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!

Love the feminine lace on this cardi and the ivory means it’ll go with any color.  It can be paired with a cami and jeans, or a simple dress for two totally different looks.

This sweatshirt’s boatneck, stripes and color combo make it a lot more stylin’ than your everyday hoodie and is a great option for those morning-afters when you have no energy to put effort into your look.

Show that you’re down with 2 turntables and a microphone with this tee; it’s one of several under $10 at Delia’s site right now.

The loose fitting v-neck is my wardrobe. It can be thrown on for just about any look. Pair it with a cami underneath for class, leave your chest bare and accessorize with a bib necklace for going out, wear it with sweats, wear it with a high waisted skirt. Sigh. It’s the perfect wardrobe addition.

This dress is perf for a night on the town, but can also be dressed down with a cropped blazer/jacket, a pair of tights and flats.

These mittens are not only adorable, they’re a great way to keep your hands warm in these upcoming colder months, while still maintaining use of your fingers when absolutely necessary (like when you run into an ex and need to text your girls ASAP).

Cords are another great option for keeping warm this winter and the bootcut and low-rise of these makes ‘em modern enough that you won’t feel like you stepped back into the 70′s for the day.

Scarves not only do a body good in the warmth department, they do a wardrobe good as a simple statement piece.  Delia’s has lots of options for all different styles, so pick one out that fits your personal look and rock it with anything from a deep v t-shirt (see, another way to work it!) to a simple black skirt/white shirt combo.

A warm fashionista is a happy fashionista!

[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!]

Is anyone else getting tired of skinny jeans? I mean they look great on people like Kate Moss and Nicole Richie, but for those of us without personal trainers rocking skinny jeans can make one feel a little self-conscious. If you feel more comfortable with a wider pant (something a little more forgiving of that 3 a.m. Chinese food feast), then I suggest my current favorite style: wide leg jeans.

Wide leg jeans are just as trendy as skinny jeans right now, but they flatter a wider variety of body shapes. The difference between a wide leg pant and a pant that is wide at the bottom (i.e. flared denim), is that they fall from the hips instead of the knee break. To me, this makes them seem a bit more dressed up than other pant styles because most dress pants are constructed similarly. However, wide leg jeans are definitely still appropriate for class or a night out.

If you are just purchasing your first pair of trouser or wide leg jeans, you are probably wondering what to wear with them. There are two keys to rocking wide leg denim:

1)Wear a fitted top. Too often I see people make the mistake of wearing a baby doll or other wide top with their wide leg denim and the result is: WIDE. This does not necessarily mean that you have to wear something skin tight, but you should put on a slimmer top to help balance out the wideness of your jeans. The tank on the left, from Abercrombie ,is an example of a shirt you should not wear with wide leg jeans, while the Arden B top on the right would be perfect.

2) Watch your hemlines. Perfect tailoring will make any pair of jeans look amazing, but it is especially important for wide leg pants. The hem of your jeans should just skim the floor to create a long and lean look. This means that you won’t be able to wear the same pair of wide leg jeans with your heels and ballet flats – you have to commit to one (PLEASE – no cuffing!).

My favorite brand for wide leg jeans is 7 For All Mankind. Both pairs are super comfortable and stretchy. For a high waist, try the Ginger style (left). If you prefer a lower waistline try the Dojo style (right). Both are available at Nordstrom.

This pair of jeans from American Eagle is also really cute (for only $50!). The best part is that it comes in Long, Regular, Short, and X-Long styles so you might be able to skip the tailor!

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Um. It looks like my grandpa started designing clothes!

Or maybe not. Even he doesn’t wear his pants this high. What were the people at Society for Rational Dress thinking?

Their designs are typically chic, simple and beautiful. But these? These “pants” are pleading for a camel toe. And a nursing home.

And where exactly does the zipper start? What does one wear with a pair of pants that belts at the breasts? Does this look come in capris?

I know that we are trying to move away from the low rise fad that leaves cracks exposed and the infamous muffin top, but this is taking things a bit too far, no?