Plus Size Fashion: 3 Ways to Dress for Success

Plus Size Fashion: 3 Ways to Dress for Success

We’re nearing the end of August which means one of two things: that fall semester has already started for you, or it will be starting in the coming week or so.
With a new semester comes new courses, new professors, and new opportunities, which means that dressing for success is crucial. A cute outfit can change your entire outlook on the day ahead of you and in my experience, make your day great.

From CollegeCandy: 10 Life Hacks to Instantly Turn Your Day Around

10 Life Hacks to Instantly Turn Your Day Around

Everyone has those days – either you wake up in a bad mood or something happens to put you in a bad mood. You just feel “blah” and want to crawl into bed and sleep until the next millennium. Been. There.
On days like those, it’s essential that you have a backup plan to get yourself out of your funk. An arsenal of happiness-makers, so to speak. Just turn to your happy list and you’ll be back on your way to feeling like yourself.
Don’t have a go-to list like this? Our friends at CollegeCandy are here to provide some inspiration. Just click on over to check out their top 10 ways to instantly turn your day around. You’ll be feeling better in no time.

Looks on Campus: Marcela – Southeastern Louisiana University

Looks on Campus: Marcela – Southeastern Louisiana University

Marcela’s breezy, preppy style was a breath of fresh air on a hot Louisiana day. Her color combo of mint and neutrals felt very mint julep, while her staple accessories made her look easy for any girl to replicate.

Marcela 101                              

Name: Marcela
School: Southeastern Louisiana University
Major: Spanish
Year: Senior

Let’s Talk Fashion

Who or what inspires your style? “Emma Watson and Blair Eadie. I like getting ideas from movies and street style blogs. They always inspire me to hunt down things for less. I’m always amazed when Blair Eadie wears something from Old Navy!”
Where do you like to shop? “Anthropologie, J. Crew, TJ Maxx. I like a mix of prep and girly, and TJ Maxx has everything.”
How would you describe your sense of style? “A little bit of hipster and a little bit of preppy—a prepster!”
Why did you choose this particular outfit? “I wanted to coordinate but not over-coordinate. My shorts make a statement, but I plan everything else around that statement.”
What fashion advice would you give to other students looking to improve their style? “Do not wear what you’re not comfortable in—people can tell. Be true to who you want to portray and others will respond to that.”
What are your favorite trends right now? “I like turban headbands, high-waisted shorts, and the boyfriend/tomboy vibe. Olivia Palermo does the tomboy/girly mix really well.”
Do you have any favorite fashion designers? “I always like Chanel, but Karl scares me a little!”
What do you do for fun? Do you have any unique hobbies? “I Netflix a lot. Yep.”
What movie or music artist would you say describes your style? “500 Days of Summer and Billy Joel. Relaxed and classic.”
Which cities do you think reflect your style the most? “NYC & San Francisco.”

Elements of Marcela’s Outfit

1. Everyday Bag

 

A basic yet awesome bag is what every on-the-go college gal needs! Marcela’s tote has both texture and various neutral tones, which allows it to work with every outfit while still being super functional.
2. Blouse

In these late summer months, staying cool is essential. Marcela’s top is sleeveless, lightweight, and neutral-toned, meaning it pretty much goes with everything. The perfect top? I think so!

What do you think?

What do you think of Marcela’s outfit? Is it difficult to balance looking cute for class and beating the heat? Do you love Marcela’s color combo here? Let us know in the comments!

4 Easy Ways to Stay Healthy on Campus

4 Easy Ways to Stay Healthy on Campus

It’s the last day of August, so by now you’ve either completed your first week of the fall semester or are just about to start. Whether you’re a returning upperclassman or a first year student experiencing college life for the first time, living on campus presents a whole new set of challenges to face on a daily basis.
Living on campus can be a tough transition from the comforts of home for many students, and, even if you’ve lived on campus before, getting back into the routine of things after a long summer break can be just as challenging.
As young adults with few health concerns to worry about, we often take our good health for granted and can easily succumb to unhealthy habits notoriously common among college students. But it’s so important to keep an eye on your health – not only for your well being now, but for the future as well. Read on below for 4 easy ways to maintain good health on campus all semester long.

1. Get Enough Shut Eye

Unfortunately, college life and sleep deprivation often go hand in hand. Juggling a busy schedule packed with classes, study time, activities, and socializing can be a tough task to tackle, and somehow, getting adequate sleep is often left out of the picture.
Time management is a skill that you will need to master to keep up with the many demands of college life, but make sure you don’t skimp on sleep in order to make room for everything. Lack of sleep drastically impairs our mood, energy levels, memory, and ability to focus and concentrate, and therefore substantially hinders academic performance.
Sleep is one of the most important things the body and mind need in order to function properly so make sure you schedule at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night as a top priority.
To help make your home away from home as comfortable as possible,

Geek Chic: Back-to-School Edition

Geek Chic: Back-to-School Edition

Ah, back-to-school season. That glorious time when summer lounging is starting to feel a little stale, you’re getting an itch to see your friends again and actually be productive, and your new binders and notebooks are super organized because they’re still, well, new.
Much as you may love your school, though, do you ever wish you could be zipping around on a broomstick instead? Or seeking out new life and new civilizations? Or battling the evil denizens of the Hellmouth? (Okay, probably not the last one.)
For this Back to School Edition of the Geek Chic column, we’re featuring outfits inspired by some of your favorite characters and what they wore on their first days of (fictional) school.

Starfleet Academy

With such a chic, streamlined look, this is one uniform I’d be happy to wear every single day! The cadets of Starfleet Academy in San Francisco are training to be officers in Starfleet, the peacekeeping armada of the United Federation of Planets.

Looks on Campus: Asha – Loyola Marymount University

Looks on Campus: Asha – Loyola Marymount University

At Loyola Marymount University, orientation season has begun, unfortunately causing the sea of sweatpants to roll back onto campus. However, Asha really stood out among the crowd, and I just knew I had to speak to her about her style.
The coolest thing about Asha’s outfit? Almost every piece is thrifted, gifted or shopped from her family’s closet! Time to take some notes:

Asha 101                   

Name: Asha
Year: Senior
Major: Women’s Studies
School: Loyola Marymount University

Let’s Talk Fashion

Who or what inspires your style? “I really like Tracee Ellis Ross and Solange, but in terms of why I wear what I wear, I cruise a lot of Tumblr fashion websites and kind of just wear what I feel.”
Where do you like to shop? “Really wherever’s cheapest. I do a lot of Forever 21. In fact, I haven’t really shopped in a long time. I’ve been going through people’s closets – my mom’s, my cousin’s, my sister’s – whatever I can get for free is best since I’m a college student.”

Nail Art How-to: Watermelon Nail Art

Nail Art How-to: Watermelon Nail Art

I recently acquired some great new summer colors on my travels, so, before summer is really over, I wanted to give you guys a final, quick summery nail art tutorial before we head into all those back-to-school posts!
I’m a watermelon addict – its something I wait all year for, so I decided to channel that in a few easy steps with the adorable ice cream polishes I got from Etude House. This nail art is great because you can choose to do it on an accent finger only, or do your entire hand without having it look overwhelming.
Read on to find out how to create your own watermelon-inspired nail art:

What You’ll Need:

• A bright coral-y pink color – mine was Etude House’s Sweet Recipe Ice Cream in OR201 (Grapefruit) (similar)
• A pink and lilac color – I used Etude House’s Sweet Recipe Ice Cream in PK001 Strawberry) (similar) and PP501 (Blueberry) (similar). You can choose different colors or just stick to one, but I wanted to go all out this time
• A white polish – I used China Glaze’s White on White
• A green polish – Sally Hansen’s Green With Envy
• A black polish – Wet N Wild’s Blackmail
• A dotting tool
• A top coat

Looks from Books: Fashion Inspired by Divergent

Looks from Books: Fashion Inspired by Divergent

Welcome to the latest edition of Looks from Books, which aims to prove that you can look smart, while still being book-smart, too. Fashion inspiration can be found between the pages of your favorite stories, on well-designed book covers, and in your favorite characters… if you read closely enough.
This week, we’re casting our gaze to the future… the dystopian future, that is… as well as at an already-hyped future cinematic release, in Veronica Roth’s Divergent! 

Inside Cover

Divergent is a dystopian science fiction novel set in a futuristic Chicago and was written for young adults by Veronica Roth.
There, society is divided into five “Factions,” each dedicated to an all-encompassing virtue, guided by what they best believe to combat the evil that grows in society: Abnegation (the selfless), Erudite (the intelligent), Candor (the honest), Amity (the peaceful), and Dauntless (the brave).
Upon turning sixteen, all must choose which Faction they will devote their lives to, and when the time comes for Beatrice “Tris” Prior, she leaves behind the Abnegation world in which she grew up, to move into the realm of the Dauntless. Her path is a difficult one, and she soon finds that being brave doesn’t always mean she’s not afraid. And what she’s most afraid of, is for her new family to find out what she truly is… Divergent.
Divergent was published in the spring of 2011, and its sequel, Insurgent, was published in 2012. The final installment of the trilogy, Allegiant, is set to be published this October.

A Fashionable Literacy

The Divergent movie is currently in production, and is set to be released in March 2014. Golden Globe nominee Shailene Woodley was cast as Beatrice Prior, while fellow Dauntless member Four – chosen from a pool of many of Hollywood’s hottest gents, including Alex Pettyfer, Lucas Till, and Alexander Ludwig – will be played by Theo James. Erudite leader Jeanine Matthews will be played by Oscar winner Kate Winslet.
The costume direction for the film is helmed by Carlo Poggioli, whose work can be seen in the upcoming Romeo and Juliet, starring Hailee Steinfeld and Douglas Booth. His work is most present in period films, appearing in Van Helsing, The Brothers Grimm, The Raven, and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Therefore, it will be interesting to see what he can do with a view of the future, instead of the past.

Looks on Campus: Cleo – UCLA

Looks on Campus: Cleo – UCLA 

Colorado Springs attracts international tourists for its splendid mountains and incredible wildlife. However, due to freak flooding in the mountains this month, many tourists traded in a day in the great outdoors to shop in the quaint boutiques of Old Colorado City. This is where I found Cleo, whose indie style made the dreary day of rain a bit more bearable.

Cleo 101                                 

Name: Cleo
Major: Undecided
Where are you from? ”I’m from South Africa, actually. I’m living in the States as a nanny. I live in Atlanta, but I’m taking online classes at UCLA.”
What do you do for fun? ”I sing a lot. I’m also a born-again Christian, so I go to a lot of church activities. I also love to hang out with friends.”

Let’s Talk Fashion

Who or what inspires your style? “I just wear whatever I feel. I don’t even care if it doesn’t match, if I find something and another thing and I like them, I just put them together.”
Where do you like to shop? “Mostly thrift stores, Love Culture, Forever 21.”
Why did you choose this particular outfit? “This is my favorite shirt. I got it at a thrift store in Berkley for five dollars. I love my moccasins and I just enjoy wearing skinny jeans. Just throw all this together.”
What advice would you give to students eager to improve their style? “Just wear what you’re comfortable in and wear it with confidence. I think that as long as you’re comfortable in what you’re wearing — no matter what that may be — if you think you wear it well then it doesn’t matter what you’re actually wearing.”
What are your favorite trends right now? “I like oversize shirts, as you can see. I like the whole hipster look. Actually, I love the whole hipster look. Also the whole baggy/comfy look.”
If you could raid anyone’s closet, who would it be? “I think Vanessa Hudgens with her new, lacy style.”

Elements of Cleo’s Style

1. Mixed Metallics

Cleo proves that it’s a myth that you can’t wear gold and silver together. She combines different metals in her jewelry to create an indie rock vibe that complements her outfit perfectly. Cleo purchased most of her jewelry from Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters, so head there for a similar look. Even her black nails add to her rocker vibe!

Black & White Back-to-School Outfits

Black & White Back-to-School Outfits

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. The time you have been waiting for all summer long: back-to-school!
Whether you’re about to embark on the wonderful journey known as college for the very first time, or you’re a seasoned veteran with a few years on your transcript, it’s never too late to vamp up your wardrobe. Let this be the year where you feel the most confident and stylish!
For this post, I chose to feature two black and white back-to-school outfits because this color combination is timeless, universally flattering, and a great way to stand out effortlessly. Scroll down to see them both:

1. Smart and Edgy

Sometimes I like to trick myself into thinking that if I dress smart, I’ll do better in class. It may not always work, but an A for effort, right?

Sponsored: Braided Bun Tutorial with Goody & U by Kotex

Sponsored: Braided Bun Tutorial with Goody & U by Kotex

Every girl has her handbag essentials. Lip balm, cell phone, concealer — and, of course, hair elastics and tampons/pads. These two products are always in our bags, as we never want to be caught without ‘em.
Thanks to a new promotion only at Target stores, you can get two of these handbag essentials at once - Buy U by Kotex at Target, and you’ll receive FREE Goody Hair Elastics! Text KOTEX to TARGET (827438) to get the coupon! Look for the tampons/pads in the little black box.
To celebrate this new promotion, we’ve teamed up with U by Kotex and Goody to create a fun hairstyle tutorial. Be sure to have your Goody hair elastics on hand, because you’ll need them!

Tutorial: Upside-Down Dutch-Braided Bun

What you’ll need:

• 2 Goody elastics
• A brush
• Your favorite strong-hold hairspray
• An old sock, or hair donut
• Bobby pins (as needed)

Step 1:

Spray the hairspray all over your hair and comb through. This can be done as many times as possible so that you get that “rough” feeling, like you skipped a day of shampooing. If your hair is already a little dirty, even better! Don’t use as much hairspray if your hair is already dirty, since it can become sticky.

Step 2:

Flip your head over! Brush the hair towards the front so that all your hair is completely upside down.

Step 3:

Find a friend — or if you’re good enough, start Dutch braiding yourself! Braid the hair just like a regular Dutch braid, which is the same as a French braid, but instead you cross the hair strands under instead of over. Think of it as if you’re doing a French braid, but opposite. Braid it about halfway up the head. (Yes, I do have a feather in my hair…circa 2011. It’s trendy again I swear!)

Tory Burch to Launch Beauty Line

Tory Burch to Launch Beauty Line

Designer Tory Burch will soon be delving into the beauty world by launching a collection of makeup, fragrance, and bath and body products set to debut next month.
According to WWD, Burch describes her fragrance as “tomboy meets feminine” and it includes a blend of grapefruit, pink pepper, and jasmine scents, among others. The eaux de parfum will be available in three sizes: 1 oz. ($62), 1.7 oz. ($82), and 3.4 oz. ($110).
The cosmetics line (pictured above) includes a lipstick, a lip and cheek tint, a bronzer/blush palette and a retractable face brush. The makeup will range in price from $32 to $48. Lastly, the bath and body offerings include a body cream, body lotion, bath and shower gel, and a candle, priced between $50 and $80.
All three beauty collections will launch on Sept. 26, but will be available for pre-sale starting Sept. 6. The fragrance and bath items will be sold at Tory Burch boutiques and toryburch.com, as well as at 31 Bloomingdale’s stores. The cosmetics collection will only be available online and at Tory Burch boutiques.

Thoughts?

What do you think of these products? Are you a fan of Tory Burch? Would you buy any of these items? Remember to let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below!

Celebrity Street Style of the Week: Rochelle Humes, Vanessa Hudgens, & Zoe Kravitz

Celebrity Street Style of the Week: Rochelle Humes, Vanessa Hudgens, & Zoe Kravitz

Every week, I scour the web to find inspiring outfits on your favorite celebs and help you recreate their looks! This week, I was inspired by Rochelle Humes, Vanessa Hudgens, and Zoe Kravitz. Read on to see how you can get their looks for yourself.

Look 1: Rochelle Humes’s Floral Monochrome

Rochelle Humes was out in London with her group The Saturdays in a monochromatic navy look that featured some eye-catching floral print trousers, a v-neck sweater, a statement necklace, vintage-inspired sunglasses, and a red lip.
The floral print of Rochelle’s pants breaks up the monochrome navy, giving her outfit a fun, retro vibe that’s further accentuated by her pointy-toed heels and sunglasses. Her ensemble is classy and perfect for the approaching fall season.

Fabulous Find of the Week: Charlotte Russe Off-the-Shoulder Tee

Fabulous Find of the Week: Charlotte Russe Off-the-Shoulder Tee

For this week’s Fabulous Find, we found an off-the-shoulder tee from Charlotte Russe that’s equal parts stylish and practical. The exposed zipper detailing on the dolman sleeves adds an edgy touch, while the neutral color means it can be paired with a variety of different hues and patterns. Plus, at just under $15, this budget-friendly buy is bound to give you a lot of bang for your buck.
Ready to see what this Fab Find looks like? Scroll down to check it out, as well as three chic ways to style this tee for fall:

The Top:

Outfit Inspiration

If you like this cute and budget-friendly top, then you’re going to love the outfits we put together for inspiration. Read on to find out three stylish ways to wear this week’s Fabulous Find:

Coupons & Sales: Week of 8/23/13

Coupons & Sales: Week of 8/23/13

Aeropostale has everything 50% off through 8/28. No code needed, discount reflected at checkout.

Alloy has several offers going on right now: get free shipping on orders over $25 with code ARNAFF, take 20% any order with code ARN2, or take $20 off any order of $75 or more with code 2ARN75. All offers valid through 9/19.

BaubleBar is offering 20% off designer Maya Brenner’s pieces with code MAYABRENNER. Offer valid through 8/31. Cannot be combined with other offers.

dELiA*s has jeans buy one, get one free with promo code GETJEAN through 8/25. Plus, get free shipping on orders over $25 with code DFNAFF, take 15% off any order with code DFN15, or take $20 off any order over $65 with code 2DFN65.

Dorothy Perkins is having a Last Days of Summer Sale, with an additional 20% off already reduced prices.

G by Guess is offering an extra 25% off all orders. Use code GBY25OFF through 8/25. Plus, get free shipping on orders over $50 with code FSOGBY50.

Garage will give you 25% off regular priced items, plus free shipping on orders over $50. Offer valid through 8/26 with promo code SUMMER25.

Karmaloop will give you an additional 15% off orders over $75 with coupon code KLSUMMER. Hurry, offer ends today 8/23!

Kmart is offering 15% off clothes, shoes, and accessory orders of $55 or more with code K15BTS though 8/24.

Kohl’s will give you an extra 20% off when you spend $100 with code RECESS or take an extra 15% off any order with code STUDYHALL. Both offers valid through 8/28.

Lands’ End is offering 30% off one item, plus free shipping on orders of $50 or more. Use promo code HARVEST and pin 2030 through 8/26.

Levi’s is offering 30% off select jeans plus free shipping. Use code JUSTFORYOU through 8/26.

The Limited is offering an additional 30% off all markdowns through 8/25.

Madewell has 25% off select tops with code TOPTIME, plus get free shipping on orders over $50. Both offers good through 8/26.

Maurices has all plaid tops, sweaters, boots, and jeans buy one, get one 50% off until 8/25. Use code SHOP813 at checkout.

Pacsun is offering free shipping on any order through 8/25 with code OHSHIP.

Planet Blue will give you 10% off regular priced jeans and denim. Use code PBDENIM3 at checkout through 9/15.

PUMA is offering 20% off orders of $100 or more with promo code RULESCHOOL through 8/28.

Stila Cosmetics will give you 20% off any order with code 20OFF through 8/31. Offer excludes discounted items and gift sets.

Target has all denim buy one, get one 50% off through 8/24.

TOMS is offering $10 off any purchase of $100 or more with promo code TOMSBTSSPECIAL through 9/3 or $5 off any purchase of $25 or more with code TOMSFALL5 through 10/31. Plus, get free shipping and returns on all orders through 9/5.

Torrid has everything buy one, get on 50% off with code BOGO50ALL.

ULTA Beauty will give you free shipping on any order of $25 or more. No coupon code needed, offer valid through 8/27.

UrbanOG is offering an extra 25% off flat sandals with code FLATSANDAL25 through 8/26.

Warehouse will give you 20% off full price items through 9/5 with coupon code ATTHEBELL20. Plus, get free US shipping and returns on all orders with code FREESHIPFUN through 10/31.