I just love purple clothing and accessories for fall.  The deeper and jewel-toned shade you see in stores this time of year are flattering on everyone, and you feel instantly more sophisticated when you wear it (it is the color of royalty, after all).

And not to mention it looks amazing with gray, my other favorite color for fall.  Here are some great purple items to add to your wardrobe this season for $20 or less each!

I don’t even know where to begin with how amazing this cami is.  Its gorgeous color and ruffles drew me to it at first, but what I really love about it is how versatile it is–you can layer it under a long cardigan for a casual look, or dress it up by wearing it under a blazer or tucked into a skirt.

There are a few reasons that camp shirts like this one have been popular for several seasons: the roll-up sleeves make mean you can wear them in different temperatures,  and they’re versatile enough to dress up or down.  Snag this grape-soda colored one for only $17.99.

This sweater tunic looks so comfortable!  It’s the perfect thing to just throw on the days you don’t know what to wear–just add some leggings or skinny jeans and your favorite boots.  And at $13.80, you can afford to buy a few!

This is the perfect party/going out skirt!  The color will draw enough attention by itself, so keep the rest of your outfit simple by wearing it with a plain black or white top and booties.  You’ll look hot, and no one will be able to guess you only spent $19.80!

Another going out option, this dress will definitely get you noticed!  The faux-wrap style is flattering on pretty much everyone, and the belt both defines your waist and gives you a little bit of an edgy rocker vibe.

This shawl-style cardigan can be worn many different ways to create a number of different looks–and at only $14.99, it’s a steal!

No time to wash your hair before class? This adorable hat will cover up your greasy roots, make your outfit instantly cuter, and keep your head nice and warm.

This boyfriend cardigan is the ultimate casual essential for any college girl.  It’s perfect to wear around your dorm, to class, or even over your dress when you go out at night.  The deep purple shade is just about perfect, and the stripes give it a subtle sporty vibe.  And it’s on sale for only $15!

God, what did we ever do without the internet? Besides the amazingness that comes from sites like this, there’s online shopping. And it rules! You can get all your favorite things without leaving the house and online stores can charge less for all of it since they don’t have to spend all that extra money on actual storefronts. That means lots of fabulosity without spending lots of money.

And one of those great stores is a recent CollegeCandy find: Anique Michelle. It isn’t well known – yet – and might just be one of the best kept secrets of the world wide web.  The selection is small, but everything Anique stocks is adorable and affordable. Nothing costs more than $60! I’m totally digging the accessories and can’t wait to spruce up a few of my outfits with some of these.

Envelope clutches are great for those nights out because they’re big enough to carry the essentials, but not so big that they’re a nuisance.  Love, love, love the purple (it’ll look great with a LBD) and the contrasting details.  Definitely worth $19.

These earrings a great statement piece and can add a little edge to any outfit. It’s no wonder they’re named after me.

I find big, funky rings are the easiest way to add a little punch to any look. And with three color options (black, gold and silver) you can find one for any outfit…

I’m a big fan of the studs and bright color choices on this over-sized wallet (or undersized clutch?). Now you can carry your ID, money and credit cards in style.

Chanel is one of my all-time favorite designers and this homage to Coco is a whole lot cheaper than buying the real deal. Not to mention, it would look just divine over a loose white v-neck tee.

Leather + gold + giant bangle = the perfect accessory.

Vests are like fashion magic. You just slip one on and your outfit is instantly cooler, especially when you’re talking about this studded little guy.

Despite what Jenny Humphrey may say, headbands are still a hot accessory this season. I’m loving the rich color of the flower on this one. It will look good with just about any hair color and easily update a simple ensemble. Plus, it’s only $9! Take that, overpriced Urban Outfitters accessories!

Don’t forget: CollegeCandy readers get another 15% off at Anique Michelle through November! Just enter “collegecandy” at checkout! Yay!

And that something comes in the form of color. The color purple to be exact.

Every girl needs a little color in her wardrobe and what better way to liven things up than with something beautiful, luxurious and violet?  Historically, purple is associated with nobility, but we don’t need to be canoodling with Prince Harry to enjoy the benefits of this year’s hottest color. (Although, that would definitely help with the winter blues…) We can all look regal and faboosh, even on our student budgets.

You can work purple into your look in a big way – like a silky sheath dress – or just add little splashes here and there. Either way, you won’t have to look far to find the perfect purple pieces to lift your winter spirits. In fact, I found 16 hot ones right here.

One of my favorite things about fall is not the return of pumpkin everything, but the chance to start fresh with my look: new clothes, new boots and a complete overhaul on my makeup drawer. I love how it feels to have a completely fresh wardrobe and to be excited about getting dressed every day. I love the challenge of incorporating new trends into my look. And I just love any excuse to play with my makeup for a few hours.

One of the trends I’m most excited for this fall is the return of the bright, bold, purple eye. I know it sounds scary and overwhelming, but you you can wear violet hues without looking like Barney. Just look at all the models doin’ their thang during Fashion Week!

Like with all bold makeup, the key to pulling off this look is to keep the rest of your face simple so the purple on your eyes will really pop.  Try out some of the products and techniques below and I promise to get you looking like a chic starlet walking the red carpet… not like a big, scary Purple People Eater.

Bare Escentuals Liners: Waterproof and smudge-proof liners in Sugar Plum (metallic lilac) or Now (plum wine).   Use a neutral eye shadow as a base then line your top and bottom lash line with a fine tipped brush, blending at the corners.  To create a thick dramatic line, add water or liner sealent to the liner, but a soft dry powder works just fine.  You can create a smokey purple eye with the liners by using them more as a shadow. Sweep the purple close to the center of the lid and then going over the center with a light shadow.

For another liner option try Clinique Cream Liner in Starry Plum.

Pop Beauty “Brown Eyes” Shadow Set: Find this on my new favorite site BeautyTicket.com for only $8.99! These light shimmery shadows can be blended together to create different shades of perfect purple.  Because these shadows are light you can use a thicker liner and more dramatic mascara to glam it up.

Vincent Longo- Trio Eye shadows in “Chariot Wings” or “Purple Sky”: This eye shadow trio lays it out so easy for you that there really isn’t an opportunity to mess up.  The shade with the moon imprint is to be used as an accent through crease in your lid, the sun implant is applied on the lid up to the brow and the star imprint is used as a liner on the top and/or bottom lash line. For a bolder shadow option try Sephora’s Colorful Mono Eye Shadow in Fairy Princess, but stick to a simple face, and don’t try this color during the day.

Purple nail color is also in for the fall so try Lancome nail polish in Blind Date, for only $8 here.

Enjoy going plum crazy!

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Usually I hate when things happen ahead of season, like when Halloween stuff starts popping up in August, or when Christmas decorations are everywhere in September.  In general it is just plain wrong.  I don’t need a blow up outdoor Santa snow globe before Halloween has even passed.  Actually, I don’t need one of those at all.  Ever.

However, there’s one thing that I don’t mind arriving a wee bit early, and that’s next season’s makeup trends (or any fashion for that matter); it’s never too early to look into/play around with the new fall colors.

Now’s the time to get your makeup bag ready for fall and I’m here to help. You should be glad I’m not actually there with you, because I’d be trying on every lip gloss you got and curling my eyelashes instead of really helping. But I digress. I’ll tell you what to keep, what to toss, and what to buy for Back To School season.

You don’t have to do it right now (obviously), but just keep your eye out for the colors of fall and prepare yourself to part with the makeup of the summer.

First of all, it’s a good idea to clean out your makeup bag every season.  Check things for expiration dates and think back to the last time you used a product.  Check out these tips to find out how long you should keep mascaras, shadows, and lip glosses.

Once you’ve cleared out the cakey makeup you bought for the 7th grade play or the chunky glitter you used for a middle school dance, you can take a look at more recent cosmetics.  This summer was big on blue hues and light tones, but these are inappropriate for the fall.  Put those puppies somewhere safe (and cool – you don’t want them growing any bacteria), and take your nude tones while you’re at it. The fall is all about dark colors.

Don’t have any dark tones? It’s time to get some in hues like purple, berry tones, and black. To start incorporating these colors into your collection, check out some of these products:

Purple: Pick a deep plum color and use as a liner for a subtle effect, or sweep over your whole lid for a more dramatic effect.  If you choose a powder shade, like this one from Bare Escentuals in Legit, you can use it now for light color layers and then pile it on wet in the fall for a darker, more dramatic look.

Berry: Gone are the nude lips of summer, and deep berry colors are in.  This is a pretty big switch from the natural look of the summer so don’t test this out too early.  When the summer fades away, keep the rest of your look light and try out a bright berry like this one from NARS in Russian Doll.

Black: Thick black eyes are going to be in style for an intense night look.  Try this cream eyeliner pot from Smashbox and use it as a thick eyeliner by sweeping it over your upper and lower lash line.  Fall is going to be especially dramatic with bold black being used on lids – not just lash lines – so don’t be afraid to use black as a shadow.

[We all live busy lives: we go to school or work (or sometimes both), we try to keep our lives in order and, on top of everything else, we try to maintain a social life.

It can all be a bit overwhelming at times, especially when you’re running here, there and everywhere, and in the process of it all, still trying to look cute.  On a weekly basis, I will be posting a guide for an outfit that looks super cute and casual during the day, but you can easily rock out at night with a few accessory additions and/or a change of shoes.  And maybe, just maybe, it’ll help ease the stress of life a little bit because, hey, when we look good, we feel good, right?]

It’s easy to bring out your wild side this season with the offerings of ikat and other tribal prints available in darling dresses, skirts and tops.  And a bonus is that with the right style, this print can easily look fabulous no matter what time of day you’re rockin’ it.

I love that summer means you can show of those gams in super cute dresses, and I am lovin’ this one from Forever 21. What makes me even happier?  The under $25 price tag.

For Day:
The dress is cute enough on it’s own not to need too much accessorizing, especially for daytime. Throw on a cute pair of black sandals and you’re set.

For Night:
All you need to dress this up is to throw on some accessories and hit the town.  If you really wanna doll it up, you can always pair it with some black strappy heels or black wedges, but cute sandals are perfectly acceptable for going out this time o’ year.  (And – bonus – if you keep those suckers on there’s no need to carry a giant purse with you toting around shoes, etc. Hey, sometimes our shoulders need a break.)

Since the dress has a lot going on as it is, it’s OK to keep the accessories pretty basic. In this case: basic black. They will bump up the glam for evening without making you look like you went on accessories overload.

If you want to give the look a little more oomph, you can also wear jewelry in a fun and funky color like yellow,  purple or teal. It’ll really pop without being too over the top. (Thought I’d throw down some rhymes while I’m helping your style…)

Even the glamorous world of fashion has been hit hard by the recession. In a time where most people are cutting back, spending money on designer outfits just doesn’t seem reasonable. At this year’s New York Fashion Week, many designers have cut costs by hosting smaller runway shows or gallery presentations.

But more than how, designers have changed what they are showing. Their goal is to show women looks that they must have; looks that will get them reaching for their wallets. So what can you expect to be snatching up for fall? A little of this, a little of that and a whole lot of 80s…

1. Head-to-toe Black. While the future of fashion definitely looks dark, that may not be a bad thing. Sleek, modern-looking all-black ensembles have dominated the runways this week.

2. Purple and Red are breaking up the monotony by popping up occasionally, as well.

3. Leather is going to be everywhere this fall – jackets, boots, and, yes, leggings.

4. Cutouts will add sex appeal to the tougher, edgier looks you’ll be seeing.

5. Full-length, exposed zippers will also be back to make a bold statement on seemingly standard ensembles.

6. Built-Up or Padded Shoulders have been spotted quite a a few times on the runways, so get ready to raid your grandma’s closet. The big shoulder is gonna be huge (pun intended).

7. Cinched waists will be back next for fall, which is refreshing as it is the most flattering silhouette.

Other trends that will continue through fall 2009 are animal prints, volume and structure, full skirts, color blocks, and plaid. Thankfully designers have recycled some trends from ’08, allowing all of us to keep up with fashion without overhauling our wardrobes.

Each week I’ll be putting together a cute and affordable “going out” ensemble guide (that you can tweak to your own personal style and body type, of course) so that maybe that age-old question can be answered a little quicker than usual. And your friends aren’t waiting - for hours - for you to emerge from your room. Just consider me your own (free) personal Rachel Zoe.]

So the holiday buzz has warn off, it’s time to get back to the real world, and on top of all that, it’s frickin’ freezin’ out there! Things may seem bleak right now (the economy sucks, the weather sucks, school sucks; I know how it goes) and there may be nothing you want to do more than climb into bed, pull the covers over your head and attempt to fight off those winter blues by daydreaming of sun-drenched days on the beach, but your chin up, girlfriend!

Get out of bed, pull on a cute outfit and get out there. Just because we’re officially in the dead of winter doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of fun to be had…

This top/cardigan is super sexy (helloooo, cleavage), but the belt will give great definition to your waist and the flowing bottom will cover up any of those unwanted holiday pounds. It’s top perfection.

If you’re not brave enough to wear it solo, you can always put a basic black cami or long sleeved top underneath.

Because the top is more flowy, you are going to want to pair it with a more streamlined and fitted bottom, like a pair of super dark wash skinny jeans.

Since the outfit is pretty simple, add some color with the footwear. Purple is still a popular hue and it goes great with gray. Bonus on these boots: the low heel is much easier to navigate snowy/icy walkways than sky-high stilettos, and they’ll keep your tootsies warm!

You can go a bit bigger with the accessories, so throw on a big bangle and some statement earrings. These hoops are great because they’re fun and big, but the thin wiring makes sure they’re not overbearing. And the bangle? Well, it’s just really cute.

Just don’t forget the essentials to keep you warm when you’re not inside shakin’ your booty on the dance floor: scarf, gloves and a coat are essentials and you can make them fun and stylish as well.

[In early adulthood there is an activity that plays a large role in most of our lives; nights out on the town. And with those nights out always comes the question: “What am I gonna wear?!?”

Each week I’ll be putting together a cute and affordable “going out” ensemble guide (that you can tweak to your own personal style and body type, of course) so that maybe that age-old question can be answered a little quicker than usual. And your friends aren’t waiting - for hours - for you to emerge from your room. Just consider me your own (free) personal Rachel Zoe.]

It’s the holiday/party season and with the economy in bad shape, it is the perfect time to honor another time of financial woe and give your party outfit some of that old style, 1920′s glamour. I read an article a few months ago when the financial meltdown had just begun that was reflecting on how times of national financial hardship tend to lead to more excessive glamour and glitz for the sake of lifting spirits, so why not take advantage of the currently bleak economy by having fun, going a bit overboard, and puttin’ on the ritz?

A flirty black dress is always popular, and something with ruffles or fringe will get that true 20′s feel…

Stockings were all the rage in those times, but give it a more modern twist with a funky pair of fishnets or sheer textured tights.

A cute pair of peep-toe pumps are the perfect compliment to this look. To add a little fun, get some pumps in a color other than black, like this purple pair.

Of course, no outfit is complete without jewelry, and (faux) pearls are the best option for this look. (Just be sure not to put too many pieces of jewelry on, you don’t wanna look too costume-y)

Or go for ultimate glam and put a vintage/vintage-inspired broach on your dress…

And if you really wanna go for that vintage feel, top it all off with a fun feathery hair piece, or an awesome hat…