During NY’s bridal fashion week, famed designer Vera Wang introduced black wedding dresses down her runway. Colored wedding dresses aren’t anything new, but black is pretty big statement. Like, say for example, if white means you’re the beautiful, virginal bride, then black means…what exactly?

Well, wedding dress statements aside, a black dress is essential to any college girl wardrobes. You see, in this scenario it means you’re fierce and fashionable. From lunches with friends  to wild nights out, here are six scenarios to sport a black dress…and where to find the best LBDs!

initiating the gallery...

Fashion Week.  A place for designer’s ambitions, dreams and hard work to spill out onto a runway in front of an intense, anticipating public eye.  In front of other sweaty-palmed designers.  In front of Anna Wintour and Blake Lively’s mane.

Excuse me for sounding dramatic, but isn’t that what Fashion Week is all about?  Being dramatic? Based on my nightly routine of viewing pages and pages full of lustful fashion lines this week, that seems to be the case. In fact, it seems that Fashion Week exploded this season.  It exploded right on my face.  And now I’m left blinking at a screen full of lace, sheer fabrics, bold colors, drapery, fur and tribal makeup.

At first, I couldn’t decide if I was liking anything that was popping out from behind the curtain. It looked like MC Hammer and Lucille Ball barfed onto some fabric, smeared the regurgitated styles all over models with paint on their faces and let it go on a long strip of runway.  The chic, bold colors and ’40s-inspired ideas came together awkwardly and I was pursing my lips like Ms. Wintour.

But after taking a moment to sit back and appreciate the artwork, craftsmanship and deeply thought out designs and styles, I started to find some beautiful pieces.  And I. mean. beautiful. Then I started drooling. Then I started Googling ways to make a couple thousand dollars fast so I could get my hands on some of these things. Then I got scared about selling my eggs/body. Then I gave up and just got excited for these thoroughly anticipated clothes to hit the racks so I can window shop with that glazed over look in my eyes before I pop into Forever 21 for the knock-offs.

Ready for some Fashion Week porn? Here are a few of my favorite things that came down the runway this week:

Another New York Fashion Week has come and gone, and if it weren’t for the fact that London starts up just as it ends, I’d be spiraling into a deep pit of fashion depression, downing Chunky Monkey as I flipped through pictures of my favorite collections for the 47th time. I’m not crazy, I just feel like this year NYFW and I took our relationship to the next level. Though we’ve been doing long distance forever, the live-streaming of my favorite shows has been making it easier to cope. We even spent Valentine’s day together this year, with our dear friends, Betsey and Marc.

Yeah, it’s kinda serious.

While shopping for Fall clothes is still many months away, there is lots to look forward to once you hit the mall come August (despite what we originally expected/feared). Next fall will be far from drab, with lots of bright and neon colors. And the little red dress you rocked on Valentine’s Day appears to have some staying power, so hang onto it! Oh and if you’re sick of the horizontal stripe, have no fear; Marc Jacobs was all about the polka dots, so you may have a new simple pattern to hate next year.

With some designers looking to the post-war 1940s for inspiration and others drawing from the grunge era of the ’90s, fall fashion is going to be varied, fun and exciting. And I can’t wait! Wonder what you’ll be wearing on the first day of classes? Here’s a look at the biggest trends from Fall 2011 NYFW:

A blousey approach to the day

Is pink eye shadow around the eyes a new trend?

Easy, fashionable looks for class

10 pairs of flare-tastic wide leg jeans

Vera Wang’s spring look book is out

5 facts about OPI nail polish

We’re loving cozy scarves!

Have you got your camel coat yet?

A volumizing mascara that might actually work

Top 6 spring beauty trends

A designer spotlight

One of the biggest fashion trends for the 2010-2011 fall/winter season is velvet.  The ultra-soft fabric looks and feels luxurious, so it’s great for holiday parties.  It’s also warm, making it perfect for cold weather.

Just because velvet seems luxe doesn’t mean it has to be pricey, however.  For under $20, you can add any one of these great velvet pieces to your wardrobe this holiday season!

One of the hardest parts of going back to school is how quickly my work is interrupted by New York Fashion Week.  I know I should crack a textbook, get started on an assignment or two, but it’s nearly impossible to focus with pictures from an endless number of talented designer collections.  Add in Style.com’s iPhone app and I’m even having trouble staying focused in class.

Thanks a lot, Fashion Week.

And now that the week is done and I’ve spent every last second of it drooling over flowy dresses and a whole lot of bare bellies, it’s time to narrow down the best of the best from this year’s Spring Fashion Week. It was exceptionally difficult to choose favorites (it seemed like every single designer pulled out all the stops and created nearly perfect collections this year!), but using a very scientific formula (a scale ranging from “I’d totes wear that” to “I’d cut out my own kidneys and sell them on the Black Market to buy that”) I’ve determined this year’s Fashion Week Designer All-Stars.

Sorry, Marc Jacobs and Tory Burch – I really did love your collections – but as Iman (of Canada’s Next Top Model) would say: you just didn’t make the cut.

[Click on the images to see the entire collection.]

Anna Sui

After twenty years in the fashion biz, Anna Sui continues to stay true to her design aesthetic in this collection with cute baby dolls in gorgeous patterns.  The free-flowing pieces fit into the theme of ’70s inspired fashion seen throughout Fashion Week while still managing to stay modern and totally wearable in 2011 . The whole collection was flirty and feminine with fringe and feather accents complementing every look. In other words (or Rachel Zoe’s words….), Anna Sui Spring 2011 is major.

DKNY

The DKNY Spring show created a list of must-have items for the college girl.  Though other collections have bits and pieces us college girls might take inspiration from, DKNY is truly targeted at our age group.  Smart investment pieces (hello, khaki trench!) alongside fun prints and feminine ruffles show the perfect way to dress: combining the classic basics we can wear for our whole college career (and beyond) with youthful pieces in bright colors to add some zing to your wardrobe.

Tracy Reese

The trend of ’70s inspired fashion continued into Tracy Reese’s collection.  This woman knows how to work a print and knows how to do it well. With everything from watercolors to ethnic prints and even tie-dye, Tracy Reese brought out the drama in a way Betsy Johnson could never understand. Read: with elegance and class. I want it all!

Vera Wang

I’ll start out by saying I LOVE the rope knotted belts in this collection. And the quilting. And the layering. And the mixture of feminine and masculine pieces. And the homage to Kill Bill. OK, so there’s pretty much nothing about Vera’s collection that I didn’t love. Except maybe the price tag.

Vivienne Tam

If white cotton lace and crochet dresses are a sign of Spring, then Vivienne Tam should sponsor the season. Her whole collection had a light, airy, feminine feel. The florals, fluttery sleeves and open backs were incredibly classy while at the same time being totally relaxed. Fall has barely begun but Ms. Tam already has me thinking spring and planning my outfits for when the snow finally melts.

Which designer collections were your favorites?

While everyone is fabulous in their own right, we thought we should celebrate the campus fashionistas of the world for their continued excellence in not looking like a hot mess for class. So, we started stalking those girls on campus (remember Tatomme’s jumpsuit?!) to get a few pics and get some tips on their personal style.

And maybe a restraining order or two.

But it’s worth it to highlight fresh, unique wardrobe choices that show personality and the courage to wear what you believe in. You think you’ve got some major style? Know someone else who’s always looking ferosh? Think the world needs to see what she can do?  Send us an email with some photos and she could be the next fashionista celebrated right here.]

College is a world where even jeans stand out in a classroom. Sweat pants and leggings dominate the college fashion world, so when I saw Jessica wearing dark black ripped jeans, and long, dangly earrings, I was kind of hooked onto her style. She doesn’t just put on jeans and a cute shirt and call that fashionable. She layers her tops, dazzles it up with funky jewelry, and pulls it off with her chic haircut.

The great thing about Jessica’s style is that she doesn’t just stick to one. One day she’ll wear a flower halter top with waist-high pants for a fifties retro look, and the next day she’ll look like a total rocker with zebra pants and black wedged heels.

Yep, that’s right. She’s the girl who can pull off all those edgy clothing we’ve been dying to try. And not only does she look great in all these outfits, but she wears it all without a care. Her style is so effortless that it makes me regret the fifteen minutes it takes me just to choose which earrings will match my shirt best.

Name: Jess Kenney
Year: 2011
Major: Media Studies

1. Describe your personal style.
I’ve always been different, and my style is my way of embracing that. I like to look edgy. I’ll take what I can from the most recent trends and try to mix and match until I have a look that only I would wear.

2. I can’t leave my house without:
A pair of heels.

3. What is your favorite store to shop at?
In a perfect world, I’d shop at Urban Outfitters more, but I’ve found that I can’t walk out of there without spending $300. I shop at Forever 21 a lot, but I like bargain hunting at Century 21. Also, I recently discovered a store called Windsor in the Meriden Mall that is cheap and really cute.

4. What/who is the biggest influence on your style?
I feel like my style is very influenced by music in general. I have a secret desire to look like a rock star, I think.

5. What’s your favorite trend, past or present?
Skinny jeans, hands down. That and high heels that cover your whole foot, as well as ankle boots.

On Jessica:
Acid Wash Denim Romper: Julie Mollo (Juliemollo.com)
Bracelet: Betsey Johnson
Shoes: Vera Wang
Earrings: Local campus vendor.

Fashion Week and all its bittersweet glory has come and gone. The last Fashion Week to be shown at Bryant Park, designers pulled out all of the tricks under their sleeves to make it unforgettable.  The big white tents, made even whiter by the snow, brought new looks into the new decade that will be sure to translate into your wardrobe.  So what will you be wearing next fall?

1. Neutrals!

Designers showed many variations of neutrals on the runway, from bold blacks shown by Vera Wang to grays and camel tones from favorites Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors.  Whites and ivories made several appearances, almost in a bridal inspired way.  What this means for you: Don’t be afraid to mix and match neutrals.  The classic fashion faux pas “Don’t wear white after labor day” is slowly but surely becoming extinct, so don’t listen to your grandmother when she reprimands you for doing so.  Tell her Thakoon said it was fine.

2. Fur, Fur, Fur.

That’s right.  PETA might disagree, but it is all about the fur for next fall…any kind, in any way.  Coats and shrugs featured bold lavish furs while some designers used fur as trimming to spruce up their looks.  If you’re a friend to the animals or don’t have thousands of dollars to drop on each outfit (who does??) don’t be outraged just yet – variations of faux fur are about to spread like rapid fire.

3. Undercover conservative.

In comparison to the spring, designers turned to more structured silhouettes creating a more conservative look.  Librarian sweaters appeared too many times on the runway to go unnoticed.  But don’t yawn just yet, designers used sequins, embroidery, fur (of course), and much more to glam up each look to take them from boring to flirty sophisticated.

4. Grunge by layers.

Jackets over vests over sweaters over dresses.  The more layers, the better.  A cardigan over a blazer, why not?  Grunge by way of draping is all the rage for next fall.  And did we mention vests? Vests, vests, and more vests.  And get excited to pair elbow length gloves with the numerous amounts of vests that are about to enter your closet.

5. LEGWARMERS!

FINALLY.  A piece of the 80’s are back!  But this time, no aerobics videos are required. Legwarmers were shown in several variations, in wool assortments, over leggings, thigh high, etc.  While you’re layering, don’t forget to slap on a pair of comfy legwarmers.  Wear something simple on top and use a pair of bold colored thigh-high legwarmers as the staple piece to your outfit.  Ask your mom if she has any in any boxes in the attic; vintage legwarmers are even better!

When no one else likes you, adopt a baby!

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Which blonde is it, John Mayer?

Is your crush crushing someone else?

So what does Obama’s healthcare plan mean for students?

But with the change of season comes one very silver lining: it’s time update that wardrobe!

This weekend take some time and hit up Kohl’s. Didn’t think Kohl’s had anything besides pots, pans and clothes for your mom? Think again, missy. After being sent there on an errand for my mother I spent 2 hours shopping their awesome designers (at totally not-designers’ price) and walked out with over 3 bags full of stuff.

No joke.

They carry the new line from Candies, which is way more than (cute) shoes. It also boasts jewelry, apparel and other adorable accessories, not to mention Ms. Britney Spears as their spokeswoman. There is also the Vera Wang line, Daisy Fuentes, and Mudd, which has some pretty great denim in their fall collection.

People compliment me all the time on my Kohl’s finds. It’s definitely worth the trip.