Living in a college town typically makes partying Tuesday-Saturday an acceptable after school activity. This is thrilling and all, but the more I go out, the more I begin to realize how skanky the typical “going out” look has become. Sure, we’re all young with hot bods, but when did style become a free show of goodies? It’s not like I wear a maxi skirt and a zip up to the clubs, but some of these outfits are straight-up embarrassing. Luckily for you, our skanky 2 sexy machine is up and running–ready to clean up some raunchy ensembles. Take your look from “booty call” to beautiful without exhausting your college budget!

Plunging Necklines

Showing off the girls is fun, and going out is the right time to do it. However, boobage flying around while doing the cat daddy is not the classiest move. Go for a sweetheart neckline that allows a good amount of cleavage to show without going all willy-nilly. Even if you don’t have much to show, it cuts low enough to give the illusion.

Caged Sweetheart Dress $48.00

Sheer fabric is a beautiful detail that can be really flattering. But when you can make out a nipple, it becomes a problem. Choose the location of your sheer fabric wisely, preferably in low ‘slip’ risk areas on the body.

Peplum Mesh Dress $58.00

Bold patterned dresses aren’t very skanky, but they definitely make you look like a cheeseball. Nicki sports a galaxy printed dress that would be appropriate for…….actually, it’s not appropriate for anything. Class up this look with a bold tank dress that flatters and spotlights.

Leona Caged Dress $68.00

Alright, Tila Tequila is obviously the poster child for skanky clothes, but I guess she owns it pretty well. Lace has become really popular, but the whole bra under a layer of lace thing has got to go. Just because it’s the same color does not mean it’s acceptable. Layer the lace dress over a light slip for a classy, yet feminine look.

Nom de Plum by Ya Ya Swank Dress $69.00

I love cut outs. I think they’re a really chic way of showing skin. However, when the amount of skin showing rivals the amount of fabric, it’s skanky. Opt for a simple LBD with torso cut outs, a perfect hybrid of elegant and sexy.

Lucca Couture Cutout Dress $59.00

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Ah, kids these days. Apparently, high schools across the country are setting strict dress codes for dances because girls are choosing dresses that are too “sexy.” Naturally, we had to do some investigation into this subject. We combed the internet, looking at the most risque prom dresses out there. After careful analysis, we’ve come to a conclusion. These dresses aren’t sexy. They’re just ugly.

Click through the gallery to see what we mean.

Garnet is a student at Columbia University in New York City. She is “that person” who starts dancing at a party when everyone else is standing around, and if there were a Facebook stalking Olympics, she would be a gold medalist. She also loves cheesy 90s music, and almost died of happiness when Vanilla Ice retweeted her. Once. Follow her on Twitter @garnethenderson.

[Lead image via Kiselev Andrey Valerevich/Shutterstock]

Hallelujah. March 20^th marked the first official day of spring! I’m sure winter didn’t put a damper on the partying habits of weekend warriors or college girls that go hard; however, I will admit my style took the backseat when venturing out on the weekends this winter (what, this parka & pair of UGGS aren’t “clubby” enough?). Sure, some black jeans and a cute blazer did the trick, but I’d pick a bonfire pregame and a dry walk to the bars over getting slush in my stilettos any day. To officially welcome warmer weather, dress up your wardrobe with some affordable fresh party threads via Forever21.

Floral Print Dress $11.50

I’ve never been into floral pattern, but this gorgeous, simple dress stole my heart. Short sleeve, popping print, and thin enough to be worn in the sun without breaking a sweat. I went out and bought the blue & pink version (best option for blonde hair) and absolutely love it. At $11.50, you can’t afford not to buy this beauty.

Short Curve Stitch Dress $13.80

How adorable is this shape? This dress is one of those go-to super dresses; completely versatile with this incredible ability to go from day to night, be dressed up or down, and paired with basically any blazer, boot, or accessory.

Fitted Stripe Dress $11.50

Are you that girl? The one that shows up to a 9:30am lecture rocking this incredible yet simple outfit, grabbing the attention of everyone and forcing me to sit there and re-evaluate my XL t-shirt, old softball shorts combo? If so, props. If not, become her by check out this little number, perfect for color blocking and soaking up rays on your way to class.

Mesh Trim Mock Halter Dress $22.80

Of all ensembles, club-wear walks a fine line between sexy and skanky. Enough with the plain black tank dresses, and PLEASE ditch the sequined one shoulder; Stay chic with this mock halter dress, made with mesh, class and elegant detail.

Pleated Shirtdress $15.80

Perfect for any job interviewing, fashion show attending, date night Friday going fashionista. If you’re going out in early spring, awkward weather, than the light fabric but longer sleeves make for a perfect solution. This shirtdress is just begging for suede, auburn, lace-up ankle boots and an envelope clutch.

Enjoy the sun and look fabulous in your new array of spring styles!

[Lead image via coka /Shutterstock]

The Oscars are coming up this weekend, and I’m pretty excited about it. I love award shows, but it’s not the award-giving part that I tune in for. It’s the fashion! The Oscars are the high point of red carpet fashion, when the most gorgeous celebs really show us what they’ve got. Academy Awards looks are all about drama. It’s one of the few times that we see couture fashions off the runway, and there’s never a shortage of breathtaking gowns.

Putting together this gallery turned out to be a challenge, because there are so many incredible dresses to choose from. There are always some major WTF moments at the Oscars, but there are also several ladies who always look incredible. I had trouble choosing their best looks. This is also a great lesson in personal style. Some of the dresses in this gallery aren’t ones that I would love on their own, but these ladies really pull them off. Click through to see what I mean, and check out my favorite Oscar looks from the past few years.

Garnet is a student at Columbia University in New York City. She is “that person” who starts dancing at a party when everyone else is standing around, and if there were a Facebook stalking Olympics, she would be a gold medalist. She also loves cheesy 90s music, and almost died of happiness when Vanilla Ice retweeted her. Once. Follow her on Twitter @garnethenderson.

[Lead image via Helga Esteb/Shutterstock]

Fall is my favorite fashion season because it’s all about transitioning; changing your wardrobe, slowly but surely, over to winter wear. With cold weather comes adaptations, and that also applies when it comes to clothes! Today, I’m taking a summery dress and showing you how to wear it on Indian summer and early winter days. Presenting the Floral Ruffle Dress (no points for creativity) from Wet Seal.

This cute, patterned dress features a black shell with a printed chiffon overlay. The unique florals feature tiny red and light pink flowers. It has a scoop-neck top and elastic waist, along with a cape-like top and sleeves. The whole dress is very forgiving and flattering – sure to suit many unique body shapes. Like I said, we’re going to explore how this dress fares in different climates.

Let’s start with warm.

On a warm day, a chiffon dress is a great choice. I chose red floral flats that perfectly compliment the print of the dress. The light pink leatherette purse will fit all your school supplies or necessities for a day of shopping, while also matching the pattern. A brown belt is a cute way to break up the dress and add even more definition at your waist. Top it off with simple accessories (pearl studs, a charm bracelet) and you’re ready to go!

And now onto a chilly day.

Dresses are surprisingly good for cool days too! Just add a pair of tights or leggings underneath and a neutral cardi to stay warm. Because the dress’ base is black, I stuck with that. Add a pair of boots in brown or grey as to not blend in the with leggings. The purple purse is very winter-y, but also matches the vampy red florals. Top it off (literally) with a black beanie, which serves the purpose of keeping you warm and also looks very boho-chic. I stayed with simple pendants for the jewelery, as the dress is already detailed.

And it’s that easy! Tights and cardis are your main weapon in the quest to winterize your wardrobe. Don’t be afraid of purchasing sundresses like this one at the end-of-summer sales going on now; you can definitely wear them throughout the winter.

Dressing for a wedding is just like dressing up for any other special occasion, but there are a few rules to wedding fashion. The first and most important of these: don’t upstage the bride. This means no white, of course, but also nothing too flashy or revealing. And if the ceremony is in a house of worship, keep your shoulders and cleavage covered up out of respect. But that doesn’t mean what you wear has to be boring!

In fact, summertime wedding fashion is all about having fun — bright colors and playful patterns fit are perfect for these kind of occasions. And the best part? You don’t have to spend a lot to look great at any wedding you attend this summer — all of these dresses would be perfect for a summer wedding, and they’re only $20 or less each!

While you continue to cope with April showers, I’m here to remind you that it’s nearly time for May’s flowers! If the rain has you in a slump that not even Cee Lo on repeat can get you out of, you might have to take some more drastic measures. Like busting out those spring clothes that channel your cheery, summer self.

And what better way to channel spring than with bright, happy florals?

Even though the flowers might be a little scarce in your area at the moment (hell, even the sun is scarce in my part of town), now’s the time to start pulling out your bright-colored, floral print items for spring. Why? Well, for one thing, maybe that great floral top will inspire Mother Nature to get a move on with the spring weather. And if that doesn’t work, well, at least you’ll be looking splendidly springy until she does.

The wonderful and surprising thing about spring florals is that there really is something for every kind of style; there are lots of small floral prints in light colors if you like to dress girly, and large graphic floral prints in bright colors for those of you looking to make more of a splash (and not the April rain puddle kind). From skirts to dresses to bags to undies (??), everything’s coming up florals this season. And here are 15 items to get your garden wardrobe started.

[Click on the image to shop it!]

[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 (or faux-lebrities, like Kimmy K) are spending $5,000 on an ensemble, you an spend way less...and save the rest for Margarita Mondays.]

After the longest winter ever, it is finally March. Spring starts in three weeks (!!!), and I am beyond ready to put my winter clothes into hibernation. I love tights and scarves and boots as much as the next girl, but I’m too stoked for vibrant colors, sundresses, and open toes…

So when I saw an outfit Rachel Bilson went for a stroll in, I pretty much spontaneously combusted from glee/envy. We all know Rachel is one of Hollywood’s most consistently stunning fashionistas, and once again, she does not disappoint.

Dress, Jacket, Necklace, Booties.

Coral is one of the hottest colors of the season, and this blazer is amazing. Bright, bold, fun, and full of energy, it is the perfect staple for this season. (Well, once you cut off that horrible flower…) Rachel pairs hers with a cream drop-waist dress, creating a casually sophisticated, slightly boho look. An edgy black necklace adds an interesting element of contrast to this bright aesthetic. Open toed boots are one of those trends that never quite catch on, because really, it makes no sense. And yet, they’re an interesting alternative to sandals or pumps if you’re feeling adventurous.

This is a great sophisticated day look that combines the structured edginess of the best winter fashion we fall in love with every year, and the vivacious femininity that makes spring fashion so awesome to wear. Cheers to Rachel for making it happen.

Get more celebrity looks for less here.

We all have our go-to stores that we, uh, go to when we need to stock up on some new wardrobe essentials (or when we just have an hour to kill and the mall reaches out and wraps us in its warm embrace). But what about all those other stores? The ones that you walk past on your way to Auntie Anne’s without a second glance? The “mom” stores, the old lady  department stores, the stores that don’t start with “Forever” and end with “21″? Surprise! Many of those stores are filled with major cuteness that you’re missing out on! (Except Chico’s – keep walking, little lady.) We know you’re not one to pass up a cute cami, so we scoured these under-the-radar shops and pulled out all the goodness you never realized existed.

I hate Walmart. Like, really, really hate Walmart. So much so that I’ll drive half an hour out of the way  and drop an extra $20 to avoid stepping foot in a Walmart. I’m opposed to almost everything about America’s not-so-favorite superstores — especially the fact that they stopped handing out those smiley face stickers at the door. But when I’m home with the family during breaks, running errands for my mom typically means I’ll have to make a trip to the big W, as much as I may protest and swear that Target is just SO. MUCH. BETTER.

Here’s the thing, though: on my last trip to Walmart, my 16-year-old sister tagged along, and during my hunt to find bargain paper plates and the latest Nora Roberts paperback for my mom, she dragged me over to the women’s clothing section to see what they had. And what they had was…actually really cute. She and I tried on a few fun tops and dresses, and I ended up walking away with a lacy going-out top that all my friends loved — for only $6.

Now, I won’t call myself a Walmart convert just yet, but I can say that I was pleasantly surprised. And I might head back there next time I’m home to stock up on cute-enough-t0-wear-out-but-cheap-enough-that-I-don’t-care-if-I-spill-pizza-sauce-on-them tops. And rainboots. And sweaters. And….

Around the holidays there are a lot of reasons to dress up, and I’m not talking about putting on anything but sweats (which in college might feel like dressing up). I’m talking up getting all dolled up for a special occasion. Whether you have a sorority formal, a fancy party to go to with the family, or need something special for New Years Eve, now is a good time to start scoping out looks. Though people are starting to get their Christmas shopping in, it’s not quite the rush yet, meaning there will be a slightly shorter line for the changing room than a few weeks from now.

Any girl who’s been to the mall in the past 2 years knows that there are a ton of dresses to choose from out there. That means it’s easy to find one appropriate for every occasion possible, but also hard to choose the very best one. (I’ve never been good with options.) Just remember these 3 key things:

1. Choose what works best for your body, not whatever cut is trendiest. We can’t all wear sparkly shift dress, you know.
2. What you’re wearing to impress your high school crush on New Years Eve may not be the same thing you want to wear to a Christmas party with your parents’ friends. Choose a slightly longer length (you should be able to sit down comfortably in it, without covering your lap with a napkin) and more chest coverage for events you’re going to for work or with your family.
3. Go all out. Ruffles, sparkles, cut-outs – all’s fair in love, war and party dresses.