[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.]

If you made a New Year’s Resolution to wear sweatpants less, it’s time to start finding alternatives that are just as easy to wear and comfortable. Not possible, you say? Well listen up, woman! That cozy, warm, comfy feeling you get with sweats can be mimicked with a warm sweater, such as a shawl-collared pullover. It’s versatile, soft, warm, but still looks cute. And if you know how to make it work in advance, putting together a cute look with a sweater and various other wardrobe staples can be even easier than throwing on a pair of oversized sweats. Yes, it’s true.

Outfit 1:

Deets: Sweater, Jeans, Boots, Hat, Jacket.

A simple alternative to wearing sloppy sweats is skinny jeans and a shawl-collar sweater. Adding your go-to boots (I’m talking leather boots, NOT sloppy winter boots) keeps the look warm and toasty for winter, while still looking sleek. (And if it’s extra cold you can always add super-thick socks underneath!) If you’re trekking in the snow, a jacket and a hat are the finishing touches to brave the cold in a “I can keep this stuff on and still look cute” sorta way… and maybe live up to New Year’s Resolution 2: Go to class.

Outfit 2:

Deets: Sweater, Skirt, Tights, Boots, Ring.

True story: putting on sweats is just. so. easy. Truer story: so is slipping on a casual skirt with some tights. And we all know that looks wayyyy cuter. A shawl-collared sweater (or any pullover sweater, for that matter) goes nicely with this cord mini-skirt – though if you only own a denim skirt or pencil skirt, those will work as well. Depending on how much room remains in your skirt after your holiday overindulgence, you might be able to tuck your sweater in. Add tights and boots (keeping them in the same family makes your legs look ultra long, as opposed to the unflattering shape of a sweatpant) and a simple ring to accessorize this outfit, then out you go lookin’ all warm and fabulous.

Outfit 3:

Deets: Sweater, Skirt, Tights, Scarf, Booties.

If you are looking for a way to extend the wear of a summer floral skirt – or if you’ve already started scoping out next spring’s items – you can winterize the skirt with tights and a sweater. A pair of boots ground the look, while a colourful scarf adds another burst of colour to the look. If your toes get cold easily, you can also add a thick pair of socks into this style of boot – it looks cute even if they poke out the top just enough.

Find out other ways to re-work what you’ve already got stuffed in that closet of yours.

[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 rockstar Rihanna) are spending $5,000 on an ensemble you don’t have to.]

It’s been awhile since Gwen Stefani reigned pop music (yet I know I’m not the only one who still gets “this shiz is bananas, b-a-n-a-n-a-s” stuck in her head), but she definitely hasn’t been slacking on being a fashion icon. Despite the fact that she has two kids, she never seems to leave the house looking anything less than perfectly coiffed and styled. Gwen’s look is so visually inspiring and fun, with tons of vibrant colors and ’80s-inspired festivity.

We’re getting deeper into the doldrums of winter, but our wardrobes definitely don’t need to be as dreary as the weather, right? Let’s all take a hint from Ms. Stefani and turn up the heat for the long, cold winter ahead. 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 "who the hell are you and why are you so beautiful" Rosie Huntington-Whiteley) are spending $5,000 on an ensemble you don’t have to.]

There’s no way I could continue to write a fashion column without highlighting Rihanna. This girl is one of the most eclectic celebrities out there. One day, the paparazzi snaps photos of her in suspenders and harem pants; the next, you could easily see her in a body-contouring mini-dress with 6-inch stilettos…going out to lunch.

Rihanna attained her fashionista status by being completely and utterly balls to the walls…how can you not love it?

However, the outfit I’m re-creating today is actually one of Rihanna’s tamer looks, because though you, CollegeCandy reader, are fabulous, you are bound to certain rules of fashion that do not apply to celebrities. Read: you can’t really pull this off for class.  But it’s still hot, not just in its own right, but relative to that tragic gaggle of girls strutting around campus thinking Uggs, leggings, and Northface = high fashion. 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 style superstar, Rachel Bilson) are spending $5,000 on an ensemble you don’t have to. All you have to do is click on the goods and - boom - you can buy the entire look. For cheap. Yes, we know - there is a spot for her in heaven.]

I adore Selena Gomez. Her face looks as if it were lifted from a porcelain doll. Her hair is so luminous and luxurious. Her music is perfect for those times when you’re dancing in front of the mirror in your PJs with your hairbrush (in contrast to those times when you’re dancing in front of the mirror in your highest stilettos and a bottle of Smirnoff). She is the personification of rainbows and unicorns and puppies and everything that is fluffy and G-rated in this world. I love it.

Selena’s style is just as unpretentious and down-to-earth as the rest of her image. She’s totally youthful, fresh, and laid back. She is that girl who swears she “isn’t even into fashion,” but she always looks current and hip, and you never see her wearing the same ensemble twice.

She is essentially every friend I’ve ever had and secretly resented totally admired.

Luckily, this easy-breezy style fits perfectly into the college style scene and, even better, is not at all difficult (or expensive) to emulate. Read More »

I just love purple clothing and accessories for fall.  The deeper and jewel-toned shade you see in stores this time of year are flattering on everyone, and you feel instantly more sophisticated when you wear it (it is the color of royalty, after all).

And not to mention it looks amazing with gray, my other favorite color for fall.  Here are some great purple items to add to your wardrobe this season for $20 or less each! Read More »

I get it. With winter carrying on for another 6 weeks (thank you, Mr. Groundhog) your life really does feel like Groundhog Day since you wear the same thing day after day…after day: jeans and a black top, or sometimes, if you’re feeling a bit crazy, jeans and white one. After the novelty of a cute winter ‘drobe wore off (like the 2nd week of negative temps and slushy snow), it’s hard to put any effort into looking presentable and unique.

But after this article you will see that even if you keep your winter uniform intact, you can make it look like you really cared and make a ordinarily boring ‘fit ready for any occasion just by adding a few fun accessories.  And you can do it all for cheap. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: accessories are the BEST way to revamp an outfit, create a look, change it up, or try out a trend without spending that booze money breaking the bank. Read More »

If my dry skin and red nose tell me anything it’s that the brutally cold months of winter are here. (Or that I should really invest in some moisturizer.) And they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. If you’re one of the many unlucky souls trudging through the arctic tundra to get anywhere, good luck. Better start layering now, because it’s gonna take awhile.

Luckily, The Gap has come to the rescue with some majorly cute layering pieces (that are all on the cheap!)  that can take your winter from holy-hell-I-can’t-feel-my-limbs to OMG-it’s-really-cold-but-yay!-I-still-look-cute. Because no matter how hard those snowflakes are whipping us in the face, we still deserve to look good. For cheap. There are far more important things to spend our money on, like extra hot lattes from The Bux. Read More »

Our favorite part of fall is getting cozy in a warm oversized sweater with leggings and a cute pair of boots. Here are the best big sweaters in stores this season under $150:

Read More »

I have officially decided my heaven will be the inside of a JCrew store…. with a scantily clad, Abercrombie model serving me mojitos.

I’ll be surrounded by ruffled necklines, belted cashmere pullovers, and embellished tees. And of course I will be wearing the Glitter Pocket Cardigan….which has been on my mind since I saw it online while I was shopping during class.

This sweater has quickly pushed itself to the top of my wish list, and for good reason. We all love cardigans – what else can be worn with literally everything and instantly pull an outfit together? (You know it’s good when I can throw it over my walk-the-dog-flannel-pants-and-UGGS-combo and not look like a hobo).

But cardigans are pretty much all the same, which knocks the urgency with which we need a new one down a couple notches. That was until JCrew came out with the Glitter Pocket Cardigan. It’s stunningly chic while still being effortlessly casual, which is pretty much perfection for college students with not a lot of time, but a lot of need to look good (dinners, parties, hot men?!). Read More »

Now that I’m back in school and broke thanks to a few trips to the bookstore, saving money is more essential than ever. But so is a brand new fall wardrobe!

Luckily, American Eagle is a great stop for super comfy weekend/gym/off-to-class clothes on the cheap. There are always awesome deals to be had, and here are just a few of my favorite things. Read More »