Jump Into the Flat Craze of Spring (Our 3 Favorite Flats - no matter what your budget!)!

We love spring!  Light dresses, skirts, shorts, tunic top style dresses, jersey dresses!  (One moment while we close our eyes and inhale!).

We are putting away our boots and bringing out our flats!

Flats can range from casual to dressy!  Wear to class, Saturday shopping trip

s, business meetings, with badge attire, and out!  (Much better than flip-flops!)

Flats look best with:

1.  Casual - denim mini-skirts (Heels with mini-skirts is soooo 80s), letters.

2.  Skinny style jeans.  Top with a tunic style top OR fitted top with a fitted blazer.

3.  Trousers (be sure to pick an embellished flat if wearing for business attire).

4.  Leggings (think more Audrey Hepburn) with a white button up.

Here are a few of our favorites (from all budgets) and our DREAM SPLURGE!

$ - Old Navy - $19.50

$$ - Nine West - $79.00  (Our favorite!)

$$$ - Tory Burch - $325.00 

How should you pick on which to buy?  Are you one who will wear flats daily?  Can't really wear heels?  Then we recommend the Nine West brand - reliable and durable!  Are you one who will wear your flats on occasion and prefer to live in flip flops or heels?  Go for the Old Navy brand.  If your a brand lover, have the extra $$ (birthday coming up), will wear flats to and from class, then go for the Tory Burch!

We Found It! A Great Dress from Francesca's Collections!!!

We love chic boutiques here at College Lifestyles (TM)!!!! Franchesca's Collections is one of our favorites!

We found this great, figure flattering dress ($34.00)!!!

The wide waist band creates an illusion of an hour glass figure, with the tie back preventing 'too snug' of a look! The v-neck is flattering for all shapes!

How to wear:

1. Casual - wear to class with flats, tights, and hoop earrings.
2. Badge Attire - wear to chapter meetings with tights, pumps, and studs. Top with a peacoat on a colder day.
3. Boho - wear with tights and flat riding boots. Top with several long layers of necklaces.
4. Boho #2 - wear over jeans and flats. Top with a scarf.

The Best Way to Wear Knits! (Great find from The Limited!)

With a chill still in the air, we still want to feel warm and snuggly (even though spring and summer clothes are hitting some of our favorite stores!) Knits (as in knit sweaters, cardigans, and wraps) are our best friends throughout the remaining winter months. As spring weather approaches, look for a lighter version of the knit cardigan/sweater.

Knits are extremely easy to wear and work for class, internship, and business attire!

Tips on wearing (According to Bazaar):
1. Chunky (as the open cardigan show here from The Limited ($24.50)) - This style works great as a light coat. The most flattering fit is to wear over a pencil skirt, fitted trousers or jeans, or leggings.
2. Sweater Dress - Pair a sweater dress with tights and boots. Be aware - appropriate undergarments is a must! No VPLs please!
3. Belts - belts come in handy when wearing cardigans to work.

Your own flare:
1. Funky - pair a fitted cardigan with a ruffle or bubble dress. Button in the middle to define the waist! Top with tights and boots.
2. Business - a V-Neck sweater over a white button up shirt and trousers. Top with stud earrings.
3. J-Set - fitted V-Neck worn alone, skinny jeans tucked into boots, scarf tied around neck, hoop earrings, hair pulled back.
4. Classic/Work appropriate - dress up a crew neck knit sweater with a broach or chunky necklace.
5. Casual - boyfriend style sweater, boot cut fitted jeans, flats (dress up with heels!)
6. Romantic - pair a sweater vest with a t-neck blouse, trousers or pencil skirt!

Remember, we feel the most comfortable about ourselves when we wear clothes that fit and feel great!

The Ultimate Figure Flattering Dress for Everyone! (From Banana Republic!)

All figures and body types (tall, thin, full-figured, short) look FANTASTIC in a wrap dress!!! This dress from Banana Republic ($59.00) is a classic!

The secret - tie the wrap at the smallest part of your waist for the most flattering look!

Tips for fit: Select a dress in a soft, loosely flowing fabric. Ensure that the shoulder seam hits you right at the shoulder (if it is too long, than the dress is a size too big).

Tips for wear:
1. Classic: Top this look with heels. cocktail ring, and a delicate necklace.
2. Date Worthy: Pull hair back and wear with drop earrings.
3. Casual: Top with a Denim Jacket.
4. Boho: Wear with boots, scarf, and hoop earrings.
5. Glamorous: Wear with Metallic heels and leopard clutch.

How does the staff of College Lifestyles Stay Warm? With Great Finds from the Limited?

This lovely scarf from the Limited ($20.70) will keep you warm on chilly night. Great for class, internship, and for a holiday party!

We love the look of this scarf! This scarf looks great casually with long sleeve T-shirts, sweaters, and dresses!

A Cardigan Dress that Flatters all Figures!!! (3 Ways to Wear!)

We LOVE this draped open front cardigan dress from Twelve by Twelve (for only $24.90!)!

This type of draping is very flattering on all shapes! How? Tie the waist sash around the smallest part of your waist to create a lovely hour glass shape!

Other tips:
1. If you are trying to conceal a tummy, tie the waist sash under the bra line to create an empire waist.
2. For boyish shapes, tie the waist sash at the natural waist (belly button area).

Tips for wearing:
1. Wear as is with ribbon, the bracelet shown below, and round toe heels for a cocktail party!
2. Wear with a skinny belt, cami, jeans, boots, and hoop earrings to class!
3. Wear open with tights, riding boots, denim skirt, tank for a weekend look!

We found it - New York and Company Cozy Cardigan - 6 Ways to Wear! (It's on Sale!)

Fall is in the air! Time for our cozy sweaters and cardigans!

This cardigan, from New York and Company, is cozy and on sale! ($31.77) Comes in the colors black, gray, lime green, and purple.

Very flattering for all body types it can go from casual to dressy!

6 Ways to wear:

1. Casual (As shown in the picture) - jeans, tank, long necklace, boots.
2. Business - wear over a button up shirt, trousers, pumps, long necklace.
3. Boho - wear over your tunic dress from the summer, gold hoops, opaque tights, boots.
4. Bombshell - pencil skirt, button up tucked in, cardigan open, stud earrings, pointy toe heels.
5. Traveler - wear over denim mini, black or white ribbed turtle neck sweater, opaque tights, rider boots, beret style hat, hair in low ponytail, boots.
6. Romantic - wear over floral print dress or shirt tucked in skirt, opaque tights, pumps.

It's getting chilly! Sylish Hoodies for Fall from Gap with 4 Ways to wear!

The crisp air of fall is here!

Do you have to put away your tanks and camis? Not necessarily! Instead of putting on a sweatshirt that is 4 sizes to big for you; stay warm and stylish with hoodies (such as the one shown here from the Gap).

Tips on selecting the right hoodie for you:
(1) Make sure shoulder seams hit the shoulder. Any seam that falls below the shoulder means the hoodie is too big.
(2) Sleeves should hit where the thumb meets the wrist.

Tips on wearing:
(1) Layer with a thin cami or tank. Anything too bulky will cause a fitted hoodie to ride up.
(2) Sporty: Wear with a white cami/tank, yoga pants, tennis shoes, hoop earrings.
(3) Casual: Wear with pink or light green cami/tank, commuter shoes, studs.
(4) Nautical: Wear with a striped cami, jean shirt, sandals.
(5) Jet set: Wear with a nude cami/tank, white pants, scarf, and Jackie-O sunglasses.