A few weeks ago, I purchased one of the most intricate items I’ve ever come across on my standard clearance surfing safaris. It’s a floor-skimming silky lime green maxi skirt with a million accordion pleats. It moves and flows like the ocean whenever I walk. After trying it on, I immediately felt like the fashionista – bold, bright and beautiful. I decided to wear the skirt out for dinner and drinks and I felt SO confident and chic. But after a few minutes outside, I noticed a few side eyes, inquisitive looks and murmured comments from strangers, all guys. I got a lot of compliments from women, but the men looked at me like I was wearing a meat dress! And of course, most of their attention went towards the damn-near-naked women showing lots of skin, anyway.

I keep up with trends as much as the next girl. I love looking at different blogs for inspiration. I spend way too much time adding clothes to shopping carts on websites (and then talking myself out of overspending) and my best afternoons are spent leafing through glossy fashion magazines like Vogue and InStyle. But I realize that some clothes that we covet don’t translate that well for the opposite sex.

I read an article about what guys like to see us in. I’m sure you can all guess…they don’t like a lot of fussy details or baggy silhouettes. They don’t understand color blocking, the sparkly magic of sequins and glitter or complexly tied turbans. Statement necklaces are too clunky, thrifted button earrings are too heavy. Apparently, plainer equals better for men. They don’t understand the architecture of a chunky heeled Lita…they love the power of a sky-high, sexy Louboutin though. So yeah, that basically eliminates a third of my current wardrobe.

If you think about it, does a guy truly care if you’re carrying an LV Speedy vs. a Gucci Boston or a regular school logo tote? Can he really notice the difference between your mint green polish vs. the standard light green? As much painstaking detail that we occasionally put into our outfits, sometimes I genuinely wonder if it pays off.

I don’t think I’d let a guy influence my clothing choices because I’d be stuck in skinny jeans and stilettos everyday. I don’t want to part with my Uggs on cold days. I love the effortless style and comfort of my wide leg trousers in the summer. And my oversized shades make me feel like a celebrity year-round! It’s not my fault that they just don’t get it.

CollegeCandy readers, do guys affect your clothing choices? Do you dress more for yourself or for the guys in your life?

[Lead image via Kiselev Andrey Valerevich/Shutterstock]

Even though most people claim to dress with their personal comfort as a priority, I think it’s safe to say that fashion trends are never based on how “comfortable” an item is, but how original and flattering the piece is to the body. Sure, beauty requires a little pain, but some of the things people wear today are not only unfashionable, but they’re also super uncomfortable.

To be honest, I don’t even know how most of these pieces stay on the market.

initiating the gallery...

What’s the most uncomfortable thing in your closet? Do you think beauty requires a little pain or can beauty be achieved without these painful fads?

The stars were out for the premiere of the final Harry Potter movie in London last week, the there was a mix of good, bad and Helena Bonham Carter.

The dress of the night has to go to Emma Watson, who wore a stunning, strapless Oscar de la Renta dress. The dress had a silvery detailed bodice and incredible tulle skirt. She accessorized with simple earrings and a cocktail ring. The whole look was sophisticated and stylish, but also exciting and fun.

Gorgeous Bonnie Wright chose a peach-coloured gown by her favourite brand, Miu Miu. The long sleeved and detailed bodice had a vintage feel, and she accessorised with green earrings that perfectly complimented her hair. This dress is a little bit unusual, especially for the red carpet, but I think Bonnie pulls it off perfectly.

Both Clemence Poesy and Evanna Lynch went for the LWD for the premiere, accessorising with black accents. Clemence went for a ruffled backless Nina Ricci dress with a black sash, paired with Nina Ricci black peep toe platforms. Her shoes have been noted as an unusual choice, but I think they give a young, edgy element to her dress. Evanna on the other hand chose a plain white dress with lace detail, black strappy shoes and a furry bag. While I loved both the dresses, they weren’t quite as dazzling as Emma and Bonnie’s floor-length numbers. Many people have criticised Evanna’s dress, but I do think it’s cute, if not stunning.

And finally, Helena Bonham Carter. I absolutely love Helena. She doesn’t take herself too seriously, especially on the red carpet, and rarely conforms to normality. While her fascinator was a little over-the-top, I would expect nothing less. Her dark green dress was elegant and nodded to the ever-present asymmetric trend.

[Like it or not, we all judge people every day. Especially when it comes to their fashion choices. From the girl with the too-short skirt for class to the old guy who insists on wearing short shorts and doing butterfly stretches at the gym (yeah, try to get that visual out of your head), it's impossible not to form an opinion. And now we're gonna share those opinions with the world. Every week, I'll be highlighting a celebrity look that I may love/hate/not understand and see what you, my college fashionistas, think about it. So put on your Joan Rivers fashion cap (which is undoubtedly made out of all the skin she's had nipped and tucked over the years) and let it all out.]

Oh Coop…I mean Mischa. Where did it all go wrong? A few years ago you were Marissa Cooper, darling f-up of The OC. We also loved your wavy locks and the way you started every sentence with “So…” We loved your on/off romance with Ryan and that brief lesbian fling you had with the girl from House. But then you got knocked off and it was all downhill from there really, wasn’t it? Then it was drugs and weight gain and drama for a few years. The OC became that-thing-we-watched-before-Gossip-Girl-started and Blake Lively replaced you as the hottest screw up on the silver screen.

But then you came back. You designed some (actually really nice) handbags and things were looking good. And then this happened.

Okay, as usual, I’ll start with the (one) positive- LOVE THE SHOES. Okay, I also love the colour- you can’t you wrong in black. But then there’s the negatives- it’s sheer over the boobs, it has some crazy pouffing in the skirt going on, and the neck piece looks like you massacred Big Bird’s evil twin.

I really, really want you to get back on top form, Coop. But I can’t get past this one. What do you guys think? Epic train wreck, or cutting edge fashion?

Most girls can claim a love for fashion, and I am one of those girls. But my love runs deep. I live and breathe the stuff. Fashion Week is the best week of my year (yes, better than Welcome Week!), the fashion magazines are my bibles and I spend my days finding new and interesting ways to incorporate runway fashions into my college wardrobe.

It is no wonder, then, that my holiday wish-list is filled with high fashion items seen only on runways…and 5th Avenue. While I probably (ok, definitely) won’t be seeing any of the following items under my Christmas Tree this year, I do want them. Really, really badly.

1. This purple Proenza Schuler dress.

It’s got all of this year’s trends going on: it’s purple, it’s got ruffles, it’s pretty…and it’s only $1,999 on E-Bay!

2. Burberry Prorsum Sequin Cardigan. $2,995.

I. love. sequins. It adds an element of drama to every ensemble, and this sweater does it with elegance. Too bad it costs more than my first car.

3. Valentino clutch.

Bows are huge this year and I love this huge bow. How cute would this look with a black shirt, skinny jeans and a pair of pumps? It’s unique and fabulous all at the same time.

4. Dior Jeweled Shopper handbag. $3,200.

I love how bright this bag is and the added detailing of the gold designs. If only I didn’t need to sell everything I own in order to carry it.

5. A pair of Christian Louboutin pumps.

Come on, who doesn’t want a pair of these super sexy, super exclusive red-bottomed shoes? I’d do just about anything to strut my stuff in a pair of these on Christmas morning.

You got a (ridiculous) wish list this year? What do you want? 

While I love finding the perfect gifts for people and seeing their faces as they open them, I must admit, all this holiday shopping has got me wanting to get a few gifts of my own. It doesn’t help that there are great sales EVERYWHERE. Unfortunately, those sales are linked to the crappy economy, which means I don’t have the freedom to snatch them up right now, and yet, I want nothing more than to buy myself this ensemble to be lookin’ mighty fine into the new year.

(Note: I found most of these things on bluefly or piperlime, so they’re discounted. Does that make it better?)

I am in love with this Marc by Marc Jacobs shirt. I love the main blue color, I love the plum details and I love that it’s flowy on the bottom to hide those extra holiday pounds, but with the structuring I’m confident it’d make my boobs look quite spectacular.

Pair it with these hot, dark wash skinny jeans by Joe’s Jeans (which always look great on my bootie) and I’ll be accenting the great stuff and hiding the not-so-great.

I’m a shoe fanatic and a firm believer that shoes can make or break an outfit. I’m loving these shoes because of their gorgeous color (which will bring out that lovely plum in the shirt), the t-straps (which are huge right now) and the fact that they’re wedges, which makes ‘em all the more comfy to wear out for a night on the town.

The icing on the cake are these hot jewelry pieces from Lucid New York; beautiful hand-made jewelry at a great price.

And, just because every woman wants a Chanel bag, I have to add it to my list. I know it’s never gonna happen, but maybe? I’ve been a very good girl this year.

Now hopefully my boyfriend took my advice and is getting me a few of the things on my wishlist!

[Do you ever feel like you can’t pull something off? Have trendy pieces in your closet that you would never have the courage to actually wear out? Well take those pieces out, shake off the dust, and continue reading!

In this series, I will choose a different piece that can be difficult to incorporate into an outfit and give you ideas on how to wear it. If there’s anything you would like to read about in the future, please leave a comment!]

It’s really starting to get cold out there now, but you can stay warm by adding a few furry touches to your wardrobe. Models on the fall runways sported real fur, but faux fur is a more wallet- and animal – friendly option. While it may be a little unrealistic and over the top for a college girl to sport a big fur coat, here are some ways you can subtly slip this trend into your wardrobe:

1) On the hood of your coat/sweatshirt (bonus warmth if it lines the coat too!). This is a really simple way to add some faux fur to your look. Wear it with jeans and your warmest boots.

Coat, Abercrombie & Fitch $200. Jeans, Seven For All Mankind $165. Boots, EMU Australia $90. Bag, Forever 21 $26.80.

Here are some more furry hood options. Click to learn more:

2) On your collar. This look was huge this fall and looks very chic and sophisticated.

Coat, Juicy Couture $385. Jeans, Charlotte Russe $30. Bag, Old Navy $16.50. Boots, Steve Madden $100.

Some more faux fur collared coats:

3) On your legs. Boots with the fur are always cute and stylish for winter. Tuck your jeans in, or wear them with leggings to keep your feet cozy.

All I can ask is that, no matter how cold it is at your school, PLEASE don’t succumb to this trend and wear these ugly things (I’m not even telling you where they’re from!):

4. On your head. Winter accessories are another great way to add some fur without looking crazy. Here are a few great faux-fur options.

We all love gettin’ a little booty, and the movers and shakers of the fashion world are taking that to heart. The Bootie is everywhere. It is more than a shoe, but less than a boot. You’ve seen it paired with everything from skinny jeans to skirts. It is all the rage on the Fashion Week runways right now.

But what do you think? Can everyone pull these off? Can you?

Booties: Love em or Hate em?

For the next two weeks while battling with my insurance company about their obligation to pay for a new one, I was completely phoneless. And surprisingly, I found that while not being able to call my roommate or receive text messages from my BFF was disheartening, the most annoying thing about not having a phone was that I never knew what f*cking time it was. During my time of mandatory cell abstinence, I commented on this fact to my mother. Her response was thought-provoking.

“Why don’t you get a watch?”

A watch? The last time I had a watch, I was in sixth grade. It was a gift from my parents for my twelfth birthday and on the face was an image of Elmo whose arms ticked away the minutes. At the time, I thought it was the sh*t and all my ladyfriends agreed, but when the leather straps crumbled the following summer I was pretty well over it and I’ve never felt the need to get a new one, Elmo-themed or otherwise.

Which leads me to ask the question, are watches obsolete? In this age when everyone has a phone that they have on their person more or less at all times, is there really a need for watches? The only people I can think of who do have watches are people like my mom and grandma who grew up in the Dark Ages before Verizon existed, and even they have the option of telling time with their phones. It would seem that their insistence on wearing watches stems from a deep-seated habit of looking at their wrist when someone asks the time as opposed to rooting in their pockets.

So what purpose, then, do watches serve? Are they merely nostalgic relics of a simpler time? Or are they still relevant in some way? While ruminating on this topic, I noticed a very interesting trend; in every high-fashion magazine I read, at least 1/5 of the advertisements I saw were for watches. And not Elmo watches either – we’re talking gold and tiger’s eye Gucci, platinum and Swarovski crystal Patek Philippe, white leather and diamond Fendi, all costing thousands of dollars.

Which led me to construct this theory – watches have become the ultimate status symbol. Think about it: watches are essentially frivolous, somewhat rare, and even the least fashion-savvy individuals recognize that a watch is an accessory that commands respect. People who wear watches are people who have places to be and things to do. People who wear watches are people who own furniture and never have to ask their parents to help out with the rent. People who wear watches subtly but proudly sport them on their wrist as a testament to their status as Grown-Ups.

At the age of 22, I will fully admit that I have not reached the Watch Wearing stage of life. But at least I now have something to aspire to.

Out of every season of Project Runway, this is the first time I absolutely LOVED all three collections. Rami’s woven pieces and Jillian’s knit wear made me wish I knew how to use a sewing machine. And know how to draw. And be a fashion designer. Or maybe just have it all in my closet. (Hey a girl can dream right?)

But 21-year-old Christian Siriano’s final collection proved he has what it takes to play in the majors. His collection of skinny trousers, ruffles, high collars and big belts (and a delectable two-tone feathered gown) were so extravagantly detailed and were screaming high fashion. Not to mention, he got Victoria Beckham to (gasp!) SMILE. (Which even she admitted was a tough feat to accomplish, as she told him she would love to wear his stuff)

And while I probably won’t fit into anything His Fierceness makes, I am still really excited to see what he has up his sleeve. But Christian has other plans first. “I’m, like, really excited but, let me tell you, I am taking, like, a vay-cay. I need a breaky-break,” (and I’m, like, really going to miss hearing this kid speak).

His grand prize? (you know, in case you don’t remember them saying it every single week) A six-page Elle spread, the opportunity to sell his line on bluefly.com, a 2008 Saturn Astra and $100,000 to start his own line.

“This won’t be the last of Christian Siriano. I mean, people need to see more of the fierceness.”

While waiting to see more of the fierceness, I’m soo ready for a season five (lest I be stuck watching another episode of Moment of Truth) but for now, in the words of one Ms. Heidi Klum: Auf Wiedersehen