Most people think of  plaid as just for prepsters, but it can actually be pretty fashionable! Paired with boots, chunky knits, or dark colors, it’s perfect for the chillier months. But if you’re unsure about adding plaid to your wardrobe, the great news is it’s easy to incorporate it as little or as much as you’d like! Whether you opt for a plaid dress, coat or just accessories, there are lots of options out there that are also budget-friendly! All of these options are just $20 or less each. Read More »

Being a college girl on a budget, my favourite patterns are ones that never truly go out of style. Stripes, plaid and polka dots are a few of the staple patterns that can be found almost every season. These patterns are something that you can’t really ever call a trend, because they will always appear in some shape or form each season. Lucky for people like myself with an eternal love for polka dots, designer heavy weights such as Marc Jacobs and Stella McCartney had us seeing spots for their F/W 2011 collections. Yes ma’am, the polka dot is big (but not literally) this season.

What I love about polka dots, is that they have a playful, feminine, flirty vibe to them. That and they are one of the easiest prints to wear (and mix and match!) The size of the spots vary as do the colour combinations, meaning there are spots out there for everyone. Though polka dots are still a pattern, it is quite subtle for those gals just dipping their toes into the world of patterns. Read More »

Plaid is one of thing that never goes out of style, but I’m sure many ladies who had to wear a plaid skirt pre-university gag at the thought of wearing plaid again. While it’s true that it’s pretty difficult to ditch the school girl appearance with a pleated plaid skirt, there are many other ways to wear plaid.

As plaid never really goes out of style, it’s one of those things that everyone (and their purse-sized dog) has in their closet. If you haven’t jumped onto the plaid bandwagon, or only have your school skirt in your closet,  it’s easy to find plaid on the cheap. As everyone owns plaid, if you’re sick of your current pieces, try swapping with a same-size friend.

As much as I love plaid, there are some challenges with it. First, there’s Catholic school girl stereotype. Second, the farm girl image. And third, the punk-rock princess with safety pins in her skirt. If you play carefully with plaid then it’s pretty easy to avoid these not-so nice plaid stereotypes.

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This summer fashion is taking cues from one of our favorite girls from Kansas, who wore a memorable gingham dress on her journey along the yellow brick road. The modern day interpretation? Checked fabric made into everything from skirts to scarves.

Checked fabric is similar to the ever popular plaid, though, in my opinion, a much more summery version. There’s just something so light and airy about checked fabric, no matter which way you wear it. And, contrary to what you might think, it’s quite versatile. If you opt for a small check, from a distance your piece will look like a solid color, but have a lot more visual interest up close. (Which means you can also mix it up with other prints!) If you’re looking to make a bigger statement, a larger check will be more obvious and add a pop of fun to any spring or summer look.

Got ya sold on checks? Here are 15 items to get you thinking about how to incorporate the pattern into your no-more-school! wardrobe. Read More »

[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 (or faux-lebrities, like Kimmy K) are spending $5,000 and more on an ensemble, you an spend way less...and save the rest for Margarita Mondays.]

Jennifer Lopez has been one of my style icons for over a decade. As a supremely awkward adolescent girl, I used to watch her music videos and drool over her sexy, trendy, totally stunning outfits that she wore with the kind of confidence that I continue to marvel at to this day. After marriage, two kids, and a few colossally embarrassing career moves (Bennifer, anyone?), J Lo still oozes pure, unadulterated diva swagger. And I absolutely love her for it.

Recently, she showed up to an American Idol party dressed in a schoolgirl inspired outfit, abs bared and all. Had anyone else done this, everyone (myself included), would have written it off as another tacky crime against all things fashionable and chic. Yet somehow, when I saw this 41-year-old mother in this pretty blatantly ridiculous ensemble, I saw a regulation hottie wearing a really cool, funky, edgy outfit. Read More »

[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), and 2. A major lack of storage space (for all the crap you've got). For these two reasons, maximizing what you already 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.]

It’s the week after Christmas, you’ve spent the weekend enjoying holiday treats and all you want to do is bum around the house. It’s cold outside. You’re cringing at the thought of stumbling out into the treacherous terrain, but you made plans to meet up with a friend. Standing in front of your closet, you stare at the few things you’ve got and wonder how you can possibly stay warm.

Well, grab your trusty pullover sweatershirt, and I’ll show you how to wear it without looking like a slob! Read More »

Now is probably one of the best times of the year to think about buying a winter coat. It’s before the first I’m-so-freaking-cold-why-haven’t-I-bought-a-new-coat day, but after stores have brought out loads of coats – and even marked some down! If you’re in need of a new coat this year (or just want something that doesn’t say North Face on the shoulder), Thanksgiving is the perfect time to pick one up. If you’ve moved to a slightly different climate for school, by now you can probably anticipate what you’re going to need to get your butt to class every day; you’ll be home with your parentals’ moolah; and what better time to buy a coat then when you can get one for cheap (Black Friday, anyone!?)?

There are so many styles of coats (and capes!) to suit your personal style and work with your lifestyle. Whether you only go outside when necessary or you need something to watch Quidditch from the sidelines, there’s a coat out there for you. And, damn girl, they are cute! Read More »

Ladies, it’s time to embrace the plaid.

OK, before you former uniform-wearing girls get all “I spent the last 12 years of my life in plaid, why on Earth would I wear it once I can finally pick my own clothes each day?!” let me explain. Plaid is so. much. more. than the pattern of choice for schoolgirl kilts; it’s classic, it’s versatile and it’s probably one of the easiest ways to incorporate a multicolored pattern into your wardrobe.

Plaid is one of the 10 Modern Pieces Every Girl Should Own and the plaid shirt has become a uniform for both male and female college students.  It’s easy to wear with jeans, super comfy, and looks good even when it’s been balled up on your floor and you only have 10 minutes to make it to class.  It’s also been super popular for a few years, and appears to have major staying power.  If the plaid shirt isn’t your thing, or you want other ways to incorporate your new favorite pattern into your wardrobe, there are lots of coats, bottoms and accessories out there for you! And each one is cuter than the other.

Another bonus about plaid?  If you’re ever in a bind about what to wear to an ‘I love the ’90s’ party, a plaid shirt is your best bet… Take that, solids! Read More »

I’ll admit, a few years ago when leggings came back in style, I thought there was no way I’d wear them. In fact, I told everyone I knew that I’d rather “walk around pants-less than try and pass off some leggings as pants.”

Obviously, I’ve since eaten my words. Leggings are now a staple in my wardrobe and I often wonder how I lived without them. They’re versatile, comfortable and affordable. I wear them to the gym, to class, to work and to party. Not even jeans can do that. And there are so. many. different kinds now! Forget those basic blacks, leggings come in all sorts of colors and patterns now, meaning even more opportunities to wear ‘em. Here are a few pairs you can rock out for under $20. Read More »

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