The Best Fashion Thursdays and Fridays

There's nothing I like more than a good sample sale. Especially if that sample sale is one that features a few of my favorite designer brands and even has a calming atmosphere with candles music. The best part is you get to try on as many items as you like before buying so there's no after thought of regret once you get home. The Joie, Equipment, and Current Elliot sample sale is every Thursday and Friday from 10:00am-6:00pm. There are constantly new samples coming in and everything is reasonably organized by brand and style, but believe me, you'll still want to rummage through the racks to make sure you don't miss anything. Tops and sweaters sell for around $25-40, with jeans and pants from $40-60. Another great part about the sale is that the pieces are in great condition with sample tags still attached. From what I could tell, there were no obvious damages so you won't be in for disappointment. In order to go to the sale, you have to sign up online to put your name on the list for whichever day you would like to go. Located in Vernon (near Los Angeles), this is one sample sale you don't want to miss out on.

Pleats Pleats PLEATS!

 

According to People Style Watch, one of the new trends to try for 2012 are full pleated skirts in short or long lengths. It's personally one of my favs and I like the trend seen through maxi dresses. It adds a girly flare to your look and can be paired with a blazer for a dressed up outfit for a party or event, or paired with a sweater for a casual dressed down feel for lunch or shopping with friends. You can add your own accessories to create your own style for the look. Wedges, booties, and platforms are the best way to go for shoes.

You can find pleated skirts at so many retailers. Online through Piperlime.com there is a great maxi length pleated skirt by Line & Dot in both dark midnight blue and wine on sale for $77.50, not to mention it's also one of socialite and style icon Olivia Palermo's favorite picks as well! Right now my personal favorite is a black maxi length dress from Forever21 for only $32.80!

The Weather for Feathers

If you want to create an image that you are free spirited, fun-loving, and down-to-earth, feathers are a good way to implement it. Feathers slowly started making their way into trend accessories and apparel a few years back being highly represented in necklaces and screen print tees. But now, more and more girls are wearing feathers in their hair as an extension which is a unique and trendy way to differentiate your hairstyle from others. They come in various different colors and sizes, and are either semi-permanent and clip in styles available at beauty supply stores and hair salons. I think the feather extensions are very whimsical and hippie inspired, although I feel like more and more girls are starting to put them in their hair so its losing its flare and appeal. And, if you're like me, you don't like the heavy commitment of something that you may get tired of real fast, or are too lazy to put them in while still looking "effortless".

My replacement is feather earrings. Depending on your hair color and cut, you can find the right type of feather earring to show through with just the amount you want. They come in all sorts of lengths, some even with multiple feathers creating more volume and body. Stores like Nordstroms, For Love 21, and H&M usually have them in stock and come out with various different styles, prices vary anywhere from a couple dollars to 25 bucks for a really nice pair.
If you're feeling really inspired, you can even make them yourself. Just head over to Micheal's, pick up a bag of feathers, earring studs or hooks, and some clasps and you're ready to start creating.

Accessories to Keep you Cool

With the warm weather of summer, cool hues seem like a perfect opportunity to stand out with accessories. Many people tend to wear warm hues like orange in tops and bottoms, and what a better way to spice up an outfit with some contrast. Teal and turquoise look good on just about all skin tones and compliment every hair color. The cool hues are also very striking with either white or black outfits if you want to go on a more sophisticated or simple route.

Feathers are a funky bohemian style that can be worn as earrings or in a necklace. Layering multiple strands of different sized beads creates a chunky look and is another way to wear cool hues around your neck. Wearing either of these styles will quickly change an outfit into a trendy, different look.

Stores like H&M, Forever 21, Nordstrom, and even Target, have options of the accessories in store. Here is a link to one found on Shelpers.com- Teal Chunky Beaded Necklace

Back Just in Time for Summer!

Bring on the Heat!
I sure hope some of you are still following the recessionista student and haven't lost hope with the blog! I apologize on the delay of posting, I know its been awhile. Spring semester has been rough, and I'm sure all the students out there can agree. Now that the stressful semester has ended, I know you are just completely ready to get out in the sun, plan all those weekend trips, and have a cocktail or two. I definitely am!
One of the biggest summer essentials has to be the perfect swimsuit. Personally, I have never been a fan of spending a lot of money on a swimsuit because either the print or cut goes out of style, I get sick of wearing it, or lets be honest, unless you do absolutely no activity in your swimsuit, its going to get snagged or faded anyways.
The key to finding a good swimsuit for the summer is starting with the fit. Bandeau tops are very popular with removable straps and various styles like a dramatic v-shape or twist. I also like the classic triangle with added flare of beads, ruffles, or sequins. My favorite bottoms right now have to be the boy-cut bikini. I'm slightly bigger on the bottom half (just slightly of course) so string bikinis aren't always the most flattering and I get that self-conscious feeling that I'm not always covered up.
The best thing to do when shopping for swimsuits is look for prints and solids. Its always fun to mix and match, and luckily that's been one of the biggest trends with swimwear for the past few years. It creates more looks rather than one matched swimsuit that you can't really put with anything else. Bright solids with floral and graphic prints are really fun for the warm weather, and most of the time end up making you look tanner. My key swimsuit colors are orange, yellow, turquoise, and black.
Right now, H&M has some great pieces for only $5.95! That's pretty much a steal, and a great way to stock up. Other good places to look for swimsuits are in Victoria Secret stores or online, and SwimOutlet.com. Its a website filled with various
designer swimsuits at affordable prices. 

Are you a Greek Girl?

Are you in a sorority and love to accessorize with jewelry but find that some of the Greek inspired jewelry out there is a little too bland, or simply out of date? Well there might just be a solution for you. Being in a sorority myself, I like to represent my organization, while not going overboard and still look fashionable and trendy. Greek Girl Shop is an up and coming sorority jewelry line that is personalized for every organization. Available in gold plated, silver plated, sterling silver, and gold vermil, the trendy sorority "nickname" necklaces come in adjustable 16-18 inch chains, for a very reasonable price. Owner and designer of the brand and line, Sara Wilson, is constantly coming up with new ideas and hopes to expand the brand further in the future.

Right now you can purchase her necklaces through her website at http://www.greekgirlshop.com/

and be sure to check out her facebook page and become a fan if you like what she has to offer!

New Obsession

So if you're like me, you love to drool over designer brands but of course a purchase like that makes you slightly cringe when you look at your bank statement after the fact. Well a recent obsession of mine has been online shopping various discount websites. One of my favorites is Rue La La. Not only do they feature spectacular clothing and accessory brands sold at boutiques and department stores, but they also offer sales on vacation destinations, home decor, and food & wine. Its pretty much a one stop destination for all of your favorites at a great price.

Right now William Rast (one of my favorite jean brands) for both men and women is available at reduced prices until Sunday, as well as Adia Kibur, a high end jewelry line that has beautiful statement pieces filled with chains, jewels, and fabric... Make sure to keep checking back on the website to be in the know with all the current sales.

Here's my reference link: http://www.ruelala.com/invite/the-rece-std

Happy Shopping!