Neutral blazer: worth the splurge

It’s really easy to get swept away by trends and brand names when you’re shopping. The stuff is just so pretty! Not pretty, though, is a closet full of overpriced clothes that are torn, tattered or out of style six months later. Before you hit the mall and load up on all that Spring cuteness, take a moment to assess the difference between an investment and an indulgence.

Which is which?

Let’s break it all down.

Worth it: Black pencil skirt
Not Worth it: Sequin mini-skirt
Why: While sequins are a hot trend this season, they are just that – a trend – and who knows if they will still be popular next season? On the other hand, a black pencil skirt is a classic; it works for multiple occasions, will last you for years, and will never go out of style.

Worth it: Good pair of comfortable pumps
Not Worth it: Flats
Why: No matter what flats cost, they are still very…flat. That means they wear out easily, so it doesn’t pay to fork over $100 for a pair; they’re still going to be beat up by the end of the year. Read More »

Everyone in my life knows I love Lauren Conrad. I started using the word “homeboy” because she made it so endearing, attempted her adorable side-braid (and pouted all day when I realized it looked horrible on me) and totally got into the leggings and men’s t-shirt trend because she rocked it so chic-ly through he streets of LA on The Hills.

When she came out with a fashion line, I couldn’t wait to shop the racks, obvi. The cuts were great and the palette made it perfect for serving as the basic staples of my wardrobe (think solid colored t-shirts, comfy tanks and primary colored mini’s to be pared with jackets and patterned tights that were already in my closet).

Sadly, the price tags and my bank account had a huge fallout and after purchasing a select few pieces (one of which I found digging through the sale rack), I just couldn’t add LC to my list of most-worn designers. Read More »

I’ve known for years that Wal-Mart was a great place to go to get cheap snacks, toiletries, electronics, etc., but I never thought I’d buy clothes there. There is only one big-box store whose dressing rooms I’ll enter and that is Tarjay. There is no way any K-Mart, Wal-Mart, or any other mart could produce fashion that would catch my eye.

But I think I judged too soon. I recently made a late-night run to Wal-Mart for some milk, batteries and a plant (don’t ask) and discovered that they have tons of cute clothes for super cheap.  I hate to admit it, but Miley Cyrus’ line (she collaborated with Max Azria) is adorable and beyond affordable, and they have tons of other cute stuff by brands that were totally cool when I was a kid (yet look great now), like OP, Sassoon, and Jordache, just to name a few.

Unfortunately, many of the pieces in Miley’s line are sold out online, but you can always check out a Wal-Mart near you to see if they still have some of the oh-so-cute pieces.  And without further ado, a few of my faves from Wal-Mart (I plan on stocking up for fall/winter!). Read More »

If Carrie Bradshaw was literally going to be the lady who lived in her shoes, then I will be the lady who lived in her handbags. I guess the upside is that handbags are a lot roomier and more cushion-y than those 12 million pairs of Manolos Carrie rocked on a season to season basis.

Fact is, I love handbags. And I don’t discriminate against clutches or cross body bags or cute totes, either.

Anything that holds all of my crap also holds the key to my heart. And what’s more, this season there are so many options! Fringed brown shoulder bags, adorable chain strap clutches… I mean, for seriousness, how does one decide without Suze Orman knocking on her door saying, “hellooo, you’ve got a problem, girlfriend.”

Well, thankfully, you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank for that banging new bag (now there’s a tongue twister – take that, Sally and your sea-shells at the shore). Here are a few of my budget bags that are must-snags. Target and Lulus are not messing around this season, that’s for sure. And while blacks, browns and beautiful cognacs are still wardrobe staples, colors are becoming the new neutral. From jewel tones to gray to a soft red, don’t be afraid to add a splash of color to your normally uniform black ensemble.

And, best part, you can rock that bag knowing you’ve done both me and Suze Orman proud. Sure, Carrie has her Manolos but you have your Tarjay, and that extra money in your wallet is much more fab.

Read More »

We have very addictive personalities here at CollegeCandy. We’re addicted to coffee, to Chelsea Lately and to outdoor drinking in the summertime (that one might be slightly serious…). Our worst addiction, though? Clothes. We can’t get enough.

Most people update their wardrobes seasonally; we do it daily. And the fact that there are so many great online stores only fuels our addiction more. We don’t even have to put on any of the 40 pairs of pants that we own to add a new piece to the closet. We don’t have to slip into one of our 14 pairs of Havaianas to cruise the mall. All we need is a laptop, some internet and we’re in shopping heaven.

And where do we spend most of our time? Lulus.com. You see it featured on this site a lot and that’s because it’s got everything a girl could want: the trendiest clothes, accessories and shoes, all on the cheap. And not cheap in a “wash it once and say goodbye” sorta way. It’s just good stuff at a low price.

And it’s about to get even cheaper, because the ladies behind that store are offering CollegeCandy readers 15% their orders from today until August 1st!

All you have to do is type in COLLEGECANDY at checkout and you’ve got yourself a 15% discount. Woohoo! That means you can buy 15% more (OMG, we really do have a problem), and you’re most definitely going to want to buy more. More dresses, more tops, more bib necklaces….

Tell your friends, tell their friends and tell their friends’ friends. Then sit back on your couch with a cup of coffee, some Chelsea Lately and click your way to a fuller and more fabulous wardrobe.

So it’s a new season and that means new trends on all fronts, including one of my personal faves: handbags!

This season keep your eyes open for some of the usual suspects (oversized bags, clutches and pops of color), some rollover from the fall (fringe) and some new looks (well, not necessarily new, but trends we haven’t seen in a while).

Here are some of the biggest bag trends of spring/summer 2009… Read More »

So spring has (finally!) sprung and I don’t know about you, but for me that means pulling out all those cute sundresses, sandals and the rest of my spring/summer wardrobe that I love so much (and, hey, adding a few pieces to the mix as well).   So in honor of spring, I figured I’d focus this week’s day-to-night styler on a basic sundress that can be easily converted into a stylish and sassy outfit for the evening.

This dress from Forever 21 is totally cute and flattering for a number of different body types. It’s long enough to sport to class or while running around town with mom, but sexy enough to dress up for later. And, better yet, at $11.50 a pop, you can buy it in more than one color.  I love the pink, blue and purple for spring.

Read More »

Charging way too much for cotton since 1983

I was always told that imitation was the finest form of flattery. Mind you, this was back in the day when I was overweight with a perm and the boys in school who were imitating me were definitely not trying to flatter me. Anyways, I grew up believing that to be the case, but it turns out I was wrong.

At least when said imitation is getting in the way of making big money.

Just ask the peeps over at Anthropologie who are suing the homies over at Forever 21 for flattering…. er…. imitating 9 of their designs. They are angry that not only did Forever 21 copy their dresses, but they also sold them at a much lower price, thus stealing some of Anthro’s profits.

Now, I am no business or law student (and proud of it!), so I realize I am not an expert in the world of counterfeit or business models, but I am a savvy shopper who is always on the hunt for a good deal, so I think I can weigh in on this topic. And I have plenty to say.

So here is all I have to say to those snobby, rich and pompous jerks over at Anthro: Read More »

I’ve loved Target and their super-cheap prices since… well, pretty much forever. I know I’m not the only one who goes in there to buy toilet paper only to come out with 4 bags of stuff. Or to make the excuse of buying toilet paper so I can shop the cute accessories in the front of the store…

It’s gotten even harder to resist that Target-urge since they launched their seasonal GO! International line. How can you not buy Proenza Schouler or Jovovich-Hawk at Target prices? You’d be a fool.

Anyways, GO! International has announced their next designer and it’s Tracy Feith! I have a feeling I won’t even be making the “I need toilet paper” excuse to run to my campus Target and clear off the racks. Simply putting the words “Tracy Feith” and “cheap” in the same sentence will be a good enough excuse.

Don’t know who Tracy is? Well, Michelle Obama does. She wore a Tracy Feith dress during the big Inauguration weekend. Feith is known for his interesting prints, his  laid-back, California style and, of course, his attention to detail. Read More »

It’s been a long, cold winter and not only have we been forced to bundle up, chances are we’ve all been sporting dark and drab wear, as is typical in the winter months. While we still have a few weeks left of cold before we can start rockin’ those cute spring clothes, we can start adding a little pazazz to our boring winter wardrobes with little pops of color.

As is always the case in the spring, brights will be back this season, and the most popular hues this spring are hot pink/fuschia, yellows & oranges, and bright blues. Here are some great (and affordable) options to brighten up any wardrobe. Read More »