I’ll never forget the year that Uggs first became popular, also known as the year that everyone on campus started to look like the science school had cloned humans. Maybe you remember the trend from bottom to top: It started with the tan (salt-stained) Uggs, and the black leggings, and the oversized shirt-dress. Just thinking about it makes me shudder. After spending many winters with snow stuffed sneakers resisting the Ugg-ly movement, it’s time to praise a boot that dared to be different.

This must be the first winter boot I’ve seen that doesn’t look like the offspring of the Ugg, not even it’s second cousin twice removed. The Women’s Bayshore Tall Boot from Sperry Top-Sider is from another family entirely.  (Yup! Sperry’s aren’t just for East Coast LAX boys anymore!) If you don’t want to keep confusing your boots with your roommate’s on the way out the door, you definitely need these.

The genius behind these boots is that THEY LACE UP. Who would have thought that not every person’s calf is one-size fits all when it comes to boots? Well Sperry Top-Sider thought of it. Nothing is worse then buying a pair of boots just to realize you have to buy a bunch of new skinny-leg jeans just to fit them in your boots, and the only thing worse than that is soaking-wet jeans because your campus refuses to shovel properly. And when you see that set of stairs that’s still caked with snow 3 days after a snowstorm, you can skip down them confidently with the awesome tracking on these bad boys. These will save you a lot of butt-bruises, broken laptops and humiliation- trust me.

The black is definitely my favorite, and the trimming of fur on the top is a nice touch instead of knowing you have a bunch hidden inside your boot that no one can actually see. And no worries, animal lovers – the genuine shearling is made from pelt, which means the fur is simply shaved from the sheep. No harm done! Read More »

[Welcome to Celebrity Chic on the Cheap, where our style guru takes a celebrity look and breaks it down for you, our poor college fashionista. What does that mean? It means that while the celebrities are spending $5,000 on an ensemble (even for comfy, everyday outfits!) you don’t have to. All you have to do is click on the goods and - boom - you can buy the entire look. For cheap. Yes, we know - there is a spot for her in heaven.]

I’m convinced Blake Lively is one of those women who was genetically engineered to make 90 percent of the female population feel woefully inferior in one way or another. Her hair, her figure, her relationship with Anna Wintour, her relationship with Penn Badgley, her thriving acting career, her work wardrobe, her beautiful personal style… there’s something for everyone to hate on.

And the worst part is, she has the audacity to seem really sweet and fun, so you can’t even really hate her. In short, she is perfect.

And so is this outfit. Read More »

There are a lot of reasons to look forward to autumn: pumpkin spice lattes, the leaves changing color, good television, and – oh yeah – Fall fashion. September is the January of the fashion world, with designers battling it out to set this year’s trends, and magazines battling it out to report them.

The September Issues are back for another year, and bigger than ever. This month’s Vogue was over 700 pages. Glamour released its largest issue in 20 years.  And don’t forget about InStyle, Elle, Marie Claire, and Harper’s Bazaar. That’s a lot of reading material, even for a seasoned fashionista. So consider this your fashion cheat sheet. I’ve drooled over slaved over pages and pages of bags, boots, coats, and colors to bring you this seasons it items (without 497 pages of ads). Enjoy! Read More »

Days as a Freshman: 72

Mood: Jumpy

“Grace?”

Sasha’s voice was louder this time, his hand still on my foot. He thought I was sleeping. Maybe I should pretend to sleep through his visit? I didn’t have to sit up and talk to him.

“Hey, Sasha.” But I did anyway. Pushing the pillow off my head I turned around and sat up in my bed. I rubbed my eyes a little to make it look like I had been sleeping, not like I had been wide-awake and contemplating answering him for the last thirty seconds.

“Hey.” Sasha smiled. The kind of smile I knew too well. The sweet, friendly smile that lit up his whole face and my whole chest. It’d be nice to live in that smile. Sleep on it like a hammock.

“What’s up? I thought you’d be out with everyone else.” I pulled a few stray pieces of hair behind my ears and wondered what I looked like. It wasn’t impressive, whatever it was. Nothing like the short skirts and lace up boots that were undoubtedly walking all over campus tonight. Nothing like the type of girls Sasha hung out with on a daily basis.

“Oh, I’m wearing a costume. Can’t you tell?” Read More »