How to pull off the lace turtleneck

This is why you don’t get kids books for xmas

What not to wear to Christmas

10 things I learned about sex in outer space

Padma Patil’s real life drama

Check out your midseason TV preview

Make a statement with these necklaces

25 celebrity love predictions for 2011

How to balance your taste with other’s opinions

Best holiday hook-up scenes

[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 (like always fabulous Selena Gomez) are spending $5,000 on an ensemble 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.]

Halle Berry is a critically acclaimed, history-making, Academy Award winning actress. A former Bond Girl. A mother. And, obviously, a regulation hottie. She made super-short hair desirable. She’s always on “most beautiful/sexiest” lists. She inspires cheeseball novelty songs. She inspires spontaneous make out seshes at prestigious award ceremonies. At 44 years old, she is as fierce as stars 20 years younger as her.

Alas, while I don’t know how you can achieve killer bone structure or permanently incandescent skin, I can show you how to get one of Halle’s classic, sophisticated, sexy looks without maxing out five credit cards.

Product Information: Jacket – Dillards, $49; Top – Forever 21, $19.80; Jeans – Dillards, $24; Shoes – Unlisted, $26.95; Bag – Target, $39.99; Necklace – Wet Seal, $10.

One of my absolute favorite things about fall, besides the pumpkin spice lattes and the boys in scarves, is the plethora of (faux) leather. The boots. The skirts. The bags. And of course, the jackets. What I love about this particular jacket are the ruffles, which add a glorious burst of femininity. Though this is one of the pricier items I’ve posted in this column, it is a total investment piece. Leather jackets (and ruffles) will never fall out of favor. Ever.

Halle decided to pair her leather jacket with a delicate lace top, which is one of this season’s trends. Lace and leather, when they’re both neutral colored and not too revealing, can easily be sultry and appropriate for daytime. Jeans dress this everything down, while the strappy platforms are simple but still very stylish. The oversized hobo bag adds another casual touch, and the pearl and chain necklace is perfect because it encapsulates the girly-yet-edgy motif of the outfit. Halle Berry’s style is proof that sexy is timeless…now if only I could steal her ability to constantly bag sexy model-actors as easily as I can steal her style…

Get more celebrity looks for less here.

Okay, so even if you’re not like me, you probably still have lots of necklaces and earrings lying around (what girl doesn’t love her some jewels?). And you probably have NO place to store them.

I don’t know about you, but I refuse to stuff away my nice necklaces in a jewelry box where they’ll end up tangled and tarnished and I don’t have space on my crowded mess of a desk for anything better. Not that I could afford a fancy jewelry box anyway; I’m a broke college girl with zero cashmoney living the dollar-a-slice lifestyle.

I decided to get a little creative (on the cheap) and come up with a way do store my jewelry and add some personal pizazz to my stark white walls. This on-the-wall jewelry hanger is a creative and easy way to store and display your jewelry. Plus, you’ll spend less time detangling your favorite necklaces and more time actually wearing them!

What You’ll Need:

Cork Board Tiles: Sold in sets of four, you can find these at Walmart, Target, or any office supply store. You’ll have to determine how many you’ll need based on how much jewelry you’re hoarding, but for all my necklaces and earrings (and I’m an addict, remember) I only needed 4 tiles.
Fabric: Optional. Any color, pattern, or design you want! This is your aesthetic choice. You’ll use the fabric to cover the cork tiles, so pick a color or design that matches the rest of your room. 1 yard of fabric will give you plenty of fabric to work with.
Ribbon: Again, any color, pattern, or design you want. This will add an extra polished touch to your jewelry hanger.
Pushpins: Grab the normal ones in any color. I personally recommend clear, white, or black because they will make the jewelry piece look more uniform.
Glue: You’ll need both super glue and a hot glue gun.

What You’ll Do

1. Place one cork tile on top of your fabric (design side down) leaving a 1-inch border of extra fabric surrounding your cork tile on all sides. Cut to size.

2. Line the cork tile with your hot glue on all four sides (like you’re drawing a square), then fold the extra fabric down onto the glue (one side at a time). When you fold down the extra fabric to glue down, make sure the fabric is pulled tight! Let dry. Do not turn over yet.

3. Take another cork tile and completely cover it with hot glue. Glue that cork tile to the fabric-lined cork tile (which is still not turned over) in step 2 by pressing the two tiles together and pressing down firmly. Let dry.
(Note: You need to double up on the cork boards so the pushpins/earring posts don’t go through and hit the wall. Do not skip this step!!)

4. Turn your cork tile over, which will now be covered in fabric and pretty. Yay!

5. If you want to add ribbon, cut your ribbon in the size of the cork tile sides and super glue them around the edges of our tiles. This will add some extra craftiness!

6. Using the adhesive sticky backings that come with your cork tiles, stick the tile piece to the wall.
Tip: if you’re hanging lots of jewelry, use some extra adhesive backings. You can buy these at office supply stores, Target, etc., for really cheap!

See? You can hang all your favorite stuff AND it looks cool on the wall!

7. Now add the pushpins to your cork tile by lining them horizontally.

For an earring jewelry hanger: Place 4 pushpins about 2 inches apart from each other in a line at the top of the fabric tile. 3-4 inches underneath that first line, make a second row of pins. This time, though, use 5 pins and stagger them so they are between the row above (instead of directly under). Continue this process until you have 4 or 5 lines of pushpins. You will hang your dangles/hoops from the pins. If you have stud earrings, use a pushpin to poke holes in the fabric covered cork board and then push your stud earrings into the holes.

For a necklace/bracelet hanger: Place 4 pushpins about 2 inches apart from each other in a row at the top of the fabric tile. 5 inches underneath that first line, make a row of 5 pushpins (again, staggering them so they aren’t directly beneath the pins above).

8. Untangle that mess of jewelry and hang that ish up! Then enjoy the ease of finding your favorite necklaces.

Click here for another DIY project with cork tiles!

It’s the holidays – a time for family, good food and, most of all, great parties. But what is all of this without a great outfit? And I mean, sure – the sexy dress, the hot boots, the plush sweater, the perfect jeans; they all make a lasting impression, but it’s nothing if you don’t have the right accessories. Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, hats, rings and even belts all make an outfit pop. And so, in honor of what I think could possibly be the most important component of an outfit, I give you:

It’s On: The Accessories Edition.

And yes, it’s a triple play!

First up, Aldo Accessories.
As if ALDO weren’t great on its own, some genius decided that there should be a store that was strictly for all their cutesy little accessories. And so, ADLO Accessories was born.

They’re located in just about all major malls, including The Galleria in Houston, The Water Tower in Chicago and The Fashion Show in Vegas (I’ve been to all three).  And that’s not all. There are also tons of stand-alone stores that attract newbies to the ALDO family of goods.  And there are LOTS of goods. They sell everything from shades to chandelier earrings and some awesomely cute necklaces in between.

Here are the numbers.
Headgear (Beanies, Berets, Headbands): $9.90-$25.00
Totes, Purses, Clutches: This stuff is all actually in ALDO Stores, not the Accessory store, however prices range from $30 to about $150.
Shades: $12
Jewelry: $9.90- $35.00
Leggings, Belts: $9.98- $25.00

And then there’s Icing.
What’s not to love about this place? First of all, it’s everywhere! Plus, the company has been around for years and, though there have been tons of newcomers to the game, they still manage to put out some hot stuff.

Now, I know what some of you are thinking: “Why the hell is Claire’s being mentioned on CollegeCandy?” or “I haven’t been in there since 9^th grade.” Well, shame on you! I bet you haven’t even walked in there. While Claire’s-Icing may not be comparable to KAY Jewelers, they sell some of the most adorable costume jewelry you’ve ever seen, not to mention little clutches and headbands. I don’t think this is the place to go when you’re looking for an engagement ring, but I’m totally for Claire’s when it comes to cheap, plastic, adorable accessories.

Headgear (Beanies, Berets, Headbands): $5.00-$24.00
Totes, Purses, Clutches:$8.00- $30.00
Shades: Not Available, check individual stores
Jewelry: $4.50-$22.50
Leggings, Belts: Not Available, check individual stores

Note: We all know that Icing is the grown-up version of Claire’s, but sometimes you can find steals in Claire’s, too. Prices are based on both stores. Seriously, pop into Claire’s next time you’re at the mall. I bet you’ll find something awesome….

Forever 21
Well, they’re back. Last week, I introduced some of you to the wonderful world of Heritage 1981. This week, I would like to welcome you to the wonderful world of Forever 21 Accessories (well, the few of you who’s arms aren’t already covered in their stackable bracelets).

Now I know there are some of you who are avid Anti-21 Shoppers; I’m one of them. As a matter of fact, I have never purchased anything from the store. That is, except for some accessories I purchased online. If you’re not into the low quality or odd sizing of Forever 21′s clothes, I get it. But I strongly urge you to think about them the next time you need you a cute pair of earrings or a killer cocktail ring

There are tons of cute, shiny, beaded, mesh dainty things in there. You may have to search through a few piles and un-knot a few clumps of necklaces to find them, but when you do, they’ll be the shining stars atop your adorable holiday (or any day) outfit. And the best part: the prices are simply stunning.

So what are the numbers?
Headgear (Beanies, Berets, Headbands): $1.50-$12.80
Totes, Purses, Clutches: $6.40-$34.50
Shades: $5.80-$7.80
Jewelry: $3.80- $22.80
Leggings, Belts: $3.50-$9.80

Clearly you have many choices when looking for cute accessories on the cheap. Which stores are your faves? And why so anti Claire’s, people??

Jewelry can make or break an outfit. This is fact. It’s a great way to spice up your usual uniform (jeans, black v-neck, black flats – I know it all too well), assuming, of course, that you don’t go overboard and look like you went shopping in your grandma’s closet (tchotchke heaven).

This season there is no better way to reinvent some old pieces in your wardrobe than by adding some bling bling. Right now jewelry is big, it’s bold, it’s bedazzled, jeweled and animal printed. It’s also ridiculously over-priced at so many places. But those aren’t the places you are going to be shopping, because it is so easy to find pieces for cheap that look like they belong in J.Lo’s closet. Read: bling blingin’ on the cheap cheapin’.

So before you go spending $150 on a necklace you claim will give you seasons of love, come to terms with the fact that in 12 months time, you will more likely than not have moved on out – Jeffersons style – to something that’s a lot less animal printed. So why spend $150 when you can get the same bangin look for $15?

Yeah, I thought so.

Rings

Necklaces

Bracelets

Earrings

Most guys we know stay up late dreaming of the day they might end up in a giant orgy with beautiful women. We, however, lie awake at night dreaming of a closet full of beautiful clothes. To the left, a wall of shoes. To the right, shelf upon shelf of delicately handcrafted bags organized by color and size.

Sigh.
We all have our fantasies.

Since guys can turn to the interwebs to get their daily fantasy fix, we thought you should, too! So, we’re bringing you some fashion porn. The best of the best in all things fashionable. Sure, it may be out of your price range, but it’s a fantasy, so live it up in all its delicious glory.

The perfect accessories can entirely make an outfit.  They can spice up a basic t-shirt and jean combo, or put the finishing touch on your hot going-out dress.  One of the most basic ways to accessorize an outfit (even that stuff that’s already in your closet!) is with a necklace.  A quirky necklace, worn with the simplest of outfits can be a conversation starter; a more glamorous necklace, can work to complete an otherwise unfinished look.

There are a bazillion options out there for necklaces, no matter how much moolah you have to shell out.  You could splurge and find the perfect signature piece to wear everyday, buy multiples to go with your multitude of outfits, or find that unique, one-of-a-kind necklace from Etsy.  Whatever you choose to do, there is a necklace (or many!) out there for everyone.

[I want it, I need it, I can’t live without it. There are so many things on store shelves and racks right now that we want to take home and hang in our closets. Things that are so cute, everyone should know about them. We’ll share ‘em with you here (because we’re that nice), but as far as actually getting them goes….well, you’re on your own with that one.]

I love things that sparkle, so it’s obvious that I am head over heels in love with these rings from Myra Elizabeth. Made-to-order with bands of sterling silver and authentic Swarovski crystals and pearls, these beauties will surely outshine anything within a mile radius. They instantly add glamour to any outfit and, with so many clusters of different colors and combinations, there’s at least 3 that make me weak in the knees.

I would seriously rock one on every finger!

Each ring comes with a friendship poem and is already gift-wrapped, making them really cute presents for birthdays, Christmas, or, you know, me.

Myra Elizabeth also makes necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. All are made of high quality materials and are crafted into gorgeous pieces. Just like the rings, there is a great variety to choose from. I always knew I needed a little more bling in my life, and Myra delivers.

Come to mama, Ms. Myra.

[Ever see something you want but don’t have the money to buy? Ever get sick of studying/watching TV and have the urge to get crafty and make things on your own? We know! Us too! We just don’t know where to start, which is why we got some of CollegeCandy’s craftiest writers to share their favorite DIY projects with everyone. So get to your nearest craft store for the essentials and let’s make some fun sh*t.]

I don’t know how it happened really, but over the years I’ve accumulated quite a large jewelery collection. I think a lot of it came from my Bat Mitzvah, when I got more bracelets than I knew what to do with (oh what I would give to trade all that in for cold, hard cash). Still, today I’m lucky to have a very impressive jewelery collection.

It’s so “impressive” that I often get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff. It’s everywhere – in bowls, in bags, in my mini-fridge (though I can blame Keystone Light and a power hour for that one). It’s a mess.  My necklaces get tangled, rings get broken and earrings are separated from their mates. I got so overwhelmed that I had to find a solution and – yay for me – I came up with the perfect answer to my jewelry problems. Bonus: it also happens to be a great and unique way to spruce up a boring wall:

The Corkboard Jewelry Holder

Materials:
Small bulletin board
Box of pushpins (if you can find cute ones, that’s definitely a plus!)
Cork board strips (you can get them at Staples)
Hammer
Nails/Double Sided Tape

Steps
1. Go around your room and gather all of the jewelery you wish to display.
2. Separate it all by type: 1 pile for necklaces, 1 for earrings, etc.
3. Discard any lone earrings (let’s be real – you aren’t going to find the other half anytime soon).

For Necklaces and Bracelets:
1. Hang the bulletin board on the wall using the hammer and nails. If you’re not allowed to use nails in your dorm room, try some really heavy double-sided foam tape.

2. Place the push pins across the top edge of the bulletin board, about a finger’s width apart.

3.  Hang necklaces and bracelets on the pushpins.

Note: If you have a lot of bracelets, make two rows of pushpins: put the bracelets across the top and hang the necklaces beneath them.

For Earrings and Rings:
1. Hang cork strips on your wall using nails or double sided foam tape.

2. Insert 2 pushpins approximately a finger’s width apart.

3. Hang earring/ring on the pushpins and adjust if necessary.

4. Repeat.

Note: For non-dangly “stud” earrings you can poke a holes in the cork board using a push pin. Then, just stick your earrings in the holes you made. I don’t recommend directly sticking your earring posts in the board, because they will bend or break.

Warning: Once your jewelery is neatly organized and out there for the world to see you may have to fight off the grabby hands of a little sister/roommate/best friend. But at least the new organization will allow you to know which adorable accessory is missing….

What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than with roses?

At Chanel’s spring 2009 couture show, models walked the runway adorned with paper roses in their hair. At Valentino and Moschino, dresses and accessories featured oversized origami-like roses. Looks like Carrie Bradshaw’s flower obsession is back…and bigger than ever.

If you don’t have a real bouquet to flaunt this weekend, throw on a rose embellished headband or pair of heels. Or pick up some rose-inspired fashion; you can add a little Spring to your wardrobe and stay one fashionable step ahead of your friends who are still trying to pull off the whole bow trend.

Here are some affordable, sophisticated and cute rose accessories:

Topshop

mark.

Forever 21

Or, if you want to take the trend all the way, here are some cute tops and a dress. If you decide to wear something with the rose embellishment, be sure to pair it with something classic and simple, like dark jeans and a simple pump.  You don’t want to overdo the look. And, please, do not go rose crazy. A dozen roses from your Valentine may be great, but you don’t need a dozen on your on your outfit.

(Left to right: 3.1 Philip Lim, D&G, Versace, Diane Von Furstenberg)

[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!]

Warm, comfy, and flattering, a sweaterdress should be in every college girl’s wardrobe this winter. They’re possibly the easiest item to wear, but also one of the most fun to accessorize. Read on to find one that fits your budget and ideas on what to pair it with.

When you’re looking for something cheap, Forever 21 is usually the best place to start. Layering long necklaces over a basic sweaterdress is a good way to make it interesting. Throw on an over-sized bag and a killer pair of boots and you have yourself an easy, chic ensemble.

Dress, $27.80, Boots, $32.80, Bag, 19.80, Forever 21. Necklace, Aldo $15.

This sweater from Arden B is my favorite – the color is fun and the shape is super sexy. It is shown on the model with jeans, but also works with leggings (just make sure they are solid not sheer!). Add a belt – thin or wide – to give the sweaterdress a little shape.

Dress, $58, Arden B. Belt, $6.80, Forever21. Boots, $198, Arturo Chiang Sol at Piperlime. Leggings, $24, Urban Outfitters.

Another way to wear the sweaterdress is layered over a tank (Express – $16.50). This sweater from Express ($59.50) would also look great with a belt, tights, and boots.

Here are some more cute sweaterdresses from Forever 21 (29.50), Express (69.50), and Victoria’s Secret (59.50 and 69).

Or, if you want to splurge (or simply just drool a little), here are a few high-end sweaters. The first one is from Catherine Malandrino available at Saks for $495. I love the cowl neck! The second is by Marc Jacobs and is at Saks for $1500. The ruffle is something different from your basic sweaterdress, so you will definitely stand out. The last sweater dress is by Tibi and is also at Saks for $325. My favorite detail on this one is the sleeves, but I also love the neck.