[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.]

The black and white combo. Always a classic, always a trend, and always a sure fire winner. Case in point - Black or White - only one of the best MJ songs of all time (espesh the part with the kid yelling at his dad “Eat THIS!”)

It’s the easiest way to look cute without having to really try. Which is the only kind of cute to ever exist. And it’s the best way to make use of what you already have in your closet. In other words: it’s the perfect ensemble for that night when you truly feel that you have NOTHING to wear (even though I know you’re lying).

So this week I bring you: Celebrity Chic on the Cheap- Baby It Don’t Matter if You’re Black or White (or, in this case, both):
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Last night’s episode of Project Runway was strange without Blayne. No “icious,” no hot pink sweatshirts… I felt bad that he had to leave, but I know he is happily lying in a tanning bed somewhere, soaking up the artificial rays.

We are down to six designers now, but only one of them really has any talent: Korto. The rest are just sorta coasting by with their crappy designs, poor quality and total lack of a fashion sense. And that couldn’t have been more obvious than in last night’s challenge.

The challenge was actually an interesting one that we can all connect to. The designers were to create a look for recent college graduates who were heading out into the working world. Oh, and their moms were coming to stir things up a bit.

As I watched the designers attempt to appease both mother and daughter (or in the case of Anna, drag queen and daughter…seriously, did you HEAR HER TALK!?), I tried to imagine how it would go if my mother and I were part of the episode.

“I like black, white, and gray. I like classic lines, but very trendy looks.” I would tell the designer.
“What about this bright orange and yellow swirly pattern? Or these culottes?! HOW CUTE IS THIS LEOPARD SKIRT?!” My mother would react. And then she would somehow guilt the designer into making what she wants me to wear, which she has been doing to me since I was 4. Read More »

If any of the producers of What Not to Wear ever happen to read this article, please accept my personal cry for help and send me to Stacy and Clinton asap.

Though I can usually throw together something appropriate for work or special events, about half of my clothing inventory consists of utterly ridiculous garments. It doesn’t help that I’m sentimental and can’t discard my prom dresses five years later, or that I’m waiting for certain trends to come back (though I’m pretty sure sparkly, sleeveless, turtleneck sweaters were never in style to begin with). And it definitely doesn’t help that I went through a goth/punk phase that a small part of the “professional” me desperately wants to revert back to.

As we all get ready for back to school, many of us will rummage through our closets and get rid of last season’s most shameful shirts, skirts, dresses, and pants in order to make room in our tiny dorm closets for upcoming styles (that we will undoubtedly regret in 2009 or 2010).

Here are some of my particularly embarrassing items.

1. Drawstring Khakis

I think that any pants that don’t have a numerical size should be left alone. So, why I bought these “Size L” drawstring pants with floral embroidery at the bottom is beyond me. They don’t go with any shoes, the trim is tacky, and they are so baggy that they make my ass look like a misshaped Volvo. I used to wear them to lounge around, because a lack of a waist obviously equals comfort; however, I made the mistake of wearing them out of the house one extremely hungover day. In public. With friends. My friend turned to me and said, “If you ever wear those pants again, I will cut them off your body.” Point taken. Read More »

So, I was in NYC the other day to drop my boyfriend off at LaGuardia. During the 20 minutes we sat in the departures area waiting for a friend to show up, I saw flocks of girls traipse through the airport wearing leggings—ONLY leggings—on their lower halves.

Hello? Is this some infuriating trend I’m missing because I don’t live in the hotspots of NYC?

Thankfully, since I don’t live there, I can provide those girls with a clue. Leggings are NOT pants! Okay?! They are like tights—meant to be worn under something. Something such as PANTS!

Wearing leggings as pants is like painting your legs hoochie black and then walking around. If you think you have amazing legs, then fine. Walk around in a miniskirt or a pair of skinny jeans. But for the love of all that is proper, do not treat leggings and pants interchangeably!

If you still don’t get it, here’s a simple cheat sheet.

Leggings with a minidress? Okay, as long as the minidress is conceivably long enough so that you could wear it with only underwear. Read More »

Recently, after spending about an hour trying to find something to wear for poker night, I realized my closet was seriously lacking. I had tons of cute skirts for work, shirts to match, great shoes, and dresses. What I didn’t have were things most girls live in—great jeans, casual t-shirts, and anything under a 3-inch heel.

I made it my fashion mission to buy a few of those essentials every time I went shopping, and now I’m proud to say I have a pair of jeans I love (two pairs if it’s not a fat day), some adorable flats, and a few casual tops. I still prefer to dress up rather than down, but when I’m running on 73 minutes of sleep and am getting dressed with a cup of coffee in one hand, having a wardrobe of basic pieces that I can mix and match is a lifesaver.

Between my casual clothes and my dressy clothes, I feel like I have almost all the essentials (though I can use a few more pairs of jeans!). But chances are, especially if you’re loyal to a particular style of dressing like I am, you’re missing a few things. Take a look at my must-have list and see if you need to do some shopping ASAP:

A little black dress: I finally found the perfect one, and I love it so much that I bought a little gray dress in the same style. Pair it with high heels and a clutch for a night out, or flats and a casual bag to dress it down. If your little black dress is made from something like cotton, it’s a lot more versatile.

Cute flats: I don’t know how I lived without my Mia black flats all these years. Well actually, I do know—-with black heels that my feet will never forgive me for. Let a little toe cleavage peek out and be cute and comfy. Read More »

The latest trend in summer casual-wear, the “maxi-dress,” just may be my favorite. Because unlike the short-shorts, miniskirts, and flimsy sundresses of summers past, this one lets me get away with not shaving my legs.

Celebrities like Rachel Bilson, Kiera Knightly, and Jessica Simpson have been spotted out and about rocking ankle-length dresses and skirts lately, and I have to say, I think I’ll be jumping on this celeb-trend bandwagon very soon. Read More »