[It's pretty obvious that the average CollegeCandy reader has some very strong opinions. Opinions that she likes to share with everyone on the site. We love a strong woman, so we thought we'd give her a real forum to discuss her thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. Every Friday I'll be featuring a hot topic (like moving in to save money!) and leaving it up to you, the readers, to duke it out. So, read it and get your debate on in the comments section below!]

Ok, it’s no secret that we’re loving the skinny jean (even if it’s not always good for us) and leggings have been a fall go-to for the past several years, but now that the two have combined it’s time to decide how we really feel about this leg-covering love child – jeggings.

Jeans+leggings seems like it would be great idea, what with the era of the super-skinny jean everywhere, and in many ways they are. To start with, the hours of trying on required to find the perfect skinny jean? Gone, thanks to the jegging. They stretch, so you know they’ll fit you – even if you’re a weird in-between size (like me) or you have a “non-typical” body type, like thin but with muscular thighs.

That whole pocket problem (too far apart? too big? too small? too embellished?) is out the window too, since these babies don’t have pockets. And jeggings let you get away with things you probably couldn’t with regular leggings, like shorter tops, because the denim aspect makes them more “pants lite” than “hosiery.” Read More »

I’m pretty sure there is nothing better in life than a really fantastic sale section. Especially at a store stocked with things you already love. Take home some awesome finds on the cheap? Yes please!

Much like Urban Outfitters and Express, Tilly’s is chock full of really cute stuff at a somewhat “affordable” price. But it is in their fabulous sale section where you really hit the fashion jackpot. They’ve got everything from basics to statement pieces to stock your closet, and all of it is ch-ch-cheap. Here are a few items I found to be totally darling and will fulfill your inner frugalista. Read More »

So, Express isn’t cheap. That is pretty obvious when you walk in and the hot shirt your eying for your birthday party is marked at $49. But every few months, they have a major sale. And I mean major. The kind that makes you giddy and happy and willing to sift through giant over-stuffed racks because the deals are just. that. good.

You see, Express marks their stuff down to really low prices and then gives you an additional 20% off of that! That is some serious saving on a lot of really cute stuff. It’s a frugal fashionista’s dream. And that dream is coming true right now.

I sifted through the (digital) racks for you and pulled 8 of my favorite pieces. They’re all under $20, so you can stock your closet without that annoying guilt getting in the way. Read More »

I own a lot of jeans. A lot. I have my comfy jeans for class, I have my sexy jeans for going out, I have my fat jeans for the end of the school year when nothing else fits, and I have my weekend jeans with the giant holes in the knees/between my legs where my thighs rub together.

What I don’t have is a pair that glows in the dark.

I know! What’s wrong with me? How have I survived college this long without Diesel’s latest design that glows bright white under the dim lighting so common in sweaty frat basements? It’s amazing I’m even here to tell the tale.

OK, so at first glance glow-in-the-dark pants might seem appropriate for raves and raves only, but upon further inspection these things could really be a great investment. Just think about all the times a pair of glowing legs might come in handy:

1) When you’re scrambling around a stranger’s dorm room at 3 am after a particularly lackluster bedroom performance. You gotta find those clothes quickly and get out of there without him waking up. But how does one find her jeans on a floor littered with dirty clothes and – ew – week-old Chinese food? I bet you’re praying for some glow-in-the-dark pants now, aren’t ya? Read More »

My #1 accessory for going out is not a Blair Waldorf headband or a killer bib necklace. It’s my Victoria’s Secret Very Sexy push-up bra. It not only gives my boobs an extra couple of inches of sexy, but it creates the perfect cleavage to enhance my ultra low cut tops. Without it, I’d look like a boy in a cami. With really great hair.

I realize that wearing it can be considered false advertising being that my boobs shrink a few sizes the moment it comes off, but I don’t care. That bra makes me look and feel sexy and I’d be lost (at least my chest would be) without it.

Well, watch out girls, because thanks to Calvin Klein, guys, too, could be packing less heat than meets the eye.

Mr. Klein, a man I now presume is packing light downtown, has just introduced a new line of jeans with “body defining fit for an enhanced profile.” In layman’s terms, a padded crotch.

Yes, guys can now lure in the ladies with a few extra padded inches. Read More »

Ok, so Delia*s may not seem like the best place to find some threads once you’re out of high school, but if you look in the right places, it’s a wardrobe gold mine. They have some great basics, even better accessories, and a lot of their stuff is trendy on the cheap (especially if you check out their seasonal clearance/sale). There really is a lot to choose from, but here are some of my absolute faves, all for under $20! Read More »

I love shopping, but I just can’t help but feel a tad guilty every time I invest in another mother-earth-will-cry-when-I-wear-this kinda number.

I know that the clothing industry contributes to global warming, air and water pollution, and tons of waste, but I really can’t bring myself to be Goodwill’s number one customer.  Don’t get me wrong, thrift and consignment shopping is awesome, especially in economic times such as these, but once in a while I want something new of my own.

So what’s a girl to do?  Find cute, eco-conscious clothes that don’t make you look like you’re wearing a sack of potatoes.  And that’s exactly what I have done.  All of these have been cuteness certified by yours truly, so feel free to go ahead and splurge!

Plato’s Closet:  This is one of my personal faves.  It’s a consignment shop, but this place is anything but shabby.  They have tons of designer jeans for super cheap – plus they’re pre-broken in.  I also sell a lot of my clothes here because you get money up front instead of having to wait the 10 years for your senior prom dress to finally sell.  Cute clothes, money in your pocket, and green shopping – what more could you ask for?  Check out the Plato’s Closet website for locations in your area!

Good Society Denim: Now to move on to the new stuff.  The best thing about Good Society denim is that their clothes look like high quality designer jeans with all the benefits of an organic label.  They only use 100% fair trade organic denim, making all of their products entirely sustainable.  The top of my wish list is their Straight Cut Denim in Raw, which, at the semi-meager price of $93 (hey, it’s cheap compared to the $210 True Religions everyone is wearing), is soon to become a reality.

Stewart and Brown: Established in 2002, Stewart and Brown is one of the top non-granola-y green brands out there.  They have a cute, Urban Outfitters-esque style featuring clothes only made from 100% organic cotton grown from non-genetically modified seeds and other sustainable fabrics.  Plus, they donate 1% of their profit to various charities to keep giving back.  Pick up one of their cute dresses and then bask in your eco-conscious glory.

Beyond Skin:  100% of Beyond Skin’s shoes are vegan and made from entirely earth-friendly materials such as polyurethane leather and polyester satins.  And like Stewart and Brown, Beyond Skin donates a percentage of their profits to environmental and social projects.  I personally recommend the Cherub pumps in black hemp (you can’t even tell it’s not leather).  All products are shipped from England, so it’s not the most eco-conscious thing for us Americans, but it’s definitely better than the fugly pleather alternatives.

I’ve known for years that Wal-Mart was a great place to go to get cheap snacks, toiletries, electronics, etc., but I never thought I’d buy clothes there. There is only one big-box store whose dressing rooms I’ll enter and that is Tarjay. There is no way any K-Mart, Wal-Mart, or any other mart could produce fashion that would catch my eye.

But I think I judged too soon. I recently made a late-night run to Wal-Mart for some milk, batteries and a plant (don’t ask) and discovered that they have tons of cute clothes for super cheap.  I hate to admit it, but Miley Cyrus’ line (she collaborated with Max Azria) is adorable and beyond affordable, and they have tons of other cute stuff by brands that were totally cool when I was a kid (yet look great now), like OP, Sassoon, and Jordache, just to name a few.

Unfortunately, many of the pieces in Miley’s line are sold out online, but you can always check out a Wal-Mart near you to see if they still have some of the oh-so-cute pieces.  And without further ado, a few of my faves from Wal-Mart (I plan on stocking up for fall/winter!). Read More »

Fashion’s obsession with denim continues with some hot new trends that move beyond the basic boyfriend and skinny jean. Update your wardrobe with these chic denim looks for fall for every budget:

Denim Leggings (or Jeggings):

The next generation of skinny jeans, the stretchy skin tight denim / legging hybrid looks great paired with boyfriend blazers, tunic tops and chunky knit sweaters. Depending on your style, choose heels, ballet flats, ankle or tall boots, or even Converse sneakers to complete the look.

Denim Jackets:

The classic jean jacket returns as a hot trend to wear with everything from dresses, pants, and yes – even jeans. The secret to wearing your denim jacket with jeans? Make sure one piece is a dark wash and the other a medium or light wash denim. Read More »

Just because summer is over, doesn’t mean you have to mourn. With the start of fall comes new opportunities – including new clothes (!!!). And what’s one piece you just gotta get this season? The skirt. It’s chic and fun and more versatile than a pair of jeans.

Yes, really!

Skirts can be worn dressed up or dressed down. You can wear them over bare legs to show off that tan, or layered over a fun pair of tights when the weather gets cool. You can rock them to class with a tank and flats, or pull ‘em up a little higher with a tucked in cami and some heels for a night on the town. There is so much fashion opportunity with a skirt, you’d be a fool not to get at least one. Or, you know, all sixteen of these. Read More »