I keep on Fallin'

Even though it's 73 degrees in Connecticut right now and may not exactly feel like fall, it definitely looks like it. The leaves are covering the ground in a carpet of vibrant burnt reds, oranges, and yellows. My college sometimes has a reputation of not being the best looking, especially with all of the construction that is always going on, but despite popular belief, I think our campus is quite fashionable. There is nothing more striking than New England in the fall, and the campus portrays it perfectly. In fact, on an unseasonably warm day like today, there are students bustling all around, and it looks exactly how my younger self pictured college to be. It is days like today that I am glad I stayed in my home state for college. The vibe and appearance of campus is just so beautiful that I had to take some pictures (plus, I just got a new camera, since I broke my last one, and I really wanted to try it out.)

Have a great Halloween weekend!



 I completely creeped on this adorable and unknowing couple...



Where is My Jacket?!

Yesterday I left school and went home for the day in order to replace my summer clothing with my winter gear. Of course, one of the staples that I needed to bring back to school was my warmest coat, which happens to be a black, belted, pea coat from Victoria's Secret. Coats and jackets are my weakness. I have a whole variety of them, from thin, casual bombers, to long, wool jackets. Coats simply always catch my eye, and they are one of the few items that I am willing to splurge on because high quality is a must. In fact, last year at school, I had one entire armour in my dorm room dedicated to my outwear.

As soon as I got home, I started collecting all of my sweaters, boots, and coats. However, my Victoria's Secret jacket was mysteriously missing. I searched through every closet in my house, unsuccessfully, as the coat was nowhere to be found. I was incredibly upset since it was a Christmas present and is my warmest and most beloved coat. I frantically called upon help from my mom, who also searched through every closet. Finally, she announced to me that I clearly lost my coat and must have left it at someone's house. I knew that was not possible because I remembered bringing it home last spring break when the weather turned warm, and I knew my coat was way too big of an object to simply lose. Since I am sort of infamous for losing just about every valuable possession I have, this accusation certainly bugged me. Although, I did sort of start to believe her... Instead of admitting this, though, I decided to accuse both my father and sister of stealing/throwing away/sabotaging my coat. After hours of frustration and a lack of luck, I headed back to school coatless and with thoughts of my inevitable hypothermia as I walked through the wind tunnels to class in December...coatless.

When I got back to school, I opened my washer/dryer closet, where my roommate and I hang our coats. Shockingly, my coat was dangling there in the closet, as I apparently already brought it to school this year. Who knew? Though I was incredibly happy to have found my coat, I knew I was going to hear it from my family, which I did...I woke up this morning with an e-mail from my dad making fun of my accusation that he threw my coat away...and an "I told you so" from my mom.

Well, this entire story prompted me to check out some affordable coats online, as I thought I was destined to have to purchase a new one. I love how there are so many different styles and colors of coats, and they can state so much about your personality. Plus, they are completely essential here in New England during the bitter winters. However, a truly warm coat is usually expensive, but in my opinion, well worth the cost. Here's what I found...


This American Eagle bomber is a casual way to stay warm for just $69.50.



This American Eagle Coat puts a new spin on the classic pea coat. Price: 129.50, also comes in green.

This unique coat is only 54 dollars!

 

I have been in love with and stalked this vibrant Victoria's Secret coat for years.
It is so bold and looks very warm. It is currently on sale for 99 dollars and comes in many other colors if you're not a fan of the yellow.

Yoga Gear

Yoga is a current trend just as popular as Uggs and patterned scarves. I'm a loyal fan of yoga, (or at least I try to be) but I've noticed it is one expensive hobby. From mats to DVD's to, most importantly, attire, yoga has many necessary accessories. Luckily, starting today, RueLaLa is featuring "Our Yoga Favorites:" a boutique that will sell all of the coveted yoga essentials, including apparel, at a discounted price for the next two days. Whether you are active in yoga or just like to be comfortable, this boutique is a great way to purchase work out clothes for affordable prices. If you're not a member of RueLaLa, you can become one by following this blog and then using this invitation.

Dark and Sparkled

Now more than ever is the time to be noticed according to this year's fall and winter fashion. Almost every store is selling sequined and glittered goods. At first I was skeptical about these shiny ensembles, but now I see them as the ideal way to add some glam to the upcoming dreary months. Plus, it can't be denied that sequins are the quintessential holiday accessory, as they channel the bright spirit of the season.

All of these items below may seem better fit for the summer but are brought out with the cold for some logical reasons. The dark colors are much too dim for summer, yet perfect for going out and getting dressed up in the winter. Sequined shorts and skirts look great with a pair of black tights underneath, and the flats can jazz up jeans and a sweater.

Here are some inexpensive, sparkly items.

This Forever 21 top is 15.80.



These AE shorts are 49.50.



Not a fan of shorts? Try this AE skirt for an even better price of 34.50.



These AE flats are 29.50 and also come in black.

 

Boot-ed

Boots are an undeniable staple in New England from approximately September to March. They're also undeniably expensive, but worth the price tag due to their long lasting quality and versatility. The variety of options are endless, so boots are perfect for everyone, regardless of personal style. My current favorites are brown leather slouchy boots with a small heal, but so many more are available.  I can't wait for the weather to be consistently brisk, so I can wear my boots with everything from dresses to jeans.

TIP: If you're going to purchase booties, make sure they are high enough that they will cover the bottom of your pants!

Here are some affordable boots...

These Colin Stuart boots are on sale for 59 dollars.

 



These ruffle back booties are on sale for 69 dollars.





These Steve Madden boots (below) are on sale for 69.95 from 100 dollars and also come in black.


 

These Steve Madden boots are on sale for 47.95 from 100 dollars and also come in black.



A Cheaper Halloween

To me, Halloween is a "holiday" of great burden. Although I love creating a costume and dressing up for an entire weekend, it is always a hassle to not only think of what to be, but also to purchase or make all of the items necessary for the ensemble. On top of all of this, costumes are expensive. The last thing college students should spend 60 dollars on is a poor quality costume that we'll wear once (and that doesn't even come with the accessories.) That's why my anti-halloween roommate and I decided to make dressing up more affordable by refusing to purchase the packaged, unoriginal costumes sold in stores and online.

Here's how to make it happen:
Obviously, the first step in this process is to decide what exactly you want to be. Last year, I  wanted to be a "gold digger," however the costume cost around 65 dollars. So, instead, I searched around at inexpensive online stores. I finally ended up at gojane.com (a store with many inexpensive options) and purchased the gold dress pictured below for just 20 dollars. Then, I bought a can of gold spray paint and painted my childhood toys (a shovel and a fireman hat.) My costume was complete, and it only cost about 25 dollars.

My version of the costume

 

The online version of the costume

I have yet to decide exactly what I'm going to be this year, though I've had a few ideas. I have a striped red and white dress from H&M that happens to perfectly resemble "Where's Waldo." I am considering pairing this dress with a hat and glasses just like Waldo, which will provide me with a virtually free costume. Try looking through online costume stores for inspiration and seeing what you can find in your closet or online that can substitute as an inexpensive alternative!

Don't Sweat it- Deal of the Week

Until Tuesday, Victoria's Secret is having a 20% off of all sweaters sale. Sweaters are, of course, the quintessential fall and winter gear. There's nothing better than rocking a big (non-itchy) sweater with leggings, tights, or jeans on a brisk day. They come in such great variety, from chunky wool turtlenecks to thin cotton knits, and Victoria's Secret's selection represents each style. If you start a collection of solid color, basic sweaters, it will be tough for them to go out of style, and this sale is the perfect way to stock up. Sweaters can be expensive, and some at Victoria's Secret are, but they are the one item that it is almost necessary to splurge on because good quality is essential for their longevity.

here are some of my favorites, but the website has many more options!

This braided boatneck sweater is 68 dollars before the sale and also comes in black.

This classic sweater is 68 dollars before the sale and also comes in navy.

This sweater is 39 before the sale and comes in 5 colors.

This sweater is 48 dollars before the sale and comes in 8 colors.

Oh La La Round Two

Well, I promised I would pick two people to invite to be members of RueLaLa, as mentioned here. Even though not many people commented, I'm in an especially joyous mood because it's Friday, and I am almost done with midterms, so I decided to be extra giving and simply share the link with everyone. Check it out soon, Seteve Madden is on the site today!

Click here to become a member of Rue La la!

And then please become a follower by hitting "follow" on the top right side of this site! Do it! really!

For Josh...

Recently, I've been hearing complaints from some of my guy friends that I never give any advice for them. They are most likely kidding and don't really want affordable fashion tips, but their comments really got me thinking. One major disadvantage to being a guy is that there really are no affordable places to shop. Girls can shop at Forever 21, H&M, Charlotte Russe, etc. to find stylish clothes for very inexpensive prices, but there truly is no guy equivalent. I know Forever 21 and H&M both have men's clothing, but most of the guys I know are either oblivious to this or don't feel those stores are masculine enough for them. I talked to a few of my guy friends, and they told me their favorite places to shop are Polo, J. Crew, and Banana Republic. These stores are for those with preppier style, but after all, this is Connecticut. Other common stores for guys are Nike, Under Armour, and surf shops. Regardless of your style or store preference, I do have some good news (for the guys AND their girlfriends searching for presents.) Polo, J. Crew, Banana Republic, Nike, and Under Armour all have outlet stores. This is a great way for guys to finally find some inexpensive clothing and great deals. If you don't have access to these outlets, then I have some bad news... you guys might actually have to do a little research! A lot of deals can be found at these otherwise expensive stores, but it requires that guys search for bargains like we girls do.

Here are a few good sales I found online:

J. Crew shirt on sale in multiple colors: 9.99

Banana Republic shirt: on sale for 12.99

And for those of you who are open-minded, here are some really nice guys clothing for affordable prices from Forever 21 for men (you don't have to tell anybody where it's from!)

Hoodie: 24.90



<> Hoodie Sweater: 19.90

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Price: 22.90



Poster Lovin'

When you're young and decorating your first apartment, you usually can't afford beautiful, professional artwork. As a college student, I have an obvious appreciation for posters. They really are a great way to brighten up an area (or cover up the holes and marks your friends accidentally imprinted on your dorm wall.) I love walking into someone's apartment, dorm, or bedroom and observing the posters he or she chose, as it reveals a lot about personality. Whether the poster is of a musician, a movie, flowers, color, black and white, etc, it tells a story about what you enjoy, while making your space a little more fashionable and a little more affordable. If you're not a fan of the "college-y" look of a poster, all you need is a frame to make it appear more legitimate. It will still be more affordable than most other artwork, and a lot of the time, you can get your favorite painting in poster form as a temporary fix until you can afford the real thing.

Here are some of my favorite posters from allposters. (it was hard for me to only pick 6!)

This poster is my absolute favorite! It is a real photograph taken in Times Square
when World War 11 ended. cost: $6.99

This Magenta Gerbera print is only 11.99 for a 20X16.

This picture is only 19.99 for a 31.5X23.5.

This poster is 6.99.

This soothing print is only 9.99.

This Magnolia print is only 9.99.

Oh La La!

For those of you who haven't heard of it, Rue La La is, "an exclusive online destination of premier brand, private sale Boutiques that are open just two days each. Joining is free, but you must be sponsored by an existing Member." To put this into simpler terms, Rue La La is an amazing site that offers discount designer clothes, jewelry, shoes, bedding, under garments and more (and they have men's clothing too.) Every two days, a new list of boutiques are up to choose from. Brands ranging from Calvin Klein to Free People to GUESS are often available. These are stores I've only dreamed about owning a plethora of clothes from in the past, but Rue La La actually makes it an affordable and attainable goal. The site is seriously amazing and provides some of the best discounts I've witnessed. The only catch is that you have to be invited by an existing member to get access to the site. This is where I come in. Since I'm a member, I want to help some of my readers out by getting you on the site. The goal of this blog is to share good fashions for great prices, so Rue La La couldn't be more perfect! So, I'm doing a little Rue La La invitation give-away. Here's how to enter!

1. Go to the top right side of this site and follow my blog! (You can't win if you're not a follower!)
2. Comment on this entry indicating that you want an invitation
3. At the end of this week I'll select 2 winners based on the comments that made me laugh or smile and invite them to Ruelala.com!

An example of an item from the site: anon sunglasses, originally 100 dollars, but only 39 on Ruelala.com

Not so Juicy

Velour sweatsuits have always been a source of confusion for me. I never quite understood why someone would pay 200 dollars for a zip up and sweatpants. Though I love the variety of colors the popular sweatsuits have to offer, I personally prefer plain black sweats. Besides, I'm not one for perfect matching, so velour was never even a point of consideration for me. But between midterms and recent rainy days, comfort is constantly on my mind. I've been in need of some new lazy day/studying pants for a while. I mostly wear yoga pants, but I find that they shrink and wear out easily. Last week, I saw a shelf of velour pants and zip ups in one of my favorite bargain stores, New York and Company. Since I am always on the prowl for new sweats, and they had a black pair, I decided to try them on. They were far cozier than I expected, and they fit perfectly. The best part, of course, was that the sweats only cost 29.95, as opposed to the 118 dollar price tag from other brands. I used a 15% discount that New York and Company provided, and I got my new favorite pair of sweats for just 24.95 (So far, I see no difference between this pair and the far more expensive option.)

Vanilla and Strawberry Delight

This weekend, my roommate and I decided we wanted to do a little baking. We were originally going to whip up some peanut butter pie, and were all set to do so, before making the unfortunate realization that we do not own the bunt cake pan necessary to make the delicious dessert. What we did have, though, was a small cupcake sheet. I'm not a huge fan of cake, but I do love frosting, especially Funfetti, so with thoughts of vanilla and sprinkles on our minds, we decided to bake cupcakes. Since cupcakes are not my all time favorite treat, I knew I had to decorate each one with delicious toppings in order to make the dessert more enjoyable to make and eat. Though I have no intentions of making this blog about food, I couldn't help but notice just how fashionable these little delicacies turned out (and every now and then, I like to do a post on "a different kind of fashion.") If there were such things as stylish cupcakes, they'd certainly be it, especially with their golden outerwear and colorful accessories. Plus, since all we bought was Funfetti batter, Funfetti and strawberry frosting, and then used food items we already had as decorations, the treats were quite affordable. They were also fun and easy to make because they were from a package, yet the careful decorating gave them the vibe and TLC of home-made cupcakes.

From top, clockwise: Vanilla frosting with Funfetti sprinkles mixed in, strawberry frosting with crushed Milano cookies, vanilla frosting with chocolate chips, strawberry frosting with sprinkles, vanilla frosting with Milano cookies, strawberry frosting with cut strawberry on top

Do the Do

The 1920's are back ala flapper style hair pieces, and I'm loving the trend. Nothing corrects a bad hair day better than an adorable headband decorated with flowers, feathers, rhinestones, or bows. These feminine style headbands are a great accessory to add flare to your outfit, top off a dressy look, or to simply disguise a frizzy mess. They are versatile and look good with up-do's or with your hair down. If you're worried that this new trend is a little too girly or innocent for you, try getting a band that's black and has chunky rhinestones that add some spunk. Or, mix them with other funky accessories to juxtapose the youthful look.

And do you even have to guess my favorite part about these lovely hair enhancers? They're totally affordable, as long as you get them from the right store.

J Crew tends to have expensive accessories, but this headband is on sale for 19.99, which is still
pricey for a headband, but certainly cheaper than the original price!

This Francesca's Collection 9 dollar "silent beauty pin" gives the illusion of wearing a headband, but it is
actually a pin. This gives you the look without the sometimes painful repercussions of a headband (as in when the little bones behind my ears start throbbing from headbands.)
.

This Forever 21 headband is only 3.80.

This Forever 21 headband is only 3.80.