It’s been a long, cold winter, but March and Spring Break are finally here! For those of you spending a week in a warm and sunny environment, here are some Spring-Break-I’m-going-to-paradise-and-I-need-to-look-cute-and-show-off-my-bangin-bod essentials for under $20.

And you know what that means: more margarita money.

Obviously, a bathing suit is the first thing on your list and Forever 21 has a great line of suits that are all $21 or less.  This is just one of my personal faves. The color will look great against your skin and you can pull off those straps easily to avoid an ugly tan line.

Chances are, if you’re anything like me, you’re white as a ghost and ready to look sun-kissed again.  But skip those harmful UV rays at the tanning beds and use this awesome spray tan from Vicky’s Secret.

And speaking of harmful UV rays, you’ll want to be sure to avoid those as much as possible if you don’t want to look like a raisin by the time you’re 25. So make it a point to slather on the sunscreen every morning before you hit the beach! Neutrogena’s sunscreen is consistently ranked at the top and the sheerness of it won’t leave you feeling sticky or icky, which means you can go from day to night easily and comfortably.

Cover-ups are great for those treks to the beach or pool and this one is cute enough that you can still feel sexy when you pop into bar for some beachside cocktails.

Flip flops are another beach necessity, so why not trade in those rubber ones for some that are stylish enough to wear for dinner or a night out on the town.  Once again, these make the transition from beach to party easy, and make the walk home from said party pain free.

You can’t go on vacay without some cute shades, but rather than spending oodles on the hottest designer look, grab some that cost under $10 so you don’t flip when they get scratched by sand, swiped by the pool or taken by the ocean. (And at under $6, you can grab up a couple pairs so you have back-ups.) I love the retro feel of this pair and the fact that the large frames will protect your hungover eyes from that bright sun is just an added bonus.

Keep those premature wrinkles away and look chic doing it with a chic, floppy sun hat.

You’ll want your clothes to do double duty on Spring Break (so you don’t have to pay extra when your suitcase doubles the weight allowance for the flight) so a  tailored pair of denim shorts is key. These are casual enough to wear with your bikini, but the dark wash and added details are nice enough to rock with a pair of wedges and a tight tank for a night on the town.

And maybe a restraining order or two.

But it’s worth it to highlight fresh, unique wardrobe choices that show personality and the courage to wear what you believe in.]

She’s a senior and while she may be dealing with a bad case of Senioritis, her style certainly isn’t. No matter what time she wakes up in the morning – sometimes ten minutes before class…and sometimes ten minutes after it’s started – Jessica always stays fly and manages to pull on something cute. Even if its her simple staple look – one of her many v-necks, a scarf, and a pair of comfy jeans. She just makes everything look good. What got me to notice her in a sea of students wearing jeans and v-necks, though?

Her hot pink Longchamp bag and a fantastically contrasting bright scarf. This girl just knows how to stand out.

Name: Jessica
Year: 2010
Major: Political Science, Global Health Certificate
Jessica in 3 words: tongue-in-cheek, spontaneous, eclectic

1) Describe your personal style.

I’ve never really defined my personal style; it’s pretty eclectic and definitely varies with my mood. I’m from San Francisco and people sometimes tell me I have that easy-going West Coast vibe: skinny jeans, colorful Chucks, v-neck tee, and scarf. I love v-neck tees and have them in every color. Sometimes I’ll feel more girly and wear a pretty sundress with sandals or flip-flops (never heels, just too uncomfortable for me). I don’t know, I go through phases! I’ve been through a punk phase, a boho phase, a hipster phase…I don’t have much time to get ready in the morning, though, so I definitely go for something comfortable and easy to wear.

2) You can’t leave your house without your ________.

Bright pink Longchamp bag! I carry it every day whether I’m going to class or just going out to dinner with friends. I can fit everything in it, including my laptop! I also love how it’s so bright and goes with basically any outfit.

3) Name your favorite store.

I absolutely love this online boutique called 80′s purple; it’s an eclectic mix of basics and bolder, more “out-there” looks. I also love shopping in boutiques in Hong Kong (you can get designer clothes at much cheaper prices), and you can never go wrong with Forever21!

4) What/who is the biggest influence on your style?

I can’t really pinpoint one influence. I guess I just absorb what I see in the media, magazines, and on my friends – and then choose my own style from there!

5) What’s your favorite trend, past or present?

Scarves. I LOVE scarves – all types! I have at least twenty from all over the world. Whenever I travel, I always pick up a few from whichever country I’m in at the time.

Clothes in the picture:
Top: BCBG, Max Azria
Jeans: Hollister
Necklace: Forever21
Kanye shades: thrift store in Berkeley, CA

[Is there a fashionista on your campus whose style should be celebrated? Someone who is always pushing the style envelope and lookin' damn good doing it? Someone who always seems to put together the coolest outfits, no matter the occasion? Send us a picture and she (or he!) could be featured in a future Campus Couture!]

To help answer this question, I’ve compiled a list of things that I feel are, and aren’t, worth the splurge during our sad and painful recession. My basic rule of thumb? Things that last are worth the cash.

What’s worth it:

Jeans. I always used to laugh at the fact that my friends paid $200+ for jeans…until I tried on my first pair of J-Brands. While you can find cheaper options, the fact of the matter is, most designer jeans are better quality. Invest in a few pairs. They feel softer, they fit better, and they last longer. Your wallet might not thank you but your tush sure will! J-Brand, Hudson, and True Religions are my top picks.

The Iphone–If you can get your fam to join in. Individual plans are pricey, but with a family plan, the monthly rates are much more affordable. The iPhone beats all other cellular choices, plain and simple; it’s genius combo of visual voicemail, thousands of apps (including Shazam, which can detect any song playing nearby and tell you what it is), iPod, internet, and more makes it the clear choice. So worth it.

Haircuts/Hair dying. If you’re looking to change your hairstyle or color dramatically, please go to a salon. Now I’m not saying you should spend $200 to get a trim, but good haircutters/colorists can really make a difference on your do (mom, I hope you’re reading this—put that herbal essences hair-dye DOWN!). So when should you indulge? When you want layers, highlights, or to alter your color dramatically. Or you can get your friend to “work her magic,” just don’t come crying to me when you’re locks are purple and lopsided.

Basics. But only ones that you will use and use and use. This includes: a little black dress, a spring jacket, a few pairs of jeans (see above), a pair of STURDY flip flops–Reef, Teva, JCrew (watch out for water on those last ones–very durable, but zero traction)–etc. You be the judge of what’s a necessity…but don’t go overboard. Those Prada shoes are NOT basics.

What’s not:

Heels: While our feet are precious, you can pamper them without spending hundreds of dollars. There are great shoes out there that are well made, and bargains. I don’t know about you, but when I wear heels out to party, they are usually covered in dirt, sweat, and other people’s footprints by the time I get home. Point being, I’m not about to go throw my savings on a pair of Jimmy Choo’s. Instead, I love to shoe-shop at victoriassecret.com, shiekhshoes and DSW. To get your fix of strappy goodness, check out these (cheap!) beauties.

Manicures: Unless you’re extremely uncoordinated, DIY manicures can yield results just as pretty as those from a salon. Even better than do-it-yourself? Grab a friend and paint each other’s nails. One tip: After clipping, filing, and moisturizing your hands, buff each nail’s surface with a very rough buffer—this will help the polish stick and stay put for weeks. For summer, I adore bright shades. Try Essie, a cheap polish brand that has everything from neon yellows (great with tan/dark skin) to bright reds (beautiful on the fair).

Toiletries: Taking care of your body and face is important, no doubt, but people really underestimate the effectiveness that cheaper products can have. My $7 face cream has quenched my skin’s thirst just as well as my friend’s $50 bottle has quenched hers. And my Maybeline mascara has plumped my lashes just as well as that Dior Show I mistakenly purchased once. Until your skin is ridden with wrinkles and you need some serious skin care products, stick to affordable options.

Underwear: My opinion on undergarments? If they’re not visible, they shouldn’t be blasting your budget. And as for the claim that guys like when girls wear expensive, intricate lingerie? It’s false. I can assure you that the guy you’re sleeping with won’t care whether you’re wearing a bra from gap or La Perla–he’ll just wanna get that thing off! That said, it’s fun to feel comfy and sexy, even if you’re alone in the comfort of your own dorm room. Victoria’s Secret’s 5/25 undies deals are awesome, and they come in tons of cute styles, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice feeling sexy for staying on a budget.

Sunglasses: While designer shades can look pretty sleek, $15 ones can too. And since I lose my sunglasses about every 5 minutes, spending hundreds on them seems pretty dumb. Urban has a lot of funky choices that will fit a tight budget.

Gym Membership: Most universities and colleges offer on-campus gyms, but if you’re a graduate, or your school is lacking facilities, take the opportunity to get outside. Spending hundreds on a gym membership is not worth it when you have the great outdoors! Run, walk, hike, or do some at-home workouts—for free! Whatever floats your boat.

Spring is almost here. Although you wouldn’t know it anywhere in the country given the frigid temps. I’m in Chi town and one day its 60 the next its 25 and snowy. Seriously, the weather is more BiPo than our pal Brit Brit and I for one am ready to shed my puffy jacket and grab myself a cute spring dress (and a bottle of self tanner).

So since spring technically starts next week, I though I’d gear us for those springy days with my five loves of spring. Who knows? Maybe some positive thinking coupled with some cute spring staples will convince Mother Nature to bring us sunny skies and warmer weather.

Come on, woman! Help a sister out.

1) The Spring Rain Jacket - There are so many cute jackets for spring, but this one is my fave for one reason. The hood. Wait, there is another reason. It’s really effing cute, but I digress. We know that while we wish everything was coming up roses, Spring brings a lot of rain leaving your hair looking like it is straight out of 1981. Sporting the hood is a must… and some Frizz-Ease in your tote wouldn’t hurt either.

2) The Spring Flat – Usually by February I am so sick of wearing boots every day that I pull out a pair of my flats, dream longingly of skipping in the street, iced coffee in tow. Then I put them out walk out the door and almost lose my feet to frost bite. I can’t help it though; there are so many great options for springtime flats and I just want to buy them all up and wear them out of the store. I am in love with these. I always wanted to be a ballerina on Pointe but my pirouettes were never good enough. So, I’m happily settling for these – perfect for sasayhing down the sidewalk.

3) Spring Sunglasses – When you hear the words Paul Frank you think: the must-have shirt with a monkey….from 7th grade. Being that I was ultra awkward back then, I try to stay as far away from Paul Frank anything that I can. I don’t need to take that trip down memory lane. But then I found these CUTE must-have sunglasses! They are the perfect in-between of overly expensive and so cheap that they will probably break. Still an investment – but an oh-so-cute one. And if these bright seafoams aren’t your thing, he makes them in more muted colors as well. I think I may love Pauly Frank more now than I did in 7th grade. And that is a sentence I never thought I would type.

4) Iced beverages. Iced tea, Iced Coffee, Iced Margaritas (not that I’ve ever had a hot one), Arnold Palmers… Iced is just better. Love, love, love, love, LOVE.

5) The Spring brings all the best out of hibernation. I swear I heard a bird chirp yesterday for the first time in MONTHS and it was music to my ears. Spring brings outside tables to cafes, fun outside ways to spend the day, and must we not forget– lots of men in spring style. Call me a sucker for boys in great jeans and a springy hoodie and I won’t argue. I won’t argue at all.

I’m not at all surprised.

Even more so than a purse or shoes, sunglasses are the first thing people notice about your outfit. You wear them all day and some people, like myself, wear them everyday. So why not drop as much on a pair of Gucci shades as you do on a pair of Manolo’s if you’ve got the spare change?

In recent years sunglasses have become the new It accessory. Pictures of Nicole Richie in oversize glasses that engulfed her tiny head became as ubiquitous in tabloids as pictures of Britney Spear’s cellulite, and the Olsen twins are now more famous for their Ray-Ban Wayfarers than their Balenciaga Motorcycle bags. Even wearing sunglasses at night has become popular with hundreds of pictures of drunk hipsters wearing the Kanye West designed shutter shades in dark clubs on websites like lastnightsparty.com.

If you’re like me and you can name the designer behind a pair of jeans based on the stitching on the back pocket (and you know that Seven7 jeans are nothing like 7‘s), and you can identify a Marc Jacobs or Chloe bag based on the metal hardware, then it makes sense to think about spending hundreds on a pair of sunglasses. Unlike a t-shirt, which can’t be easily identified (who can really tell the difference between an Alexander Wang tank and an American Apparel one, anyway?), sunglasses are as identifiable as jeans or purses. When you spend $300 on a pair of shades you’re not doing it for the UV protection, you’re doing it for the status. It’s a two fold thing. You’re letting everyone know that: 1) you know fashion, and 2) you can afford to spend $300 on a piece of plastic and metal.

The problem is, not everyone can afford a pair of Chanel or Karen Walker (my personal favorite) sunglasses. Instead of trying to save up and buy shades I’ll probably just scratch or lose, I prefer to buy several pairs (okay, maybe tens of pairs) at stores like Forever 21 that make fantastic knock-offs of designer styles. Instead of buying just one pair that goes with every outfit, I buy separate pairs for separate outfits.

Whether you chose to spend a lot on one pair or to spend little on many, many pairs, remember to take care of them. Invest in a nice case and a soft glasses cleaning cloth. Nothing is worse then spending your hard earned dough on something you accidentally step on when you roll out of bed in the morning or crush in your trendy, over-sized (and over-priced) handbag.

[Image from thesun.co.uk]

Oversized Frames: This look has been around for a few years now and was taken mainstream by the likes of Nicole Richie and the Olsen Twins. While it’ll eventually go out of fashion, don’t expect that to happen for the next couple of years. This look doesn’t work for every face shape, but if you can rock it, it can be a blast. You can go for many different shapes; square, round, oval. We’re even seeing octagonal and heart shapes! And the color combos are endless. Classic black gives an Audrey Hepburn look, while going for a fun, funky color and shape allows a whole new feeling. The best advice is to try these glasses on and make sure they don’t take over your face, then have fun with it!

Ray-Ban Wayfarers: This vintage style reemerged in 2007 and is still being seen on celebs such as Kate Moss and Paris Hilton. Of course the classic black frame is in, as are the brightly colored frames. New this year, though, are the two-toned frames to add a little spice.

70′s Inspired Thick, Plastic Frames: The 80′s trend is leaving us, but the 70′s trend remains popular and that means thick, plastic frames in all shapes and colors are popular once again. My best advice: when choosing a style of retro sunglasses, make sure you pick a decade that is currently in trend and don’t go overboard on the color or print of the frames; with the thickness of the 70′s frame, you don’t need too much.

Round, “John Lennon” Glasses: An offspring of the thick 70′s frame trend, the round frames trend has been seen all over the runways from Betsey Johnson to Moschino and everyone from Target to Ralph Lauren are taking the cue and running with it. Again, these frames won’t work for all face shapes, so try ‘em on before jumping on this bandwagon.

Tortoise Shell: While you won’t be finding real tortoise shell out there (we’re much more animal and eco-friendly these days), faux tortoise shell will help fulfill the desire for an exotic look this season.

Aviators: Another continuing trend, the look and style of one of 2007′s biggest trends has barely changed, which means recycling last year’s aviators is completely acceptable and will help out with the budget in this declining economy.

Gradient Lens: Looking ahead to late Summer/Fall, gradient lens (where color changes from black to clear) will be extremely popular, though hard to deal with in the middle of Summer due to the intensity of the sun. They’re a fun way to add a twist on your favorite style and are a fresh look for 2008, so keep them in mind.

The fun of all of these trends is that they can be mixed together to create your own special look; oversize aviators, round tortoise shell frames, 70′s inspired frames with gradient lenses, you can put ‘em all together to add a personal punch to your summer look.

For those of us on a budget (or who wanna indulge in all of this summer’s trends), there are plenty of options out there. Urban Outfitters and Target have a vast array of glasses in the $18-$20 range, which can be found in their stores or on their websites. Forever 21 is an even better option with tons of glasses that fit all of these trends for under $10!

If you really want some designer specs, but don’t have a couple Benjamins to drop, my suggestion is to head over to your local discount store (Filene’s Basement, Loehmann’s, etc.); with all of the style recycling this year, you can usually get some adorable glasses at a discounted price, and no one has to know they are “so last season”.