One of the big trends for women this year is the tuxedo. And yes, I said for women. Just think Janelle Monae rocking on stage with her signature big bow-tie. While wearing a tuxedo is over the top for both men and women on a day-to-day basis (and tuxedo shirts are just unacceptable… sorry, dudes) a dressed down interpretation is with the tie-neck blouse.

The tie-neck blouse is strictly for the ladies. While the pay tribute to tuxedo styles, they are much more feminine, which is one of the reasons I love me a big ole bow on the front. It’s not a new trend, meaning if you buy a tie-neck blouse you love now, you could potentially wear it forever. Just ask your mom, I’m betting she rocked this style back in the 70s.

While the position or size of the bow alters the appearance of the tie-neck blouse, I opted to showcase three looks with similar ties (including a faux tie-neck blouse). As these shirts are not super bold on their own, I wanted to show how you can incorporate more than one trend into your looks.

Outfit 1: With coloured skinnies

On their own coloured skinnies are a big statement. Pairing them with more subtle pieces says, “look at me, I’m confident,” without screaming “attention deprived.” A nice classic denim coat over a tie neck blouse is perfect for fall. When wearing something as loud as bright purple pants, I think it’s important to tone them down, though it doesn’t mean your other pieces have to be boring. A big bow at the neck adds extra oomph to a bold look.

Shirt – Old Navy / Coat – Old Navy / Pants – Forever 21 / Flats – Old Navy 

Outfit 2: With flares

You don’t necessarily have to buy a shirt with a tie build in to rock this style. Scarves of the right width and material can easily transform your basic white oxford shirt, with a pop of colour. For a 70s vibe, it’s fun to add a pair of the super popular flares to your look. Though you could easily wear flats with this look, I personally really like flares with a pair of solid pumps. Not to mention I’m drooling over Christian Siriano’s Payless Collection. Anyone want to ship it to Canada? Bueller?

Shirt – AE / Tie Scarf – TopShop / Heels – Payless / Jeans – Karmaloop 

Outfit 3: With a pencil skirt

I also like a tie-neck blouse when it’s dressed up. Though the other two looks pair it with denim, if you’re looking for something office appropriate, try it with a pencil skirt and mary-janes. Tucked in for a sleek look, and you’ll be climbing the corporate ladder (or maybe just looking hot while fetching your boss coffee) in no time.

Blouse – Lulus.com / Purse – Payless / Skirt – Gap / Heels – Target

ModCloth is known for their vintage and retro-inspired clothing. I personally love their selection of unique dresses and shoes – they have perfect outfits for anything from parties to work (and everything in between).

Another great feature of ModCloth is the amazing selection of quirky and standout accessories. ModCloth offers lots of cute and unique accessories to add the perfect finishing touch to any outfit. And the best part? Lots of ModCloth’s accessories are less than $20 each – like all of these great choices!

Click on any accessory to get started!

[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 everyone's favorite style icon, Gwen Stefani) are spending $5,000 on an ensemble you don’t have to.]

Jessica Alba has been taking a break from the big screen lately, choosing to focus on raising her daughter and tweet about feeling fly like a G6. Yet, she is still a solid fixture in all the tabloids, because for some reason, everyone is still obsessed with the fact that celebrities procreate (and look fabulous while doing so).

Jessica is definitely one of the most stylish mommies running around Hollywood. She has a fresh, hip, not excessively trendy style and she loves to include unexpected accessories or pieces with eye-catching detailing. Weird, because I also like to be fresh, hip and not excessively trendy with a touch of the unexpected. Thankfully, I don’t have to have Jessica’s movie star salary to achieve my style dreams.

Product Info: Skirt – Forever 21, $19.80; White Shirt – Old Navy, $10; Blazer – Target, $19.99; Scarf – Scarf World, $5.56; Tights – Figleaves, $7.50; Shoes – Steve Madden, $69.95.

I completely adore this outfit for so many reasons. First of all, this amazing skirt. Maybe I’ve been watching too much Gossip Girl, but I am a firm supporter in miniskirts year round, and I am absolutely in love with the silver studding of this one from Forever 21, which has a similar biker-inspired aesthetic to Jessica’s bangin’ skirt. I have already expressed my undying love for animal print, so you know I’m swooning over the cheetah print scarf, which livens up the plain white top.

I chose a boyfriend blazer (the best/most versatile thing in my wardrobe) to throw on top, but a heavy pea coat would look just as cute. Those sheer tights are perfect for you lucky ladies who don’t have to walk around with a scorching hot caramel macchiato at all times to keep you warm. But for my fellow shivering chickadees, throw on some uber thick tights and you’re good to go. Finally, these uber cute black tuxedo shoes finish off the look by adding a slightly boyish flair to an otherwise very feminine outfit.

Jessica Alba’s look is effortlessly sexy and edgy, and with enough sass, totally appropriate for a variety of occasions, from a Saturday shopping sesh to a night at the bar. Here’s hoping I can look this hot after popping a kid out…

Get more celebrity looks for less here.

Here at CollegeCandy, we’ve sort of been obsessed with sequins lately.  And why shouldn’t we be?  Sequins are fun, glam, and, depending on what you style them with, you can rock them day or night.  And while designer sequined clothing can get pretty expensive, these pieces are all under $20!

This mini dress looks super comfortable, but  jewel-toned color and sequined stripes make it dressy and stylish.  You’ll wear it all year long–with tights and a coat in the colder months, and bare-legged with sandals in the summer!  And the best part?  It’s only $15.99!

Shoes can make or break any outfit–so make sure you have cute ones!  These silver sparklers will go with practically everything in your closet, making them more than worth the $12.99 you’ll spend on them!

Pulling on a sequined mini skirt instead of your go-to jeans is a great way to shake up your usual going-out look.  And this one is super cheap–only $13.98!

Another alternative to jeans for a nighttime look, these shorts are definitely attention-grabbing!  They’d look especially hot paired with a sexy white top (see this cover of Glamour for proof).

Basic black?  Not this top!  At just under $20, this tank top will look great under a blazer for day or with your favorite jeans at night!

This sequined scarf is a great statement piece for nearly any outfit: with a t-shirt or sweater for a casual look, with a tank under a blazer for work, or with a mini dress at night!  It comes in gold, silver, and black, and it’s just $19.90.

This sparkly vest is on sale for only $13.99, but it’s glam enough to to dress up even the most boring t-shirt and jeans look, with virtually zero effort!

So you’re going out tonight, but just the thought of wearing your favorite halter top in the cold nighttime temperatures make you shiver.  Easy solution: a sequined cardigan like this one.  You still have enough sparkle to look dressed up, but you’ll be warm and comfy all night long!

I adore Selena Gomez. Her face looks as if it were lifted from a porcelain doll. Her hair is so luminous and luxurious. Her music is perfect for those times when you’re dancing in front of the mirror in your PJs with your hairbrush (in contrast to those times when you’re dancing in front of the mirror in your highest stilettos and a bottle of Smirnoff). She is the personification of rainbows and unicorns and puppies and everything that is fluffy and G-rated in this world. I love it.

Selena’s style is just as unpretentious and down-to-earth as the rest of her image. She’s totally youthful, fresh, and laid back. She is that girl who swears she “isn’t even into fashion,” but she always looks current and hip, and you never see her wearing the same ensemble twice.

She is essentially every friend I’ve ever had and secretly resented totally admired.

Luckily, this easy-breezy style fits perfectly into the college style scene and, even better, is not at all difficult (or expensive) to emulate.

Product Information: Blazer, Sweater, Jeans, Boots, Scarf, Bag

Boyfriend blazers have been in for the past few seasons, and this fall is no exception. This particular one is corduroy, which is so quintessentially fall, and can be a staple for years to come. Adding a black/white shirt adds a little bit of flair to an overall very neutral outfit. You can throw on any sort of solid scarf, but I love the idea of mixing prints in the same color family for a little extra visual interest. And don’t be afraid of pairing a black bag with brown boots. If Selena’s outfit teaches us anything it’s that it can totally work.

This is such a great look because it’s fashion-forward but still sticking with clothes you most likely already own. By mixing and matching colors that clash, but still fall under the realm of “neutral”, you can create an adorbz look that is so easy to customize and personalize.

Get more celebrity looks for less here.

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[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 are spending $5,000 on an ensemble (like a sweater and skinny jeans) 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.]

Rachel Bilson has lived a charmed life. She made out with Adam Brody as part of her job (sniffle, I still miss The O.C.). She made out with Adam Brody for pleasure. She had a whirlwind engagement to Hayden Christensen. She is going to be starring in an NBC show that was created with her in mind. She has cultivated a reputation for being one of the most consistently stylish and adorable celebrities, she writes a column for one of fashion’s holiest publications (InStyle), and her most recent job title is Eyewear Ambassador for the Sunglass Hut. (I don’t know what that means, but I’m jealous.)

If that’s not enough to make you want to be her, she’s also got some serious personal style.

Rachel’s signature style is a combination of trendy and classic. She constructs awesome outfits by mixing textures, sticking with flattering silhouettes, and choosing eye-catching accessories. And putting them all together flawlessly.

While I may never be able to wake up in Adam Brody’s overly slender arms have her life, I find comfort in knowing I can have Rachel’s style. Even with my meager budget:

Product Information: Jacket – Charlotte Russe, $39.50; Long-sleeve Tee – Target, $10; Jeans – Old Navy, $24.99; Boots – G by Guess, $49.95; Scarf – Ecrater, $9.95.

This outfit is perfect for a low-maintenance but still fashion-conscious lady. Distressed jeans are casual without being sloppy, while the fleece jacket is functional while being adorable (and giving a fabulous nod to Coco Chanel.) While Rachel chooses to roll up the cuffs of her jeans as a different way to show off her booties, tucking your jeans into your boots is far from played out.

And who wouldn’t want to show off those sexy suede ankle booties (for under $50!)?

But the real highlight of this outfit for me is the amazing hybrid animal-print scarf. It’s so offbeat and full of character, and the pashmina-type scarf is still very much in. It also is the easiest (and cheapest) way to turn a basic and boring t-shirt and jeans ensemble into a trendy and stylish look. Throw in the quilted bag from the Hilary Duff ensemble from a few weeks ago, and you’ll look, as Katy Perry so eloquently stated, fine, fresh, and fierce.

Get more celebrity looks for less here.

Sigh, aren’t scarves wonderful?

The other essential (and almost magical) item for the girl in a morning rush: a hat! If you’re having an off hair day (or you haven’t washed your hair all week. I get it – midterms are rough) toss on a cap over top, cover up that mess and look super chic. There are lots of styles to choose from this year and that means there’s one for you, no matter what your face shape! And while hats always scare people who think they are so hard to pull off (not literally, of course), but don’t be afraid to take the plunge.

If nothing else, at least you can hit snooze five more times and still end up in class in style.

Below, just a sampling of my favorite scarves and hats of the season. Click each pic for more info!

Animal prints have been hot for the last few seasons, but leopard prints are especially huge this season.  However, this trend can be tricky to pull off–too much and you’ll just end up looking trashy. Or like Snooki. Or worse, Angelina.

The important thing to remember about rocking the leopard print trend is that less is more.  Wear just one piece at a time, and you’ll look classy and trendy.  If you’re still unsure about wearing animal prints, a great way to start is with accessories.  They’re a great way to introduce yourself to the trend by working it in a subtle way.

Here are some great leopard accessories to get you started–and they’re all less than $20!

These flats are not only adorable, but versatile, too!  Wear them in the daytime to spice up your usual skinny-jeans-and-cardigan combination, or at night with a solid colored dress and some black tights.

Patterned nail wraps are a huge celebrity trend, but getting them done in a salon can cost upwards of $40-50!  But you can get the trend for a lot cheaper ($10.95) by doing your own leopard mani at home with these fierce nail wraps. Hotness.

A scarf is essential for the cooler months, so why don’t you switch out your old boring black fleece one for this leopard one instead?  You’ll instantly look more fashionable, and at only $5, how could you pass it up?

I know this time of year isn’t the usual time people think about buying sunglasses, but it’s important to protect your peepers year-round. (And, no joke, when the cold wind is blowing, sunglasses really do help keep your face warm!)  I’m obsessed with these ones–retro cat-eye shape, leopard print, and only $5.80?  I imagine this is what love feels like.

The skinny belt–another classic wardrobe staple taken up a notch with leopard print.  This will look chic buckled around a cardigan, a simple dress, or with your favorite jeans.

I love the cross-body bag trend–since they keep your arms free, they’re perfect for anything from shopping to carrying around campus.  This one is only $12.50, and it’s big enough to hold a few books and notebooks, and even a smaller laptop!

This leopard headband is the perfect addition to any outfit.  The band is thin, so it’s a subtle touch, and the sweetness of the bow balances out the flashy-ness of the leopard print.  Oh, and did I mention it’s less than $4?

The weather is getting colder, and winter will be here before we know it.  Which means lots of rainy and snowy days.  Get a leopard print umbrella like this one ($12) to instantly cheer you up on all those gloomy winter days.

Six years later, Lindsay is…Lindsay, while Hilary still has clothing lines, a book deal, a stable relationship (who put a ring on it), and no one would ever think of including her in their celebrity death pool. Not only has she transitioned from Disney teen queen to grown woman without taking a trainwreck detour, she has done so while cultivating a simple yet chic personal style that reflects her seemingly low-maintenance, easygoing, approach to life.

Team Hilary for the win.

Product Information: Jeans, $39.50; Top, $14.99; Scarf, $12; Shoes, $26.50; Bag, $29.

This outfit is fabulous because it’s flattering and fitted, without being constricting or floozy-ish. I adore the contrast of the flowy shirt/fitted pants and the to-die-for red heels (though of course, an embroidered flat would look just as great). And who knew how much cooler skinny jeans looked with an easy roll at the bottom? (Note: these Rock Star skinny jeans from Old Navy are the best. pants. ever.)

This outfit would be perfect for class, coffee dates, shopping outings, happy hours… it’s so versatile and easily customizable. You could even swap out the tank for a long sleeve top or a boyfriend cardigan and wear this look through the fall. And – bonus! – the quilted bag can be worn over your shoulder or across your body to add even more versatility to the look.

And with that, my work here is done.
Now excuse me while I go listen to Come Clean and say my daily prayer for Lindsay.