a comfy pair of jeans, but this year something’s come up that’s made me reconsider.

While scouring the internet for upcoming trends, I found that I kept coming across… acid washed and bleached denim? Hmm. Didn’t know what to make of that. So of course I turned to my trusty (?) funny panel to get their take on it all. Read More »

When it comes to many things in life, including fashion, I’m a fan of odd, quirky things that leave people asking questions. No, I’m not going to start wearing fairy wings like one of the girls on What Not To Wear, but I did pick up a pair of pants last week that totally fit the bill. They were a pair of skinny pants by Fragile I found at T.J. Maxx for seventeen bucks, but which retail for $29 (sweet!). Had they not been at T.J. Maxx, I never would have fallen in love, as they are typically sold at Hot Topic, a store I haven’t stepped into since my friend’s goth days in high school.

The pants look like jeans, but function somewhat like sweat pants in that you basically pull them on and button the single button at the top. They feature back pockets, faux front pockets, and no zipper, so you can imagine my surprise when I took them off the hanger and unbuttoned them in the dressing room to discover… pants that were not actually jeans. I tried them on anyway and loved how they looked. They are low rise, so you can avoid that weird baggy look around your danger zone and are stretchy to fit a broader range of body shapes (they come in letter sizes instead of number sizes – pants for all!). Read More »

Adding a belt is one of the easiest ways to update an outfit. Instead of going out and spending your money on an entire new ensemble, pick up a fun, stylish belt that works with something you already own! In the warmer part of the year, a belt can give a new silhouette and add a splash of personal style to dresses. When it cools off, belts are great for emphasizing your curves which are hiding under all those warm layers.

Here are some belt trends to try for under $25: Read More »