I’m going to be honest with you — my first thought after watching that Shopaholic film was ‘so this means if I got a credit card, I could have amazing clothes like that too?’

Definitely not the point, as every person I shared my revelation with was quick to point out. But what’s a shopaholic on a limited budget to do? Figure out how to do it on the cheap!  I’ve rounded up some less expensive alternatives to those pricey stores we all love in hopes that we can look super trendy, without being super broke.

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Any more suggestions?

I, however, am not “some people.”

July for me brings a different kind of excitement. An excitement in the form of warm colors in chestnuts, cognacs and browns, wools and greys… boots and coats, sweaters and scarves paired with slashed prices…well there really is no containing my excitement for all of it!

For me, July is all about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.

And it is BACK baby.

And since you are too busy getting your tan on, you might think it’s okay to wait until September to start thinking about fall. But I’m here to tell you that now is the PERFECT time to stock up on some fall staples and wish list items. Besides, your skin will thank you in 15 years for the break (and your wardrobe will thank you in a few short months).

It starts TODAY so strike while the iron is sizzling ladies! Grab the things you know you love (Hanky Pankys are slashed to $12.90!) and invest in boots that, while still pricey, are far more affordable than their post-sale price. From Frye to Steve Madden, this year’s sale has no shortage of fabulous boots, booties, flats, wedges and everything in between.

There are tons of adorable capes and perfect satchels that take you from class to the mall to dinner with no need to switch out your bag. What’s not to love about that? Plus, watches and jewels in rose gold, designer sunglasses majorly marked down… take it from me, this is one sale worth heading away from the light and towards the AC for.

Here are a few of my favorite Anniversary Sale picks- Check out the whole catalog here!

Top Row: Michael Kors Watch in Rose Gold $166.90 (After sale, $250) Collection B faux shearling trim bomber jacket $44.90 (After sale, $68) DV by Dolce Vita- Wyatt Boot $79.90 (After sale, $129.95) Calson Cover Stitch Dolman Sleeve Sweater $45.90 (after sale, $69.00)
Bottom Row: Lulu Floppy Felt Hat $15.90 (After sale, $24)
Beatrix Ost Hooded Poncho $79.90 (After sale $120) Hanky Panky’s $12.90 (After sale, $22) Halogen Military Leather Satchel $164.90 (After sale, $248)

Tweed might make you think of a stereotypical professor - the old man (who doesn’t know how to use email) with elbow patches on the tweed blazer he wears every single day, the one that looks like he’s wearing since he started teaching 30 odd years ago. Well throw this image out the window, because tweed is a gorgeous fabric that should be in every college girl’s (and guy’s for that matter) wardrobe.

This gorgeous textured fabric is perfect for fall, especially for the college girls. It’s a thicker fabric that will keep you warm. It comes in several neutral shades, making it the perfect compliment to your rich colored tops. And while the tweed blazer is always a classic, if you feel too stuffy in one, there are many alternatives to work it into your wardrobe. Think winter shorts, dresses, bags, and even the knee-high socks that are so popular this season.

So forget about Professor Boring McTweed and embrace the new tweed of 2010.

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Leather is one of the biggest fabrics for fall 2010.  It is also one of the easiest to embrace because EVERYTHING can be made in leather: bags, shoes, leggings, shorts, jackets, skirts…the list goes on.  And I love it all. Leather is sexy. It’s edgy. And it makes everything look cool.

Leather items are almost magical in their ability to transform an outfit. Just add one leather piece and you’ve got an entirely new look. Pair your favorite floral dress with a structured leather belt or a moto-jacket and you’ve got a totally different style. Or add some edgy, buckled boots to a pair of skinny jeans and your favorite camisol from last season and – bam! – your look in updated. (That being said, make sure not to go overboard; you want to look edgy, not like a member of Hell’s Angels.)

Even those opposed to wearing leather (or meat dresses….) can get in on the trend, as many designers and chains are offering up a variety of faux (and fabulous) leather pieces. Seriously, there is something for everyone, and you should definitely get out there and take advantage. Not sure where to start? Here are 15 awesome options to choose from.

[Click on each image to get all the info.]

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.  And that’s why I’m bringing back the Shop Your Closet series. 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.  With the growing popularity of 6 Items or Less it can’t be that difficult to remix one item, right?

My favorite clothing item this fall is the utilitarian military jacket.  Originally popular in the grunge era known as the ’90s, a utilitarian jacket in your closet is not only on-trend, but necessary. The military jacket – thanks to its neutral color and shape – is incredibly practical and versatile.  There are very few things that can’t be worn with one and its the easiest way to completely re-style the staples that are already in your closet. Check out Who What Wear to see how the celebs are embracing the army jacket.

Look 1:

Jacket, Dress, Shoes, Bag.

Add edge to a sweet dress with a military jacket.  The toughness of the jacket juxtaposed with the femininity of the dress are the perfect contrast.  As this dress is fairly simple, the studded detail on the shoes add some visual interest along with the pop of color.  This is an easy everyday look, as the jacket makes the overall feel of the outfit more casual.  Add a contrasting shoulder bag to incorporate even more color (and fun!) into your look.

Look 2:

Jacket, Top, Jeans, Sandals.

Instead of throwing a cardigan or boyfriend blazer over a feminine top and jeans, try the utilitarian jacket for a completely different feel.  If you’re heading to a bonfire party or football game, the base of this look is very cute and feminine (and similar components are already hanging in your closet), while the jacket adds an hint of ease and a masculine spin.

Look 3:

Jacket, Top, Cardigan, Belt, Leggings, Boots.

After spotting Oliva Palermo’s military-inspired look, I just had to recreate it. Belting an army jacket tones done the masculine feel as it draws attention to your feminine figure. A ruffled top (or even just a graphic tee) under a longer cardigan is a cute and comfy way to layer under the jacket and make the look a little more personal.  Leggings that mimic leather (standard leggings work too!) worn with over-the-knee boots is a perfect and chic way to finish this outfit.

You’ve got your mattress cover, your mini-fridge, your XL twin sheets, and lots of garbage bags, but there is a whole category of dorm room essentials you are skipping out on.  DORMWEAR.  Because, if you’re like me, no matter how hard you try and fight the stereotypical college student walking round in pajamas and sweats thang, there are times you will break down.

I by no means encourage you to wear your sweats and pajamas out in public EVER, but a dorm is a whole other realm of the world.  Having cozy loungewear comes in handy when you want to fist-pump with the rest of your floor while catching the newest Jersey Shore episode.  It’s also handy when you need to do the L in GTL – because everything else you own is stuffed inside that hamper.

But don’t be fooled. Just because you’re lounging doesn’t mean you need to look like a slob. There are so many cute and cozy items out there for you to lounge around in.

And they’re perfect for sleepy time, too. If you’re sharing a bedroom, the person 10-feet away from you will appreciate you wearing pajamas to bed.  And if you’re a sleep-in-a-shirt and underwear kind of girl, try keeping a few of these pieces near your bed in case someone pulls the fire alarm in the middle of the night.  You’ll thank me for this advice later.  Trust me.

Fun fact about color – any color in the spectrum that is a mixture of blue/green can be referred to as a cyan. Under this broad term is the ever popular turquoise and many similar shades of fabulous.

This year, Pantone named turquoise the color of the year, and items in this hue have turned up in pretty much every store this season.  Turquoise is a a color that people respond to positively. Wearing it will give off good vibes, which is perfect for summer! The color is universally flattering, meaning everyone can find a piece perfect for their wardrobe.  And, a popular choice for jewelry and accessories, turquoise can add a pop of color to make your LBD stand out, while a bold dress or skirt in the color can take those neutrals to another level.

As people associate turquoise and other similar shades with water, cyan allows those ladies landlocked like myself to channel the ocean vibe even if they’re hundreds (or thousands) of kilometers away. Oh, and it looks great with a tan. Yeah, turquoise rocks.

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.

One of my favorite Spring 2010 fashion shows this year was D&G with their western wear inspired collection.  Being from Calgary, Alberta, home to the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” I see a lot of western wear during the 10 days of the Calgary Stampede.  And most of it is tacky, ugly and ill fitting. D&G, on the contrary, incorporated chambray, ruffles, fringe, florals and much, much more, making me a western wear believer.

I even kinda, sorta wanna hop on a horse right now….

The thing everyone needs to know about goin’ western is that it’s not as scary or costumey as you think. You can do it up (like those gorgeous women in the above D&G ad) and go all out, or you can pair one western-inspired piece with more classic pieces to embrace the style without looking country.  For example, cowgirl up in a denim dress with cowboy boots and a brown leather belt, or hit city streets paired with sandals and a cute cardigan.  These pieces are super cute while being versatile! What more could you ask for?

Well, besides for a smokin’ hot cowboy on your arm. Yeehaw!

Got something awesome everyone needs to know about? A really rad singer? A wicked new book? Low-cal cocktail recipes?? Email your “The Know” ideas to Jill@collegecandy.com or tweet me and I’ll pass them along to everyone right here, every week. Make your kindergarten teacher proud and share!

So we all know about the Nordstrom Anniversary sale. And in case you don’t know, it’s a heavenly sale that happens every July where even though it’s 90 degrees outside, you get roped in by Tory Burch boots and Vince wool cardigans, North Face jackets and Burberry trenches. With the AC blasting inside Nordy’s, it feels like a crisp Fall day only better because this time, while still not cheap, all this Fall wardrobe amazingness is on SALE.

And not just a $10 off if you spend $100 or more type sale (how ridiculous are those?!). We are talking a good sale. And if you are going to splurge on something (like said Tory Burch boots), now is the time to do it. It’s also a good time to stock up on some wardrobe staples. My favorite thing to “know” about the sale: Don’t dismiss the Junior’s department. They’ve still got really cute things at VERY affordable prices!

And here’s the real scoop to know about: If you go into Nordstrom this week, there will be “private” show rooms set up all over the store for an early preview sale for a select few. But now you, my friends, are the select few. March right up to a salesperson and tell her you would like to make an appointment with her. She will take you around to all the different departments and show you what’s on sale before it actually goes on sale to the public next week. Don’t forget to check out the lingerie department too; a lot of times they offer Hanky Panky’s on sale and bras that are normally muy caro (aka, out of our price range) at much more decent price.

If you can’t make it to the pre-sale, though, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale officially kicks off in full mayhem July 16th.

Suddenly, Fall doesn’t seem so bad.