Now that Halloween has come and gone, it means it’s only going to start getting colder.  Bundling up in a warm coat is not the only way to stay warm on a chilly autumn day – gloves or mittens are essential. Well, if you want to feel your hands upon arriving at your destination. Have you ever tried to grip a pen to take notes with numb hands? It ain’t pretty.

But gloves are. Designers have really pulled out all the stops on gloves/mittens this year. They’ve incorporated all the latest trends (studs, ruffles, animal print, color) and made them fully functional for women of the 21st century. Meaning, fingerless/thumbless options so you don’t have to risk frostbite to check your News Feed.

And the best part: you can get them for cheap. You don’t need to spend $30 on something that you know you’re gonna lose (because you will and you know it).  Just stock up on the cheapies or, even better, grab a pair with strings. It worked in pre-school, so why not now? While your friends may mock you, you’ll be the one laughing when they tear off a mitten to return a text and lose it somewhere between here and that lecture hall across campus.

Here are some of the best of the best in hand and wrist warmers. Click on them for more info. Stay warm out there!

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With the world premiere of This is It and recent trips to costume shops, I’ve got Michael Jackson on the brain.  And when it comes to the King of Pop’s style, one thing stands out: that single, sparkly glove.  While donning a sequined glove is a very literal way to pay tribute to MJ (not to mention impractical – won’t your other hand get cold?), sequins are EVERYWHERE this year, and there are much more creative ways to show your love for the moonwalk master.

Or, you know, just for fun, fabulous style.

Thanks to those innovative designers lining 5th avenue in NY, sequins have taken on a totally new look in 2009 and  have become suitable for both day and night.  A cute, sequined cardigan could add sparkle to your morning lecture, or add a dose or personality when you’re heading to work.  On the other hand, a pair of made-for-a-rockstar sequined leggings are the perfect party pants.  Or, if you are more interested in adding a subtle dose of shine to your everyday outfit, you could opt for sequin shoes or the perfect sparkly accessory.  No matter how you want to wear them, there is a sequined item (or many, many fun shiny things) out there for you!

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The leaves are starting to change and the temperature is starting to drop, bringing in the season of hot- cocoa-and-tv-nights and cute, cozy clothes. While layering sweaters and scarves might seem like a no-brainer, there is another way to ensure you stay warm. And chic.

With a hat.

Yes, while you always listened to your mother when she told you to zip up that jacket, you probably tuned her out when she started nagging you about a hat. “You lose most of your body heat through your head,” she’d yell behind you. Not that you cared; you’d rather lose body heat than look dorky and mess up that hair you just spent 30 minutes straightening.

But not anymore. Hats are all the rage (just ask The Budget Stylista) and I’ve got 16 right here that will make your mama proud. They not only serve the ever-functional purpose of keeping you warm, but they also add a whole new layer of cool to your winter ensembles. Oh, and did I mention how wonderful they are for covering up an unfortunate hair day? Because bad hair days happen.  Especially if you’re doing a walk of shame across campus.  But no one will know if you throw a little cap on top.

And don’t tell me you’re not a “hat person.” Everyone can be a hat person, especially with the variety of styles. Just take a gander and you’re sure to find one that you love and that loves you back. Read More »

Miley vs. Samantha Jones? Oy.

Justin Timberlake and Kings of Leon mashup? Awesome.

Lamar Odom signs his life away to Khloe. Finally.

Halloween display…or dead man?

The 10 worst crafts on Etsy.com.

Victoria Beckham is totes over food.

A few weeks ago, I packed up everything I own into a compact yellow truck and drove halfway across the country to unload it all and dump it in a new place. I started fantasizing about decorating ideas for my new pad long before I got here (like on the million-hour drive), and one of the things I was most into was vinyl wall art. It’s unique, it’s removable and it’s just pretty damn sweet, right? I mean, who wouldn’t want a a pretty peacock, an intimidating toilet seat (on Etsy, of course), or some gorgeous bamboo trees adorning their walls.

But at $30-$150+ a pop, all I could afford were sad little 6″ tall animals, and I wasn’t about to shell out a bundle for something I was pretty sure I could do myself.

Turns out I could! And it’s even easier and cheaper than I thought. These wall-art companies must be fleecing people! Stop them by doing it all yourself.

Here’s what you need:
- Scissors
- Clear tape (optional)
- A marker
- Self-adhesive vinyl ConTact paper (Note: This is cheap and available by the yard in a variety of colors at almost all hardware stores.) Read More »

The stepping stone to the perfect outfit is the right underwear. With the start of the school year rapidly approaching, it is time to purge your drawers of anything ill-fitting, stained or tattered. It may be hard to part with your favorite undergarments, but there are a million reasons why you should. Like the fact that no boy wants to see you in a pair of torn up undies, or that around 80% of women wear the wrong size bra.

Be nice to your girls and go get re-fitted.

It’s a new year, and it’s important to purge the old and buy new pretty underthings.  Even if you usually steer clear of color in your wardrobe, your lingerie is the perfect place to add a little excitement without any risk.  Whether you’re going to be showing it off for someone special (or someone those beer goggles make you think is special), or are just going to be dancing in front of your own mirror, it’s a good time to pick up some new pieces.

Lingerie can make even the shyest girl feel instantly sexy, and there is literally something out there for everyone. In fact, there are lots of somethings, which means you can stock up and hold off on laundering for a little bit longer. Anyways, here are some of my favorite under-thingies – from sexy to sweet, normal to naughty – right now: Read More »

Most guys we know stay up late dreaming of the day they might end up in a giant orgy with beautiful women. We, however, lie awake at night dreaming of a closet full of beautiful clothes. To the left, a wall of shoes. To the right, shelf upon shelf of delicately handcrafted bags organized by color and size.

Sigh.
We all have our fantasies.

Since guys can turn to the interwebs to get their daily fantasy fix, we thought you should, too! So, we’re bringing you some fashion porn. The best of the best in all things fashionable. Sure, it may be out of your price range, but it’s a fantasy, so live it up in all its delicious glory.

The t-shirt is arguably the most versatile item of clothing in a college girl’s closet. Though they originated as undershirts, the tee has come along way. Now it’s the perfect item for any occasion, whether you are picking up boys at the bar or rolling out of bed 5 minutes before class. T-shirts are no fuss, they don’t require ironing, and go with jeans, skirts and sweats!

Whether you are trying to make a statement, stand out from the crowd, or blend in to a lecture hall, there is a t-shirt out there for you. Want to hit the bar without looking like you tried too hard? Jeans and a t-shirt. Want to go casual cool when meeting up with the girls? Add a blazer and some choice accessories. Want to look uber chic for a martini party? Tuck a tee into a high waisted skirt and hit the town in those gladiator heels. You can also show off your love for 80s pop stars or subtly declare your love for College Candy without ever saying a word. Read More »

Most guys we know stay up late dreaming of the day they might end up in a giant orgy with beautiful women. We, however, lie awake at night dreaming of a closet full of beautiful clothes. To the left, a wall of shoes. To the right, shelf upon shelf of delicately handcrafted bags organized by color and size.

Sigh.
We all have our fantasies.

Since guys can turn to the interwebs to get their daily fantasy fix, we thought you should, too! So, we’re bringing you some fashion porn. The best of the best in all things fashionable. Sure, it may be out of your price range, but it’s a fantasy, so live it up in all its delicious glory.

The perfect accessories can entirely make an outfit.  They can spice up a basic t-shirt and jean combo, or put the finishing touch on your hot going-out dress.  One of the most basic ways to accessorize an outfit (even that stuff that’s already in your closet!) is with a necklace.  A quirky necklace, worn with the simplest of outfits can be a conversation starter; a more glamorous necklace, can work to complete an otherwise unfinished look.

There are a bazillion options out there for necklaces, no matter how much moolah you have to shell out.  You could splurge and find the perfect signature piece to wear everyday, buy multiples to go with your multitude of outfits, or find that unique, one-of-a-kind necklace from Etsy.  Whatever you choose to do, there is a necklace (or many!) out there for everyone. Read More »

In case you needed another reason to love Etsy.com, here it comes. All good CollegeCandy readers know that Etsy is a genuinely awesome online marketplace, where artisans from all over peddle their own unique brand of wares, whatever they may be.

Not only do I love Etsy for the seemingly endless supply of lovingly crafted goods for sale – jewelry, clothing, photography, stuffed animals, frames, glasswares, knick-knacks, and on and on and on – but I love the creative kick in the pants I get every time I visit. I see an awesome silkscreened dress and my mind immediately starts perusing my closet for items I could adorn myself. I see jewelry made out of old piano keys, or skeleton keys, or medical skeletons, or anything, and suddenly the overflowing basement in my family home is brimming with possibility instead of junk!

The Storque, Etsy’s brilliant and multi-faceted DIY blog takes this burst of creative energy (which, for my scattered self, often fades in light of the overwhelming possibilities) and makes all things seem possible. Some of their most frequent topics are as follows:

Step-by-step projects:
A la CC’s DIY Tuesday, The Storque offers up clearly written, well-crafted project ideas of all shapes, sizes and ideas. Now that all my cousins seem to be having babies, I am going to test out this adooorable squishy donkey pattern, as a way to turn out simple, personalized baby gifts to all the new additions! There are tutorials on making your own stamps, gussying up your old clothes, and making your own lip balm – and everything in between!

General craft hints:
There are a fair number of pesky instructions or terms that you run across in the DIY world that you seem to be expected to know; those pivotal and oft-screwed-up creative steps. The Storque seeks to fill in those gaps so that nothing stands between you and artistic greatness! Some examples are lessons in how to correctly measure for clothing, to properly frame your artwork, and working your color wheel. Read More »

Here’s a question: How many things do you have lying around that you don’t use anymore? How many things do you have that you’ve never used?

I’m betting it’s more than you think. When you’re done reading this article, go take a peek in the back of your closet or the depths of your dresser drawers. It’s no secret: they’re filled with crap.

Everyone has junk they don’t need. One person’s trash might be another person’s treasure, but really, it’s probably just a piece of junk. So in honor of spring-cleaning time, here are some ideas for moving your junk out of your home and into someplace other than a landfill.

Thrift Stores:
Duh, we all know how awesome thrift stores are. If you have a few pieces in your closet that you don’t wear but can’t bear to part with, maybe you can give them the thrift-store treatment by finding accessories that go with them or using them to enhance other thrift-store finds (using a great fabric to sew patches onto jeans, for example). Or just donate your crap. It’s probably stylish to somebody.

Consignment Shops:
These stores are popping up all over the country right now thanks to the economy, and they are the perfect way to get rid of last season’s clothes (or the last five seasons if you haven’t cleaned that closet in awhile). Simply pull everything you no longer wear out of the closet, make sure it’s all clean and in good shape, then take it to the local consignment store and sell it! You can get anywhere from 35-50% of what they sell your stuff for, which is a great way to make room in your wardrobe for new duds….and the money to buy ‘em. Read More »