[The following is a guest post from our gal pals at CollegeFashion.net. These girls know their style. Seriously, if it weren't for them, we'd still be wearing JNCOs.]

Winter is in full swing. Whether you’re dealing with icy wind, slushy streets, or ceaseless snowfall, every college girl knows that winter weather means adjusting our wardrobes.

Bundling up in style, however, can present a variety of challenges – from finding cute and cozy layers, to worst of all, looking lumpy and frumpy. If you’re in need of some guidance on how to layer without looking lumpy or just some extra winter inspiration, consider this your handbook!

1. Wear your socks!
I’ll be the first to admit that I hate wearing socks. Hate it! Icy feet, unfortunately, instantly make the rest of you colder, making socks an absolute winter necessity.

Outside of warm boots, warm, insulating socks are the easiest way to lock in extra heat. For extra cold weather, look for tall socks – the more leg coverage, the better. Thigh-high styles were popular this fall and look adorable scrunched under boots, as do knee-high pairs. Finally, if you’re using your socks as an accessory, look for fun details or patterns for warmth AND style.

Product Information: Short Fair Isle Wool Socks, Toast. B.ella Vivenne Socks, Lori’s Shoes. Cable Knit Knee High Socks, Ruche. X-Ray Thigh High Socks, Nasty Gal. Ribbon Perlerine Knee Socks, Topshop. Argyle Socks, Asos. House of Holland For Pretty Polly Triple Chain Socks, Asos. Corgi Polka Dot Sock, Barneys New York.

2. Pile on thin fabrics!
Cold-weather girls have long been known to layer tights and leggings under the skinniest of pants. (This can be an amazing strategy for surviving below-freezing wind chills!) Opt for dark footless tights or get even warmer with workout tights. Leggings or footless tights are the college girl version of long underwear!

Even though this extra layer is thin, it provides some extra cozy insulation. The same goes for your top: go for spandex tanks to wear under the rest of your wardrobe, the tighter the better. In order to create a streamlined, chic look, these base layers should fit like a second skin.

Good stuff, right? Well, there’s more where that came from. Get the rest the CollegeFashion tips for lumpy-less layering by clicking right here.

It might just be time to buy some new winter weather accessories to punch up your wardrobe.

Whether you pick up one for yourself as you race around the mall to do your Christmas shopping, or include them in your wish list to Santa, there are a lot of cute and cozy options to choose from. And with options like these, there’s no need to look like a giant marshmallow all winter long. In fact, these are so cute, you might even come to kinda, sorta miss them come spring.

[Click on the images for all the shopping info!]

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.

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!

Eating healthy and staying fit don’t have to be so….monotonous. Nutrition experts are constantly coming up with new forms of exercise and new research on dieting that may be just the new thing you (and your body) need. The latest? Combinations of our favorite things to get even better results:

1: Piloxing

Joseph Pilates, meet your match. In the boxing ring, that is. There’s a new exercise contender in the draw now: Piloxing!

Here’s the blow-by-blow: LA-based fitness trainer Viveca Jensen bases the classes off of the best of both worlds, by combining the intense power moves of boxing (like the one-two punch) with the softer toning moves of pilates (like those pesky 100′s). Supposedly, it has a “Swedish twist” to it, which apparently makes it better/more efficient. (Swedish fish do taste better than regular fish, so I guess there is a truth to that.) Celebrities like Hilary Duff and Alexis Bledel have signed on to this new exercise trend, claiming it helps to attain a “sleek, sexy, and powerful” self-image.

2: Yollet

Last time I donned a tutu, I was tailgating with my friends and had no intentions of doing ballet whatsoever.

But with this new fitness trend, I just might wear it again. This time with exercise in mind (no, chugging beer is not considered a workout for your esophagus). Yollet (pronounced yo-lay) is a fusion of Classical Ballet and Yoga, and its 1-hour class is just what you’d expect: 30 minutes of non-stop chasse’ing then 30 minutes of downward dog and stretching.

3: Food Synergy

Many foods have shown to have a “one-plus-one-equals-three” effect when eaten together, amping up the nutrition benefits more than when eaten separately. For example, combining foods that contain carotenoids, such as tomatoes, with a healthful fat, such as olive oil, makes it easier for the body to absorb the nutrients more readily.

This new “food synergy” gives you more reasons to eat your favorites together:

Oatmeal + OJ (power breakfast!)

Blueberries + Grapes (little circles of yumminess)

Peanuts + Whole Wheat (PB&J all the way)

Apples + Chocolate (yes, I said it. Chocolate.)

Now you have an excuse to drizzle a little full-fat dressing onto your salad too!

So, what do you think? Would you try any of these?

1. Drink enough water.

You’re giving the weather a head start if you don’t properly hydrate yourself. Just because you’re not sweating from the summer heat doesn’t mean you can cut down on your h20 intake. Continue to drink plenty of water, and limit your fizzy soft drinks and alcohol, which will dehydrate you faster than you can say “blizzard.”

2. Invite skin care into the shower.

One thing’s inevitable: you have to shower, right? So purchase soaps and body wash that won’t dry you out. According to About.com, bar soaps are more likely to dry out your skin, whereas emollient-rich cleansers will actually battle the effects of dry skin. Try Dove Delicate Cream Body Wash, or look for the word “butter,” as in “Shea Butter,” “Cocoa Butter,” or just plain “Body Butter” when you’re selecting your next lather. Your hands feel the cleansers you use the most, since they are slathering the stuff all over your bod.

3. Dream away dryness.

If your hands are so dry it’s painful, you may want to pull out the big guns. Put an extra-strength lotion or vaseline on your hands, and then sleep with knit gloves or socks over your hands. This way, you can’t smear the moisturizers all over the place or inadvertently wipe your hands on your sheets while you sleep. The gloves will trap the lotion overnight, meaning your skin cells get the most help.

4. Wear your effing gloves.

Seriously. Invest in a few pairs so that even if you’re running late and forget to grab one pair, you have a backup in your messenger bag, or keep a pair in every room of the house so that they’re always accessible. Get the thickest, warmest gloves you can find – a cheap knit pair won’t do much to keep your hands warm (and moist) this season.

5. Protect your nails.

For nail care, make it a point to keep your routine manicure appointments. If you can’t afford a professional manicure, at least take care of your nails every week by clipping and filing them to keep them in check. When you wash your hands, make sure you clean underneath the nail to prevent germy build-up, and use a nail brush if possible. Don’t be afraid to soak your hands for a bit – a warm handbath can make you feel better after you’ve come in from the biting cold! And, of course, use that lotion you’ve been saving for the back of your hand on the area around your cuticles to prevent irritation and hang nails.

Each week I’ll be putting together a cute and affordable “going out” ensemble guide (that you can tweak to your own personal style and body type, of course) so that maybe that age-old question can be answered a little quicker than usual. And your friends aren’t waiting - for hours - for you to emerge from your room. Just consider me your own (free) personal Rachel Zoe.]

So the holiday buzz has warn off, it’s time to get back to the real world, and on top of all that, it’s frickin’ freezin’ out there! Things may seem bleak right now (the economy sucks, the weather sucks, school sucks; I know how it goes) and there may be nothing you want to do more than climb into bed, pull the covers over your head and attempt to fight off those winter blues by daydreaming of sun-drenched days on the beach, but your chin up, girlfriend!

Get out of bed, pull on a cute outfit and get out there. Just because we’re officially in the dead of winter doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of fun to be had…

This top/cardigan is super sexy (helloooo, cleavage), but the belt will give great definition to your waist and the flowing bottom will cover up any of those unwanted holiday pounds. It’s top perfection.

If you’re not brave enough to wear it solo, you can always put a basic black cami or long sleeved top underneath.

Because the top is more flowy, you are going to want to pair it with a more streamlined and fitted bottom, like a pair of super dark wash skinny jeans.

Since the outfit is pretty simple, add some color with the footwear. Purple is still a popular hue and it goes great with gray. Bonus on these boots: the low heel is much easier to navigate snowy/icy walkways than sky-high stilettos, and they’ll keep your tootsies warm!

You can go a bit bigger with the accessories, so throw on a big bangle and some statement earrings. These hoops are great because they’re fun and big, but the thin wiring makes sure they’re not overbearing. And the bangle? Well, it’s just really cute.

Just don’t forget the essentials to keep you warm when you’re not inside shakin’ your booty on the dance floor: scarf, gloves and a coat are essentials and you can make them fun and stylish as well.

Every Monday I will be back to teach you how to do something useful, even if it also happens to be completely random. Because, hey, you never know when you just might need to know how to change a tire…or mix a perfect martini.]

Even though winter will not even START for another two weeks (I know… I’m crying on the inside), those of us who don’t live in Hawaii are already freezing each time we step outside. As the proud owner of a circulation disorder that sucks all the blood out of my digits and basically never lets me be warm, I’ve collected some good tips over the years for staying toasty (like eating soup). And as it’s not always possible to have Mom looking over your shoulder telling you to put on a jacket, I’m happy to step into that role for now.

Tip 1: Hats and Mittens

You probably already know this from elementary school, but the vast majority of body heat is lost through the head. If it’s cold where you live, get yourself a cute hat and wear it often. It can be difficult to avoid the pitfalls of hat hair, but fudges such as earmuffs or thick headbands that cover the ears can help with that. One good thing about hats is that they’re generally small—you can stick it into your purse or bag and just take it out when you start to get chilly.

Also, wear mittens rather than gloves. Gloves are fine for weather that’s only brisk, but they won’t cut it in the deep freezes. Mittens keep your hands warmer because they group your fingers together, which allows them to retain more heat.

Tip 2: Layering

There’s an art to layering in a non-fashion way. You want to strike a balance between wearing clothes that are a) comfortable, so you won’t end up trying to fix a wedgie that is three layers down, and b) practical, so your clothes will actually keep you warm. How do you do that?

Make sure your innermost layers are breathable, otherwise you’ll end up swimming in sweat and getting all sticky. Middle layers should be insular to keep your heat near your body, and they should be thin and lightweight if possible. Bring on the bulkiness for your outer layers, but make sure they’re relatively easy to take off if necessary. And remember—layering can be good for extremities, too. Wearing two or three pairs of socks in really cold weather is a great way to keep your feet both dry and warm.

Tip 3: Be Prepared

The Scout motto can help you out in winter. If you think there’s a chance you might get wet while out and about, bring a change of clothes or a spare pair of socks. Grab some hand warmers the next time you’re at a place that sells them, and keep them with you just in case. And don’t forget that jacket!

[Image courtesy of bearsinboston.wordpress.com.]

All you have to do is click on the goods and - boom - you can buy the entire ensemble. Yes, we know; there is a spot for her in heaven.]

I wish I was a Knowles. The gene pool for that family is just not fair. Gorgeous, talented, smart, successful AND an alter ego to boot?! Some people just have all the luck.

While I know being related to the Knowles is not possible and becoming Besties is not-so-likely (although B, I am a fabulous best friend, you know, in case you need one). I’m left with two ways to tap into my inner bootylicsiousness:

1) Dancing around- jelly and all – pretending that I too can be Sasha Fierce

2) Dressing like the fab Beyonce.

So While I won’t be sharing my best Beyonce moves (that magic is bestowed upon my mirrors and microphones er…hairbrushes only) I will share my Beyonce budget finds!

Here is this week’s Celebrity Chic on the Cheap: I Have an Alter Ego Too… I Call Her… Beyonce.

Black Dress

A staple in every wardrobe, and a must-have for all girls, especially those with curves. This one serves double duty as its appropriate enough for a family dinner yet fun enough to wear out.

Black belt

“If you’ve got it flaunt it- boy I know you want it…” says my best friend Lady Beyonce in her hit song “Check On It.” This belt with help you do just that by cinching you in at your smallest part and showing off that derriere. You bootylicious thang, you.

Layering Necklaces

If you don’t like my recommendations on this, it doesn’t matter! Layer up with whatever necklaces you want: pearls, chains, the choices are endless.

Patent Bag

Big enough to hold all your crap, small enough to still be an evening back. Perfection.

Shoes

While these aren’t quite like Beyonce’s, I fell for their metallic/grey color.

Leather Cutout Gloves

To keep the boys guessing if there is or if there isn’t a ring on it…

So go on, Single Ladies (and taken ladies, too), ‘Put your hands up’ in this outfit and rock out with your best Beyonce moves. I won’t judge. Because well, I believe there is a small part in all of us who wants to be Beyonce too. Even if it’s just in front of our mirrors.

Coming in at a close second in the gift-giving challenge is the BF. Sure, you love him. Sure, he knows you better than most people. But finding a gift he’ll like because it’s cool, and not just because you’re his girlfriend? Tough.

In case you haven’t reached your breaking point yet (I know Hanukkah is almost over, but there’s still time!), I’m compiled a list of presents the Bro and the Beau might like. It’s always hard to tell with these strange specimens, but hey, even if they scrunch their face up again this year…at least you tried. Besides, they’re been giving you shit from The Body Shop for years. Teach them through example about branching out.

• Charles & Marie Dosh Wallet ($60) – compact, manly, and oh-so-full of special pockets, this wallet is a lot better than that ratty, duct-taped thing he’s been carrying around for years. It’s a little expensive, but just think of it as payback for that time you stuck gum in your Bro’s hair or ‘accidentally’ told your friends about the Beau’s bedroom ‘issues’.

• Dakine Plaid Backpack ($59.50) – it’s really hard to hate on a backpack, especially one that’s so nondescript and cool. Plus, he can carry his laptop and snowboard / skateboard around wherever he goes.

• Nooka Zub 20 Zenv Watch ($135) – complicated, weird looking, and kind of hard to understand, your gadget-loving Bro or Beau will go crazy for it. Let’s just hope he’s getting you more than bath salts for this price.

• Ninja Flipper ($4.49) – aren’t all guys obsessed with Ninjas?

• Sudoku Toilet Paper ($5.48) – part gag gift, part something they’ll probably use.

• Badass 3-in-1 Gloves ($49.50) – sure, it’s a lot of money for gloves, but he’ll never have to buy another pair…provided he doesn’t lose them a day later.

• Shockingly Expensive Toothpick holder ($800-$1500) – if your Bro or Beau has everything…get him a diamond encrusted toothpick holder. Chewing toothpicks in public is kinda rude, but if he’s got this thing, ain’t no one gonna question!