Whether it be the latest look of Betsey Johnson’s spring/summer collection, Lauren Conrad photographed glamming it up in Hoboken or seeing that trendy chick in your biology class rock something fresh, there is no denying that spring trends are taking over. Completely over my dry skin, frizzy hair and all this winter weather in general, I have no problem developing an unhealthy addiction to the latest looks. I will be celebrating the first official day of spring in one of my favorite new trends: High-waist, distressed denim shorts.

I discovered the trend in early January as I tried to drown out my winter blues by searching swim suit designers on Etsy.com. For those of you who don’t know about Etsy, it’s a fabulous site serving as a virtual boutique for up and coming designers that create unique, one of a kind crafts, clothes and accessories. Thrift store junkies-this is your haven! While searching wedges, tank tops and swim suit cover ups, I stumbled upon a collection called BajuesBest.

BajuesBest consisted of numerous pairs of denim shorts. Not simple blacks, whites or navy pairs, but gorgeous works of art. Each pair was personalized with ombre dyes, studs and vintage cuts. I immediately fell in love with the fit and fades of unnatural denim colors. I contacted the designer (or should I say artist) Julia, and received a pair of high-waist charcoal denim along with a faded, studded, pink vest that made me feel like a cleaner, more fashionable form of Ke$ha.

(SaboSkirt.com)

The shorts fit snugly against hips and right below the belly button. They are such a fabulous alternative to the classic t-shirt and jean shorts. Slip on a pair, tuck in your tee, add a pair of lace-ups, a bold necklace and you’ve turned your ensemble from June-casual to spring collection chic. SaboSkirt.com offers beautiful pairs for an average of $98.00, but if you’re a struggling college student budget-stylista like myself, go grab a fabulously fitting, great quality and one-of-a-kind pair of BajuesBest for $40.00. If you’ve stuck to your New Year’s resolution of cutting back on the Mickie D’s dollar menu, this is a great opportunity to show off your long limbs and tight back end, as well as your favorite statement wedges. Grab a pair, snap a pic and add your photo to the comments section; I’ll pick my favorite to be featured in an upcoming article of my favorite spring trends.

Let’s be real, the best part of spring break is looking fabulous & getting waisted.

All of the above from BajuesBest

[Like it or not, we all judge people every day. Especially when it comes to their fashion choices. From the girl with the too-short skirt for class to the old guy who insists on wearing short shorts and doing butterfly stretches at the gym (yeah, try to get that visual out of your head), it's impossible not to form an opinion. And now we're gonna share those opinions with the world. Every week, I'll be highlighting a celebrity look that I may love/hate/not understand and see what you, my college fashionistas, think about it. So put on your Joan Rivers fashion cap (which is undoubtedly made out of all the skin she's had nipped and tucked over the years) and let it all out.]

One thing I love about being British is the word “quirky.” This word is frequently flung around as an affectionate way of saying that we dress kinda eclectically and often downright weird. It’s the word that allows us to get away with looking like our Grandmas and wearing our boyfriend’s clothes (the delightful Ms. Chung springs to mind). But being “quirky” and a little out-there doesn’t always work, no matter how willowy you are.

Take this dress for example. It has that perfect “found-this-in-a-vintage-store” look, despite the fact it’s price was probably closer to that of a yacht. But it also looks a little too grungy. It really should be a gorgeous dress, with the light tan color, pretty sparkles and adorable collar, but I’m not sure if it’s the odd shoulder that looks like it’s falling off her, or the tiered skirt, but it definitely looks like something old Aunt Hilda donated to Goodwill. I like that she’s kept her makeup and jewelery simple with so much going on in the dress, but maybe a lighter shoe would have tied the look in better — or a black clutch to pull together the black shoes. Read More »

Even on the hottest days, I’m more likely to be seen in a skirt or dress than shorts — the reason being that I’ve just never really been the biggest fan of shorts, because I’ve never seen them as particularly fashionable. Sure, they’re suitable for working out or for a more casual occasion like a sporting event, but not for much else. Or at least that’s the way I used to feel about shorts.

The more and more I see celebrities or other fashionistas wearing shorts, I’ve started to think that my old feelings about them may have been wrong. When styled appropriately, shorts can look cute and even downright chic. And with so many different styles, colors, and patterns of shorts available, like the eight unique styles seen here, there’s a pair out there for everyone!

[Like it or not, we all judge people every day. Especially when it comes to their fashion choices. From the girl with the too-short skirt for class to the old guy who insists on wearing short shorts and doing butterfly stretches at the gym (yeah, try to get that visual out of your head), it's impossible not to form an opinion. And now we're gonna share those opinions with the world. Every week, I'll be highlighting a celebrity look that I may love/hate/not understand and see what you, my college fashionistas, think about it. So put on your Joan Rivers fashion cap (which is undoubtedly made out of all the skin she's had nipped and tucked over the years) and let it all out.]

Let’s face is, style-wise, the Olsens often make some… er….unusual fashion choices, but usually end up looking incredibly chic in something that really, really shouldn’t work. But does this outfit just cross over the line of odd?

Ashley Olsen stepped out of her New York apartment this week in a red suit from her and Mary Kate’s line, The Row, and black and gold Chanel sandals. The outfit was perfectly on-trend with this season’s brights, and I love the striped shirt under the jacket, but I’m not sure how I feel about the sandals. Perhaps this would have looked better (or less school-teacher-trying-to-look-”hip”) with more fitted-style trousers and oxfords instead? Or maybe the whole suit is the problem. The ill fit makes it look like something Ms. Olsen picked up at the local Salvation Army….

What do you think, is this outfit a hit or a miss?

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.

Northern Ontario has been experiencing delightfully hot weather this past week. I was finally able to sit outside, enjoy a book and bask in the sunshine. It resulted in a big sunburn on my chest (not so hot), but other than that, it was great! And the best part? Because the weather has been consistently hot, I’ve packed away my winter clothing and purses and busted out my summer gear. That means I’ll be sporting a wardrobe of neon, breezy chiffon, and most importantly, fun summery purses!

I just received my first summer paycheck and have been browsing the web, looking for the perfect summer addition to my handbag collection. I have plenty of neutral, fringed and leather bags and wanted something punchy, yet low maintenance. Cue the Wayuu Taya collection of bags! Read More »

[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 not-so-reality star, Lauren Conrad) are spending $5,000 and more on an ensemble, you an spend way less...and save the rest for Margarita Mondays.]

I can’t gush about Rachel Bilson’s style enough (I’ve written about her twice before. She’s so dynamic and committed to being on-trend while still letting her own personality shine through. She never looks anything less than polished but never excessively, inaccessibly so. Her outfits are always straightforward and simple, but never dull or uninspired. Basically, I worship her and everything she chooses to be. Read More »

Colorblocking is one of the hottest trends this year, and I, for one, am thrilled about it. I love bright colors, but they can be a little intimidating to wear. Colorblocked clothing makes wearing brights simple by pairing multiple coordinating and/or contrasting brights together with neutrals. You don’t even need to do anything but put that ish on!

Colorblocking can be found on everything this season, such as dresses, tops, shoes and accessories! (Note: That does not mean you should wear all of that stuff together. Seriously, don’t.) All of these pieces will help you rock the colorblocking trend, for just $20 or less each!

The other day I was browsing the Topshop website and came across a dainty little number with so much potential. The Orange Cutaway Halter Dress (yeah, real original name, Topshop), is, like you guessed, an orange, halter-style dress made of flowy chiffon. Besides the knockout color, this dress also features a stunning cutout in the chest area, giving it a sexy ’70s feel and a very thin break in the fabric on the back, which will be evident when you’re moving around. Bottom line: The dress is hot, but leaves something to the imagination! When most people look at this dress, they immediately think “going out,” however, when paired with the right pieces, this dress becomes a super versatile item for both day and night.

Read More »

Those Baby Phat designers really know how to flatter a woman's body.

I have to be honest, I used to be a little scared of maxi-dresses. Okay, not waking-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night scared, but just a little nervous. They were always one of those trends that I thought looked great on other people – usually tall, gorgeous people – but I’d always been too nervous to try. I also wasn’t really sure if they were my style. While I tend to keep things pretty girly, I also like to go a little edgy with lots of leather and blazers, and I’d always found it was girls with that effortless Nicole Richie boho thing going on that pulled the maxi-dress off best. Then, of course, there was the issue of length and height. I am average height, but I always consider myself a bit of a shortie and I was worried I’d be overwhelmed by this much material.

But then I decided to face my fears head on (and procrastinate studying for exams), so I got myself a maxi-dress and went to town in my closet mixing and matching pieces to make a ton of different looks. And much to my surprise, the dress was not only totally flattering on my body, but also a really versatile piece. You really can do so much with these dresses….the dresses that will now officially be my spring and summer staple (partly because it doesn’t require me to shave my legs).

So, for those of you who’ve also feared the maxi-dress, here are just a few different ways to style ‘em up for every style and occasion: Read More »

[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 chic gone crazy Kate Moss) are spending $5,000 and more on an ensemble, you an spend way less...and save the rest for Margarita Mondays.]

Lauren Conrad is completely and utterly brilliant. She has somehow managed to parlay getting paid to turn her teenage/college-aged angst into an empire. She has a clothing line, a series of books (that I am unabashedly addicted to, btdubs), a lifestyle website (how very Gwyneth), and is a staple on best dressed lists. And to think, it all started because she was willing to put her dramz on a platter for all of us to devour on a weekly basis.

She’s basically our generation’s Einstein, with far better hair. Lauren’s style is amazing in its simplicity. It’s classic without being dull and trendy without being cliche. She has created an effortlessly unique blend of aesthetics, from preppy to boho to beach chic.  Her night looks are among some of my favorites because they’re always very simple and demure, which can be a nice change of pace. Read More »