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!

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British bag designer Anya Hindmarch is known for lustrous, elegant styles and rich colors and is such a hit in jolly ol’ England, her boutiques have been raided numerous times in the last several months.

Celebrities like Anne Hathaway are fans of her bags, which fall into the $500-$1000 range, and now those of us commoners with label lust can greedily grab up one (or more!) of her new limited-edition collection for Target. The line will be available from October 12th until December 26th and will range from just $20-$50.

Hell yeah.

But Anya didn’t sacrifice style for her much cheaper Target line. The collection stays true to her love of elegance and class with gorgeous colors and faux patent leather, and features satchels (the most popular shape of the season), shoulder bags and clutches. As Hindmarch says, “The designs are sophisticated yet practical, simple and streamlined, and the shapes are classic. They add polish and shine to any outift!”

You definitely don’t want to miss out on this limited collection. Snatch em up at Target stores or online at Target.com. Read More »

Following the trends can be quite problematic. Especially when you are trying to find the trends on the cheap before every mass retailer has picked it up. And by that point, you’re so over it because EVERYONE has one. Sound familiar? It’s pretty much the story of my life.

Before I get to the trend (sigh, big bags are out). I’m going to tell you a story. And then I’m going to tell you how to remedy our little situation.

In October of 2005, I saw a Calvin Klein ad where the model was wearing FLAT BOOTS. And not just flat boots, but black patent leather pointy toe snakeskin flat boots. And at that point, not only did I want a pair of boots sans their heel, I wanted them right THEN before they became über popular.

Now you can find a pair anywhere. Forever 21, H&M, Payless: they all jumped on the flat boot bandwagon, but a year and a half after I wanted a pair. That year, I spent my fall break in New York and decided that I would find a decently priced (i.e. around 200 dollars) pair of boots. I knew I couldn’t find them for less, if I could even find them at all.

I dragged my then boyfriend to every shoe store in Manhattan looking for a pair of flat boots. Poor guy. That was a rough shopping day.

I knew what I wanted but could not find them for less than 500 bucks. And my college budget sure wasn’t able to afford a pair of shoes THAT expensive.

Eventually, at the end of the day, I found them. My beautiful flat boots were just sitting there on the shelf in a tiny unassuming shoe store on 14th street. And when I went back to school, everyone made fun of my shoes and I was like whatever, bitches! Just you wait!

So now for the new fall trend that can’t be found: small shoulder bags or saddle bags. Whatever you want to call them. Big bags are out for those in the know. As much as I love my big bag, I am a bit tired of lugging so much crap around and having so much accumulate within its cavernous interior. So I am going to embrace this new trend before it becomes too trendy. Problem is, every little bag comes with a big price. Read More »