Fashion is always repeating itself (hence why I hate throwing things away), and the decade we’ll be seeing again in a big way this year? The ’70s! But have no fear, it’s not quite your parents’ disco fever, white leisure suit, platform-shoes-with-fish-in-the-heels 1970s. The updated, 21st century take on ’70s fashion is much sexier…and with much better fabrics. (See ya never, polyester!)

There are so many ways to channel the disco era without feeling like an extra from Saturday Night Fever. The key is opting for one or two ’70s-inspired pieces, and not an entire outfit, to keep your look modern.

Ready to travel back in time?

Wide-legged pants are big (literally) this year. Many of them have a higher raise, which is a flattering way to disguise any of that freshman 15 (or Top Chef 20) you may have acquired recently. They also look hot with a shirt tucked in. Pretty blouses with billowy sleeves and pretty patterns are another way to incorporate the ’70s trend into your wardrobe. And if you want to show a lot of skin, hot pants are the way to go. Yes, ladies, they’re back, and, surprisingly, quite adorable! (Editor’s Note: just in case you need it, here are some good workouts to get your legs ready for ‘em.)

So let’s get in our fashion DeLorean and head back to the ’70s. Here are 15 pieces to get you started. Read More »

[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 (like our Parisian pal, Mary) 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.]

The University of Saint Thomas is one of the only campuses in Minnesota where students actually dress up to go to class. Yep, you’ve got it; if you don’t look like you spent at least 30 minutes getting ready people may not move over for you on the sidewalk. People from other colleges hear about this and think it is absolutely bananas that students wouldn’t dare sit in class with an over-sized sweatshirt (especially with these frigid winters!) and opt for a cute mini, tights, and vintage tank instead.  And now that I think about it a bit more (I’m a senior – I’ve gotten so used to it by now) it is kind of ridiculous here; it’s like a personal fashion show every time you walk through the quad.

But that’s how it is, and most students learn to love the pressure to look good.

Now, Laura is only one of the fashion-forward girls on the St.Thomas campus, and she also happens to be one of my favorites. She’s blond, lean and is often mistaken for a Cameron Diaz body double.  After spending four years at St.Thomas, Laura has perfected the casual, clean-cut and vintage street style many girls love.  She nails the most AMAZING finds at thrift markets and often spends entire Saturdays stuck in a Urban Outfitters rack.  I just love how her style is simple, structured, and one-of-a-kind. She found her chestnut leather bag at a thrift market in New York, her amazing leather booties at a Saks 5th Avenue sale and can’t go anywhere without her staple rosary necklace and thick gold wrist-wear, all things that make Laura’s style 100% Laura. Read More »

[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 (like Brittany from Northwestern) 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.]

At a school where most girls’ wardrobes are dominated by T-shirts and going-out tops, I always find it refreshing to spot a girl who takes her style seriously. So after seeing Brooklyn roaming around campus on multiple occasions, I just had to stop her. She has the uncanny ability to look effortlessly cool in every situation. Whether she’s heading to class or dressing up for a formal event, she manages to achieve that difficult balance of looking polished but still 100 percent original.

Brooklyn is great at pulling together pieces that fit together without being overly matchy. Her style is all her own, a mix of timeless pieces and funky accessories. It’s a look that’s often imitated but never quite duplicated–because the thing about effortless style is that trying to pull it off just doesn’t work. It has to come naturally. And for Brooklyn, it just does. Read More »

[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 (like Ashley from Lakehead!) 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.]

Allow me to introduce you to Tatomme, probably the only girl I’ve ever met who can truly pull off a chambray jumper. And by “pull off” I mean “work it like she’s got Rachael Zoe dressing her and she’s walkin’ down a runway.” I just met her this semester, and I was instantly impressed with her style.  We are in a few classes together right now – including being on a team in TV -  and I look forward to seeing what interesting and unique outfits she comes up with each day. She incorporates so many things that I could never pull off, and some I might even wonder why she ever thought to even try it on, but I always admire what she is wearing… and the creative mind that thought to put it all together.

I mean, those shoes and the jumper and that jacket? How did she ever know it would all work together? But it does. Flawlessly.

My favorite thing about Tatomme’s look, though, is that signature bag, which she casually slings across her body as we lug camera equipment across campus.  When I asked her about it, I learned that this Liz Claiborne bag originally belonged to Tatomme’s mom, who wore it when she was about our age.

Vintage, cute and sentimental…. I just love it. Read More »

Who inspires your style? Or better question, WHAT inspires your style? Many of us use movie characters (like Penny Lane) or celebrities (like Leigh Lezark) as style inspiration, even though, most of the time, they are being dressed from head to toe by the best stylists. Which we don’t have. And sometimes it’s damn near impossible to work their Hollywood looks into our not-so-Hollywood lives. I’ve made it my mission to tap into the mind of a fashion stylist and show you how to take your style inspiration – whatever it may be – and make it more you!

Describing Chloe Sevigny’s style in one word would be like attempting to describe color to a blind man: Impossible.

She is a wild child with a wild style. It’s vintage-meets-designer, quirky, eccentric and European chic with just the perfect hint of grunge. It doesn’t sound like it would turn out well, but somehow Chloe works it. Not to mention that smirk she’s always sportin’ that says, “What I’m wearing right now is what you’re going to be wearing next month.” Only she’s not arrogant, which I totally would be if I had her ability to wear a potato sack and have a million people be inspired by it.

Although she works as an actress by day (most notably as the second wife on HBO’s series, Big Love) her newest job and eternal interest has always been related to fashion.  It has apparently always come easy to her, considering she never actually follows trends but seems to instead set them. Read More »

[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 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.]

I met Taylor a year ago and after attending a university where everyone showed up to class in their sweats or PJ pants, her look was a breath of fresh air. Her style is a unique blend of thrifted and vintage with new basic pieces, and a collection of accessories that add perfectly to every outfit.

Like many fashionistas, when I met Taylor she had a signature accessory, the headband.  Though she has since abandoned the now mainstream hair accessory, she is constantly incorporating new accessories into her looks.  On this particular day, her black fedora perfectly topped off her outfit, making this look truly Taylor. As well, Taylor is one of the few people that pulls off denim on denim. And she looks damn good doing it. Her faded jean jacket with dark skinny jeans are the perfect combination. In our often unpredictable Canadian climate, Taylor always layers. Her tip: “longer loose layers juxtaposed with more tailored pieces.” Read More »

Though grossly under-rated, hair accessories might be one of the best ways to spice up an outfit and add a special flair. Cheaper than a hot pair of shoes and more practical than a bunch of bangles, headbands and hairpins do double duty: they accessorize and pull that hair out of your face.

Whether you’re looking for something rocker chic, vintage, boho or classic, there are adorable hair pieces out there at super cheap prices. So instead of spending $30 on a shirt you will really only wear once, why not spend $20 and load up on some hair accessories that will enhance the stuff you’ve already got hanging in that closet? Read More »

Last week, I encountered a situation that every college student has (or will) at one time or another: I accidentally signed up for a credit card. When the (sneaky) sales girl at Nordstrom asked if I’d like to sign up for a rewards card, I cheerfully yelped, “Sure!” I thought this card MUST be similar to my (now defunct) Blockbuster rewards card, which wasn’t actually used for purchasing, but gave me points to earn free popcorn instead.

I was wrong.

Miss Nordstrom had swindled me into signing up for the real deal. Luckily, I only charged a good $110 to my new card (that’s sarcasm), however, in an effort to ensure that I never get myself into this kind of debt debacle again, I decided to stick to buying from people who understand what it means to be a struggling artist (er, writer, whatevs). So, I turned to the online shopping portal Etsy – my favorite place to spend time (& cash) on the internet.

For those of you who have been living under a rock (or without an internet connection or penchant for online purchasing), here’s some quick Etsy 411:

“Etsy is a website that provides the general public with a way to buy and sell handmade items as well as vintage items and craft supplies.” (Thanks, Wikipedia!) Basically, the site is chock full of handmade/eccentric goodies – from vintage handbags to hand sewn dresses, created by regular people like you (or the craftier version of you). A lot of the designers on Etsy keep it eco-friendly, too, which def gets a thumbs up from me.

But, if you’re a first time Etsy-peruser, it can be a little intimidating. So I’m here to break it down for you & showcase five of my favorite E-fashionistas. I found five sites that not only offer swoon-worthy threads, but are safe for your wallet (or Mom’s Visa bill). Read More »

Once upon a time, women sat around on Sunday nights sipping cocktails and tuning in to their favorite fashion friends on Sex and the City. But whether you were more of a Samantha or a Carrie type doesn’t matter anymore because there’s a whole new gang of girls in town.

The new fashionistas to watch are the girls of the hit series Mad Men.

The buxom Joan Holloway, the poised Betty Draper, and the spunky Peggy Olsen don’t just entertain us but allow us to feast our eyes on the fabulous designs of yesteryear, coordinated by the show’s talented costume designer, Janie Bryant. Pair the dresses walking down the halls of Sterling Cooper with period pumps and handbags and you’ll look a bit dated, but it’s easy to glam them up 2009-style with tights, belted cardigans or ankle boots.

Check out the StyleHive slide show for some vintage delights for Mad Men fans. Now you’re one step closer to becoming Joan Holloway.

I have this awesome Chinese cut red dress. The tag says it’s a size 14 but it’s form fitting if you’re a sexy eight. But you know back during the 40s sizes were just different. There was a war going on then, you know. I wasn’t there. I heard about it from my grandma, the original owner of the dress.

In any case, in the event that you don’t have a grandmother who stock piles everything that she and her children have owned since BIRTH you might need a place to fill your vintage needs. Because vintage clothes are awesome and pretty and everyone needs some.

Fortunately, the internet is there for you:

1) Mod Cloth

This is a fun little boutique featuring everything from dresses to shoes. You don’t see many retailers sporting vintage shoes, so this is a rare find. Or maybe I just love shoes. Too much. Anyways, they also carry a wealth of accessories to augment your perfect retro look whether it be 40’s swing or 60’s flower child.

And they’re giving it all to you for 15% off until August 8th! Just shop your vintage little heart out, put it all in your “basket,” then enter the super special code (ModCandy 15) at checkout! That’s it. 15% off some of the cutest vintage-inspired goods on the web.

Read More »