Peppered throughout magazines and blog sites are optimistic articles about delicious summer activities and fashion trends to anticipate and enjoy. However, there is one thing about summer that is so heinous and disgusting that I feel I must warn the masses before it destroys them: flip-flops, fashion’s Anti-Christ.

I can hear the gasps and verbal WTF’s already. I know, I know, flip-flops are practically the poster children for summer fun. Calm yourselves, I have reasons.

1) They Make Any Outfit 1/4 As Cute: No matter how much effort you put into your ensemble this morning or how much you paid for that sundress, if you add flip-flops to the equation it will look instantly less cute. Much less cute. So much so that it defeats the purpose of even trying to make a cute outfit and you should have just worn sweats.

2) Your Feet Will Get Dirty: Want to know why outfits are less cute with flip flops? Perhaps it’s because dirty feet are not cute. On anyone. And dirty feet are inevitable when flip flops are involved. Your toes will turn brown, your heels will turn black and your calves will be covered in whatever crap that flop is flipping up. Seriously, no one wants to see your cracked and crusted feet stomping around in fluorescent rubber contraptions.

3) They Make Your Legs Look Fat: For some reason, colored slabs of rubber are not the most slimming choice for summer fashion. Optical illusion? Perhaps…At any rate, you spent all winter in the smelly gym to look like this, so don’t waste it on flip-flops!

4) Shoes Should Not Be Noisy: Sexy can be defined as the sound of stilettos clacking across a marble floor. The opposite is true for the sound of flip-flops slapping against your dirty feet.

5) They Aren’t Practical: Let’s face it – having half-an-inch of rubber barely attached to your foot is not the smartest choice available in footwear. They lack traction, stability, and could cause bodily harm (or at least a serious bruise to your ego). Who hasn’t flipped out of their flop before, or slipped on a little spilled beer?

6) There Are Cuter Options: This season it is almost a crime to opt for cheap-o flip-flops when there are gladiator sandals and adorable flats! Fringes, patent, and metalwork – oh my!

Now that I’ve stated my reasons, I would also like to point out that nothing beats a lazy day on the beach with nothing but a pair of flip flops and a good book to keep you company. For me, however, the beach is where my flip-flops will stay.

[This story was originally posted by Katie - Michigan State]

Get it? Got it? Good. Want some more? Don’t worry, there are plenty more faves where this came from.

I’ll admit, a few years ago when leggings came back in style, I thought there was no way I’d wear them. In fact, I told everyone I knew that I’d rather “walk around pants-less than try and pass off some leggings as pants.”

Obviously, I’ve since eaten my words. Leggings are now a staple in my wardrobe and I often wonder how I lived without them. They’re versatile, comfortable and affordable. I wear them to the gym, to class, to work and to party. Not even jeans can do that. And there are so. many. different kinds now! Forget those basic blacks, leggings come in all sorts of colors and patterns now, meaning even more opportunities to wear ‘em. Here are a few pairs you can rock out for under $20. Read More »

Being a damsel in distress isn’t cute. Nobody wants to hang out with someone who can’t get anything done by themselves. Even Superman gets sick of dealing with Lois Lane’s problems day in and day out.

It’s time to man up, ladies, and empower yourselves to live life without the aid of Prince Charming. Not only does this make our lives a whole lot easier (hello, do you really want to wait around for someone to jump-start your car?), but sometimes it’s safer to take matters into our own hands (instead of asking some rando to do it for us).

Here’s a rundown of the 10 things every woman must know how to do. Watch, learn and take pride in the fact that you are in total control of your destiny.

1. Change a tire: Being your own mechanic isn’t necessarily a manly thing. Whipping out that wrench and jack can save yourself some time, money and can even keep you safer. Sure, when I was forced to fix a flat I looked ridiculous – kneeling on the side of I-295 in my skirt-suit and patent stilettos – but it took me 20 minutes, saved me some big-time embarrassment and allowed me to still be on time to my interview. Don’t forget those hand wipes though; grease could be an outfit-ender.

2. Make a Roast: I’m not trying to say you have to become Suzie Homemaker, but learning some basic cooking techniques can’t do anything but help you out in the long run. You don’t want to end up like my good friend who cooked a knife right with the chicken (even if, according to her, plastic peels off of pans easily). Being able to feed yourself, no matter how rudimentary it may seem, is certainly a skill that’s worth it to perfect. Read More »

There are very few things sexier than a stiletto heel. Stilettos give off a “femme fatale” image; “femme” in the way they enhance your legs and “fatale” in the way that if you fall in them you could die. But that’s a risk this girl is willing to take for the beauty of a stiletto heel.

There are a million different stilettos, combining every trend imaginable.  For the trend-shy gal with impeccable balance, wearing a stiletto with instantly add flair to an outfit.  And for everyone else, stilettos are the easiest way to spice up an otherwise ho-hum ‘fit, as well as experiment with different trends.  And though they are not practical for everyday wear (unless you’re Posh Spice), they are always little pieces of art. Seriously, when I’m not wearing them, my shoes double as beautiful bookends. Now that’s what I call multipurpose!

With so many gorgeous possibilities there truly is a pair of stilettos for everyone (or every outfit). Here are a few pairs that have recently left me drooling. I want, I want, I want! Read More »

The Golden Globes are coming, which means the hottest of the hottest will be strutting their bad selves down the Red Carpet to talk to Ryan Seacrest and look damn fine doin’ it. And I’ll be sitting there, laptop in hand, taking notes – the kind I should be taking in class – on what everyone is wearing.

Honestly, award show red carpets are my heaven. I tune in just to see what everyone’s wearing, then tune out before the actual award show even starts. I just get so inspired by what I see on my favorite celebs and can’t wait to get a little bit of that beauty for myself. Before I know it, I’m sitting in my salon as my hair stylist is cutting me a fresh set of bangs.

And then reality sets in and I realize that red carpet styles rarely survive in real life settings. Yep, there is a reason a red carpet is not rolled out for me on my way to my Communication Studies class. Read More »

Hard to believe that in only 2 days we’ll be ringing in the new year and it’ll have been a decade since all that Y2K mumbo jumbo.

I know; that whole “only 2 days” thing freaked me out, too. Not because I’m not ready for 2010, but because I’m not ready for NYE. I’ve been so busy unwrapping presents and relaxing in front of the TV that I have yet to secure a NYE-worthy ensemble for the big countdown.

But it’s OK. As usual, Forever 21 has come to the rescue with some pretty fantabulous frocks and smocks for under $20. So grab that wad of Christmas cash (don’t worry, you won’t need much of it here!), and head over to the mall. Here are some of the goodies our BFFs at F-21 have to offer for the big, bold and boozy night. Read More »

So Hanukkah begins on Friday and Christmas is 17 days away, which means it’s time for holiday parties, dinners, and gatherings of family and friends. And that means you’ll need some super cute looks to show off.  Of course after buying gifts, paying travel expenses to go home, and all the other stuff you’ll be spending on this holiday season, spending money on yourself probably isn’t the most reasonable idea. But you don’t have to ruin your budget (or your reputation by re-gifting…) to look fantastic.

Here are 8 items under $20 that you can add to your wardrobe to make it extra festive. Read More »

I’m pretty sure there is nothing better in life than a really fantastic sale section. Especially at a store stocked with things you already love. Take home some awesome finds on the cheap? Yes please!

Much like Urban Outfitters and Express, Tilly’s is chock full of really cute stuff at a somewhat “affordable” price. But it is in their fabulous sale section where you really hit the fashion jackpot. They’ve got everything from basics to statement pieces to stock your closet, and all of it is ch-ch-cheap. Here are a few items I found to be totally darling and will fulfill your inner frugalista. Read More »

"Just five more steps. Just five more steps...."

I would put money on it that every college girl has at least one pair of high heels stuffed into their tiny dorm room closet (or if you’re like me, you have 12 and they are strewn all over your floor where you kicked them off after a long and painful night). They are pretty much a staple of every woman’s wardrobe, especially us college girls who need to look sexy every weekend (isn’t college life so demanding?).

Of course heels are an integral part to every party outfit, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t come with some sacrifices. And while I feel hot when I first slip into those bad boys, halfway through the night (or immediately after I step outside the door) I am seriously rethinking my shoe choice/contemplating using the pointy heel to saw off my baby toes to ease the pain/looking for someone to give me a piggy back ride home.

I love them so much, but I loathe them just the same.
It pretty obvious: I’m torn. Read More »

So as I write this, I’m sitting on my lanai (balcony) overlooking the beautiful, blue Maui ocean (yes, I’m on my first “real” vacay in years), which means I’m not particularly keen on scouring the internet for under $20 deals for long periods of time (not to mention, they’re only giving me an hour of free wifi). So where did I head?

The mother of all cheap & trendy spots: Forever 21.

And no, she did not disappoint. Checking out the website or a store near you is a necessity before you head back to school, as there are loads of insanely awesome deals on ridiculously cute clothes.  What are you waiting for?  Read, set, GO!

Here are a few things I know I’ll be grabbing up. You know, when I get back to the mainland. Read More »