School is out, and it’s finally time to embrace summer. That means warm weather, dresses, shorts, flip-flops and all of this season’s hottest trends. Although the neon craze has been around for awhile, I think I’ll finally give it a try this summer. It can be done in so many ways, so it’s easy for everyone to experiment with. Whether you’re bold with a head to toe look or just want to try out a splash with accessories or neon nails, there is something for everyone.

initiating the gallery...

While walking the NYC streets the other day I noticed a change in fashion. People were flaunting new prints, new colors, and, overall, new styles. After many head turning moments it finally hit me. Spring fashion has arrived! Now if you’re a total fashion nut like myself then you already have seen the runway shows and know all the new styles. But if you’re not then you’re in luck. I’m here to help! I’ve gathered the top 2012 spring fashion trends. Check ‘em out!

We’ll start with color first.

1. Pops of neon color: Mix a neon color (pink, green, blue, any color will do!) into your everyday attire. Add neon blue earrings or a neon pink satchel. It’ll brighten your outfit instantly!
2. Pastels: Spring is a pretty time and what’s prettier than pastels! You can mix an array of pastels. The soft colors blend nicely! However, sea foam green seems to be the most popular.
3. Orange: Orange seems to be the hit color in all departments. Entire orange outfits are cropping up everywhere! If you want a more simple style, stick to orange bags, jackets and shoes.

Next we’ll cover patterns.

1. Floral prints: So huge for spring. This is my absolute favorite trend! Floral prints are pretty, feminine and can add flare to simple outfits. Floral print pants seem to be all the rage. So find a pair as quickly as you can and hold on tight to them!
2. Tribal patterns: It seems as though the popularity of tribal patterns from winter has carried into spring. Tribal patterns are edgy and somewhat sexy. A tribal shirt or jacket can add edge to any outfit.
3. Bold prints: This is cool if not overdone. Bold prints are an article of clothing that have different patterns (swirls, geometric shapes etc.) and colors blended into one. These are great for any nighttime outfit.
4. Futuristic patterns: This goes above and beyond the classic patterns. Futuristic prints appear as though they are digital patterns on articles of clothing. If wearing a jacket with a futuristic pattern keep the rest of the outfit simple. Remember to not go overboard!

Finally the remaining trends.

1. Sporty: Don’t be thrown. These sporty looks are very feminine. Most of them show high collared shirts with longer sleeves or a broad shoulder jacket with a prominent zipper. Stylists are pairing these with cute, loose shorts and coloring them in pastels and pinks. The results are the perfect combination between feminine and sporty.
2. Colorblocking: This trend is exactly how it sounds. Clothing are designed with chunks, vertical or horizontal, of specific colors or shades of one color. Soon enough you’ll be seeing this style all over your favorite stores!
3. Peplum Ruffles: This is a very specific ruffle. It is one ruffle resting on your waist line either from your shirt or skirt. It’s very feminine and adds a bit of flare to an outfit.

Hope this helped. Happy Spring everybody!

[Lead image via curlychellez.blogspot.com]

This week our usual Fashion Porn was placed on the back burner to make room for the fashion lover’s Christmas: Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

As fashion week wraps up, I already have a long shopping list of what I must find once Spring clothes hit the shelves.  While I’m aware that this is months away, the collections this year were so beautiful that I’m going to have to start saving up in order to stock my closet with the affordable versions of the designs I saw this week.

And although it’s hard to play favorites with the many diverse collections that walked the runways, there are five fabulous designers that really stood out amongst the prints, sky high heels, and oversized accessories at this year’s NY Fashion Week. Fashion Week MVPs, if you will

The Fashion Week All-Stars. Read More »

Do guys hate her, too?!

We hate you, Tiffani Thiessen.

Blue M&Ms could save your life.

Jessica Simpson gets (skinny) revenge!

Is your workout killing the environment?

Cute neon. For cheap.

There’s nothing that puts a smile on my face like finding a fantastic bargain, and since we all wanna look good in a crappy economy, finding those deals is even more important these days.  Each week I’ll feature one store/website where you can find eight A-dorable items for under $20 (not too shabby, right?).

This week I’m featuring Mandee.  While some of their stuff admittedly looks like it costs under $20, it’s a great place to find cute basics, cheap denim, and certain trendy pieces that probably won’t last more than one season (so paying under $20 is perfect).  Another bonus: they often have good sales that make their stuff even more of a bargain.

Summer’s more than halfway over and school will be back in session before we know it, but there’s still plenty of warm weather to be had (and hey, you can usually utilize some of your cute summer clothes for those early days of fall semester) which means it’s not too late to buy halters, flip flops, shorts or skirts, especially when you can find ‘em this cheap. Read More »

Post courtesy of out friends at StyleBakery.com. For more awesome fashion, style and beauty news, check them out!

There are some trends that last season after season: leggings, floral prints, gladiator sandals, etc. Then there are those that fade away: baby doll tops, harem pants. How are you supposed to know which trends to trash and which to invest in? Luckily, fashion is already way ahead of you. Fall 2009 and Resort 2010 collections have already been released, and Spring/Summer 2010 is in the works. For most designers, Resort is a preview of what’s coming next. Therefore, the collections provide great insight into what will be hot and what will be not for summer 2010.

We scoured the Resort looks of all the top designers – from Stella McCartney to Brian Reyes to Prada – and compiled a list of summer fashion trends that aren’t going anywhere: Read More »

Flip flop and strappy sandal season is upon us! Woohoo!

That means it’s time to make your toes look pretty, because, let’s face it, they probably look pretty gross after being stuffed in a pair of boots all winter.  Grimy toenails are the perfect way to ruin a hot new pair of sandals (not to mention creep out everyone around you), so it’s time to give them a little TLC. And while you’re at it, let’s give those fingernails some attention; a little pretty polish goes along great with that perfect summer sundress.

Bold, neon colors are the trend of the summer and below are some bright polishes that will catch the attention of everyone, maybe even a summer fling. I know my summer goal is to score a hottie with a yacht, and while neon toes won’t get me that, I’ll try anything.

And I’ll look cute either way.

To Start:

Sally Hansen Maximum Growth Daily Nail Program: If you’re looking to grow your nails out this product really works.  It also strengthens nails and keeps them from being cracked or brittle.  Sweep this on as a base coat before painting your nails (then reapply daily) and you’ll see results in just a few days.

To Color:

Maybe I’m a nail polish snob, but I truly believe when it comes to polish you get what you pay for.  More expensive polishes don’t crack or bubble as easily, stay chip-free for longer, and go on smoother.  That’s why I tend to shell out the extra few dollars for a more quality polish. And it’s still way cheaper than bi-monthly mani/pedi appointments, so it’s worth the investment. Read More »

[Post courtesy of out friends at StyleBakery.com. For more awesome fashion, style and beauty news, check them out!]

A few months ago, we shared our picks for adding more color to your beauty bags. Now the season is in full swing, and we can’t help but feel inspired by all of the colors blooming outdoors, being displayed in store windows and taking center stage at our local beauty counters. This is the perfect time of year to add more punches of color to your beauty routine, no matter how subtle. Find these colorful picks in stores right now.

MAC “Just A Pinch” Gel Blush is a seriously bold red color in its pot, but goes on smooth and sheer when applied to our cheeks and lips. This color looks great on all skintones and can be worn as light or amped up as you like. $18.50, nordstrom.com

Read More »

I don’t know about you, but after what seemed to be the most grueling. winter. ever. I am excited and eager to dust off my spring wardrobe… and add some new pieces to it. As is always the case with the new season, we have some new trends (along with a few piggy-back trends of season’s past) to spice up our wardrobes.

Here are some of Spring 2009’s hottest trends: Read More »

[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.]

Okay, maybe “new” is not technically true. But hear me out.We all have that old once-loved pair of perfectly worn-in shoes that are still perfectly functional but are (a) out of fashion, (b) scratched up, or (c) both. Such shoes can often be found at the back of the closet, in hopes that their exteriors will suddenly heal and they will rise, phoenix-like, from the ashes of their fashion faux pas.

But there’s a solution! You can revamp them!

“That’s retarded,” you say. “I mean, yeah, I can take them to a tailor to get them revamped–if I want to spend $80.”

“Listen,” I reply, “for you are the one who is retarded–you can fix them up yourself!”

How? Two words: spray paint. Read More »