We all have that friend who can wear the same dress over and over and over again, but each time it somehow looks new. Or different. Or cooler. “I wish I could do that,” you think as you stare at your dress and think that by wearing different shoes you will somehow achieve a whole new look.

FAIL FAIL FAIL, my friends.

Fact is, in order to make a dress look new and different you must change all components surrounding it. If you wore tights and heels last time, wear leggings and flats this time around. If you rocked red lipstick before, do a smokey eye and a muted lip. Add accessories, switch out the belt that came with it for a new chunky detailed belt, throw on a blazer…

Think about that piece in your wardrobe like your favorite fro yo place with an add-your-own-toppings bar: Oreo makes everything better the options are endless! Read More »

[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 »

In case you’ve been locked in a soundproof, internet, cell phone, and calendar-free room for the past week, let me be the first to remind you that there’s a holiday happening this Saturday. A wonderful holiday full of tricks, sweets, and more grown-up treats. A holiday that lets every girl unleash her inner sex kitten, vixen, or Beyonce—provided she’s old enough. A holiday that makes it okay to wear anything, even glow in the dark pants. (Um… unless you’re a dude who wants to wear leggings. That’s never okay.)

But Halloween’s not all candy and luminescent trousers. You’ve got to be careful that you know how to get rid of full-face makeup before you make a move on that chubby but hilarious cutie in the SuperJew costume. You’ve also got to remember to watch the volume after taking him home. And try to manage your expectations about the encounter—this isn’t a movie, after all.

It’s also important to make sure you don’t accidentally raise the dead. Of course, if you do have any encounters with a zombie, it’ll be easy enough to find another final resting place for him—just stop into your local Walmart .

Either way, you’ll definitely have a ton of sweet pictures to add to your Facebook on November 1. And if your overindulgence on Saturday gives you a little bit of extra cushion for the pushin’, you can always call your friendly neighborhood plastic surgeon and get that flab turned into something fabulous.

Transformations: they’re not just for Halloween anymore.

The jacket that started it all.

About 3 years ago, I was visiting my Grandma in… wait for it… Florida. Perusing her closet for vintage finds (clothes that are too young for her, clothes that don’t fit her, or clothes I think I can make look ‘cool’ all the while loving that I will be able to say “it was my grandma’s!”) is a standard for every trip down to the land where dinner is eaten somewhere in the 4 o’clock hour.

Over the years I’ve found some GREAT things in there. Amazing costume jewelery, crocheted ponchos (when they were at their peak) and the coolest belts. But this time, this time I stopped dead in my tracks. Behind her housecoats and orthopedic shoes, shining in all their amazing glory: 2 sequined, shoulder padded, totally rad blazers. And I was in L-O-V-E.

Keep in mind, this was long before sequins made their way back to the shelves, but I loved the extravagant elegance of it all. I loved putting it on and feeling like I should be back on stage doing my time steps and shuffling off to Buffalo. So I took them with me and finally got the confidence to wear them last year.

This season (as we pointed out yesterday) sequins are everywhere and if you haven’t gotten in on the trend yet, try it on for size. It’s intimidating on the hanger – maybe even ugly – but once you bathe yourself in the glitz that you used to only use for art projects in 2nd grade, you will never want to go back!

Of course, you gotta do it right or else you may end up looking like Cher circa 1988. The key to wearing sequin pieces is keeping everything else SIMPLE. Really simple. Super duper simple. Get it? Got it? Good. Read More »

One of the best things about fall (besides Halloween, candy corn, pumpkin everything, Honeycrisp apples, etc.) is switching up your wardrobe. If you live in a colder climate (read: hell. frozen. over) like me, each October you yank your tanks and dresses from your closet (shed a few tears) and swap ‘em out for the sweaters and boots stuffed under your bed. And then you hit the mall to add a few new fun pieces to your already warm and snuggly fall/winter wardrobe.

But what should you add? With so many trends happening right now, you don’t have the space (or, more realistically, the money) to load up on everything this season. You need the best of the best – the items that are cute and functional and will get you through until the snow melts…in June.

Perhaps we can help. This week I asked the CollegeCandy writers to share their fall/winter fashion must-haves. See what they’re lovin’ this season and stock up on a bit of it for yourself. Sure, they may not have the best taste in men, but when it comes to fashion, they know their ish. 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 »

No, Russell, these aren't even OK on you.

When it comes to fashion, Americans seem to be a little late on the uptake. More often then not, fashion trends start elsewhere before they creep their way over to NYC, L.A., and the rest of this fine place we call home. While this often leaves us waiting in anticipation for the latest craze in handbags or jeans to make their way into our closets, we aren’t always leaping to be the next nation to pick up a trend.

And right now that trend that we’re praying will pass us by is Meggings.

Yes, meggings. Leggings for men. Grown men. They have blown up in Tokyo (and have been spotted in Paris, London, and, gasp, New York), with men sporting them under shorts and with boots. And not just to keep warm during a morning run on a cold winter day.

This is a full-blown fashion statement just screaming “Look At My Junk!”

Being that I live in NYC, the first stop for new trends, I’ve recently had the honor of a run-in with a pair of meggings. And it was brutal. Seriously, I don’t like watching girls walk around flaunting their camel-toes in these things and now I’m forced to deal with full-frontal on a dude? Read More »

Ever since Rachel Zoe became a permanent fixture in our TV lives and our everyday vernacular, faux fur vests and trims has found their way into our closets and our hearts.  Everywhere you look these days there’s someone lookin’ all warm, snuggly and painfully chic underneath a faux fur something. It’s OK if you wanna rock it too; it’s glamorous and fake, so no one will be tossing paint cans at you on your way to class.

And even better:  your faux fur look can be faux expensive. There are tons of options out there right now from Target to Urban that are trendy and cheap. For the total Zoe look, pair the vest with a giant Starbucks tea, huge sunglasses and act as if the smallest hiccups in life are the beginning of the end of the world (oh, and obviously don’t forget to throw in a couple of “I Die’s”  every 3 minutes).

But for those of us who like the look but not the RZ-emo, rock the vest with a toned down ‘fit because the fur is a total statement. And Rachel Zoe fan or not – you will look ba-nanas. Read More »

I have a love/hate relationship with Urban Outfitters. I fall madly in love with everything on the racks, but hate how much they charge for shirts, skirts and dresses that usually fall apart after a few go-rounds in the washing machine. But then I fall in love again when those trendy little Urban employees stock the sale racks with all that gorgeous goodness.

The Urban sale section might be one of the only ones I’m willing to elbow, shove and push my way through. They have some of the best deals around on some serious cuteness, much of it $19.99 or less! Here are some of my favorite pieces that are all under $20. The best part: you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your couch or tempt yourself with the rest of the overpriced items en route to the sale section. Read More »

I just discovered The 15 Dollar Store online, where everything is (drumroll please)…15 buckaroos.  They def have some cute stuff and even some brands like Romeo & Juliet Couture, Rampage and Chinese Laundry at 50% or more off!  They sell everything from clothes to shoes to accessories and with the $15 price tag on all items, there’s no need to feel guilty… Read More »