I think diffusion lines might be the best thing to ever happen to us college girls, after happy hour and delivery food, of course. We can only do so much drooling as we click through the Bloomingdale’s website until we need something tangible to hang in our closets. It is this online window shopping and my empty wallet that had me anxiously awaiting Jimmy Choo’s new line for H&M.

What could be better? The red carpet looks I have been ogling on my favorite celebs at a price that even I can afford. So I raced down there to see it, the entire time trying to contain the excitement that I may leave the store with a brand new outfit for Friday night’s party that will have everyone asking, “where’d you get that dress?” To which I could reply with five words I never thought I would be able to say, “Oh, it’s by Jimmy Choo.”

Apparently everyone else had this same idea because the crowd was ridiculous. I could barely make it past the doorway before hitting the traffic jam of women accosting the Jimmy Choo display. Eventually I fought my through and got my hands on the dress I’d been eying since this collection was leaked online. I was ecstatic, elated and ready to slip it right on and work the mall like a runway when I spotted the price tag. I felt my heart sink into my stomach. The dress cost over $200.  I started sifting through the rest of the collection (and fighting to keep those other crazy girls from tearing it all right out of my hands) and it was the same story.

As much as I tried to justify the items to myself, the sad truth is: the line is still way too expensive to fit comfortably in my budget between Ramen and Starbucks Lattes. So I left, a giant scrape up my arm and my head held low.

But while this line was more expensive than, say, any of the GO! International lines at Target, the pieces are beautiful and high quality, meaning they are worth the price. I couldn’t afford them, but if you can, there are definitely some pieces you should invest in. If you haven’t seen them yet (because you weren’t willing to battle the bitches for a slice of Jimmy heaven), here are a few of my favorite items from Jimmy Choo’s line for H&M.

And if you’re feeling generous, I love the shoes the best. Feel free to overnight them to me.

[Photos courtesy of FabSugar.com]

September is one of my favorite months for many reasons: Back-to-school, Labor Day, Lil’ Wayne’s Birthday, Starbucks’s Pumpkin Spice Lattes and, of course, Fashion Week. Fashion Week is actually a misnomer; instead of a week, it is a month-long event full of runway shows, presentations and parties that starts in good ol’ NYC, and then travels to London, Milan and Paris.

Don’t know your Marc Jacobs from your Calvin Klein? If the only designers you know hail from Project Runway or Go! International lines at Target, listen up. Here are five hot designers whose work has them poised to become the next Oscars de la Renta and Diane von Furstenbergs.

Grab a bib and get ready to drool.

ALEXANDER WANG

Hailing from Northern California, this 25-year-old designer has been making fashion-lovers swoon for his tough-girl chic designs since 2007 when he launched his first full women’s collection. Since then, he’s been making the grungy, sexy, I-don’t-give-a-f**k look cool again. Basically, anything Wang puts down the runway instantly becomes the latest it-item. Even Topshop, Britain’s better version of Forever 21, has ripped off his designs. This fashion newcomer isn’t going anywhere and is sure to have a long and successful career ahead of him.

RODARTE

One day, sisters Laura and Kate Mulleavy are in California packing the few dresses they’d designed into suitcases to show to editors in New York. A week later, they’re on the cover of Woman’s Wear Daily (think the New York Times for fashion types) and their collection is championed by the likes of Anna Wintour. Rodarte, named after their mother’s maiden name, is a design house focused on extremely beautiful, detailed, whimsical pieces that drop jaws. These creations are literally wearable art. Can’t afford to spend $2,000 on one dress? Don’t even worry; the duo is planning a Target collaboration that will be available for sale this December. Expect gorgeous party dresses with offbeat touches on a college-friendly budget.

3.1 PHILLIP LIM

Have you ever wanted a piece of clothing that’s comfortable and cool but doesn’t make you look like you’re trying too hard? Phillip Lim is your man. Everyone from Scarlett Johansson to Camilla Belle to Kate Hudson has worn items from his collections, full of cute dresses in laid-back patterns adorned with feminine details. Earlier this year, he started Go Green Go by Phillip Lim, a 10-piece eco-friendly collection full of tunics, biker jackets and harem pants. As Nicole Phelps from Vogue said, “Lim knows how fashionable women want to dress.” And to me, it’s head-to-toe Lim.

MATTHEW WILLIAMSON

Are you an international jet setter that spends one week in Ibiza, the next in St. Barth and ‘relaxes’ in St. Tropez? Neither am I, but if I was one, I would only wear Matthew Williamson. His crazy prints in relaxed fabrics have me imagining myself on a yacht in the Caribbean with a piña colada in hand. This British designer, who’s heading back to London Fashion Week this season to celebrate the British Fashion Council’s 25 anniversary, has been designing his own label since 1997. Earlier this year, he released a collection with H&M that had fans waiting in line for 12 hours before the store opened. With fans like Katy Perry, Kelis, Sienna Miller and Keira Knightly, this man is my second-favorite UK import… After Prince Harry, of course.

PROENZA SCHOULER

So, you’re an aspiring fashion designer on a plane to New York and notice that Anna Wintour, possibly the most powerful woman in fashion, is on your flight. What do you do? Instead of cowering in sweatpants, as most of us would have done, Lazaro Hernandez, half of design duo Proenza Schouler (pronounced Skool-er) slips a note to the notorious ice-queen. One thing leads to another and in 2002, during their final year at Parsons The New School For Design, Barneys New York buys Proenza Schouler’s entire senior collection. Since then, the buzz around Hernandez and partner Jack McCollough hasn’t stopped. Their line, full of strong, timeless statement pieces that can be styled in a myriad of ways, is always one of New York Fashion Week’s most-watched show. Expect at least one Spring 2010 trend to revolve around this collection. Oh, and Lazaro, no more getting head butted by celebs, OK?

Are there any other designers you think we should know about?

All photos via style.com showcase Fall 2009 runway looks

I love Gossip Girl. Ever since I heard Kristin Bell’s first “xoxo” back in 2007, I’ve been hooked. GG’s got it all: drama, scandal, hot men, and adorable outfits. The thing about those outfits, however amazing they may be, is that they can be super expensive. So, when I heard that Anna Sui was designing a Gossip Girl inspired collection for Target, I had high hopes and was immediately excited. I even contemplated camping out at my neighborhood Target American-Idol-style the night before the line was released. But after spotting the collection online, I’m torn.

Love it:

Variety – I love that Anna decided to make a collection that showcases the style of all four Gossip Girl ladies: Blair, Serena, Jenny, and Vanessa. With the GG line, you have the opportunity to mix and match with different pieces inspired by each character, or just pick your favorite. I don’t know about you, but some days I’m a Blair and the next I’m Vanessa, so I like a collection that takes this change in style into account.

Price – Though specific prices for Anna’s collection haven’t been announced yet, it’s making it’s debut at Target, so it will definitely be budget-friendly. I might have loved the Marc Jacobs Joelle dress that Blair wore to the white party, but I most definitely do not like the price tag, or the fact that it is now sold out.

Wearability – Although I would love to be able to prance around campus in 5 inch stilettos and shirts dresses everyday a la Ms. Van Der Woodsen, it just is not practical for me. Short hemlines + tall shoes = disaster waiting to happen. Luckily though, Anna Sui found a way to emulate S’s (and B, Little J, and V’s) style in a more everyday fashion. It would be so easy to pull on any of these dresses over tights, leggings or a hot pair of socks and make them your own.

Loathe it:

Translation – Although the collection has some great looks, many of the pieces seem to have been lost in translation, or don’t fit the character’s they were inspired by. Whether this was an attempt to keep costs down, or if the design team only watched a few episodes of Gossip Girl, I’m not sure. Whatever the case though, some of these outfits are just plain weird. Serena’s outfit with the fitted bermuda shorts with bows and a vest, Vanessa’s puffy vest, Jenny’s textured tights and tie-up shirt, and pretty much all of Blair’s looks just don’t get it right; something’s off. (Perhaps the designers?)

Lack of pants – Gossip Girl by Anna Sui (or whatever they’re officially calling this line) undeniably offers some great skirts and dresses, but that’s pretty much it.  What about the skinny jeans? Shorts? Leggings? I realize that most of the outfits on the show are feminine and formal, but Serena, Vanessa, and our favorite bad girl Georgina most definitely rock pants from time to time.

Vanessa’s Looks – Why oh why are all of V’s outfits the same shades of brown, orange, and yellow?! Though she doesn’t have an Upper East Side sense of style, Vanessa’s outfits on the show are still colorful and generally pretty cute. Or at least different! Liquid leggings, a denim mini, and hot pink patent Doc Marten’s? That’s Vanessa. 70′s print orange and brown? Not so much. This girl loves neon!

So, Anna’s line is definitely slightly flawed, but it’s also the closest I’m ever going to get to an UES wardrobe. I’m so torn. What do you think??

XOXO,
CollegeCandy Girl

The Anna Sui line for Target has been revealed!

Katie Holmes dresses hobo down.

Delicious and nutritious food you can afford!

The things we do for beauty….

The sweetest dorm designer ever.

[I want it, I need it, I can’t live without it. There are so many things on store shelves and racks right now that we want to take home and hang in our closets. Things that are so cute, everyone should know about them. We’ll share ‘em with you here (because we’re that nice), but as far as actually getting them goes….well, you’re on your own with that one.]

I have a shocking confession to make: the dress before you is a maternity dress. And while I fully realize that this is a maternity dress and that’s kind of weird, there is no denying that it is adorable. A super-fit, super-skinny blonde that I know showed up to work wearing this dress and I swear I thought she bought it at Nordstrom. You can imagine my surprise then, while perusing the Target aisles for toothpaste, shampoo, and fake Hanky Pankys, I saw this dress in the Liz Lange Maternity section. Total WTF moment. Skinny girl from work is definitely not pregnant, but was also, definitely wearing this dress. So that got me thinking–if she can do it and look adorable, why can’t we? Who’s going to know?

Let’s be honest–the majority of the stuff Liz Lange makes for target is way cuter than the Converse One Star stuff that they’re selling to people our age. I want cute, cheap clothes too, Target! And I don’t mean the hit-or-miss Go International collection.

Seriously though, if it fits and it’s cute, who’s going to know (or care) that it’s maternity if you’re not pregnant? I never would have expected that this dress was pregnancy-wear, until I saw it with my very own eyes in that section, along with other adorable outfits that almost made me wish I was knocked up. Almost. The Liz Lange maxi-dress features an adorable grey V-neck with braided straps, and an ombre turquoize/teal bottom. The dress is super flattering, as it was created to skim over a baby bump, and the maxi trend is still hot for summer. Plus, you can buy an XS instead of an M! What? Just me? I promise it looks a lot cuter on someone who isn’t pregnant.

I don’t know about you girls, but I’d go maternity for this dress. I’m gonna swing by Targét Boutique and pick one up. It can be our little secret!

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.

His line doesn’t hit stores until May 17th, but CollegeCandy got a sneak peek and, being the cool girls that we are, we thought we’d give you a little taste!  The collection is full of retro, bohemian-inspired designs in bright colors and fun florals.  It is being touted as “Bohemian luxury” and includes fun dresses, skirts, jackets, and swimsuits, which means its all perfect for my much-needed Spring wardrobe makeover.

I normally use my Sundays for sleeping and America’s Next Top Model marathons, but I’ll be up bright and early on May 17th to get these looks before some other girl (like all of you!) gets her paws on ‘em. (Click on the image to see the full look!)

PS. Does that model look familiar to anyone?

Today is one of those days.

With the cute Go International line they carry, you can find a whole party appropriate ensemble (that’s all about spring trends) for under $130. And by whole I mean dress, shoes, handbag and jewelry. Even better, the accessories are versatile enough to be used for numerous other outfits!

If that isn’t a smart investment, I dunno what is.

So, with the school year coming to an end bringing with it countless soirees, I thought I’d do it up for this week’s Night Styler. This look is so cute I just ordered it online (and because it’s so cheap, I don’t even feel guilty!).

I love both of these dresses with the watermelon color. They are both sexy, trendy and totally fun. The corset style dress might not be the best for the big busted girls out there, but who can say no to a sexy black one-shoulder that shows off a little leg?

A cute black clutch is essential to any gal’s closet, and at $14.99, this is a steal.

Everyone needs to own a pair of sexy black peep-toe pumps, and this pair gets bonus points for the snakeskin print and interesting cut-out, which are both huge this season.

Jewelry makes everything party perfect, and rings and earrings are the best way to go when you have an asymmetrical neckline that doesn’t allow for a necklace. Plus, these onyx accessories will look fierce with the bright watermelon color on the dresses.

If you haven’t checked out Target (or their website) recently, make sure you get there pronto. If this look isn’t your thing I’m sure you’ll find something to your liking almost immediately. I truly believe there is nothing more fabulous than a great deal on a hot look and Target delivers.

Totes Magotes.

Fashionistas enraged over yet another delay of the U.S. opening of Topshop can take comfort in the latest news: British wunderkind Jonathan Saunders is joining the likes of Isaac Mizrahi, Libertine and Behnaz Sarafpour by creating a coveted, limited-edition collection for Target.Ranging in price from $14.99–$59.99, The Jonathan Saunders for Target collection includes a variety of fall’s “must-haves” including a cropped vest, reversible wide waist belt, long sweater cardigan, graphic tees and mini shift dresses. The exclusive line will be available online and in-store nationwide starting October 5th 2008 until the end of the month.

Check out pics of the line after the jump.

Known for his sophisticated, contemporary women’s wear, Saunders made a name for himself through his use of unexpected prints and colors to modernize simple silhouettes. His Spring 2009 New York Fashion Week collection won raves from critics who hailed his “super-colorful” fitted tops, floaty skirts and “brilliant” t-shirt style dresses.

“I love textiles, I love color,” he told NY1 last month. “It’s as simple as that.”

Stand-out pieces in his Target collection include a two-tone sleeveless button-down with skinny belt, stretch skinny pants with satin trim, an ombre chiffon skirt, a colorful marble-print long-sleeve button-down and a colorblock dress.

Even if you traded in that hard-earned internship for a paid job delivering pizzas; even if you dropped out of school and stopped paying tuition; even if you sold a kidney, maybe two, on the black market in Thailand you still wouldn’t be able to afford a pair of $14,000 knee high alligator boots from Manolo Blahnik, or a $20,000 Hermes “Birkin” bag.

If you’re a dedicated follower of fashion like me, but poor as hell (like me), you need to know about these discount shopping websites: (In alphabetical order.)

amazon.com This site isn’t just for discounted books anymore. Amazon’s apparel and accessories department offers equally amazing deals on clothing, bags, and shoes from all the top labels. There are deals for every price range from over-the-knee patent boots from Jimmy Choo for $379 ($620 off the original price) to Seven7 skinny jeans for $18, a 70% mark down.

asos.com As Seen on Screen is a British company that specializes in trendy fashion items that are based on (or the same as) items worn by your favorite celebrities. They’ve got ASOS brand leather knee-high gladiators in the style of Ashley Olsen for £55 (about $102), a studded belt identical to the one Carrie wore in the “Sex and the City” movie for £15 (about $28), and an amazing selection of items from independent designers like a sheer chiffon floral top by To Love Kuvaa for £30 (about $56).

cutesygirl.com This site has some of the cheapest designer knock-offs you’ll find anywhere on the web. They’ve got a pair of Lindsay Lohan style liquid leggings for $20 and an adorable cropped houndstooth jacket for only $36.

fashionjunkee.com This is by far the best place to find imitation designer purses. If you’re thousands of miles from Canal Street (or if the idea of Canal Street makes you retch), you’ll love Fashion Junkee. Their “Inspired by Marc Jacobs” Stam bag is a ridiculously low $46, and their “Inspired by Balenciaga” motorcycle bag is only $58 and comes in twenty different colors.

forever21.com This is the store that definitely sucks away the biggest portion of my paycheck. See a plaid Dolce & Gabbana skirt on the fall runway you’re dying to have? Chances are they’ve got a similar item in their store for about a thousand dollars less. But the store can get crowded, and the music they play is annoying, so shopping online is a godsend. They add new merchandise everyday so visit often. Also, be sure to check out their higher end (as in, a few extra Hamiltons) label Twelve by Twelve and their accessories line For Love 21.

knowlabel.com This isn’t a designer label (Know Label, get it?), but if you don’t care what the tag says then this is an amazing website to find high quality clothing at low prices. My favorite items include a little black party dress with rosettes in the style of Philip Lim for $48, and a white silk pleated babydoll top with black ribbon trim that looks like it was taken off the back of Chloe Sevigny, also only $48.

newport-news.com This site is really all about the shoes. They’ve got dresses, bikinis, and lingerie, but these items tend to be for older women, mostly in their 30s. Skip over that stuff and go right to the footwear. They’ve got a pair of studded platform oxford booties currently on sale for $39 (was $49) that I’ve been dying to buy and classic t-strap pumps in a range of colors for only $29.

rustyzipper.com This is like a flea market you don’t have to wake up at 6 AM and drive to. They’ve got hundreds of vintage items for men and women all for around $30. Shoes, pants, dresses, all categorized by style (“Disco,” “Hippie,” etc.) and era (from the 1940s to today).

target.com I try to stay away from actual Target stores because I find that I walk in just trying to buy paper towels and come home with two bras, a pair of jeans, and a George Foreman Grill. I stick to target.com to keep myself from over-shopping and to make sure that what I walk in for is what I walk away with. In recent years they’ve also earned major style points with their Go International designer labels. Currently it’s Richard Chai’s turn, but my favorite was definitely Proenza Schouler’s line. I wear their bustier top all the time!

topshop.com Supposedly the British high street chain Topshop is coming to America, but until it makes it to your city, you’ll have to settle for browsing the runway worthy duds and Kate Moss designed separates online.

Has anyone got a favorite discount shopping site they’d like to add to this list? I’m always looking for new places to burn through my savings.

I skipped through the aisles. I danced to the dressing room. I filled my cart with every last piece of the line from Richard Chai. His collection features clothes that range from business casual to Plain Jane casual. Chai’s fun yet subtle use of color runs throughout the line, while he still maintains a more sophisticated air than you would expect from a line at Target.

But, while this line has many good things to offer (the colors are fun without being over the top, most of the looks classic), it just fell short for me. (I know, I was surprised too!) A lot of the clothes felt a little too old and the cuts of the shirts made me feel shapeless. It also seriously lacked a fun and flirty side that previous Go collections flaunted. The summer line, for example, was all about, “Look at me! I’m flirty and sophisticated! Wouldn’t this outfit look great with a margarita?”

Chai’s line, however, whispers, “I was crashing with my grandma and raided her closet after I dropped dinner on my shirt.” It’s not as if anything in the line is un-wearable, just not a first-string choice.

I see where the designer was going with it but, in my opinion, it fell flat. Really flat. He confused sophistication with old age, repeated the same clothes over and over again and lacked any sort of inspiration. Although some of the items could be worked into any wardrobe most of it was just, blah.

Sorry, Target, but this line just didn’t do it for me. What’s next?!