We all have our go-to stores that we, uh, go to when we need to stock up on some new wardrobe essentials (or when we just have an hour to kill and the mall reaches out and wraps us in its warm embrace). But what about all those other stores? The ones that you walk past on your way to Auntie Anne’s without a second glance? The “mom” stores, the old lady  department stores, the stores that don’t start with “Forever” and end with “21″? Surprise! Many of those stores are filled with major cuteness that you’re missing out on! (Except Chico’s – keep walking, little lady.) We know you’re not one to pass up a cute cami, so we scoured these under-the-radar shops and pulled out all the goodness you never realized existed.

I’m not going to lie, I don’t often shop at JCPenney. Because, well, I’ve always sort of seen JCPenney as Macy’s less cool, less interesting younger sibling.  I’ve seen some cute stuff in their windows as I pass them by on occasion but nothing that ever made me think, I need to go in there. And their clothes are cheaper, yes, and the they’re not all bad, but finding the cute ones just seemed like a lot of work.

Shopping online, however solves that problem. All I have to do is search, point, and click. And I’m really glad I did. Because JCPenney has some surprisingly cute (see what I did there?) stuff. Plus their website has some great features of their own: A place to find all the pieces People Style Watch has featured in their magazine. A  feature that lets you search for dresses based on body type.  And a swimsuit collection that makes me wish I lived at the beach. (Not that I didn’t already wish that.) You name it, they’ve got it. In the coolest colors and the latest trends. In florals and animal prints and bright, bright colors. Bikinis and bracelets. Tankinis and tanks. See for yourself! Read More »

The number one reason I love the statement necklace: no effort required.

In your most lazy moments you can throw on jeans, a white tee and a statement necklace and it looks like you put time and effort into your ‘fit instead of hitting snooze fifteen times.

I also love statement necklaces because they work so well with unexpected outfits. When paired with the right patterns or opposing colors, the statement necklace adds the right punch. You know those times you look through a catalog (J.Crew, sigh) or a store window and wish you had the eye to put that combo together (think plaid with a big statement necklace over it). Well, now you can!

And the best news is you don’t need to shell out the big bucks to make your statement. You can find necklaces everywhere from Target to street vendors to Forever 21 that make you look like a million bucks (and like you spent that too- but shh, that’s our secret). 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 (Reese Witherspoon, what what?) are spending $5,000 on an ensemble, you don’t have to.]

Olivia Wilde has been up and coming for a few years. To me, she will always be Marissa Cooper’s experiment with lesbianity on The OC, but she’s definitely moved on to slightly more prestigious fare since then (oh you know, only snagging a regular role on House). She’s been a staple on sexiest actresses list for a few years because…well, have you looked her? She smolders. But I hadn’t realized she was a bit of a fashionista in her own right until she stepped out on the Golden Globes red carpet a couple of weeks ago in the this sparkly, dazzling, beautifully constructed number.

Seriously, if fashion were porn, that dress would be the money shot.

Since then, I’ve been paying a bit more attention to Ms. Wilde, and last week, she somehow managed to make a jumpsuit look cute.

My mind is still blown, quite honestly.

But, I’m a realist, and really, 98 percent of us will never actually wear a jumpsuit (rompers are already shameful enough). So this outfit will be based on the essence of Olivia’s look and therefore a lot more wearable. Read More »

[When moving into either a dorm or an off-campus apartment, your wardrobe will face two major challenges: 1. A major lack of funding (to add more to it), and 2. A major lack of storage space (for all the crap you've got). For these two reasons, maximizing what you already own becomes essential. That's why you need to learn to Shop Your Closet. Each week, I’ll show you how to wear 1 item 3 ways – with the stuff you most likely already own! – to get the most out of your purchases.]

Whether or not you ever wear it, you probably have a white button-up shirt in your closet. If your mom bought it for you, thinking it would be a good wardrobe foundation (she was right!) or it’s one of your go-tos for job interviews, it’s a pretty common piece to own. I know, a white oxford seems like the blandest thing in your closet that you’d only wear for something more profesh, but it’s a really classic piece that is easy to wear and easily adaptable.

Yes, you can wear one of these shirts pretty much ANYWHERE. It can be dressed up, dressed down, worn conservatively or given a little life to make it more fun. Still with me? Here are three ways to make that button-up shirt work with your wardrobe. Read More »

I can’t explain it, but I love chambray. It looks stylish but oh-so-comfy all at the same time. And you know what makes chambray even better?  Mixing a dressier necklace with this casual-feeling top. It’s totally unexpected yet totally works and can be worn to just about anything: leggings and boots for class, tailored skinny pants for the bar, high wasted wide leg wool pants for a bit of a fancier fete like dinner with the boy’s ‘rents, tucked into a corduroy mini with tights… the list goes on and on.

Here are two ways to wear the chambray with a statement necklace. Tucked in for a fitted feel and a tucked out tunic for those days you feel like looking cute, but also like eating everything in your dorm room caf without showing the evidence. Read More »

So maybe I’m a little late in the game, but 2010 is, like, soon. It feels like only yesterday that I was sitting on my daybed thinking, “this is the last time we can sing ‘Tonight We’re Gonna Party Like it’s 1999′” as I placed 5 too many butterfly clips into my hair and rocked out in my platform gym shoes.

God I feel old.

But I digress. New Year’s Eve is hands down the best excuse to dress up. But that doesn’t mean you gotta splurge on some hot frock that will look great in pictures, but not so great sitting in the back of your closet for the next 2 years because you have nowhere to wear it again. There are plenty of ways to spice up your look for the big night by adding some fun pieces to the stuff you already own. Here are just a few not-a-dress options to ring in the big 20-10. Read More »

Post courtesy of out friends at StyleBakery.com. For more awesome fashion, style and beauty news, check them out!

There are some trends that last season after season: leggings, floral prints, gladiator sandals, etc. Then there are those that fade away: baby doll tops, harem pants. How are you supposed to know which trends to trash and which to invest in? Luckily, fashion is already way ahead of you. Fall 2009 and Resort 2010 collections have already been released, and Spring/Summer 2010 is in the works. For most designers, Resort is a preview of what’s coming next. Therefore, the collections provide great insight into what will be hot and what will be not for summer 2010.

We scoured the Resort looks of all the top designers – from Stella McCartney to Brian Reyes to Prada – and compiled a list of summer fashion trends that aren’t going anywhere: Read More »