5 Ways to Change up Your Wardrobe on a Budget

I get it. We’re college students; we’re on a budget. But that doesn’t mean we don’t like to stay on top of the latest trends and change up our wardrobe every now and then. And while some people love to blow their paychecks on a little retail therapy, I thought I would show you some ways to change up your wardrobe on a college budget.

PHOTO: Julia Michael

1—Go thrifting

I didn’t realize how cool thrifting was until recently. You can pick up some nice finds at thrift stores. But I’ll admit, as with any store, thrift stores (i.e. Goodwill) have their good days as well as their bad days. You just have to be willing to spend some time searching for the fun pieces that can help you change up your wardrobe.

2—Look for staple/basic pieces year-round

These staple pieces include T-shirts, denim jackets, and hats. It’s really any piece that you can effectively style all year long that will add so much simplicity—and trendiness—to your wardrobe.

PHOTO: Stella Fanega

3—Accessorize

Accessories can literally change any outfit. Be quick to respond to new and revived trends like hoop earrings, rings, bar necklaces, and charm bracelets. You’d be surprised what good deals you can find when you’re really looking. Budget tip: check stores like Forever 21, Francesca’s, and American Eagle Outfitters for inexpensive jewelry and accessories!

4—Shop at discount stores

This is a helpful tip for clothes and shoes! You can find brands like Steve Madden, Toms, Nike, and a whole lot more for discounted prices at stores like T.J.Maxx and Ross.

PHOTO: Maddy Haller

5—Re-do your wardrobe

DIY your wardrobe! This is a great solution for anyone on a budget. Go through your wardrobe and take an inventory of what you wear. Redesign the clothes that you don’t really wear anymore, and turn them into things you actually want to wear! For example, you can take a plain black pair of jeans and cut rips into the knees of them. If you want to take it a step further, chop the hem of your jeans and pull out the threads, instantly turning the jeans into a new pair!

Are there any other wardrobe budgeting tips you use? Let us know in the comments!

7 Backpack Essentials Every College Student Should Have

Don’t you just hate being unprepared for school? As much as we like to joke that all we need is a pencil and one notebook, there’s something about being unprepared that makes us uncomfortable—we try to avoid it as much as possible. I’ve got you covered with seven backpack essentials that will carry you through the school year.

PHOTO: Lex Kelly

1—Chapstick/lip gloss

This one’s a no-brainer. Don’t you just hate it when you don’t have chapstick so you have to lick your lips instead? I know, gross. Make sure you always have some chapstick or lip gloss in your backpack.

2—Lotion

This is also a necessity, and lotion gives you soft hands throughout the day.

3—Hand sanitizer

There are germs everywhere, so hand sanitizer comes in handy all the time especially when eating food.

4—Earbuds

I didn’t realize the beauty in having earbuds when walking to class until a couple weeks ago. It’s great to listen to music, a podcast, or an audiobook as a way to get your mind together.

PHOTO: Kelly Rogowski

5—Snack and water

We all love food and get hungry, but with all the schoolwork and extracurricular activities, sometimes we forget to eat. Having a snack handy is always a must, and with this summer heat still in full play, you can’t forget to have water. Water bottles like this can keep your water nice and cold for hours!

6—Small journal

I don’t know about you, but things are always flowing through my head. It might be due dates, reminders, quick poems, or drafts, but I like to have a small journal in my backpack so I can jot down my thoughts.

PHOTO: Anna Coke

7—Pen and pencil

Don’t be that kid who forgets to bring a pencil and pen to class. My rule of thumb is this: make sure you have enough pencils and pens for yourself and one other person. Not only will you be prepared for class, but you’ll also be helping someone else out.

What do you absolutely have to have in your backpack? Let us know what your backpack essentials are in the comments below!

5 Summer Pieces You Need in Your Closet

Summer is quickly approaching, and with every summer comes new summer fashion trends. Some of these trends are on-point and others, not so much. In the past few years, we’ve seen pom pom sandals, fedora straw hats, and high neck crop tops, among many other cute trends. In this article, I’ll be sharing my top five must-haves for summer 2017. And don’t worry, they’re all super on point fashion trends.

1. Sneakers: Every gal needs a cute pair of sneakers, right? Whether it’s Converse, a pair of Keds, or some Adidas, get yourself a pair of sneakers and rock them all summer long.

2. Neck Ties: These have been a big trend so far this year, so why not keep them out for the summer? You can wear neck ties around your neck to instantly turn up the “posh level” of any outfit. Dress it up with a fun sundress or go casual with a slouchy T-shirt and pair of jeans.

3. Off-The-Shoulder Top: Although this has been trending for a while, it’s evident that off-the-shoulder tops aren’t going anywhere. Hey, if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it. You can pair these super fashionable tops with a pair of high-waist denim shorts and some sandals.

4. A Pair of Shorts: You can’t do summer without a pair of shorts. You just can’t! Browse the shorts section of any store and take your pick(s)! You can also DIY your own summer shorts with thrifted jeans.

5. Denim Jacket: Must-have, must-have, must-have! Need I say more? Denim jackets are a year-round must-have, so summer is no exception. I know denim jackets are usually pricey, so you can check out thrift stores for really nice (and cheap) ones. I found mine for $8!

And, that’s it: five must-have summer fashion pieces that can complete any look. What are your summer essentials? Leave a comment below!

BEAUTY BAR: Good as Gold

The smoky eye is a beloved makeup look. For some, it takes a while to master, while others can nail the look within a few tries. I’m not sure how long it took for this Fashionista to master the look, but she is most definitely killing it! Not only that, but she also adds a cute and unique pizzazz to the look with a gold shimmer rather than the darker eyeshadow often used for the smoky eye. The gold adds a soft touch to the look. This Fashionista calls it the “gold smoky eye.”

While her golden look is perfect with her golden hair, super chic outfit, and shoes to match, the gold smoky eye is a look anyone can master. Just grab your favorite gold eyeshadow—there are soft and subtle eyeshadows, then there are super bold and pigmented ones. Take your pick, and switch it out with what you would normally use for the smoky eye look. If you’re already a smoky eye master, then this shouldn’t be too difficult. If not, there are tons of tutorials on YouTube, so grab some eyeshadow and get to learning.

She finishes the gold smoky eye look off with a pretty matte lip, and she is ready to take on the city. Choosing a matte lip color that complements your complexion can be tricky, but this Fashionista does it right and rocks it!

To find the best matte lip for your complexion, experiment with non-matte lipsticks you already own. Which of those shades looks 100 percent on you? Choose one or two, then start the search for your new favorite matte lip color.

ALL IN THE DETAILS: Gold Friday

If you’re anything like me, you love plaid. Like love. If that’s you, it’s my pleasure to share this Fashionista’s outfit of the day. Even if you’re not a plaid lover, you can still stick around.

As you can see, this Fashionista is rocking the plaid flannel with a simple black tank top underneath. Her distressed jeans most definitely make the cut—get it? They’re the perfect touch to this rather classy outfit. Her black ballet flats are absolutely adorable and perfect for a beautiful spring day. She finishes off the outfit with some pretty gold accessories, including a bold necklace and a pretty charm bracelet.

This Fashionista’s outfit is very laid back and chill, and that’s one of the main things I like about it. Sometimes I find it difficult to look nice on Fridays (make that weekends) spent at school. There are no classes, and really, not much to do. So why dress up?

The thing is, you don’t have to dress up super fancy to look nice. You can do what this Fashionista does! She uses basic pieces to create a classy Friday look, which I love! Think about it: you can wear a plaid flannel, which most of us probably own; a tank, a pair of jeans (you can DIY distress them, if you’d like), a pair of flats, and some gold jewelry to make the outfit come together. When you think about it, the jewelry is what makes the whole outfit pop. Imagine that—it’s all in the details, baby!

I hope you enjoyed this Fashionista’s Friday style. It definitely inspired me and made me appreciate the power of basic pieces, as well as staple jewelry, and what they can both do for an outfit.

WHAT TO WEAR: Class ‘N’ Sass

Hi friends! Can you believe we’re already in the second month of 2017? It’s crazy! I hope you’ve been working on those New Years goals. I know I have. If you read my post from last month, you know that I’ve been trying to up my style a bit. It hasn’t been an easy task; some days, it’s been pretty simple picking out a totally stylish outfit. Other days, not so much. But, I’ve definitely been working on it, and I think I’m making some progress. But, of course I can’t take all the credit. I’ve been getting inspiration from Fashionistas all over my college campus, and I want to share one of my favorite looks with you.

This Fashionista is rocking her outfit from head to toe. She’s sporting a distressed graphic T-shirt and a super cute bodycon skirt. I love how she makes the outfit casual and classroom-ready with a pair of Converse. She finishes off the look with an oversize denim jacket and proves that the oversize look can work for anyone, even someone with a tiny frame like her!

As for accessories, this Fashionista wears a pretty gold watch and a pair of super cute, super bold earrings. And you can’t forget about that Supreme backpack; it instantly adds style to any look. Her outfit gets an A+ from me for sure! And even though this post isn’t about makeup, don’t you just love her winged eyeliner look? And her box-braids definitely add to her already amazing style.

Well, that’s all I have for you today, friends. I hope you liked this Fashionista’s rad style as much as I did.

STYLE ADVICE: New Year’s Style Goals

Happy New Year, beautiful people! With a new year comes everyone attempting to make New Year’s resolutions. It’s been said that most people don’t follow through with their resolutions, and that setting goals, rather than resolutions, is the better thing to do. For as long as I can remember, my parents would have us sit down at the end of each year, and write down our goals for the following year. It’s also been said that writing down your goals makes you more likely to attain them. So, I wanted to share one of my goals for 2017—that is, style goals.

Always dress the part. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been to the grocery store in a T-shirt and sneakers because “I’m not gonna see anyone I know.” While I’m not saying you should dress for people, I am saying dress to impress, ya know? “But, how?” you may be wondering. “And why would I wear a fur coat and heeled booties to Walmart?” That was my thought process, until I started thinking of practical ways I could turn a casual outfit into a cute outfit that looks like I actually put effort into it. And, I’m here to share my advice with you.

Back to the topic of college T-shirts; it’s easy to say, “I have nothing to wear,” and resort to the many oversize T-shirts you have sitting in your drawer. But don’t do it. Reserve those T-shirts for sleepwear, workouts, and once a week “I can’t be bothered” outfits (you’re allowed that). Cut back on the T-shirts. Instead, wear cute graphic T-shirts, muscle shirts, turtlenecks (back by popular demand), etc.

Jackets are your best friends when it comes to dressing casual, but cute. And there are a variety of options too. There are denim jackets, utility jackets, bomber jackets, leather jackets—you won’t know which one to choose. This Fashionista chose a leather jacket, which fits the mood of her entire outfit. Nice choice!

With the variety of jeans out there (ripped, frayed, skinny, bootcut, high-waisted), it shouldn’t be difficult to choose one pair and rock them. Some other pant alternatives: joggers, a cute pair of leggings, or get dressed super quickly with a pair of overalls (corduroy overalls are perfect for this time of year).

I really like shoes. For a casual day on the run, go for a cool pair of sneakers, a cute pair of boots, or some adorable flats.

Accessories can literally take an outfit from blah to ooh la la (lame, I know). But really, accessories can take your OOTD game up 10 levels. Anything from statement necklaces to choker necklaces to watches to baseball caps to bags: it all matters. So pick the ones you think complement your outfit and accessorize away.

That’s all the style advice I have for now, folks. I hope this post gave you ideas on how to have a rad wardrobe this year.

STYLE GURU BIO: Itunu Aromolaran

My name is Itunu, and I’m a junior studying mass communications with a concentration in convergence journalism at the University of West Georgia. This is my first semester interning for CollegeFashionista, and I’m super excited for the fashion-filled semester ahead.

Fashion is something I’ve always liked. When I was younger, I remember my older sister and I got together with our friend, and watched America’s Next Top Model; then, we made outfits out of paper and pretended we were models. Something else I liked to do was imagine different outfits in my head then draw them out. I had a whole collection, and for years, I was sure I wanted to be a fashion designer. I feel like a lot of girls did these things when they were little, so I didn’t really think much of it. I didn’t realize that I wanted a career in fashion until college, when I found out that I could actually have a career in fashion. Although my school doesn’t have a major specifically for fashion, I hope to use my mass communications degree (class of 2018, whoop!) as well as my passion for fashion to pursue a career as in fashion journalism.

I would describe my style as constantly evolving—literally, on a weekly basis. While most days, I go for the laid-back Cali-style, complete with plaid flannels and sneakers, other days I opt for the girly/preppy look with riding boots and flannels. Accessories and shoes are my thing. I love finishing up a look with a statement necklace, a baseball cap, a cute bag, etc.

One fact about me is that I love to write. I’m a creative writing minor; I also have a lifestyle blog, where I share a variety of topics from fashion and beauty to college-related posts. Some other hobbies I’ve really been into lately are graphic design as well as lettering. Because I like cursive, lettering kinda comes naturally to me, but I would really like to take a graphic design course before I graduate.

Some of my favorite things are fashion, the fruits of the Spirit, YouTube, planners, Pinterest, Instagram, good people, good food, and positive vibes.

I can’t wait for you to see some of the rad Fashionista/os at the University of West Georgia this semester!