Kelsey Nieves – CollegeFashionista

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Fancy Pants

From floral prints and brocade designs to ferocious animal prints, designers and brands alike are throwing away the traditional notion of a pair of jeans and amping it up this fall with bold and striking designs! This particular trend is one that I'm most excited about because of its versatility and ease. Printed pants do the job for you: there's no fuss in making your outfit stand out, just throw on a pair with a fun design and your out the door!

There's a couple different ways to rock your fancy pants, one demonstrated by our Fashionista this week: literally rocking out your jeans! She gives the abstract design on her pants a rock 'n roll twist by pairing them with a graphic T-shirt and a pair of simple black sneakers. The simplicity of these two items balances the boldness of the jean, yet takes her outfit to the next level. Get this look by pairing these funky Forever 21 skinnies with a Zumiez oversized T-shirt and one of the season's trendiest sneakers––creepers.

Another way to style up these pants are to mix prints. Mixing prints was a big deal on the fall 2012 runway this year, Miu Miu being a big advocator of the look. I'm here to tell you getting the look isn't as hard as it seems. The key here is to mix a smaller print on the top with a loud print on the bottom, or vice versa, and to keep within the same color palette. A black and white striped top is your safest bet with any type of print on the bottom–-stripes and florals, stripes and leopard or stripes with polka dots all look chic and put together. Mix brocade designed Zara trousers, a Forever 21 3/4 sleeved striped tee and a pair of pointed toe pumps. Make this look internship appropriate by throwing on a fitted blazer.

Regardless if you dress them up or down, printed pants are sure to make a statement Fashionistas, so hop on the bandwagon!

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Girls in Pearls

Coco Chanel once said, “A women needs ropes and ropes of pearls.” Although Coco Chanel said this in an age where tea and biscuits at high noon was the most important meal of the day, it does not change the relevance. Pearls have become synonymous with class, beauty, elegance and style and every woman wants to possess these characteristics, whether you're 15 or 50. Luckily for us, a simple strand, or in this Fashionista's case, a pile of them, can give a lady just that.

This week's Fashionista wears pearls of a more modern variety. The strands not only consists of the original off-white color we associate with this type of jewelry but with translucent beads and silver chains. The combination of the two makes for a more interesting statement necklace; chunky yet chic. The peplum top and cropped trench add another dimension of daintiness to her ensemble but funks it out with knee high boots, shorts and tights, which I might add is a great alternative to pants in the colder months.

As you can see, this Fashionista proves that the classic single strand of pearls is not the only way to rock the look, there are tons of other ways to wear pearls. From earrings to a pearl embellished collar on a blouse, the possibilities are endless. You can even try sewing some cheap plastic faux pearls onto a beanie or beret to keep warm and still keep looking terribly tasteful! So get to sporting this classic chic piece whether it be on your neck or on your head, as soon as possible, Chanel said so!

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Fancy Pants

From floral prints and brocade designs to ferocious animal prints, designers and brands alike are throwing away the traditional notion of a pair of jeans and amping it up this fall with bold and striking designs! This particular trend is one that I'm most excited about because its versatility and ease. Printed pants do the job for you: there's no fuss in making your outfit stand out, just throw on a pair with a fun design and your out the door!

There's a couple different ways to rock your fancy pants, one demonstrated by our Fashionista this week: literally rocking out your jeans! She gives the abstract design on her pants a rock 'n roll twist by pairing them with a graphic T-shirt and a pair of simple black sneakers. The simplicity of these two items balances the boldness of the jean, yet takes her outfit to the next level. Get this look by pairing these funky Forever 21 skinnies with a Zumiez oversized T-shirt and one of the season's trendiest sneakers, creepers.

Regardless if you dress them up or down, printed pants are sure to make a statement Fashionistas, so hop on the bandwagon!

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Timeless Chic

For as long as I can remember the pea coat has been in style. It was originally developed in the eighteenth century for use by European sailors and merchants to guard against the cold during their endeavors on the high seas. Fast forward to 2012: we see Burberry Prorsum models pounding the fall runway decked out in wool pea coats and Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl ordering around her minions in a yellow relative. With a good 300 years under it's belt, the pea coat has proved it has the power to stay modern yet timeless. If you haven't gotten your hands on this coat yet, invest in this classic piece!

This week I spotted a Montclair State Fashionista looking insanely chic and put together. Projecting a vision of timelessness and elegance in her belted coat paired with a quilted nude and black tote bag reminiscent of Chanel, it was a no brainer whether to snap a pic or not! What is particularly interesting about her coat is the uniqueness of it. Usually pea coats are shorter, falling a little below the waist and are enclosed with just buttons. Hers, on the other hand, is belted like a trench coat giving it a cute twist. If her upper half wasn't stylish enough, she switches it up by throwing on a pair of hard core combat boots with studs along the front–-the perfect mix of masculine and feminine.

The coat has been reinvented countless times and this trench coat style is not the only new development it has to offer! Try a Guess purple jewel toned coat for a punch of color on a wintry day. If you're looking for something with a bit of edge, try a Calvin Klein two-tone assymetrical coat or go old school with a navy colored traditional pea coat from Express. Although these coats are a bit pricy, I firmly believe in quality when it comes to timeless pieces. If you still believe a designer or pricy brand name coat is out of your reach (after all we are all college students) try discount stores like T.J Maxx or Marshalls for a great deal on designers coats!

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: To Infinity And Beyond

After a whirl-wind of weather hit the East Coast in the past two weeks, there is a grim realization sunk into the minds of Fashionistas across the tri-state area: transition pieces are null and void—it's time to pull out the heavy duty winter-wear. I myself have been in denial of the increasingly cold weather. I've tried to combat the cold in a thin anorak but the wind teased and taunted me, slipping into my sleeves and my neck. But alas, I have a quick fix that will be sure to guard our health and chilly necks this winter season! Two words: infinity scarf.

If you've been under a rock for the past couple of years allow me to explain the concept of an infinity/circle scarf. It's main attribute is it's versatility: you can simply place it over your neck for a loose cowl neck style, loop it twice for volume or wear it as a hood for rainy days. The scarf is available in a multitude of fabrics and patterns. From fringe to animal print, there's sure to be a style that compliments any outfit.

This week's Fashionista sports a simple, thick woolen infinity scarf layered on top of a abstract printed cardigan. The chunkiness of her sweater and scarf is balanced out with a slim little black dress and knee high boots with peek-a-boo knee high socks – another big trend for this time of year! Her look is comprised of layers to make it easy for her to either add or subtract a piece for comfort throughout the day. Afterall, the weather here at MSU is bipolar to say the least. To get her look try a black Target scarf and a very similar Forever 21 cardigan over a plain black bodycon. If you're not a dress type of girl, try a pair of knitted leggings and a quirky graphic T-shirt to finish off the look!

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Thrifted Finds

The broke college student: an archetype that has been present since the roots of higher education gripped American culture. This student eats meals consisting of Ramen Noodles and Pop-Tarts, works at a minimum wage job for $100 textbooks, all the while paying off Sallie Mae for the experience. Coming from a broke college student herself, full priced clothing is just not something we can afford right now. Luckily enough, the stigma behind buying from thrift/consigment stores and secondhand shops has been long gone and is not only just acceptable but actually cool! If you haven't checked out the wonderful world of thrifting, this week's Fashionista will act as some motivation!

There is an undeniable affinity for all things “retro” on Montclair State University's campus and this past week's meeting of our university Fashion Club exemplified just that by featuring thrifted/vintage items as our trend of the week. Numerous Fashionistas took turns discussing their unique finds, when this week's Fashionista rose and gave her spiel on thrifting. What was so appealing about her printed tie-neck blouse was that it is exactly on-trend for this season and is sold by just about every brand you can think of. Coincidence or evidence of fashion cycle's at work? The former, most definitely.

The moral of the story here is that you don't have to pay $30 for a trendy blouse, take a day to look around your local Good Will or Salvation Army and you'll be more than sure to find an “it” piece or two (or maybe five)! You may have to go through a bunch of duds to find the one, but that's the fun in it all: to find that one unique piece that no one else will have! With that said, let the thrifting begin!

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Lessons in Layering

As the temperatures become as fickle as fashion itself, with one week akin to a day in December and another like June, it becomes pretty difficult to decide just what is both weather and seasonally apropriate. Not only do we have to prepare ourselves for the unpredictable weather, but we have to be able to stay comfortable in class whether the heater's broken or we get stuck in the seat next to the radiator. Just when I thought there was no hope for this clothing conundrum, I spotted a Fashionista at Montclair State University that not only copes with the crazy climate but owns it with her superb layering skills!

The key to fall-time layering is to keep both proportion and color scheme in mind. This Fashionista chose a palette inspired by the autumn foliage while keeping herself from blending in with it. What makes this look so visually appealing is the mixture of textures, colors and a proportion that is spot on. She pairs a utility jacket, an item that is a must have for the fall, with a fair isle knit cardigan and a velvet jumper/legging combination. Her entire ensemble maintains a cool color scheme with varying shades of greens and a pop of blue with her cardigan pulling all the colors in together. The proportion is neither bulky nor bag lady, but rather funky and eclectic.

If you're having a difficult time mixing and matching your clothes, try building on basics instead of diving head first into the world of layering – afterall, we all have to walk before we can run! Try out a Pac-Sun graphic T-shirt underneath a basic oversized Urban Outfitters flannel button down for starters. Now grab an Old Navy utility jacket like the one I mentioned earlier and throw on an infinity scarf in a fun color. There you have it: layering perfection!

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Smoking Style

Give your feet a break this fall from your typical ballet flat or oxford and hop onto the newest addition to the flat family: the smoking slipper. Most infamously seen on the feet of Playboy’s Hugh Hefner, this shoe has had a long journey from Hef’s foot to Fashionistas’ like Alexa Chung and Anne Hathaway. It has even made its way into high-end designer’s sketchbooks (let’s just fawn over Miu Miu’s “Crest” Mocassin). As we snap back into reality after that $650 dream shoe, I call attention to this week’s Fashionista’s smoking style as she takes campus by storm in her Aldo studded smoking slippers.

As a Fashionista completely on the smoking slippers bandwagon, I can personally attest to their versatility. You can dress them up with a shift dress or dress them down with a pair of dark denim or distressed blue jeans. They come in various styles and shapes, from a loftier version or something a bit boyish. This week’s Fashionista gears her look towards the masculine vibe yet has feminine written all over it. From her embellished sequin collar to her nude shoes, she plays on masculine shapes with feminine touches.

Clearly, this trend is picking up momentum as fast fashion brand’s catch up. Forever 21 and Wet Seal both have very affordable options for the college student that’s short on funds but never short on fashion. So, if you’re a bit iffy, throwing down a twenty dollar bill to test drive this trend definitely won’t hurt the bank!

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Bleach Streak

Remember your first time doing laundry by yourself in college? I know I do. Let's just say I lost some items I was extremely fond of at the hands of my arch enemy: bleach. What were once my go-to pair of dark denim jeans became something out of a horror movie. Unappealing white stains blanketed my beloved American Eagle denim and ever since then, I vowed never to touch a bleach bottle ever again. But upon spotting this Fashionista on a rainy day in the quad, I'm thinking about breaking that vow – staining my denim with bleach, and actually wanting to.

Lately I've been seeing this bleach-stricken look everywhere. From jeans to shorts, to jean jackets, you cannot help but be enticed by this quirky trend in denim. A part of the appeal definitely has to be the accessibilty to the trend – you can literally get this look without dropping a dime. All you'll need is four household items: a towel, some bleach, a bucket and that piece of boring denim you want to update! It's as simple as pouring three cups of bleach into the bucket and dipping your denim in. Let your denim sit in the bleach for 20 minutes (whilst you explore Collegefashionista.com), lay it out to dry and wash it to clean out that bleach smell. And voila, you are now the owner of this season's trendiest D.I.Y. garment!

Take some inspiration from this week's Fashionista and pair your look with a short dress and moto boots for the perfect mix of masculine and feminine. She finishes off her look with sheer tights to give it a fall-like vibe and a Jansport bookbag for practicality! If you're too scared to take the dip into D.I.Y. check out items like American Eagle's super cute bleached out jeggings or an affordable Target hombre wash denim button-down!

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Need for Tweed

One of the biggest reoccurring themes in both fall 2012 RTW and spring 2013 RTW is “English Country Side.” Everyone from Burberry to Fendi is showing young women walking the runway in hemlines hitting new lows and silhouettes and fabrics reminiscent of their grandmother's wardrobe in the '50s. It is certainly an interesting trend. Fashion has pushed itself to such a sexual extremity in years past and now designers are reverting back to vintage glam and old school modesty. Alas, we aren't saying to delve into a full-on mid-twentieth century costume, yet take bits and pieces and update them for 2012. Need some inspiration? Check out this week's Fashionista rocking a tweed jacket and maxi skirt looking less Amish and more Jackie Kennedy 2.0.

She pairs her black and white tweed jacket with a simple white tank and a chiffon burnt orange maxi skirt, efficiently mixing and matching two of fall's hottest pieces of clothing. Her jacket is boxy and structured while her skirt is fluid; the combination of the two makes for an ensemble casual enough for a Wednesday on campus. Her look is only escalated by a gorg black patent Cynthia Rowley tote bag she scored on discount at TJ Maxx. Notice how this Fashionista is literally covered from head to toe- combating the idea that baring skin is necessary to look trendy; that alone is my favorite part of this look.

You can score something similar to her tweed piece with this chic jacket at Zara (a place quickly becoming my favorite for designer look-a-likes). Tweed isn't just for outerwear and ladies, check out this tweed satchel and men's blazer at ASOS!