For the Love of Maxi

One beloved article of clothing that has made a bold comeback in the fashion scene this year is that of the Maxi Dress. Who wouldn't be a fan of this gorgeous, stylized and oh-so comfortable dress that drapes perfectly and is extremely versatile? Celebrities, designers and every day fashionistas (like you and I) have caught on to this recurring trend as it seems to keep looking better and better!

From bright colored printed Maxi Dresses that the celebrities flaunt...

To showstopping Maxi's that will spice up your night on the town...

There is a Maxi Dress for everyone...

Even with the fall season upon us, your favorite Maxi styles can be transformed for colder weather in no time! By simply adding a belt, scarf, boots or even a jacket, you can create a whole new look for these easy to wear Maxi Dresses.

Although they are eye-catching on their own, there are many ways you can accessorize and make a Maxi Dress unique to your own fashionable sense of style. Those of us with "champagne taste" know that many quality Maxi's might break the bank if we happen to indulge. For instance, Nordstrom carries a wide selection of Maxi Dresses (such as these) that range between $68 and $395.

Luckily, our "beer budget" can be satisfied with these less expensive Maxi Dress alternatives found at Forever 21 and only start at about $19.80....you'll even have money left over to accessorize and add on a pair of shoes! 

Maxi Dresses have continued to mark their territory in the world of fashion as a flattering and stylish, yet comfortable look for women to flaunt throughout the seasons....with so many prints, shapes and possibilities, what will your Maxi style be?

Author: Sydnee

Bringing Summer Into Fall

If you thought that approaching October meant that it was time to pack up and store your colorful, vibrant summer hues, take a second guess! With the seemingly unstoppable trend of brightly colored pants, your fall shouldn’t have to feel so gloomy with expected shades of blacks, browns, and grays.

Yigal Azrouel, Karen Walker, Prabal Gurung, 3.1 Philip Lim



Now it’s understandable if you don’t feel comfortable hopping into a pair of bright red pants or lively yellow skinny jeans, so try the blue and green hues first.  Wearing these hues in washed out tones or rustic colors brings a sense of ease into jumping into this trend.  Another piece of calming advice is to go for boot cut or flared jeans, instead of an extreme straight leg.  Boot cut or flared jeans are generally more flattering on a woman’s figure, making the bright hues less dramatic. And just because you have color on the bottom, feel no need to bring color to the top.  Take this opportunity to pull out your simple nude, off-white, brown, and gray tees ‘n tops.

Leave it to Cameron, Victoria, and Kim to show us how to fashionably rock a pair of bright pants

Cameron Diaz, Victoria Beckham, Kim Kardashian

While Kim brightens up the room with her stand-out blues, Cameron and Victoria went with a more muted, washed-out, and sandy tone (my personal favorite).  In my trend research, some of Fall’s favorite colors are burnt orange, turquoise, wine, dark olive, and other richer colors.



Here's Kelly sporting her purple pants with a clean and crisp white tee.  Pairing this duo with snake skin wedges makes this look simple, yet chic. You can take this look into the night with a fitted black blazer, a patterned scarf, and of course some rocker-chic accessories. 

 

Now, for the fun part – Finding affordable bright colored pants at a price that won’t break your budget! Not all of us can splurge on the styles seen above, like J Brand and Joe’s, which are in the range of $175 - $300. 

(BUT … Those of you who can, here are a few that can be found at Nordstrom)

If this trend fits perfectly into your wardrobe, and investing into a pair that you can wear all throughout fall seems like a great plan to you, go with a pair from J.Crew.  They are pricier than what would probably be in your typical budget, but the quality is great!  Both of these pairs, Vintage Matchstick Cord in Vibrant Flame and Cafe Capri in Dried Rose, are $79.50.

For the most affordable prices, shop stores like Old Navy, H&M, and of course, Forever 21.

Rock Star Jegging in Saucy Red at Old Navy for $34.94

Green Corduroy Straight-Leg Pants for $34.95 and Pink Slim-Fit Pants for $24.95 at H&M

Red Soft Jersey Leggings at H&M for $12.95
(This is my suggestion for those of you on a “Coors Light beer budget.” Pair with a loose, sheer blouse and accentuate your curves with a belt on top. Tall boots and a fun,black scarf will finish off your trendy, yet chic look!)

Royal Colored Mock Jegging for $24.80 and Magenta Vibrant Skinny

Ankle for $24.90 at Forever 21

So, what color will you be wearing?!

Author: Kaitie

Leather for Less

One of my favorite current trends happens to be “leather and lace”. I love the combination of something so feminine and soft paired with something rocker chic. Celebrities and socialites have been seen either in the full blown “rocker” look, or sporting a combination of a dainty dress with their jacket to give the outfit more of an edge. I recently read in a magazine article that the leather jacket is, “a twist on the casual cardigan”. It is also the perfect jacket to transition our wardrobes from spring/summer to fall. We may still want to bring out some of our light summer dresses, but with mornings and evernings getting a little chilly, the leather jacket is perfect. Here are some celebs rockin’ their version of these looks (which is out of most of our price ranges), followed by some options at a more reasonable price range for our lacking bank accounts!

Here is Kelly Osbourne pairing her jacket with some fun polka dots, and Pretty Little Liars star, Lucy Hale pairing hers with a more sheer dress.

 Kate Bosworth was seen looking a little more "rocker"' in her jacket, while Rachel Bilson decided to go a little more girly. 

 Unfortunately, these jackets retail into the thousands, for example, this leather jacket featured in an article about Rag and Bone retails at $1,325. But no worries, we have found some suitable options that are within a student's budget! 

Here, Express is featuring their leather jackets as the "It" jacket of the season! They have a variety of styles and colors to choose from on their website ranging in price from $98 to $140.





If this price is still "breaking your bank," Nordstrom offers a jacket that is just as stylish for $58. The plus side to Nordstrom is that they also offer free shipping and they take online returns at any store location!

Then there is good ol' Forever 21 offering their leather jackets for only $24.50. How could you go wrong with that price? 

One thing I do need to mention though, so I am not leading you astray, is that these amazing prices mean faux leather. But hey, look at the upside, you're being more animal friendly?!  

So get out there and strut your stuff in a feminine yet tough, rocker chic look that wont break your bank! 

Author: Courtney