Taste the rainbow.

Brightly colored nail polish is in and my fingers are ecstatic. I remember being 10 and loving to rock blue nail polish everyday. It flew under the radar since then, but it's finally back. And thank God because I was sick of unoriginal, cherry red and gothic maroon. Sure, the nail polish makes me look like I'm 10 again, but it adds attitude, accessory, and POP to a simple outfit and compliments an already bright look. Of course it doesn't help that I am completely inept at painting nails, so it looks like a 4 year old got a hold of my nails regardless of color...but I'll just hope I'm the only one with that problem.

There are definitely people who don't understand the appeal to a rainbow selection of lovely nail polish. For example, the ladies who gave me a pedicure while laughing, pointing, and gossiping in Chinese about my Sally Hansen "blue me away" toenails. But forget them because I like when my nails look like an Easter egg. It's summery, youthful, and the color a girl chooses is a reflection of her personality. What could be better?

The irony of it all is that I spend unspeakable amounts of money on nail polish. The prices individually are affordable, but it adds up when I get a new bottle every time I go into a drug store. I never go with the purpose of buying nail polish, but the bright colors are alluring and always draw me in. I end up picking my favorite color out of the array of options, painting all of my nails, and finally purchasing it as I realize that I will have nothing to touch up my nails with when they chip if I don't actually own the color. I usually get so distracted that I leave the store joyously with my freshly painted nails and accompanying bottle, and I'm half way home before it hits me that I completely forgot about buying what I originally went to the store for. The moral of the story is that nail polish is generally more affordable for those who have better self control than I do (which shouldn't be too difficult to achieve.)

So what do I suggest? Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color. At only 2.99 a pop, I can't help but notice that 5 bottles would cost just 15 dollars...

This price is much cheaper than other brands that provide the same colors. In fact, I think Sally may just have more of a selection. With 30 different choices, including "Green with Envy" and "Virtual Violet," there is no need for any other collection.

Here are some of my favorites!

Green With Envy

Blue Me Away

indecisiveness

There are a couple of up and coming fashion trends that I simply cannot make up my mind about. They're definitely affordable, and therefore worthy of this blog, but it does not change the fact that I'm sitting pretty on the fence over these items.

The first new fad I'm undecided on are long dresses. Now, don't get me wrong, I completely understand that they look amazing on many girls, (i.e. stick thing, Mischa Barton types) but what about the rest of us? If you have hips, thighs, or a butt, they might not be very form flattering. I'm a firm believer in being able to rock anything if you have just the right amount of confidence, but there are other problems with these long dresses. The biggest ish' I have is WHERE to WEAR the dresses. The length makes them seem a little too dressy for a daytime event, but they somehow seem inappropriate for wearing out at night. Perhaps the key is to find the perfect print to match the "dressy" level of where you're going. Regardless, I do love the dresses and think they're extremely cute, but I can't decide if the sometimes unflattering style and confused "fancy level" makes them worth buying. Anywho, here is a really cute dress I found at Charlotte Russe for 28 bucks. If I were to buy one of these dresses, this would have to be the one. What do you guys think?



Hot trend number 2: The boot sandal? My biggest problem with these kicks is that they just seem confused. Which season are they promoting: summer, winter? I can't tell. It's undeniable that they add oomf to an outfit, but I'm finding it dificult to get past the awkwardness of the whole thing.
I found this pair on overstock.com for 19.99, which is obviously a killer deal, and I love the color choices. hmmm. To follow the trend or not to follow the trend?

Pass the dressing please

I'm pretty sure you all can think of a million reasons why you love summer. One of the top reasons on my list is DRESSES. Whether it's a beach cover up, simple sundress, or a little black Gucci dress, one thing remains consistent: dresses are comfortable, flattering, and perfect for the season. Plus, there's nothing easier than throwing on a cute dress and simply adding accessories to form a complete outfit. I see no need for a top and bottom when I have the option of being lazy and just tossing on a dress. Here are some great, affordable dresses.


I found all three of these dresses at Heritage1981 on forever21.com and all shoes and accessories at charoletterusse.com


It can't be denied that this dress is just right to wear as a bathing suit cover up. Cost? 14.90. Can't complain about that.


This sundress is 24.90, ridiculously cute, and perfect for picnics, outings, and all of the other outdoor gatherings that come with summer. Match it with these 12.99 shoes and this 9.50 belt to complete the look. Ahh. An entire outfit for just about 47 dollars. What could be better?













I actually own this dress in black and think the cut out back makes it just right for going out at night in the summer when paired with heels and flashy jewelry. What I love about it, though, is that it could also be a casual outfit if desired. And did I mention that it's only 14.90?

The pumps add the splash of attitude and color that this dress needs to make it perfect for a summer night out. And for only 20 dollars, they're definitely worth it.

Work it!

If you have a summer internship, you probably have come across the problem of figuring out what you're supposed to wear. Finally having an excuse to dress up and be sophisticated is definitely something to look forward to, but it can be tough if you can't afford to buy cute and appropriate work clothes, especially if you have an unpaid internship. One way to dress right for work, without using up all the money you make, is to mix and match. I suggest buying a few basic bottoms, such as pencil skirts, black pants, and even a long dress. Then, buy about 5 shirts that go well with any of those bottoms. That way, you can form different outfits out of just a few items of clothing. Buy a cardigan or belt to go with the dress, so that you can wear it different ways. The key is to make sure the clothing is stylish, while still being appropriate for a work setting. This way you avoid being the most gossiped about employee by your female coworkers (and the most loved by the men.)





This Forever 21 dress (Heritage 1981) dress is only $14.90. It's an appropriate length for work and also comes in blue. A belt would work perfectly around the cinched middle. It can also be accessorized with a long necklace (pearls would give the outfit a more dressed up look) or tights to make a whole new ensemble.







I love this Charlotte Russe open front lace top, and for only $20.00, it's a definite must have. It's perfect with a pair of blak pants, but also can be worn with a pencil skirt and a tucked in tank top underneath.

So many colors, so little time

One of the most expensive accessories are purses. It's pretty easy to find cheap ones, but it's also pretty easy to tell that they're cheap. I happened to be browsing around the Longchamp website recently, when I found a dirty little (affordable) secret. If you're looking for a small handbag, especially one from the popular Le Pliage line, then you can get it for much cheaper if you customize the bag on the longchamp website. It seems crazy that a customized bag would be less expensive, but it's true. You do have to follow some guidelines to make it cheaper, but I think it's worth it. Start off by following this link. http://www.longchamp.com/en/home-e-shopping/home-sur-mesure-usa/sur-mesure-etape-1-561.html. Then, select handbag size 1. This bag is no smaller than the smallest Le Pliage non customized, it is just a different shape. Then, move on to step number 2 and select the short handles. These handles are cheaper than the long ones, and look slightly more proportional too. Step 3 is my favorite. I love the stripe down the middle that you can only get with the customized bag. Longchamp bags are so popular that the stripe allows you to be unique by adding own personal flavor and spicing it up with color combos. I have yet to purchase one of these bags because I can't decide which combination I like best. If you don't want the different colors, you can always pick the same color for both the main color and stripe. I also love that you get a choice of metallic accessories. Step 4 is adding your initials to the bag. I'm not a huge fan of having my initials on a big, and if this step is skipped, the entire handbag will cost only $90, and you got to add your own twist. I love it. I want it.

Don't Sweat it

Sweatpants and zip ups are a wardrobe staple, especially if you're in college and have to roll out of bed for your 8 am. Of course, those sweats should be cute to minimize the extent to which we look like hot messes strolling into class. So, it's too bad that one pair of sweatpants usually cost at least 50 dollars...until now. H&M has made cute sweats affordable. Right now, they have cropped sweatpants in all different colors for $15 and matching zip ups for $19. That means you can get 3 pairs of sweatpants from H&M for what you would normally pay for one pair. The zip ups also come in striped patterns. Ok, so they may not say love on them, but they are great for mixing and matching. Splurge on a brand name hoodie and then getting matching solid color sweatpants from H&M, and you have yourself a perfect, casual outfit, for less.

Wait, those aren't really jeans?!

Whoever thought to create the combination of jeans and leggings should be getting some kind of award. I've heard a lot of haters talking about jeggings, but I think they're great. Straight leg jeans are the hottest trend, which creates problems for girls with hips, thighs, and butts. The jegging is a solution to that problem because for some reason they are much more flattering than jeans, no matter what shape and size a girl may be. I'm guessing the designer is a big "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" fan. The best part is that it's basically impossible to tell that they are not actual jeans, so you can get the same look and be way more comfortable (i.e. you can actually move in them.) They're perfect for tucking into boots in the winter, or for wearing with strappy heels in the summer. Just like normal jeans, they're sold in all different washes and colors. Jeggings can be found at most stores this summer, from American Eagle, to Gap, to New York and Company. They are sold for the same price as jeans. Finally a trend that is no more expensive than a basic essential.

Get your badonks in a romp

Well, whether we love it or not, the 80's are back, which means rompers are in and are the perfect summer wear. Even though I wasn't planning on rocking anymore jumpsuits after pre school, rompers made me change my mind. I love that they can be worn as a simple beach coverup, yet are also perfect for going out. Rompers look great with a cardigan over them, a belt cinched around the waist (a la Nicole Ritchie,) or with wedges for a more dressed up look. Rompers also come in a variety of styles, which makes it perfect for all body types. They can be tight or loose around the legs, short sleeve, strapless, or spaghetti strap. They come in a million different patterns and colors. Some rompers are boho and some are decked out and fab. If you're bootylicious like me, try getting a romper one size bigger so that it covers your whole romp ;)

Alright, now let's talk prices. The great thing about rompers is that they are totally affordable. Sure, there are more expensive ones, but I guarantee you can find a similar version for much cheaper. And, even if you decide to splurge a little bit on a romper, look at it as purchasing an entire outfit, since a romper covers your top and bottom.

My favorite spots for rompers are Forever 21 and H&M. Both stores have all of the different colors and styles I mentioned before, and they're affordable. Last week, I bought a multicolored, plaid romper for just 19 dollars. I'll admit I feel a bit like a birthday cake in it, but who could resist that deal?

I love this romper from Forever 21, and at just $14.50, it really can't be beat. I have a feeling Nicole paid a little more for hers...

You can't shop online at H&M but follow this link to view all the rompers Forever 21 has to offer. http://www.forever21.com/category.aspcatalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=Promo_RompersSandalsWeLove&Page=all&promotype=2

A Summer Essential

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This Victoria's Secret bathing suit is super cute, available in multiple colors, and it's on sale, not to mention that it wasn't even that pricey in the first place. It would look great with this Target bottom, making a grand total of just $19.50. Now that's a summer deal. (click on photos to follow link)

It's obvious that one of the most basic summer essentials is a bathing suit. But, it doesn't seem so basic when the one you love costs 80 dollars...especially when you find out that's just the price of the bottoms!
Bathing suits can be expensive, but not getting one isn't really an option. So how do you make it affordable? What a lot of people don't know is that stores do sell bathing suits during the winter, especially online. My favorite spot to get a bathing suit is Victoria's Secret, a store that carries suits year round online. During the winter, that bathing suit you loved last summer is often on sale. Victoria's Secret has the same bathing suits year after year, and the best part is, they don't go out of style because they're simple and cute. Now, if only we all looked like the models in the suits...
Looking to get a bathing suit during the summer and want a deal? Try buying during Victoria's Secret semi-annual sale, when bathing suits can be up to 70% off.
Or, mix and match! It makes you look a lot more sophisticated than wearing an all matching suit. Splurge on an expensive, super cute top, and then get your bottom at a store like Target. Target has cute bathing suits that will go well with a more expensive brand. The bathing suit will look great, but you'll be able to get the whole suit for a lot less than if you bought both the top and bottom at an expensive store.

Ignore name brands!

It’s easy to admire girls wearing name brands and to want that for ourselves too. Let’s face it, people notice when we have an elite logo on our clothes. It’s natural to want to show off designer labels…but don’t get caught up in the need for Free People and Chanel! Why pay outrageous prices for a name brand, when you can get the same style clothing for way less? Only your bank account will know the difference (Ok, and maybe The Kardashians, but you’ll just have to hope you don’t run into them.)You may be concerned with quality. I can understand wanting to spend a little extra to get clothes that will last. But, let’s face it, clothes go out of style, and we don’t end up wearing the same items for the rest of our lives, which is why quality shouldn’t always be a priority when shopping. Sure, we want our dresses for important events to be dependable and to last, but what’s necessary is knowing when spending less is more sensible than paying for quality. How many times have you looked at a quality item of clothing that you spent way too much on and wished you had somewhere to wear it or that it was still in style? I know it’s happend to me before. You have to pick and choose. But, then again, who says you can’t have quality and a deal? This blog will show you how.