November 3, 2009
- 4:00 pm
By Jess T. - Columbia University

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 »
Tags: $19.99 price tag, 8 under $20, bereanies, BF cardis, bf jeans, booties, buffalo plaid, closed toe, flats, frugalista, holiday parties, holiday season, jeans, red plaid, ruffles, sailor pants, skirt, stilettos, stripes, thermals, Tilly's, tillys.com, tunic, wedges, wooden heel
September 1, 2009
- 4:00 pm
By Jess T. - Columbia University

For a long time, I thought Newport News was a total “mom store” with terribly outdated and, well, momish stuff. Then, a few months ago I noticed some of their stuff in mags like Lucky, InStyle and Glamour and realized that they actually had some super cuteness going on.
Since then I’ve bought several items from them and they’re not only stylish and well-made, they’re great for a gal on a budget. Which is me. And you.
I combed the entire website and found so many adorable things, many for under $20, but here are my top 8, MySpace style: Read More »
Tags: 8 under $20, bangles, basic tee, boots, budget, budget fashion, budget style, cardi, close-toed wedges, cropped blazer, deep red, Fall, fall/winter, feminine details, flats, flip flops, frumpy, glamour, going girlie, InStyle, jersey dresses, Leopard Print, lucky, newport news, newportnews.com, peasant style top, pencil skirts, riding boots, Skinny Jeans, sweater, under $5, wedges, wide leg trousers, woven texture

So I know you’re thinking: “How can you get anything for under $20 at a department store like Macy’s?”
I get it – sometimes I feel like I can’t even afford to breathe the air in that store and I am doomed to spend my life lusting for everything on the over-stuffed racks. But I’m here to tell you it’s not impossible. Macy’s is all about the discounts and they always have a giant selection in the clearance racks. Most of the stuff is under $50 and a giant chunk of that is under $20! You just need to know where to look for ‘em.
Here are a few of my personal favorites right now. And, yes, a lot of this stuff can take you right into fall: Read More »
Tags: 8 under $20, Autumn, back to school, basic black dresses, basic tee, blazer, boat shoes, boots, budget fashion, cami, cardigan, cooler autumn temps, dark indigo wash, early fall, Fall, fall fashion, fashion, flip flops, heels, ikat, Indian-inspired details, jeans, late summer, light sweater, linen pants, macys, macys clearance, macys.com, open cardi, preppy chic, Skinny Jeans, skirt, summer picnics, sundress, sweater weather, tie-front, wedges, wide leg, winter

[We all live busy lives: we go to school or work (or sometimes both), we try to keep our lives in order and, on top of everything else, we try to maintain a social life.
It can all be a bit overwhelming at times, especially when you’re running here, there and everywhere, and in the process of it all, still trying to look cute. On a weekly basis, I will be posting a guide for an outfit that looks super cute and casual during the day, but you can easily rock out at night with a few accessory additions and/or a change of shoes. And maybe, just maybe, it’ll help ease the stress of life a little bit because, hey, when we look good, we feel good, right?]
This weekend marks the unofficial start of the summer season and that means cool ice cream treats, hot days, hotter boys and less clothing. I figured that in honor of Memorial Day, I’d do a Day-to-Night Style that can easily be worn from a picnic in the park to a night bar-hopping with your buds, all with a few key extras you can store in your beach tote.
Because why should you sacrifice quality daylight hours to go home and do a complete wardrobe change? The summer only lasts so long and we gotta make sure we get the most out of it. Read More »
Tags: 2dollarjewelry.com, bbq, budget style, cardigan, cut offs, denim shorts, flowy tank, forever21.com, memorial day, oldnavy.com, picnic, short shorts, shorts, silver hoops, spring style, summer, summer season, summer style, target.com, tillys.com, tote, turquoise jewelry, wedges, white sandals, white wedges, white wrap cardigan, yellow

It’s the merry month of May and that means the school year is coming to a close and many a student will be happily accepting their diplomas. Ok, maybe not-so happily.
While you are probably busy drinking your face off and burning your books with your friends, there is a larger task that needs to be finished (and you are going to want to do this sober): figuring out what to wear to graduation!
You may be from the “I’m wearing a gown so who cares what happens under it” school of thought, but, trust me, it matters. Photos from your graduation day will be a part of your life forever, so dressing up (not throwing up) should be on the top of your graduation morning agenda.
The proper attire for graduations/convocations is basically what you’d wear to church/temple on a holiday. You want to look dressed up, but without toeing the line to slutsville. So, leave the sex kitten at home – no short skirts, no low-cut tops and, for the love of god, no going naked. Those gowns don’t have a lining in them, and who knows what could happen if the wind blows….
Here are some ideas for cute ensembles. Just click on the item to get some more info! Read More »
Tags: accent color, attire for graduations, black & white, black peep toes, boho wedges, bright blouse, brights, cap and gown, cardigan, college graduation, colorblocked, convocations, florals, grad, graduate, graduation attire, graduation gown, maxi dress, may, neutral pumps, neutral skirt, printed B&W dress, slacks, wedges, wrap
This spring and summer we’re once again returning to our playground days with the romper/jumpsuit trend coming back for another season. While this look can teeter on juvenile, if done properly it can be an adorable daytime look that quickly switches over to a sexy evening style.
I know a lot of people aren’t the biggest fan of rompers, but to be honest, I L-O-V-E this look and know I can convince you to feel the same. I have a few rompers in my closet already, but I may just have to add another one to my collection, because this baby is too cute for words (and reasonably priced as well!):
Read More »
Tags: budget style, celebrity pink, forever21.com, hurache sandals, jumpsuit, lulus.com, romper, spring fashion, spring style, summer fashion, summer style, target.com, wedges

[Every week 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 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 ensemble. Yes, we know; there is a spot for her in heaven.]
Tie Dye was cool when my mom was my age. Then it was cool again in 7th grade. And let me tell you I tore that trend up. I was just yay shy of deciding that my bat-mitzvah give away should be a tie dyed t-shirt. I LIVED for the days at camp when we would make our own tie-dye. And even though my color palette never turned out quite right (more like murkey brown poo) I still thought I was destined to be a hippie. I rocked tie dye so bright that my eyes hurt just thinking about it.
So when I saw that tie dye was making its 19th comeback, I cringed, I avoided, and I said to myself I wouldn’t wear it.
But then I saw the dresses like the ones on our friends over here, and I saw some really cute ones at Bloomingdales, and Nordstrom and Forever 21 and Urban and, oy, the list goes on. As much as I wanted to fight – kicking and screaming – against the return of tie dye (what’s next? Hypercolor?!) I couldn’t deny the fact that they would look so cute with some woven sandals or high wedges.
The whole tie dye look gives off that “I look cute without even trying” vibe that we all want to convey. And the more I see it, the more I can’t look away. Just like those pictures of Britney’s Britney. (You know what I’m talkin’ about.)
So here is this weeks Celebrity Chic on the Cheap: Color Me Tie Dye Read More »
Tags: fashion, Steve Madden, shopping, Style, hippie, trend, celebrity fashion, celebrity style, ashley tisdale, metallic, bangles, cheap fashion, budget style, wedges, claires, maxi dress, hippie chic, tie dye

Along with the spring fashion trends, it’s (almost) time to break out the new shoe styles and this spring shoe styles are all about fun, fun, fun. Here’s what to be on the look out for… Read More »
Tags: shoes, Steve Madden, target, ruffles, oranges, zippers, bright colors, Pink, shoe trends, booties, fringe, trends, flats, stilettos, orange, fashion trends, snakeskin, platforms, Details, flowers, wedges, payless, peep toes, gladiators, sky high heels, buckles, beads, aldo, pinks, embellishments, studs, Zappos, Arden B, spring 2009, architectural heels, cut out booties, faux skins, heeled gladiators, laces, metallics, reptile skins, shoe styles, slingbacks, snaps, straps, ties, unique heels

It’s been a long, cold winter and not only have we been forced to bundle up, chances are we’ve all been sporting dark and drab wear, as is typical in the winter months. While we still have a few weeks left of cold before we can start rockin’ those cute spring clothes, we can start adding a little pazazz to our boring winter wardrobes with little pops of color.
As is always the case in the spring, brights will be back this season, and the most popular hues this spring are hot pink/fuschia, yellows & oranges, and bright blues. Here are some great (and affordable) options to brighten up any wardrobe. Read More »
Tags: bright blues, bright colors, brighten up, brightly colored t shirts, budget fashion, cardigan, color, colored jeans, discount fashion, dresses, espadrilles, fashion, fitted tees, flats, floral prints, fringe, fuschia, gladiators, hot pink, hurache sandal, old navy, oldnavy.com, oranges, payless, payless.com, shoes, spring, spring/summer, Style, target, trends, warm months, wedges, yellows

[In early adulthood there is an activity that plays a large role in most of our lives; nights out on the town. And with those nights out always comes the question: “What am I gonna wear?!?”
Each week I’ll be putting together a cute and affordable “going out” ensemble guide (that you can tweak to your own personal style and body type, of course) so that maybe that age-old question can be answered a little quicker than usual. And your friends aren’t waiting - for hours - for you to emerge from your room. Just consider me your own (free) personal Rachel Zoe. Only I weigh more than 88 pounds.]
Many of you will be heading off to somewhere warm and balmy in the next few weeks to take part in that ritual known as Spring Break. While spring break means lots of partying, beach time, and drinking with friends, it also means lookin’ super hot in all those summer styles you haven’t been able to bust out for months.
So leave the sweaters, scarves and snowpants at home, and bring on the color. It’s time to have a little fun, Spring Break style. Read More »
Tags: bangles, beach, betsy johnson spring, budget style, college style, discount fashion, dress, fashion, floral earrings, forever 21, forever21.com, heels, light gold, night out on the town, Night Styler, sand colored, sandals, shoes, spring break, spring break style, Style, target, target.com, wedges, zappos.com