Every girl needs a good purse (or 12). Whether you’re going for groceries or running from class to class, they are simply essential for holding all your, uh, essentials. Each week, I’m going to show you a fashionable, yet functional purse for the college crowd and let you know why you absolutely need it! I apologize ahead of time to your bank account.

I just finished my exams on Tuesday (hooray for me!) and have quickly shifted my focus to planning my summer. I want to take several roadtrips, spend weekends at my camp (or cottage, whichever you prefer), work hard at my new job and look stylish while doing it all! I also can’t wait to spring clean the crap my wardrobe. I started this ritual a few years back and now thrive on tossing the old and bringing in the new!

And by “new” I obviously mean “new handbags.” I gotta get rid of the boring, single color bags of last spring and make room for the mixed fabrics, especially canvas and leather, that will totally make my Spring 2011 wardrobe. As with anything trendy, there are several high-end options, but let’s get real; if the bag is only half leather, who wants to empty their bank account?

The best bang for your buck is the Deena & Ozzy Chain Tote. Half canvas and half black PVC, it features two carrying options, both with chain handles and comfy PVC shoulder inserts. It’s a large tote, measuring 19 L x 16.5 H, making it super versatile. It’s the perfect size for a day at the beach, when you need to bring your towel and some snacks, but also works great for a day of eco-friendly shopping (no plastic bags for you!). Also, because of the black PVC bottom, it will also make a great travel bag that you won’t be afraid to put underneath your seat on a train or plane. I’m always thinking functionality! Read More »

Now that you’ve started to get into the groove of things with school, you’ve probably figured out what are the essentials for each of your classes.  You’ll know which classes require your laptop to (because how else will you read CollegeCandy to block out boring professors), which require textbooks, and which demand a plethora of snacks to keep you awake your blood-sugar from crashing.

While you could lug everything around in your backpack all the time, a more stylish option is having a cute shoulder bag. Why drag a giant bag around when all you need is a notebook and a fountain Diet Coke? (Although I’d definitely stick to the backpack for days your need your laptop, three textbooks, a notebook AND your lunch….) Backpacks are boring, but these cuties are great transitional pieces; you can take whatever you need with you (in style) to class, and not be weighed down when you meet your friends for coffee or an afternoon shopping sesh.  They also add interest in your outfit, even if you’re simply in a shirt and the jeans you picked up off the floor 10 minutes before class.

And, because college girls need options, I’ve also scrounged up several cute options for going out bags… none of which are clutches. Come on, every girl knows you need your hands free to double-fist dance and snap some Facebook-worthy selfies. Shop away, ladies!

[Click on the image to see more info!]

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I do believe it is officially mid-August, which means most of you will be headed back to campus in the next few weeks.  It also means Back to School shopping is well underway, an occasion that might as well be deemed a national holiday.  As a B2S pro, I’ve been asked by my adoring fans girls I used to babysit what items they should snag for a foolproof freshman wardrobe.

Trying to piece together outfits that go from classroom to frat house basement is indeed a daunting task, but it can be done.  Here’s how to look ten times better than missy in the denim skort trying to steal your place in the keg line:

Get a go-to top. Make it frilly, make it fun. This will be the one top you can always rely on when you think you’ve got nothing else to wear.  Snag it in a color other than black so you’re sure to stand out, but also be sure it’s machine washable.  Finding a dry cleaner near campus is so not worth the cost or effort.

Take it into autumn with the perfect fitted jacket. This season is all about military inspired details, and outerwear is the perfect place to show off your fashion know-how.  Go for an army jacket with a slim, feminine fit to keep you warm when summer evenings turn into crisp nights.  Throw this one from J.Crew over your favorite sleeveless top and a pair of skinny jeans for the walk to class or the stumble home from the bar.

Add a scarf. No, not the chunky kind Mom knits you for Christmas.  I’m talking about the ones thin enough to twist, tie, knot, and drape around your neck.  Anthropologie hit a homerun with their Stonybreck Scarf.  The funky print boasts a color palate that will match with just about anything and the price is on the lower end of the splurge scale.  Don’t let the roommate borrow this one because you’ll never see it again! Read More »

One of my earliest memories is my first day of first grade.
I don’t remember what I wore.
I don’t remember what my mom packed me for lunch (though I’m sure there was a Swiss Cake Roll in there).
But I remember exactly what my backpack looked like.

Magenta with bright blue and yellow pockets. I was one rockin’ 6-year-old. And just thinking about that bag makes me as happy as that day when I filled it with markers, construction paper and my Barbie lunch box.

There is something about back to school time, whether you’re entering first grade or freshman year, that is so exciting. You don’t want to do the work, you don’t want to sit in the classes, but still – you can’t wait for the first day of school. And don’t even get me started on school supply shopping. Heaven. On. Earth. Read More »

I first learned about Freitag, a Swiss company, and its products while flipping through a magazine during a flight. What kept me reading the whole article instead of turning up the volume on my headphones to whatever random movie was playing on that mini screen 10 rows up was how they made their products. This wasn’t just another ho-hum ad for a travel bag; Freitag was born from something bigger.

The idea came about when graphic designer brothers Markus and Daniel Freitag wanted a durable and waterproof messenger bag to carry their belongings in. They traveled by bike and when it rained, their designs would get ruined. They were inspired by the colorful trucks that would drive past their apartment, so they made the very first Freitag bag out of a truck tarpaulin with a used car seatbelt as the strap and an old bicycle inner tube as the edging.

And there it was: an awesome looking bag that was practical and eco-friendly. Read More »

Long ago, I resigned myself to the fact that I’d never own anything by Rick Owens. Leather jackets priced in the area of my rent just aren’t going to happen, even if they’re supposedly comfortable enough to live in. Not buying it, literally. So back when news broke of an upcoming Rick Owens/Eastpak collaboration, I was definitely curious, even though 1) I was more of a Jansport kid and 2) I have no use for a backpack.

Fast forward to now, where the much anticipated bags are available on Oki-Ni. Consisting of sleek backpacks, computer sleeves, and duffels, the collection is pure minimalism, which is what you’d expect from bags designed by a label known for its high-end essentials. It’s all in the details- instead of traditional seams, the bags are produced with a revolutionary welding technology that gives them a luxurious, uninterrupted look and feel.

Basically, we’re saying don’t drag these on the pavement or leave your lunch leftovers in them overnight…