Along with bold, bright bags and loose-fitting tops, tribal-themed accessories and clothing, particularly Aztec-inspired items, are going to be everywhere this spring. Personally, I’m a big fan of this trend in jewelry – the bright colors and interesting patterns and shapes create bold statement pieces that are as fun to wear as they are to look at.

These styles look particularly great with the bright hues and breezy shapes of summer clothing, but you might want to think about starting to incorporate some pieces now. Many stores are already carrying great tribal-themed jewelry, and it’s just the pick-me-up our wardrobes need as we suffer through another 6 weeks of the dull grays and blacks of winter-wear. Even more, you can get a lot of it for less than $20, like all the pieces shown here!

[Click any image to view the gallery.]

You’ve seen the commercials (and most likely remember them because they used to discuss “the big O”), but have you actually perused Overstock.com? The site might be overwhelming to some, but that is because it is chock full of awesome deals on clothes, shoes and accessories (in addition to home goods, decor and linens). Overstock.com brings you items that are marked down by up to 80% (!!) and they ship fast and cheap. Could you think of anything better?

Overstock is a website that can fit the needs of everyone and if you haven’t given it a go, you most definitely should. To get you started, here are a few of the hundreds (maybe even thousands) of items they have for under $20.

This dress will certainly flatter those curves of yours and work year round. Either color can be worked for any season; pair it with tights and a cardi for winter or with some gladiator sandals and bangles for the summer months.

Go green (or pink or yellow) with one of these totes that are eco-friendly and perfect for lugging your books, groceries or beach goodies come Spring Break.

How can you refuse these darling vintage-inspired skimmers?  They’ll be adorable with skinny jeans, leggings, summer dresses or shorts.

Unfortunately, we’ve still got a few cold months of winter left to go, but have no fear; there’s no need to sacrifice your style for your warmth.  This hat is not only totes cute, but it’s fleece lining will help keep you warm from head to toe.

Gloves can not only be a nuisance (especially when you’re trying to get out a string of texts en route to class), but they’re not always the most fashion forward piece of clothing around. Not these guys. They are sassy, classic and totally fashionable. Oh, and they’ll definitely keep those digits warm and toasty.

I love, love, looooove the turquoise and boho look of these earrings.

This tunis is not only flattering to any shape, but it’s versatile to boot. It will work perfectly with skinny jeans and knee high flat boots for class, or you can pair it with black pants and pumps for that internship you’ve got lined up for the summer.

It might seem silly to buy a bikini in the middle of winter, but that’s when they’re cheapest and if you’re gonna need one eventually anyway, now’s the time to buy. I love the fun geometric print on this one (how good will that look with a tan!?), not to mention the sexy ties on the bottoms.

Okay, so even if you’re not like me, you probably still have lots of necklaces and earrings lying around (what girl doesn’t love her some jewels?). And you probably have NO place to store them.

I don’t know about you, but I refuse to stuff away my nice necklaces in a jewelry box where they’ll end up tangled and tarnished and I don’t have space on my crowded mess of a desk for anything better. Not that I could afford a fancy jewelry box anyway; I’m a broke college girl with zero cashmoney living the dollar-a-slice lifestyle.

I decided to get a little creative (on the cheap) and come up with a way do store my jewelry and add some personal pizazz to my stark white walls. This on-the-wall jewelry hanger is a creative and easy way to store and display your jewelry. Plus, you’ll spend less time detangling your favorite necklaces and more time actually wearing them!

What You’ll Need:

Cork Board Tiles: Sold in sets of four, you can find these at Walmart, Target, or any office supply store. You’ll have to determine how many you’ll need based on how much jewelry you’re hoarding, but for all my necklaces and earrings (and I’m an addict, remember) I only needed 4 tiles.
Fabric: Optional. Any color, pattern, or design you want! This is your aesthetic choice. You’ll use the fabric to cover the cork tiles, so pick a color or design that matches the rest of your room. 1 yard of fabric will give you plenty of fabric to work with.
Ribbon: Again, any color, pattern, or design you want. This will add an extra polished touch to your jewelry hanger.
Pushpins: Grab the normal ones in any color. I personally recommend clear, white, or black because they will make the jewelry piece look more uniform.
Glue: You’ll need both super glue and a hot glue gun.

What You’ll Do

1. Place one cork tile on top of your fabric (design side down) leaving a 1-inch border of extra fabric surrounding your cork tile on all sides. Cut to size.

2. Line the cork tile with your hot glue on all four sides (like you’re drawing a square), then fold the extra fabric down onto the glue (one side at a time). When you fold down the extra fabric to glue down, make sure the fabric is pulled tight! Let dry. Do not turn over yet.

3. Take another cork tile and completely cover it with hot glue. Glue that cork tile to the fabric-lined cork tile (which is still not turned over) in step 2 by pressing the two tiles together and pressing down firmly. Let dry.
(Note: You need to double up on the cork boards so the pushpins/earring posts don’t go through and hit the wall. Do not skip this step!!)

4. Turn your cork tile over, which will now be covered in fabric and pretty. Yay!

5. If you want to add ribbon, cut your ribbon in the size of the cork tile sides and super glue them around the edges of our tiles. This will add some extra craftiness!

6. Using the adhesive sticky backings that come with your cork tiles, stick the tile piece to the wall.
Tip: if you’re hanging lots of jewelry, use some extra adhesive backings. You can buy these at office supply stores, Target, etc., for really cheap!

See? You can hang all your favorite stuff AND it looks cool on the wall!

7. Now add the pushpins to your cork tile by lining them horizontally.

For an earring jewelry hanger: Place 4 pushpins about 2 inches apart from each other in a line at the top of the fabric tile. 3-4 inches underneath that first line, make a second row of pins. This time, though, use 5 pins and stagger them so they are between the row above (instead of directly under). Continue this process until you have 4 or 5 lines of pushpins. You will hang your dangles/hoops from the pins. If you have stud earrings, use a pushpin to poke holes in the fabric covered cork board and then push your stud earrings into the holes.

For a necklace/bracelet hanger: Place 4 pushpins about 2 inches apart from each other in a row at the top of the fabric tile. 5 inches underneath that first line, make a row of 5 pushpins (again, staggering them so they aren’t directly beneath the pins above).

8. Untangle that mess of jewelry and hang that ish up! Then enjoy the ease of finding your favorite necklaces.

Click here for another DIY project with cork tiles!

And maybe a restraining order or two.

But it’s worth it to highlight fresh, unique wardrobe choices that show personality and the courage to wear what you believe in.]

I knew I wanted to feature Amalia for my fashionista-of-the-week from the moment I saw her walking to Psych class, leggings tucked into her buckled riding boots and a funky bright-blue American Apparel zip-up on top. Her clothing choices draw attention, probably because she takes her fashion inspiration from all over the world,  including Portugal and Brazil, which she’s visited many times (…not for the sun or the beach or anything).

And when it comes to jewelry, I really think she started the statement jewelry trend; I have yet to see her without a glam bracelet or a pair of adorable dangly earrings that somehow totally make her outfit. She’s got spunk and is not afraid to be big and bold in her fashion choices, and that’s just the way the boys like her. Well, that and her booty, but that’s a whole different post.

Name: Amalia S
Year: 2011
Major: Psychology and Latin American Studies
Amalia in 3 words: bootylicious, empathetic, fun

1) Describe your personal style.
Really eclectic and always changing. Two weeks ago I hated animal print, now I can’t get enough of it. I also really love bright colors, no matter what time of year it is.

2) You can’t leave your house without your ________.
Jewelry; I feel naked without my necklaces and rings. Also, during the winter I am never seen without a scarf on, usually one from H&M.

3) What is your favorite store to shop at?
Forever 21, BP at Nordstroms, and American Apparel.

4) Ok, well that was three, but I’ll take it. What/who is the biggest influence on your style?
Right now, Betsey Johnson. She’s just so much fun, lots of pink bows, animal print, and pearls. She’s the definition of eclectic.

5) What’s your favorite trend, past or present?
I’m really into these leggings that look like jeans. I’m all about fashion, but being comfortable is also super important to me. The jean leggings look great with boots and can be dressed up, but are just as comfortable as regular leggings.

In the photo:
Dress: Urban Outfitters
Necklace: Vines and Roses
Bag: Coach
Bracelets: flea market in Brazil

[Is there a fashionista on your campus whose style should be celebrated? Someone who is always pushing the style envelope and lookin' damn good doing it? Someone who always seems to put together the coolest outfits, no matter the occasion? Send us a picture and she (or he!) could be featured in a future Campus Couture!]

God, what did we ever do without the internet? Besides the amazingness that comes from sites like this, there’s online shopping. And it rules! You can get all your favorite things without leaving the house and online stores can charge less for all of it since they don’t have to spend all that extra money on actual storefronts. That means lots of fabulosity without spending lots of money.

And one of those great stores is a recent CollegeCandy find: Anique Michelle. It isn’t well known – yet – and might just be one of the best kept secrets of the world wide web.  The selection is small, but everything Anique stocks is adorable and affordable. Nothing costs more than $60! I’m totally digging the accessories and can’t wait to spruce up a few of my outfits with some of these.

Envelope clutches are great for those nights out because they’re big enough to carry the essentials, but not so big that they’re a nuisance.  Love, love, love the purple (it’ll look great with a LBD) and the contrasting details.  Definitely worth $19.

These earrings a great statement piece and can add a little edge to any outfit. It’s no wonder they’re named after me.

I find big, funky rings are the easiest way to add a little punch to any look. And with three color options (black, gold and silver) you can find one for any outfit…

I’m a big fan of the studs and bright color choices on this over-sized wallet (or undersized clutch?). Now you can carry your ID, money and credit cards in style.

Chanel is one of my all-time favorite designers and this homage to Coco is a whole lot cheaper than buying the real deal. Not to mention, it would look just divine over a loose white v-neck tee.

Leather + gold + giant bangle = the perfect accessory.

Vests are like fashion magic. You just slip one on and your outfit is instantly cooler, especially when you’re talking about this studded little guy.

Despite what Jenny Humphrey may say, headbands are still a hot accessory this season. I’m loving the rich color of the flower on this one. It will look good with just about any hair color and easily update a simple ensemble. Plus, it’s only $9! Take that, overpriced Urban Outfitters accessories!

Don’t forget: CollegeCandy readers get another 15% off at Anique Michelle through November! Just enter “collegecandy” at checkout! Yay!

Thanks to the tips of a fellow CollegeCandy writer (thanks Cristina!), I have discovered a website I never knew existed. After getting over the fact that I was forced to live this long sans this site, I embraced the new find and I’m loving it!  It’s called Karma Loop and they have a great selection of some awesome brands. But even better, they have a giant sale section (seriously, there are hundreds upon hundreds of things!) that has tons of awesome goods for totally affordable prices.

Naturally, I found 8 things that you can’t live without and, thanks to the low prices, you really don’t have to:

I love the bold colors of this shirt, but it’s the shape that really makes me weak in the knees. It works great with a pair of leggings for a casual weekend jaunt or with a pair of jeans and a scarf for a fall day of classes. L-O-V-E it.

A Betsey Johnson bag for under $20?  Yes, please! The leopard print and studs on this bag make it a perfect evening bag for fall.  And just for the record, there are tons of A-DORABLE Betseyville bags for under $100 on this site.  *Swoon*

This skirt will look fab with some tights and black booties.

I’m the kinda gal that finds an oversized tee to be the perfect PJ option, so how could I say no to this?  Not only is it comfy, but the combination of the short length and classic Julius the monkey pattern makes it cute and somewhat sexy, too.

Hats are not only a fun fashion statement, they’re a great way to help keep your head warm in these cooler months.  I love the way the cream satin dresses things up a bit and the unusual color combo is totally stylin’.

Bring out your inner rocker and add some zing to a simple ensemble with these awesome Betsey Johnson earrings.

I can’t help it – I love anything button-down. This shirt is perfect for class with a pair of jeans, and works perfectly under a long, chunky sweater when winter really kicks in.

OK, I know that not everyone is a fan of Hello Kitty, but I can guarantee everyone is a fan of cheap undies. And these ones also happen to be quite cute. They have several styles and colors and at $3.95 a piece, you can get 5 pairs for under $20!

]]> http://collegecandy.com/2009/10/20/8-under-20-karma-loop/feed/ 0 Jess T. - Columbia University 8under600x360 photo courtesy of karmaloop.com photo courtesy of karmaloop.com photo courtesy of karmaloop.com photo courtesy of karmaloop.com photo courtesy of karmaloop.com photo courtesy of karmaloop.com vans button down photo courtesy of karmaloop.com http://collegecandy.com/2009/10/14/campus-couture-lauren-laflare/ http://collegecandy.com/2009/10/14/campus-couture-lauren-laflare/#comments Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:00:40 +0000 Brithny - Duke University http://collegecandy.com/?p=43600 ]]>

Yeah, I know this is blurry. It's hard to capture such fabulosity.

While everyone is fabulous in their own right, we thought we should celebrate the campus fashionistas of the world for their continued excellence in not looking like a hot mess for class. So, we started stalking those girls on campus to get a few pics and get some tips on their personal style.

And maybe a restraining order or two.

But it’s worth it to highlight fresh, unique wardrobe choices that show personality and the courage to wear what you believe in.

And if there’s one girl who’s got some fashion courage it’s Lauren. I spotted her on campus because, well, it’s impossible not to spot her. She’s always decked out in bright colors, bold accessories and some serious confidence. Oh, and her perfect hair helps, too.

We started talking fashion and before I knew it, we were back at her dorm. Where she showed me her closet. Sigh. It was a wonderful place.

Name: Lauren
Year: 2012
Major: Spanish and Religion
Lauren in 3 words: Chill, fly, gansta

1) Describe your personal style.

I have a very eclectic style; I definitely go for bright colors and fun animal prints, something really crazy. You can tell by my hair. Fierce.

2) You can’t leave your house without your ________.

Ipod. For sure.

3) What is your favorite store to shop at?

I’d have to say Hot Topic because they have so much great stuff that you wouldn’t expect to find there and lots of unique styles that other stores don’t have.

4) What/who is the biggest influence on your style?

I don’t really have one single influence for fashion. I’m like a mixtape, baby. A party playlist.

5) What’s your favorite trend, past or present?

I know it’s not a legit trend, but my favorite fashion accessories are definitely earrings, especially hoop earrings. Every color and every style. Bling is fabulous.

So as I write this, I’m sitting on my lanai (balcony) overlooking the beautiful, blue Maui ocean (yes, I’m on my first “real” vacay in years), which means I’m not particularly keen on scouring the internet for under $20 deals for long periods of time (not to mention, they’re only giving me an hour of free wifi). So where did I head?

The mother of all cheap & trendy spots: Forever 21.

And no, she did not disappoint. Checking out the website or a store near you is a necessity before you head back to school, as there are loads of insanely awesome deals on ridiculously cute clothes.  What are you waiting for?  Read, set, GO!

Here are a few things I know I’ll be grabbing up. You know, when I get back to the mainland.

Denim leggings have been spotted on the likes of Whitney Port and Fergie, and are a big for fall. I know it’s a difficult trend to wrap your mind around (or shove your legs into), but we were all resistant to normal leggings at first, weren’t we? Just give these a shot. I love that they are black (more slimming), will look great with a cute pair of sandals or some sexy booties, and are only $16.90.

Cardigans are definitely a fall necessity and this one is perfection with it’s darling lace details and cropped sleeves. It’ll look great with jeans, a pencil skirt or, if you wanna totally prep it out, a pleated mini.  SO CUTE!

Ballet flats are a wardrobe staple and these ones will liven up any look with their bold color and reptile print.  Tack on the $8.50 price tag and who can say no?

Once school’s back in session and that hottie from O-Chem asks you out, you’ll want a sexy top to wow him and this does the trick, fo sho.  Bustiers always work wonders for the girls and have a great way of slimming the waist as well.  Pair it with a pair of dark jeans and some sassy stilettos and soon you’ll be makin’ your own chemistry.

Simple shirts are so important, especially for those days you overslept and are already 25 minutes late to your review sesh, and there’s something so tomboyish yet sexy about a basic raglan tee. I can’t explain it, but at $5.50 you can grab a few and figure it out for yourself.

I’ve always had a thing for big ass earrings and I love the gold/turquoise combo and the Indian vibe of these.  Just be sure not to go overboard with other accessories or crazy bold prints; these can be a centerpiece on their own.

Belts are such a fantastic accessory: they’re cute, they add some flair, and they give nice definition to your waist.  And this one does all that with an 80′s elastic band and the gorgeous lotus flower deet on the front. Sigh. I’m in lust.

A skirt for under $7, seriously?!?  This is such a versatile piece that can be used to create so many different looks from casual day to girls’ night out. And it comes in 3 great colors (this awesomely bold royal blue, and 2 neutrals; black & grey)! This might be all you’d ever need for a complete wardrobe overhaul.

Seriously now, Forever 21, have I told you lately that I love you? And this isn’t the distance talking; this is real.

Jewelry can make or break an outfit. This is fact. It’s a great way to spice up your usual uniform (jeans, black v-neck, black flats – I know it all too well), assuming, of course, that you don’t go overboard and look like you went shopping in your grandma’s closet (tchotchke heaven).

This season there is no better way to reinvent some old pieces in your wardrobe than by adding some bling bling. Right now jewelry is big, it’s bold, it’s bedazzled, jeweled and animal printed. It’s also ridiculously over-priced at so many places. But those aren’t the places you are going to be shopping, because it is so easy to find pieces for cheap that look like they belong in J.Lo’s closet. Read: bling blingin’ on the cheap cheapin’.

So before you go spending $150 on a necklace you claim will give you seasons of love, come to terms with the fact that in 12 months time, you will more likely than not have moved on out – Jeffersons style – to something that’s a lot less animal printed. So why spend $150 when you can get the same bangin look for $15?

Yeah, I thought so.

Rings

Necklaces

Bracelets

Earrings

You can find maxi dresses in all sorts of price ranges, but if you’re looking for less expensive versions, your best bets are Target , Wet Seal ,Charlotte Russe or Forever 21.  I love the colors and style of this dress, and the halter style works well for those of us who are on the bustier side (I would also recommend wearing a tank or a tube top underneath if you’re not wanting to Leave it to Cleavage).

For The Day:
Add some bangles, cute earrings, and a pair of turquoise sandals and you’re summery and stylish.

For The Evening:
The day is done and it’s time to meet your friends (or perhaps your summer fling) for happy hour and some bar hopping. No need to worry; just reach into your oversized bag (cuz girls, I know you all have at least one gigantor purse) for a change of shoes and earrings and you’ll be bedazzled in no time. Bonus: this look is super hot and super comfy. Yes, it’s possible to be both!

A pair of metallic espadrilles is not only sexy, but will look cute with any number of summer looks (shorts, boyfriend jeans, sundresses and skirts). And getting all that sexy height without the pain of a stiletto heel, well, that just sounds like a slice of heaven.

Swap out those casual wooden earrings for a fancier pair of chandeliers. The added sparkle will take that casual dress up a few notches and make it much more night-appropriate.

And if you wanna go super sexified and you were rockin’ out a tank/tube top underneath the dress, slip it off and show a little cleavage. Now get out there and enjoy the night!