Every girl needs a good purse (or 12). Whether you’re going for groceries or running from class to class, they are simply essential for holding all your, uh, essentials. Each week, I’m going to show you a fashionable, yet functional purse for the college crowd and let you know why you absolutely need it! I apologize ahead of time to your bank account.

Last time I did a purse inventory (it has to be done when you’ve got a collection like mine), I realized something: all of my purses are super-sized. You won’t find any mini’s hanging around in my closet! I’m 5’8, so I can rock larger purses and since I’m a student, I’m always looking for purses that fit at least a textbook and a notebook. However, this can be a problem when I’m looking for a lighter purse for a day of shopping or a night of margaritas at the local club. Can you imagine lugging a giant leather hobo to the bar? Don’t try it – speaking from experience here. So, when I saw Marc Jacobs Little Ukita, I knew it had to be mine.

The Little Ukita is a perfectly-sized purse. It measures 13 L x 10 H x 3.5 D and has both a short and long strap, making it super functional. You can even wear it cross-body! The leather is super buttery and the chic, graphic lining makes for a nice contrast. Every season, MBMJ keeps this classic shape in their rotation, but spices it up by releasing it in a whole new range of shades.

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It’s starting to get hot, hot, hot outside! While I’m stuck in landlocked Alberta, where no one has pools, I’m sure many of you out there are gearing up to start hitting the beach, or hang out poolside on a weekly (if not daily) basis.

Whether you choose to wear a bikini or a one-piece, you’re going to need a cover-up for going to the beach, or even just covering up a bit to avoid extreme sun exposure.  Lucky for you there are some really cute options this year that will easily transition from the beach to the boardwalk (assuming you dry yourself up enough to avoid those pesky wet marks around your boobs…). Seriously, toss a pair of wedges and a few bangles into your beach bag and you can take these things all over town.

So put on your sunscreen, grab your shades and don a cute cover-up as you get ready to hang out by the water!

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With so many summer colors and patterns to choose from this year, it’s hard to know what to pair them with. While you could pair the bright yellows, pretty pastels or the super popular turquoise with denim, khaki or another solid neutral, the bold black and white prints available this season are a more interesting way to go.

There are many interesting black and white items to choose from, on everything from shoes to headbands to rompers.  This year they can be found on black and white prints in the form of stripes, florals, an abstract print and many, many more interesting patterns.  Additionally, white items with black accents, or black items with white accents are a super cute way to wear this combination.  With so many black and white items to choose from, who needs to live in Technicolor? Read More »

Photo courtesy of The Sartorialist

Tomorrow is Memorial Day and you know what that means: beer, hot dogs, and your dad making inappropriate weiner jokes by the grill.

But you know what else it means? Summer. is. here. and it’s time to bust out those summer whites that make you look super chic and extra tan. White pants not your thing? Not a problem; there’s a little white for everyone this season, from tops to tanks to statement necklaces (their statement being “I know I look fabulous!”). Slap some SPF on that skin, slip into a few of these and embrace the season of iced beverages, late night cookouts and the perfect beachy waves.

Just be sure to stay away from sangria, ketchup, grass, berries…. er… be careful out there.

[Click on the items below to get all the shopping info!] Read More »

I spy with my little eye a whole lot of pastels.

And no, I’m not talking about those tasty Cadbury mini-eggs (even though I’ve got plenty of those too – they’re so cheap after Easter!).

Pastels reminiscent of the colors of everyone’s favorite chocolate Easter treat have made their way onto store shelves and I am excited!  Pale blues, pinks, yellows, greens, etc. have a way of lifting the spirits, like a warm spring breeze or the smell of flowers on your way to class.

I love how pastels are shamelessly girly and flirty, especially when found in the form of ruffled tops or floral prints. But what I love even more is how seamlessly they work with edgier pieces, adding a feminine flair without making you look too sweet.  With pastels appearing on accessories, in makeup routines (pastel nails are perfect for even the most conservative setting!), and on many, many other items of clothing, there is no excuse not to add a few dainty pieces to your spring wardrobe. Here are a few of my favorite pastel incarnations. Just looking at them makes me yearn for a beer and a patio.

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I have a secret.

I love rain boots a little more than anyone my age probably should. However, I feel this love is justified – on top of being SUPER adorable, wellies also keep your feet dry, making them practical as well. Over the last few years, retailers have rolled out all sorts of fun, bright-colored, patterned boots for you to go dancing in the rain. They start relatively inexpensive for the hesitant puddle jumper, and quickly escalate in price, for those looking to invest in a pair of multi-seasonal boots.

While you might be seeing stars by the price of some of these boots, keep in mind, if you buy a pair of quality, 100% rubber boots they will not only last you a life time (Hunter’s, after all, were used during trench warfare in WWI), but when lined properly can take you to -10 (Celsius that is) weather.

With the quick approach of spring showers, wellies, joined by raincoats and umbrellas, are the perfect remedy for being able to stomp to class without looking like a drowned rat. With lots of fun patterns, styles and colors to choose from there’s plenty of ways to stay dry… in style.

Not to mention, you can always invite boys to stand under your super cute umbrella…

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The ’90s have made a comeback. No, MC Hammer won’t be kicking off an international tour any time soon (too bad, though, ‘cuz that guy’s 2 legit 2 quit), but chambray is sweeping the globe.

Chambray – a less structured version of denim – is lightweight, often light colored, and totally ’90s.  Though it is more popular for the spring (which is coming…in 5 weeks), it can easily be worked into that winter wardrobe.  And this season, it’s everywhere, in every form and at every price point.

Just be careful what you pair this stuff with; chambray-on-denim is just as difficult to pull off as its ugly sibling, denim-on-denim. You don’t want to channel Britney and Justin circa 2001. But, if done right, it can set yourself apart from the crowd (and maybe even get you stalked by a CC writer).

Ready for some chambray? Here are a few of my faves: Read More »

[Note: I'm Canadian and therefore it's spelled grey, not gray.]

As we head back to school, the transition back to independence from mom’s home cooking, added to the cold weather and lack of sunshine can lead to a gloomy, grey day. One way to embrace that blue mood is by dressing how you feel, made easy with the rising popularity of the color grey.

Why is grey suddenly the color to wear?

1. Grey is a neutral and goes with EVERYTHING.
2. Only 1 in 5 women look good in black, making grey a softer alternative to our safety color.

So next time you’re out shopping for the perfect LBD, take a chance and try on a Little Grey Dress; if you’re not the lone one out of five, chances are you’ll look better in grey. If you think that grey is a little drab, being a neutral, it’s the perfect supporting star to a bold, bright, colored piece. And with so many options in grey this year there is no reason not to try it on. So put back the black and embrace its softer sibling. Read More »

This week, in honor of heavy books, stuffed make-up bags and bulky laptops, I’ve decided to dedicate It’s On to tote bags.

Every girl’s tote needs are totally (tee hee) different. Some of us carry body-bag size totes, while others prefer something a bit more…manageable. Some bring along a purse and a tote. Some of us carry only a tote, and fill it with everything from makeup to Macbooks. With such a variety of uses, there is obviously a giant variety of toting options. And while you could go buy a Coach tote for anywhere between $500 to $900, there are plenty of places where you can get equally cute totes for a cute price.

And you don’t even have to leave the house or jump from store to store. Or run around town comparing prices. Someone else does all the work for you; all you have to do is point and click. Allow me to let you in on a few secrets. My shopping pot-o-gold, if you will. Use wisely. Read More »

If there is one thing I hate about winter (unfortch there are hundreds of things I hate about winter) it would be that as I’m bundled in ear muffs, scarves, gloves, 10 layers of who knows what that is throwing my body into such a confusion because I’m sweating like a maniac under all that thermal but can’t feel my nose or ears a the same time, stores, my FAVORITE stores, have the audacity to decorate their windows with eyelet lace dresses, high waisted shorts and canary yellow tops that scream: BUY ME!

It is January 2010 and I’m supposed to buy shorts?

But that dress, that top – they are just so. freaking. cute. So I cave and I buy them. And then I take them home and stare at them and even though know it’s January (and my jeans are wet and frozen to the knee), I want to wear them!

So this week’s Budget Stylista goes out to every girl like me who’s trekked in sloshy snow to her favorite shop and couldn’t stop herself from loading up on the spring styles. No more waiting 6 long, cold months to sport your new goods; I will show you how to wear them now without catching frostbite and then again once the snow (and your body) thaws out. Read More »