[When moving into either a dorm or an off-campus apartment, your wardrobe will face two major challenges: 1. A major lack of funding (to add more to it). 2. A major lack of storage space.

For these two reasons alone, maximizing what you do own becomes essential. That's why you need to learn to Shop Your Closet. Each week, I’ll show you how to wear 1 item 3 ways – with the stuff you most likely already own! – to get the most out of your purchases.]

As the temperatures stop, drop, and roll (or just drop), we must say goodbye to our favorite summer styles in favor of warmer options. And it’s depressing. Not because we don’t love fall (because, DUH, we do), but because it’s hard to part with best friends and that perfectly worn-in tank, that’s been with you through everything, is the best friend of all.

But what if I told you that you didn’t have to shove your summer staples in a Tupperware box under your bed until next April? What if there was a way to work them into this new, chillier season?

Prepare yourselves, because it’s not only possible, it’s adorable! If you loaded up on  striped shirts this summer and aren’t sure how to wear them into the fall, never fear. I’ve found three ways to extend the life of your summer favorite, without looking out of season. Read More »

If you’ve grown a bit sea sick from all the nautical-inspired clothes you’ve been sporting this summer, why not return to dry land and go more utilitarian with the military-inspired pieces dominating stores?  These pieces have a harder look, with cargo pockets, neutral colors and grommet detailing.  Though many of these pieces are quite masculine, the neutral coloring means they can easily be softened with feminine pieces such as floral dresses.  Think combat boots with tights, a floral mini dress and cardigan.  So cute!

The best thing about this style? While military inspired pieces have been pretty trendy for a few seasons now, the utilitarian coats are a classic investment piece that can stay in your wardrobe for years to come. And they’ll come in handy if, you know, you ever need to go on an incognito stalking mission. What, just me? Read More »

I can’t believe summer is half drained and we only have one month to flaunt our tanned legs and toned, golden arms (that look just as perfect as those of Madonna and Michelle Obama, obvskies). With such little time, we have no choice but to put our “show off my body” fashion into overdrive, and what better way to show off that ripped, bronze, celeb bod than with the threads Tarzan and Jane flaunted in the lush, tropical jungle (sans camel skin crotch flap)?

So let us put aside the stripes and anchors for a night or two and cordially invite everyone’s favorite jungle duo in all their animal print/crocodile skin glory into our wardrobes. It’s fun, it’s sassy, it goes perfectly with our gorgeous suntans and, yes, it’s all under 20 buckaroos.

What did Tarzan always yell after a sale when he swung on the vines of the rain forest…”Oohhhh ahhhh ohhhhh”

That’s what I was going to say bro. Read More »

I am a firm believer that everyone should be able to wear sailor-inspired clothing even if they haven’t been on a boat once this entire summer (which just so happens to be the story for this girl). Nautical style is so crisp and outdoorsy; a total breath of fresh sea air. And when you’re on a boat, there’s nothing better than nautical duds with your flippy floppies.

It’s no wonder whenever I see a simplistic dress dipped in royal blues, crimson reds and whites I can barely keep it from eating up my credit card bills. But if you (like my dear self) are tired of digging in the diminishing sale racks in J-Crew for the key-nautical piece, CollegeCandy has scrounged up some prime pieces to accompany you in your next Christopher Columbus excursion this summer.  I mean, boat cruise. Or, you know, just brunch…. Read More »

This year’s fashion trends range from the ranch to the yacht, and stripes are one of the perfect ways to look seaworthy this summer.

The easiest way to incorporate nautical elements into your wardrobe is with stripes.  With so many super cute ways to wear stripes how can you not have something striped (or something striped for every day of the week!) in your wardrobe?  Summer items are starting to hit clearance racks, so you can pick something up to wear now with shorts, or later with jeans without breaking the bank.  While the longer sleeved breton-striped tops will keep you warm if you’re outside on a summer night, some of the striped dresses are perfect to toss over a bathing suit at the beach.

If you’re pinching pennies for a summer vacay, stripes are a recurring fashion trend (just look back to Coco Chanel and Audrey Hepburn!) so you may even luck out finding an adorable top at the thrift store.  Just don’t be afraid to check the men’s (or boys if you’re petite) departments as this unisex trend looks even cuter when it’s loose and laid back. Read More »

I feel like all I’ve been seeing are American flags plastered to every store window and bumper. Which is fine by me. Who’s going to complain about a whole day off from work to down 30 beers and stuff your face with hamburgers? (…And celebrate our country, of course!)

But where July 4th does get my panties in a knot is when it starts bleeding over into fashion. The amount of horrendous American flag pants, t-shirts, scrunchies (yes, scrunchies) and even themed nail art that has passed me by on the street is ridiculous. And although red, white and blue really isn’t a color palate I dress in often, seeing all of these proud Americans struggling to express their love for America in an outfit that is just plain wrong, is just plain wrong. So this year I vowed that I could find something just as appropriate for the day (and the entire season) without sacrificing my dignity or style.

The winner? The Madison Marcus Infinite Striped Jacket. It was included in a July 4th inspired slideshow on Shopbop but when I saw it all concept of a holiday celebration outfit flew out the door. Instead I had flashes of all the places I would walk into looking incredibly chic in my white cotton blazer with the criss-crossed navy stripes.

The jacket is so smart that it’s almost unbelievable. It’s channeling the nautical theme which gives it a crisp, preppy feel, but the detailing is so modern that other nautical inspired wear comes nowhere close to being as wearably chic. The combination of the laid-back rolled cuffs and the sophisticated tuxedo color give the jacket this uniquely casual “oh this thing? I just threw it on” vibe, while the one-sided pocket and asymmetrical stripes and buttons make a huge fashion statement. Read More »

No, you’re not in the middle of some sorta funny movie where you’ve suddenly hopped into a hot tub with a few of your friends and were instantly transported back to 1989. (And all the funny parts were shown in the previews.)

But yes, crop tops are back. In a big way.

This summer we are taking a cue from Girls Just Want to Have Fun. Ditch the Lycra leotards (please tell me you’ve done so a long, LONG time ago) but hang on to those crop tops, because this summer, we will be rocking them. Hard.

Of course, there is a right way and a wrong way to rock the crop top.

Right Way: Done casual with jean shorts and a bathing suit, or over a tank with some high waisted shorts.
Right Way: Over a fitted, high-waisted skirt or a nice pair of jeans.
Wrong Way: Like this.

Really, it all comes down to pairing the right crop top with the right bottom and, of course, wearing your hot ’80s inspired ‘fit with an extra dose of confidence. Not quite sure how to pull this off? Here are a few ideas to get you through the summer months. Read More »

It’s that time of year again: The season of the skirt. In all honesty, shorts really aren’t my thing. Sometimes they squeeze in all the wrong love handles places and give me some serious wedgie dilemmas. That is why I have a great relationship with all of the skirts out there. They are girly, breathable, comfortable and wedgie-free. What more could a girl ask for?

One of my favorite things about summer is slapping on some sunscreen, shoving a towel and a Nicolas Sparks novel in my beach bag and throwing on a skirt and a tee. Then, come evening, all I have to do is slather some aloe on my arms, exchange the flip flops for some comfy wedges and hit the town for some summer lovin’. Care to join me/rub sunscreen on my back? First, take a lookie at these pretty numbers.  I promise they will not disappoint.

[Click on the skirt to get all the shopping info.]

Read More »

The following post is courtesy of our uber fashionable friends at CollegeFashion.net!

The nautical look is one of those ageless trends that seems to come back into fashion every few years. And with good reason! The look is classic and flattering; it’s about adding flair to your style. This spring, nautical fashions have been all over runways–Derek Lam and Marc Jacobs have both added nautical accents to their recent collections. Want a taste of their style? Use my fact sheet as a guide!

How to Rock The Nautical Look: A Spring/Summer 2010 Fact Sheet

Read More »

Ah yes, that time of year has arrived once again: shorts weather. You may love it, you may dread it, you may be torn between the two, but you can’t deny it’s upon us. And it’s time to shave your legs.

Even if you’re hating your pasty white, unworked-out legs these days, there will come a time in the near future that you’ll be so hot you’ll have no choice but to put on some shorts. And when that day comes, you’ll want to be prepared. Good thing there are tons of adorable shorts out there right now that will not only keep you cool this summer, but they’ll keep your wallet full, too. Below, 8 of my favorites. Read More »